Pastor Clint Williams
Twitter: @williamsclint
Facebook: Clint
BC podcast on iTunes
WHAT IF THE WILDERNESS WAS NOTHING MORE THAN THE PEOPLE’S (OUR) INCORRECT PERSPECTIVE OF GOD AND WHO HE IS?
(Exodus 13:17 NLT) When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”
(Exodus 13:18 NLT) So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.
√ Hardest lesson to learn: GOD KNOWS BEST.
(Exodus 14:12-13 NLT) Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!'” But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today…..
WILDERNESS PERSPECTIVE:
√ Earthly perspective: Place of ISOLATION & INSUFFICIENCE.
√ God’s perspective: This place is the SAME AS ANY OTHER.
El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)
Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)
Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals)
Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)
Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)
(Numbers 33:8 NLT) ….. crossed the Red Sea into the wilderness beyond. Then they traveled for three days into the Etham wilderness and camped at Marah.
(Exodus 15:25a NLT) ….. the LORD showed him a piece of wood. Moses threw it into the water, and this made the water good to drink….
√ The bitter was made sweet by MERCY & GRACE.
√ Mercy & grace should produce OBEDIENCE.
(Exodus 15:25b NLT) It was there at Marah that the LORD set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him.
(Exodus 15:26 NLT) He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you.” HE TAKES AWAY YOUR DIS – EASE HE removes the MESS in your life that causes you to look and respond AWAY FROM HIM……
(Exodus 15:27 NLT) ….. oasis of Elim, where they found twelve springs and seventy palm trees. They camped there beside the water.
√ Obedience always leads to ABUNDANCE.
(Exodus 16:3 NLT) “If only the LORD had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”
√ A changed perspective changes RELATIONSHIPS.
√ God’s PERSPECTIVE is TOTAL PROVISION.
(Exodus 16:4 NLT) ……I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you.
(John 6:31 NLT) After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.'”
(John 6:32 NLT) Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. **** STOP LOOKING TO THE PEOPLE AND THE SITUATION AROUND YOU
(John 6:33 NLT) The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
