Sunday Re-cap 28th August

Sweet Wilderness
by Sam Hari

Who is this coming up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved?
Songs 8:5 (NLT)

The first part of the scripture asks "Who is this?"

• from Scriptures we see that no one is exepted from the "wilderness" experience. Ex: Adam & Eve (Gen 3:23-24; Cain (Gen 4:12-14); Joseph (Gen 37, 39-41); Moses (Ex 2,3); Jesus (Luke 4:1).
• this means we are also not exempt from the "wilderness" experiences such as betrayal, family problems, sicknesses, financial challenges, relationship issues, etc.
• We don't need to go looking for our "wilderness" experiences, it will come to us. Lk 4:1
• Interesting to note that "wilderness" experiences in scriptures came after mountaintop experiences i.e. Joseph (Gen 37), Moses (Ex 2:11-15) and Elijah (1 kgs 18:40 & 1 Kgs 19:1-2).

The second part says "coming up from the wilderness"

• The LORD intends everyone to "come up" from our "wilderness" experience. We need not "go down" or "stay down" in our "wilderness". We are not alone. He will help us! He wants to help us!
• we must be careful not to respond incorrectly when in wilderness experience i.e. blame oursleves, blame others, complain, blame the devil, lean on human wisdom, etc.
• we must be careful not to have a pessimistic outlook of GOD because it will affect the words we say, people around us and ourselves.
• A pessimistic attitude may lead to a stronghold and eventually demonic activity if we aren't careful. Seek help and seek deliverance before it's too late.

The third part says "Leaning on her beloved"

The purpose of the wilderness experience is:

• so that we may worship Him. Ex 7:16, 2 Chr 20:20-25.
• it's in the wilderness that God removes our dependency on everything else but Him alone.
• we worship God for who He is in the "wilderness" and not for what He has done (mountaintop praise).
• God will sometimes allow our lives to go through cycles of mountaintop (praise) as well as wilderness (worship) experiences to make us balanced believers.
• God will move us from our comfort zones to the wilderness to wake us up to His will and purposes (captivity in Egypt, Babylon, Gaza Evacuation).