Bitter Cup, Sweet Aftertaste - Lessons From The Wilderness
Study Guide
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Introduction
Are You Ready to Live the Abundant Life?
He brought us out of Egypt so that He could give us this land He had promised to our ancestors. (Deuteronomy 6:23 – TLB)
Do you know that you are heir to a vast fortune the Lord has in reserve for you? That’s right! And this Study Guide, along with its companion book Bitter Cup, Sweet Aftertaste – Lessons from the Wilderness, is designed to teach you to focus on what you need to know and do to take full possession of your inheritance.
Thousands of years ago the Lord made a promise to a man named Abram, who later became known as Abraham. According to the Bible, God told him his descendants would one day leave Egypt, journey through the wilderness, and ultimately inherit a physical land that was overflowing with abundance. (Genesis 17:7–8, Exodus 3:7–8, Deuteronomy 8:7-9 NIV, all scriptures).
Well, if you belong to Jesus Christ, you are a spiritual descendant of Abraham, and all of God’s promises to Abraham now belong to you (Galatians 3:29 – TLB, AMP). Today this means that the Lord has prepared a spiritual land to give to you. As a citizen of this land, you are destined to inherit a life that is rich, meaningful and fulfilling. In fact, Jesus’ very purpose for coming to earth was to give you a life that is full to the point of overflowing (John 10:10(b) - LB, AMP). However, while the abundant life is available to you, you must be “in the land” in order to partake of it.
Like everyone on this earth, you are currently in one of three spiritual locations and your spiritual location determines whether or not you receive your inheritance. So the question you need to ask yourself is, “What is my spiritual location?”
Are you still in Egypt, which means you have not yet entered into a relationship with Christ, or you have drifted away from Him?
Are you in the wilderness – that dry, barren place where you have committed your life to Christ but it seems that the Lord is not hearing your prayers, nothing is happening and many of your desires are unfulfilled? Do you have more questions than answers, your life seems to lack direction, and you’re not sure what your purpose is for being on this earth?
Or are you “in the land” – that abundantly fruitful, enjoyable place where you have a close, intimate relationship with the Lord and you hear from Him with clarity? Are you “in the land” where He has revealed His purpose for your life and you are walking in it, your prayers are answered because they are consistent with His will, you trust Him implicitly and want only what He wants for you in His timing, and you are one with Him in thought and action?
If you are in Egypt the first thing you need to do to begin the journey to the abundant life is to establish a relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray and ask Him to forgive your sins, come into your life, be your Lord and guide you. Then do whatever He instructs you to do.
Should you find that you are in the wilderness, be encouraged! It is a place which the Lord personally leads every Christian through on the way to the land of abundance. It is here that He teaches you the crucial spiritual lessons you must master in preparation for the abundant life He has planned for you.
If you are already “in the land,” enjoy it and know that it offers limitless opportunities and you will be taking possession of it for many years to come. God has just begun to show you the plans He has in store for you and this book will remind you what to keep doing to continue to fulfill His purpose for your life.
Even if you are still seeking meaning, significance, and purpose in your life but do not currently have a relationship with the Lord, this book will be invaluable to you in your search for what makes life worth living.
Let the journey begin!
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About the Book
…My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10(b) (NLT) This study guide is the companion book to Bitter Cup, Sweet Aftertaste—Lessons from the Wilderness by Sharon Newton. Together, the books are designed to teach you the crucial spiritual lessons you must learn on your journey through the wilderness. Mastering these lessons is required in order for you to enter into the abundant life that becomes available to you only when you are fulfilling the purpose for which God put you on this earth. This study guide is also designed to give you an opportunity for self-reflection and self-discovery. As you ask yourself the key questions that accompany each lesson, determine to prayerfully and honestly assess where you are relative to that lesson, and any additional lessons the Lord teaches you from that chapter. Then write down what you’ve learned and make the appropriate changes to your life. In doing so, you will position yourself for the Lord to lead you into the rich, satisfying life that He came just to give you. Whether you are a man, woman, or teen, whether you listen from the pew or speak from the pulpit, whether you are seeking meaning and significance in life, are new to Christ, or are a mature believer, these books are for you. They are priceless resources that will guide you into your God-ordained destiny.
About the Author
Sharon Newton is the author of Bitter Cup, Sweet Aftertaste—Lessons from the Wilderness. She is also a Bible Teacher, Certified Biblical Counselor, and Professional Speaker.