The purpose of the Wilderness
by Glen Riddick
Whether you believe it or not, there is a purpose of the wilderness.
In the Old Testament, many of us have heard preachers and teachers of the Word of God mention that this 40 year ordeal of wandering in the wilderness could have been just a few week journey, but they never go into detail of the specific purpose of the Wilderness. If we look at the scriptures in Deuteronomy 8:2, "And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to "humble thee", and to "prove thee", to "know what was in thine heart", whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or not."
Three major things were mentioned:
1) to humble thee
2) to prove thee
3) to know what was in thine heart
So as we examine the scriptures, the specific purpose of the wilder ness was a mere 'proving ground'. In the wilderness, one is supposed to die to the flesh (your ideas, your ways) and hearken to the Word of GOD. Because the Children of Israel did not do these specific "3" things (they murmured and complained and never changed), they died in the wilderness. They were SAVED from the hands of Pharoah and the Egyptians, but they still died without obtaining the promised land that was given to them by God. Only Caleb and Joshua along with the next generation were ever able to crossover and possess the land . Are you getting this? You can be SAVED, but not have what is promised!! God is saying: you will die in the wilderness if you do not allow God to humble you, prove you and reveal to you the issues that are in your heart.
The Lord is saying that you think that you are ready for the masses and packed out stadiums and churches, but really you are not. This 'proving ground' is where we must stay until we get right with God and then He allows us to truly possess the Promised Land. If we fast forward and look at the life of Jesus, we see that after He was baptized in the river Jordan, the Spirit of God came upon Him. Immediately the Spirit of God drove him in the wilderness to be tempted, tested and tried ( i.e. the proving ground ). Saints of God, do you see the pattern??? Jesus was in the wilderness just like the children of Israel, but instead of 40 years, it was only 40 days! Glory to God! When Jesus was in the wilderness, He passed every test!
1) He did not exalt himself because He was the Son of God.
2) He did not misuse the Power of God that was within Him and remained humble.
3) He was not going to worship another God and sell out for worldly possessions!
After GOD examined his heart and he passed the tests, the scriptures tell us that Jesus came out of the wilderness (i.e. the proving ground ) in the POWER of the SPIRIT and began to possess the Land. Wherever he went there were signs, wonders and miracles and there was victory!! I must be blunt and to the point today.
Child of God, please stop acting like the children of Israel in the wilderness, it will only cause death! You will die in the wilderness. Although God will take care of you to some degree, it is second best! I am tired of second best, aren't you?? I really do want to reach the masses! I really do want to flow in the Holy Ghost! I want to be just like Jesus and come out of the wilder ness in the Power of the Spirit and then be able to say WATCH OUT DEVIL, I am COMING IN THE NAME of THE LORD!! Here is the reason you are in the wilderness:
1) Some of you are so lifted up in pride, that is the exact reason why you are in the wilderness.
2) Some of you are failing every single trial and test, so that is why you are in the wilderness, you cannot get past the proving process.
3) Some of you when you open your mouth, you can clearly see why you are in the wilderness because, "out of the abundance of your heart, the mouth speaketh".
Don't ever think that the people that are being used mightily of God in our day and time have not paid a dear price for it!! People that are reaching out and making a difference (I am not talking about people that are in emotionalism or people that have learned to work a crowd) that are getting BIBLE RESULTS.... they have paid a great price to go all the way with God. Are you willing to pay that price? Are you willing to give it all up like the disciples? If not, you cannot be Jesus' disciple. Search the scriptures....this type of believer does not need advertisement.... GOD is their advertisement!
In conclusion, God wants you to come out of the wilderness. God wants you to eat the good of the land. God wants us to be just like Jesus! If we are just like Jesus, churches will not be empty, if we are just like Jesus, people would have faith in God. If we are just like Jesus, we will be able to do the greater works that he talked about and will not waste time talking of what God used to do, but we will begin to talk about what he is doing right now! Glory to God!! Please do not die in the wilderness.... you have been there too long.
Blessings,
Glen Riddick.