WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.820 Well, I'm certainly glad to be here this morning and spend this time with you. 00:00:04.860 --> 00:00:10.599 I trust that as we've already been blessed, that God will continue to bless our time together 00:00:10.599 --> 00:00:15.939 and use this time to encourage us in our walk with him. 00:00:17.059 --> 00:00:20.100 I had the privilege of growing up in a pastor's home. 00:00:20.920 --> 00:00:23.900 My dad entered the ministry when he was kind of middle-aged. 00:00:24.179 --> 00:00:28.800 He was elected to the ministry as pastor in a small local church. 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:35.679 And so a lot of my formative years were spent in that kind of a home, that kind of a context. 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:41.359 And there was a time when I was in my teenage years, a high school student, 00:00:41.980 --> 00:00:47.939 and we had a young family that came and joined us for one, not quite a year, 00:00:48.380 --> 00:00:52.560 probably maybe through the equivalent of a school year. 00:00:53.359 --> 00:00:57.480 And they were doing an internship because they were going to go out as missionaries. 00:00:57.479 --> 00:01:01.919 And so they came and they were part of our little congregation for that time 00:01:01.919 --> 00:01:09.700 and just got to know this family and appreciated the contribution they made to our ministry and our church there. 00:01:10.840 --> 00:01:15.479 Went out to the mission field and when they came back, they came back somewhat disillusioned 00:01:16.479 --> 00:01:19.579 because things were not what they had expected them to be. 00:01:19.579 --> 00:01:24.719 It wasn't really what they had signed up for. 00:01:25.799 --> 00:01:35.439 And I was thinking about coming to speak here and, you know, it's kind of nice when you have a period of time to prepare. 00:01:36.379 --> 00:01:42.120 I know when you have to, not have to, but when you speak to the same congregation week after week, 00:01:42.120 --> 00:01:45.859 it seems a week goes by very quickly and Sunday morning is there again. 00:01:46.540 --> 00:01:54.859 But now that I have more free time, I have more time to think through what I'm going to speak about. 00:01:55.460 --> 00:01:59.360 And so I was thinking about what should I share here this morning? 00:01:59.480 --> 00:02:01.520 What would God have for us this morning? 00:02:01.519 --> 00:02:10.019 And my thoughts were influenced by a book that I read written by Rabbi Jason Stobel. 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:14.259 And he was writing about the life of the Messiah. 00:02:14.900 --> 00:02:18.379 And one chapter he devoted to Jesus being in the desert. 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:24.960 Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan for 40 days and 40 nights. 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:29.359 That time that Jesus fasted right after his baptism. 00:02:29.360 --> 00:02:37.620 And so he pointed out some different things that happened in our walk when we're in that wilderness experience. 00:02:39.060 --> 00:02:45.440 This Penner family that went out as missionaries, things weren't what they expected them to be. 00:02:45.540 --> 00:02:49.580 They were in kind of a, we might call it a desert or a wilderness experience. 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:58.480 Those thoughts are kind of parallel what happened with the children of Israel. 00:02:58.479 --> 00:03:06.120 When they were in slavery in Egypt and then God raised up Moses to be the one who led them into freedom, 00:03:06.879 --> 00:03:10.560 God gave them the promise of a promised land. 00:03:10.679 --> 00:03:13.719 He had promised that to Abraham years ago, generations ago. 00:03:14.060 --> 00:03:17.959 But now was the time for the children of Israel to enter into that promised land. 00:03:17.960 --> 00:03:26.360 And so they had the opportunity to leave slavery and bondage and a place that wasn't really what God had called them, 00:03:26.439 --> 00:03:26.960 their homeland. 00:03:27.500 --> 00:03:30.659 And they had an opportunity to go into the promised land. 00:03:32.020 --> 00:03:34.879 But they spent time traveling through the wilderness. 00:03:36.260 --> 00:03:40.020 And it wasn't what God had planned for them to be long term. 00:03:40.020 --> 00:03:43.300 But they ended up spending 40 years in that wilderness. 00:03:45.060 --> 00:03:51.439 In Psalm 78, verse 52, and a couple of verses following, we read a little bit about that. 00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:56.980 But he brought his people out like a flock. 00:03:57.080 --> 00:03:58.820 He led them like sheep through the desert. 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:01.879 He guided them safely so they were unafraid. 00:04:02.920 --> 00:04:04.920 But the sea engulfed their enemies. 00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:09.780 Now he's thinking about the Red Sea and how the Egyptian army chased them and God delivered them. 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:16.479 Thus he brought them to the border of his holy land, to the hill country his right hand had taken. 00:04:16.899 --> 00:04:21.500 He drove out nations before them and allotted their lands to them as an inheritance. 00:04:22.099 --> 00:04:24.819 He settled the tribes of Israel in their homes. 00:04:25.180 --> 00:04:30.599 Isn't that wonderful how God can deliver people and bring them into a place of plenty, 00:04:30.600 --> 00:04:35.020 a place of blessing, a place of prosperity, a place of goodness. 00:04:35.220 --> 00:04:38.700 That is who God is and that is what he intends for his people. 00:04:40.020 --> 00:04:46.020 And so the story of Israel and Moses and leaving Egypt and going to the promised land 00:04:46.020 --> 00:04:49.740 has so many parallels to our own walk with God. 00:04:51.240 --> 00:04:53.020 But the next verse says, 00:04:53.460 --> 00:04:56.939 But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High. 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:58.939 They did not keep his statutes. 00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:01.080 But. 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:01.800 But. 00:05:02.680 --> 00:05:05.140 God had these good plans for them. 00:05:05.620 --> 00:05:05.900 But. 00:05:07.020 --> 00:05:08.540 The people rebelled. 00:05:08.680 --> 00:05:09.600 The people were sinful. 00:05:09.760 --> 00:05:10.860 The people were doubting. 00:05:10.980 --> 00:05:11.980 They didn't trust God. 00:05:12.260 --> 00:05:15.780 And so they ended up spending that whole generation in the wilderness. 00:05:16.420 --> 00:05:19.600 Now God doesn't intend for us to live our life in the wilderness. 00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:26.800 However, there is a time between coming to know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. 00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:32.340 And maybe you've experienced the transformation that comes when you see everything with new eyes. 00:05:32.339 --> 00:05:34.500 And you have that new life. 00:05:34.500 --> 00:05:38.359 And you have that freedom that comes from the burden of sin being lifted. 00:05:38.519 --> 00:05:40.239 And you're not carrying that guilt anymore. 00:05:40.519 --> 00:05:44.639 And you have that awareness that God loves me. 00:05:44.819 --> 00:05:46.819 That Jesus died for me. 00:05:46.819 --> 00:05:48.439 It's a personal salvation. 00:05:49.939 --> 00:05:57.860 And then you read in his word about all the wonderful promises God gives us of his presence with us. 00:05:58.019 --> 00:05:59.040 His empowering. 00:05:59.500 --> 00:06:01.439 The way that he wants to use us. 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:01.819 That life. 00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:04.899 We could call it life in the promised land. 00:06:04.899 --> 00:06:13.979 But what happens is that sometimes there's that transition from that newness and that freshness and that joy and that new awakening. 00:06:14.699 --> 00:06:17.779 And actually living in that place of promise. 00:06:19.099 --> 00:06:25.120 As I was thinking about this, just in the last two weeks, I've had two interesting conversations. 00:06:26.299 --> 00:06:28.379 The first one was with our next door neighbor. 00:06:28.479 --> 00:06:29.239 Just moved in. 00:06:29.620 --> 00:06:31.019 Just getting to know him a little bit. 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:32.099 Found out he's a believer. 00:06:32.100 --> 00:06:37.720 And he has one of those testimonies of living in the world. 00:06:38.340 --> 00:06:43.340 And being completely immersed in the world and in the drug culture and all of that kind of thing. 00:06:43.620 --> 00:06:48.200 And then God just radically touching him and changing his life. 00:06:48.900 --> 00:06:51.480 And now he's walking with the Lord. 00:06:51.620 --> 00:06:52.100 And he's studying. 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:53.879 He's working full time. 00:06:53.980 --> 00:06:58.140 But he's also studying full time in an online seminary. 00:06:58.360 --> 00:07:01.540 And he's feeling a sense of being called to ministry. 00:07:02.840 --> 00:07:08.780 But he was sharing with me that 10 years ago when he came to know the Lord, he had this wonderful transformation. 00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:17.100 And this just a new insight into what life was all about and how he could be free from the bondage of sin. 00:07:17.280 --> 00:07:19.160 And the drugs that he was involved in. 00:07:19.240 --> 00:07:21.340 And all of that brokenness and that dysfunction. 00:07:21.339 --> 00:07:24.259 And he had this joy and this peace. 00:07:24.799 --> 00:07:29.159 And he said, but then for a while I kind of wandered. 00:07:29.160 --> 00:07:34.420 He went into that desert place. 00:07:34.540 --> 00:07:38.480 He went into that place where it seemed as if the presence of God was not as real. 00:07:38.600 --> 00:07:39.400 It wasn't as vital. 00:07:39.740 --> 00:07:41.680 And he kind of struggled for years. 00:07:41.900 --> 00:07:44.480 And then slowly learned more. 00:07:44.680 --> 00:07:46.800 And learned about walking with the Lord. 00:07:46.900 --> 00:07:48.820 And now he's in a good place. 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:51.720 But he went through a time of real struggle. 00:07:51.720 --> 00:07:58.620 Another person that I talked to within the last couple of weeks is somebody that has been used in ministry. 00:07:58.800 --> 00:08:00.520 Somebody that has training in ministry. 00:08:00.700 --> 00:08:02.220 Somebody that has been used in ministry. 00:08:02.980 --> 00:08:05.360 And was sharing with me just the other day. 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:09.860 And I said, right now I'm in a place where I'm not seeing any sense of purpose. 00:08:10.300 --> 00:08:12.280 I'm not content where I am. 00:08:12.460 --> 00:08:16.000 I feel that there is something that could be different, should be different. 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:18.580 But I'm kind of stuck here. 00:08:19.740 --> 00:08:23.379 And I thought, you know, that's probably not an uncommon experience. 00:08:23.620 --> 00:08:31.080 Maybe many of you can relate to the fact that there is that joy and that freedom that come when you first come to know the Lord. 00:08:31.079 --> 00:08:35.720 And there's the great promises that God has for us. 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:40.360 But your daily life feels a little bit like cake without ice cream. 00:08:40.559 --> 00:08:42.819 Or cake without icing and ice cream, right? 00:08:43.159 --> 00:08:47.279 It just, it's there but it's not quite. 00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:51.220 It doesn't feel as if you're living quite in what God has promised. 00:08:54.939 --> 00:08:58.500 Sometimes God leads us into that wilderness. 00:08:58.500 --> 00:09:03.639 Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit of God. 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:05.559 God had a purpose in that. 00:09:06.919 --> 00:09:14.440 God had a purpose in taking the Israelites from Egypt through the wilderness to the promised land. 00:09:14.539 --> 00:09:16.799 He didn't intend for them to be there for a whole generation. 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:18.720 But he intended them to be there. 00:09:18.840 --> 00:09:20.779 What did he do in that wilderness? 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:25.519 Well, Moses went up on Mount Sinai. 00:09:25.620 --> 00:09:26.919 He got the Ten Commandments. 00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:29.379 He got the instructions about building the tabernacle. 00:09:30.079 --> 00:09:35.219 These people had been immersed in a culture that was ungodly. 00:09:35.639 --> 00:09:38.779 They'd been influenced by the Egyptian culture. 00:09:39.799 --> 00:09:43.139 Remember what they did as soon as they ran into a little bit of a test? 00:09:43.699 --> 00:09:45.479 Make us a golden calf. 00:09:46.659 --> 00:09:50.659 Well, that was a direct influence of the thinking of the Egyptians. 00:09:50.659 --> 00:09:57.039 What did they do when they were running short of, or they got tired of their food, or they were maybe short of water? 00:09:57.120 --> 00:10:03.419 They said, you know, maybe we could go back to Egypt and we could have some of those leeks and onions and cucumbers that we used to enjoy there. 00:10:03.980 --> 00:10:05.259 They forgot about the slavery. 00:10:05.819 --> 00:10:09.059 And they said, but there was different food there. 00:10:09.179 --> 00:10:11.079 And maybe we could just go back to that. 00:10:11.080 --> 00:10:17.900 And so they had the thinking of Egypt in their minds and God had to cleanse them of that. 00:10:18.040 --> 00:10:24.860 He had to remove the values and the religion of Egypt from them and show them that they needed to trust in God. 00:10:25.240 --> 00:10:31.379 They needed to learn to trust in God regardless of what their circumstances or their observations suggested. 00:10:31.379 --> 00:10:39.679 And they didn't always make that test, did they? 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:45.080 When God said, go, they said, no, we look, oh, we feel like grasshoppers. 00:10:45.159 --> 00:10:45.779 We can't go. 00:10:46.939 --> 00:10:51.039 When God said, don't go now, they said, oh, well, you know, we've had second thoughts. 00:10:51.139 --> 00:10:52.000 Maybe we'll go now. 00:10:52.740 --> 00:10:53.820 And God said, don't go. 00:10:53.960 --> 00:10:54.879 I won't be with you. 00:10:55.820 --> 00:11:01.200 You know, years ago in Bible college, our singing group used to sing this little song about the, 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:03.680 or the Israelites in the desert. 00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:05.400 And it went something like this. 00:11:06.420 --> 00:11:11.300 Well, don't you know that in the days of old when the Israelites didn't do what they were told? 00:11:11.780 --> 00:11:14.759 Because of their stubbornness, they failed the test. 00:11:15.300 --> 00:11:19.740 When they wavered in their faith each time by their whining and their crying for a sign, 00:11:20.360 --> 00:11:22.040 our Lord simply told them this. 00:11:23.040 --> 00:11:27.080 Go on and take another lap around Mount Sinai till you learn your lesson. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:30.640 Till you stop your whining and you quit your rebelling. 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:36.299 Till you learn to stand in your day of testing by trusting and obeying the Lord. 00:11:38.379 --> 00:11:42.279 Have you been in the situation where the Lord asked you to wait upon him, 00:11:42.340 --> 00:11:44.399 but it seemed you could not remain still? 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:49.439 So you started planning what you're going to do because you thought the Lord had forgotten you. 00:11:49.539 --> 00:11:52.019 And just then you hear these words. 00:11:52.860 --> 00:11:55.460 Go on and take another lap around Mount Sinai. 00:11:55.460 --> 00:11:59.080 Just the other day I heard the Lord say, 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:04.540 Son, you've got to trust me and take another step of faith to carry you through the storm. 00:12:04.700 --> 00:12:08.860 But when the storm started getting rough, I thought the Lord wasn't strong enough. 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:12.220 So I started doing things on my own. 00:12:12.220 --> 00:12:17.740 Then he said, go on and take another lap around Mount Sinai till you learn your lesson. 00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:21.560 So we used to sing that song and I thought there's a lot of truth in it. 00:12:21.559 --> 00:12:29.199 Now if you can relate to spending time in that wilderness experience, 00:12:29.419 --> 00:12:34.219 that in-between time, you're probably in very good company. 00:12:34.220 --> 00:12:44.460 King David had been anointed by Samuel and told very specifically that he was going to be the next king of Israel. 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:47.660 And we know what happened in his life, right? 00:12:47.800 --> 00:12:50.220 As a young lad, he went out and he fought the... 00:12:50.920 --> 00:12:54.460 It wasn't even really a battle, but he conquered Goliath, 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:57.080 threw the whole Philistine army into confusion. 00:12:57.320 --> 00:12:58.879 Israelites won a great victory. 00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:05.980 And King Saul said, you know, whoever defeats Goliath can become my son-in-law. 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:08.299 David said, I'm not worthy of that. 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:12.080 But then years later, he did become Saul's son-in-law, married another daughter. 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:18.399 And everything was just going fantastic for David. 00:13:19.720 --> 00:13:22.120 But we know the story of David, don't we? 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:27.000 How for years and years, Saul was jealous and David was running and hiding. 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:35.580 And if we go to the book of Psalms, we read over and over and over again the Psalms that David wrote during those times. 00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:40.620 Your Bible might have little subtitles at the beginning of the Psalm. 00:13:40.980 --> 00:13:47.700 And a lot of the Psalms talk about how David wrote this Psalm while he was fleeing from Saul, 00:13:47.960 --> 00:13:52.779 while he was in the desert of Zin, while he was with the Philistines, over and over again. 00:13:52.779 --> 00:13:57.159 You're probably very familiar with some of those words. 00:13:57.939 --> 00:13:59.000 We like to sing them. 00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:04.819 As the deer pants for the streams of water, my soul pants for you, O God. 00:14:04.899 --> 00:14:07.360 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. 00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:09.579 When can I go and meet with God? 00:14:09.659 --> 00:14:13.279 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, 00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:14.839 Where is your God? 00:14:16.139 --> 00:14:18.459 These things I remember as I pour out my soul. 00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:22.680 How I used to go with a multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, 00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:25.540 with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. 00:14:26.920 --> 00:14:28.740 Why are you downcast, O my soul? 00:14:28.800 --> 00:14:30.220 Why so disturbed within me? 00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:34.700 Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. 00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:37.560 My soul is downcast within me. 00:14:37.920 --> 00:14:43.200 Therefore, I will remember you from the land of Jordan, the heights of Hermon, Mount Zimer. 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:48.120 Then he goes on to say, 00:14:48.220 --> 00:14:50.820 I say to God, my rock, why have you forgotten me? 00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:54.680 Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy? 00:14:54.800 --> 00:14:59.020 My bones suffer mortal agony, as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, 00:14:59.420 --> 00:15:00.720 Where is your God? 00:15:01.680 --> 00:15:03.700 Why are you downcast, O my soul? 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:05.460 Why so disturbed within me? 00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:07.940 Ever felt that way? 00:15:09.280 --> 00:15:10.759 Ever look back in your life and said, 00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:12.340 Boy, it was terrific. 00:15:12.340 --> 00:15:16.379 Like, God's presence was so real and so near. 00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:18.560 God's word was so alive to me. 00:15:18.620 --> 00:15:20.720 I couldn't wait to worship with other people. 00:15:22.980 --> 00:15:25.580 God has great promises in store for me. 00:15:26.940 --> 00:15:29.519 But right now, I'm in that in-between time. 00:15:29.620 --> 00:15:31.800 Why am I feeling this way? 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:34.420 Why does it feel as if the problems are greater? 00:15:35.040 --> 00:15:37.820 Why does it feel as if the trials are so strong? 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:41.240 Why do I feel as if I'm in this wilderness? 00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:45.340 Then David ends that Psalm 42. 00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:50.720 Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. 00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:56.780 Sometimes God develops our faith by exercising it. 00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:59.820 Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 00:16:00.560 --> 00:16:03.759 But our faith becomes stronger when it is exercised. 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:07.720 So King David had that wilderness experience. 00:16:08.220 --> 00:16:09.480 What about John the Baptist? 00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:13.819 Where did he spend his ministry time? 00:16:17.559 --> 00:16:20.220 Matthew chapter 3, the first couple of verses there. 00:16:20.220 --> 00:16:42.660 John the Baptist's ministry was in the desert. 00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:46.819 His message was, prepare the way of the Lord. 00:16:46.939 --> 00:16:49.579 But what, how do you prepare the way of the Lord? 00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:50.519 What was his message? 00:16:50.659 --> 00:16:51.779 It was, repent. 00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:55.139 Repent, for the day of the Lord is at hand. 00:16:55.439 --> 00:16:57.159 The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:16:57.459 --> 00:16:57.860 Repent. 00:16:58.719 --> 00:17:00.459 Repent means change. 00:17:00.819 --> 00:17:01.879 Change your way of thinking. 00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:02.980 Change your way of living. 00:17:03.179 --> 00:17:04.099 Change your way of acting. 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:05.519 Make an about turn. 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:05.559 Learn. 00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:12.799 So the people in John the Baptist's time were probably somewhat complacent. 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:16.420 They had waited for many years for the promise of the Messiah. 00:17:17.639 --> 00:17:21.379 They had probably settled into, this is the way life is. 00:17:24.180 --> 00:17:25.519 None of us would ever do that. 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:28.539 We'd never settle into, well, this is just the way life is, would we? 00:17:28.819 --> 00:17:30.460 We always live with anticipation. 00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:31.599 We always live with hope. 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:33.740 We always live up with optimism, don't we? 00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:37.420 But maybe some of the people needed to hear that message. 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:39.440 Hey, you know, you've settled into the wrong thing. 00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:45.480 You need to lift up your eyes and remember the presence of God is here, 00:17:45.579 --> 00:17:47.079 and God is doing a new thing. 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:53.880 And so John the Baptist learned that, and he taught the people, 00:17:54.420 --> 00:17:55.980 you need to prepare your heart. 00:17:57.519 --> 00:18:00.799 You prepare your heart by humbling yourself before God 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:03.779 so that God will be great. 00:18:04.419 --> 00:18:07.119 John the Baptist used these words, 00:18:07.259 --> 00:18:10.659 he must increase, I must decrease. 00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:12.639 And that's really the bottom line. 00:18:12.859 --> 00:18:14.279 That's the bottom line of repentance. 00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:16.539 It's not about me, it's about God. 00:18:18.419 --> 00:18:21.980 And so sometimes we go into that wilderness experience 00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:24.180 because God needs to work on our attitude. 00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:27.340 God needs to humble us. 00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:30.060 God needs to show us our dependence on him. 00:18:33.660 --> 00:18:36.360 If you think you are spending time in a wilderness 00:18:36.360 --> 00:18:40.120 and you can maybe relate to King David or John the Baptist, 00:18:40.340 --> 00:18:41.279 what about Jesus? 00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:44.560 I mentioned earlier that after Jesus' baptism, 00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:46.940 he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:48.680 and it says very specifically, 00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:52.039 to be tempted of the devil. 00:18:54.059 --> 00:18:56.820 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert 00:18:56.820 --> 00:18:58.380 to be tempted by the devil. 00:18:58.620 --> 00:19:01.180 After fasting 40 days and 40 nights, he was hungry. 00:19:01.580 --> 00:19:03.420 And then if you want to read all about the temptation, 00:19:03.580 --> 00:19:04.940 you go to Matthew chapter 4 00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:07.539 and you can read about the various temptations. 00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:10.420 How Satan came to Jesus 00:19:10.420 --> 00:19:15.740 and how he was actually using and abusing the Word of God 00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:18.200 to try and tempt Jesus to doubt God, 00:19:18.300 --> 00:19:19.279 to disobey God, 00:19:19.840 --> 00:19:21.380 to worship the wrong things, 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:25.340 to try to go about God's purposes in his own way. 00:19:28.320 --> 00:19:30.420 And it was the whole temptation, 00:19:30.680 --> 00:19:32.720 the whole time of Jesus being in the wilderness 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:35.759 was addressing this question. 00:19:36.620 --> 00:19:38.920 Did God really save? 00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:41.240 You know that question first came up 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:42.519 in the Garden of Eden, didn't it? 00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:44.660 When Satan came, 00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:46.560 the serpent came and tempted Adam and Eve, 00:19:47.320 --> 00:19:48.440 his question was, 00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:50.340 did God really save? 00:19:50.560 --> 00:19:51.700 And the implication was, 00:19:51.800 --> 00:19:52.800 maybe God said something, 00:19:52.900 --> 00:19:54.800 but did he actually mean what he said? 00:19:56.320 --> 00:19:58.000 And Jesus faced Satan 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:59.220 and he answered that question, 00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:01.900 yes, God really did save 00:20:01.900 --> 00:20:04.100 and God really does mean what he says. 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:06.279 And when we stand with God 00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:08.680 and are faithful to God, 00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:10.400 he hears us, 00:20:10.620 --> 00:20:11.920 he may test our loyalty, 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:14.920 but he rewards those 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:18.279 who diligently accept and trust 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:19.720 and wait for him. 00:20:22.100 --> 00:20:23.980 Hebrews chapter 4 gives us 00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:26.360 another little picture of Jesus. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.880 The end of that chapter, 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:29.279 verse 14 and following, 00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:32.100 gives us another little picture of Jesus 00:20:32.100 --> 00:20:33.180 and that temptation 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:35.400 and what effect that has for us. 00:20:35.400 --> 00:20:36.900 Therefore, 00:20:36.900 --> 00:20:38.980 since we have a great high priest 00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:40.220 who has gone through the heavens, 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:40.620 Jesus, 00:20:40.800 --> 00:20:41.580 the Son of God, 00:20:42.360 --> 00:20:43.920 let us hold firmly 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:45.420 to the faith we profess. 00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:47.980 For we do not have a high priest 00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:49.500 who is unable to sympathize 00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:50.280 with our weaknesses, 00:20:51.060 --> 00:20:53.000 but we have one 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:53.980 who has been tempted 00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:55.019 in every way, 00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:56.019 just as we are, 00:20:56.700 --> 00:20:58.140 yet without sin. 00:20:58.140 --> 00:21:01.200 Let us then approach 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:02.500 the throne of grace 00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:03.680 with confidence 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:05.440 so that we may receive mercy 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:07.860 and find grace to help 00:21:07.860 --> 00:21:09.340 in time of need. 00:21:09.800 --> 00:21:12.220 So sometimes we're in that wilderness place, 00:21:12.300 --> 00:21:13.020 that desert place, 00:21:13.080 --> 00:21:15.940 that place of God's seeming silence, 00:21:16.120 --> 00:21:18.259 God's maybe seeming absence, 00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:21.839 and he's testing our loyalty. 00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:24.400 He's testing our love for him. 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.819 Will we believe him? 00:21:25.879 --> 00:21:27.319 Will we trust what he has said 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:29.680 even though the circumstances around us, 00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:31.059 even though our feelings tell us 00:21:31.059 --> 00:21:33.099 it's not working out the way it should? 00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:36.799 Will we trust that he is true 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:38.119 and that he keeps his word? 00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:42.680 Another person who spent some time 00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:44.559 in that desert place 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:46.279 was the Apostle Paul. 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:48.660 After his conversion, 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:49.839 that dramatic conversion 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:51.240 on the road to Damascus, 00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:53.200 then he met the Lord 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:55.680 and right away he was on fire for God. 00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:58.039 But in Galatians chapter 1, 00:21:58.099 --> 00:22:01.399 it tells us something about his experience. 00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:01.940 He says, 00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:04.519 I did not consult with any man, 00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:05.920 nor did I go up to Jerusalem 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:07.399 to see those who were apostles 00:22:07.399 --> 00:22:08.399 before I was, 00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:11.799 but I went immediately into Arabia 00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:14.539 and later returned to Damascus. 00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:17.539 Then after three years, 00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:18.940 I went up to Jerusalem 00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:20.099 to get acquainted with Peter 00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:21.559 and stayed with him 15 days. 00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:23.740 And he goes on to talk a little bit more 00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:24.659 about his experience. 00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:27.519 But what happened in Paul's life 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:29.480 during those three years in Arabia? 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:33.559 Well, we know that Paul was very zealous. 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:35.680 We know that Paul was very familiar 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:36.659 with the Old Testament. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:38.460 We know that he was instructed 00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:39.899 in the Old Testament. 00:22:39.900 --> 00:22:44.220 We know that he was persecuting the church 00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:46.940 because he believed that followers of Jesus 00:22:46.940 --> 00:22:48.800 were not on the right track. 00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:51.880 He believed that they were working against God. 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:53.620 And so his whole thinking, 00:22:53.800 --> 00:22:54.840 his whole frame of reference, 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:57.480 his whole worldview had to be reshaped. 00:22:58.220 --> 00:23:01.580 And I believe during that time in the desert, 00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:04.460 he learned a whole new way 00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:08.100 of understanding God's purpose and God's plan. 00:23:08.099 --> 00:23:11.219 because he became a very strong teacher 00:23:11.219 --> 00:23:14.379 of taking the Old Testament truths 00:23:14.379 --> 00:23:17.339 and saying this is how Jesus has fulfilled 00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:19.579 what was spoken in the Old Testament. 00:23:20.639 --> 00:23:23.139 His most basic convictions were shaken 00:23:23.139 --> 00:23:24.359 and had to be rethought. 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:27.000 What he had believed and fought for 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:28.740 with such passion and zeal 00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:31.719 was shown to be a tragic misunderstanding 00:23:31.719 --> 00:23:34.079 of God and God's plan of salvation. 00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:36.019 He had to work through that. 00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:38.000 And then he became that great apostle, 00:23:38.180 --> 00:23:39.119 that great missionary 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:41.039 that's established churches 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:42.579 in so many places. 00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:45.440 You know, sometimes we're very sincere. 00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:47.839 Sometimes we love the word of God 00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:49.220 as much as we understand it, 00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:50.700 but God has to take us 00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:52.960 to a better understanding. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:55.059 Maybe we're misguided in some way. 00:23:55.139 --> 00:23:56.900 Maybe we're sometimes simply wrong. 00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:59.119 And God has to put us in a place 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:00.339 where he can teach us 00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:03.439 a little more of his truth. 00:24:06.439 --> 00:24:07.819 So what are some lessons 00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:09.599 that we can learn from this? 00:24:11.239 --> 00:24:12.619 In God's economy, 00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:14.419 which comes first? 00:24:15.219 --> 00:24:16.039 Our happiness 00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:18.079 or our holiness? 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:23.099 In God's economy, 00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:24.000 which comes first? 00:24:24.059 --> 00:24:24.579 Our happiness 00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:25.379 or our holiness? 00:24:27.319 --> 00:24:28.059 Our peace, 00:24:28.179 --> 00:24:28.740 our well-being, 00:24:28.859 --> 00:24:29.279 our joy, 00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:30.599 it's all going to flow 00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:31.579 out of our holiness. 00:24:32.419 --> 00:24:33.899 When we come to know God, 00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:35.699 when we come to trust God fully, 00:24:36.399 --> 00:24:38.439 when we surrender ourselves 00:24:38.439 --> 00:24:39.079 and when we say, 00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:40.179 my life is yours, 00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:41.299 when we yield completely, 00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:42.500 then the fruit 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:43.659 of all these good things 00:24:43.659 --> 00:24:44.879 are going to start 00:24:44.879 --> 00:24:45.659 to grow in our life. 00:24:45.660 --> 00:24:48.060 Another thing we can learn 00:24:48.060 --> 00:24:49.120 is God's timing 00:24:49.120 --> 00:24:50.500 is not our timing. 00:24:53.060 --> 00:24:53.779 God's timing 00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.920 is not our timing. 00:24:55.820 --> 00:24:57.100 God has a lot of patience. 00:24:58.200 --> 00:24:59.840 God has a long-term plan. 00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:01.340 God has an eternal plan. 00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:02.519 We think in the moment. 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.259 We think, 00:25:03.360 --> 00:25:04.660 boy, this is very uncomfortable. 00:25:05.320 --> 00:25:05.900 God says, 00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:06.380 you know, 00:25:06.420 --> 00:25:07.140 I'm shaping you 00:25:07.140 --> 00:25:08.019 for something greater. 00:25:09.420 --> 00:25:10.360 In Revelation, 00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:11.080 what do we read 00:25:11.080 --> 00:25:12.480 over and over and over again? 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:14.480 To him who overcomes. 00:25:15.660 --> 00:25:16.920 That means there will be testing, 00:25:17.060 --> 00:25:17.740 there will be trials, 00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:19.180 there will be things 00:25:19.180 --> 00:25:20.340 that we have to work through, 00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:21.840 there will be challenges in life. 00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:25.019 But to him who overcomes, 00:25:25.600 --> 00:25:26.540 I will give to eat 00:25:26.540 --> 00:25:27.580 of the tree of life. 00:25:30.060 --> 00:25:31.580 There are parts of our character 00:25:31.580 --> 00:25:32.800 that are shaped 00:25:32.800 --> 00:25:34.160 in times of retreat 00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:34.960 or quietness 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:36.279 that would not be shaped otherwise. 00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:37.660 There are things 00:25:37.660 --> 00:25:38.500 that we learn 00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:41.380 when God pulls us back. 00:25:41.380 --> 00:25:45.660 Our understanding 00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:46.460 of God's word 00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:48.100 is at best incomplete. 00:25:48.280 --> 00:25:48.900 There are times 00:25:48.900 --> 00:25:50.700 where he has to correct 00:25:50.700 --> 00:25:51.780 something in our thinking. 00:25:54.120 --> 00:25:55.500 Maybe being taken 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:57.280 on that wilderness journey 00:25:57.280 --> 00:25:58.180 is a preparation 00:25:58.180 --> 00:25:59.340 for a greater, 00:25:59.780 --> 00:26:01.380 more fruitful ministry impact. 00:26:02.820 --> 00:26:03.680 Many of you 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:04.520 are probably familiar 00:26:04.520 --> 00:26:05.220 with the story 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:06.440 of John Bunyan, 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:07.360 the author 00:26:07.360 --> 00:26:08.920 of Pilgrim's Progress, 00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:10.519 an allegory 00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:11.340 about how 00:26:11.340 --> 00:26:13.000 Christian leaves 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:16.060 the city of destruction 00:26:16.060 --> 00:26:17.100 and he goes 00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:18.620 to the celestial city. 00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:21.420 And the story 00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:22.640 is all about 00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:23.400 the trials 00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:24.140 that he faces 00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:24.880 and the victories 00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:25.600 that he overcomes 00:26:25.600 --> 00:26:26.360 and the companions 00:26:26.360 --> 00:26:26.960 that he meets 00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:27.580 along the way. 00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:29.279 And it's a beautiful story 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:29.980 that has been 00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:31.060 translated 00:26:31.060 --> 00:26:32.019 into many, 00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:33.160 many different languages. 00:26:33.160 --> 00:26:34.320 It's a very, 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:36.000 very popular story 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:38.279 and it's been 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:39.100 very helpful 00:26:39.100 --> 00:26:40.440 to many people. 00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:41.480 But you know, 00:26:41.560 --> 00:26:42.380 John Bunyan lived 00:26:42.380 --> 00:26:43.580 in the 1600s 00:26:43.580 --> 00:26:44.100 in Britain 00:26:44.100 --> 00:26:45.740 and during that time 00:26:45.740 --> 00:26:46.519 there was a lot 00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:47.100 of tension 00:26:47.100 --> 00:26:48.100 within the church 00:26:48.100 --> 00:26:49.680 because the Church 00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:50.220 of England 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:52.740 was a state church 00:26:52.740 --> 00:26:53.860 and they had 00:26:53.860 --> 00:26:54.480 certain ways 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.180 of doing things, 00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:56.340 they had certain structures, 00:26:56.560 --> 00:26:57.460 they had certain ways 00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.500 of organizing things 00:26:58.500 --> 00:26:59.620 and then there was 00:26:59.620 --> 00:27:00.380 a group of, 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.340 they called them 00:27:01.340 --> 00:27:02.580 non-conformists 00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:03.879 they were people 00:27:03.879 --> 00:27:04.399 that said, 00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:04.679 you know, 00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:05.819 we need freedom 00:27:05.819 --> 00:27:07.039 to worship God 00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:08.399 the way that our 00:27:08.399 --> 00:27:09.419 conscience dictates 00:27:09.419 --> 00:27:10.159 according to the 00:27:10.159 --> 00:27:10.740 word of God. 00:27:12.299 --> 00:27:13.139 We don't want 00:27:13.139 --> 00:27:14.359 to follow the structures, 00:27:14.599 --> 00:27:15.059 we don't want 00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:15.939 to stay with these 00:27:15.939 --> 00:27:17.460 traditions that are 00:27:17.460 --> 00:27:19.439 sometimes more secular 00:27:19.439 --> 00:27:20.299 than godly 00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:22.119 and we want the freedom, 00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:23.039 we need the freedom 00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:24.759 to share. 00:27:25.439 --> 00:27:25.799 And so, 00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:26.720 there were people 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:27.559 like the Methodists 00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:28.240 that grew out of it, 00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:28.799 there were people 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:29.899 like the pilgrims 00:27:29.899 --> 00:27:30.639 that grew out of 00:27:30.639 --> 00:27:32.299 this non-conformist 00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:33.440 group that said, 00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:34.619 we are going 00:27:34.619 --> 00:27:35.599 to walk with God 00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:36.419 and worship God 00:27:36.419 --> 00:27:37.279 and study the word 00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:37.759 of God 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:39.460 and seek to be 00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:40.139 faithful to him. 00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:41.159 And John Bunyan 00:27:41.159 --> 00:27:41.980 was a pastor 00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:43.680 in this non-conformist 00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:44.379 church group 00:27:44.379 --> 00:27:46.519 and because 00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.960 he refused 00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:48.980 to conform 00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:50.759 to the state church, 00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:52.720 he ended up 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:53.359 being in prison. 00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:54.940 He spent 12 and a half 00:27:54.940 --> 00:27:55.839 years in prison 00:27:55.839 --> 00:27:57.759 and his heart 00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:58.559 was to be with 00:27:58.559 --> 00:27:59.000 the people 00:27:59.000 --> 00:28:00.039 and to be pastoring 00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:00.519 the people 00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.799 and he used 00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:02.379 his time 00:28:02.379 --> 00:28:02.960 in prison 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:03.700 to write. 00:28:04.139 --> 00:28:04.680 And he wrote 00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:05.539 numerous things 00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:06.539 but among them 00:28:06.539 --> 00:28:07.019 he wrote 00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:08.180 The Pilgrim's Progress. 00:28:10.899 --> 00:28:12.099 During that time 00:28:12.099 --> 00:28:12.839 of what we might 00:28:12.839 --> 00:28:14.139 call wilderness time 00:28:14.139 --> 00:28:15.399 or desert time, 00:28:16.159 --> 00:28:16.779 John Bunyan 00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:17.519 ended up 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.839 writing something 00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:20.099 that has given 00:28:20.099 --> 00:28:20.619 people 00:28:20.619 --> 00:28:22.700 a lot of guidance 00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.220 in their 00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:24.539 Christian walk. 00:28:25.399 --> 00:28:26.039 It has given 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:27.240 people hope 00:28:27.240 --> 00:28:28.019 in their struggles, 00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:29.680 it has given 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:30.200 people 00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:32.059 an insight 00:28:32.059 --> 00:28:33.379 into some 00:28:33.379 --> 00:28:34.779 of the things 00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.339 that happen 00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:36.059 in our Christian 00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:37.000 life and the 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:37.319 struggle, 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.379 the spiritual 00:28:38.379 --> 00:28:40.720 conflict that 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.519 is behind it. 00:28:42.660 --> 00:28:43.480 Would he have 00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:44.019 been able to 00:28:44.019 --> 00:28:44.879 write with such 00:28:44.879 --> 00:28:45.400 insight, 00:28:45.579 --> 00:28:46.339 with such depth 00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:47.200 and such clarity 00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:48.619 if he hadn't 00:28:48.619 --> 00:28:49.079 lived that 00:28:49.079 --> 00:28:49.579 experience? 00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:52.819 So, 00:28:53.480 --> 00:28:55.039 where are you 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:55.379 today? 00:28:55.380 --> 00:28:56.840 If we think 00:28:56.840 --> 00:28:57.360 back to the 00:28:57.360 --> 00:28:58.040 example of 00:28:58.040 --> 00:28:58.880 the Israelites 00:28:58.880 --> 00:28:59.520 in Egypt 00:28:59.520 --> 00:29:00.380 in bondage, 00:29:01.260 --> 00:29:01.840 moving through 00:29:01.840 --> 00:29:02.360 the wilderness, 00:29:03.600 --> 00:29:04.080 entering the 00:29:04.080 --> 00:29:04.900 promised land, 00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:07.160 where are you? 00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:09.720 Perhaps 00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.200 there's someone 00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:10.920 here today 00:29:10.920 --> 00:29:12.320 that says, 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:12.600 you know, 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:13.760 when I really 00:29:13.760 --> 00:29:14.380 look at my 00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:14.740 life, 00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:16.040 I have to 00:29:16.040 --> 00:29:16.360 say, 00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:18.120 I don't know 00:29:18.120 --> 00:29:18.680 freedom in 00:29:18.680 --> 00:29:19.000 Christ. 00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.400 I don't know 00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:21.100 if I'm saved. 00:29:21.220 --> 00:29:21.720 I don't know 00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:22.400 if I would die 00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:22.660 today, 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:23.160 I don't know 00:29:23.160 --> 00:29:23.740 if I'd go to 00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:23.980 heaven. 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:25.680 I don't know 00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:26.240 if my sins 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:26.779 are forgiven. 00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:28.660 Maybe there's 00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:29.099 someone here 00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:30.180 that struggles 00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:30.660 with those 00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:31.240 questions. 00:29:32.620 --> 00:29:33.440 And God's 00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:34.200 answer to you 00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:34.779 today is, 00:29:34.900 --> 00:29:35.779 you can know. 00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:37.559 You can know 00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:38.059 that Jesus 00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:39.039 died for your 00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:39.299 sins. 00:29:39.420 --> 00:29:40.339 You can know 00:29:40.339 --> 00:29:41.140 that your 00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:41.579 sins are 00:29:41.579 --> 00:29:41.960 forgiven. 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:42.980 You can know 00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:43.579 that you don't 00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:44.220 have to live 00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:45.019 in bondage. 00:29:45.319 --> 00:29:45.620 You don't 00:29:45.620 --> 00:29:46.200 have to live 00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:47.259 with all the 00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:47.720 things that 00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.460 hold you back 00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:49.160 from the best 00:29:49.160 --> 00:29:49.880 life that God 00:29:49.880 --> 00:29:50.660 has for you. 00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:52.660 You can 00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:53.420 simply confess 00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:54.100 your sin 00:29:54.100 --> 00:29:54.640 to God. 00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:55.360 You can 00:29:55.360 --> 00:29:56.000 believe that 00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:56.700 Jesus Christ 00:29:56.700 --> 00:29:57.380 died for 00:29:57.380 --> 00:29:57.900 your sins. 00:29:58.360 --> 00:29:58.680 You can 00:29:58.680 --> 00:29:58.940 say, 00:29:59.080 --> 00:29:59.279 yes, 00:29:59.580 --> 00:30:00.100 I admit 00:30:00.100 --> 00:30:00.460 that I 00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:00.779 have a 00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:01.100 need. 00:30:01.600 --> 00:30:02.160 I admit 00:30:02.160 --> 00:30:02.540 that I 00:30:02.540 --> 00:30:02.880 am a 00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:03.100 sinner. 00:30:03.400 --> 00:30:03.820 I admit 00:30:03.820 --> 00:30:04.200 that I 00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:04.600 don't have 00:30:04.600 --> 00:30:04.900 the gift 00:30:04.900 --> 00:30:05.300 of eternal 00:30:05.300 --> 00:30:05.519 life, 00:30:05.660 --> 00:30:06.259 but God, 00:30:06.320 --> 00:30:06.680 I turn 00:30:06.680 --> 00:30:07.140 to you. 00:30:07.540 --> 00:30:08.120 I offer 00:30:08.120 --> 00:30:08.540 you my 00:30:08.540 --> 00:30:08.880 life. 00:30:09.140 --> 00:30:09.500 I ask 00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:09.800 you to 00:30:09.800 --> 00:30:10.100 cleanse 00:30:10.100 --> 00:30:10.400 me, 00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:11.360 and I 00:30:11.360 --> 00:30:12.200 thank and 00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:12.620 praise you 00:30:12.620 --> 00:30:13.019 for giving 00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:13.360 me the 00:30:13.360 --> 00:30:13.779 hope and 00:30:13.779 --> 00:30:14.100 the gift 00:30:14.100 --> 00:30:14.540 of eternal 00:30:14.540 --> 00:30:14.920 life. 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.340 And you 00:30:16.340 --> 00:30:16.740 can enter 00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.200 into that 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:17.660 joy and 00:30:17.660 --> 00:30:18.120 that freedom 00:30:18.120 --> 00:30:18.660 that Jesus 00:30:18.660 --> 00:30:19.480 Christ offers, 00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:20.360 that gift 00:30:20.360 --> 00:30:20.960 of eternal 00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:22.220 life that 00:30:22.220 --> 00:30:24.519 will not 00:30:24.519 --> 00:30:24.960 be taken 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:25.480 from you. 00:30:25.539 --> 00:30:25.779 You can 00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:26.220 thank him 00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:26.779 for that. 00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:29.279 Perhaps 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:30.099 today you're 00:30:30.099 --> 00:30:30.559 living in 00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:31.079 that promised 00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:31.559 land. 00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:32.240 Perhaps 00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:32.740 today when 00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:33.019 you look 00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:33.240 at your 00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:33.539 life you 00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:33.700 say, 00:30:33.860 --> 00:30:34.099 yes, 00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:34.759 you know, 00:30:34.839 --> 00:30:35.120 I am 00:30:35.120 --> 00:30:35.640 living in 00:30:35.640 --> 00:30:36.160 the abundance 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:36.799 of God's 00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:37.180 blessing. 00:30:37.620 --> 00:30:38.259 I walk 00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:38.579 in his 00:30:38.579 --> 00:30:38.980 presence. 00:30:39.079 --> 00:30:39.539 His word 00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.099 is alive 00:30:40.099 --> 00:30:40.579 to me, 00:30:41.079 --> 00:30:42.039 and I 00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:42.480 am just 00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:43.299 living in 00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:43.960 joy and 00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:44.539 in victory. 00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:45.740 If you 00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:45.920 are, 00:30:46.059 --> 00:30:46.720 praise God. 00:30:47.220 --> 00:30:47.640 That's a 00:30:47.640 --> 00:30:48.079 good place 00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:48.400 to be 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:49.320 because your 00:30:49.320 --> 00:30:50.920 joy and 00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:51.380 your life 00:30:51.380 --> 00:30:51.900 with Christ 00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:52.880 will overflow 00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:53.820 and it 00:30:53.820 --> 00:30:54.480 will influence 00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:55.120 and impact 00:30:55.120 --> 00:30:55.820 other people's 00:30:55.820 --> 00:30:56.360 lives around 00:30:56.360 --> 00:30:56.620 you. 00:30:56.960 --> 00:30:57.380 And that's 00:30:57.380 --> 00:30:57.720 a great 00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:58.500 blessed place 00:30:58.500 --> 00:30:58.900 to be. 00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:02.180 Perhaps 00:31:02.180 --> 00:31:02.680 you're living 00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:03.060 in that 00:31:03.060 --> 00:31:03.519 in-between 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:04.019 place. 00:31:06.540 --> 00:31:07.240 What I'd 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:07.640 say to you 00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:08.100 this morning 00:31:08.100 --> 00:31:08.660 if you are 00:31:08.660 --> 00:31:09.360 is don't 00:31:09.360 --> 00:31:09.860 believe the 00:31:09.860 --> 00:31:10.280 lie that 00:31:10.280 --> 00:31:10.860 God has 00:31:10.860 --> 00:31:11.240 abandoned 00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:11.540 you. 00:31:11.880 --> 00:31:12.240 Don't 00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:12.720 believe the 00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:13.180 lie that 00:31:13.180 --> 00:31:13.860 God doesn't 00:31:13.860 --> 00:31:14.200 care. 00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:15.920 Put down 00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:16.540 your roots 00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.960 into God's 00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:18.279 word. 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:19.500 Believe what 00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:20.019 he says 00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:20.599 when he 00:31:20.599 --> 00:31:21.000 says in 00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:21.859 Isaiah 30 00:31:21.859 --> 00:31:22.779 verse 15, 00:31:22.940 --> 00:31:23.619 in repentance 00:31:23.619 --> 00:31:24.420 and rest 00:31:24.420 --> 00:31:25.099 is your 00:31:25.099 --> 00:31:25.659 salvation, 00:31:26.420 --> 00:31:27.460 in quietness 00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:28.099 and trust 00:31:28.099 --> 00:31:29.019 is your 00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:29.539 strength. 00:31:31.619 --> 00:31:32.460 Maybe you'll 00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:33.099 never see 00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:33.759 this side of 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:34.259 eternity, 00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:35.359 what God's 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:36.039 purpose is 00:31:36.039 --> 00:31:36.680 in leading 00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:37.079 you through 00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:38.579 that desert 00:31:38.579 --> 00:31:39.000 place, 00:31:39.079 --> 00:31:39.500 that wilderness 00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:40.000 place. 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:41.920 But remind 00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:42.559 yourself 00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:44.259 that the 00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:44.819 God who 00:31:44.819 --> 00:31:45.419 loves you 00:31:45.419 --> 00:31:46.039 enough to 00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:46.559 give his 00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:47.659 only begotten 00:31:47.659 --> 00:31:48.579 son to 00:31:48.579 --> 00:31:49.119 die in 00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:49.779 your place 00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:51.200 has a 00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:52.299 good plan 00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:53.039 for you. 00:31:55.339 --> 00:31:56.019 When I 00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:56.339 was a 00:31:56.339 --> 00:31:56.659 kid we 00:31:56.659 --> 00:31:57.000 used to 00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:57.339 sing a 00:31:57.339 --> 00:31:57.539 song 00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:57.859 together. 00:31:58.079 --> 00:31:58.460 In our 00:31:58.460 --> 00:31:58.879 family 00:31:58.879 --> 00:31:59.339 devotion 00:31:59.339 --> 00:31:59.839 time we 00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:00.200 sometimes 00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:00.819 ended by 00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:01.279 singing a 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:01.779 little chorus 00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:02.179 together. 00:32:03.139 --> 00:32:03.740 We'd sing 00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:04.220 together, 00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:06.379 My Lord 00:32:06.379 --> 00:32:07.099 knows the 00:32:07.099 --> 00:32:07.919 way through 00:32:07.919 --> 00:32:09.559 the wilderness, 00:32:09.559 --> 00:32:11.619 all I 00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:12.179 have to 00:32:12.179 --> 00:32:13.299 do is 00:32:13.299 --> 00:32:14.799 follow, 00:32:15.379 --> 00:32:16.619 my Lord 00:32:16.619 --> 00:32:17.399 knows the 00:32:17.399 --> 00:32:18.240 way through 00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:19.879 the wilderness, 00:32:20.879 --> 00:32:21.839 all I 00:32:21.839 --> 00:32:22.399 have to 00:32:22.399 --> 00:32:23.559 do is 00:32:23.559 --> 00:32:24.940 follow. 00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:26.759 Strength 00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:27.819 for today 00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:29.299 is mine 00:32:29.299 --> 00:32:29.940 all the 00:32:29.940 --> 00:32:30.519 way, 00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:31.759 and all 00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:32.399 that I 00:32:32.399 --> 00:32:33.339 need for 00:32:33.339 --> 00:32:35.000 tomorrow, 00:32:35.419 --> 00:32:36.839 my Lord 00:32:36.839 --> 00:32:37.619 knows the 00:32:37.619 --> 00:32:38.440 way through 00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:40.180 the wilderness, 00:32:41.080 --> 00:32:42.240 all I 00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:42.820 have to 00:32:42.820 --> 00:32:44.039 do is 00:32:44.039 --> 00:32:45.660 follow. 00:32:48.500 --> 00:32:49.140 God 00:32:49.140 --> 00:32:49.580 bless you 00:32:49.580 --> 00:32:49.840 as you 00:32:49.840 --> 00:32:50.340 follow him.