In listening to Mr. Michael McAnuff-Jones preaching recently, he made several points that the Lord Jesus wants us to reproduce.

Firstly, God wants us to look back with an Attitude of Enquiry on experiences that He has led us through up to this point.  What are the key learning points we had? Let us ask ourselves, what did God want me to learn, learn it and not forget it.

Secondly, God wants us to look forward to Canaan-a place of fruitfulness and harvest for the community.  Look with expectations to what God will give.  There is a continued call to commit to:

• LIVE – beyond our previous experiences of hurt pain and breach of trust;
• MULTIPLY instead of hoarding: produce after our kind(living livings); and
• POSSESS – accomplish the purpose that God has called us for.  What ministries are waiting on me to be started?  I am God’s instrument, let’s go. 

However as we respond to this call there are several things that God wants us to consider:

1. The wilderness of testing is going to confront us.  God wants us to remember what he has taught us in the season of prayer.  Incorporate the strategies Jesus used in his wilderness time.  This period of trials will find us losing confidence in ourselves but gaining confidence in the Lord.  God is going to make us over into the image of Christ, as the potter shapes the clay.  This period is one of change and transformation even as we commit to live, multiply and possess.
2. The wilderness is also a season of opportunity.  Isaiah 40:3 “…In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God”. It is an opportunity where God wants us to bear witness and prepare the way for God to come into our lives. Like Jesus, God wants us to experience certain humbleness in the wilderness (Deu.8:3 “He humbled you…to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord”). Clarity only comes when God speaks.  It is now a time of fresh dependence on God as He wants us to move from trusting to him selectively and move to total and complete dependence on HIM.   God won’t relent until He moves us from the place of distraction and HIS purpose is accomplished in our lives. 

1. The discipline of the Lord will attend us in preparation for the harvest.  This is a mark of authenticity.  God will deliberately do things or address things in our lives to prepare us for the harvest of righteousness. God is after people to fulfill his purpose who will collaborate with His agenda. 

As we go through the wilderness of testing and opportunity and experience the discipline of the Lord let us commit to live, multiply and possess while we look forward to the land of harvest and fruitfulness.  Let us not let the dangers of the pride of plenty and focusing on our efforts rather than God’s mercy distract us from God’s purpose in our lives.

Let us choose to remember and not forget.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father!!! I easily forget where you have brought me from and what you have carried me through.  I am easily distracted and lose focus on what you have called me to. Roll back my curtain of memory Lord Jesus.   Help me to submit to learning from the wilderness of testing and your discipline and to depend on you as I maximize each step of opportunity in living, multiplying and possessing.  I choose you Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.