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Deuteronomy 3 |
| Posted by Administrator (charlie) on Jan 23 2009 |
- Introduction
We used to sing a song here called God is good all the time and that song would remind us that the song God puts in our heats is a song of gladness and joy.
Corrie Tin Boom recounts the story of a time when she was speaking to a congregation on the topic of forgiveness. After the service a man came up to her to ask her forgiveness. The problem with it was that he was a guard who used to be at one of the concentration camps where Corrie and her sister were held. She remembered him as being a particularly vile man who enjoyed his cruelty, especially to the female prisoners. She looked at him with bitterness but her heart melted as she knew that Christ had forgiven her and if she was going to have a testimony she would have to forgive. She stuck out her hand and received the former guard and said, “Brother, you are forgiven.” You could see the weight of guilt lift from his face as he realized the promise of God’s forgiveness realized in Corrie Tin Boom’s forgiveness.
- Describing the Biblical Text
It is always a blessing when we see the Lord keeping His promises.
In this text, we see two promises kept that are not exactly kept in the same way.
But in the keeping of those promises, we can see the faithfulness of God unfold and touch the lives of His followers.
King Og was defeated and some of the people were apportioned their inheritance with the promised land left to be taken, not everyone was permitted to occupy even the lands that had been divvied up so far.
- Narrate the Contextual application
Here the Israelites were ready and poised to take on the Bashanites for possession of a land that the Lord promised them.
There comes a time when we have to say I am going forward to do that which God has called me to do.
That time for the Israelites had arrived and they were ready to march and to take the l-and.
They were ready to reap the promise of God who had used 40 years of wilderness wandering to prepare them for the moment.
- Life Application (thesis)
There was a little girl who loved to have her brother read stories to her but the brother would grow tired of reading to his sister. He decided to try something to get him out of the reading but to keep her happy. He read the stories into his computer and then recorded them onto an iPod. He then gave the iPod to his little sister so she could listen to the stories anytime she wanted to hear them. About 2 days later, his sister came into the room with a book and was handing it to her big brother. He looked at her sort of quizzically and asked what happened to the iPod? His little sister replied, “The stories are okay but he iPod didn’t have a lap.”
We really are like that aren’t we?
We like to feel and to see. Sometimes the promises of God fell like the recording of big brother on an iPod instead of the feeling like the lap of the loving heavenly father.
Yet, our lives are lived by faith.
As the Israelites wandered through that wilderness, there was no lap.
There was no warm fuzzy feeling.
There was nothing but wandering that their forefathers had secured for them when they would not enter the Promised Land.
Yet, the Promised Land was their goal.
The Promised Land was their promise.
So we see then this essential truth.
God is faithful to fulfill what he promises.
- SO WHAT!! (Outline)
As we examine that faithfulness this morning, we will open the door to examine 2 concepts.
We can trust God to overcome our obstacles.
Last week in chapter 2, we look at how many places the Lord was taking the Israelites that used to be inhabited by Giants.
The Rephaim were occupants of both
Think about this.
Even though Esau was not God’s chosen.
Remember what Romans 9 tells us quoting from the Book of Malachi.
God declares Jacob have I loved; Esau have I hated.
Even though Esau was not the son of Isaac that God would choose to love, He still kept His promise to Him to give him a land of His own.
He even kept that promise which included the driving out of Giants from their land.
Now, if God would do that for those who were not his chosen people.
If He would do that for those who were not His elect, what will he do for us?
Romans 8 tells us this: What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
This is very potent information for the follower of Jesus Christ.
It reminds us that we are on the first class guest list and the velvet ropes will be moved for us that we can enter into the promise that God has for us in Christ.
We do forget that there will always be obstacles.
People who make promises will almost always disappoint when they leave, change or attack but God who loves us will never allow these obstacles to impede or hinder His work in your life.
One of my favorite songs from the 70’s was a song by country artist Lynn Anderson.
I beg your pardon. I never promised you a rose garden. Along with the sunshine, there’s got to be a little rain sometime.
In this way Romans 5 is so very encouraging. Just this very week, I found great solace in this passage.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
What are obstacles when God is involved?
They are nothing but His proving ground in your life.
The next concept that we want to examine is this, “We can thank God for operating in Mercy”
In Numbers 20 we find a very interesting account. The Israelites are winding down the wilderness journey and Moses decides to play smart aleck. God tells him to speak to the rock so that it will bring forth water but Moses and Aaron decided to show off a little and they struck the rock twice to get the water and God simply told them that they had sought to upstage Him.
Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of
Moses was denied the opportunity to bring the people into the Promised Land but God demonstrated mercy in that he did not smite Moses on the spot.
Do you want to see another example of God’s mercy?
In the first Rugrats movie, I hope some of you remember that, there was a news reporter by the name of Rex Pester. Whenever my kids start that begging whiney stuff all I have to do is call them rex and they get it.
Moses was somewhat of a Rex Pester look at verse 23
God just finally tells Moses Enough – No more pestering me about this.
But then He shows Him from the top of Pisgah what the people would inherit.
In God’s mercy, he showed Moses the Promised Land but didn’t let him enter it.
Until Later
What do I mean didn’t Moses die before the people crossed the
Yes He did.
Look with me to Luke 9:28
During the Ministry of Jesus, God finally did allow Moses to set foot in the Promised Land.
Isn’t that a great picture of the Lord’s Mercy?
Moses didn’t need to lead the people into the Promised Land but God used someone who would better exhibit the holiness of God in
But, at the time that Jesus was preparing to suffer and to die for the sins of His church, Moses in upholding Jesus in the purpose of God, stood with Him in the Promised Land.
God’s mercy endures forever Amen?
Even in Moses Disobedience, God did not forget Him and He will not forget you either.
We are all children of disobedience.
David wrote in the Psalms that we are conceived in sin.
Our bent and our nature turn us away from God but His grace calls us to Him.
Do you know the abundance of His forgiveness today?
That is the application of His mercy in Christ.
His mercy is what saves us for we deserve to be condemned to an eternity separated from Him.
Yet his mercy pictured on a cross, Jesus Christ, dying for us, opened heaven’s door.
You have the opportunity this morning to acknowledge that Jesus is your savior as He has moved your heart to faith in Him.
Won’t you do that today knowing that you have received the promise of God?
Last changed: Jan 23 2009 at 3:00 PM
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