RISE FROM THE WILDERNESS

-Jesus is our bridegroom and we who are the believers are His bride

-despite of the wilderness, she rose from the wilderness instead of being bitter

-the wilderness is not to bring us down but to lift us up! 

-no matter what, don't be despair

   -God will not leave us alone

why go through the wilderness

1. wilderness experience evokes an awareness of self

-the test is for us to know... Self awareness

   -God does not need to test our heart cos God knows 

-test = "to prove"

-all the disciplines thought that they were committed to Jesus but the trial reveals their heart

   -Peter wept knowing His heart

-Holy spirit wants to show us our heart

   -without self awareness, repentance is impossible

2. wilderness experience evokes an awareness of God

where we will experience the nearness of God

-it's in the wilderness that these were revealed to the children of Israel

   -pillar of fire and cloud

   -10 commandments

   -how to worship

-don't let disappointment poison our heart

-God wants turn our test into testimony

3 things we must hold on to

1. faith

the daughters of Zelophehad is not limited by the culture

2. Hope

an attitude of eagerness with head raised and eyes on the horizon

-they were looking forward to meet with God

don't lost the joy in the heart, the dance in the feet

3. Love

-Moses was betrayed by her sis Miriam

-Miriam was healed outwardly but Moses was healed inwardly

do good, bless and pray is where we abide in love

THE SCARS OF JESUS

-the disciples were hiding in the upper room, fear of the Jews and the Romans soldiers were hunting after them

-Jesus came and showed them intentionally His scars

   -God gave Jesus a glorified body with the scars

-the scars were the only man-made thing tt Jesus brought back to heaven

during the 8 days, Thomas must have been told by the disciples abt Jesus' coming back

-Jesus came back the 2nd time just for Thomas

-God hears our deepest cry

   -God is faithful even when we are faithless

wound turned to scars... wound are healed

why didnt God remove the scars from Jesus

1. the scars remind us of His sacrifice on the cross

2. the scars remind us of His victory on the cross

Jesus overcome the power of sin and death

3. the scars remind us of Jesus' obedience on the cross

-Jesus was willing to die on the cross cos His heart was focused on the joy of knowing that we would be His

-scar is a wound that have been healed..

   -wound closed up so that we can move on in life

-how we feel abt our scars often depends on how we have the scar

-our value and worth in defined God.. not by our past

God wants to heal our wounds and use it for a great future

dont let past wound open and allow it to poison our soul

when Jesus came, Thomas was overwhelmed... he could only believe

AGAINST ALL ODDS

 

faithfulness is the character of Christ

 

faithfulness is so critical tt the bible promises that if we are faithful till the end, we will share all tt belongs to Christ

-God is faithful and He wants us to be like Him

how does faithfulness look like, what it means to be faithful

Moses

1. faithful in spite of disappointments

-the Israelites were alr at the border of the promise land.. but cos of their unbelief, God told Moses to turn back and move back into the wilderness

   -how disappointed Moses was..

in spite of disappointments, Moses remains faithful

-we need to have patience when we are disappointed

   -the bridge between promise and faithfulness is patience!

      -it takes time

2. faithful inspite of betrayals

-not only Moses is betrayed by his family, he is betrayed by his trusted leaders and closest friend

-betrayal is one of the most painful human experiences.. so much tt you will build a wall so tt no one can come close

even though the Israelites betrayed Moses many times, Moses still prayed and pleaded with God for them

Moses endured with the Israelites in the journey in the wilderness till they are ready to enter the promise land

on the cross, Jesus prayed for the ppl

3. faithful in spite of failures

Moses also has many weaknesses

Moses didn't follow what God told him.. in a moment of anger, he struck the rock

Moses failed again... but he continue to obey and remain faithful

-even where and when Moses die, its in accordance to the word of the Lord

-though Moses failed many times, and knowing that he will not enter the promise land, he remained faithful to the Lord till the end

-we are not perfect and will stumble...but when we fail, don't give up!

-in spite of failures, remain faithful! continue to pray and believe

when the time is right, the harvest will come

-to Moses, where the presence of the Lord is, there is the land with milk and honey and not the promise land nor material things

-Moses goes to where the presence of God is

   -Moses just want to follow the presence of the Lord

-goodness is not defined by the number of achievements of success accomplished, nor by whether ppl ard love or betray you

   -goodness is in the presence of the Lord Himself

when you have the Lord, you have everything

tt day, Moses stood on the mount and speaks to Jesus face to face

   -this is what Moses pursued all his life

martyrs - Christians whose entire life are identified with Christ even till point of death

-against all odds, stay faithful.. God is enough for us

-God is calling us! Calling us to remain faithful to Him!