Pivotal Decisions

1
Pivotal Decisions

• Life of Moses part 12
• Numbers 13-14

Pastor Dave Martin Cross Creek Community Church
August 19, 2007
2
Key Principles from earlier weeks

• God specializes in using broken vessels.
• God speaks to us today by His Holy Spirit.
• The Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all
  sin.
• Predicaments teach us dependence upon God.
• God gave Divine rules for human conduct.
• Being a Gap Stander makes all the Difference.

3
We are here this morning because of a decision
weve made

• The nation of Israel was standing
• on the brink of blessing

4
When Making a Decision

• 1. Continually Seek Gods Perfect Will
• Gods plans are always the best (Promise Land)
• Life is made up of a long series of choices
• Numbers 133,18 So at the LORD's command Moses
  sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of
  them were leaders of the Israelites18See what
  the land is like and whether the people who live
  there are strong or weak, few or many.

5

• Jeremiah 2911 For I know the plans I have for
  you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you
  and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
  future.

6
When Making a Decision

• 2. Expect to Encounter various Challenges
• Large fortified cities powerful people
• Obedience is costly Go take possession
• Numbers 1327-28 They gave Moses this account
  "We went into the land to which you sent us, and
  it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its
  fruit. 28 But the people who live there are
  powerful, and the cities are fortified and very
  large. We even saw descendants of Anak there.

7

• James 12-3 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers,
  whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because
  you know that the testing of your faith develops
  perseverance.

8
When Making a Decision

• 3. Refuse to Listen to ungodly Counsel
• Gossip, murmuring, grumbling, complainingis sin
• Majority is not always right, but God is
• Numbers 1332 And they spread among the
  Israelites a bad report about the land they had
  explored. They said, "The land we explored
  devours those living in it. All the people we saw
  there are of great size.

9

• Psalms 11-2 Blessed is the man who does not walk
  in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way
  of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But
  his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his
  law he meditates day and night.

10
When Making a Decision

• 4. Maintain Focus on God not the Obstacles
• God is Sovereign and in control
• Live by faith not in unbelief and fear
• Numbers 149 Only do not rebel against the LORD.
  And do not be afraid of the people of the land,
  because we will swallow them up. Their protection
  is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be
  afraid of them.

11

• Hebrews 116 And without faith it is impossible
  to please God, because anyone who comes to him
  must believe that he exists and that he rewards
  those who earnestly seek him.
• Isaiah 558 "For my thoughts are not your
  thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,"
  declares the LORD.

12
When Making a Decision

• 5. Be Sensitive to Satans Devious Detours
• Appealing, attractive, easier, instant, seductive
• Submit / obey God while resisting the enemy
• Numbers 114-5 4 The rabble with them began to
  crave other food, and again the Israelites
  started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to
  eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no
  cost--also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions
  and garlic.

13

• 2 Corinthians 1114 And no wonder, for Satan
  himself masquerades as an angel of light.
• 2 Corinthians 211 in order that Satan might not
  outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

14
When Making a Decision

• 6. Consider the Ongoing Consequences
• Moses stood in the gap and God forgave them
• The ten spy majority died by plague
• People tried to enter Canaan without God and got
  whooped
• All complainers 20 yrs or older will died in the
  wilderness
• The Israelites would wander in the desert for 40
  years

15
Apply the Truth

• Every decision is Pivotal for Gods blessing.
• You cannot live outside Gods will and be happy.
• You may be one step away from Gods Promise
  Land.

16
Pivotal Decisions

• The Bible Knowledge Commentary, John
  Walvood/Roy Zuck Victor Publishing 1985
• Moses, A Man of Selfless Dedication, Charles
  Swindoll Word Publishing 1999
• Basic Stages in the Book of Ages, Dr.
  Willmington Liberty Publishing 1975
• Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby LifeWay
  Press 1990
• http//www.wyattmuseum.com