It’s natural to want to avoid wilderness experiences. Yet the biblical writers suggest that the wilderness is an expected and even necessary part of walking with God.
Nowhere is this made clearer than in the life of Jesus, according to the vision bearer of Innerman Ministries, Apostle Stephen Senfuma.
“Wilderness is a time of lack, pain, thirst, hunger and spiritual dryness or emptiness,” the preacher says.
Apostle Senfuma teaches that instead of murmuring and complaining in the wilderness, a believer should prayerfully see his or her situation through God’s eyes, “for He answers and gives direction,” he says.
The wilderness is a common experience of a Christian’s faith thus the Church needs to learn about it and know the ways of spiritual warfare in this season, according to the preacher.
“Temptations and tests are faced within the wilderness. But how you respond to challenges during this time will determine your duration in the wilderness,” Apostle Stephen Senfuma urges.
Quoting Matthew 4:3-4, Apostle Senfuma explains that Jesus Himself showed the Church what to do when confronted with uncertainty.
Three times He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness. Each time, His response was the same—He quoted the written Word of God. Against each attack, His response was to say, “It is written”
“There are two channels of voices in the desert: hope seems stricken, but God still speaks words of wisdom and gives promises. Deuteronomy 2:7 says, ‘The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness.’ Wilderness is a sensitive state; It’s a training ground where God deals with our character and transforms us. It’s a struggle time, many grow weary and become fade up of life thus make bad decisions,” Apostle Senfuma explains.
God alone is your salvation when in the wilderness, he maintains.
“Be keen to whose voice you harken unto as you sojourn through wilderness. The voice you harken to determines the power that rules over you. Resist temptations, determine to pass the tests, hold on, don’t give up, God grants a future, and glory is revealed at the end. Don’t compromise or grumble. Guard your heart, you’re just passing through,” he explains.
Adding: “God knows the short routes to take you through the wilderness, but He desires you go through the long route for He knows the challenges and benefits… Through the wilderness, God establishes our hands and Himself in us.”
“Wilderness is God’s set time to betroth us to Himself. He desires the best out of us. Don’t complain for it will tarry your time in the desert. Call out His name, He will answer,” Apostle Stephen Senfuma urges.
