The Wilderness

As the Spirit of Elijah comes upon the body of Christ we are to prepare the way of the Lord. As a voice crying in the wilderness, calling for the spirit of holiness to rise within us. Purifying our temples holy and blameless before the throne of our God.

A COMMAND TO WORSHIP IN THE WILDERNESS

Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place and rest a while. These are the words of Jesus as spoken to the disciples when they needed rest. The body of Christ is weary. Many are marching without direction, uncertain of where they are to go next.

I find so much of the army is marking time in the wilderness. This has bred confusion. As our perception of the wildernesses that it is strictly a place of testing and trials. This is not so.

When the Lord shared the teaching “Speak to the Rock” with me I still did not understand the fullness of what He desired to show me. I began to study deeper about the desert and wilderness. I found according to the word it has many attributes. Hidden manna and abundance of revelation is waiting for us as we draw in unto the Lord. It is time we worship in the wilderness to the most High God. This will usher in the next wave. Out of the pureness of worship will come the glory of the Lord.

The wilderness is indeed a place for testing. Jesus was lead by the Spirit of the Lord into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Matt 4:1  Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. The same thing occurs today to reveal our hearts and help us grow in the fruit of the Spirit. It is used to humble and prove us to know the intentions of our heart. Whether we will keep His commandments or not.

Deu 8:2  And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

We can also be driven by the enemy into a dry and barren land.  Wandering aimlessly looking for fulfillment from the Lord. As the man possessed with devils. He found no rest as he was driven of the devil into the wilderness. Luke 8:29  (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

This has been the extent of most of our understanding concerning the wilderness. Be tested, grow and get out. We have been taught to endure, awaiting freedom from the wilderness. The question is freedom from what and freedom to do what. Just where do we go when we leave the wilderness. There are only two places available, Egypt and the promise land. What we have overlooked is the call of the Lord to worship Him while in the wilderness. To go to the mountain of the Lord away from Egypt and know Him.  Seeking direction from the Lord and allowing Him to write upon the tables of our hearts His commandments for our lives. To know Him with intimacy and trust. Only by following this dictate can we receive the fullness of our inheritance.

In the wilderness there is much yet to be discovered. It has been ordained by God as a place of refuge for His people. Rivers of living water are available along with abundant manna. It has been prophesied the desolate places will abound. It is important for us to grasp the power and position of the wilderness. In order to receive the abundance that is coming to the Bride, we must be in position to receive. The wilderness grooms a total dependency upon Father God to supply our needs.

Much of the body is now marching in the desert. Not sure why or where they are going next. Because of religious teaching some are feeling they are being punished. This is a false belief in many cases. Others have not overcome to go beyond the solitary place. They are hurt and  isolating not drawing unto the Lord. Fear is driving them because of lack of vision. We are now at a time where the Spirit of the Lord has lead many into the wilderness to be tested. To bring focus upon the Lord and Him alone. Calling us to give total control and faith in His desires. Worshipping in spirit and truth.

There are some who, not understanding the significance of the wilderness have grown cold and bitter. They feel the Lord has forsaken them. They like the children of Israel they have fallen into doubt ,unbelief, idolatry, jealousies, envies, sedition’s, and lusts. Their mind has been ensnared by the enemy. Thinking about their former life in Egypt or fear has overtaken them. Some have come against leadership appointed to cover and lead them into freedom. Others have failed to grow in faith trusting the Lord to bring them through. Forgetting the miracles done by His mighty hand.

Others have endured, drawing closer to the Father. Seeking the fullness of His face. Traversing to the backside of the desert to get to the mountain of God. Desiring intimacy beyond what has ever been felt before. During these wanderings He has allowed hearts and minds to be tempted by satan to see if we would bow when offered power, wealth or position. Some have overcome and now stand. Still unsure of where they have come from and equally unsure of where they are to go. These individuals are awaiting orders from the King of Kings. Marching in a peace that passes all understanding.

Just as Jesus was released after His temptation so have they who have overcome been released. The angels have come forth to minister peace. They are available to minister to the needs of the Bride.

 Matt 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

As we are ministered to by the angels of the Lord it is important to understand where we are to proceed next. This transition is of a spiritual nature. It cannot be comprehended or understood in the natural. Spiritual can only understand spiritual. We are in the time and season appointed for the spirit of Elijah to herald the way of the Lord. This was done from the wilderness. There is power, wisdom, water and manna available there.

When John the Baptist was growing in the Lord. He went into the desert to receive the wisdom of the Lord. After Paul’s conversion, the Spirit led him to Arabia to grow in the knowledge. Even Jesus, when He desired time alone with the Father went to the desert.

The wilderness and solitary place is where we go to grow. Not just endure. It is a place of service to the Lord. This is a place we have been commanded to go and worship the Lord. Even Moses when he went to pharaoh with the Lords commandments spoke of this. The wilderness is a place of praise to the Lord. We are commanded to serve him there. To seek Him out and to rely totally on Him for our strength.

[Exo 7:16] And thou shalt say unto him, The Lord God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.

[Exo 5:1] And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

It is important to understand what is found in the wilderness. Also what is to come in the wilderness as time progresses towards the coming of our Lord. Isaiah gives a beautiful account of what to expect. Isa 35:1-8, “ The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.  Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness;  the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” 

 Isiah 51:3  For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.4 Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.

As the rivers come forth joy, gladness, thanksgiving and the voice of melody break out. We have been freed from the bondage of Egypt to go forth and serve the Lord with all our heart. As we do this the desert breaks forth with gladness. The Kingdom of God is manifested. We possess righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Inheriting the promise and therefore receiving freedom.

There are provisions we must live by so we may enter in and receive the fullness of the promise. We are warned not to harden our hearts as in the day of provocation. In the day of temptation in the wilderness. The same cry comes from the mountain of the Lord today. We must not allow unforgiveness and sin to harden our hearts. We cannot allow the defilement of the world to enter into our hearts 

Heb 3:7  Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Heb 3:8  Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: Heb 3:9  When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Heb 3:10  Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.

It is a choice to not harden our hearts. So many are not walking in peace and rest because of hardened hearts. They are as stony ground which is not able to receive the seed to bring forth fruit of the Spirit. They are offended and continue to offend because of the hurt. Rejection within the body has perpetuated this spiritual disease. Therefore many are perishing. Unbelief becomes a product of hardness and we cannot draw close to the Lord.

Heb 3:11  So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
Heb 3:12  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Sin will also harden our hearts. So it is so important to love the Lord with all our hearts. Exhorting one another daily with accountability unto the word of God. Separation will not soften hearts, brotherly unity and love will. The importance of this cannot be understated.

Our revelation of the wilderness does not stop at the lessons of Moses and the children of Israel. It carries over into the new testament and Jesus with some amazing correlation’s. As I began on my search the Lord first lead me to the miracle of the fishes and the loaves. Mat 15:33  And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?

Through natural eyes the disciples could not see how to fill the needs of the people. Jesus had to give an example of His power. They had seen many miracles already. But because of unbelief their faith was not yet full.

Mat 15:34  And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
Mat 15:35  And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
Mat 15:36  And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
Mat 15:37And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. Mat 15:38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.

Once again the wilderness was a place where Gods people were fed. Not only with spiritual food, but the Lord supplied them with natural provision. In such abundance it fed all that were there were left overs. The same spiritual and natural power is available to the body of Christ today. When we are in the desert manna comes as bread from heaven. We only need use the spiritual authority which was given to us by Jesus.

[John 14:12] Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
[Mark 16:17] And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
[Mark 16:18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

To become more like Jesus and walk in the power available we must focus on who He was and learn to know Him intimately. Through this relationship with Jesus we automatically are drawn to the Father. One of the main reasons Jesus came was so we might be reconciled to the Father. Able to have an intimate relationship with Him. 

[John 14:6] Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.[John 14:7] If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.[2 Cor 5:18] And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;[2 Cor 5:19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Now knowing the reason for reconciliation. We are to draw into the Father. Knowing Him with an intimacy that comes through Jesus Christ. This is only accomplished away from the pulls of the world. Through a separation that comes in the wilderness. In a place where we can hear the still small voice of the Spirit. There is rest for Gods people who learn to be separate. Holiness comes from intimacy with the Father not by isolation. Jesus walked in the world but was not a friend to the world. This is our example. Now this does not mean a separation by works or self denial. It is a separation of our hearts. A surrender to the word and desires of the Father

When Jesus desired to speak privately to the disciples he always departed into a desert or solitary place. This is where the people of God can find rest and revelation if they can receive it. Mark 6:31And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

Mark 6:32  And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.[Mat 24:3] And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?[Mat 24:4] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.[Mark 13:3] And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, Luke 9:10] And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, And went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 

[Luke 10:23] And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:

[Luke 10:24] For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 

If we desire to know the hidden mysteries of the gospel we must go into a desert place and privately listen to Jesus. There is indeed no scripture open to private interpretation. But the word is very clear wisdom, knowledge, and revelation will be given unto them who seek it. This wisdom does not have selfish motive but is intended to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. As Paul spoke,[1 Cor 2:4] And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power:

[1 Cor 2:5] That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

[1 Cor 2:6] Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect(mature): yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

[1 Cor 2:7] But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

Now here is where we are today. As the voice of one crying in the wilderness. The reason is solely to turns hearts and remove disobediance. This will be done not with enticing words but by a demonstration of power. The power will be unlike what we have ever seen before. With a wisdom unlike that of man to prepare a people, holy and chaste before the Lord. [Luke 1:17] And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

The wisdom of God is liberally available for us. It will be given by the Spirit of the Lord to perform the desire of the Father. We only need ask and it is available. James 1:5] If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

[James 1:6] But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

[James 1:7] For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

[James 1:8] A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

When we desire to go into the secret place, our Lord will share the mysteries of the gospel. Giving the wisdom of God unto the babes to confound those who are wise in their own eyes. God will have no gods before Him. Especially not the wisdom of our own minds. For the wisdom of men makes the cross of Christ of none effect.

[Luke 10:21] In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.[1 Cor 1:17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. Luke 21:15] For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

Paul tells us the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. Our human wisdom will deceive our own heart. We are to be careful not to fall into a quest for human knowledge but instead a thirst for truth. Not perverting the simplicity which is Christ. This is so we may not be glorified in our own conceits. [1 Cor 3:18] Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

[1 Cor 3:19] For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

[1 Cor 3:20] And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.[1 Cor 3:21] Therefore let no man glory in men.

 [1 Cor 1:27] But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

[1 Cor 1:28] And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

[1 Cor 1:29] That no flesh should glory in his presence. 

The Father desires fellowship with us. Not for us to show our own wisdom but an intimate relationship where we are in total reliance upon His supplying all our needs and desires. The wilderness grooms patience and faith. It is a very important fruit needed within us. When we wander in the desert the confusion of the world and the influences of Egypt are left behind. When we cast fear away and allow the Spirit of the Lord to lead us great peace comes.

We learn to listen and talk with the Lord. Our direction for every step is totally based upon our trust and faith Him. Knowing He has our best interests in mind. It is time to worship our Lord as He has called us to do.

In HIS Service,
Teresa Daly-Crews

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