WTFMT-39 HGM on 20 Dec 2016

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-39   (Without Margin Notes)

TEXT: "Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward. And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore: Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession. Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink. For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing." (Deuteronomy-7)

 

I. THE CHANGING OF PATTERNS

A. When God, in training us, calls us from a particular situation, do not be overjoyed. He may be calling us to even a more difficult situations.

B. God will bring us from one pattern to another. The children of Israel never had to buy water; they never had to buy meat. But now they do. Things are not as easy as they used to be. Training does not get easier; it gets harder. But, as we are being trained, we are gaining strength and are growing in Him.

C. Do not allow changing patterns to discourage your dedication to the Lord. Changing patterns are an absolute necessary. Today you wear size 10. Tomorrow you will wear size 12. God will change your patterns to suit your growing needs.

D. In addition to patterns changes in circumstances and training, even prayer patterns will change. As there are changes in the outward natural and physical patterns, there will be changes in the outward and inner spiritual patterns.

E. As our patterns change so does our understanding and knowledge of God. We then see His love in a greater way, as such as never seen before.

F. This love of God for His people contains a tremendous desire to give. His ultimate giving is not seen in the things He provides, but in His giving Himself. God wants to share Himself with His people to such an extent that we become partakers of His divine nature. This is what the Peter expresses, "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (II Peter 1:4)

G. This is quite a task God has, getting into us His own character. Partaking of the divine nature lays the foundation for the partaking of His character. Partaking of the divine nature is instantaneous at the new birth, the divine character, however, takes a lifetime.

H. God must put a divine character in one who is filled with "undivine" characteristics. In order for the love of God to become characteristics in us, hate must be eliminated. In order for the dedication of God to become characteristic in us dedication to self must be eliminated. In order for God's spirit of giving to become characteristic in us, selfishness must be eliminated.

I. God puts the squeeze on us, to squeeze out certain juices in order to make room for other kinds.

J. If we know what God is up to when the pressure is on, when the fire is burning the dross, we can better maintain our personal dedication. When we understand what God is doing and why, we will more readily endure the fire and the valley of the shadow of death.

K. God's peace will not characterize one is whom there is unrest. In order for God to work divine trust into us, He must squeeze out that "undivine" doubt. This is the reason for the wilderness and the trials. Every trial, every circumstance, every experience, will be tailored our personal being and needs.

L. Through all the testings and times of enlargement of God is translating truth into our life and living. Know this and be faithful to Him. Know the Truth for the Truth will make us free to live it.

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

A. There is so much to know of the things of God. But knowing is not enough. Someone may explain faith to you. You may read six books on faith. But all that does not cause you to live it, nor even to have it. God by His Spirit must translate that truth to our life. Do not be to concerned about how He does it. We just be willing to endure whatever it takes to get these things of God into our everyday living.

B. God's work within us, in order to develop us into His image, may at times be unpleasant. Some believers consider these unpleasantries evil. I wonder where they get this. It does not come from the Bible.

C. The thinking that adversity is evil comes from certain logical conclusions drawn from particular truths. But God does not operate on logical conclusions. The apostle Paul certainly did not come to such a logical conclusion. Paul saw glory in the suffering, rather than evil. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (Hebrews 2:9) Paul saw that the suffering works a very great glory in us.