Forward

Sometimes we have sins that need to be confessed is easier to sweep them under the rug than to face our sins and repent you name your soon reply. It may be, envy or jealousy maybe greed last insecurity control issues you know your sent from processing to God is a God whatever reason I have not obeyed and I confess that don't justify the means and the people common justify sent a long email or text or something on God to get him. But you know I just want you know why I do what I do.

Obviously the Holy Spirit is breaking your heart is telling you to confess and repent.

Take it to God, he will help you break free and stop justifying that sin you just heard a portion of the upcoming message titled forward by Pastor Albert Aja church in Henderson North Carolina.

I clearly focus on making Christ is from the lady worship the way we serve the way we love come check us out at 3485 Oxford Rd. or visit us online@clearviewc.org join us for the rest of this week's message.

If you have your Bibles with you turn to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 1 meet the children of Israel. They're not ready to be the nation of Israel, there still the descendents of Jacob, descendents of Israel and they kept going in circles and God had to come to them and tell them enough start moving north go up and possess the land that I have already given to you, and I believe many times there are individuals who do the same thing for one reason or another we make all rights are all left and become back to the same place, same place in our marriage same place in our relationships same place were putting out the same fires we put out five years ago or 15 years ago were still putting out those fires is a reason for that. Were going in circles. You Bibles let's all stand together. Deuteronomy chapter 1 verse 46 which is the last verse of that chapter begin a going to chapter 2 verses one, two and three so you remain in car – many days we'll see what that many days really means.

So a lot of days according to the days that you spend there. When we turned and journeyed into the wilderness of the way of the Red Sea as the Lord spoke to me medicine of this and we skirted I love that word skirted in a you skirted the issue. It means you go round and round we skirted the mountain mount sire for many days in the Lord spoke to me says Moses saying you have skirted this mountain long enough. Did you know there was a passage in the Bible does it enough going round in circles. Turn northward before I pray and read get into our message. The question to all of us, including myself, is are you moving forward in life or are you simply going in circles I'm talking about spiritual life, I'm talking about personal life you find yourself going in circles or are you actually moving forward. The question is, how was 2018 for did you make progress and what are you hoping to accomplish in 2019. Are you saved using without Christ you will keep skirting the mountain in 2019. Now you may you may be successful in the business, you may get married you buy a house you get a job, but you will still skirted the proverbial mountain and you know what it is. It may be a habit. Media said it may be a behavior, it may be the same place in your spiritual life. What is your resolution for 2090 what your goal this message for me.

What is my goal when I desiring to do is go to the same old same old. If you do not know Christ as your Savior my prayer today is as I pray for God's blessing on this message, you pray and invite Christ to come into your life admit to him that you are a sinner admit to him that you lost in Christ is the only way in the pray that he will forgive you come into your life and be your Savior and UK. The Spartans Holy Spirit be thank you, thank you for 2018 for the ups and downs, God, you have been faithful to us in God.

We pray that as we move in 2019. Be with us.

Help us God to no longer skirted the mountain and whatever that is in our lives. Help us God to change that pattern, and to move forward with you in you got it. Pray for those were lost today.

They will understand their lostness Holy Spirit, open their eyes, their hearts, their ears, they will receive the truth with joy and be saved in the 2019. To the greatest year because it begins the rest of their lives is in Jesus name we pray that everyone say and you may be seated. One of the most amazing historical accounts in the Old Testament is the deliverance of the people of Israel from Egypt were in slavery for many many years and God delivered them and their journey to the promised land. I love I love that whole account. It all began when the children of Israel were praying to God. They were groaning.

I want to hear how they prayed in Exodus 223 then the children of Israel grown because of the bondage and they cried out, and their cry came up to God and what did God do so. God heard their groaning all and I must remember that when you and I cried to God, whatever that need may be whatever the problem may be that even if it's you who is to be blamed. It doesn't matter when he cried out to God, he hears us. He hears our groaning, but in this passage listen carefully.

He heard their groaning and heal remembered his covenant with Abraham but Isaac and Jacob and God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them so the matter what you're facing today. Remember, God has not forgotten you, no matter where you are, God has not forgotten you and the enemy they whisper in your ear and see of God cares about them more than you. Sometimes people look at me and they think Pastor Shaw has no trouble, no problems at all.

That's not true. Folks on flesh and blood human I have the same struggles that you do I have to fight the same battles that you find is by the grace of God. I'm here because I know God here hears my prayers and I know he heard you pray that's why you're here today. So what did God do he send Moses to set his people free and if you read the book of Exodus becomes any dust 10 plagues out 10 miracles any breaks Pharaoh's chokehold on God's people, and he reluctantly let the people go when God freed the people it would been very easy for them to go directly from Egypt. If you notice the green pasture on the left-hand side of the screen that's Egypt. It would been very easy for them to go directly across. If you can read back there way to the land of the Philistines go right into the promised land. Just a couple days journey, but God didn't do that. There's a reason I want to read that for you. In Exodus 13 verse 17 that it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said less perhaps the people change their minds when they see war and the return to Egypt. How amazing God is how gracious he is that he knows how much we can handle that to me such a word of comfort that he knows how much I can take any doesn't put more on us than we can handle any feed us put more on us is only to come alongside and help us carry that burden God doesn't say go on the journey and I hope it works out.

He said I'm going with you. I'll help you carry this load to leave you nor forsake you. I really want us to remember that the God is with you and whatever you're facing in your life when you hold in your situation that he is with you and he is not undertaking the way of the Philistines because he knows you not ready and so wanted God do go back to this map, he made a way for them through the Red Sea and brought them down to Mount Sinai in the desert you see on the bottom end, the inverted triangle that is where possibly is Mount Sinai I think about all that happened on the way to Mount Sinai on the way the people complained about water. What did God do.

He provided water for them. Even out of Iraq. People complained and said we need bread. What did God do. He rained manna from heaven can imagine that you need bread you have to go to the grocery store is walk out the door is a nice perfect role sitting waiting for you nice enough bread or whatever whatever you need.

God provided for them that they said we need meat back in Egypt we had made what happened, God rained quail from heaven. Birds came and fell dead. Are you just pick him up, clean them up Coconino, the Amalekites came and attacked the caravan. What did God do. He held Joshua defeated them and these were not warriors of these people who left Egypt they were bricklayers they were slaves they were not disciplined mercenaries that know how to fight in your God fault for them, saying repeatedly I'm trying to help you understand that God is faithful.

He understands us. He fights for us.

He provides for us. He never leaves us nor forsake us what happened when they came to Mount Sinai Moses was called up to the mountain so God could reveal his purpose, his plan, his law for his people, and Moses goes up on the mountain.

He gets the commandments was happening down at the base of the mountain was going on that building a golden calf in a crazy but it's just been a few days since they left Egypt saw the 10 plagues then saw God make a way through the Red Sea, the entire army of Pharaoh drowned. God did not push them the way of the Philistines. He gently led them to the South he got him water. He got them.

Brad made protected them. They saw God's presence descended on Mount Sinai. I mean how amazing is that. And yet, when Moses is gone were the due that having a drunken orgy.

The pace of the mountain. How crazy people can be the how crazy can we be is what we do. God does is miracles. God has done enough miracles in 2018 in your life. God's been there for you, protected you provided for you, and yet what we do. First, as we get back in the old ways. So now they are at Mount Sinai. God even gives them the plan for the tabernacle to build the tabernacle on is a lot of people there let artisans a lot of sculptures of the bill, the tabernacle, now it is time for what go back to this mountain is time for them to move north. Guess what the people do for 11 months. They do this this skirt mount Sinai know how many people were there 2.5 million people evokes 2.5 million people think about how much bread do you need to feed this many people, whether you know having to look 221 5 million. This day the entire city of Raleigh. That's about half a million.

Right to take Charlotte this about 900,000 close to a million add to a Durham attitude Winston-Salem add to it. Greensboro and Kerry 2.5 million people. Water is not easily available yet God is providing bread, but it is God's providing.

But if it's messy about sanitation how many of you would love to define the party among 2.5 million people to get to the nearest one is about a mile away and there's about 50,000 in line waiting for what would you do to help me. What would you do you want to get out of that right. What do these people do there okay to live in filth. You know why that is the case because they still have the slave mindset.

This is as good as it gets. This is what God said to them, and Durrani chapter 1 verse six the Lord our God spoke to us and hooray prep is another way of saying Mount Sinai saying you have dwelt some of this is on the screen long enough at this mountain, I mean that even God up there in heaven going to move its tanks. You have dwelt long enough at this mountain turn and take your journey and go see I have set the land before you go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and give to them and their descendents after them. God had to literally move the cloud for the people to start moving out if you gonna move forward in 2019.

There's a slave mindset that you need to correct is only the Holy Spirit can do that is a negative talk the old habits the old pride.

The old insecurities the old outburst of wrath. The old bitterness the old jealousy deal. Envy the all controlling people issues can move forward unless you deal with that and what is the assurance we have that you can be set free. What did God say what did Jesus say if the son sets you free. You are free indeed means you don't have to live in slavery. You don't have to live the old way so the people finally moved after sitting around a mountain for almost 11 months and they came to a place known as Scottish Vernier. The came to this place.

Now they could see the promised land in the distance and what did God say, listen to what Moses said to them, Durrani chapter 1 verse 20 and I Moses said to you, you have come to the mountains of the Amorites, which the Lord our God is giving us 11 months of skirting Mount Sinai living in failed finally to move up and Moses says Darren S. Love the Lord your God has set the land before you go up and possess it.

Do not fear or be discouraged. Go out. What is the response will can we send some spies in first. God knew all of this, God did not just set them free from slavery and said go out there and possess the land is a know you can go that way.

I know you get scared come down this way now.

Meet me, to give you my commandment want to divide Europe and the tribes. I'm going to provide food and water for you to protect you, to God, did so many things for them. So he wasn't asking something that was impossible, he will say I'm going with you, and possess the land. In this it was God's reaction to that he got angry and God said okay. If that's the case go back back to the desert, go right back into the wilderness and in fact what's gonna happen is everyone a few 20 years and older will die in the wilderness, except Moses even though he's not gonna enter the land he's gonna see it in Joshua and Caleb because they gave a good report rest a few will die in the wilderness.

What's the reaction to that part of the respond to this, however, so sorry Moses what would an adult were going to go and and do what you told us to the first time. Would Moses say to them, listen to Durrani chapter 142 and the Lord said to me. Tell them to not go up nor fight for I am not among you both. There's something about first-time obedience so these people tell Moses what were unified were unified. Moses says don't do it.

Verse 43 Deuteronomy chapter 1, so I spoke to you yet you would not listen but rebelled against the command of the Lord and presumptuously you went up into the mountain. Can you picture them going on safe God. Sorry about that was so sorry this time we do what you tell us to do God's thing I'm not with you I told you don't go and listen to what happens.

I love this. In verse 44, and the Amorites, Canaanites who dwelt in that mountain came out against you.

I love this and chased you as bees do. Has anybody ever been chased by bees. I have now is changed by bees growing up in India.

There were those red kind I mean date there mean that I was in Georgia would have the same college on the lateral painting not like reporter anything this painting side and they came out of nowhere. They were directly under the drainpipe and they came out and I didn't touch a single step on that ladder. On the way down and then it happened few years ago that I was using a push mower in our yard. There were some ground bees there and they came out and there was you know nobody's ever saw pastor strip so quick and I looked at the window.

Nicole was laughing since she was he was not any any help. She's right here she knows us a true is not fun being chased by bees. This was a land flowing with milk and bees make honey but of God's with you. He will take the stinkers out of the bees but if you disobey God, and you deliberate and delivered by the worldly ways and worldly way of thinking. The honey is still there. The blessing is still there and you may even tried to reach for the blessing, but now that blessing comes with a curse. Malik the bees have stinkers so that's why I got awake. That's why you get the blessing, but is the socially problem so many silly things only people not getting along so much junk and you go why well, you can obey God. The first time, you can walk by faith, because God threatened to remove his presence you set up your font will do it, folks. You don't get a points for that kind of obedience obey him the first time taken by faith. He loves it when his children say God we have seen you move mountains. We have seen you do wonderful things in our home and our family were trusting you were trusting you with our marriage were trusting you with our kids were trusting you with our business were trusting you with this church. The first time obedience. God loves it. Listen to Durrani 146 so after being stung by the bees. They run back in the wilderness. In verse 46 says so you remain in car – many days according to the days that you spend it by the way, go back to this map right here.

This circled there for many days you know want to know how much the many days are 38 years 13,880 days.

One of the scholars that I was reading said this is the classic understatement. The whole generation died because he disobeyed God the first time he said well you know some of your thinking pressure that that's pretty creative in the interpretation. I love the way you kind of you know, you found things in a you pull things out that the number of how that was there folks, this is not something I'm creating. This is not creative and imaginative application. Listen to what Paul said in first Corinthians 1011, referring to these incidents.

He says now all these things happen to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition. What happened to the children of Israel is not just an interesting story and I love the way Pastor shot did that. No, Paul says these are examples for us how they lived and how they fail are to help admonish us and tell us don't fail where they failed, don't disobey God, obey him the first time, trust him all the way and he is faithful and there's a slave mindset that you have to overcome. There also since that have to be confessed before you can move forward since have to be confessed in what they were doing. There was an got we got it right out there in the gonna fight God's is no gonna deal with that sin. What is a sin that God is calling you to confess the sin of disobedience. Sin of disbelief and how do you confess is not just by turning and returning everything. Repentance is just going one way turned go the other way. True repentance is a change of mind can change the way you think change the way you think about disobedience and how God is dishonored when you don't believe in, take him at his word. Change the way you think what you gonna do. So what happens next. But we've seen two places where this started now become Deuteronomy chapter 2 and verse 1.keep in mind this is not the first generation that saw all the miracles. This is not the generation that ate the man of this is that these other 20 years old and younger. One of the do go back to that map. This time they move up from cottage burning and they come to what's known as Mount Sayer mounts there is an Jordan and Edom at the time and listen to what happens Deuteronomy chapter 2 in verse one.

When we turned and journeyed into the wilderness of the way of the Red Sea as the Lord spoke to me and we did the same thing that the grandparents did the runaround was a different mountain. By the way, but even around of the mountain and by this time scholars say they were probably 3 to 4 million people now in the going around a mountain with all the fill, no water, no food, but their content and why is that because their fears they have to conquer all these years of wandering.

This still had the fear that God was not with them, and what did God say to them, listen to verse two and the Lord spoke to me says Moses. This Lord spoke to me saying you have skirted this mountain long enough return northward though for a place to begin is not by self-determination.

I believe in resolution. If you walk away from your thing I've made up my mind would do things differently 2019.

The place to begin is not self-will or even clarifying your goals and your strategies. If I do this this and this. Things will be different. All those things are wonderful.

We even have strategy at our church.

The things we do the people I talked to on a regular basis. Experts in the field. Professors of church growth and and and church planting to talk them constantly and learn from them folks ultimately is not strategy in gold.

The real question is, how big is your God if you believe that God is sovereign and he is taking care of whatever you struggling closer toward that mountain nothing you what is it that God, thank you so much for joining us for this so many times started studying the same patterns of sin and disobedience/you were to move forward in 2019. Stop skirting the amount of disobedience. Step out in faith and trust God to direct your steps. For more information visit us online for clearing.org.

This sermon is to come. Pastor Shaw's blog but I'm shot.com