PREACHED:OL,
“WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE
ARE READY TO MOVE” #1
INTRODUCTION:
N.T. emphasis on O.T. example:
A. Paul
spoke of Abraham’s faith – Rom 4:18ff
1. V 20. “No distrust made him waver…”
V 22. “His faith
was counted to him as righteousness…”
V 23, 24. “But the
words, ‘it was counted to him’ were not written for his sake alone, but of ours
also…who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord…”
B. Paul
listed several negative examples from the O.T. and then applied it -
1. I Cor
a. Conclusion:
V 12. “Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall…”
‚ One of the most interesting
parallels
A.
1. Hebrews 11 speaks of:
a. Abraham
leaving his homeland and going to an unknown place... because of his great
faith.
1) V 10. “For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer
and builder is God…”
b. He
adds that these patriarchs died in faith and anticipation.
1) V 14, 16. “For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a
homeland…they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one…”
ƒ Our focus this
morning—one incident in the history of
A. Open
your Bibles to Numbers 10.
B. I
want you to get the picture:
1.
2. God
had given instructions for the building of the tabernacle, the place of worship
and they had been carried out.
a. It was
a “tent” a movable structure, because
3. But
they were not alone, God’s presence would be with them
all along the journey!
a. Num
9:15-23.
1) Not only a great lesson on God’s presence, but also of our
submission to HIS will!!
a) They
would “go” when God said to “go,” and they would “stay” when God wanted them to
“stay.”
B. How
this applies to us should be obvious:
1. We are an adopted people!
a. Gal 4:4-6.
2. We,
too, are on a journey to a promised land—HEAVEN!
a.
I Pet
Phil 2:20, 21.
„ There is One Great Lesson I want us
to see:
A. We must
move optimistically toward the goal, because we are convinced that God wants
the very best for us:
1. Moses
said to his father-in-law:
a. Num 10:29. “We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give
it to you.’ Come with us, and we will do good to you
for the Lord has promised good to
2. We can’t afford to be a cynical people!
a. That
was the problem wit the ten spies three chapters later; they lost sight of
God’s promise!
1) Their
cynicism affected their entire generation!
3. SAMUEL
JOHNSON: “Suspicion is no less an enemy to
virtue than to happiness. He that is already corrupt is naturally suspicious,
and he that becomes suspicious will quickly become corrupt.”
4. God’s
judgment against
a. Num 14:26, 27. “And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, ‘How long shall this
wicked
congregation grumble against me? I have head the
grumblings of the people of
2) The penalty?
V 29. “Your dead
bodies shall fall in the wilderness, and of all 20 years old and upward, who
have grumbled against me, not one shall come into the land where I swore to
make you dwell, except for Caleb and Joshua.”
5. The
French philosopher, ANDRE MAUROIS said: “…if
one does not adopt invincible optimism as a standard, pessimism will be
justified, for despair engenders misfortune and failure.”
6. Joshua
and Caleb preached a message of optimistic faith and courage because they knew
that the Lord never failed to keep his promises!
a. Num 14:8, 9. “If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into the land and give it
to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the
Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for…the Lord is with us…”
b. It is
sad, but true, that pessimists are often ready to stone optimists!
1) V 10. “Then all the congregation said to stone them
with stones…”
7. But
don’t forget! God was on the side of the faithful optimist who trusted his
power!
a. V 10, 11. “But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the
people of
b. God
was ready to destroy the entire nation and start over!!!
1) And he
would have if God had not interceded!!
c. Paul
was that kind of wonderful, optimist and we need to be, too!!
1) Rom
8:31-39
… Do we have a better picture of who
we are?
A. We are
the people of God, on our way to the promised land! We
are children of God optimistically awaiting our inheritance! We are servants of
the Lord, longing for his return and, because of our faithful service, entering
the joy of our Master!
1. Let’s
never allow ourselves to allow negativism, cynicism and a lack of confidence in
God to limit His purpose!
B. The
story is told of a king’s son who was kidnapped as an infant and placed in a
wood cutter’s home.
1. One
day his true identity was discovered and he was returned to his proper place.
a. But,
sadly, though he wore the outer garments of royalty he always possessed the
heart of a wood cutter!
1) Let’s
never forget who we are and let us never let our attitude limit our work for
the Lord!