You Will Soon Be Released From the Wilderness — Carter Conlon

Release From the Wilderness Through God's Divine Work

You will soon be released from the wilderness. Luke chapter 1 if you go there, please with me. You will soon be released. Notice I didn't say you will escape because you can't escape it. You'll be released from the wilderness now father, I know that you put this on my heart and You spoke to my heart that you would accompany this word with the weight of your presence the Lord.

I thank you for the weightiness of Christ the manifested life of Christ in this house today and Pray God that you help us all to take seriously what you speak through your word. Give me the ability to clearly and simply convey this but give our hearts a largeness that we can receive it.

Help us to look away from circumstance and to look to your promises to us. For Lord, you have determined to have a testimony in this final hour. God thank you for this and I pray today that there'll be many that step out of their places of wilderness and realize the invitation to freedom and Begin to walk towards it.

The Lord I see it. I see it in my spirit and I thank you that you're going to accomplish it. Cannot be done by any amount of human effort. It has to be a divine work. I thank you for it with all my heart.

Give these words weight. Oh God. I ask it in Jesus name Luke chapter 1 Verse 21 and the people waited for Zacharias and marveled that he carried so long in the temple. And when he came out he could not speak unto them and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple for he beckoned to them and remained speechless and It came to pass that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished.

He departed To his own house now. Zacharias was a priest in his time who was given the responsibility in certain Seasons and times of going into the presence of the Lord. The people outside in verse 21 says they waited for him to come out just as You see it says in this verse they perceived that he had seen a vision and they they waited and they marveled that he carried So long in the temple now.

There's many of us here today that your family your neighbors people you work with. They're all waiting Waiting for something that perhaps God is going to do some revelation. He's going to Accomplish in your life and through your life and they marveled that he'd been So long in the temple and I remember when I first came to Christ that I would tell my co-workers.

They would say how did you spend your weekend and everybody would talk about how they spent your weekend and I'd say well I spent my weekend in the house of God and I literally did. Sometimes we'd be there Saturday night and surely all day Sunday whenever the doors were open.

We were there. My children were there. My wife was there. I was there loved to be in the presence of the Lord and they marveled that I would spend so long in the temple and that's the way it is with many here you spend a good portion of your week coming to the house of God and people are in effect waiting outside and Marveling that you're here so long now inside this Meeting that Zacharias had with the Lord incredible promises were given to him.

He was told that in spite of the barrenness of your wife Elizabeth and yourself that you're going to have a son and your son is going to be new life come from you and Not just new life, but this new life is going to have an effect on the society around you now.

I'm paraphrasing but in essence, this is what the angel of the Lord Told him he had these incredible promises, but his heart was gripped with unbelief and that's the way it is. That the people perceived that he had some kind of a revelation, but he returned Speechless to his house and that's the way it is with many many many of God's people today.

A Speechless Testimony Before the Watching World

I think of the disappointed thousands Who live in America today in some form of proximity to people who profess to know Christ. Think of all the people in your neighborhood. I think some in some cases the people in your own home the people in your apartment building the people on your job who who know.

That you are a person who spends time in the temple as they see it. You are among those who appear to be at least invited into the presence of God and you profess to know Christ. But your life is a speechless testimony.

You come out of the temple On Tuesday night or Sunday afternoon, whatever it is. Your neighbors see you get off the bus. They watch you walk out and don't think they're not watching you and they the same kids that are standing on the street corner, perhaps Making drug trades and such like are watching you they know in effect even the time that you come out of the subway your face is not unfamiliar to them and They know that you live in Or invited into this presence of God, but you walk away and Your life is a speechless testimony.

Instead of this glory of God, I think of Zechariah should have come out of this Invitation behind the veil as it is with his hands raised in his voice raised. I've got to tell you what God has told me.

God told me I'm going to have life out of barrenness. God told me that in spite of my frailty a son is going to be born. God told me this is not going to be an ordinary son. He's going to be anointed with the Holy Ghost right from the womb.

He's going to turn a multiplicity of people away from sin and create a clear pathway to those who want to come Into relationship with the one who's going to come after him, which is the Messiah himself.

But instead he walks out from behind the veil and he's speechless. He's making gestures. The people assume the scripture says that he's seen some kind of a vision. But he's speechless. He has nothing to say because his own heart has been gripped by unbelief.

He looked at the promises of God that were given to him and then Tragically as many do he looked within his own inability to to see these promises realized in any amount of human effort and Then he began to question as it is the integrity of God and Because he began to question the integrity of the word that God had sent to him through the messenger God himself Took away his speech.

He had no testimony. All he did was go into the temple. Be invited into this presence of incredible promises. But then leave with no testimony and I think that's the measure of what's happening in much of religion today.

Certainly in this country people are coming in and in some places promises great promises are being open to them. They are given virtually the same revelation that Zacharias was given. God opens his word to you and to me and says this is what I'm going to do for you.

Even what we sang today gross darkness is on the whole world and this this world is lying in ignorance. But God said through Isaiah the Lord is going to rise upon you now this we can sing it and that's fine.

But there comes a measure of having to believe it when we leave the temple as it is where this this place of gathering. We walk out into this world. There are thousands and thousands that are waiting for a testimony.

This living testimony that only God can give to those that are his we ought to be walking out of this house with our heads High our hands extended in a figurative sense. There's this deep Sense that God is doing something supernatural Within us this sense that the boundaries of the natural abilities that we have or don't have are completely broken.

We're no longer victims of culture or education or language or any other social condition. We find ourselves in the living Christ of the universe now has taken up residence within us. And the limitations and within us now are is immeasurable as the God who lives within us.

The very God who said let there be light now lives within our hearts and so many of God's people even in this house. You will leave this service today if you can't hear what the Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart and instead of looking into the heavens instead of walking in the Realm of the miraculous instead of a spirit that is open to everything that God wants to speak speaking about young children in the streets folks.

Let me tell you something right from my heart. If these there's going to be a burning in this city one way or another. Either young this young generation are going to burn for the glory of God or they're going to burn the city.

One way or another something is going to happen. There's a generation standing on every street corner who are waiting for a testimony. And it's not going to fall out of the sky. The testimony is something that God has established in you and in me.

Transformation by the Spirit of the Lord

Now I want you to consider for a moment the incredible invitation in 2nd Corinthians chapter 3 if you'll turn there, please with me. 2nd Corinthians chapter 3 verses 17 and 18. Scripture says now where the Spirit of the Lord is.

Now the Lord is that spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is? There is liberty in the word liberty in the original text means generosity. Where God's Spirit is there's a generosity of God. But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory.

Even as by the Spirit of the Lord now We are invited as Zacharias was we are in a place where we begin to have an open heaven. We see this glory of God, which really means God's image and character it means the excellence and perfection of his own divine nature and As we begin to look and as God begins to open up to our hearts who he is as we begin to believe what he speaks.

To our hearts the scripture says clearly we are changed. That's by the power of God's Holy Spirit within us into the very image of Christ as it is that we are looking at. That's why the scripture tells us clearly that we're not to set any form of abomination before us in our houses in Where we dwell how we interact what we long for we're not to set it before us or we will become an abomination.

Just like it. So many people feel that they can play that game. Come to church on Sunday but then look upon other things the rest of the week and somehow feel that they're going to be Recipients of this glory of God and folks.

It just doesn't work that way. Chapter 4 verse 1 tells us that therefore seeing we have this ministry as we have received mercy. We faint not now the foundation of everything that God does in the life of the believer is mercy.

Thank God for his mercy. That's all I can say. That's why David said Lord if you marked iniquities who could stand. Thank God for his mercy that he is to be feared because of it. Now the end result is the second half of verse 2.

But by manifestation of the truth. Commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. The end result is a manifestation of truth this truth that we embrace of Christ. Of who Christ is of what Christ is speaking to us of what Christ wants to accomplish through our lives.

And this manifestation of truth Begins to open the consciences of men and brings them to the reality of God. This is the purpose of my life beloved. It's the purpose of your life. Some difficult days await all of us society as we know it seems to be spinning out of control.

And I'm not suggesting in any way shape or form that young people take any form of Action into their own hands in this city or in any other place. But folks I want to tell you something you cannot take a young generation and deny them the reality of God tell them There is no God.

You literally take away their hope and then feed them on Pornography and feed them on music that is full of violence and anger and then somehow act surprised when they start Manifesting what they've been taught to manifest the very essence of what's been planted in them starts to come out.

The Believer as a Manifestation of Christ's Truth

God says I I want a testimony through my people you and I are to come into the presence of God and we are to become a Manifestation of the truth that we are learning the truth about Christ. About what he has done about who he is about the victory that he won.

The very nature of Christ that God through the Holy Spirit is willing to impart to us. We are to be changed into the very image of our Christ and I'm not saying that we are Equal with Christ. I'd be ridiculous to even infer that but the nature of Christ the life of Christ the attributes of Christ.

Those things that are pure those things that are holy those things that represent God are to be Manifested in our lives. And as we walk through this generation We are called to open men's consciousness to the reality of God.

Not just theories about God. Not just stories about God not just hand signals about God. That's all that Zacharias could do is give hand signals point the way. Perhaps to the temple where he had this vision or point the way to the church or point to some scripture.

It has to go beyond that now. Paul says. Before these things can happen There has to be a decision. In a chapter 2 for verse 2 in 2nd Corinthians He says. But we have denounced renounced rather the hidden things of dishonesty.

Not walking in craftiness nor handling the Word of God deceitfully. We've renounced dishonesty. Oh so many people come to the house of the Lord and want the fullness of Christ. Oh God bless me. God help me, but they're not willing to renounce dishonesty.

They're not willing to put away things that they know are not right in the sight of God practices which the scripture clearly Says are dishonest in the sight of God. They're wrong, but they're not willing to put it away and wonder why they leave the house week after week.

Instead of looking to the heavens with it a revelation of this incredible treasure. Their testimony is like a man walking down the street looking for nickels and dimes on the sidewalk. It's as if their eyes are absolutely closed and they have no voice for the things of God.

Simply because they have refused to renounce dishonesty. They've refused to stop lying to their people that are close to them. They they've refused to to allow the things into their lives that are Coming with them into the workplace that declare their lives to be a fraud even though they're saying on one hand Jesus Christ is Lord Paul says not walking in craftiness.

That means a subtle twisting or distorting of the image of God not walking in craftiness. You know the the man or woman who doesn't want to walk in truth will form eventually their own image. They'll form their own Christ in their heart.

They'll they'll they'll form him. They will worship him. They will call him Jesus. They'll come to the house of the Lord and they'll bow down before him. But this is a Christ that they've created of a known their own distorted image folks.

Sin, False Images, and Deceitful Handling of Scripture

We have people in this very sanctuary. That are living in adultery and the Word of God says it very very clearly that no adulterer is going to inherit the kingdom of God. And yet there are some who stand and they dance and they sing and they give God glory.

You see they're walking in craftiness. They have fashioned their own God. They've fashioned their own Christ who somehow is blind or has given them this Unprecedented and unique mercy that's not been given to anybody else at any other time nor will be given to anybody else.

But they've crafted this God of mercy who somehow just overlooks their sin. And so they can dance and shout in the house of God and they're walking in craftiness. They have a subtle or distorted image of God.

Nor handling the Word of God deceitfully that means twisting and manipulating the Scriptures for ends. That do not line up with the ends or the objectives of God the folks I want to tell you something we're living in a day.

You turn on Christian television if you have it and there's hardly anybody there are a few maybe but there's hardly anybody in the masses that Are not handling deceitfully the Word of God. They're using God's Word for personal gain.

They're using God's Word to condemn the poor and condemn the sick and condemn the afflicted. They're using God's Word to Feed the people straw and send them out to send in bricks so they can build monuments to their own image.

They're handling the Word of God deceitfully and subsequently there is no lasting testimony there. There's no evidence of the glory of God. There's no ability to walk out of God's presence as they did on the upper room in the day of Pentecost.

Standing out in public making a declaration of these glorious works of God that were Anticipated because of the inward presence of the Holy Spirit within them. There's no outside testimony. It's simply a testimony that lives within its own house its own structure.

Handling the Word of God deceitfully means embracing a lie instead of truth. It means distorting the image of God. It means embracing dishonesty while still accepting the invitation into God's presence and the end result is Coming out from behind the veil speechless.

No real testimony of God's life. No, maybe describing the fire and many are doing that today coming up from behind the veil saying there's a was it was a great fire there was this incredible image. I Heard of a conference recently where the speaker's message was on a ball of light that appears everywhere he goes and everybody just sat in awe of this Testimony of this ball of light and I remember the man who was speaking to me about it.

I said to him the Lord just gave me one question to ask him. I said tell me what's the point? What's the point of a ball of light appears everywhere? I go. Tell me what does it have to do with the purposes of God?

How is this leading to a deeper intimacy with Jesus Christ. How is it leading into the work of God which is the redemption of fallen man the strengthening of the church? And he looked at his wife and he said, you know, that's been bothering me as well for a long long time.

What does it have to do with anything? First Corinthians chapter 6. Paul says it as clear as it can ever be said and Folks let it never be said if any of you here Appear before the judgment seat of Christ and you realize that you have been standing and resurrected among the unrighteous dead.

Never let it be said that you didn't know. That you didn't hear that the Word of God and his fullness was not open to you. Paul says in 1st Corinthians chapter 6 in verse 9. No you not. That the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God be not deceived.

Neither fornicators now, that's people who are involved in Sexual matters that are unlawful in the sight of God and sexual intercourse outside of marriage nor idolaters. Nor adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor thieves.

Nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners as people who just use the position to gain. No matter who's set at loss or disadvantage shall inherit the kingdom of God. I think those are verses that would be good to memorize.

Be not deceived. Paul says be not deceived by crafty handling of God's Word. Be not deceived by subtle twisted of the very nature of Christ. These people who continue in these practices. Will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Period you can never say again. You've not heard it. If you end up in an unrighteous place on the day of Christ's judgment. You cannot say I didn't know. I didn't hear because today it's been plainly declared to you.

Washed, Sanctified, and Justified in Christ

Now Paul goes on and he says in such were some of you. Thank God for this testimony. Everyone. Paul was preaching to a Corinthian church that that in a society that was virtually steeped in corruption and immorality.

But there's an acknowledgement that to come into the presence of Christ means a change of heart. It means a change of direction. It means a new focus. It means a new set of rules. It means a new kingdom.

It means a new foundation that governs my life. It means ultimately the power that God is willing to give to any man or woman who says Lord I don't want to live in sin any longer. I don't want to manipulate or twist the image of Christ.

I don't want to deal deceitfully with the Word of God. God what it says is what it means. You're not a man that you can't lie that you that you can lie. You can't go against your own word on the day of judgment so Lord Give me the power and Paul says such were some of you.

There were people in that Audience, he was speaking to that had been fornicators and thieves and adulterers. They've been involved in homosexuality and drunkenness. They had used their positions to extort money from other people.

They had been people who reviled against anything good or lawful in society and Paul says and this is the testimony of the church. You were like this, but now you're washed now. You're sanctified now.

You're justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. You are justified you are washed you are sanctified you are cleansed you are changed you walked into the presence of God. God has spoken promises to you and you have received it in your heart and by the power and by the mercy of God.

You are changed into another person. You're not walking out of the subway looking at the sidewalk any longer for Nicholson dimes. You'll give God glory with everything that's in your big give God glory your life Radiates the glory of God when you are set apart for him.

There's a perfume. There's a fragrance that comes from those who belong to him. Hallelujah in 2nd Corinthians chapter 4. Paul says if our gospel be hid in verse 3 it is hid to them that are lost. In whom the God of this world verse 4 chapter 4 has blinded the minds of them which believed not.

Lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord and ourselves your servants for Jesus sake for God.

Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness? Has shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. God has shined in our hearts. This is the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It's not by human effort. He requires that I believe him. He requires yes that I put one foot in front of the other. But it is God who works in me both to will and then to do of his good pleasure. That's the good news of the New Covenant.

It is all God. My part is believe him. My part is get up in faith. His voice his part is to call me. My part is to get out of the grave and begin to walk towards him. Hallelujah to the Lamb of God. That's what makes it a level playing field.

That's why the drug addict can far pass. The person who sit and study for years. But never understands what he's reading can walk through. Isaiah said the lame take to pray in this kingdom. Those are always questioning God.

Those who have no hearts to believe God are always standing on the sidelines trying to reason the scriptures. While harlots and prostitutes and drug addicts and blind and lepers and maimed people are coming into his presence He is healing them and commissioning them.

God's Promise to Bring His People Out of Reproach

You say I Want to walk honestly? But I'm grieved That my life is so little testimony. I Struggle and I seem to live in such a wilderness. Go to Zephaniah, please in the Old Testament go to Matthew and Go back about four books or small ones and you're going to find Zephaniah.

Now Zephaniah is a prophet who's speaking to a people who are Judah who are about to go into captivity. But then he goes to an end time. As most scholars see it at least anyway in chapter 3. It's not only the regathering of Israel, but it's a regathering of all nations.

It's a regathering of all peoples. It's a promise that God makes. For all who want him in this day and every other day that we've ever lived in Zephaniah chapter 3 in verse 17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty.

He will save. He will rejoice over thee with joy. He will rest in his love. He will joy over thee with singing. I Who are of thee to whom the burden of it was a reproach he says I'm I'm going to bring back To me.

I'm going to gather them those who are sorrowful because their association with God has Come under reproach by the societies that are all around them. God's people were going to be our we're in captivity at the time that Zechariah is speaking about this and so many people Among them began to get grieved and say Lord you've invited us into your presence and that proximity Produces is supposed to produce in us an awe of the societies around us.

This they're supposed to stand in a sense and Be pricked in their conscience because they see the goodness that you have placed on a certain people. But now our association with you has come under reproach and folks.

We're living in a generation like that now. Where the association with Christ is is no longer a thorn in the conscience of a fallen society. But so many now have so little voice for Christ that the the very fact that we are intimate with him has fallen into reproach.

And so many people are grieved. I don't know about you, but I'm grieved in my heart. God is my prayer constantly. Lord you you can't let this generation go to hell. You can't let the children in New York City die in the streets when you have 8 ,000 people Attending this church who claim to be intimate with you and know your power and know your promises Lord.

You can't let this happen. You can't let these children die without a testimony. You can't let this city erupt before it has known great grace an infusion of God's grace touching many Thousands folks would you be willing to believe with us in this church that every Friday night this sanctuary be packed with young people.

Seeking God an encounter with God to be filled with the Spirit of God. He says in verse 19 behold at that time I will undo all that afflicted. Remember when the children of Israel were coming out of Egypt and he Undid the chariot wheels of those that were pursuing them.

I'll undo them God says and I will save her that is halting or that is having a hard time going forward. I'll gather her that was driven out. I'll get them praise and fame in every land where they've been put to shame at that time.

Well, I bring you again. Even in the time that I gather you. For I will make you a name and a praise among all the people of the earth when I turn back your captivity before your eyes. Say it the Lord.

I'm going to turn back your captivity. Because you are tired of a speechless testimony. You are tired of coming out of church and having nothing to say to this generation. You are tired that your association with God has held in some measure in reproach in some cases even in your own home.

It's in reproach before your children because there's so little of any life and change that's come into you. But you say then how will Christ be revealed through my life? How will this happen? Show me pastor, please?

I want this with all my heart, but show me how is it going to happen? Well, it's going to be simple really. Go with me just for a moment to Pharaoh's court. He's got the people in captivity all around him.

He's got the probably one of the most massive armies in the earth in his time. Sitting on his throne his whole kingdom as a type of Satan. I suppose you could say is completely intact. He's got the people sewn right in his pocket.

This in Pharaoh's mind is a done deal. I have these people and all of a sudden somebody close to him maybe comes to him. Now, this is all conjecture. I mean, it's not in the scriptures, but pictured with me and they have a looking-glass.

One of those old-fashioned telescopes that the fellows looking out into the wilderness and Pharaoh says what do you see? He says well, I see. Some people coming out of the wilderness. Of course it initially what might raise an alarm in his heart.

And he said who is it? Is it an army? What's coming out of the wilderness? Does it threaten our kingdom? Are we to be afraid of it? Is there any should I should I gather the soldiers should I should I assemble the chariots?

Should we prepare to fight and I can see his servant says? Oh, no. No, it's just a couple of weak old men and One of them is leaning on a stick nothing to be afraid of. Nothing to be concerned about. Just a couple of old men.

It's like Pastor Neil and Pastor Carter coming out of the wilderness. One of them is leaning on a stick. Can you imagine the shock when they gain an audience? Pharaoh and stand there. Hey, I think they're 80 and 83 or so at that time.

Standing there holding on to a stick saying let my people go. Song of Solomon says it this way. Let me just read it to you chapter 3 verse 6. The question is asked who is this that comes out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke?

Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense with all powders of The merchant. In other words, who is this coming out of the wilderness? Who is this pillar of smoke? Who is this one that is perfumed with myrrh which is a burial spice and frankincense, which is the spice of Kings?

Who is this one that led God's people like a pillar of fire? Who is this one that was buried and as a king rose on the third day? Who is this one that has an incredible manifested fragrance everywhere he goes he cannot be Taken or walked through any situation without making a difference in it.

Then another question is asked in chapter 8 and verse 5 it says and who is this? That comes up from the wilderness leaning upon her beloved. Who is this? Who's the one who's coming out who rose from the dead?

And who is the one who's leaning upon him? Hallelujah. That's how we're delivered from the wilderness. The wilderness is a place folks where we begin to realize that God without your strength and power this is never going to happen.

If I don't deal with you honestly and in truth, I can't walk with you. But Lord, I hear you calling me. I hear the fact that you have a reason and a purpose for my life. I don't want a voiceless testimony in my generation.

Leaning on Jesus for a Living Testimony

I Want hell to tremble? When I get off the bus and go back to my apartment building when I come out of the subway I want hell to tremble. I want every devil on the street corner that's dripping every one of our young people to tremble as somebody weak and frail and foolish.

God has chosen the foolish of the world to confound the wise the weak things of the world that can found the things that are Based things and things which are despised and things which are not to bring to not things that are He that glories let him glory in the Lord.

Who is this that comes out of the wilderness? It's you it's me it's every person that can hear the Word of God. It's everyone in this house today. That's his Lord. I don't want just visions and Revelation as wonderful as they are.

I want a living relationship with God. I Want my life to count for your glory? I want to walk out with you. Leaning on you and all hell has to tremble and every captivity of the enemy has to release its hold on this generation.

I want a testimony of power a testimony of authority a Testimony of the love and the grace of God. I want to do as the scriptures say when I walk through a situation The Savior of Christ comes after I'm called to leave a Savior of Christ and so are you.

It's long enough that our neighborhoods have been gripped in darkness. It's long enough that a generation has been held captivity by the power of evil. God has an army in this city. God has a people who want to go farther Than just coming out and making signs with their hands.

But nothing to say with their voice wonder if Zacharias Thought his testimony time would ever come around again. Zacharias lived in the wilderness. It would be an awful thing. You've got Mary and Elizabeth sitting at the table of your house both Supernaturally pregnant with life and you can't even speak you can't even acknowledge because of unbelief.

Then finally they brought this baby into the temple and opened up the their ceremony. And they asked Elizabeth What is his name? And they wanted to call him Zacharias after his father and they made signs to his father.

How we would have him called and he asked for a writing tablet and he wrote on there. His name is John. Folks, this is so significant because finally he's agreeing with God. His name is John and at that moment the scripture says his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed and he spoke and praised God.

And fear came on all them that dwelt round about them. When you get off the bus tomorrow or tonight or this afternoon when you walk into your apartment and people all of a sudden become Aware that you've got new life within you and they'll say what is the reason for this new life?

Where do you get such hope in the midst of a hopeless time? How come you've got such spring in your step? How come now you're dealing honestly in financial matters in the workplace? How come there appears to be such a change in your life?