You may be asking the question as to why one would look for water in a desert, but I assure you, “ it’s not a mirage” there is water in the desert you just have to go see.
Ministry can be some-what challenging at times, it seems we are in a lonely and unfruitful place, Persecution sets in , seems like all your efforts to serve the Lord is in vain, and than all of a sudden God speaks to you through the Spirit and say’s “Go to the Desert” like he told Philip.
8:26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 8:27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 8:28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 8:30 And Philip ran thither to [him], and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 8:31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 8:32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 8:33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 8:36 And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 8:40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea. tells the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
This story gives us a picture of the way ministry can take a turn that we never would have thought, “Thinking it to be a mirage”
After the death of one of the greatest Deacons that lived “Steven” during the time of great persecution of the Christian, and the time of the Christians worst enemy “Saul” and ministry seeming to be an up-hill battle, “God tells you and I to “go to the desert” Like he told Phillip!
Why the desert? At that time we see a man on a chariot reading scripture out loud which was the custom at that time, the man is thirsty for the knowledge of the truth, he was at that place to worship, but his judgment was taken from him.
I think that this fit’s the place we are in today, we go into the cities and streets and we see many people who are “Saying or going to worship” but there judgment of the scripture is taken away because they are going to worship with the dead Pharisees and scribes (Desert Churches and Pastors) who teach worship, but not to serve, (This is the reason God places us in the desert) people like you and I who have the knowledge of the truth and will obey the Spirit of God and Go to that dry and dreadful place and proclaim Jesus and him crucified!
This is where we find the water in the desert, we can draw ourselves to the thirsty and allow them to draw the living water from the scripture in which we speak.
When we go a little further in the desert we will find the people asking “Is that water I see?” What is it to keep me from being Baptized?
And you and I will be able to tell them “ it’s not a mirage” Do you believe that Jesus is the son of God?
And they will answer “YES” I believe that Jesus is the Son of God!
And on that day they will be able to see that it was Jesus in the scripture.
We must go to the desert and take them to the water!