Growing in the Wilderness

And the child [John] grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel…the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. Luke 1:80; 3:2

            John [the Baptizer] grew and became strong in spirit until…

            Sometimes the wilderness is not just where we wait for God, it is where God is preparing us for the work that will come. The wilderness may seem dry and lonely, but it can also be a place of quiet and peace, stillness and spiritual reliance. A place where we can grow in dependence on and confidence in God’s sustaining Provision and enduring Presence.

            John’s work would be hard, lonely, and controversial. He was called to be a prophet for the Most High who would go before the Lord to prepare His ways. (See Luke 1:76) He would live an austere life in the desert, be criticized by the leaders of his faith, and in the end executed. His time of preparation in the wilderness was essential if he was going to faithfully complete the work which God had planned and purposed for him.  

            We can grow impatient in the wilderness and be tempted to go off on our own power and direction, or, we can grow tranquil and strong in the wilderness, waiting for God’s Word to come to us.

Let’s Do Something About It

·      If you are in a period of stillness or waiting in your life, ask God to show you how you can appreciate this time and use it to grow attentive and strong in His Presence.

·      If you are in a season of activeness, or if your life seems out of control with busyness, ask the Lord to show you how to wait upon His Word even now in your busy time. 

Time and Place

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. Luke 3:1-2

            God works in our times. Our faith does not exist outside of the times and events in which we live. God works in and through the people, places, and current events of our lives, and asks us to counter the cultural effects that these times bring, especially upon the poor, the oppressed, the hurting, and the wayward. Sometimes when we look at the news, and consider what is happening in our world today, we are tempted to despair, but these events, as sad, disturbing, upsetting, or frustrating as they are, are exactly the events that God wants us to bring His Presence into. As we see in the story of Esther, who knows but that you are here, now for just this purpose? (See Esther 4:14).

            John heard God’s Word come to him in the wilderness. Where will you hear God’s Word come to you today? Are you listening for it?

Let’s Do Something About It

·      Take a moment to review your schedule over the last couple of days. Do you see a pattern of people/places/ or activities? How fully aware are you during those times that you may be the one to bring God’s Presence consistently into those places and to those people?

·      When you watch the news today or read the paper or news magazine consider using the headlines as your prayer list.

·      Ask God to give you a prayer list of Government, Social, and Religious leaders for whom you can be praying regularly.

Faithful Fulfillment

And when [Mary and Joseph] had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. And the Child [Jesus] continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. Luke 2:39-40

            Though He would rile against rules and rituals established by men, and condemn the makers of such rules as “white washed tombs,” who crush people with impossible religious demands, (Luke 11:46), Christ, faithfully fulfilled all the requirements of God’s Law. “Don’t misunderstand why I have come." He said, "I did not come to abolish the Law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.” Matthew 5:17

            It is a delicate balance we seek between the Law and grace, so it is best we follow Jesus’ model – expect obedience from myself while extending grace to others, and always beware of mistaking men’s rules and rituals for God’s. And in that way, we may also follow His example of continuing to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom with the grace of God upon us. 

Let's Do Something About It

• Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you may be applying "men's rules or rituals" in your faith instead of relying upon God's Law alone.
• Ask the Holy Spirit if you are a vessel of grace or a barer of guilt to those around you. 
• Ask God to help you grow in His grace and wisdom today.

Anna: An Example

  And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:36-38

            Can we relate to this woman? Few of us have a lifestyle that enables us to spend all day and night in acts of worship… or do we? Brother Lawrence, a 17^th Century Monk, worked as a kitchen helper, performing the most mundane tasks, yet he was able to spend his days completely focused on God’s Presence with him, right there in the kitchen. Brother Lawrence said, by “applying my mind to these thoughts in the morning and then spending the rest of the day, even in the midst of all my work, in the presence of God, I considered that he was always with me, that he was even within me.”

            Mother Theresa of Calcutta once said that she would start every morning meditating on Jesus; then spend the rest of her day looking for Him in the faces of the people she encountered.

            Starting and ending our day in devout worship – through prayer and fasting – will open our awareness to the presence of Jesus among, and yes even within, us.

Let’s Do Something About It

·      Think about how often during the day you are attentive to God-with- you (Immanuel). Think about practical ways you can increase your awareness. (One friend of mine simply put blank “sticky notes” up around her house, car, and workplace. Whenever she spotted one she was reminded that the Lord’s Presence was with her!)

·      Next Wednesday begins the Lenten season. It is a good time to consider trying a fast – if not from food (or a type of food: for instance, sweets) perhaps you may try a fast from some habit or activity (such as watching TV).

·      Consider reading Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence during this Lenten season.

·      Consider journaling how these practices help you be more aware of Christ’s Presence in your day.

Anna: Prophecy for Today's Church

And there was a prophetess, Anna … She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:36-38

            Anna was a prophet. Paul tells us in 1Corinthians 14 that a prophet is one who discerns God’s movement for the purpose of building up, encouraging and consoling the church. Anna spent her days and nights in worship. Through prayer and fasting she continuously sought the Lord’s Presence and indication of where He was working, never leaving the Temple.So when Joseph and Mary brought the Christ babe into the Temple, Anna recognized Him at once.

            Years later when their young son went “missing,” Jesus’ parents would find him in the Temple, sitting among the teachers. When they expressed their concern about it, he replied, where else would I be? You know that I must be in my Father’s house. (See Luke 2:41-50)

            Sometimes we get frustrated with “church” and think we can worship and serve God on our own. But the church must be a necessary part of our life if we are truly going to be Christ followers. Yes, the church can be filled with disappointment, strange agendas, hypocrites, and hurtfulness, but as someone once said, if you find the perfect church don’t go there – you’ll ruin it!  Maybe instead of looking so hard at the problems in our churches, we should start looking harder to find Christ going about His Father’s business in His Father’s House.

Let’s Do Something About It:

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians,

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. … the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation... So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.  1Corinthians 14:1,3, 12

·      Spend some time today asking the Holy Spirit to show you where your attitude regarding the condition of The Church may be out of line with God’s Will for His Body.

·      Ask God to show you how you can be a source and presence of love, mercy, and healing in your church today.

Simeon: Heart's Revealed

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:34-35

It is easy to fall into the trap of tradition, ritual, and stirring rhetoric. We can become complacent in our worship or excited and motivated over some new teaching – but both can cause our worship to become false. Jesus’ has come to reveal the true intentions, attitudes, and condition of our hearts and thoughts. God is not fooled by our outward actions. In 1Samuel 16:7, God told Samuel, “The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1Samuel 16:7

When the religious leaders of the time condemned Jesus’ followers for not following tradition, J

Jesus called them hypocrites,

Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote,

 ‘These people honor me with their lips,

 but their hearts are far from me.  

Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’

For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.” Mark 7:6-8

Today, as representatives of Christ on earth, let’s open our hearts and minds to Christ’s examination and make sure we are truly honoring Him with our words, our attitudes, and our actions.

Lets Do Something About It:

·      Slowly and meditatively read the following passage from Psalm 139.

·      Reflect on the words, and then allow some time to listen for and absorb God’s response to you.

·      Journal or record your insights.

·      Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you into true humility before the Lord.

You have searched me, LORD, 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.

Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely…

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalms 139:1-4,23-24

Simeon: Waiting for Fulfillment

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

            “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,

                        according to your word;             for my eyes have seen your salvation             that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,             a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

                        and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2:25-32

Simeon was able to see the fulfillment of what God had prepared because of his relationship with the Holy Spirit.  Simeon lived a righteous and devout life aware of and waiting for God’s promises to be fulfilled, so when he came to the Temple the Holy Spirit came upon him and enabled him to see what God was doing. 


When we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord we receive the Holy Spirit into our lives. But what is our relationship with the Spirit? Do we come into our churches filled with and surrendered to the Holy Spirit, waiting and expecting to see what God is preparing and fulfilling?  How aware are we of the Spirit’s Presence in our lives? 

Let's DO something about it:

• Today, listen for the Spirit’s prompting.
• Look for the Spirit’s Presence. 
• Wait for the Spirit’s urgings. 
• Desire the Spirit’s filling.