In the Spiritual Desert by Brother Duke Hansen

                 You walk through dry seasons in the spirit and often times you may not see it actually happen. You may be ignorant or blissfully unaware you are in an arid season of the spirit. More often than we are willing to admit, we fall into a deception that we aren't in a wilderness. We are experiencing something different and not at all based in the bible. This morning, we will be reading from a couple of different places in the bible. The first one will be in Matthew chapter 12 and will be starting at verse 43.

        43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

        44 Then he saith, I will return into my house when I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

        Spirits, both unclean and clean, walk through deserts. You can like certain seasons in life and endure the ones you don't like.

        45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

        If we go through the entire bible and look at the story of Moses for example, we would see it starts in a place of wealth and delicacies. When the truth of Moses' nature was revealed, it led him to the slave pits, to murder, and to the desert. If you can deceive someone into believing a lie, you're a deceiver. Your perception is not reality. In the desert, Moses found God, a role model in his father in law Jethro, as well as a divine mission.

        In the new testament we look at the life of Saul before his conversion. He was living his life as how he was trained and taught as a Pharisee. After Saul's conversion, he was healed of his physical blindness, baptized in water, but he retreated into the desert for 3 years before he sojourned to Jerusalem.

        The life of David and his longstanding conflict with King Saul, his brotherly bond with Saul's son Jonathan. David was also in a desert for a period, seeking work from Israel's enemy, the Philistines. 

        Let's turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and start with verse 1.

        For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

        This earthen vessel after taking on the characteristics, the spirit, and likeliness of God. It isn't an instant thing with one action. It takes time and relentless work.

        2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

        3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

        4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

        Being burdened is a promise and not a warning. There's work to be done on your end.

        Look at the life of Joshua after he began taking the land promised to Israel. His desert period is in his later years, burdened with this enormous task of leading this people and dividing the conquered land. He grew tired in his old age and lost his focus.

        There's always a group out there who always ask why to life's cruelty and indifference. The answer in the scripture is because it's always the process. Born again believers are to build up their faith and knowledge. These things add strength. Not a physical strength but a mental one. It's endurance with dignity for a season. What does it mean to have courage? It's facing fear with bravery.

        Another example of desert seasons in the scripture is the story of Naomi. Famine had driven her family from their homeland and she ended up losing her husband and sons. She was so upset, she changed her name to Mara. Mara is translated bitterness. 

        Tear down the flesh and build up what God has planned for you. Dry places are present for a reason. They set you aside. God wants to show you his strengths and shortcomings in life.

        5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

        God places us in this spot but for a reason. Some of our dry periods could be the result of our decisions. Your shortfalls and strengths are shown for you to build up what you are weak in and maintain your strength. You can learn where you are weak in life, even spots you are blind to in life. God will teach you how to remain steady. To be steady is to not waver. You have to trust, trust, trust. Trust is something we are often lacking in our life. Our flesh wants to patch things in life. God wants us to be a brand new creation.

        Are we going to believe reality or in faith? You will bear hope. Hope even at out lowest with more obedience you will find more faith. God uses people, situations, and where it gets you out of your comfort zone.

        6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.

        7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

        Our sight, realities, perceptions are all a deceit. Everyone has different levels of strength, hope, faith, because everyone's walk is different. Dig a well deeper than your father did. Strength is feeling pressure but not breaking. You have to build your threshold, strength, and endurance.

        Emotionally, we often make bad decisions. If you are walking  through a desert place, may you find some information this morning. The people I cited in scripture all came from different walks in life. They all had to find their hope in their individual situations. Have confidence in the process and build your strengths, Do you have this confidence? Ir do you quake at the sound of thunder? God pushes you until you break to show you where your limitations are. We need to stop speaking negative, down trodden, and fear in life.