Forbidden Rebellion

March 5
Daily Reading – Numbers 15 / Mark 9:30-50

GOD SAID:

Numbers 15:32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

     Children often do not realize that what they consider just fun and games, may at times cause serious damage. Tossing a ball around in the house seems like such harmless fun. That is until it hits an antique vase and it shatters on the floor. There is no replacing it. No repairing it. No hiding the fact that it was broken. Now what? If it was clearly a misjudgment on the part of the child and the child is sorry for their actions, it would normally be handled with a mild punishment or a reprimand. However, the punishment would be completely different if the child had specifically been told, “don’t through that ball in here there are expensive irreplaceable items like this vase that could get broken.” Same broken vase, but a different reason why.

    In today’s verse, the man gathering sticks was later put to death for doing so. The punishment may seem harsh for picking up a few sticks. Yet picking up the sticks was not why he was punished. In prior verses in this chapter we see that God was willing to forgive someone if they unintentionally sinned. However, those who were deliberately rebellious received harsher punishment. Willful rebellion grows out of an improper attitude toward God. While the punishment may seem drastic, it sent a clear message to the children of Israel about the necessity to obey God’s word. Obedience was met with blessings. Forbidden rebellion was met with regret. God would much rather bless us.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

      The punishment for sin is still the same today. However, Jesus died for our disobedience toward God’s word. Rom. 6:23 says the wages of sin will always be death. Yet through faith in Jesus’ sacrifice, we are forgiven and given eternal life.

Can you see what our rebellion cost God?

 

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Faulty Reports

March 4
Daily Reading – Numbers 12-14 / Mark 9:1-29

GOD SAID:

Numbers 13:32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

      On the surface it might look like God was upset at the report that 10 of the 12 spies brought back from the promised land. The food they brought back was absolutely wonderful. The fact that 12 Hebrew guys wandered all over the land known as Canaan without being spotted and killed should have been somewhat encouraging. However, they saw the people known as the children of Anak. These were some pretty big people. It’s believed that Goliath whom David kills later may have been a descendant of this family. Even though all the people in the land were not giants, it seems to have clouded their judgement and memory because they say in today’s verse; “all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.” So is this faulty report what has God so upset? There’s more to it than that.

     When we get into chapter 14 we see a clearer picture of God’s frustration. This faulty Report caused the entire congregation to murmur and complain all night. Even with Caleb and Joshua trying to give them a brighter outlook of God’s power and love, they would not hear it. When we get to Numbers 14:22 we find the real problem. “Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;” It was a heart problem. They didn’t truly trust God and His love.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    God said, they’ve seen my glory, and miracles and have not hearkened to my voice. Jesus was the express image of God’s glory on earth. As for miracles, Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascending back to heaven are pretty big.

What faulty report are the lost buying into today?

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Onset Of Complaints

March 2 & 3
March 2 – Daily Reading – Numbers 10-11 / Mark 8:22-38
March 3 – NO Daily Reading

GOD SAID:

Numbers 11:1 And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

      You know there are some people who live and love to complain. That may not be what they intend to do, it appears however to be in their nature to complain. My dad said some people would rather complain than eat. That never made sense to me since I love to eat. Nevertheless, we all know some who fill this description rather well. Now before we start pointing fingers and waging our heads, remember, we all complain from time to time. Some of you are thinking about complaining about others who are complainers right now. We complain about the weather, the people in front of us paying with pennies at the store, the slow poke on the highway, and the pastor who preaches too long. (NOT ME!) Complaining comes too natural for us all. We may want to think about today’s verse the next time we become too irritable at someone else. Especially if that someone is God.

     Our verse said, “when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it.” Granted, the children of Israel were blessed by God in everything and shouldn’t have been complaining. If we think on this, aren’t we all blessed by God in everything as well? What causes the onset of complaints anyway? It’s often us not getting our way. The slow poke on the highway may have car problems. The person paying with pennies may be using all they have. The preacher, maybe God’s trying to speak to you, while you’re complaining.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

      Every complaint is not a sin. Jesus complained about the money changers in the temple, and Jesus never sinned. Yet, it may do us well to consider, why we are complaining. Are we complaining about sin, or to satisfy self?

Would you ask God to help you to complain less?

THE WEEK IN REVIEW:

    This week we have watched the children of Israel move from doing what’s right, to doing what’s wrong. As seen in:

● Offered A Choice
● Organizing A Crowd
● Ordering Of Cleanliness
● Offering That Came
● Obeying A Cloud
● Onset Of Complaints

    Yet in the end, they’re still moving onward with God. As God’s children, no matter the trial we too can daily move Onward with Christ our Lord.

SUNDAYS:

        Today we suggest you read and study whatever the Lord has laid on your Pastors heart. Whatever scripture he uses for today’s messages were given to him by God for your specific needs

March 4, 2019	Numbers 12-14	Mark 9:1-29
March 5, 2019	Numbers 15	Mark 9:30-50
March 6, 2019	Numbers 16-18	Mark 10:1-31
March 7, 2019	Numbers 19-20	Mark 10:32-52
March 8, 2019	Numbers 21-22	Mark 11
March 9, 2019	Numbers 23-25	Mark 12:1- 27
March 10, 2019	No Passages Assigned

 I like the little cowboy toy,
Woody, in Toy Story

He yells
“To Infinity and beyond…”

With just a little alteration,
that truly should be the shout
of every believer in Christ.

Into Eternity and Beyond.

Living In His Word Ministries
“Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Obeying A Cloud

March 1
Daily Reading – Numbers 8-9 / Mark 8:1-21

GOD SAID:

Numbers 9:21 And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

     Can you even imagine, watching a cloud and doing what it did. It’s like a giant game of “Simon Says.” The Cloud stops, the Children of Israel set up camp, they set up the tabernacle, and arrange all the items in the tabernacle as they are to be. The cloud lifts and moves, pack everything up, and follow that cloud. That’s a lot of work. In Number 9:22 it says; “Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed.” It would be hard enough in the day, but today’s verse says they moved whether it was day or night. Why not just wait to see if possibly the cloud would come back. The answer is very simple.

     The answer is that they needed to be where God was, and God was in that cloud. He was leading them in this wilderness. He was supplying their needs. Their food, water supply, direction, and care were all in God’s hands. When God moved, they immediately followed. They did not want to be anywhere that God was not.

     God does not lead by a cloud anymore, instead He has given us the Holy Spirit and His word. In the good times (by day), or during the trials we endure (by night), God never leaves us nor forsakes us. Choose to always follow Him.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

      God still supplies our needs. Everything we have comes from God. James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Are you following God?

 

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Offering That Came

February 28
Daily Reading – Numbers 7 / Mark 7

GOD SAID:

Numbers 7:3 And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

    Our church took some time and went through 1st & 2nd Corinthians chapter by chapter. I recall sitting in my office reading over the passage for the week in my bible when I came to the passage in 2 Corinthians 9:7 & 8 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” It occurred to me that many of the people in our congregation were giving, but they may be missing out on the blessings of giving because of the way they did so. I began to think, have I failed these people because I have not clearly conveyed to them that it was more important how they gave, than what they gave. I purposed in my heart that day to take just a moment before every offering to try to point peoples heart and therefore their offering to God. The only way to give cheerfully is to be mindful of who you’re giving to. Remembering, it was God who gave you what you’re about to offer back to Him as offering.

     The opening line of today’s verse says “And they brought their offering before the LORD.” They physically brought the offerings to Moses in the tabernacle. However, spiritually they brought it to the Lord, and Oh how He blessed all that they brought. It was always enough.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    Our church may never be wealthy in the eyes of the world. Our people may not be rich according to earthly standards. Yet I believe if they paused, prayed, and praised God each week before giving offerings to Him, well, we always have enough.

Is God’s enough, enough for you?

 

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12