A Journey of Faith

1
A Journey of Faith

• Or What have I let myself in for?

2

• Nehemiah 919 "Because of your great compassion
  you did not abandon them in the desert. By day
  the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them
  on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to
  shine on the way they were to take. 20 You gave
  your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not
  withhold your manna from their mouths, and you
  gave them water for their thirst. 21 For forty
  years you sustained them in the desert they
  lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out
  nor did their feet become swollen.
•  22 "You gave them kingdoms and nations,
  allotting to them even the remotest frontiers.
  They took over the country of Sihon king of
  Heshbon and the country of Og king of Bashan. 23
  You made their sons as numerous as the stars in
  the sky, and you brought them into the land that
  you told their fathers to enter and possess. 24
  Their sons went in and took possession of the
  land. You subdued before them the Canaanites, who
  lived in the land you handed the Canaanites over
  to them, along with their kings and the peoples
  of the land, to deal with them as they pleased.
  25 They captured fortified cities and fertile
  land they took possession of houses filled with
  all kinds of good things, wells already dug,
  vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees in
  abundance. They ate to the full and were
  well-nourished they revelled in your great
  goodness.

3
The Exodus is a type of the Christian Life

• Left Egypt Pharaoh type of Satan his domain
• Immediately God took responsibility for them
• Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar
  of fire by night left its place in front of the
  people.

4
Wilderness became the school of preparation for
the Promised Land

• Went through the waters of Baptism
• The Pillar of Fire passed over them and stood
  between the Nation and the Egyptians Baptism in
  the Holy Spirit
• They crossed safely and went straight into the
  Wilderness
• Taught led by the Holy Spirit
• Graduated to the Promised Land where they had
  more than enough

5
The Spirit of God teaches me in the Wilderness

• to become a dependant Child
• Father wants to become our Source of Supply for
  all our needs food, shelter, clothing and money
• Story of the Holiday Bonus (Clare)
• Fed them every morning with manna
• Ex 1615 What is it?
• Why? Training you how to trust your Heavenly
  Father for all your daily needs
• Exodus 16  4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "I
  will rain down bread from heaven for you. The
  people are to go out each day and gather enough
  for that day.
• Story of the invisible Cash Flow (Allan)
• Matthew 6 26 Look at the birds of the air they
  do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and
  yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not
  much more valuable than they? Who of you by
  worrying can add a single hour to his life?   And
  why do you worry about clothes? See how the
  lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or
  spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in
  all his splendour was dressed like one of these.
  If that is how God clothes the grass of the
  field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown
  into the fire, will he not much more clothe you,
  O you of little faith?

6
The Spirit of God teaches me in the Wilderness

• ..to become Obedient being Tested
• Exodus 16  4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "I
  will rain down bread from heaven for you. The
  people are to go out each day and gather enough
  for that day. In this way I will test them and
  see whether they will follow my instructions. 5
  On the sixth day they are to prepare what they
  bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they
  gather on the other days.
• Story of Horrible Job (Allan)
• Obedience taught by the Holy Spirit during our
  ordinary day
• Philippians 2 (The Message)  12 What I'm getting
  at, friends, is that you should simply keep on
  doing what you've done from the beginning. When I
  was living among you, you lived in responsive
  obedience. Now that I'm separated from you, keep
  it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be
  energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and
  sensitive before God. That energy is God's
  energy, an energy deep within you, God himself
  willing and working at what will give him the
  most pleasure.

• ..how to Persevere
• Exodus 16 17 The Israelites did as they were
  told some gathered much, some little. 18 And
  when they measured it by the omer, he who
  gathered much did not have too much, and he who
  gathered little did not have too little. Each one
  gathered as much as he needed.  19 Then Moses
  said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until
  morning. 20 However, some of them paid no
  attention to Moses they kept part of it until
  morning, but it was full of maggots and began to
  smell. So Moses was angry with them. Story of
  the Disappearing Order (Clare)

7
The Spirit of God teaches me in the Wilderness

• ..To Overcome self thru Mercy Grace
• The story of Failure Acceptance (Allan)
• Nehemiah 9 16 But they, our ancestors, were
  arrogant bull-headed, they wouldn't obey your
  commands. They turned a deaf ear, they refused to
  remember the miracles you had done for them They
  turned stubborn, got it into their heads to
  return to their Egyptian slavery. And you, a
  forgiving God, gracious and compassionate,
  Incredibly patient, with tons of love you didn't
  dump them. Yes, even when they cast a sculpted
  calf and said, "This is your god Who brought you
  out of Egypt," and continued from bad to worse,
  You in your amazing compassion didn't walk off
  and leave them in the desert. The Pillar of Cloud
  didn't leave them daily it continued to show
  them their route The Pillar of Fire did the same
  by night, showed them the right way to go. (Msg)
• ..Introducing me to the Father becoming a
  Family Member
• The story of the unpaid salaries
• Exodus 3311-20  11 And God spoke with Moses
  face-to-face, as neighbours speak to one another.
  When he would return to the camp, his attendant,
  the young man Joshua, stayedhe didn't leave the
  Tent. Moses said to God, "Look, you tell me,
  'Lead this people,' but you don't let me know
  whom you're going to send with me. You tell me,
  'I know you well and you are special to me.' If I
  am so special to you, let me in on your plans.
  That way, I will continue being special to you.
  Don't forget, this is your people, your
  responsibility."
• God said, "My presence will go with you. I'll
  see the journey to the end." Moses said, "If your
  presence doesn't take the lead here, call this
  trip off right now. How else will it be known
  that you're with me in this, with me and your
  people? Are you travelling with us or not? How
  else will we know that we're special, I and your
  people, among all other people on this planet
  Earth?" God said to Moses "All right. Just as
  you say this also I will do, for I know you well
  and you are special to me. I know you by name."
• 18 Moses said, "Please. Let me see your Glory."
  God said, "I will make my Goodness pass right in
  front of you I'll call out the name, God, right
  before you. I'll treat well whomever I want to
  treat well and I'll be kind to whomever I want to
  be kind." 20 God continued, "But you may not see
  my face. No one can see me and live."

8
The Promised Land is the Place of Inheritance and
Destiny

• It is the Place where you are Given what is
  Allotted to you
• Nehemiah 922 "You gave them kingdoms and
  nations, allotting to them even the remotest
  frontiers. They took over the country of Sihon
  king of Heshbon and the country of Og king of
  Bashan. You subdued before them the Canaanites,
  who lived in the land you handed the Canaanites
  over to them, along with their kings and the
  peoples of the land, to deal with them as they
  pleased. 25 They captured fortified cities and
  fertile land they took possession of houses
  filled with all kinds of good things, wells
  already dug, vineyards, olive groves and fruit
  trees in abundance. They ate to the full and were
  well-nourished they revelled in your great
  goodness.
• Story of that Couch (Clare)
• It is the Place where all that you were made to
  Be and Do reaches its fulfilment
• Nehemiah 923 You made their sons as numerous as
  the stars in the sky, and you brought them into
  the land that you told their fathers to enter and
  possess. 24 Their sons went in and took
  possession of the land.
• Story of short sighted Teacher (Allan)
• It is the Place of More-Than-Enough
• Neh 925 They captured fortified cities and
  fertile land they took possession of houses
  filled with all kinds of good things, wells
  already dug, vineyards, olive groves and fruit
  trees in abundance. They ate to the full and were
  well-nourished they revelled in your great
  goodness.
• Story of Tendered Field (Allan)

9
The Promised Land is the Place of Inheritance and
Destiny

• It is the Place where you have become a Warrior
  for the King
• Neh 924 Their sons went in and took possession
  of the land. You subdued before them the
  Canaanites, who lived in the land you handed the
  Canaanites over to them, along with their kings
  and the peoples of the land, to deal with them as
  they pleased. 25 They captured fortified cities
  and fertile land they took possession of houses
  filled with all kinds of good things,
• Story of Praying, Hearing Doing (Allan)
• It is the Place where you are Known by and Know
  the Father
• Exodus 337-33 Moses used to take the Tent and
  set it up outside the camp, some distance away.
  He called it the Tent of Meeting. Anyone who
  sought God would go to the Tent of Meeting
  outside the camp. It went like this When Moses
  would go to the Tent, all the people would stand
  at attention each man would take his position at
  the entrance to his tent with his eyes on Moses
  until he entered the Tent whenever Moses entered
  the Tent, the Pillar of Cloud descended to the
  entrance to the Tent and God spoke with Moses.
  All the people would see the Pillar of Cloud at
  the entrance to the Tent, stand at attention, and
  then bow down in worship, each man at the
  entrance to his tent.  11 And God spoke with
  Moses face-to-face, as neighbours speak to one
  another. When he would return to the camp, his
  attendant, the young man Joshua, stayedhe didn't
  leave the Tent.
• Story of Emotional Intellectual Relationship
  (Allan)

10
Wilderness is the Place of Training

• It is the Place of becoming dependant Children
• It is the Place of Testing Obedience
• It is the Place of It is the Place of
  Perseverance
• It is the Place of Overcoming self
• It is the Place where we get to meet the Father

11
The Promised Land is the Place of Inheritance and
Destiny

• It is the Place where you are Given what is
  Allotted to you
• It is the Place where all that you were made to
  Be and Do reaches its fulfilment
• It is the Place of More-Than-Enough
• It is the Place where you have become a Warrior
  for the King
• It is the Place where you are Known and Know the
  Father

12
The Way

• Q Lord where am I? In the Wilderness or in the
  Promised Land?
• What is the biggest lie that prevents me moving
  into my Destiny in the Promised Land?

13
Prayer

• Lord Jesus I deeply appreciate that you have
  taken out of the kingdom of darkness and adopted
  me into your Family. I also thank you that you
  dont have a career but an infinitely better
  Destiny for me. I want to embrace this Destiny
  now in a far greater way. I recognise that you
  have placed me in the Wilderness I am been
  taught by your Holy Spirit valuable lessons that
  will prepare me to inherit and inhabit all you
  have for me. I recognise that all I have been
  through you have promised not 1 bit is wasted or
  lost but you have the capacity to restore, heal,
  deliver equip me in preparation for that time.
  Forgive me for my complaints. Forgive me for
  living for myself and not living a life of love
  finding out what pleases You!. I repent of
  (the lie God spoke to you about) I ask you to
  fill me again with your Holy Spirit I commit
  myself again to you and ask you to renew a right
  heart in me. I will trust as my Dad to always do
  what is right for me have your way with me. I
  want to grow in dependence on you give you
  permission to break the self effort and
  independence in me. Help me to hear and be
  obedient. In Jesus name.