Living, I Love Him (Deuteronomy)

Formal Elements / Descriptive Data

Text: Deuteronomy

CIT: (Subject) Moses provides words of Testimony, Statute, & Judgment to the new generation of Israelites on the brink of entering the promised land. (Compliment) He seeks to prepare them for the plans God has for their future together by: Remembering their past with God; Reminding them of the expectations of His Word & Covenant; Transitioning the mantle of leadership to the next generation as God leads; Realizing their weaknesses and tendency to wander from the faith in light of God's faithfulness to them; Reassuring them that though they may Fail God and sometimes suffer the consequences of sinful decisions, God will never fail them, and will always be there for them when they are ready to return to Him.

Proposition: Love God enough to live for Him: 1. Remember THE Faith – Who He Is, What He's Done, Who We've Become Through Him, What He Expects from His People; 2. Follow IN Faith – God Ordained Spiritual Leadership, Not blind; Proven, Tested; Present; Not Novice; 3. Forward Is BY Faith – My Tendency to fail God, His Faithfulness When I Do.

Statement of Purpose:

(1) MO – Consecrative

(2) SO – I want my hearers to develop a heart for God that drives them to careful living out His expressed desires.

Title (Topic/Name): Living, I Love Him

Informal Elements / Rhetorical Data

Introduction:

· Read Deut. 10:11-13

· Illustration – Famous Last Words (see clippings for quotes)

· Paint the picture of aged Moses ascending Mt. Nebo (Dt. 34); Recount briefly the story of his life & journey for Jehovah. Empathize his desire to “pass the baton" and provide a smooth transition to the new generation of God's people who now stand poised to succeed at the brink of Jordan where their parents' generation failed in unbelief.

Body – Development – Outline:

I. Moses Reminds the New Generation of their Past with God (Deut. 1-4)

EXP: A. As Numbers ends, a new generation arises. Desert Children: Determined to not repeat parent's mistake at Kadesh; Moses determined to prepare them for entry into Promised Land; Advice on How to 1) Wage war, 2) Worship God the right way, 3) Select Leadership, 3) Deal w/ False prophets; Embracing the Old Covenant (with amendments with 38 yrs. experience gained, see House & Mitchell's Old Testament Survey).

B. Their History as a Nation (Ex. 1-Num.20; Dt. 1:9, 14): [God's Power; Parents failure in unbelief; God's promises - keep them = Blessing] 1. Rebellion at Kadesh (Dt. 1:19-46); 2. Wilderness Wandering (Dt. 2:1-25); 3. Later Victories Prepare for Canaan (Dt. 2:26-3:11); 4. Remember - Obedience is the key to their future (Dt. 4) [* See Dt. 4:39]. Summary of EXP: Israel must obey Jehovah's standards if they are to inherit the land.

ILL: Follow the Instructions – Biblical Examples: Jesus at Cana - Servants – Mary; Feeding 5000; Gehazi; Uzzah & Ahio; Naaman.

LM: Changing a processor on Computer – Unsuccessful without instruction à Successful following instructions.

APP: Changes in Ministry: 1) Never Deviate from the Bible, 2) Follow the instructions/chain of Command, 3) Dynamic of current situation, 4) Baptist History & Heritage, 5) Succeeding where others are failing, 6) Learning from past failures, 7) Adjusting (in bounds) for God to use us, 8) Sensitive to others, humble, but courageous in faith.

T.S. Remember what the Lord has done for you in salvation t as you've walked with Him (streams in the desert). 1. Remember THE faith - Who He Is - What He's Done - Who we've Become through Him…

II. Moses Reminds Israel of God's Expectations (Deut. 5-26)

EXP: A. Sinai: Back to the Basics (Dt. 5-11): 1. The Ten Commandments, et. al. (Dt. 5) [Note – FAITHFULNESS Required (Dt.5:33)]; 2. God Above EVERYTHING Else (Dt. 6:4-9) [*SHEMA – Obedience motivated by love which eliminates Idolatry (Dt. 8)]; 3. God's selection of them, despite who they are (Dt. 7:6-11; 9:1-6; 11) [Note- Stubborn, Rebellious]. Summary of A.: They have to nail down the basics first before getting in to more specific requirements. B. Spelling Out Specifics (Dt. 12-26): 1. Rules for living in Canaan – God & Others (Dt. 12-18) [Note - God Alone, Food, Debts & Feasts, Courts, Caring for God's House & Ministers, Property Rights, Marriage Upheld, etc.]; 2. Ethics for Conquering Canaan (Dt. 19-26) [Note - Cities of Refuge, Protecting Innocence, Captives, Purging Canaan, Giving Back to God, Supporting the Needy; Motivated by Mercy, Upheld by Justice, Policies & Procedures for both Political (kings) & Spiritual (prophets) Leaders; To Save Israel from Political & Spiritual Ruin].

ILL: Coming into a New Area - Rules; Expressed & Implied; Success depends on handling things the right way [Rules are not always bad; just make sure they are right (in motive, respect, aim)], i.e. FD Inspections, Safety, Tragedies, SOP's, etc.

APP: Coming into new territory; it's better to ask! - I'm NOT TOO Busy! [Note - Things are developing, we've got years of experience to glean from; your well-being (whole) is our driving focus; I want each person serving to know & understand what's expected, and just like Moses, we want to help equip you to serve the Lord, despite our short comings.

TS: By being reminded of what God has done, and what He expects, now…

III. Moses Encourages Them to Move Forward for God (Dt. 27-34).

EXP: A. Object Lesson on the Incentive to Obey God's Word (Dt. 27-28) [Note - Ebal (Barren, Dt. 28:15-68) or Gerizim (fruitful, Dt.28:1-14). Ill: The Most Miserable Person – The Backslidden Christian. B. Saying "Yes" to God (Dt. 29-33) [Unanimous Acceptance (Dt. 29:1)] 1. Acknowledging Our Tendency for Backsliding (Dt. 30:1-10) [Note- Blessings & Cursings; Imagery (ILL-Prodigal's father)]; 2. Accepting God's Spiritual Leaders (Dt. 31:1-8); 3. Assimilating God's Words Into Our Families (Dt. 32:46-47); 4. Affirming God's Blessings on Those Who Will Live for Him (Dt. 33). Summary - Israel has a bright future as long as they take their responsibilities seriously; Life or Death for them; Everything else is secondary to following God.

Conc: Ill – Hymn – Living for Jesus

[See Hymnal for Lyrics]

Love God enough to live for Him:

1. Remember THE Faith – Who He Is, What He's Done, Who We've Become Through Him, What He Expects from His People;

2. Follow IN Faith – God Ordained Spiritual Leadership, Not blind; Proven, Tested; Present; Not Novice;

3. Forward Is BY Faith – My Tendency to fail God, His Faithfulness When I Do.