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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
CONCLUSION TO THE BOOK OF NUMBERS
LESSON #35
COMMITMENT TO BECOMING A MOVE-ER IN THE KINGDOMOF GOD
v MEMORYVERSE: 1JOHN 4:4
v WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF THE BOOK OF NUMBERS, BUT WE HAVE NOT FINISHEDWITH THE STORY OF MOSES. THE STORY OF THE END OF MOSES LIFE IS NOT IN THE BOOK OF NUMBERS.THEREFORE, WE WILL READ ABOUT IT IN DEUTERONOMY 34.
v READ DEU 34:1-12 THEDEATH OF MOSES
Ø MOSES CLIMBED A 4,500 FOOT MOUNTAIN TO SEE THE PROMISE LAND. HE WAS 120YEARS OLD. VERSE 7 TELLS US THAT HE WAS STILL PHYSICALLY STRONG AND HEALTHY IN EVERY WAY.HE DID NOT DIE OF ANY ILLNESS. GOD SIMPLY DECIDED HIS TIME WAS FINISHED ON EARTH.
§ MOSES HAD A REMARKABLE FACE-TO-FACE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. HE DIED ALONEWITH GOD.
§ THIS PASSAGE TELLS US THAT GOD BURIED HIM.
· WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?
¨ THE JEWS CONSIDER 3 OLD TESTAMENT PEOPLE AS THE GIANTS OF THE FAITH:ABRAHAM, DAVID, AND MOSES.
Ø ABRAHAM, BECAUSE HE IS THE FATHER OF FAITH AND THE BEGINNING OF THE JEWISHPEOPLE THROUGH HIS SON, ISAAC.
Ø DAVID, BECAUSE HE IS THE EXAMPLE OF A THRONE AND A KINGDOM.
Ø MOSES, BECAUSE HE IS THE BEGINNING OF JEWISH LAW.
§ WHEN JESUS CAME, THE PHARISEES CONSIDERED THE JEWISH LAW THE MOST IMPORTANTASPECT OF JUDAISM AND JEWISH IDENTITY.
¨ THE BIBLE IS CLEAR TO TELL US THAT NO ONE KNEW WHERE MOSES WAS BURIED. IFTHEY HAD KNOWN WHERE MOSES WAS BURIED, THE JEWS WOULD HAVE MADE A SHRINE OUT OF HIS TOMBAND EXALTED HIM TO THE LEVEL OF A GOD. THE ISRAELITES WERE OFTEN SUBJECT TO THE TEMPTATIONOF IDOLATRY. GOD CONSIDERED MOSES A SERVANT (34:5), NO MORE, NO LESS.
Ø HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE WOULD MAKE A SHRINE OUT OF HIS TOMB?
§ WE KNOW BECAUSE THEY MADE AN IDOL OUT OF THE SERPENT ON A POLE AND WORSHIPEDIT WITH INCENSE FOR 700 YEARS UNTIL THE TIME OF SOLOMON. (2KI 18:4)
v APPLICATION:
Ø WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THE LIFE OF MOSES?
§ THE SECRET OF FULFILLMENT IN LIFE IS INVOLVEMENT. INVOLVEMENT KEEPS YOUYOUNG AND GIVES LIFE LENGTH.
§ THE SECRET OF REALITY IN LIFE IS HUMILITY. HUMILITY GIVES LIFE BREADTH.
§ THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS IN LIFE IS PERSPECTIVE. PERSPECTIVE GIVES LIFEDEPTH.
v REVIEW OF THE WILDERNESS WANDERINGS:
Ø READ HEB 3:15-19
§ THE ISRAELITES COMMITTED SIX BASIC SINS THAT WE SHOULD STRIVE TO AVOID:
· THE SIN OF UNBELIEF AND DISOBEDIENCE…NUM 24:26-45
· THE SIN OF LUST…NUM 11:4-9
¨ LUST FOR MEAT = QUAIL
· THE SIN OF IDOLATRY…EXO 32:6
¨ THE GOLDEN CALF
· THE SIN OF COMPROMISE…NUM 25
¨ INTERMARRIAGE WITH PAGANS AND IDOLATRY
· THE SIN OF PRESUMPTION…NUM 21:4-9
¨ THE SERPENT ON A POLE
· SIN OF MURMURING AND COMPLAINING…NUM 14:2-29
¨ THE BATTLE IS TOO GREAT
v DISCUSSION:
Ø WHAT ARE SOME MAJOR THINGS YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE BOOK OF NUMBERS?
Ø WHAT CHANGES HAS THE BOOK OF NUMBERS MADE IN YOUR LIFE?
v REVIEW:
Ø THROUGH THE BOOK OF NUMBERS WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE ISRAELITES FROM EGYPT TOTHE PROMISE LAND THROUGH 40 YEARS OF WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS OF UNBELIEF AND SIN.
Ø WE HAVE DISCOVERED SOME TRUTHS ABOUT THE NATURE AND CONSEQUENCES OFMURMURING AND COMPLAINING. WE HAVE OFTEN DISCUSSED THE NATURE AND CONSEQUENCES OF LIVINGIN GODS PERMISSIVE WILL.
§ WE LEARNED HOW TO DISCERN A TRUE PROPHET OF GOD FROM A FALSE ONE…A TRUEMESSAGE OF GOD FROM A FALSE ONE.
§ WE SAW TWO BEAUTIFUL PREFIGURES OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE CROSS:
· THE FORMATION OF A CROSS DISPLAYED WHEN THE ISRAELITES CAMPED AND WERE ATREST. (NUM 2)
· THE BRONZE SERPENT ON THE POLE. (NUM 21 JOH 3:14-16)
§ WE SAW SOME THE BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE PERSON OF CHRIST:
· CHRIST THE ULTIMATE BOND SERVANT (NUM 6)
· CHRIST OUR REFUGE IN THE 6 CITIES OF REFUGE. (NUM 35)
Ø WE HAVE SEEN HOW THE FRINGE-ERS, THE TAG-ERS, AND THEGRUMBLE-ERS CAUSED SO MANY PROBLEMS IN THE SOCIAL COMMUNITY WHICH CAUSED THE PEOPLETO WANDER IN UNBELIEF IN THE WILDERNESS FOR 40 YEARS.
Ø WE FOLLOWED THE STEPS OF HOW TO BECOME A MOVE-ER IN THE KINGDOMOF GOD. THESE STEPS ARE:
§ #1 KNOW YOUR IDENTITY IN RELATION TO CHRIST AND THE CROSS. (NUM 2)
§ #2 KNOW YOUR PLACE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST. (NUM 3-4)
§ #3 MAKE SURE YOU HAVE REPENTED OF YOUR SINS. (NUM 5)
§ #4 COMMIT YOURSELF TO BEING A BOND SLAVE OF JESUS CHRIST. (NUM 6)
§ #5 GIVE YOUR POSSESSIONS TO GOD TO USE FOR HIS GLORY. (NUM 7)
§ #6 WALK IN THE LIGHT OF HIS WORD ALLOWING THE HOLY SPIRIT TO REVEAL ANDCLEANSE SIN. (NUM 8)
§ #7 TAKE COMMUNION SERIOUSLY: EXAMINE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS. (NUM 9)
§ #8 LISTEN FOR AND FOLLOW THE VOICE OF THE LORD. (NUM 10)
§ #9 DONT BE SATISFIED WITH GODS PERMISSIVE WILL, STRIVE FORGODS PERFECT WILL. (NUM 11)
§ #10 ALWAYS KEEP GOD PRIMARY IN THE SITUATION. (NUM 13)
§ #11 LET THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD BECOME A PRIORITY IN YOUR LIFE. (NUM 15)
§ #12 TAKE SERIOUSLY YOUR PRIESTLY JOB OF RECONCILIATION. (NUM 18)
§ #13 KEEP SHORT ACCOUNTS WITH GOD. ASK HIM FOR FORGIVENESS WHEN THE HOLYSPIRIT CONVICTS YOU OF SIN. (NUM 19)
§ #14 ALWAYS SEEK GODS GUIDANCE FOR YOUR DECISIONS. (NUM 20)
§ #15 LOOK IN FAITH TO THE CROSS TO GAIN VICTORY OVER THE SIN PATTERNS THATPLAGUE YOUR LIFE. (NUM 21)
§ #16 STAND FIRM FOR TRUTH AGAINST INTERNAL WORLDLY COMPROMISE. (NUM 25)
§ #17 DONT BE A HALF-HEARTED CHRISTIAN. (NUM 32)
v THROUGH THE BOOK OF NUMBERS I HAVE TRIED TO EMPHASIZE YOUR COMMITMENT TOJESUS CHRIST, TO BE ALL YOU CAN BE FOR HIM, TO ENTER INTO GODS FULL BLESSINGS FORYOUR LIFE. I AM INCLUDING IN YOUR NOTES A CHRISTIAN COMMITMENT. I HOPE YOU WILL MEDITATEON IT AND PERIODICALLY REVIEW IT SO THAT YOU BECOME THAT MOVE-ER IN THEKINGDOM OF GOD.
v THE END
v MY COMMITMENT AS ACHRISTIAN
v Im part of thefellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I havestepped over the line. The decision has been made. Im a disciple of His. Iwont look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
v My past is redeemed,my present makes sense, my future is secure. Im finished and done with low living,sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundanetalking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.
v I no longer needpre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I dont haveto be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith,lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.
v My face is set, mygait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, myguide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away,turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate inthe presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool ofpopularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
v I wont give up,shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up forthe cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop,preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He willhave no problems recognizing me–my banner will be clear.
Ø Written by a youngAfrican pastor, and it hangs on the wall of his home.
