old testament walkthru -- moses, israel, the law

A walk thru’ the Old Testament (OT)..

Lesson 13: Moses - Humbled Faith

GOD’S TOUCHPOINTS

Old Testament SummaryThe Patriarchal AgesThe JudgesThe Royal VersesProphets, Priests and Kings

OT WALKTHRU- THE PATRIARCHAL AGES

1. OT Summary2. Adam – A Fallen Faith3. From Fall to Flood4. Noah – Surviving Faith5. The World in Confusion – Babel6. Job – Faith under Fire7. Abraham – Soaring Faith8. Isaac – Winging Faith9. Jacob – Clinging Faith10. Joseph – Unwavering Faith11. God’s Direct Interventions in Genesis12. God’s Special Interventions in Genesis13. Moses – Humbled Faith14. Israel – Leanness of Soul15. God’s Commandments

MOSES’ 40 YEARS PROGRESSION Palacial Training - The

Protected Years (first forty) Providential Training - The

Rejected Years (next forty) Purposeful Living - The

Elected Years - (last forty)For the first 40 years, Moses thought he was somebodyFor the next 40 years, he realized he was a nobodyFor the last 40 years, he realized that God could make nobody into a somebody

THE PROTECTED YEARS20 At this time Moses was born, and was beautiful before God. And he was brought up for three months in his father’s house; 21 and when he was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. 22 And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.

23 “When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking the Egyptian. 25 He supposed that his brethren understood that God was giving them deliverance by his hand, but they did not understand. 26 And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and would have reconciled them, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren, why do you wrong each other?’ 27 But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 At this retort Moses fled, and became an exile in the land of Mid′ian, where he became the father of two sons. (Acts 7:20-29)

THE PROTECTED YEARS23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered abuse suffered for the Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked to the reward.27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king; for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel – (Hebrews 11:23-28)

PALACIAL TRAINING

Moses was chosen to be trained in the cradle of the most powerful nation – as prince, while others his age were getting mass murderedChosen by God Beautiful before GodChosen by the King’s daughter Trained in the palace Mighty in words and deeds(acts 7:22)Chose God over the King Chose to suffer with his people as opposed to enjoying fleeting pleasures of sin Considered abuse for Christ greater than the treasures of Egypt Left Egypt not fearing the king but endured, following the invisible God Knew he was deliverer and assumed his people knew it as well

THE REJECTED YEARS 30 “Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it he wondered at the sight; and as he drew near to look, the voice of the Lord came, 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. 33 And the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the shoes from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have surely seen the ill-treatment of my people that are in Egypt and heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’

35 “This Moses whom they refused, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ God sent as both ruler and deliverer by the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush

PROVIDENTIAL TRAINING

At the end of God’s training Moses learnt: How to Care like a shepherd, David (ps 23), Jesus Humility – became “the most humble person (God’s hot and

cold treatment) on earth” God’s hot and cold treatment Unconditional Obedience Unconditional Faith“With great power comes great responsibility”

PROVIDENTIAL TRAINING – CONT’D..

“Then he chose David, his servantHandpicked him from his work in the sheep pensOne day he was caring for the ewes and their lambs,The next day God had him shepherding Jacob His people Israel his prize possessionHis good heart made him a good shepherdHe guided the people wisely and well” Ps 78

PROVIDENTIAL TRAINING

Moses was ready to successfully deliver a nation in the most dramatic Exodus the world has ever known through circumstances the world has never seen.Moses was ready to be the voice of God to a rebellious nation.

THE ELECTED YEARS36 He led them out, having performed wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years. 37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up.’ 38 This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living oracles to give to us. 39 Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods to go before us; as for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and rejoiced in the works of their hands. 42 But God turned and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you offer to me slain beasts and sacrifices,forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 43 And you took up the tent of Moloch, and the star of the god Rephan,the figures which you made to worship; and I will remove you beyond Babylon.’44 “Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. (Acts 7-36-44)

PURPOSEFUL LIVING

Held the miracle rodAt the wave of his rod, the heavens descended, the earth erupted and the seas parted. On the one occasion he misused it by not trusting, God penalized him…severely He wielded the greatest power and yet he remained…. Most humble before God

Inspite of greatest wealth of the world Inspite of greatest power of God

PURPOSEFUL LIVING Till the end, he had all faculties intact. God himself buried him..legend has it that he may have even

been taken up by God under a cloud at mount Nebo from where he had a view of the promised land.

He appeared with Elijah at the transfiguration on the promised land.

DISCUSSION

As Paul claimed “I know how to abound and how to be abased”, can we claim the same? If so we have passed God’s crucial leadership test to take on responsibilities for him.

How do we develop an attitude of handling adversity and prosperity in our stride?

A walk thru’ the Old Testament..Lesson 14: Israel – Leanness of Soul

GOD’S TOUCHPOINTS


ISRAEL – LEANNESS OF SOULPRESENTATION OVERVIEW

Psalm 78 – Asaph’s Reflections on Israel “In their hearts they turned to Egypt” Dangers Today Prosperity of Soul Leanness of Souls Discussion

PSALM 78 – ASAPH’S REFLECTIONS ON ISRAELGod Israel

He set his word firmly in Israel, commanded parents to teach to children

Ephraimites were cowards to God’s covenant, refused to walk by his Word. Forgot what he’d done right before their eyes

He performed miracles, led them out All they did was sin even more, rebel against the High God, clamored for favours, for special attention, whined like spoiled children

God was furious, his anger flared, he lost his temper

It was clear they did not believe God, had no intention of trusting in his help

God helped them, opened the gates of heaven, handed everything they craved on a platter

Greed knew no bounds

God was fed up, cut down their brightest and best

Kept on sinning, still wouldn’t believe, lives dribbled off to nothing

Cut them down Came running for help, turned and pled for mercy, witnessed that God was their rock, lied through their teeth, could not have cared less about him

Compassionate, forgave their sin, didn’t destroy, over and over restrained his wrath

Time and again pushed him to the limit, provoked Israel’s Holy God. Quickly forgot

God Israel

Scattered everyone who got in his way, staked out an inheritance for them

Kept on giving him a hard time, rebelled, worse then their parents, crooked as a corkscrew..pagan orgies provoked God’s anger, idolatories broke his heart

Furious, walked off, abandoned the shrine where he had met them, turned his back on the pride of his life, turned them loose on the battlefields, let them fend for themselves

Young men went to war and never came back, young women waited in vain, priests were massacred, widows never shed a tear.

The Lord was up on his feet. Hit his enemies and sent them running. Disqualified Joseph and chose Judah. Built his sanctuary, chose David

“And you continue, so bullheaded! Calluses on your hearts, flaps on your ears! Deliberately ignoring the Holy Spirit, you’re just like your ancestors. Was there ever a prophet who didn’t get the same treatment? Your ancestors killed anyone who dared talk about the coming of the Just One. And you’ve kept up the family tradition—traitors and murderers, all of you. You had God’s Law handed to you by angels—gift-wrapped!—and you squandered it!” Acts 7:51-53

PSALM 78 – ASAPH’S REFLECTIONS ON ISRAEL CONT’D…

..IN THEIR HEARTS THEY TURNED TO EGYPT

Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, (Acts 7:39)

IN THEIR HEARTS THEY TURNED TO EGYPT.. Israel’s bondage to Egypt typifies our bondage to Satan Moses’ deliverance typifies Christ’s deliverance. The attitude of Christians today typifies Israel’s attitude to

God - In their hearts they turned to Egypt. In our hearts we turn to Satan’s world

"These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Matthew 5:8

“IN THEIR HEARTS THEY TURNED TO EGYPT”

“A whole new generation of Christians has come up believing that it is possible to accept Christ without forsaking the world.” AW Tozer.“Our standard of living has gone up, but are we really better off? 40 years of consumerism and media influence has created a basic shift in values. Overall we live in a culture dominated by the secular life view.” Pat Morley – Man in the mirror

DANGERS TODAY

DANGERS TODAY - DEEDS WITHOUT LOVERon Jensen travelled around the country with his wife in a camper and interviewed 350 Christian leaders. At the end of the tour he made a discouraging observation. He said “I found a great deal of zeal for God’s work, but very little passion for God”.“I know your deeds, your hard work and perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you. You have forsaken your first love” Rev.2:2-4.

You say, “I am rich. I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked (Rev.3:15-17)

DANGERS TODAY - “PROSPEROUS”? CHRISTIANS

PROSPERITY IN SOUL

3 John 1:2 : "I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers."

PROSPERITY IN SOUL

LEANNESS OF SOULJ. Vernon McGee tells of an incident in the Pasadena Rose Parade. That year the Standard Oil Company had a float in this parade of parades. The float was beautiful, fully decorated with American Beauty Roses, something that J. Vernon McGee says he "shall never forget". He had not seen anything that beautiful before, nor has he seen anything as beautiful as that since that time.

The problem developed right in the middle of the parade. To everyone's surprise the float ran out of gas! A humorous story if it wasn't so applicable to the church and to our lives today!

LEANNESS OF SOUL

In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wilderness they put God to the test. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. Psalm 106:14,15

DISCUSSION

How different/similar is the church today from the nation of Israel?

How different/similar are the times today from the times of 1. The Pioneers 2. The patriarchs?

How can we truly enjoy “prosperity of soul”?

LEANNESS IN SOUL

It’s better that God denies something in love than gives something in anger

THE SPREAD OF GOD’S WORD

Even larger world – Jesus came - God’s word reached

the worlds

Larger world – God’s word

reached Israel

Small world -

God’s word reached

individuals

Men and women of God werevehicles, world deteriorated to “days of Noah”

Israel was the vehicle,Nation divided andscattered. Templewas destroyed andcaptured

Church vehicleGrowing “leanness”will bring worldTo the conditionof “days of Noah”

Second coming of Christ will finally end this cycle – Satan’s kingdom will be destroyed forever and God will rule forever

A walk thru’ the Old Testament (OT)..

Lesson 15: God’s Commandments

GOD’S TOUCHPOINTS


THE OT LAW

There was given hundreds of laws for the people, these laws were divided into three phases: Moral Laws (10 Commandments written by

the finger of God), Civil Laws (Dietary and Judicial also), and Ceremonial Laws (Sacrifices, Feast Days,

etc.).www.bible-history.com

SUMMARY OF THE LAW

35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matt 22

“ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS HANG THE LAW”

..THE GREATEST IS LOVE

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34,35

..AND THE GREATEST IS LOVE

In John 21 : In His last meeting with His disciples, Jesus says to Peter: "Do you love Me more than these? Feed my sheep!"

..AND THE GREATEST IS LOVE

“I know your deeds, your hard work and perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you. You have forsaken your first love” Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.Rev.2:2-5.

JESUS RAISED THE BAR….

In the New Covenant, Jesus raised the bar on: Love Law Living

OLD COVENANT VS. NEW COVENANTLove the Lord your God with all your

heart…Love your neighbour

as yourself

Law

Written on stone and

paper

Atoned for deeds (Letter

of the law)

Call to be holy

Love the Lord your God with all your

heart…Love one another as I

have loved you

Grace

Written on hearts

Atoned for on mind and

heart (spirit of the law)

Call to be disciples and

make disciples

Love

Law

Living

GRACE?

What does “you are not under the law but grace” mean?

LAW VS GRACE

11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. – Romans 66 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. – Romans 7

LAW VS. GRACE

Grace is not: freedom to sin

Grace is: freedom from sin

THE LAW – WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. - 1 Corinthians 2:13-16

THE LAW – WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS

Psalms 119:11 - Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Ephesians 4:23 - And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

THE LAW – WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTSPsalm 139:23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Romans 1:28

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

SPIRIT OF THE LAW VS. LETTER OF THE LAW

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. …..5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. Romans 8

ACID TEST OF SPIRIT OF GOD

Is our mind governed by the spirit or by the flesh?


19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. 1 john 3

ASSURANCES

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.1 John 5:18 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Romans 8:1

WARNINGS

“I know your deeds, your hard work and perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you. You have forsaken your first love” Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.Rev.2:2-5.

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matt. 7:21-23

THE GREAT COMMISSION –CALL TO BE DISCIPLES AND MAKE DISCIPLES

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

THE GREAT COMMISSION –CALL TO BE DISCIPLES AND MAKE DISCIPLES

“The one indispensable requirement for producing godly, mature Christians is godly, mature Christians.” ― Kevin DeYoung

old testament walkthru -- moses, israel, the law

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