WTFMT 80 (FROM HGM ON 25 AUG 20)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-80 TEXT:

"My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up." (Psalms 5:3)

I. ADJUSTMENT

 

A. After our discovery of our own weakness the next key comes into the picture. The second key is adjustment. We must adjust to our meager supply. Once we discover that we do not have enough we must then direct our steps accordingly.

B. This means that we cannot attempt to depend upon our limited supply. Neither should we continually gaze upon its inadequacy. Our direction must be adjusted toward the Lord. Then we discover the wonderful relationship of leaning heavily on Him. Hagar had no opportunity to lean heavily upon 40 camels loaded with supplies. If we have such an opportunity, there will be no learning to lean on our Lord. With meager provisions, Hagar soon discovered that she was in a place of need and despair. This is a great discovery.

C. What is surprising about it is that it took Hagar so long to make that discovery. She should have know her supplies were insufficient before she left Abraham. "And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba." (Genesis 21:14)

D. If it had been me, I would have said, hey, what are you trying to pull here? Of course I would spoil God's intentions and plans. Wouldn't we all ruin the ultimate fulfillment which God has in mind if we could always have everything we think need. If we could have all that we want when we want it, how would the intentions of God be fulfilled?

F. Hagar did not seem to have good foresight. When it comes to the spiritual life we also lack foresight. She took that Abraham offered her and went with Ishmael into the wilderness. There she wandered. But soon, "And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. " (Genesis 21:15-16)

G. Hagar experienced dire need and despair. This was an absolute necessity. The foundation making this experience possible was the meager provisions. With great provision you may never discover your real need. Hagar needed God more then she needed water, the most essential element of life. This one discovery becomes the base to other discoveries and all that God has for you.

H. Example, let's say you start your Christian walk with an eight ounce bottle full of faith. Because of your health and wealth you never need much faith. Then your supplies of health and wealth suddenly vanish. You discovery that your faith is not sufficient to carry you through. In desperation you seek the Author of faith. You discover the Fount. You draw from the well. The bottle of faith you once carried is forgotten.

I. Our bottle full of faith and grace does not carry an unending supply. We may experience a situation more difficult than all the bottles leaving us empty, destitute, and in need. Then we make a discovery; we didn't have as much as you thought you had.

J. Any person can have infinite patience if his patience requires only a little output. So if we have two ounces of patience per day and need only one ounce per day we then think we have infinite patience.

K. But let us get into a place where we need four ounces per day. Then what? Then there's a discovery made the discovery of weakness and insufficient supply.

L. We go into the wilderness with the our little bottle. It contains whatever God's grace and wisdom dictate for that particular time and place. Whatever we have whatever we move with will be very limited. The reason behind the limited supply is your focal point. You focus upon that which God has given you. This must be adjusted. God himself must be your focal point.

M. The Lord sends you with that limited supply. And you go as though you have it all, more than enough to see you through. At least it gets you into the wilderness; the supply has fulfilled its purpose. But it is soon spent. Then your crying the blues and begin to wonder what's going on.

N. Where is my faith and love? Your faith and love is spent. Now you discover you did not have all of the faith and love you thought you had. Listen to what Paul had to say about this, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) 

 

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

 

A. Paul discovered that his faith did not hold him as well and as long as the faith of Jesus Christ could. Remember, that Jesus said to Peter, "Why is it that your faith endured just a little time?" (Matthew 14:31G)

B. When our faith comes to the end of its ability to move we see man in himself is lacking. His shortcoming is conclusively and straightforwardly, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 323)