Baptist Fellowship Church

The Power of a Surrendered Life Part 3
Kadesh-Barnea
Deuteronomy 1:19-33

The Israelite’s sojourn at Kadesh was a time of crisis, what they chose in place of communion with God. It was a place of confrontation where God brought them to brokenness. This is also a place many of us come to. We come to our own Kadesh Barnea in different ways. Sometimes, it is the loss of a loved one; sometimes, it is at a time of revival. Whenever or whatever it is, it is a time we trust God and no one else.

Are we willing to be made willing?

When you are at Kadesh Barnea, you can do two things. What happened to the Israelites?

They went back to the wilderness. It meant fighting and failure, it meant idolatry and murmuring against God.

What does the wilderness mean for us?

It will be an up and down Christian experience. One day it is fellowship with God and the next, doubting our salvation. One day, it is willingness to do things for Him and the next, rebellion against suggestions to live for Him. It is vacillating between a spiritual Christian and a carnal Christian.

The wilderness after we have looked over the land is one of prolonged bitterness. It is restlessness as we have no abiding place. It is not possible to find shade under the palm trees of an oasis. There is no restful Christian in the wilderness.

There was discontent and murmuring against God and Moses by the Israelites. They had no appetite for manna and they wanted the food of Egypt. They were not satisfied with what God had given them, and they did not relish the simple things of Christ.

There is fruitlessness. Everyday in the wilderness is a fight for the right of way to march again in the wilderness. As with the Israelites in the wilderness, God gives us the possession only when we reach the Promised Land.

Things are in the negative. The Israelites in the wilderness were not doing Egyptian things but neither were they doing the positive things if they had been in the promised land. The line between the wild and the church is wiped out. In the wilderness, we may be merely doing the “negative” things. We do not smoke, we do not gamble etc., but neither is the positive side of Christian life there.

There are two sides of the Wilderness experience. A Christian on the Egyptian side is peculiarly discontented. All the marks of the wilderness experience are found in him. He wishes to do all the Egyptian things. There is backsliding.

At Kadesh Barnea, the Christian looks over to the Canaan side. Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” And Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” These verses summarise the Canaan side at Kadesh Barnea. We present our bodies a living sacrifice and Christ lives in us.

When you reach Kadesh Barnea what do you do?

When the Israelites spied the land of Canaan, they saw a land of fruitfulness. There were also giants! What Galatians tell us in 5:22 -23 is what we will have when we cross over. There are also enemies in Spiritual Canaan. There will be wars to fight but God is with us.

The question lies in what is Kadesh Barnea to you and are you going into the Promised Land?

Firstl,y see in the Word of God that He has promised something for you - present enjoyment of victory of no sin. There is rest from quieting doubt.

Secondly show Him our need. God will help us.

Third, see that there is power in Christ to give us this experience. Just as we came as a sinner to crucified Christ, come as a weary saint to the mighty Christ. Kneel under the burden of our failure, doubt, defeat, weakness as a Christian. Look to Him to give us victory and possession and rest. Look to Him in faith. Cross over to the good land. Victory is in Jesus.

Fourth, say. “By faith now I am in the Promised Land.” And walk in. Many take the first three steps and stop there. Step over into this land, it is waiting for you!

Mr and Mrs ET Chua

This entry was posted on Friday, May 9th, 2008 at 10:00 pm and is filed under Sermons. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.