Perspective and Faith

Numbers 13.16-33


The nation of Israel had left Egypt under God's Almighty Hand, gone into the wilderness, received the law from God through Moses on Mount Sinai and constructed the tabernacle, all while the LORD was taking care of their basic needs.

They were now on the verge of the Promised Land. Just before entering 12 spies went into the land to see what it was like. They found out what God had told them to be true. They also came out with a loss of faith (10 of them did) which altered their perspective to a point of being out of focus.

Pressure faced without God can influence perspective to a pint of distortion. The crisis at Kadesh shows us this.

1. Facts and Fruit are Important. vs.17-20
God had already told them the answers or solutions to these questions. They were not acting in faith upon His Word in this spy endeavor.

They had been given His Word on this matter. Why do we do this? Why do we take something God has plainly said and then add our human wisdom to it? Or why do we take forbidden fruit, thinking we are the exception or worse yet that we know better than God?!

Be careful to obey and believe what God's Word has said. There is no need for human wisdom, investigation or anything else on something He has made clear.

The issue here is whether we believe God's Word or human reports. Where do we put our trust? In God or man? Do we trust His promises or our own reports? We can send spies (in our minds) into our future and come back with some lopsided views. Best to trust His Word and the future to Him completely. This would have been the wise thing for the nation of Israel to do at Kadesh Barnea.

Interesting to note that they had no guiding cloud on this trek as spies.

2. Perspective and Faith Depends Upon the Person. vs.26-30
Visiting a land can be deceiving. There is a difference in our beaches from now and 6 months from now. It is not wise to consider relocating to a place when you've only been there on vacation.

The fruit they brought back was the silent messenger. It always is. What is the fruit in your life? In those whose books you read, TV programs you listen to.

The reports were exaggerated, they were accentuated. They gave a discouraging summary.

It is okay I suppose to talk about the difficulties as long as we do not limit God. Their leaving Him out led to them looking to their own resources and their hearts melted. Psalm 78.22, 41-43

The difference of looking at something through the eyes of the flesh (v.28) and the eyes of faith (v.30)

You would think that after a year in the desert the excellence of the land should have overwhelmed them but it did not.

3. Guard Yourself Against a Bad Report. vs.31-33

Here the minority was right. This happens in God's kingdom. In a democracy the majority rules. But the kingdom of God is not a democracy. It is Theocracy. Jesus spoke about only a few finding the way to life, but many going into destruction. Paul wrote to Timothy that in the last days many would depart from the faith.

Watch out for seeing the difficulties when God calls us to do something. Beware of the temptation of not looking to Him.

Remember the obstacles are opportunities for God to show us His power.

One of the tragedies here is that they were in sight of the Promised Land- they could see it. Yet they forgot all God had done for them.

Interestingly and tragically they saw grasshoppers and giants but they didn't see God, nor was there any mention of Him.
Hebrews 3.1-4.2
Psalm 95
Guard your heart- out of it comes the issues of life.
Ask the LORD to set a guard over your mouth, to watch over the door of your lips.
These will help you in guarding against a bad report.

"LORD, give me a heart to obey the Word You have spoken. Give me faith to believe.

Help me spread Your Word and Promises, not my own perspective. Amen!"

A Great Invitation

Numbers 10.29-35

There is a verse in Psalm 85.5 Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have their hearts set on pilgrimage.

Life is a journey, a dynamic, in which changes and losses and additions come into. Setting our hearts on following God through these things bring great blessings.

The invitation Moses gave to his brother-in-law, Hobab, is beautiful:
v.29 We are setting out for the place about which the LORD said, "I will give it to you." Come with us and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things to Israel."

John 1.35-39, 43-46, 4.29; Matthew 11.28-30
There is an open invitation to come to Jesus in this day of grace. It is an open door.

The invitation by Moses tells us about the LORD. Our invitation to others ought to have the same components.

1. The LORD is faithful to all His Promises. Psalm 145.13
You have probably said when someone has made you a promise and failed to it, "Promises! Promises!" If you haven't said it you probably have heard someone else say it.
You will never say this when it comes to the LORD and His promises. His Word is as good as done. His Words are deeds before they happen. His word is the guarantee.

Look at some of the promises He made to Israel:
Exodus 3.6-8, 6.6-8, 23.20-33
Moses was inviting Hobab, his brother-in-law, to become a partaker along with Israel of these things.

The LORD has promised good things to Israel.

Taste and see that the LORD is good. Psalm 34.8
Trust in His Promises.
Rest in His Presence.
Kept By His Power.
Not one word He spoke will fail.

In this Great Invitation we see the LORD has promised good things to Israel. He is faithful to all that He has promised. We also see that:

2. Every good and perfect gift comes down from Him. James 1.17
Compared to the load of sin the yoke of Christ is easy.
Think of the fellowship of it, the consequences of it, the peace of mind that comes with it (rest for your souls) and eternity.
These good things promised to Israel are from the LORD. The good things in your life are from Him. They come down from the Father in Heaven. That is one of the reasons Jesus taught us to pray to Him.

Psalm 84.11 No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
If you walk with Him your journey will have peace, security, and joy.

This great invitation was given by Moses to Hobab and was an invitation to enjoy these blessings if he joined them on the journey to the land God had for them. Interesting to note Moses was given Hobab work to do as well. The full joining in on this journey is serving. Helping others in the Body of Christ brings great joy to them and to us. There is something for everyone to do.

He fills our lives with good things as we make our way to heaven. Some of those good things are discovered in the darkest valleys (Psalm 23). We appreciate the light in the darkness more.

Finally this Great Invitation tells us...

3. The Future for His people is bright and sure. v.32
One of God's gifts to us is strength for each day. Another is bright hope for tomorrow.
In the Old Testament the move was by Israel to the Promised Land.
Under the New Covenant the journey is from earth to heaven.
Under the Old Covenant He was with them.
In the New and Everlasting Covenant He is with us and in us and upon us.
His Presence is part of His Promises:
Matthew 28.20
John 14.16-17, 16.13, 33

Think of people you know today who need Christ as their Savior. Neighbors, friends, family members, people at work. Look for the opportunity to say to them, "Come with us."

Moving With the Spirit

Numbers 9.15-23

The LORD has brought Israel out of Egypt. They were now in the wilderness, the Sinai Desert. He was bringing them into the Promised Land, a land that flowed with milk and honey... and still does today!

Moving several million people across the Sinai was a monumental task. Humanly speaking it would have been impossible. As we know however, All things are possible with God.

The LORD led this move by His Visible Presence in a cloud. This was a standing and moving miracle. This cloud was the signal that guarded and guided the nation of Israel as they journeyed from Egypt to the land God had given it as their very own.

The trek ended up taking 40 years due to disobedience. Disobedience slows things that God would like to do in your life up. It messes up your life. Disobedience makes you miss out on good things and gives you disappointments. It steals things you could have had. It is a wise thing to obey God's Word and will in your life.

Paul ties this journey Israel made to our own pilgrimage I Corinthians 10.1-12.

How do we, under the New Covenant, apply these lessons to our journey to heaven?

First v.17

1. Keep In Step With The Spirit. Galatians 5.25
The way is mapped out for us. God has a perfect plan. We are however are imperfect. We must seek to follow Him.

God leads us along. He leads along the safest way spiritually for us.
He does not lead us into temptation. He leads us in the paths of righteousness.
Love, joy and peace, faithfulness, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self control.
He leads us to forgive, to go the second mile, to move with Him.

If we are to move with the Spirit we must
2. Abide in Christ. John 15.5-7
The tabernacle was in the center of the camp.
Christ is to be in the center of our lives.

Moving with the Spirit is fixing our eyes upon Jesus. Hebrews 12.2
Remaining in Him, His Word, and carrying on regular conversations with Him in prayer are vital for moving with the Spirit of God.

Draw your strength from Him as He is the vine and we are the branches.

Keeping our eyes fixed upon Him automatically eliminates much uncertainty and confusion. This world is getting more confusing all the time. Our culture is crazy. We live in a time when people think little of the consequences of their actions. Major decisions are made that will effect not only their lives but generations to come if Jesus tarries in His Return.

Moving with the Spirit...
1. Keep in step with the Spirit
2. Abide in Christ


3. Let the Word of Christ Dwell in You Richly. Colossians 3.16
Obedience.
In the ark of the covenant were the ten commandments. The cloud was over the moral law of God.

What chokes out the Word of God in someone's life?
Luke 8.14 Life's worries, riches and pleasures.
Watch out for these things stopping the Word of God from dwelling richly in you.
The deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the Word making it unfruitful. (Mark 4.19)
Let God's Word dwell in you richly, not the desire for more money or things.

Wealth is deceitful
1. I just want enough to be comfortable. You'll never have enough. How much is enough? Just a little bit more.
2. If I gamble and win the lottery I'll give away most of my money.
3. So many of my problems would be eliminated if I had a lot of money.

Worry is deceitful as well.
1. Its all over!
2. I can change things by worrying.
3. If I don't worry then I am being irresponsible.

On this moving with the Spirit on this journey we are on...

4. Your Attitude Should Be the Same as That of Christ Jesus. Philippians 2.5
Same heart and mind as Jesus!
Everything in my heart and mind centered on Presence and Direction of God.
God gives us direct, continuous, unmistakable, infallible Guidance and Care.
He wants us to depend on Him for direction.

Move with the Spirit!

Rest in Christ's Work.

Live by His Word.

Walk in His Will.

The Beautiful Blessing

Numbers 6.22-27

God had brought His people out of Egypt, had them construct the tabernacle and organized the men by clans and families 20 years of age and older into an army and the men 2--50 years of age who were Levites to assist in carrying the tabernacle, its furnishings, down to the poles and posts.
Here in this very touching and moving passage of scripture we come to the Aaronic Blessing or the Priestly Blessing. In this census in Numbers, being completed, a great blessing was given.
It is Person to person, from the LORD God to the individual. We have personal God, From Genesis to Revelation, from Adam and Abraham He addresses us on a first name basis. The twelve tribes named from their ancestors, the twelve sons of Israel, the twelve apostles are known to us on a first name basis. Even the LORD Himself is revealed as Jesus as His Name. I often wonder what the LORD thinks of the titles of religion we have come us with: Reverend, The most holy reverend, Doctor...
God is speaking from the His Heart through the priests to bless the Israelites to our hearts.

In this blessings we see...

1. How to Have Peace in the Battle vs.22-26
Remember God had organized the army, 600,000 plus strong. He was getting them ready to fight. He had each of their names written down as the census was taken.
Then He blesses them with peace. Peace in the Battle? How?
Obviously He is not talking about an outer absence of war or fighting. It is peace in our hearts and minds. This can only come from God. Peace from Him being in us.
We can have peace in the battle if He is with us. Psalm 23.4 you are with me.
This blessing is the blessing of His Presence. The knowledge that God is with us.
Immanuel= God with us Isaiah 7.14
We can have peace in the battle, in the storms of life, in the dark times- all the time!
There are times when we are conscious of His Presence and times when we are confident of His Presence.
He establishes peace with a completeness of well being for His people.

This Beautiful Blessing tells us of one of the reasons we can have peace in the battle. We are...

2. Kept By the LORD. -v.24
The LORD protects us. He guards us. Psalm 124.8 Our Help is in the Name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Jesus prayed in John 17.11 I am coming to You Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your Name.
Psalm 121 enlarges on this blessing.
He protects us from trouble from the external sources by the peace He gives us in our hearts. (John 16.33)
We are kept from the evil one.
Satan would like nothing more than to bring down God's men and women. We must do our part.
I Peter 5.8-9 Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. If we do this we will remember that the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet Romans 16.20

This blessing promises...
3. The LORD's Face Lighting our Way to the Promised Land. vs.25-26
God's smile on us, as a father smiles on his child.
As a man takes pleasure in a friend.
Psalm 31.16 David prayed: "Let Your face shine upon Your servant."
II Corinthians 4.4 the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God.

The Love of the Father-v.24
The Grace of the LORD Jesus Christ-v.25
The Communion of the Holy Spirit-v.26
All part of this Light from the LORD's face as they moved along that way to the Promised Land.
Genesis 12.1-3 We are blessed to a blessing.
His Name upon us- "Christians" All the wonderful meanings of the Names of God are ours in Christ Jesus!

The Beautiful Blessing for God's people is for you!

Worship At The Center of Life

Numbers 2.1-34

The LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. Over 400 years before the Exodus there were 70 of Jacob and his descendants (Genesis 46.27). Now there were over 600,000 men over the age of 20.

They had received the law and the instructions for building the Tabernacle, Tent of Meeting on Mount Sinai. They had completed the work on it (Exodus 39.42-43). God was getting them ready to move on in conquest and bring them into the Promised Land.

These were Israel's formative years- from a family to a nation. You can learn a lot from any entity from studying its formative years. Theirs showed the place God wanted Him to have in their lives: At the center. The formative years of Israel show the priorities and how all of life is to be the LORD's.

Numbers began with a census of the nation of Israel so it could form an army. The way God had this done was unique. We can see from the arrangements of the tribes around the tabernacle that we are to:

1. Set Up Your Home Close to the LORD. -vs.1-2

The camp, the clan, the family are all part of the plan of God in organizing Israel to move into the fulfillment of is Promises.

Camp around the Tent of Meeting
The center of their lives was to be the Tabernacle where worship took place and where sacrifices were offered and where God's Presence dwelt.

They were to camp, set up their temporary homes (tents) around this structure.

Each man counted in the census was to be under his standard with the banners of his family. The family was to be built around worship of the LORD. Fighting for a nation and for his family was to be on his heart. We need men to do that today in America.

The clans were the extended family.

The tribes were the particular ancestors which traced their lineage back to Jacob. The tribes showed these 600,000 plus men that they were descendants of, sons of Israel. The promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were for them. The story of Genesis was their story, God's Story, His Story. History.

Our homes ought to reflect Christ. The Ten Commandments should be honored and obeyed, talked about and written on the hearts of all who live there. We are seeing how the family is the building block of the nation under God.

Worship at the center of life...

2. Make Your Leaders, Those At The Center of Your Life, Spiritual Men. -v.17

Be careful of those with carnal charisma, those who are handsome and wow you with their charm. Some of these are evil men.

The Levites were the tenders of the tabernacle. They were involved in the physical labor around the Tent and Courtyard. Get close to those who take care of the church building. That is how I learned about intercessory prayer, firsthand. Charles Newton was the church janitor. Later, after his death, I learned that his great great grandfather was John, John Newton, the writer of the hymn, Amazing Grace! Brother Newton cleaned the church each Tuesday morning and hosted a prayer meeting at noon. I worked down the street and rode my bicycle to meet him on Tuesdays and pray. Most of the time it was just the two of us. He would get down on his knees and moan before the LORD for people in the community.

Learn from the caretakers. Jay Bergers was the caretaker of Camp Taconic. I am still learning from him after all these years. We keep in touch regularly. He loves the LORD.

You will learn the lessons of faithfulness, hard work, the power of the routine (sadly missing today) from those who tend to the building.

3. Obedience is a Sign Of True Worship Centered on the LORD. - v.34

May this be said of us that we did everything the LORD had commanded for the glory of God!

We have a great deal of confusion today over what true worship is. It is not a performance or high tech innovations. It is when God is glorified and the people do everything He has commanded.

May this passion be at the center of our lives always.

Why Jesus Wept

John 11.1-44
v.35 Jesus wept.

What a great window of insight and understanding into the heart of Jesus this shortest verse in the Bible is: Jesus wept.

A book I have come to love by Richard Gehman, about World Vision and Samaritan's Purse founder, Bob Pierce, Let My Heart Be Broken (with the things that break the heart of God). reflects this simple yet profound verse, "Jesus wept".

I heard a missionary say one time, "What makes God cry-what makes me cry- when those two lines connect Christian maturity is happening."

Look at the account in John with me this morning and we will discover why Jesus wept.

1. Someone He Loved Had Died. vs.3, 5
Jesus was grieving. Even though He was going to raise Lazarus back to life shortly, there was grief. He was in that moment feeling what all us feel when we lose someone we love to death.

We can console people with the fact that their loved one is in heaven, if they knew Christ as their savior, but be aware they still grieve. We do not grieve like the rest of men who have no hope but we still grieve.

When someone we love dies our hearts break. C.S. Lewis wrote, "To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal.

Jesus wept because

2. He was in a cemetery which was never part of the landscape of God's original plan. vs.34-35
When God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden they were sinless and innocent.
Death is a result of sin.
Life is the gift of God.

Genesis 2.7 The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

We are told in Ecclesiastes 3.11 He has also set eternity in the hearts of men. That came with the breath of God, His Spirit. He set Adam in the garden and set eternity in Adam.

We were created to live forever. We have been recreated so we can.

Jesus wept because at Lazarus' tomb He saw the result of sin- death. He wept because

3. He saw the limits of the faith. -vs. 21-27, 32 39-40
Mary and Martha did the wrong thing here. They blamed God for this tragedy.
LORD, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.
LORD, if...
I have not heard the voice of the enemy a whole lot in my life. I believe he has much bigger targets than me to go after. One time I heard him speak through someone else when my brother was sick and I was struggling over his not getting healed, "Larry, it seems like God is letting His servants down..." I shuddered when I heard that. An arrow of discouragement was shot at my heart and I remember, although I didn't believe it, it hurt me. Thank God for this chapter in His Word! I remember hearing God speak to me through it after my brother died, "Your brother will rise again." Hallelujah! I know that is true!

This was a loaded statement: Why didn't You come immediately? Why did You wait? You should have listened to us! Why didn't You answer us the way we wanted?

From His arrival v.23 Jesus was talking about Lazarus rising from the dead but they couldn't take it in- neither did they after He was crucified, even after He rose again doubts were in the minds of some. Luke 24.38, Matthew 28.17

Childlike faith is what we need!

Jesus wept because...

4. He was experiencing a funeral. vs.36-38
Insincere mourners.
Art Alexander, our District Superintendent, and I were having lunch the other day and he said, "There ought to be a lot less talk at funerals." I agreed. I would add noise too- but unfortunately funerals are one of those times, those few times when family gets together anymore.

Funerals, like the cemetery were not part of creation.

Jesus wept because...

5. He had compassion on Mary and Martha. vs.33-35
He had compassion on them. He has compassion on us.
Psalm 34.18
Psalm 147.3
Death is our last enemy and for those who die in the LORD, a rescue! II Timothy 4.16-18

There's Not A Friend Like the Lowly Jesus!

No Not One!

Hope From God's Word For The New Year

Deuteronomy 31.1-8, 32.44-47

There are transitional times in life. The purchase of a house, the beginning of a new job, marriage, the arrival if the first child, the loss of a loved one. These and many more are times of change. Some of you are going through one of these things right now.

There are transitional times which come if none of these things are occurring. Birthdays: When you are 16 you can learn to drive, at 18 you can vote and serve in the military., 35 you can run for president of the United States and at 62 you can begin to collect Social Security.

New Year's Day is a transitional time. It is a time of new beginnings, a time to start another year, a time to celebrate God's goodness.

In my conversations with friends this week there is a growing concern about the economy, the desire of North Korea to develop a nuclear missile which can reach the United States and the aftermath of the social breakdown all around us.

We need Hope. There is Hope in God and in His Word.

Israel was in a transitional time. Moses' leadership was coming to an end. God had already prepared Joshua. He spoke through Moses to keep the people calm during this change of national leadership. His Word through His servant encouraged and challenged the people.

The Word Moses received from the LORD for all Israel is God's Word for us on this first day of the year of our LORD, 2012.

1. The LORD Your God Himself Will Go Ahead of You. -v.3

The theologians call this "The Eternal Now". God transcends all time. He is LORD over time. He created time and He lives in eternity. He does invade time and weaves His plan through it.

Psalm 139.13-16 Nothing in your life takes God by surprise. He knows about everything this past year and He knows what is going to happen in 2012.

The LORD God will go ahead of you in this New Year 2012. Do not fret over doomsday forecasters- Remember Y2K? Don't fret over kingdoms rising an falling Psalm 46.

The LORD your God will go ahead of you.

In this life from conception to Glory.

He is the author and finisher of our faith Hebrews 12.2 Let us fix our eyes on Him!

You say but this is an day of evil. Ephesians 6.10-13

It is an evil time.

2. The LORD Will Deliver You From Evil. -v.5

As you obey Him.

Psalm 23.4 Even though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. I will fear no evil, for You are with me.

Matthew 6.13 And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

John 17.15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

Romans 16.20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

Revelation 20.10 And the devil, who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire.

Finally this morning as we think about Hope From God's Word for the New Year...

3. The LORD Will Never Leave You Nor Forsake You. vs.6-8

Be Strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid.

The LORD Your God goes with you.

Do not be afraid.

Do not be discouraged. One of the flaming arrows of the evil one (fiery darts) is discouragement.

This arrow is shot both in the head (mind, attitude, thinking) and to the heart causing it to melt. This is a call to life up faith's shield. If you get hit or have been hit and are struggling this morning you have come to the right place.

The LORD wants us to go into 2012 like Israel into the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy 32.44-47