Claiming the Inheritance
Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 1:6
Tonight we are exploring Deuteronomy. There are 34 chapters in Deuteronomy. This book will teach us the importance of remembering God and His Word. We are told many times not to forget God or His Word. A specific reference is found in Psalm 78:5-9 which is a reference to Israel’s disobedience to enter the promised land: For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; 6 That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, 7 That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; 8 And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God. The name Deuteronomy is from the Hebrew which means "the second law" or "a repetition of this law."
Moses Wrote It 5 times Moses claimed he wrote it. Deut.1:1 Deut. 1:5 Deut 31:9 -Deut.31:22 -Deut.31:24 - So it was, when Moses had completed writing the words of this law in a book..."
Deuteronomy is the Book of the Law Most Quoted in the New Testament, Being Cited Over 80 Times "Deuteronomy was written at the end of the forty years wandering in the wilderness" (Geisler, p.78). IV. The Audience "This book was written to the new generation, those under twenty years of age when they came out of Egypt" (Geisler, p.78). V. The Theme Genesis - "beginnings" Exodus - "redemption" Leviticus - "holiness" Numbers - "testing" Deuteronomy - "instruction"(David R. Shepherd, Deuteronomy, p.5)
The principle we need to learn from Deuteronomy is going forward with God. The Israelites have taken an 11 day journey from Egypt to the Promised Land and it turned it into a 40 year experience in the desert. Normally it takes only 11 days to travel from Mt. Sinai to Kadesh-barnea. Kadesh-barnea was the threshold of promise. It was the desert entry point to the promised land. It was the place from where they sent the 12 spies to spy out the land. They had been held back and detained by God Himself. But one day, God said to them, you have stayed too long in this place. It is time to move out and move forward.
So let me give you the five steps in the believer’s life to go forward with God.
I. Remember God’s Blessing (1-5)
The blessings of God are not automatically poured out upon people. God is not a robot, not a mechanical being that acts impulsively, on the spur of the moment without thought or purpose. The blessings of God are not poured out indiscriminately, at random, in a chaotic manner. God demands something of a person before He blesses that person. God’s blessings are conditional. A person has to do something in order to receive God’s blessings.
A. God leads us (1-3:29) It is important for every believer to remember history. The Bible is not a book that’s old and out of date filled with ancient history. Every part of it is real and relevant to our lives today.
The children of Israel wandered for 40 years because they refused to let God be their leader and they refused to follow Moses’ leadership. This is a lesson for every believer. If I rebel against the authority God has placed in my life then I am rebelling against god Himself.
I also need to remember the blessings God has already given me. The enemy never reminds us of the good God has done. The enemy subtly sells us the lie of
an uninterested, detached God way off somewhere. However, God is very interested and invested in the lives of His children.
B. God is with us (4:1-4:33) Israel had the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night to remind them of God’s presence and yet they still disobeyed.
If I am going to receive blessings of God on my life I must remember God is with me and on my side. Say Amen if you agree with this statement: God is here right now in this worship service. God is with us tomorrow at work, at home or at school? God is with us at the store? God is with us when we sin?
The promise of Jesus is the promise of Deuteronomy and the promise of the Holy Spirit. God is always with us. Jesus said, “I am with you always, even unto the ends of the earth.”
I like to say God’s Spirit can be quenched but God’s Spirit won’t be squelched in the life of the believer. The Holy Spirit will convict of sin and remind us that God is with us.
C. God teaches us (4:44-5:33) Here in these chapters we are reminded to obey. Blessing is directly tied to obedience. Moses reminds them of this in chapter four and then reviews the 10 commandments with them:
**5:1-5**
The principle here is to have a teachable spirit. The Holy Spirit is with us to teach us the Word of truth and how to live out that truth in our lives. But we must have a teachable spirit. God will not force His will on us we walk in obedience to His will and through those times in our lives we remember His blessings.
II. Respond to God’s Goodness (6-11) There are many times in our lives where we have seen and sensed the goodness of God. In chapter 6 this refers to parents being obedient and teaching their children about the goodness of God.
**6:4-8**
A. Love God (6) I am to teach and demonstrate to my boys that I love God. How do I do this? Larry Crabb told about the time when he was only 4 yrs old, he watched his father pray. "It was Sunday morning, and about 50 people gathered in a circle at our (Lord’s Supper) service. The elements, covered simply with a white cloth, were on a table in the middle. The arrangement was intentional: it spoke of Christ as the center of our thoughts.
"Dad stood to pray. I was lying on the floor, looking up at him. Even now, the memory is clear. I thought to myself, ’He actually thinks he is talking to Someone. And whoever it is means more to him than anyone else...’"
Now, Larry Crabb’s father probably wasn’t thinking about the impression he was making on his son... he was simply doing his faith (publicly and actively) with his son there with him.
Doing the basics is critical to impressing your children with how much God means to you. But as significant as that can be, it’s even more important to make sure we share our faith with our kids deliberately and intentionally.
B. Obey God (7) This chapter is a reminder to walk in obedience. If you look specifically at 7:12 you see that listening to God’s decrees and doing them brings blessings into our lives. God repeats this not because we are ignorant but because we are forgetful. We forget how good God has been and is to us.
C. Thank God (8-10:11) Often times we use the expression “Thank God,” without any thought of what we are really saying. If we really are responding to the goodness of God we will begin to understand how we really should thank God.
God reminds them here that He is not giving them the Promised Land because of their righteousness but because of His goodness. God doesn’t show goodness to us because we deserve it God shows it because He’s good.
D. Fear God (10:12-11:32) As His goodness begins to saturate our lives we then learn to reverence Him. It’s not a question of loving Him, obeying Him, and thanking Him because we are afraid of Him. We reverence Him because of His goodness toward us.
We I think of the goodness of God Ruth comes to mind. Ruth is a book of the Bible every lady needs to read. She loved God, obeyed God, thanked God and reverenced God by doing what was right in God’s sight.
See if I truly respond to God’s goodness then I will do what is right more than I sin. I’ll try to live in such a way that thanks God for the new life He has given me. **10:12-13** That is what God wants us to respond to His goodness.
**12:1**
III. Review God’s Word (12-26:19) these chapters are a review of the laws and decrees God established with the children of Israel before their disobedience in the wilderness. God is basically reviewing with them what He requires and expects out of them.
It is no different for us today. He requires that we study His Word so that we can learn to obey Him and follow Him. He tells us to search the scriptures and study to show ourselves approved. These are not suggestions but commandments to study the Word and follow His Word.
Why is this important? Because Studying and following God’s Word increases our faith. The Bible says in Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (NKJ)
As we learn by reviewing the Word of God we then learn of His covenant with us.
IV. Renew God’s Covenant (27-30) Here we have an detailed outline of what God expects of them when they enter the Promised Land that He had already provided for them. Remember God had promised His people this land clear back in Genesis but only know at the end of Deuteronomy are they ready to possess it. Notice first of all: **27:1, 28:1-2**
A. Obedience and Disobedience (27-28) God tells them again I have made a covenant with you and if you follow me I will bless you. Then it breaks out in 28:3-14 on what God will do to keep His end of the bargain. Notice though **28:15** God then tells of the curse that will come upon them if they disobey in v.16-68.
He’s saying to us as His children it’s our choice. We choose to follow Him and He will keep His covenant with us i not He will allow discipline to fall in our lives.
B. The Terms (29-30) Look with me at **29:1, 30:1-3** Here we see the covenant and the forewarning of their disobedience. They rebelled against God before and they did even after their entry into the Promised Land.
However, just like us today if we renounce our sin and seek His forgiveness we can be reconciled to God. Their may be consequences earthly for our sin but He will forgive us and restore us because He has made a New Covenant with us today through the Lord Jesus Christ.
V. Releasing the Leader (31-34) Here God allows Moses to pass the torch to Joshua. I want to give you the points and then the explanation.
A. The encouragement (31:1-13) Moses encourages Joshua in front of all the people. Someone once said you praise people in public and discipline in private. I think that’s a good rule.
B. The warning (31:14-32:52) Moses tells the people not to disobey because God will discipline His children.
C. The blessing (33) Just like a father does to his children Moses blesses them by reminding them of God’s faithfulness.
D. The Departure (34) Moses died and the children of Israel received new leadership through Moses servant Joshua.
I believe God allows leaders of His people to accomplish certain tasks. Some maybe don’t get finished in their term but many others do. I believe God called Bro. Ben here to do certain things and I really praise God for Bro. Ben’s leadership. 31 years at one church is unheard of today. I look at this building and the student building as a result of his leadership.
I really see myself as a Joshua leader here at FBC. You were brought right up to the Promised Land in many ways and it’s my job to take us over and fight the battles we need to fight in order for us to be the church God wants us to be.
I pray my term is not 31 years 20-22 is enough because I really do look forward to retirement. I heard a story about a three preachers that were arguing about when life begins. One said at conception there is no other argument. Another one said, when the fetus is viable. Finally the third when said I disagree. “Life begins when the last child leaves the house and takes the dog with him.”
Conclusion: These five steps forward are our walk of SPIRITUAL MATURITY> God wants us to grow up in our faith. Too many times a believer won’t do the right thing because they won’t do what God expects us of them. That’s why they don’t see God blessing their lives today.
If we are to grow in our faith then we must follow these five steps:
1. Remember God’s blessings—God has blessed us just by saving us. He brought Israel out of Egypt, and believers He bought us out of Hell. Never forget He loves you, He’s with you and He will teach us all things.
2. Respond to God’s goodness—Love God, obey God, thank God and fear God. If I don’t work these truths out in my life then I will not do what is right.
3. Review God’s Word—is the Bible what you follow? If not what are you following? I know that’s in the Bible BUT…that’s disobedience!
4. Renew God’s covenant—folks God is our on side. If we obey Him no matter what everyone else does He is with us.
5. Release your leadership—every Christian should have a mentor and find someone to mentor. God is raising up people who will do what He says.
God wants us ready to receive the Promised Land. Church are we ready for all God wants for us? If not, tonight, let’s prepare to grow in our faith.
PRAY
