Preparation for the Assignment, part 2

There's pain and isolation in our wilderness preparation.

As we continue to explore the theme of preparation for the assignment, let us re-visit the prelude to the preparation. In terms of Jesus' baptism before entering the preparation process, remember what kind of baptism Jesus experienced. Jesus experienced the Baptism of John, which was also the baptism of repentance (Mark 1). Of course Jesus had nothing to repent of, but the baptism of John was deeper than "turning away from sin." 

The word "repentance" in the Greek also means "to think again." Saints, there are some key and critical issues in many of our lives that, if we're going to be available vessels for the Kingdom of God, we're going to have to "re-think" or think again. Some of the ways we think about money, some of the ways we think about our jobs, some of the ways we think about our family, some of the ways we think about career, some of the ways we think about "church"; we're going to have to think again. We're going have to re-think some of the fundamental attitudes and perceptions we've developed over decades because they are not in alignment with the principles of the Kingdom of God. One of the biggest challenges to Kingdom Living is un-renewed thinking. Saints, there has to be a baptism of repentance, not just in terms of sin and dead works, but in terms of out-dated thinking that's not in alignment with the ways of the Kingdom of God.

Now, let us look at the location of the preparation Process. Once Jesus experienced the baptism of John and received Divine approval of the Father (Luke 3), the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness. Why the wilderness? Because Saints, the wilderness is a place of loneliness and solitude. This is one of the biggest challenges I'm finding in a lot of believers right now. The place and the path that God has temporarily positioned you is hard! There's pain, there's isolation, there's exasperation, there's frustration, and no mater how much moral support you receive and prayers of the saints, you still feel all alone. At the risk of sounding sarcastic, congratulations and welcome to the preparation process! If it's hard right now for you, congratulations! If you feel like you're all alone right now, congratulations! If you feel like you're going through with no "clue" as to when this agony and depression is going to end, congratulations, you are experiencing your preparation for the assignment! 

We need to be up front with people and be clear, the preparation process is hard. It's difficult, it's tedious, and it can be long (or at least longer than we expected). I wish I could soften it up and make it sugary, but I can't; it is what it is. Jesus wasn't led to a palace, He wasn't led to a tent, He wasn't led to the Temple, He was led to the wilderness. If you are not willing (God will make you able) to endure your wilderness experience in preparation for God's Divine assignment for your life and in this next season, then you're not fit for the call for the Kingdom of God.