Finding Abundance in Desert Seasons of Life

Summary

In today's message, we explored the theme of "Rivers in the Desert," focusing on how to live the abundant life of Christ even during the desert seasons of our lives. These desert seasons, characterized by dryness and difficulty, are a reality for every believer. Yet, they are also opportunities for us to experience God's provision and presence in profound ways. We reflected on the Feast of Booths, a time when the Israelites remembered God's provision during their wilderness journey. This feast serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and His ultimate plan of redemption.

The Israelites' experience in the wilderness, where God provided manna and water, parallels our own spiritual journeys. Just as God tabernacled with the Israelites, He promises to be with us in our desert seasons. Jesus, the ultimate tabernacle, offers us living water, a never-ending source of life and sustenance. His invitation to come and drink is not just for the Israelites but for us today. In our times of drought, sorrow, and uncertainty, we have access to these rivers of living water, which symbolize abundance and provision.

We also delved into the story of Ezekiel and the valley of dry bones, illustrating how God can bring life to the most desolate situations. This narrative encourages us to trust in God's power and to prophesy over our own dry bones, declaring life and restoration. The desert, though challenging, is where we learn to thirst for God and rely on His provision. It is in these seasons that we are invited to drink deeply from the wells of salvation and experience the abundant life that Jesus offers.

Key Takeaways:

- God's Presence in the Desert: Just as God was with the Israelites in the wilderness, He promises to be with us in our desert seasons. These times of dryness are opportunities to experience His provision and presence in new ways. We are reminded that God is our ultimate source of life and sustenance. [37:26]

- The Feast of Booths: This feast serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and provision. It encourages us to reflect on His past works and trust in His future promises. As we remember God's faithfulness, we are led to worship and thanksgiving. [38:06]

- Jesus, the Living Water: Jesus offers us living water, a never-ending source of life and sustenance. In our times of drought and uncertainty, we are invited to come and drink from this source, experiencing the abundance and provision that only He can provide. [45:36]

- Prophesying Over Dry Bones: The story of Ezekiel and the valley of dry bones teaches us to trust in God's power to bring life to desolate situations. We are encouraged to declare life and restoration over our own dry bones, trusting in God's ability to transform our circumstances. [54:42]

- The Abundant Life in Christ: Even in the driest seasons, we have access to the abundant life that Jesus offers. By drinking from the deep wells of salvation, we can experience His life-giving presence and be equipped to share this provision with others. [01:08:57]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[37:26] - Introduction to Desert Seasons
[38:06] - The Feast of Booths
[41:14] - God's Provision in the Wilderness
[42:12] - Tabernacle and God's Presence
[43:37] - Jesus as the Ultimate Tabernacle
[44:52] - Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles
[45:36] - Invitation to Living Water
[47:08] - Rivers of Living Water
[49:21] - The Reality of Christian Life
[51:01] - Desperation for Jesus
[52:21] - Learning to Thirst in the Desert
[52:54] - Sharing the Provision
[54:42] - Ezekiel and the Valley of Dry Bones
[01:08:57] - Drinking from the Wells of Salvation
[01:11:06] - Prophetic Voice and Declaration
[01:12:40] - Stirring the Spirit of Prophecy
[01:15:04] - Closing and Invitation to the Altar

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide: Rivers in the Desert

#### Bible Reading
1. Leviticus 23:39-43 - Instructions for the Feast of Booths
2. John 7:37-38 - Jesus offers living water
3. Ezekiel 37:1-14 - The valley of dry bones

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#### Observation Questions
1. What specific instructions did God give the Israelites for celebrating the Feast of Booths, and what was its purpose? [38:06]
2. How does Jesus describe the living water He offers in John 7:37-38, and what is its significance during the Feast of Tabernacles? [45:36]
3. In Ezekiel 37, what does God command Ezekiel to do with the dry bones, and what happens as a result? [54:42]
4. How does the sermon describe the connection between the Israelites' wilderness experience and our own spiritual journeys? [42:12]

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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the Feast of Booths serve as a reminder of God's faithfulness and provision, and how can this be applied to our lives today? [38:06]
2. What does Jesus' invitation to drink the living water mean for believers facing desert seasons in their lives? [45:36]
3. How does the story of Ezekiel and the valley of dry bones illustrate God's power to bring life to desolate situations? [54:42]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that desert seasons can deepen our reliance on God and His provision? [52:21]

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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced a "desert season" in your life. How did you see God's provision and presence during that time? [37:26]
2. The Feast of Booths is a time of remembrance and thanksgiving. How can you incorporate similar practices of gratitude and reflection in your daily life? [38:06]
3. Jesus offers living water to those who are spiritually thirsty. What steps can you take to ensure you are regularly "drinking" from this source? [45:36]
4. Consider a situation in your life that feels like a valley of dry bones. How can you apply the lesson of prophesying life and restoration over it? [54:42]
5. The sermon mentions that desert seasons teach us to thirst for God. What practical ways can you cultivate a deeper thirst for God in your current circumstances? [52:21]
6. How can you share the "rivers of living water" with others who may be experiencing their own desert seasons? [52:54]
7. Reflect on the idea of God tabernacling with us in our desert seasons. How does this change your perspective on facing challenges and uncertainties? [43:37]

Devotional

Day 1: Experiencing God's Presence in the Desert
In the desert seasons of life, characterized by dryness and difficulty, believers are invited to experience God's presence in profound ways. Just as God was with the Israelites during their wilderness journey, providing manna and water, He promises to be with us in our own desert seasons. These times are not just challenges but opportunities to deepen our reliance on God and to witness His provision and faithfulness. The desert becomes a place where we learn to thirst for God, recognizing Him as our ultimate source of life and sustenance. [37:26]

Isaiah 41:17-18 (ESV): "When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water."

Reflection: Think of a current challenge in your life that feels like a desert. How can you invite God's presence into this situation today, trusting Him to provide in unexpected ways?

Day 2: Remembering God's Faithfulness through the Feast of Booths
The Feast of Booths serves as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and provision during the Israelites' wilderness journey. This feast encourages believers to reflect on God's past works and trust in His future promises. As we remember God's faithfulness, we are led to worship and thanksgiving, acknowledging that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This reflection helps us to cultivate a heart of gratitude and trust, even in the midst of uncertainty. [38:06]

Deuteronomy 8:2-4 (ESV): "And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when God provided for you in a difficult season. How can this memory inspire you to trust Him with your current and future needs?

Day 3: Drinking from the Living Water of Jesus
Jesus offers us living water, a never-ending source of life and sustenance. In times of drought, sorrow, and uncertainty, we are invited to come and drink from this source, experiencing the abundance and provision that only He can provide. This invitation is not just for the Israelites but for us today, as we navigate the challenges of life. By accepting this invitation, we can experience the fullness of life that Jesus offers, even in the driest seasons. [45:36]

John 7:37-38 (ESV): "On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel spiritually dry? How can you intentionally seek Jesus' living water today to refresh and sustain you?

Day 4: Prophesying Life Over Dry Bones
The story of Ezekiel and the valley of dry bones illustrates God's power to bring life to desolate situations. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's ability to transform circumstances and to declare life and restoration over their own dry bones. This act of prophesying is an expression of faith, believing that God can breathe new life into areas that seem hopeless. By speaking life into these situations, we align ourselves with God's redemptive power and purpose. [54:42]

Ezekiel 37:4-6 (ESV): "Then he said to me, 'Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.'"

Reflection: Identify an area in your life that feels lifeless or hopeless. What words of life and restoration can you speak over this situation today, trusting in God's power to bring transformation?

Day 5: Embracing the Abundant Life in Christ
Even in the driest seasons, believers have access to the abundant life that Jesus offers. By drinking from the deep wells of salvation, we can experience His life-giving presence and be equipped to share this provision with others. This abundant life is not dependent on external circumstances but is rooted in the eternal and unchanging nature of Christ. As we embrace this life, we are empowered to live with purpose and to extend God's love and provision to those around us. [01:08:57]

Isaiah 12:2-3 (ESV): "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation."

Reflection: How can you intentionally draw from the wells of salvation today to experience the abundant life Jesus offers? In what ways can you share this life-giving presence with others in your community?

Quotes

1. "I'm taking for my title today, Rivers in the Desert. Living the abundant life of Christ in the desert season of our lives. Has anyone ever been in a desert season? And if you're in it now, you don't have to raise your hand, but we will have a time of prayer for you today. It's a reality of the Christian life." [00:37:25] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "So a couple weeks ago, from October 15th through the 23rd, the Feast of Booths or the Feast of the Tabernacles was observed. And this is one of seven annual feasts that the Lord commanded. The Israelites to observe in order to help them remember him and to remember his providence, to remember his relationship with them and ultimately to remind them of his ultimate plan of redemption for all of us. Each of these seven feasts were actually reveal some aspect of God's master plan to rescue us and should actually lead us to worship." [00:38:06] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "God made his home with them. He pitched his holy tent in the presence of the Israelites in the middle of the wilderness. Every single day, every single hour, every single second, he made his presence known so much so that when he had a reputation amongst the surrounding nations, they heard of the greatness of God. The tabernacle was the physical and holy dwelling place for the God that he placed in the midst of the camp, in the middle of the people. It was a place of worship. It was a place of sacrifice. It was a place of intercession." [00:43:01] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "He knew that the people would need his presence in the wilderness, and he made a way to be there with them. Won't he do the same for you? Hallelujah. Right in the center of the camp. See, their 40 years was a time of discipline, right? But he chose to say, yes, I'm disciplining you, but I'm going to be with you the whole time. I'm going to make my home amongst you. I'll be right there in the middle." [00:44:06] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Jesus elected to come and tabernacle with the very people he would suffer and die for and at the hands of in order to redeem us back to our father. This same Jesus quietly enters the feast of the tabernacles. Celebration which takes place now six months after the miracle of feeding the 5,000 plus. His haters, the Sadducees and the Pharisees, were waiting to see if he was going to show up." [00:48:12] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "On the last day of the feast, Jesus himself stands up and shouts so all could hear him. Why is this important? Because during the seven days, and oftentimes teaching was done sitting quietly, talking, debating, listening to the leader. But at this moment on the seven, on the last day of the feast, Jesus stands up and he says, according to John 7, verse 37, on the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood and cried out, if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink." [00:51:50] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "This statement itself is powerful. And the impact and the imagery of Jesus saying this is actually like a knockout punch in a boxing match. The imagery is beautiful and is perfectly timed. Catch this, at the end of the seven days of the feast, the Jews performed a water ritual to celebrate God's provision of water in the wilderness. But on that last day, from my understanding, they don't perform the ritual. But Jesus himself said, I am the water that you are missing today." [00:53:13] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Just this week, I was listening to a bishop preach on his, I think it was his pastoral anniversary, and he said something like, whoever told you when you become a Christian, all your problems go away, was wrong. Has anybody? It's wrong. He said, sometimes that's when your problems start. Anybody? Yeah. So, I just shook my head and I said, yeah, in my little life, I agree." [00:56:01] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "The Bible says that we are afflicted in every way but not crushed, perplexed but not driven to despair, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed, according to 2 Corinthians 4, verses 8 and 9. So in all these issues of life, we have access to the abundant life of Christ in the desert season. Hallelujah." [00:58:34] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "The desert, though painful and long, is where I learn to be thirsty. And I come and drink from the one. Allow me not to thirst anymore. Because he is the living well. He is. I know it's improper English. But he is the living waters. He is the rivers. He is the rivers. Hallelujah." [01:02:27] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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