Wilderness University

About this sermon

Vance Havner once said, “God rarely uses a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply” There is something about the Shepherd of our souls that compels him to break us before blessing us. Lest we be a sheep that constantly wanders from the flock of the faithful, he allows, even causes us to be crippled for a season so that we may learn to allow Him to lift us up and be carried on his strong shoulders. You have heard it said, “God will not place more on you than you can bear” I would beg to differ. God will place on you all that it takes to get you to a place where your heart is fully set on Him. Where you are conscious of His Sovereignty and concerned chiefly with His glory. In Scripture this time of broken and humility often occurs in the wilderness. Julie and I got to walk through the wilderness… there’s nothing there. Every child of God must gain his or her degree from Wilderness University. We must be trained by her wise professors We must be sit in her lonely classes of solitude There and only there will we learn to look to and lean upon our Master Examples: Joseph learned this lesson in the pit and a prison. Moses learned this lesson on the back side of Midian. Elijah learned this lesson fleeing from the wicked Queen Jezebel. Even our Lord Himself was proven in the dessert as he fasted 40 days and was tempted by Satan. It would be wise of you to observe the experience of those who have gone before you and learn from them. That is what I hope to do as we turn our attention back to David; The last couple of weeks we have seen God elevate David like never before. With God’s help, David, a mere Shepherd boy had slain the Giant Goliath; He had been exalted to a position as a lieutenant in the army of Israel. He married an Israeli Princess. In Jonathan, David had met the best human friend he would ever have. He had the favor of the King, the guidance of the Prophet Samuel. David had it made. Not only did he have all the money he would ever need, he was famous. Women sang songs about him. David was in the lap of luxury. It was there in that place of great comfort and security that David was summoned to Wilderness University.

Topics

• Suffering & Trials