Many Christians are quick to accuse the devil of getting them in the wilderness. Nay my brother! Not so my sister!Luke 4:1 tells us that The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. Don’t be too familiar with this scripture, take a moment and think, Jesus? Wilderness? Holy Spirit?
Well, my dear, don’t be quick to assume that Jesus went through wilderness so you won’t go there. Jesus went through and came out victorious, this is our consolation, that there is victory at the end of these experiences. 2 Corinthians 1:5- for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Don’t be afraid of these Words ‘trials’ ,’tribulations’ and afflictions’, for example in Greek, affliction is translated ‘thlipsis’ meaning pressure, it was used several times in the new testament, associated with people who were very spiritual and really knew God,e.g Apostle Paul (2cor 6:4,1 Thess3:3 etc)
However, you must BE ABLE TO DICSERN EVERY EXPERIENCE, how soon you would come out is dependent on your UNDERSTANDING AND ATTITUDE towards it. I would expand on the UNDERSTANDING aspect today while I talk about the ATTITUDE Tomorrow.
1. You must be able to discern if what you are going through is from God or from the devil. How? Anything anti- redemption is not a wilderness experience i.e all that Jesus died for and took on your behalf on the cross should not be found in youe.g sicknesses, Christ took it(1peter 2:24),so God won’t test you with sickness.It can be delay, waiting, denial of some sorts, inadequacy, insults, beatings etc. Whatever does not align with the scriptures cannot be from God. Pray and search the scriptures diligently to be sure you are in the will of God. Make sure you are led by the Spirit.
2. You must understand that every wilderness experience is to mature your character. Strong characters are produced under pressure. Hey 5:8 says about Jesus, ‘though He was a Son, yet He learned OBEDIENCE by the things He suffered’. It is to bring out the best in you,it will make you and break you. It will grow you spiritually in a hurry.
3. It teaches you to trust God more. The genuineness of our faith is proven with trials (1 Peter 1:7) It is not enough to say you have Faith, we would know you do when you go through stuffs and come out strong. The real beauty of gold comes out when it has passed through fire. So also, the real faith in you is proven by this experience.
4. In the midst of this, there is a comfort you would enjoy knowing you are in the will of God. Your spirit would be at rest, you will be pressed but not crushed, your persecution would not be to abandonment, in the midst of it all, your inner strength would be renewed day by day, you would rejoice knowing it’s only a momentary affliction working out a heavy weight of glory……(2 Cor 4:8-18)
5. The greater the glory that lies ahead, the thicker your wilderness experience. So rejoice! About Jesus, Heb 12:2 says ‘ who for the joy set before Him endured the cross.
6. When you come out of it victorious, your testimony becomes a source of encouragement unto others. You are able to communicate better the Word you have HANDLED. 2Cor 1:3-4 ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comdorte, who comforts us in all our tribulations, THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO COMFORT THOSE WHO ARE IN ANY TROUBLE WITH THE COMFORT WITH WHICH WE OURSELVES ARE COMFORTED BY GOD.
TO BE CONTINUED…..
