Exodus 19-20

Day 37

Exodus 19-20

Exodus 19:8
⁸ The people were unanimous in their response: "Everything God says, we will do." Moses took the people's answer back to God.

What would happen if all of God’s people here in this city had this kind of heart for God?
What would happen if all of God’s people in this state had the same mindset?
What would happen if all of God’s people in this country did the same?

What would happen if YOU decided I am going to LISTEN to GOD and DO
what HE says!

It’s hard to imagine what GREATNESS of what God would do if we would listen to HIM and do what he says…  We could see things in our lifetime that would be just as powerful as they did back in the early church.  Same GOD same POWER...

God still speaks today – Through His word and through His Holy Spirit…  Just like back then I believe the main reason people don’t want to listen to God is they are afraid…

Afraid God will tell them something they don’t want to hear…  We are fearful because we are comfortable where we are!  Listen to how God’s chosen people reacted to Him in verse 18…

^18-19 All the people, experiencing the thunder and lightning, the trumpet blast and the smoking mountain, were afraid—they pulled back and stood at a distance. They said to Moses, "You speak to us and we'll listen, but don't have God speak to us or we'll die." ²⁰ Moses spoke to the people: "Don't be afraid. God has come to test you and instill a deep and reverent awe within you so that you won't sin." ²¹ The people kept their distance while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was.

Moses had already let go of his comfort…  Through God; Moses overcame his sin of murder, his weakness as a public speaker, and his fear of confronting Pharaoh…  The Israelites on the other hand were comfortable knowing God from a distance.
 
I want to be in the middle of what God is doing.  I want to see and touch the mountain…
I want to let go of the American dream to pursue a much greater one!  One where all of God’s people listen to HIM and DO what HE says!

Exodus 16-17

Day 35

Exodus 16-7

Exodus 16:3-4

 They said to them, "It would have been better if the Lord had killed us in the land of Egypt. There we had meat to eat and all the food we wanted. But you have brought us into this desert to starve us to death."  ⁴ Then the Lord said to Moses, "I will cause food to fall like rain from the sky for all of you. Every day the people must go out and gather what they need for that day. I want to see if the people will do what I teach them.

Do we act like the Israelites when we get in an uncomfortable situation?  Do we blame others, or wish for the good ole days?  Or… do we look for what God may be trying to teach us through the situation? 

-Are you broke?  Is He trying to show you He is your provider…?

-Are you sick?    Is He trying to show you He is your healer…?

-Are you overwhelmed?  Is He trying to show you He will bare your burden…?

-Are you lonely? Is He trying to show you He is all you need…?

-Are you addicted?  Is He trying to show you He is your hope…?

-Are you grieving the loss of a child?  Is He trying to show you He is your comforter?

Genesis 22

Day 17

Genesis 22

Genesis 22:14

¹⁴ Abraham named that place God-Yireh (God-Sees-to-It). That's where we get the saying, "On the mountain of God, he sees to it."

As weird as it sounds, this passage reminds me of an aspect of one of my favorite games

In the game of baseball, if you have a runner on base that you need to move into scoring position; the batter can square his body and hold out his bat during the pitcher’s delivery.  This is called a bunt.  The goal is for the ball to strike the bat and deaden on the ground between home plate and 3^rd base.  Most of the time the batter gets thrown out at first, but the runner gets to move up a base into scoring position.  This is why it is often referred to as a sacrifice bunt… 

As a hitter I hated getting asked to bunt.  It meant basically that I was forfeiting my at bat for the good of the team.  That sounds terrible that I would want to be selfish by not wanting to bunt.  The correlation is that as a follower of Christ we are all on his team.  Sometimes He wants us to give up our prized possession for His purposes…  God was asking Abraham to sacrifice his prized possession (Isaac his only son) 

I have to mention my wife Franca here.  Before we were married she was involved in a business that she had helped build that was pretty successful.  It was like her baby...  Every Tuesday night while we were engaged, she went to her business meeting and I went to my small group for my church.  After we got married Franca wrestled with God about if she should continue the business or join me in our church small group meeting. I did not get involved because I wanted it to be her decision.  She gave it up and did not look back!  I have seen her grow tremendously in her walk with Lord since that decision and God has blessed her life with friends she never thought she would need. 

Just like Abraham God want honor our obedience when we give something valuable up for His sake…  God honored Abraham’s obedience with countless descendents…  God honored Franca’s obedience with great friends…  What will He do for you if you are willing to bunt for Him?  If the long run what you’re giving up is small compared to what He is going to do with you!

Genesis 13-14

Day 11


Genesis 13-14


Genesis 14:17-20
17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,
    “Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
     Creator of heaven and earth.
 20 And blessed be God Most High,
     who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

A lot of times I hear people complain…  "Well I’d like to go to church, but all they want is my money…"  My first response to these people would be... “if everyone gave like they were commanded to by God, churches would not have to ask you for it!” 


I strongly believe in giving the tithes because it shows where your heart is in reference to God.  Here are 3 different types of givers God is not pleased with…


THE TIPPER - God’s not your waitress ready to take your order!!!                              

(Excuse) “I give to the church when I can, but times are tough right now” God wants the first fruit, not your leftovers.
(Proverbs 3:9-10)                                                                                 
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth,
   with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
   and your vats will brim over with new wine

(Answer) Budget it out before you spend a penny of your check… 10% one out of every 10 dollars you make… 


(Heart condition) Lacking faith in God’s ability to provide for their needs.  Lacks trust in the word of God


THE TIMER – Serving is not a substitute for tithing


(Excuse) “I can’t afford to give, but I can give of my time so God understands…


(Answer) “You can’t afford not to give!”  Serving is a non negotiable!  Trying to replace tithing with serving is trying to rob God of what is already His…  Malachi 3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings.


(Heart Condition) Partial disobedience is full disobedience…  You value the relationships with God’s people more than you value obedience to God.  75% of the parables Jesus talked about was on Money, tithing, and the heart…


THE TOMORROW – The typical procrastinator… Intends to start tithing, but never does… 


(Excuse) I need to save up enough for (Fill in the blank______)  I will start tithing as soon as I get (_______) saved up.... 


(Answer)  Luke 12:20 "But God said to him, 'You fool! I will demand your life from you tonight! Now who will get what you've accumulated?'


(Heart Condition) Unstable man wishy-washy in all his ways…


10% is less than what the government asks of you and it is God who allows you to be employed.  He gave you the ability to do you job!  No excuse is a good one not to tithe…  besides God says in                                                                                                                  Malachi 3:10
¹⁰ Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.