January 2, 2014 - Thursday

Start Time: 11:46 A.M.

End Time: 1:04 A.M.

TITLE: The Covenant Setting

Scriptures: Deuteronomy 1:1 – 46

God’s Message / God’s Promises / God’s Commands:

→ On the eleventh month of the 40^th year, Moses addressed the Israelites just as the Lord instructed him to do.  The Lord spoke to them saying that they have stayed in the area of this mountain long enough, get up now, resume your journey, heading for the Amorite hill country to all its areas.  God has already given the land them.  They are to go and occupy the territory that God promised to give their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and to their descendants.  The Lord has increased their population to the point that they are now as numerous as the very stars of the sky. 

NOTES:

Ø God is saying to us this new year (2014), that we have stayed in where we are now long enough, it’s time to get up, continue our journey with God and possess the land.  This is a command and a promise at the same time.  God is telling us to go and take the land that He has given.  We are to occupy the territory God has promised or received the promises God has given us.  God has increased us and we will become numerous as the very stars of the sky – there’s power and authority in numbers and God is saying to us that He has blessed us and with Him, we will have power and authority in whatever endeavors we have set or whatever lands we are to conquer.

→God then told them to select wise and practical men, those known among their tribes, to be appointed as leaders and so it happened.  God chose tribal leaders wise and well-known men, placing them over His people as administrators.  Then God admonished their judges to pay attention to issues among their fellow citizens and judge fairly, whether between one citizen and another or a citizen and a resident foreigner.  These judges must not discriminate in judgment but hear the lowly and the great alike for judgment belongs to God.

NOTES:

Ø God appointed leaders over us and even under us to be administrators so we are to submit to the ones above us and if, you are chosen to be one, God admonished that we are to focus on issues among our fellow men and to judge fairly.  Not to be intimidated with or discriminate in judgment the lowly and the great alike for in the end, judgment belongs to God and God alone.

→ God faithfully instructed His people on what to do and when they reached the Amorite hill country, which the Lord is about to give them.  God placed the land in front of them and commanded them to go up, take possession of it, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, said to do.  Most importantly, they are not to be afraid or discouraged!  So they send spies to scout the land and bring them back word as to how they are to attack it.  And 12 men were sent and they came back with good reports saying that the land that the Lord their God is about to give them is good.

NOTES:

Ø When God tells us to possess the land, His words are backed up with witnesses.  And these witnesses will confirm that His promises are good.  They are to witness and experience the goodness of the land beforehand to give credible reports about God’s promises.  The question is, which witness should you become?  Will you be like Joshua and Caleb or just like the rest of the spies?  Choose what kind of spy you will become for God.

→ God responded to the people’s murmuring and complaints by giving them assurance and confidence.  He said to them not to be terrified of the current inhabitants of the land He has promised for the Lord their God is about to go ahead of them and will fight for them just as they saw Him do in Egypt and in the desert when they saw Him carrying them along like a man carries His son.  These things God did everywhere they went until they came to this very place however though all this , they did not have confidence in the Lord their God, the one who was constantly going before them to find places for them to set up camp.

NOTES:

Ø God was faithful and consistent to His people and His love, grace and mercy abounds every step of the way.  Instead of unleashing His wrath, God comforted and encouraged His people when they started complaining.  He reminded them of the things He did and will do for them to posses this land.

Ø At times, we are too focused on the negative and forget the greatness and goodness of God’s works in our lives in similar problems in our lives.  It is easy for us to magnify the problem instead of looking at the greatness of our Lord Jesus Christ

→ God became angry with his people when they remain fearful and murmuring so God made a vow that not a single person of this evil generation will see the good land that He has promised to give to their ancestors with the exception of Caleb and Joshua.  God specifically said that Caleb, son of Jephunneh, will see it and will give him and his descendants the territory on which he has walked because he has wholeheartedly followed God.  As for Moses, God was also angry with him on the account of his people and so he will not be able to go in the promise land as well.  However Joshua, son of Nun, Moses’ assistant will go.  Moses is to encourage Joshua because he will enable Israel to inherit the land.

NOTES:

Ø God could have just wiped out the whole Israelites and started anew but instead, he rid Israel of the murmuring, fearful, and unbelieving people and made sure that only the new generation can come and posses the land.  The question now is, are you still clinging on to the old generation’s mindset or have you broken out and embraced the new generation’s principles and mindsets?

→ The people after hearing this decided to go back to the Lord but the Lord has already spoken and made His decision.  The people wanted to go up and fight and possess the land but God said that they can do that but He will not be with them and they will be defeated.  Moses tried to speak to the people but they were stubborn and rebelled against God, thinking that they are following the Lord’s will, when in fact they are doing the opposite of what God said.  Moses spoke to them but they did not listen and they recklessly went up to the hill country and lost the fight against the Amorite.  They came back weeping before the Lord but God paid no attention to them whatsoever.  Therefore they remaind at Kadesh for a long time.

NOTES:

Ø As human beings we tend to be stubborn and insist on the things we thought we know of.  Sometimes we are too proud to believe that we have sinned against God.  We pursue a goal that used to be God’s plans for us but God already changed it because of our own stubbornness, yet we continue to pursue it and in the process end up rebelling against the One true God and King.

Realization / Application:

Ø God is true to His words and promises!  He sees our conditions and He addresses our concerns.  At times, we become comfortable with where we are and we become stagnant but God sees it all and He has great plans for us.  He is commanding us to go and possess the land.  He is saying that He has seen our present situation, our present condition, our present predicament and He is saying, “Enough is enough!”  It is time for us to enjoy His promise!  The promises that He gave; the land He prepared for us; the destiny He called us for.  Let us obey and pursue His calling; let us receive the gift of the abundance of grace and righteousness in Christ Jesus so that we may reign in life!

Ø In our journey of possessing the land, God appoints leaders above us and at times, we are appointed to lead others.  We are to submit to the ones above us and be fair to the ones below us.  We are to judge in accordance to God’s judgment for judgment belongs to Him alone!

Ø God ensures that we believe Him and so His words, though it should be enough, He knows us deeply so He ensures that His words are backed up with witnesses who will experience and see the promises first before the rest.  As God’s witness, we are to speak the truth and choose what type of witnesses should we be?  Are we witnesses that are in sync with God’s plans or are we witnesses that sees what our eyes has seen only?

Ø God is our encourager and He our confidence!  He is saying stop being fearful!  Stop being discourage and afraid!  Your confidence is in God.  Remember everything He has done in your life from the beginning and see the powerful work of His hands and know that He can lead you in possessing the land He has given you.

Ø God does not tolerate fear nor rebellion and anyone who does these, will surely be cut off from seeing and experiencing the promises God made to us.  Do not allow our stubbornness to be a hindrance in receiving God’s promises but instead allow humility to reign in our hearts and minds. 

Ø Know God, our Lord Jesus Christ so you know His plans for you.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus thank You for Your promises that are always true and real.  Father I am forever grateful to be part of Your children with the assurance of Your blessings and promises.  This year 2014, I commit it all to You.  I am saying and hearing Your words, enough is enough!  I have stayed long enough in my present condition, it’s time for me to move pass this area or part of my life and posses the blessings and promises You have in store for me.  This year Lord, I am ready to posses the promises You have for me.  Lead me Lord, I want to receive more knowledge of You Jesus and I want You to reign in my life so I may reign in life.  Holy Spirit, show me Jesus and I want Him more in my life this 2014.  Let Your abundance of grace and righteousness dwell in me that I may reign in You, Jesus.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!