Wholehearted Devotion

Context

God has freed the Israelites from Egypt (Exodus) and given Moses the 10 Commandments and others on Mount Sinai (Leviticus)

At the start of Numbers, the Israelites are at the foot of Mount Sinai and marching to the Promised Land

God guides the people by cloud and fire

Halfway there, Moses sends spies to scout out the land at God’s command 2 dozen go and all but 2 think it’s too difficult

Message

Read Numbers 14:1-24

v. 9 — the people they would overtake were child sacrificers whom God gave opportunities to repent, this is not an endorsement of violence, if you still struggle with the violence suspend it for today and we’ll discuss later

v. 12 — not sure if God really intends it, or if he’s testing Moses

v. 18 — Moses remembers God’s character that he learned on Mt. Sinai

v. 21 — the glory of the Lord fills the earth, but not knowledge of it

Recap what happens

Explain the differences in the passage between them and us, but how it still applies

the temptation to return to slavery (v. 1-4)

can you imagine this? their lives were miserable once they get some distance, they forget how bad it was

remember tonight why you left your old life behind for Jesus

be certain that this year the temptation to run back to sin will come

to crowd our spiritual disciplines even though we talked about it at GCG

to cross boundaries in a dating relationship

to slip back into consumer mode at church

to lack integrity when finals come around

to be quiet about your faith around your friends

the reasons in ch. 14 (death) are different than later in Numbers (good food), and the reason for all of us will be different, but they will come

the risk inherent in wholehearted commitment (end of ch. 13)

read 13:28-33

there were different reasons for fear (the land itself, death for the men, plunder for the women & kids), and there are different risks for us too

2 Timothy 3:12 — “…everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”

I’m so proud of the difficulties y’all have faced to follow Jesus all in

some of you have risked acceptance by family

some of you have left acceptance by the world

some of you have delayed gratification to choose holiness

some of you have given time and energy for the needs of others

some of you are laying down your future before God

Risks like these and others will be a part of wholehearted commitment. We don’t know all the ways they will happen, but they’ll be there.

We need God’s help to see clearly when things get difficult. there’s a reason only 2 had faith in God are you regularly in the Word? can you lean on Scripture’s truth when times get tough?

the loss guaranteed by half-hearted faith (v. 20-24)

God had something great planned for them and they forfeited it

The reason so many Christians don’t feel like they experience “abundant life/life to the full” is because they aren’t “committed to the full”

Dean’s year of devotion to God + 6 more months

Sophie writing 2024 — GOD

What step do you need to take right now to be wholeheartedly devoted to God?

Show up at Reach every week

Start reading your Bible every day

Join a discipleship group

Engage in Spring Training

Confess some habitual sin to a mentor

Be baptized like Sophie

Make 2024 a year of wholehearted devotion to the Lord Jesus.