Going through life would be a lot easier if everything just went our way. Do you feel like that? I know I do. I think it is important that we see that more things are going our way at times then we think. if I could walk you through a journey I will show you how the Lord directs our paths even if those paths leads us to undesirable places. I think our first problem is when we don't have the same goals as the Father does. Many of our desires our for success, money, ministry and more. None of these things are bad or wrong. There is an old saying that God build the man before the ministry. This is true and can be frustrating to many. If you are going to do anything great for God you will find yourself alone in a wilderness sooner or later.
How you fight will be important because this battle, believe it or not, has some protocols. I will try to bring you some understanding of a few verses that might help you in this season.
The Armor of God has priestly implications.
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Ephesians 6:15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Ephesians 6:16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
Ephesians 6:18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
I want you at first glance to notice that it ends with prayer, supplications and being watchful. Those are all priestly terms. All of the garments in the passage here are priestly garments. I would suggest to you that Paul is speaking to the Church at Ephesus in terminology that they would understand. So we can examine this with that understanding we can see something.
Exodus 28:4 And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skillfully woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. So they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister to Me as priest.
Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
Exodus 30:19 for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in water from it.
John 13:5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
John 13:6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”
John 13:7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
John 13:8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
John 13:9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”
Breastplate ➛ Breastplate of righteousness
Gird your waist ➛ A sash
Helmet ➛ Turban
Shield ➛ The Lord is your shield
Shod you feet ➛ Washed feet in the purity of the gospel
Sword ➛ The Word of God.
Our battles are not fought with guns and knifes, they are not fought on earthly battlegrounds, they are fought in heavenly realms in prayer. Kneeling is the best way to get victory. Yet many people might not approach this with the faith that scripture commands. Jesus tells us when we pray to believe and to forgive. Two elements that are a must for answered prayer that aren't always followed.
Let's talk about the one of faith. I love that the Lord knows we don't know how to pray completely so He helps.
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
I love the fact that even are groaning can move heaven. He even helps us target prayer. Listen to what Paul said to Timothy concerning the fight of faith.
1 Timothy 1:18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
1 Timothy 1:19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,
Many suffer shipwreck during wilderness experiences because they don't fight with the prophecies made concerning them. They forget all that the Lord has spoken over them and they begin to allow bitterness to sneak in. When this happens they almost always make the big wrong decision. Self seeking and bitter envy sound like wisdom to those who have suffered shipwreck in their faith. It is this time that you have to hang on to the word of the Lord over your life very tightly. Timothy was told that by doing so he could wage a good warfare. God has called you but that does not mean there won't be a fight.
Bill Johnson once said, "If you don't contend for it, you won't have the passion to keep it when God gives it to you." One of my favorite lines. I have lived by that statement as a core value since I heard it, six years ago today. Having words over your life is not license to role over people, be rude, or disrespectful. It is however permission to stay a course when others want to jump ship and abandon you. You will find that in this season God will send more seasoned people, those who have been through the process and they will minister to you. We have certainly experience the love and grace of others who have gone through the season.
I wish the process was simple but it can be quite painful. Trying to wait it out is not the goal, there are some things you will have to do like Israel if you want out of the wilderness.
1. The Old Man must die in the wilderness.
2. You will have to believe God for the promise land that He Himself promised you.
3. You will have to wage a warfare to possess the promise.
Time in and of itself is not the answer. The purpose of the wilderness is to renew and reshape you into the image of Christ. If time alone could do it then everyone would make it. Yet we have all seen those who have suffered shipwreck.
My prayer for you is that if you find yourself this day in this process, that the Spirit of the Lord will strengthen you and keep you. That He will lead you through the experience and you will make it all the way into your promise land.
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