Download... February 19, 2012. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: EXODUS 17:5-10
5 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.
6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?
8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
Massah means temptation or tempting here, and Meribah means complaining. The very “children” God had often delivered, then tempted the Lord with their unbelief, demonstrated here with the question, (verse 7) “Is the Lord among us, or not?” This question is the subject of the message this morning. When the Amaleks (probably the Israelites most dangerous and deceptive enemies.. for seemingly no good reason), were to fight Israel, Moses’ answering decision for Israel’s unbelief is found in verse 9. Moses instructed Joshua to choose men to fight the enemy, and then declared that that he would be at the top of the hill (in “his” place, so all would know that God is among us). The Israelites challenged God’s presence by asking the above question, because of their unbelief, in spite of the many miracles of help God had already given them.
The motive of the Israelites questions, were revealed by their self focused agendas. Today there are a lot of reasons people are still asking this question. Sometimes in all honesty and concern, people really want to know. Others though, ask that question more because they want to know if their fleshly agendas may be made manifest. We need to be careful. It’s not inappropriate to ask, “Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief”, for one lacking in understanding or struggles in belief. But when one’s questions, and/or actions reveal, only their faithless or selfish outlook, in essence they are asking, “Is the Lord among us, ..or not? Faithless actions are of unbelief, not making that a “fair” question.
Here, it is obvious that it had become more than just somewhat a lack of faith, but truly one of full unbelief. They had questioned time, after time, God’s presence in the midst of His many mercies. Here they were facing the enemy in the form of Amalek. Today, we all have to face “our Amaleks,” (or enemies), and might sometimes question God’s support. It is worth facing those enemies, which will come. The blessings make it spiritually worth fighting those battles! We need to be willing to face our enemies, to stay aware of God’s help to keep from succumbing to unbelief, like the Israelites did here. We must also attain to the confidence of God’s presence with us. If we doubt His presence, we truly have very serious problems.
Only by continually drawing near to God, will we discover the spiritual enemies working to separate us from Him, that must be defeated. This is a common paradox for people to grasp. The nearer one strives to draw near to God, it will bring them the need first to go through some “cleansings”(or refining "fire"), in order to obtain His blessings. This is not commonly understood. For it is only from drawing nearer to God that we truly learn about our self, and our spiritual needs. Only then can we victoriously overcome by faith through belief.
It can only be by our deeds, and not just our words that fully“measure” us. It can’t be as a particular saying demonstrates, “Do as I say, and not as I do.” Our spiritual testimony must be defined by our actions rather than our mere words, especially if what you say, and do, are different. God needs a people with “clean hands” if they are to face “an Amalek”. Psalms 24:3,4 3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. It is not our words, but deeds (“clean hands”) that will help us face our “enemies.” People will follow much more of what we DO, rather than what we “say.”
This battle of Moses with the Israelites, while battling Amalek, (in this example), has a lot to do with our spiritual battles today. Moses told Joshua, to choose out men to face this battle. Choose only men that you can count on, ...not to run! Are you one God can count on? If Joshua were here to choose those that would truly "fight," would he choose you?
Only the ones willing to fight the fight of faith, (small minority or not), will God honor of that faithfulness, and Belief! It matters! God is looking for those He can count on! Are 'your' hands clean?
Let the Lord examine your heart. One that is truly humbled on their knees before God..are in the most honest place they can be. We need to maintain spiritually that humbled place. Without this you will not, through God, discern your spiritual condition.
Today we have so many “distractions,” activities, electronic “gizmos.” etc. There is so much to overshadow our focus of faith and belief. Bro Goble shared, that while having dinner with some, that they had expressed discomfort of being in an atmosphere of worship. This only revealed the lack of their spiritual condition. These sharing dinner with Bro Goble, expressed they were sure they "had done all they had known was right to do", yet they remained an unprofitable servant. It will only be true saints that desire to do all they know, and yet know that it is ‘never’ too much.
If you want to know what God discerns about your spiritual condition, spend an increased time before Him, humbled on "bended knee." Some don’t want to know, because they already know, what God sees of “the lack” in their heart. Moses was leading against the enemy, with only the ones who would be truly willing to fight in the battle.
Today, does your testimony or actions at home, correspond with your attitude and actions at church? Are you a “lamb” at work, but a “bear” at home? What kind of spirit do you have at home after a hard day of being at your best? Do you then “let your hair down” in fleshy intolerance displayed by your actions? You might say, “I ‘can’t’ do it!” But through God, you ‘can’ do it!
Would Joshua (or God) choose you? The Lord expects us to be willing transmitters of grace. The worldly attitudes today only teach one to be a ‘receiver’, and not being one to “transmit” in being a sincere ‘giver.’ We hear these exhortations of faith and grace, yet seemingly too often forget! This ultimate result of unbelief challenges the very existence of God! Is God among us? God wants our fight of faith shown by our actions, and attitudes.
I Corinthians 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. If the essence of our hope is only in this life, we are ultimately of a most miserable existence! Our hope though is not found only in this life, but in the eternal battle, of and through faith! "Suppose" someone came to you to declare to you (based in “the world’s great sins”), that God had died? IF this could be, Christians could no longer “be,” ...ultimately sinking them into both depression and despair! You potentially could still attend a religious “facility,” because that is what religion does. Another illustration is if your boss dies, all “his” rules usually are no longer in effect!
This is much how religion is already behaving. In the midst of their problems and religious leadership, they live like one without a holy life from God, yet through “their words” act as if they are “believers.” In truth though, the “bar of holiness” given to us through Jesus, is not set too high for the Redeemed to reach! Romans 8: 7-9 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. To behave without a holy life, is carnal, and displeasing to God. But the Redeemed are of the Spirit, to empower them to please God. To not have the holiness that God’s Spirit provides, is in essence being not truly a believer, or as without Him in their midst!
Luke 10:29-37 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. “And who is my neighbour?” 'Too many' are asking (in essence) this question! Don’t leave “Jerusalem,” for many “thieves” will rob you of God’s Righteousness, leaving you only a “shell” of your former state in Salvation. Many that have been blessed with a ‘pure’ upbringing, (in spite of later leaving), seem to have much more innocence, than those who have never been taught in godliness. It is wise to remember that the “world” uses you, and leaves you with nothing but the ashes of sin. The world is “a dog eats dog” place. You can only “there by,” ..become toughened by its sin.
Verse 33 A Samaritan displaying the true spirit of a saint. Verse 34 This Samaritan showed he could be counted upon! Can God say this about us, of “whatever it cost”, He can count on us? God wants us to likewise be in a position, that we will be one who can be counted upon! One might say, “The bar is set too high, to be a servant.” No, it is 'exactly' as God directs for those that are truly serving Him. Is God among us, or not?
Exodus 17:9-13 9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. 10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. We can ‘know’ our spiritual enemy. More defeats happen because one does not “count the cost” …fully. Verse 10 First, we need spiritually to “climb the hill” to have a real vision of God, so we won’t lose sight of that vision He would give us. Verse 9 Like Moses; we need a “rod” of spiritual authority, and the presence of divine intervention, to truly have a God given vision.
The second need is to ensure the presence of God with us. Verse 12 Like Moses, we need to keep our spiritual hands up, fighting with all of our spiritual being. Yet we are then not alone, with the help that God will provide us. We need to be thankful for all the helpers in prayers, etc., to maintain what God would have us to spiritually fight. It is also good to know that it is not of less faith, to have spiritual helpers that ‘encourage us’ in our spiritual battles! We need one another to help spiritually fight the battle, to keep our vision, and to recognize the enemy!
Are you truly committed to the need of the supernatural power of God, working in you? Without it, one cannot be spiritually victorious in Salvation! Self, constantly wants to “raise its head.” We need to crucify self, to have a proper spiritual vision.
There are not enough in the world’s ‘religious ministry,’ that are truly and spiritually, “on top the hill” ..with Godly vision. Many claim it, but the fruits (or actions) do not “back it up.” We, (men, women, children), need to be high enough on God’s hill to spiritually labor, in order to all be on the same ground, holding on to the spiritual rod, to fight the battle of faith, ...victoriously. The Church individually, and collectively, needs to make sure of being on top of the hill. You might say, “The Church has always been on the top of the hill!” Let’s not split words. The 'humanity' of the Church needs to keep victorious over the flesh, which would hinder the battle of faith, and the necessary belief.
Psalms 24:3,4 3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. We need to have pure hearts and “clean hands.” There must be no guile, while also through God recognizing one’s self, as "He" sees them. You cannot claim verse 4, unless you are “on top of the hill,” confident your sins are truly gone. Your actions will tell! If your “hands are clean,” you will be “on top of the hill.”
I Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. Does this necessarily mean lifting up your literal hands? More than likely it means holding up the spiritual clean hands of holiness, (as opposed to only the literal rising of the hands), as a testimony of pure spiritual fruit. "Lifting up holy hands” is without doubt, unselfishly holding up the “rod of God.” Having also the knowledge that you are in the right place, where God has placed you. Having the conviction that God is living! Having the knowledge that God is amongst us, or with you.
Is God still with you? If you’re doing your best to please God in all your ways, you don’t need to ask, “Is the Lord amongst us, ..or not?
