Sunday, November 25, 2012

Following God’s Lead Today – Numbers 9:15-23

Audio with slides:




Sermon notes (not a transcript) from a message delivered at Trinity Christian Chapel on November 18, 2012:


Hello – I am Tony Hipszer.  Some of you may know me because you remember Cindy and me telling you about our church planting trips to Central and South America, or maybe is it because of our work with the homeless in Camden or serving those who fall victim to a disaster.  

What some of you may not know is that I am a graduate of Philadelphia Biblical University – now Cairn – and have a degree in Biblical Studies with a focus on Pastoral Leadership. 

Also you may not know that Cindy and I recently realized that God is calling us to commit more of our lives and time to Him and we have started a search for full time ministry opportunities. 

When Mike heard this he quickly offered to allow me some opportunities at the pulpit.  I was allowed to preach on any topic in the Bible except Revelation – I think he was worried that if someone else taught on Revelation…that they might actually finish it. 



Background:
People of Israel found themselves in bondage at the hands of the Egyptians when God appointed Moses to lead them out by His hands.  They were freed from slavery with the promise of their own land.

During the journey God established His laws and organized the community according to tribes which originate from the sons of Jacob.

In the 13th month of the journey (Exodus 40:7) – they set up the tabernacle as place of worship, sacrifice and the dwelling place for the glory of God.

Open to God’s Word…
15 - On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony.  And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning.

16 - So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night.

17 - And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped.

18 - At the command of the Lord the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the Lord they camped.  As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp.  

19 - Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the people of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and did not set out.

20 - Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the Lord they remained in camp; then according to the command of the Lord they set out.

21 - And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning. And when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they set out.

22 - Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out.

23 - At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out.   They kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by Moses.  

(Numbers 9:15–23, ESV)

PRAY





Set the scene:
Not your ordinary camping trip

The census taken earlier in the book tells us there were roughly 625,000 men of “fighting age”.  If only half of them had wives and children – the total population could easily be in excess of 2 million people

No advance scouting – people of Israel followed the cloud (fire at night). 

They were following God and traveling based on His will not their own will and to where He was taking them, not where they wanted to go – and without any real intelligence on what they would find when in route or when they got there – no scouting.

God’s timing – moving was based on when God decided they were going to move.

Seven times in nine verses Scripture uses the phrase – “command of the Lord” or “charge of the Lord” – it was clear God wanted His will to reign in the lives of Israel.

They had to be ready at any time – they did not know when God’s glory was going to move.  They had to travel light – even for nomads. 

We had to do this in a similar manner in the military – we didn’t know when we were going – we didn’t know where we were going – we only knew that we were not in the ultimate ending place and that we had to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. 

It was not a snap your fingers fast process – but within a few hours we had to be packed up and on our way.  I was stationed at Fort Bragg about 100 years ago.  We were a readiness post who could relocate the combat divisions of the 82 airborne to anywhere in the world in 24-48 hours – with the rest of the camp shortly behind – about 3-4 days.  And we practiced – without notice.  We didn’t have cell phones or internet either.  At least we did have trucks and planes.






Centrality of God:
Numbers 2:2–34, ESV
The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side. Those to camp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah by their companies - They shall set out first on the march.
On the south side – Reuben& 2nd
Then the tent of meeting shall set out, with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp…
On the west side Ephraim, 3rd
North and last is Dan

Whether stationary or moving, the tent of meeting is in the center of the camp with the Priests.




Always Visible in light and in darkness
16 - So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night.






Preparation:
God's glory set upon the tabernacle - and not until then.  So the tabernacle being established is critical to the following.  God’s lead includes preparation – His preparation.

15 - On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony.  And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning.

Preparation of Israel after freedom from Egypt:

Samuel J. Schultz and Gary V. Smith, Exploring the Old Testament (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2001). 40-41.
Numbering Israel
Numbers

1:1–4:49

Military census


1:1–54

Camp assignments



2:1–34

Levites and their duties



3:1–4:49

Camp regulations



5:1–6:21

Restrictions of evil practices



5:1–31

Nazirite vows



6:1–21

Religious life of Israel



6:22–9:14

Tabernacle worship instituted



6:22–8:26

The second Passover


9:1–14



Mindset of Israel:  What are some of the characteristics of the people of Israel that were following God in the wilderness? 

Submissive:
17 - And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped.
 18 - At the command of the Lord the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the Lord they camped.  As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 

Available and attentive:
19 - Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the people of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and did not set out.
20 - Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the Lord they remained in camp; then according to the command of the Lord they set out.

Patient – but maybe complacent at times:
22 - Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out.

Disciplined:
23 - At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out.   They kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by Moses.  

*** The Lord not only tells us to go but He also tells us when to stay.




Okay – that’s great Tony, but they had a clearly visible sign to follow.  What do we do today?







1 Corinthians 10:1–6, ESV
For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink.

For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.


Christ is our cloud today - He is the example we are to follow!



Characteristics of Christ:
Submissive – bowed to the Father’s will.  Talk about ways that Christ submitted to the Father.  And how we are to let go of our wants and desires in order to follow the example of Christ.

Available – always ready to aid the hurting and lost.  How available are you?  Do you stop to listen to someone in need?  Even if you cannot aid in the physical needs of the person – are you spending the time to aid their emotional and spiritual needs.

Patient – often told disciples His time has not yet come.  Are you listening to God even when He has you “in camp” – or are you always pushing for the move to the next step.  Are you happy when God says to stay – He may want you exactly where you are!

Disciplined – stayed on the cross through the pain. 


Actions for you:

Keep Christ in the center:
Understanding God’s leading generally is pretty simple – the Bible lays it all out for us. 
Christ is our example of how to live how to pray and how to love others.

Wait for preparation:
Study Scripture – the way God talks to us
Quiet and constant prayer – in “desolate places” (Mark 1:36)

It is okay to ask about next steps and maybe even be specific about our desires – but do so in His will. 

Don’t be dissatisfied when the change has not occurred and the direction is not evident. 

It might just be a sign that you are exactly where God wants you to be.







CLOSING:  
The book of Exodus describes how God redeemed Israel

Leviticus provided Sanctification through the law and sacrifices

God directed Israel in Numbers.

Principle of the people of Israel was to get us to the Church age – to bring about Christ! 

It all leads to Christ – Christ is our Lord. 

Gospel available to all who seek Him.




Benediction:
Jesus is our cloud – be happy in the piece of the plan we have. 

And we are part of this great big plan – and that big plan is the preparation for the return of Christ when He brings about the new heaven and the new earth. 

And our job while here is to tell as many people about Him as we can. 

And that those who accept are to learn about Him and how we are to live. 

Even our little piece of the plan – no matter how little or how big – that plan individually for us is to be done with a glad heart – and with an eye for the future.

Read your Bible - focused prayer.
Everyday!

Go in peace.



No comments:

Post a Comment