As I was sitting with the Lord this morning He led me to Hosea and began to stir and speak to me about the wilderness. Now many speak in a negative manner about the wilderness. Someone may be going through a tough time and people, from no ill motive, will tell them “oh it’s just the devil” or “oh it looks like you’re in the wilderness”, but is this wise council?
We must understand that the Lord brings a person out of Egypt (bondage, kingdom of darkness) by the Blood of the Lamb! However, He uses the wilderness to get Egypt out of them! He uses this to prepare them to live and move and have their being in Him!
Let’s look at a few passages about the wilderness.
“Therefore, behold, I will allure her, Will bring her into the wilderness, And speak comfort to her.” (Hosea 2:14)
“Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.” (Revelation 12:6, 14)
If you look at the route through the wilderness you will find forty two stops (Numbers 33), and if you dig into the names of each stop you will receive much revelation. Each stop will show the work Jesus was looking to do to bring them to repentance and grow their faith and trust in Him! Friend, welcome the wilderness!!!
The Lord Jesus gives us the pattern we are called to follow. After His baptism He was sent by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested. Two important truths need to be seen.
- He went in full of the Spirit
- He came out full of power
“Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,” (Luke 4:1)
“Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.” (Luke 4:14)
Now I personally have never heard anyone tell a person at the time of their baptism to be prepared for what’s sure to come when they come out of those waters! In fact most of the time this holy act is very much down played today and this deeply saddens me. I can personally attest to the greatest warfare I’ve come under was the year following when I came through the waters of baptism. It was only by the mercy and grace of God, and the hunger for the word that was imparted in me that brought me through this time.
Again Jesus shows how He overcame and it was by the Word, and the indwelling of the Spirit. This is how a true born again believer overcomes and this can be seen in the passage below, which shows the progression of spiritual maturity.
“I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.” (1 John 2:12-14)
Notice what we see about the “young men”, it says, “ you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.” The keyword here is “abides” which means, to remain; not to depart; to be kept and held continually.
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32)
Many love to quote and exhort others with verse 32 above, but it hinges upon the previous verse. Jesus says, “if you abide”, He makes it clear that this is a personal truth to anyone who claims to follow Him. So why are so many in the modern church stuck in bondage? Because they rely on going to church, and believe that’s all they need. The scripture doesn’t say “if you go to church you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Although the leaders and others the Lord has brought into your life may live an abiding life, this will only assist and encourage you to the same. There’s no BOGO in the Kingdom of God! You have to submit to the preparation in order to be entrusted with any real authority. Your gifting will only get you so far, and without the genuine backing of Heaven it will not endure...
The word “know” above is ginosko and refers to intimacy. It means those who personally and intimately know Jesus and His Word will live in freedom!
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)
Friend, are you in an intimate relationship with Jesus? Do you abide in His Word? Are you maturing in His truth and applying it in your life? This may be exactly what’s missing and why you feel discouraged, depressed, and defeated.
Look at what the prophet Hosea says, “Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth. For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:3, 6)
What is the consequence to not truly pursuing the knowledge of God?
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” (Hosea 4:6)
I encourage you today to examine yourself, take a spiritual inventory of what you’re allowing daily to keep you from the secret place and fellowship with Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you and empower you to overcome any idol or distractions you’ve allowed for far too long.
He loves you and is showing up for the walk with you! Will you meet Him???
Revelation found in the names Genesis to Deuteronomy:
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, when we find the Hebrew words for each of these they are:
- Genesis- Bereshit, meaning “in the beginning”
- Exodus- Sh’mot, meaning “names”
- Leviticus- Vayikra, meaning “and He called”
- Numbers- B’midbar, meaning “in the Wilderness”
- Deuteronomy- Devarim, meaning “words”
What’s interesting is that in two of the five books these exact translated words are found as the first Hebrew word in the first verse (Gen. & Lev.), in two they are the second Hebrew word (Exo. & Deut.), and only in the Book of Numbers is it the fifth Hebrew word.
We know five reveals grace, so we see God’s grace to us in the Wilderness! However look closer and bring all five together.
“In the beginning, God knew your name and He called you into the Wilderness to hear His Word”
Take the journey!