Faith Lessons : Walking with God in the Desert

Faith Lessons: Walking With God in the Desert

SERMON Three: Where? (Where will my help come from? Where will I go?)

This outline refers to the background information provided in the “Sermon Notes” pages 17-21 These sermon notes will provide additional bible verses, sermon ideas, resources and illustrations for you to hand craft your own message.

Sermon Three Objective: The previous sermon addressed the short term reality, the initial moment of pain, suffering and desert dwelling, and the question most asked after “Why? Is “How?” How will I immediately find the hope and help that I need just to get through today. In the desert of our disappointments it is the most emotional in the very beginning, but the real test comes, in the next week, and in the next months, however long it takes to walk through the desert of hardship in order to arrive on the other side. This sermon is meant to deal with the long term situation, after the initial shock, after the first month: “Where does my help come from? Where will my help come from as the desert experience continues?” After Israel celebrated their crossing of the Red Sea, they rebelled and experienced the reality of testing in the wilderness. One can only imagine that they thought it would be over in a very short time, but as decade gave way to decade, Israel learned the art of patient endurance, to run with perseverance the race set out before them. Ray Vander Laan rightly understands the situation in this way: “…Israel must never forget who Yahweh is and who they are to become. They must always live faithfully as He taught them in the wilderness. They must never forget the desert. So the desert became a central theme in the faith life of God’s people… in fact, desert for God’s faithful people is not just a place trough which they passed but it is a way of life, an identity, a part of their very soul..”

From the sermon notes: “God revealed Himself and His nature to His people while they traveled in the desert. Here he gave them His name and the right to carry it as His own people. In the desert God’s people learned that God was with them in times of painful struggle and suffering. They came to realize that God wanted them to trust in Him alone and that the desert was the place where His provision is their only hope of survival an attitude that God always desired. And while they were in the desert they heard God speak, they heard His words from His mouth and from Moses His prophet.

Message summation… When we open our eyes. Or better yet, when we open the “eyes of our heart”, we begin to see the unbelievable and continuous goodness of God. It’s never in the BIG things, but always in the small, seemingly inconsequential things that speak the loudest to us. The still small voice of God is only surpassed by His still small, but numerous, ‘little things’, that He does for us every minute of every day - and we – unworthy as we are, barely notice them at all. I find that it takes a continual conscious effort, daily, and moment by moment to focus on the beauty of that moment, the blessing of the ‘small thing’ right in front of my eyes, the joy and contentment of knowing that God cares for us, that He is always there to help. That He gives us exactly what we need, when we need it. Never too much. Never too little. Just enough. Our daily bread. It is true. God often takes things away from us. And contrary to conventional wisdom this is a good thing. He often takes important and big things away, only to show us that in taking away our “stuff”, He reminds us that we need only one thing: Him. He takes away only to show us the fullness of what we have. Truly, with Him there is wealth and contentment and peace untold. With Him, there is abundant redemption. With Him, there is always just enough – because: God always helps. He always comes in time, but patience is necessary Faith Lessons: Walking With God in the Desert SERMON THREE (3)

WHERE does help come from?

“I know the Lord is always with me – I will not be shaken – for He is right beside me. Psalm 16:8 “Show me the path where I should walk – point out the right road for me to follow – lead me by your truth and teach me – for You are the God who saves me – all the day-long I put my hope in You.” Psalm 25:6

The desert breaks us, only to refashion us. The desert allows us to die, in order to be created anew. It gives us new eyes and a new heart… and in the end a new life. The desert is remembered as an awe-filled time of God’s intimate presence. The desert is a place of danger and death. The desert is the place of refuge and guidance. Finally, our help comes from God, who meets us in the desert not with what we want – but what we need: intimacy, oneness, and hope.

1. Help comes - When I lift my eyes up.

 I lift up my eyes to the hill (heavens), where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  He meets me where I am– just as I am; He works through, people, circumstances, and ‘small things’ ‘gifts of grace’ to show us that we are not alone, and not without hope  Remember O Israel… Record all the ‘little’ things! Keep a log of the ways God is meeting you… no matter how small. When you are despondent; read and remember… God is working!

2. Help comes - When I believe every detail of my life is in his Hands – each moment in view of His sight.

 The LORD watches over me— the LORD is my shade at my right hand; the sun will not harm me by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep me from all harm— He will watch over my life; the LORD will watch over my coming and going both now and forevermore.  The Lord knows me; what I need, what I desire, what is best: “O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.  He created me – He redeems me – He delivers me - “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well… your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 3. Paradox of Faith: I cannot see where I am going… but I know that Someone is Walking with Me Psalm 119 - Your Word is a lamp - for my feet, a light for my path… I can see - and see just enough to move forward… if only one step at a time… Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.” God is working even when we cannot see it. Conclusion: Our help does come from “above”, but God works down “below”… through people, circumstances, situations, and events… We look to heaven for our help, but like Israel in the desert, God works through ‘means’… tangible real things… like shade, and water. Become aware of the many ways in which you notice ‘where your help is coming from’ but in the end give God glory for each grace and blessing… Walking the desert happens one step at a time; believe that God is working even when it appears that nothing is happening… Faith Lessons: Walking With God in the Desert