Have you ever felt that you are in the wrong place even though all the natural circumstances seem so wonderful and comfortable? Have you felt that God has a calling and destiny for your life but no one else believes you? Have you experienced your good intentions being misconstrued as bad ulterior motives? Have you felt that you have gone ahead of God’s timing for your life and ministry? Have you felt like the whole world knows a mistake that you made in private?
If any of these questions strike a similar note in your life, be of good cheer, you are not alone. Welcome to the world of Moses. Welcome to the wilderness season.
Why does God take us through the wilderness season?
Deuteronomy 8:2 tells us that God led the children of Israel in the wilderness for 40 years to humble them and test them. It was to reveal what was in their hearts – whether they would be obedient to God’s commands or not. Notice, it was God who led them, not the devil or Moses.
Moses himself went through 40 years of wilderness to empty himself of every pride and self-reliance. Acts 7:22 informs us that Moses was well educated and mighty in words and deeds. He was a great charismatic leader with both eloquence and strength for battle.
Because Moses was somebody, God could not use him. The wilderness experience humbled him and made him the meekest man of his time. Great men are prepared in deserts for great ministries ahead. When God called Moses and sent him to Egypt to confront Pharaoh, Moses gave the excuse that he could not speak. What a different Moses we see here after going through the mills in the desert.
The wilderness season is a waiting and training season. It is like the caterpillar in the cocoon stage of its life. Cocoon stage means death to excitement, activity and showing off of your talents and abilities. However, it PREPARES you for a great destiny and ministry. Rejoice, my fellow believer in Christ!
You are being moulded and crafted for a mighty purpose in this wilderness season. Yield to the Hand of the Potter for He knows what He is doing.
I remember so vividly that dreadful year of 1996. The church that we called our home and family, suddenly became a great reproach in Malaysia and internationally. Tabernacle of Glory was known for a great move of God by a great man of God. In a short span of 10 years, the church had earned national fame and achievement.
We had speakers like Benny Hinn, Don Moen and many well known international speakers ministering in the church. We also hosted many international conferences. The books written by the senior pastor together with his messages and teachings sold like hot cakes in many nations.
Christina and I were travelling to many nations ministering in many conventions and prophetic schools. However, the fame and recognition, not to forget the underlining subtle pride were on the increase. Suddenly, the whole church and ministry collapsed as the Senior Pastor was exposed of committing adultery.
A spiritual earthquake of 9.5 on the Richter scale was recorded. It was during this time that God spoke to us so clearly that we should pastor this church and pick up the pieces. We did not know that God was preparing us to go through the wilderness for the next 5 years.
The signs and symptoms of the wilderness season began to emerge. We cried thousands of tears during those times. We were tried and falsely accused of many things. God wanted to kill our pride and ego.
We were misunderstood by the leaders in the church. Our good intentions were questioned and debated. Some even doubted whether God had really called us to pastor the church or whether we were simply hungry for position and power. The list of accusations was almost never ending and we lost many “friends”.
At one point we really did not know who was for us or against us. However, we found some wonderful gems through these tough times.
God was getting ready for us to move into another phase in our lives and ministries. The transition was very difficult. One morning I was reading the book of 1 Kings 17. The stories in that chapter were very familiar as I had read it many times.
When I was reading the verses in 1 Kings 17:7-10, where the Brook Cherith dried up and God commanded Elijah to go to Zarephath, the Spirit of God quickened those verses to me and
I knew it was time to move on.
I was planning to pastor for 2 years to fill in the gap, hoping that the former Senior pastor would be restored so that I could turn over the church back to him. Alas, it did not work out that way. The five years of wilderness caused me to seek God more than ever and dig deeper into the word of God.
As the pastor of a local church, I had to preach different messages for almost 5 years and it was a great enlargement for me with regards to studying and teaching the Word of God.
Burning Bush
Every wilderness season will come to an end. You are about to experience the burning bush just like Moses did.
When you feel everything is over, it is just the beginning. It is not over until God says it is over.
Moses was commissioned during the burning bush encounter.
God spoke to Moses afresh. God will certainly speak to you a fresh word of guidance and direction as you enter into a new season. The wilderness will not last forever. Get ready for your burning bush encounter where you hear the Word of the Lord directly from the Throne of God.
The Lord Jesus was preparing the way for us to enter into the second phase and season of our travelling ministry. Many new contacts and new open doors were established by Him. New
nations were opened to our ministry.
God opened great and effective doors to Indonesia where we ministered in some awesome conferences and even a mega church of 30000 in Surabaya. Some 300 churches in Indonesia
have extended an open invitation to us to minister at any time convenient to us.
New books were written. Our teaching materials of books and CDs sold by the thousands! We had more invitations than we could accept. Praise the Lord! Our boast is in the El Shaddai, the God Who is More Than Enough and All-Sufficient!
Rejoice! The wilderness experience will lead you to your promised land, flowing with blessings, open doors, favour, breakthroughs and exaltations.
Just be obedient to Him and don’t delay and lengthen your wilderness season through bitterness, pride and disobedience. The wilderness prepares you to handle the promotion and the fruitfulness of God.
Isaiah 35:1-2
“The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them. And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it. The excellence of Carmel and Sharon! They shall see the glory of the Lord. The excellence of our God!”
Be encouraged. Your wilderness season shall blossom like a rose. Remember the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the valley is with you. You shall carry the fragrance of the Rose of Sharon as you enter into your next season of great glory. Do not give up because you will see the glory of God at the end of the wilderness season.
John the Baptist, Jesus and Apostle Paul went through wilderness seasons. So shall you enter yours with great confidence that He who began a good work in you shall accomplish it with great victory and triumph!
John the Baptist was in the desert until he appeared suddenly with a powerful prophetic ministry that prepared the way for Jesus.
Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness after being filled with the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit who led Jesus, not the Devil or man.
Jesus overcame the 3 major temptations of the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. After the great victory, He returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. Please read Luke 4: 1-14.
The wilderness prepares you for great ministry and great
empowerment of the Spirit!