Spiritual Tests – Lessons Learned in Wilderness Times, part 1
Are you in a time of testing, turmoil, or confusion? This message will help you know what to do when you are experiencing a wilderness season in your life.
Feeling alone, deserted, empty, or vulnerable? This could be described as a season of wilderness. A wilderness season of life is the place where we can grow spiritually and learn about ourselves and God Almighty through the testing of our faith. Wilderness times are often very difficult times and are not desirable. Times of trials, testing, and temptations. However, the wilderness can become a place where you grow spiritually and learn of God, as you seek to depend on the Lord. It is often a place where you will witness the hand of God in your life. It is a place where you learn about yourself. It is a place where you learn of God’s blessing and presence.
This series explores what a wilderness season is, why God allows these seasons, and what should you do when you are experiencing a severe wilderness season.
Spiritual Tests Happen in The Wilderness of Life
We have looked at God’s grace for several weeks now and we have learned that the grace of God is extended to all the world, and especially to those who respond positively to the grace of God. God’s grace is undeserved, and he offers it to everyone.
My question is: how will you, or how have you, responded to the grace of God? Will you believe it, receive it, share it, and enjoy the peace of God that God’s grace brings to those who embrace the truth of God’s grace with all their heart and soul?
Choose each day to live with the grace of God:
In your heart.
On your lips.
Displayed by your actions.
Seek the Lord with all your heart and know him for who he is, as God Almighty, and not simply a granter of worldly wants or desires. Choose to seek him for who he is, the sovereign Lord and creator of all rather than for him to fulfill your desires along life’s journey.
Physical and Spiritual Wilderness
Today we are looking at life in the wilderness. Not so much in a worldly wilderness, but rather a time in life where you find yourself feeling alone, deserted, empty, and vulnerable. In a true sense, all of life is a journey in the wilderness. Oh, the degree or severity of life’s wilderness journey may change at times, but know for sure God is with you in your wilderness season of life, even when you are unaware of his presence. Know the grace of God is with you, no matter how you feel.
The grace of God is available to you in every season of life.
When I refer to wilderness, I do not mean a mountain wilderness, where you might find a cabin and enjoy a vacation spot away from work. The wilderness I am referring to is a physical and spiritual wilderness. A physical wilderness is often a deserted place, a dry and lonely place, a place of painful solitude at times. A spiritual wilderness can occur in those same places but will also occur while living in a city, walking in a crowd, working in a workplace, any place you find yourself.
The wilderness I am referring to is not a very popular place. It might be seen as a small detour within life’s journey.
I’ve shared how the Israelites, when they left Egypt, wandered in the wilderness 40 years on the way to the promised land. Their wilderness was not a populated place. It was a place of testing, solitude, a place for learning of oneself and of God Almighty, of waiting upon the Lord, of decision and of who to believe and who to follow—God or someone else, a place where they would grow spiritually and learn of God’s faithfulness or die in the wilderness outside the promised land.
As the Israelites began to take possession of the promised land, they needed to continue to rely on God to supply all their needs as well as help them defeat the enemy in the promised land. The Israelites’ wilderness experience of God’s presence and provision should have made a lasting impression in their hearts, but the Israelites quickly forgot God’s blessing and provisions and turned away from God. The same might be said for people today.
From the moment of birth, you have been on life’s journey toward eternity.
We all experience life’s journey in the wilderness and yet some of the wilderness times are much lonelier, dryer, and or painful than others. Some decisions and rebellious acts can bring about sever wilderness droughts in life, much like the Israelites’ rebellious choices we read about in scripture where the Israelites turned their backs to God Almighty and followed the evil desires of their hearts.
The wilderness is not a place anyone can avoid. The wilderness is also not a place you want to travel alone.
Wilderness times are often very difficult times and are not desirable. Times of trials, testing and temptations. In Matthew 4 we will see Jesus was led into the wilderness by the spirit of God. However, the wilderness can become a place where you grow spiritually and learn of God, as you seek to depend on the Lord. It is often a place where you will witness the hand of God in your life. It is a place where you learn about yourself. It is a place where you learn of God’s blessing and presence. Often, a person might think they will act in a particular way during certain wilderness situations. The grace Jesus extended to Peter when he denied Jesus could be said to have been a wilderness season in Peter’s life and in that season Peter’s faith is strengthened. Peter’s denial of Jesus was foretold to him. It was later that Jesus’ conversation with Peter on the beach about whether Peter loved Jesus was a wilderness learning experience that totally changed Peter’s life.
In John’s gospel, chapter 21, Jesus confronted Peter and Peter responded positively to Jesus by declaring his love for him. Peter from that point on stands firm in faith, and it will cost Peter his life. Peter was tested and found to have grown in faith to become a spiritual leader in the first century church. Peter is an example of someone who may have acted spontaneously out of fear who, having experienced the grace and love of God, did a complete 180 degree turn around in his heart and soul. Peter would later write to encourage others in their faith. Peter’s wilderness experience did not end with his denial of Jesus. Jesus met Peter where he was, and Peter responded positively and grew in his knowledge of God and in his faith in Christ the Lord. Peter learned beyond a doubt, that he could trust Jesus completely no matter how the situation may look in the natural.
A wilderness season of life is the place where we can grow spiritually and learn about ourselves and God Almighty through the testing of our faith.
Trust the Lord. Stand firm in faith.
“But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant” (Colossians 1:22-23, NIV).
Do not be led spiritually astray in the wilderness. Do not follow the lies of the enemy. Hold fast to faith in Christ.
“You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols” (1 Corinthians 12:2).
Do not conform to the way of the world. Remember the promises of God every day and especially during harsh wilderness times of testing when your faith is being tried and tested.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7).
A Warning for Wilderness Times
The wilderness can be a spiritually vulnerable and dangerous time in your life.
Do not try to walk through a wilderness time alone.
Avoid the temptation of taking the easy way out.
Be spiritually focused on God Almighty.
Choose to stand on the promises of God and the truth declared in God’s word.
What should you do when you are experiencing a time of severe wilderness?
Have you ever experienced a severe wilderness time? Maybe you are here today, and you feel that you are alone, wandering around in a desert wilderness. You feel alone. You are not sure which way to turn. You sense at times that God is distant and far away. You feel that your prayers only reach the ceiling and there is no way out of this wilderness feeling.
Stop for a moment and pray. Seek the Lord. Simply remember in life’s journey the Lord cares for you, he will provide for your needs, and he has plans for you.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Understand God loves you and he has plans for you. Know without a doubt God is always with you. He has great plans for you and, during seasons of testing in the wilderness, he is with you.
What should you consider during a wilderness season?
Let the wilderness season be a time of seeking the Lord’s will and provision.
Let it be a time of:
Learning of God’s faithfulness.
Dependence on the Lord.
Introspection into your own heart.
Dying to self.
Testing.
A willingness to be led by the spirit of God.
Listening for the voice of God in your heart and life. The voice may not be an audible voice but rather a voice (the spirit of God) that speaks to your soul.
Faith building.
Satan Tries to Separate You from God Just Like He Tried with Jesus
In Matthew 4, we find Jesus is being led by the spirit into the desert. Jesus was in the wilderness for some 40 days. He fasted and had nothing to eat while in the wilderness, and at the end of 40 days he was hungry. Jesus was tempted with human needs and desires.
Know this fact: the enemy knows your weakness. He will tempt you to follow his lies and candy-coated half-truth. He will try and try again to get you to turn away from the God Almighty just as he tried to get Jesus to sin.
‘Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him’ (Matthew 4:1-11).
Notice Jesus was led by the spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted, tested by the enemy. The spirit of God was with Jesus in the wilderness. This was something Jesus was led into by God to experience and overcome. In the wilderness Jesus was being tempted by the enemy to see if Jesus could be enticed to sin. Jesus endured the temptation and he remain faithful to God Almighty. The temptation itself was not sin, it was however a test, an enticement, a way the enemy of God tried to trick Jesus into following his voice rather than obeying the truth of God and standing firm in faith. Jesus is tempted three times. Each time the temptation Jesus faced addressed a different desire: a physical desire, hunger; a trust or authority desire, testing the truth of God’s word; a desire to avoid pain and take a spiritual shortcut.
The first was Jesus’ physical need. The second had to do with testing God and his promises. The third was for Jesus to take a shortcut and avoid the pain and suffering of the cross. If Jesus yielded to any of these three temptations, Jesus would have sinned. The third temptation might have been the hardest of all. Satan told Jesus “All this I will give you if you bow and worship me” (Matthew 4:9). Satan had no authority to give Jesus anything in my opinion and Jesus would have known this in his heart.
All of creation was God Almighty’s. The enemy’s third temptation was Satan attempting to con Jesus into thinking that he would no longer need to die on the cross. If Jesus yielded to any of these temptations, Jesus would not have been without sin. Jesus’ death and shed blood would no longer have paid the debt to sin that each of us owe.
Notice that the first two temptations start out with the words "If you are the Son of God". Satan was taunting Jesus to prove that he was the son of God by doing a miracle that satisfied his physical desire (his hunger) that he experienced. Jesus answered, this temptation with these words: "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God'" (Matthew 4:4).
Satan then sought to get Jesus to throw himself down to see if God would honor his word. The enemy twisted the word of God in his attempt to achieve his evil desire of getting Jesus to sin. Jesus responds with "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test'" (Matthew 4:7).
Satan’s third attempt to get Jesus to sin was pure and simple idolatry. This was what Satan desired more than anything. He desires your allegiance, your worship, your surrender to his evil, ungodly desire, and for you to turn away from worshiping God Almighty. Jesus tells Satan, the enemy of God, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only'" (Matthew 4:10).
Jesus chose to worship the Lord and serve him only. Jesus chose faith in God and in his word over the lies of the enemy.
Bible Examples of Wilderness Seasons
If you read through scripture, you will find others who experienced trying wilderness seasons in their lives.
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, and he lived as a slave and later became a prisoner and was forgotten by those he helped. Joseph was later raised to be second in command of all Egypt and later acknowledged to his brothers, that what his brothers meant for evil God used for good. Joseph knew he was in the place God desired him to be (see Genesis 37-50).
David, as a shepherd boy, was anointed to be king over Israel, and yet later he would run for his life from king Saul who wanted to kill him. God used those wilderness times in his life to prepare David to be king and lead the people of God (see 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel).
Elijah, after killing the prophets of Baal, ran away in fear because of Jezebel threats to kill him. Elijah experienced the provision of God. Elijah is fed by ravens and passed on the truth of God’s love and faithfulness to Elisha (see 1 Kings 17–19 and 2 Kings 1–2).
The Israelites wandered 40 years in the desert. God provided for them in every way. God then fought for the people of God as they entered to possess the promised land (see Exodus 16).
Abraham experienced a kind of wilderness, waiting some 25 years for the child of promise. He and Sarah tried to help God out when they should have waited and trusted God. It is in God’s perfect plan and timing that the child of promise is born (see Genesis 11:27-25:11).
Jonah in the belly of a whale. Jonah ran in the opposite direction God had called him to go. He refused to obey God at first. However, from within the belly of the whale Jonah said yes to the Lord and the Lord used Jonah to turn an entire city to faith in God (see Jonah).
Paul and Silas were in prison and threatened for preaching the gospel (see Acts 16:16-40).
Stephen was in a wilderness time when he was about to be stoned (see Acts 7).
Peter was in a wilderness time when he denied Jesus (see Matthew 26:31–74).
Job, and many others in both the old and new testaments, had wilderness seasons.
Each of them failed at times but they learned to trust God. They learned to remain faithful no matter how things might appear in the natural. They learned to keep the faith no matter what others might say or do.
Life for each of them was not easy. Times of imprisonment, pain, life, and death issues happened to them. Each of them developed a deep conviction regarding the truth of God and faith in God Almighty.
They made mistakes at times. But they also had learned to draw strength from God in times of need.
What Happens When You’re In a Wilderness Season?
Allow me to give you a simple illustration.
Trees that have deep roots can withstand times of drought. They can draw moisture from deep below in the soil because they developed deep roots. Trees with roots that are close to the surface will often die for lack of water. These trees have no resource or ability to draw from in times of drought.
Wilderness seasons in life will reveal, test, strengthen, and prove.
Wilderness seasons in life will reveal if a person has deep spiritual roots that can draw the spiritual strength needed to survive testing, or roots that are close to the surface and have nothing to draw from.
Wilderness seasons will test a person and reveal their spiritual depth and faith in God.
Wilderness seasons will strengthen a person and cause them to dig deeper and draw spiritual strength in God from deep within their heart or they will wither spiritually and die.
Wilderness seasons prove God’s faithfulness as you trust him and wait upon the Lord. He is faithful.
Wilderness seasons are times to remember God’s grace and faithfulness in times of testing.
How are your spiritual roots? Are they deep or close to the surface? The enemy of your soul keeps using the same old tricks. He doesn’t want you to develop deep roots. Just as the enemy twisted the word of God and attempted get Jesus to sin by saying “if you are the son of God,” the enemy will try to do the same to you, “if you are a Christian…Life wouldn’t be so hard. Where is God? he doesn’t care about you.”
Do not believe the lies of the enemy. Do not fall for the tricks of the enemy.
Know that on the other side of a wilderness season is the blessing and promise of God for you. The other side of life’s wilderness journey is heaven’s glory. This was true for the Israelites. It is true for every believer who places their faith in Jesus.
The key to avoiding temptation and the enemy’s tricks is to have the truth of God deep in your mind, heart, and soul. Draw spiritual strength from God’s word and know you are never alone. Know that you are in a spiritual battle against the enemy of God, the ruler of this world. Know God Almighty has all authority, not Satan.
As the Israelites entered the promised land, they battled the enemies of the land.
Are You Ready for Wilderness Seasons and Temptations?
Know for sure, the enemy of God is already a defeated enemy at the cross. God Almighty is over all. He is all powerful, all knowing and ever present, and the enemy of your soul must bow to Jesus’ authority.
Know in a spiritual war, it requires spiritual weapons to defeat the enemy.
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete” (2 Corinthians 10:4-6).
Consider what David wrote:
“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 12 Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees. 13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word” (Psalm 119:9-16).
Let me give you a personal illustration. When I was in the Navy we had to train and review procedures all the time. This is true for police, fireman, and all emergency responders. This is so when something happens unexpectedly, and they need to react quickly, they know exactly what to do without thinking. It became an automatic response.
As Christians, we need to be ready for everyday temptations and severe wilderness seasons in life. We need to Know the word of God and the truth of God in our hearts so that when testing comes in our wilderness season of life we act on the word of God and not be tricked into believing the lies of the enemy. Deep spiritual roots will supply lifegiving strength in times of temptation if you will hold fast to the promises of God.
A wilderness season can come in the form of:
A lost job.
An unexpected tragedy or accident.
A family loss.
Health issues.
An addiction.
A poor decision by you.
Something caused by another person’s actions.
7 Resolutions That Will Help You in Wilderness Seasons
Decide today to:
Stand on the promises of God.
Know the word and truth of God. By knowing God’s word, you will not so easily be led astray when it’s not God’s word, but a candy-coated lie of the enemy.
Trust what you know to be true and do not doubt, no matter how things may appear.
Avoid temptation.
Remain a close relationship with Jesus and do not wander off.
Do not let fear of the unknown cause you to doubt God.
Pray without ceasing. And always be in an attitude of prayer.
You will experience wilderness seasons in life. Just know God is on your side and heaven’s glory, the promise of eternity with Christ, is on the other side of your wilderness seasons.
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:8-11).
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Matthew 13:44-46: What does your forever—your eternity—look like? As hard as it is to imagine, God has already promised us a priceless, personal treasure. All we have to do is say yes to Jesus and He will help us get there.