Thirsting for God in Spiritual Wilderness
Summary
In the midst of life's varying seasons, whether they be times of joy or trial, the heart's deepest longing is for God. Psalm 63, a cherished hymn among early Christians, captures this yearning beautifully. It speaks to the soul's thirst for God in a dry and barren land, a metaphor for the spiritual wilderness we often find ourselves in. This longing is not bound by circumstances; it is a constant cry of the heart, whether in times of abundance or scarcity, joy or sorrow.
Life's journey is marked by seasons of spiritual dryness, where the soul feels parched and the heart longs for the living water that only God can provide. These times of wilderness are not uncommon for believers. They are part of the Christian experience, a stage where faith is tested, and the heart's true desires are revealed. Yet, even in these barren places, God remains our God. His presence is not diminished by our circumstances, and His love does not waver with our spiritual state.
The wilderness experience serves a purpose. It reveals our dependence on God and strips away the distractions that often cloud our vision of Him. It is in these moments of spiritual drought that we are reminded of our need for God above all else. The world, with all its allure, cannot satisfy the deep thirst of the soul. Only God can quench this thirst, and it is to Him that we must turn.
In these dry seasons, the call is to seek God earnestly. Not to wait for a change in circumstances, but to cry out to Him in the midst of the desert. It is a call to pursue communion with God, to seek His presence above all else. This pursuit is not in vain, for God delights in meeting His children in their need. He is the God of the wilderness, and it is often in these desolate places that His grace is most profoundly experienced.
The journey through the wilderness is not one we walk alone. God is with us, and His love is steadfast. As we cry out to Him, He hears and responds, bringing refreshment to our weary souls. Let us, therefore, not be content with spiritual dryness but press on to know the fullness of joy that comes from living in close fellowship with our God.
Key Takeaways:
- Spiritual dryness is a common experience for believers, revealing our deep need for God. It is in these times that we must remember that God is still our God, and His love remains constant despite our circumstances. [06:56]
- The world, even at its best, cannot satisfy the soul's longing for God. Our hearts are made for Him, and only in His presence do we find true fulfillment. [12:43]
- In times of spiritual drought, the call is to seek God earnestly, not waiting for circumstances to change but crying out to Him in the midst of the desert. [37:45]
- God's love does not depend on our spiritual condition. He loves us in our weakness and meets us in our need, offering grace and refreshment to our weary souls. [30:00]
- The wilderness experience is an opportunity to deepen our dependence on God and to experience His grace in profound ways. It is often in these desolate places that we encounter Him most deeply. [35:13]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:16] - A Wilderness Cry
- [00:38] - The Timelessness of Psalm 63
- [01:06] - Seasons of the Soul
- [02:33] - Songs in the Wilderness
- [03:19] - The Wilderness Experience
- [04:27] - Spiritual Stages
- [06:21] - Addressing the Dry Land
- [06:56] - True Saints in Dry Lands
- [10:22] - The World as a Dry Land
- [13:59] - The Inner Drought
- [18:11] - Hunger for Grace
- [27:21] - God in the Wilderness
- [36:41] - Crying Out to God
- [49:03] - Awakening from Slumber
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Psalm 63:1-2: "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water."
#### Observation Questions
1. What imagery does Psalm 63 use to describe the soul's longing for God? How does this imagery relate to the concept of spiritual dryness? [00:16]
2. According to the sermon, why is spiritual dryness a common experience for believers? [06:56]
3. How does the sermon describe the world in relation to the soul's longing for God? [12:43]
4. What role does the wilderness experience play in revealing our dependence on God, according to the sermon? [35:13]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon suggest believers should respond to spiritual dryness? What does it mean to seek God earnestly in these times? [37:45]
2. In what ways does the sermon illustrate that God's love is constant, regardless of our spiritual condition? [30:00]
3. How does the sermon explain the purpose of the wilderness experience in a believer's life? What lessons are to be learned during these times? [35:13]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between spiritual dryness and the distractions of the world? [12:43]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced spiritual dryness. How did you respond, and what might you do differently now to seek God earnestly in such times? [37:45]
2. The sermon emphasizes that God's love does not depend on our spiritual state. How can this truth impact your daily walk with God, especially during challenging times? [30:00]
3. Identify a distraction in your life that might be contributing to spiritual dryness. What steps can you take this week to minimize its impact and focus more on God? [12:43]
4. The sermon encourages believers to cry out to God in the midst of the desert. What practical steps can you take to cultivate a habit of seeking God, regardless of your circumstances? [37:45]
5. Consider the wilderness experiences in your life. How have they deepened your dependence on God, and how can you use these experiences to encourage others in their faith journey? [35:13]
6. How can you remind yourself of God's constant love and presence during times of spiritual drought? What specific practices or reminders can you incorporate into your routine? [30:00]
7. The sermon suggests that the world cannot satisfy the soul's longing for God. How can you intentionally seek fulfillment in God's presence rather than in worldly pursuits? [12:43]
Devotional
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Quotes
oh God Thou Art my God early will I seek thee my soul thirth for thee my flesh longth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is to see thy power and thy Glory so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary Psalm 63: 1 and 2 A wilderness cry a sermon delivered by C8 Spurgeon [00:00:06]
children of God are not always in the same Happy State of Mind to hear some people talk who know but little of religious experience you would fancy that the Christian life is all feasting and dancing children think that all there is in hunting is wearing a red coat and blowing a horn they know nothing of the rough riding we do it is true linger delightfully in the Sweet Valley of humiliation where men have found pearls and met with angels [00:07:02]
the world at its best it is a dry land for Saints even when it's rains are falling when the world arth itself in scarlet and putteth on its silk and satins it is still a poor world for us she may paint her face and tie her head but she is a jezebel for all that the world should she come to us as she came to Sodom would be still a deceiver if she would indulge us with all her riches and give us all her power and all her Fame she would still be a mere mocker to the heart which is born from above [00:11:14]
verily there is no Doctrine more true to experience than this that corruption remaineth even in the hearts of the regenerate and that when we would do good evil is present with us within us there is still a carnal mind which is not reconciled to God neither indeed can be and as long as we have this about us if it be permitted for a moment to get the upper hand and who Among Us is so watchful that this will never happen it is no wonder that the joys of Grace seem to disappear and we find ourselves in a spiritual Wilderness [00:14:10]
sometimes Christians become very hungry and thirsty when they are banished from the means of Grace poor as our ministry may be yet there are many of God's children who would miss it more than their daily food if it were taken from them God's servants whom he calls to the work of the ministry are bound to think little of themselves and yet the Loaves and Fishes which they distribute to the multitude are by no means to be lightly esteemed the people would faint by the way if they had them not [00:18:14]
God still oh God Thou Art my God yes he is just as much Our God in the dry land as if we sat by Sila's softly flowing Brook which Glides by the Oracle of God oh God Thou Art my god when I see the fountain leaping from The Rock in a Cascade of cool refreshment and thou art just as much my God if every rivered be turned to a heap of stones and the burning sand on all sides mock my searching eye [00:27:21]
when the Lord first loved us we were in a worse State than we are now for though we feel dry and sapless we are not utterly dead as we were then remember his great love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in trespasses and sins we were enemies and yet he reconciled us and we are not enemies now though we fear we are poor coldhearted friends [00:32:34]
in the sanctuary we have seen his power and His glory oh the Delight the Heavenly Joys which we have known at times in his service at prayer meetings I know we have had our hearts warmed within us and felt that we could scarcely be happier in heaven sometimes times under a sermon we have been fired as with new life and we have felt that we could begin again with double strength [00:34:10]
if we be in the wilderness is not God the god of the Wilderness we're not his great Marvels wrought when he led his people about through the howling Wilderness and fed them with Manner and revealed himself in a fiery cloudy pillar where did Hagar Look to Him who saw her but in the wilderness where did Moses see the Lord in the bush but in the desert Where did Elijah hear a voice speaking to him but away there in the wilderness [00:35:13]
now Brethren and sisters I want to speak very PR practically to you as I do to myself for many of us are deeply and personally concerned in this matter very likely the warmth of the atmosphere on this warm summer morning may make you feel all the duller in devotion you may not be enjoying the things of God because the air is heavy and invites to Slumber let us then be stir ourselves and break the bonds of sleep asunder [00:36:41]
it is one of the Temptations of the devil to tell you not to pray when you do not feel like praying pray twice as much then when you feel least like praying then pray the more for you need it the more and when you feel very little like coming near to God then cry my God I must be in a terrible state or else I should have a great longing after thee therefore will I not rest till I find thee out and come to thee [00:38:45]
the preacher who has best fed you will only disappoint you if his Lord be not with him or if you are not prepared to look beyond the man to the master the lord loves to famish his people of all Earthly bread and water to bring them to wait upon himself alone I charge you beloved this morning whatever your state may be make a direct appeal to the Lord that he would immediately give you himself by Christ Jesus [00:40:01]
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