Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ Sept
2, 2007
“Finishing Strong”
Life of Moses part 14
Numbers 26-Deut 34
Key Principles from earlier weeks…
·
God specializes in
using broken vessels.
·
Predicaments teach us
dependence upon God.
·
God gave Divine rules
for human conduct.
·
Being a Gap Stander
makes all the Difference.
·
Every decision is
Pivotal for God’s blessing.
 |
What would the world lose if you never existed? How big would the hole
there be? |
|
What new ideas or achievements have you made to your world? |
|
What difference are you making in the lives of people around you?
|
|
“It’s a Wonderful Life”, Jimmy Stewart was about what would happen if an
individual (George Bailey) was never born… The movie depicted “what would
have been”… wickedness, bars, anger, fighting… it clearly portrayed the
impact of one person upon those around them. George Bailey certainly made a
huge difference in lives of individuals and the entire town was blessed
because of him… He finished strong and left a legacy. |
|
Moses was a true to life individual who made a major difference in his
generation and all generations that followed. He was God’s man, in God’s
will, in God’s place, in God’s time. |
|
This morning as we conclude this series… look at Finishing Strong and
leaving a Legacy! |
1. Moses Prepared for
His Departure.
In following the Lord, we see
Moses preparing the people for his eventual death.
·
He led Israel
back Num 22
Numbers 22:1
Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab
and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.
o
After wandering in
the desert for 40 years… God got His people out of Egypt BUT it took 40 years to
get Egypt out of His people!
o
Once again they were
standing on the very brink of blessing… this time they’ll go in
·
He counted the
people Num 26
Numbers 26:2
"Take a census of the whole Israelite community by
families--all those twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army
of Israel."
o
Moses counted the
people because people count…A census was taken of the new generation that was
born in the wilderness… 20 years of older… 601,730 men +
o
To serve your
country is an and privilege… there are enemies out there (Islamic terrorists)
·
He appointed his
successor Num 27
Numbers 27:18
So the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a
man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him.
o
God chose Joshua and
Moses commissioned him the leader of the Israelites
o
Joshua never
rebelled against Moses or the Lord, he was a spiritual man who sought God…
Exodus 33:11
The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man
speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young
aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. (God’s presence)
·
He reinforced
God’s regulations Num
28-31
o
Moses prepared the
people by reinforcing truth, the Truth of God’s Word to the people
o
Get away from TRUTH…
you get into error/lies… lives go downward into sin & judgment
Numbers 28:1-2 1
The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Give
this command to the Israelites and say to them:…
·
He instructed for
possessing the Land Num
32-36
o
The Lord instructed
exactly where everyone should settle when they possess the land.
Numbers 34:1
The LORD said to Moses…
we see this phrase used many times
in these chapters
Numbers 33:53-54 53
Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I
have given you the land to possess. 54 Distribute the land by
lot, according to your clans. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and
to a smaller group a smaller one. Whatever falls to them by lot will be theirs.
Distribute it according to your ancestral tribes.
o
The Lord laid out
the boundaries and divided up the land… cities for the Levites & of refuge
o
Moses was getting
everything in order before his death… still following the Lord precisely.
·
He pronounced
blessings upon the People.
Deut 32-33
o
Moses recited the
words of a song to the whole assembly of people in Deut 32
o
Then charged the
people to heed them & to instruct their children their future generations!
Deuteronomy 32:46-47 46
he said to them, "Take to heart all the words I have
solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey
carefully all the words of this law. 47 They are not just idle
words for you--they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you
are crossing the Jordan to possess."
o
That very same day
the Lord told Moses to climb Mt Nebo to view Canaan, then you will die.
o
Deut 33 Moses
pronounced the blessing (prophetic) upon each tribe…
Deuteronomy 33:29
Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people
saved by the LORD? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your
enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places."
Moses was God’s faithful servant
who prepared for his
departure…
Psalms 101:6
My eyes will be on the faithful in the land,
that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me.
Psalms 37:28
For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his
faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked
will be cut off;
1 Corinthians 11:1
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
|
Modern day Moses was a man named Jerry Falwell – hated or loved by many… God
used him greatly… He just passed away, but before he did, he prepared for
his departure… |
|
Organized the Liberty University to carry on without him, appointing various
people to positions, even taking out an insurance policy… $34 million
dollars that paid off all debt of the university! |
|
We too must prepare for our departure by following the example set by Moses,
God’s difference maker. |
2. Moses Persevered to
the Finish line.
·
Pursued Mt climbing
Deuteronomy 34:1
Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab
to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole
land--from Gilead to Dan,
o
He climbed the summit of Mt Pisgah/Nebo
a peak of 4500’… for the long await look at Promise land
·
Going strong at age 120
Deuteronomy 34:7
Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he
died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.
o
What physical condition was Moses in?
Eyes not weak nor his strength gone… physically fit.
o
Ever climb a mountain and got winded?
Clingman’s Dome in Tenn… Hidden Lake in Glacier Nat’l Pk
·
Impacted lives of many people
Deuteronomy 34:8
The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of
Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.
o
When he died the people grieved… he led
his people for 40 years and stayed faithful to the end
o
Longevity is ministry is vital… the
average tenure for a pastor is only 7 years… perseverance
·
Mentored Joshua and a new generation
Deuteronomy 34:9
Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of
wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to
him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses.
o
Joshua hung out with the eagles… Moses,
Caleb and God Himself.
o
Moses multiplied himself by investing
in Joshua… Cross Creek has many Joshua’s rising up!
What was Moses’ “secret” in
finishing well? He
kept His focus on the Lord!
Hebrews 11:27
By faith he (Moses) left Egypt, not fearing the
king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.
Paul did the same thing…
Philippians 3:13-14 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken
hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward
what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the
prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Paul went on to say, sitting in
prison awaiting execution… (cold, alone,
dark – beheaded, tradition)
2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith.
|
All too often today, when we reach retirement age… we retire from our job
and retire from our Lord. |
|
We must fight the good fight and finish the race…
then hear – well done thou good & faithful servant! |
|
Building/battling. Demanding/exhausting. Takes effort/never easy
w/challenges along the way |
3. Moses Promoted into
God’s Presence.
Deuteronomy 34:5
And Moses the servant of the LORD died there
in Moab, as the LORD had said.
|
Moses Prepared… Moses Persevered… Moses was Promoted! |
|
He was promoted into the very presence of His Lord… Moses the servant of the
Lord died… |
|
God knows who belongs to Him and how faithfully we serve Him… it was time
and Moses died. |
|
The moment we are born… all our days are recorded in God’s heavenly record
book… 120 years. |
Psalms 139:16
your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained
for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
|
The New Testament teaches us… absent from the body, present with the
Lord! (2Co 5:8) |
Psalms 116:15
Precious in the
sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
|
Moses was a great man of God, but I must mention also… |
|
It all began in his first 40 years when Moses thought he was
somebody… and the next 40 years when Moses learned he was a nobody…
then the last 40 years where Moses saw how God can use a nobody! |
1400 years later…
Ø
Jesus was
transfigured and Moses appeared with Him.
Luke 9:28-31
About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him
and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the
appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of
lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, 31 appeared in
glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which
he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.
|
Moses died, we then see him speaking with the Lord Jesus about the
crucifixion and then ultimately helping God’s precious people the Israelites
once again in the last days just before Jesus returns. (I believe the
rapture is imminent) |
|
Let this truth sink into your heart… there is conscious existence after
death… are you ready? |
Some 2000 years after that…
Ø
Moses and Elijah
will appear on earth following the rapture.
Revelation 11:3
And I will give power to my two witnesses, and
they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth."
Moses is truly “God’s Hero”…
God’s witness as to
Moses -
Deuteronomy 34:10-12
Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like
Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 who did all
those miraculous signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt--to Pharaoh
and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one
has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in
the sight of all Israel.
“Moses finished strong,
leaving a lasting legacy” WILL YOU?
|
Are you being a generational difference maker? Get exercising your
spiritual faith muscles! |
|
God is working in supernatural ways right here at Cross Creek… Are you
content to just coast along? |
|
As a child of God, you can’t be just content with status quo… The Lord
places a hunger deep within us to affect our world for Christ… Like Moses
you too can make a difference for all eternity! |
Apply the Truth…
·
We never retire
in service to our Lord – Be Serving!
If not you, WHO? If not now,
WHEN? If not here, WHERE?
·
We never stop
impacting our generation – Be Courageous!
Be a Moses, standing in bold
confidence/assurance by faith
·
There is a
conscience existence after death – Be Ready!
“Prepare to meet thy God” repent
of sin & believe on Jesus
·
If you are not born
again, you need to be before its eternally too late.
·
If you are saved,
you need to be sold out for Jesus so regret doesn’t follow you.
·
Would you by God’s
grace make a decision to follow Him today?
This concludes our series on the life of Moses
I trust God used it in your
life
Let’s Pray
Messages
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary”,
John Walvood/Roy Zuck; Victor Publishing 1985
“Moses, A Man of Selfless
Dedication”, Charles Swindoll; Word Publishing 1999
“Basic Stages in the Book of Ages”,
Dr. Willmington; Liberty Publishing 1975
“Experiencing God”, Henry
Blackaby; LifeWay Press 1990
http://www.wyattmuseum.com