“THE WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE”

GRACE FOR LEADERSHIP

Text:
Exodus 3:1-2
“Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of

Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to

Horeb, the mountain of God. Vs.2 The angel of the LORD appeared to him in

a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush

was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. (NASU)

INTRODUCTION
It is imperative for us as humans to accept, and understand one earthly
phenomenon properly —which is the fact that, any type of a leader who has
been chosen on any form of a quest, mission, or assignment will
undoubtedly go through a stage in life called, “the wilderness experience”.
We must understand this one thing; so long as there is a “Destiny Call” on
your life; so long as there is a “Divine Assignment” on your life; then please
be assured, you would go through some form of a wilderness experience.
When you comb through the Bible (from Genesis to Revelation), it becomes
evident; any individual who ever made an impact on this planet, went
through some form of a wilderness experience.

It is interesting to note that, even Jesus could not escape the

wilderness experience, [And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned
from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, cf. Luke 4:1].
Notice that in chapter 3:21 of the same Gospel of Luke, we see that Jesus
had just been baptized by John in the Jordan; wherein the heavens opened,
and a voice thundered from heaven confirming the Divinity, and
assignment of Jesus. However, shortly after the confirmation ceremony of
chapter 3, in chapter 4, the Bible categorically states that the Spirit of God
led Jesus into the wilderness.

Now why is it so important for the Pastor of the church to experience

the wilderness; why is it important for the evangelist, why is it important
for the usher of the Church; why is it important for the protocol team to
experience the wilderness; why is it so important for anybody in any
leadership position to experience the wilderness? Well, the answer is very
simple —the wilderness is like a special gym made for special individuals
who have been chosen by GOD for very special assignments.

Trust me when I tell you, the wilderness is not for everybody. It is not
a comfortable experience at all; but a necessary requirement for your
spiritual growth and the fulfilment of destiny. You remember in the Gospel
of John chapter 4, when the Bible states in verse 4 that, […he must needs go
through Samaria]. You see as a Jew in the flesh, Jesus knew the Samaritans
hated Him and His people. And from a historical standpoint, Jesus knew
that no Samaritan wanted anything to do with the Jew; however, the
salvation of the Samaritan was much more important than personal
feelings, so He went through Samaria anyway. The wilderness is not a
comfortable experience; nonetheless a necessary requirement for your
personal spiritual growth, and the ultimate benefit or redemption of the
souls under your supervision.
SERMON
The book of Exodus gives us a panoramic, or a bird’s-eye view of the
formative stages, or the constructive decades of the life of Moses. This is the
man God selected to lead Israel from slavery to freedom. We all know the
familiar details of his infancy. But we can learn much by looking ahead, at
the full scope of his ministry:

 In Exodus 2:5-6, Moses is placed in a floating basket of reeds,

wherein the daughter of Thutmose I, Hatshepsut found him. She was
captivated by the beauty of the infant that she adopted him as her
own; and subsequently named him, “Mosheh” (mo-sheh') literally
meaning, “drawing out” (of the water), i.e., the rescuer, or the
deliverer.
 Later, when Moses became a youth, Hatshepsut seized power from a
nephew who had been crowned Thutmose III, and she ruled
impressively for 22 years. Moses, secure in the affections of this
powerful and brilliant woman ruler, was well trained: "Educated in
all the wisdom of the Egyptians" (Acts 7:22).
 When he was about 40, Moses was forced to make a choice. The
burdens on his people Israel had grown greater during his lifetime.
Finally, Moses stepped in and killed an Egyptian who was beating an
Israelite slave. When he discovered the killing had been observed,
and when Thutmose III tried to kill him, Moses fled.
 Shortly after this, Hatshepsut (Moses’ human guardian) died and
Thutmose III resumed the throne after his aunt's death; and
immediately begun seeking an excuse to remove his aunt's favourite.

So, this Prince of Egypt, who had been living a life of luxury in the palace of
the world’s superpower of the time, suddenly becomes a Murderer on the
run; who has now been thrown into the unfamiliar and harsh conditions of
the Wilderness of Arabia. Is it not funny and equally humbling that life can
change in whichever direction, at any given time?

Taking the verse we read from Exodus plus Moses’ prophetic life into
account, two locations immediately stand out —i.e., mount Sania, and
mount Horeb. They are both referred to as the “Mountain of the LORD”;
however, each location affected, or impacted Moses’ life in a uniquely
different manner. Note that in both locations, The LORD descended in some
form of His physicality; however, the results of both encounters were not
the same. From this simple observation of the text, we discover that:

1. Before the Glory of Sania; there was first the discomfort of Horeb —Is
it not funny that we only see the success of individuals, and teams;
but many a time, we fail to see the story behind the success.

*Interestingly Horeb and Sanai are situated in one and the same
geographical location (Petra domain of the Arabian Peninsula); the
Samaritans and the Jews refer to them respectively as the Mountain of God.

*Before Sanai, there was a Horeb experience —God will always prepare the
leader in a controlled environment before he/she is released into the
general public. Therefore, running away from your Horeb encounter is
tantamount to failure, and ridicule at your Sania or public unveiling.

*The Hebrew word, “Horeb” literally means “glowing heat”; whereas Sanai
connotes the coldness of the moon night. The heat is necessary for your
survival; do not run away from the process.

2. Before the exaltation of Moses as a Major Prophet in the eyes of the

Israelites; there was first the personal struggle of total failure,
hopelessness, confusion, and abandonment.
 3. Before the parting of the Red Sea, and the numerous miracles that
authenticated Moses’ ministry; there was first a season of dryness,
stagnation, and total obscurity.

What is a Wilderness?

In a literal sense of the word, a wilderness is an uncultivated,

uninhabited, and inhospitable region—in other words, a desert
region wherein it is extremely hot during the day, and
mercilessly cold during the night.

The wilderness is no respecter of persons, nor creed, nor race; it

will treat you the same, irrespective of your background, or
social standing.

However, to the believer, most especially the leader, the

wilderness is your friend and ally.

*The Hebrew word for wilderness is, “ midbar” (mid-bawr');

which is the root word for “ madad” (maw-dad'); literally
implying, “to stretch out”, and “to measure” with the intention to
expand, and extend.

*In other words, what seemingly looks like a discomforting

ordeal, is a setup by God to usher you into your next level.

*What looks like a defeat, is victory in disguise.

*What looks like a dead end to you, is your new beginning.

The wilderness is simply a catalyst initiated by God to propel the

leader into Higher Heights, and New Levels.
* Astonishingly, the Hebrew word for “thorn” in Exodus 3 is
“cenah” (sen-eh'); which literally means a spiky plant, or a
thorn bush. Now why is this important for you and I grasp this
fact.

Well, you see, from the Old Testament, we see countless

examples of types, typologies, and shadows of the Christ who
would eventually appear in the flesh to ultimately deal with sin,
the grave and hell. However, in the meantime Jehovah gives us a
teaser of future events by symbolic expressions of the work and
person of Christ in certain ancient Patriarchs; and Moses was
one of such typologies of Christ.

As a type of Christ, Moses was brought to Horeb to be shown his

destiny —how that he would be plunged into the fiery furnace of
the Egyptian afflictions, and the merciless conditions of
wilderness experience, and yet he is not consumed.

* Secondly, it is equally humbling to note in Matthew 27:29, the

gospel says, “And when they had platted a crown of thorns , they
put it upon (Jesus’) his head”

* Surprisingly, the Greek word for “thorns” in the gospel of

Matthew is “akantha” from where we get the word,
“akanthinos” which literally means a thorny plant. Now is this a
coincidence? No, it is not; this is Divine providence. This is the
finger of God working in the history of men.

* The whipping post, together with the crucifixion was Jesus’

burning bush experience; however, on the third day of his
ordeal, He rose from the dead.
Prophecy!

CONCLUSION

As I bring my message to an end, I would humbly admonish us to consider

seven notable points which have extrapolated from Moses’ encounter in the
wilderness of Arabia:

1. The wilderness is not for everybody; it was intentionally made for

leaders, and game changers. (Luke 4:1; 5:16)

2. The wilderness was made for pacesetters, and trailblazers. Paul

spent three years in the wilderness of Arabia getting ready to take
continental Europe for Christ (Galatians 1:17)

3. The wilderness is where your spiritual muscles are developed:

“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those
who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both
good and evil.” Hebrews 5:14

4. The wilderness is where you die to self, and take on the New Man
in Christ:
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the
faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” Gal
2:20

5. The wilderness is where real transformation takes place:

 “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken
down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in
his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in
ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so
making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one
body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:” Ephesians
2:14-16

6. The wilderness is where God’s purposes, and Assignments for

Man are birthed:
“As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said,
separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have
called them” Acts 13:2

7. The wilderness is where Divine Power is released from on High:

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost
and with Power: who went about doing good, and healing
all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with
him.” Acts 10:38 KJV

* Qur’an 2:87
‫يس ى‬ َ َ‫وس ى ْال ِك ت‬
َ ‫اب َو قَ فَّ ْي نَ ا ِم ْن بَ ْع ِد ه ِ بِ الرُّ ُس ِل َو آتَ ْي نَ ا ِع‬ َ ‫َو لَ قَ ْد آتَ ْي نَ ا ُم‬
ِ ‫ْاب َن َم رْ يَ َم ْال بَ يِّ نَ ات ِ َو َأ يَّ ْد نَ اه ُ بِ ُر وح ِ ْال قُ ُد س‬
“We gave Moses the Book and followed him up with a succession
of messengers; We gave Jesus the son of Mary Clear (Signs) and
strengthened him with the Holy Spirit...”
* Qur’an 2:253:

ِ‫يس ى ْاب َن َم رْ يَ َم ْال بَ يِّ نَ اتِ َو َأ يَّ ْد نَ اه ُ بِ ُر وح ِ ْال قُ ُد س‬

َ ‫َو آتَ ْي نَ ا ِع‬
“…to Jesus the son of Mary We gave clear (Signs), and
strengthened him with the holy spirit…”

* Qur’an 5:110:

ْ ‫يس ى ْاب َن َم رْ يَ َم‬

َ ‫اذ ُك ْر نِ ْع َم تِ ي َع لَ ْي‬
‫ك َو َع لى‬ َ ‫ال هَّللا ُ يَ ا ِع‬ َ َ‫ِإ ْذ ق‬
ِ ‫ك بِ ُر وح ِ ْال قُ ُد س‬َ ُ‫ك ِإ ْذ َأ يَّ ْد ت‬
َ ِ‫َو الِ َد ت‬
“Then will Allah say: "O Jesus the son of Mary! Recount My
favour to thee and to thy mother. Behold! I strengthened thee
with the holy spirit…”

* Qur’an 58:22:
ُ ‫ان َو َأ يَّ َد هُ ْم بِ ُر وح ٍ ِم ْن ه‬ َ ‫ب فِ ي قُ لُ وبِ ِه ُم اإل‬
َ ‫يم‬ َ َ‫َك ت‬
“…For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and
strengthened them with a Spirit from Himself…”

Rise up, it is time to pray!

PRAYER POINTS

1. In the text we read in Exodus 3:2, bible says the bush was
engulfed in fire, yet the bush was not consumed. It is true
that GOD used this occasion to reveal His Glory to Man; but
most importantly, God was revealing what He was doing in
the life of His servant Moses, and by extension, Israel.
How that God will set a Man on fire, whereas the world will
observe from afar, and then marvel because the Man is not
consumed.

In Matthew 10:1, the Gospel declares, “And when he had called

unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against
unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of
sickness and all manner of disease”; however, in Acts 1:8 Jesus
categorically said to the Apostles. “ye shall receive power, after
that the Holy Ghost is come upon you”

* There are levels of POWER

* There are levels of ANOINTING

* There are levels of GIFTINGS

* There are levels of AUTHORITY

That is why it is imperative to keep coming back to God to

replenish you, to restore you, and to rejuvenate you from time to
time. You cannot function today, in yesterday’s anointing; you
need a refill. As leaders, the importance of this fact cannot be
over emphasized. You need to regularly come before HIM to
receive so you can remain relevant in this end time.
Acts 2:1-4 KJV

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with
one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from
heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house
where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven
tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were
all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

* Father in the Name of Jesus, I command my heavens to

open, and I receive POWER from on High; I receive Strength
from on High. Divine Strength, Divine Authority, Divine
Power. I receive the FIRE, I receive the GLORY

2. Heavenly Father, anoint us for our NEXT LEVEL .

Daniel 6:3 KJV

“Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and
princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king
thought to set him over the whole realm.”

* Father in the Name of Jesus, I avail myself to receive from

you, the Spirit of Excellence; I receive the Glory of
Leadership from on high. I receive the Mantle of Leadership
from on High.

A Man can receive nothing, unless it is given to him from

above; therefore, Heavenly Father, this day I receive from
you the Glory, and the Mantle of Excellence. I receive the
Spirit of Excellence in the Name of Jesus.