Hitting Rocks.

Numbers 20:2-

Numbers 20:2–12 ESV

Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.” Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them, and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.” And Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he commanded him. Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”

What causes such things?

How did we get here?

- People Groaning. Why? Slavery.

- God hears their prayers and brings them a leader

Starts the first plague Blood, Frogs, Lice, Flies, Livestock, Boils, Hail, Locust, Darkness and Death of the first born.

Here - the Great Passover. The Congregation receives a great miracle and promise.

Congregation witnessed great acts of God - but when they see Pharaoh, what do they say?

Ex 14:11

Exodus 14:11–12 ESV

They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

, The congregation grumbled against Moses and Aaron because of food.

Moses reminds the congregation, their grumbling is not against Moses or Aaron - but against God.

Jumping ahead to , Moses was delayed so the people gathered among themselves and said to Aaron make us a Golden Calf.

You see - here in lies the problem. The congregation wanted what they wanted - more than what God wanted. Our view of Church

In Korah’s rebellion.

They rose up against Moses. 250 chiefs of the congregation. Their charge? You have gone too far! The whole congregation is holy, the Lord is with us - who do you think you are - why do you exalt yourself.

This was not good.

Long story short 14,700 died

Do you see the theme. God was leading His people through those he called, yet those people found more to complain about then to rejoice in.

Deliverance from bondage and sin -

Deliverance from death at the hands of Pharaoh

Given food and water

Lead by the Spirit of God

Restoration and guidance

Yet - the congregation rebelled continuously. Even Miriam and Aaron fell to this, Questioning does this man actually hear from God? We know her end!

Application - As a church, we cannot expect God to move if there is constant grumbling on our midst. I have been here over a year and I am still putting fires out from last year.

As Christians, we are called to follow God, Trust God and submit to God. This shows how we act to those called over us.

God has led the board on the direction we need to go - He leads us. But we have folks here trying to start a rebellion like Korah, challenge what God is doing through His servants.

It is easy to to blame the administration of the negatives in a church. However if we want revival and growth, we need to understand a serious truth. God cannot bless what he hates.

Proverbs 6:16–19 ESV

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Haughty - arrogantly superior and disdainful.

Lying Tongue - Spreading false hood and deception

Sheds blood - Murderer

Remember and 22 - whoever is angry with a brother commits murder in their heart.

a heart the devises wicked plans - This means wicked imaginations -thoughts. Fabricating things, not walking in Godliness, speaking out of line on things that are fabricated.

Feet that make haste to run evil - people who don’t even fight temptation but run to it - give them self willingly to sin.

False witness breathing out lies - speaking things knowing very well they are not true - perjury. A person who does this lacks integrity and has an issue with ethics. They cannot be trusted.

They do not care what damage they cause, they don’t care about others. Their actions sews discord. May I say “God rebuke you if you are here this morning doing such things.

The one who sews discord.

Back to our opening verse.

There are many here wanting things done their way. There are those who speak ill of myself, of Pastor Stef, the Elders and our intentions. Some have left the church, spreading gossip and lies about us - never once having the backbone to speak to us personally. Yet, hurt us greatly on the way out.

God has called us, to speak to the rock so that living water will come forth. This is what we are doing. We are preaching a strong Gospel, we are holding to sound theological instruction in our life groups and youth groups.

God has called us here to speak to the rock - to promote the renovations, name change, and direction and mission of the church.

We will not, hit the rock. Though there are people here who are against the elders, the pastors, though there are some here who are rebelling against what God is doing here, and trying to cause unneeded strife...we will not hit the rock.

Why? Because myself, and many others here have submitted ourself to the Lord’s leading and direction of the church.

We have decided to follow Him at all cost, and know we will see the promise land of our church being healthy once again. SO we will follow the Lord, no matter what opposition may come, and attacks from the enemy.

For those of you here this morning taking your staff and smashing it against the rock, demanding water to flow your way - it will not happen. You will miss out on the promises of God, you will miss out on the blessing of seeing this church thrive. You will will miss out on peaceful fellowship and communion with a Holy God.

Today, I call the assembly to repent. Corporate repentance. It is time we rise, and call out those who hide out among us. It is time we call out the sin and the rebellion.

Stand -Prayer - Response.