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Victory in the Wilderness: Growing Strong in Dry Times
"God! Where are You?" Is this your heart's cry? Does your spiritual progress appear at a standstill - or even to have regressed? This time is not God's rejection but His season of preparation. It is the road traveled by patriarchs and prophets, paving a way for a fresh move of God. God intends for you to have victory in the wilderness.* What is the focus of the true prophetic?* How where you are is vital to where you're going* How God refines* Pressing through dry times
- GenresChristian
Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
38 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
About the author
John Bevere
155 books917 followersMarked by boldness and passion, John Bevere delivers uncompromising truth through his award-winning curriculums and bestselling books, now in more than 60 languages, including "The Bait of Satan," "Drawing Near" and "Driven by Eternity." He is an international speaker and co-host of "The Messenger" TV program broadcast worldwide.
John enjoys living in Colorado Springs with his wife, Lisa, also a best-selling author and speaker, and their four sons.
John enjoys living in Colorado Springs with his wife, Lisa, also a best-selling author and speaker, and their four sons.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 27, 2021
As always, John Bevere is a wonderful author and this book is very encouraging.
May 27, 2017
This Helped Me substantially
This book was able to help me stop worrying about the "Silent" moments in my life, and rejoice for what is to come, even before it manifests. God speaks through this book, and He has helped me to realize that my life is His life, and there's no greater security in a world like this, than to know that.
This book was able to help me stop worrying about the "Silent" moments in my life, and rejoice for what is to come, even before it manifests. God speaks through this book, and He has helped me to realize that my life is His life, and there's no greater security in a world like this, than to know that.
August 27, 2010
My first John Bevere read, I have been hooked ever since.
November 10, 2013
Amazing book :)
April 2, 2014
A MUST read! It makes you want to re-read some of the chapter again and again......
March 2, 2015
لا تحبط ولا تياس ... ثابر وواصل .... قاوم " الى ان يسكب علينا روح من العلاء فتصير البرية بستانا ويحسب البستان وعرا " ..... ثق في وعوده حتى تتحقق
March 1, 2023
This is an older book by John Bevere on the purpose of the wilderness times in a
believer's life. It explains that time in the wilderness purifies us, and conforms us to be like our
Lord, and is supposed to make us seek Him and know Him more. It's meant to focus us on pursuing God's heart, not just our needs and desires (PG. 16). Without an abiding, empowering relationship with God,
we can't keep His commandments (PG. 30). We’ll think our works and religious
routines justify us and bring us closer to God, when only true repentance can
bring us into God's Presence (pg. 46).
I was reminded of many scriptures and concepts while reading this book. I
liked the definition of discernment on PG. 82 as a concern for the welfare
of others, not a critical spirit. The book emphasizes the importance of
true repentance to bring change and see its fruit. The
discussion about how develops our character in the wilderness by
being broken, having motives revealed, and being refined before sending us into ministry caught my
attention. An example given was how Saul seeking the benefits of being king, while David sought the
heart of God. The wilderness develops our character, specifically the fruit of the Spirit, and prepares us to
handle the success God brings in ministering to others (PG. 91) or the temptations we’ll endure in the position he gives us.
Several chapters discussed how we're refined by hardships as David and
Joseph were. As Ezekiel 44:28 says, God is our inheritance, not the
ministry or its benefits (PG. 96). Unrefined vessels won't manifest His
glory (PG. 98) and we must be refined by fire and repent of the pride of
choosing our own ways. The wilderness changes us to do God's will and be sent by God, not serve ourselves (PG. 111). It prepares us to walk by God's power and move when the Spirit of God moves
(PG. 118).
Mostly the book emphasizes the need to change in order to know God. If we
don't have a heart for God, we'll just have religious routines and won't
know God. We'll just hold onto what God did in the past as the Israelites
did (PG. 120), or to our methods of religion rather than following the
Spirit of God and doing new things as in Isaiah 43:18-19 (PG. 123, 128-129).
The thing that bothered me about this book was the lack of references. I
don't know where the author got the ideas that he proposed about John the Baptist
on page 121. It seems like the author's thoughts, not research.
The final chapters focus on knowing God and following Him fully as in
Numbers 14:24. I believe it's true that some Israelites died in the
wilderness because they didn't know God or seek Him, but rather sought
comforts and their own desires (PG. 146). To know God, the author says we
need to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts and set our hearts on
things above by letting go of idols (pg. 146-148). To be refreshed in the
wilderness, the author says we need to unplug our wells of living water
(Chapter 16). And finally, cast off restraints until we know God. I think
the book is summarized by the paragraph that says if we only see hardships
in the wilderness, we'll die there. Those who set their minds on God and
seek Him, will exit the wilderness as sanctified warriors (PG. 161) prepared for what God has next (taking the promised land for His glory).
believer's life. It explains that time in the wilderness purifies us, and conforms us to be like our
Lord, and is supposed to make us seek Him and know Him more. It's meant to focus us on pursuing God's heart, not just our needs and desires (PG. 16). Without an abiding, empowering relationship with God,
we can't keep His commandments (PG. 30). We’ll think our works and religious
routines justify us and bring us closer to God, when only true repentance can
bring us into God's Presence (pg. 46).
I was reminded of many scriptures and concepts while reading this book. I
liked the definition of discernment on PG. 82 as a concern for the welfare
of others, not a critical spirit. The book emphasizes the importance of
true repentance to bring change and see its fruit. The
discussion about how develops our character in the wilderness by
being broken, having motives revealed, and being refined before sending us into ministry caught my
attention. An example given was how Saul seeking the benefits of being king, while David sought the
heart of God. The wilderness develops our character, specifically the fruit of the Spirit, and prepares us to
handle the success God brings in ministering to others (PG. 91) or the temptations we’ll endure in the position he gives us.
Several chapters discussed how we're refined by hardships as David and
Joseph were. As Ezekiel 44:28 says, God is our inheritance, not the
ministry or its benefits (PG. 96). Unrefined vessels won't manifest His
glory (PG. 98) and we must be refined by fire and repent of the pride of
choosing our own ways. The wilderness changes us to do God's will and be sent by God, not serve ourselves (PG. 111). It prepares us to walk by God's power and move when the Spirit of God moves
(PG. 118).
Mostly the book emphasizes the need to change in order to know God. If we
don't have a heart for God, we'll just have religious routines and won't
know God. We'll just hold onto what God did in the past as the Israelites
did (PG. 120), or to our methods of religion rather than following the
Spirit of God and doing new things as in Isaiah 43:18-19 (PG. 123, 128-129).
The thing that bothered me about this book was the lack of references. I
don't know where the author got the ideas that he proposed about John the Baptist
on page 121. It seems like the author's thoughts, not research.
The final chapters focus on knowing God and following Him fully as in
Numbers 14:24. I believe it's true that some Israelites died in the
wilderness because they didn't know God or seek Him, but rather sought
comforts and their own desires (PG. 146). To know God, the author says we
need to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts and set our hearts on
things above by letting go of idols (pg. 146-148). To be refreshed in the
wilderness, the author says we need to unplug our wells of living water
(Chapter 16). And finally, cast off restraints until we know God. I think
the book is summarized by the paragraph that says if we only see hardships
in the wilderness, we'll die there. Those who set their minds on God and
seek Him, will exit the wilderness as sanctified warriors (PG. 161) prepared for what God has next (taking the promised land for His glory).
October 25, 2022
A comment in the Foreword by Jim Bakker really drew me in: "I have interviewed thousands of authors and many didn't know and others didn't believe what they had written about... they were just good at the craft of writing."
Bevere points out the problematic nature of talking about the Lord using people. God doesn't use, He anoints. "Use" is the language of manipulation and betrayal. (p33)
Sin is the added substance that turns soft, pure gold into a hard alloy. So a pure heart is like pure gold, and sin hardens the heart. (p59) In the refining process, gold is ground into powder and then mixed with flux. When heat is applied, the alloys are drawn to the flux and rise to the surface. The gold remains at the bottom and the dross is removed. (p60)
Discernment is not suspicion. Suspicion is fear-motivated. Discernment is a result of concern for others and their welfare. (p79)
A person with a religious spirit holds fast to what God DID, resisting what God is DOING. (p116)
An old wineskin could be used again if it was soaked in water for several days and then rubbed in olive oil. (p120)
Bevere points out the problematic nature of talking about the Lord using people. God doesn't use, He anoints. "Use" is the language of manipulation and betrayal. (p33)
Sin is the added substance that turns soft, pure gold into a hard alloy. So a pure heart is like pure gold, and sin hardens the heart. (p59) In the refining process, gold is ground into powder and then mixed with flux. When heat is applied, the alloys are drawn to the flux and rise to the surface. The gold remains at the bottom and the dross is removed. (p60)
Discernment is not suspicion. Suspicion is fear-motivated. Discernment is a result of concern for others and their welfare. (p79)
A person with a religious spirit holds fast to what God DID, resisting what God is DOING. (p116)
An old wineskin could be used again if it was soaked in water for several days and then rubbed in olive oil. (p120)
February 1, 2021
A wonderful book of encouragement that every Christian ought to read.
October 23, 2023
Uma benção!
January 25, 2024
Îi dau 3 ⭐️ pentru că mi-a luat o veșnicie să o termin.
June 1, 2024
Teaching, educating, correcting, encouraging, refreshing and amazing. That’s it that’s all.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews