A Weak Leader Exodus 32: 2-32

click to Read the passage: Exodus 32  (a new browser window will open)

v.2 1. Vulnerable to peoples pressure.

(And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings,)

v.2 2. Hears man without hearing God.

(…and bring them to me.)

v.3 3. Forsakes the integrity of God’s entrustment.

(And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their 

                ears, and brought them unto Aaron.)

v.4 4. Provides an alternate deity for God’s people.

(And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, 

                after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, 

v.4 5. Forsakes the exaltation of God’s name and denies true Godliness.

(These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land 

                of Egypt.)

v.5 6. Enters into personal idolatry, misleading God’s people.

(And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it: and Aaron made 

proclamation, and said, Tomorrow  is a feast to the Lord.)

v.22 7. Refuses accountability.

(And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the

                people, that they are set on mischief.)

not necessarily openly rebellious, but typically  not accountable to God’s

                Holy Spirit.

v.23, 8. Purports a pseudo honor of intent.

   24 (For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as 

                for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we

                wot not what is become of him.)

serious, intent, sincere, but wrong.

v.24 9. Lies about his direct action.

(And I said unto them, Whomsoever hath any gold, let them break it off.

                So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.)

When held accountable no truth to support.

Inasmuch as this leader has not been honoring truth, he has difficulty 

                being accountable.  i.e. Adam and Eve.

v.25 10. Disgraces himself and God’s people.

(for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies.)

v.26 11. Causes division in God’s camp.

(Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord’s 

                side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves 

                together unto him.)

v.28 12. Weak leadership results in destruction of followers.

(And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there 

                fell of the people that day about three thousand men.)

v.31, 13. Endangers the attainment of God’s promises.

    32 (And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a 

great sin, and have made them gods of gold.)

(Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out

                 of thy book which thou hast written.)

v.33:1 14. Is only offset and overcome by a loving, merciful, powerful God.

(And the Lord said unto Moses, depart, and go up hence, thou and the 

                people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land

                which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed

                will I give it.)

In contrast:

Moses was decisive-lined up with God’s truth, was firm and judicious , loved God, 

        loved God’s people, provided Biblical leadership, knew God’s honor, shepherding

        God’s people, pursued God’s promises.

Christ's Teachings-Safeguarding Your Treasure Luke 12: 33, 34

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v.33 1. See the world’s riches for what they are.

(Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not

old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, that faileth not where no thief 

approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.)

2. See what God promised the believer.

3. Desire to display Christ's true riches.

Phil 4: 19    vine branch relationship

4. Seek the real joy of needing Jesus.

5. Know what you need on your heavenly journey.

6. Don’t accumulate worldly weights that beset.

v.34 7. Fix your heart on the Prince of Peace, the redeemer, heaven’s crown-Jesus.

(For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.)

Such a Need Today 1 Peter 3: 5

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v.3 1.For separation from a testimony to the world.

(Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning...)

v.4 2.For a search for inward beauty through Christ.

(But let it be the hidden man of the heart,)

v.4 3.For spiritual beauty that remains.

(in that which is not corruptible.)

v.4 4.For a testimony of quiet surrender to Christ.

(even the ornament of a meek)

v.4 5.For a testimony that radiates its source.

(even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit,)

v.4 6.For God's advantage to be added to life.

(which is in the sight of God of great price.)

v.5 7.For old fashioned faith.

(For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves,...)

Christ's Teachings-Jesus the Priority Luke 12: 29-34

click to Read the passage: Luke 12  (a new browser window will open)

v.29 1. Don’t doubt God’s ability to provide for basic needs.

(And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of 

doubtful mind.)

v.30 2. Rise above the rudimentary concerns of the world’s peoples.

(For all these things do the nations of the world seek after; and your Father

knoweth that ye have need of these things.)

v.30 3. Credit God with capacity of responding to His compassion and caring.

v.31 4. Make your priority that of seeking God.

(But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.)

v.31 5. Allow God to add His choice of provision to your needs.

v.32 6. Have no fear- relying on God’s good pleasure.

(Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.)

v.33 7. Separate yourself from any distraction of covetousness.

(Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a

treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither

                moth corrupteth.)

v.33 8. Retain heaven’s true riches; they are incorruptible.

v.34 9. Keep your heart affixed on heaven’s true treasures.

(For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.)

v.34 10. Live out of the riches of your true heart.

In Pursuit of God's Will Genesis 24: 14-51

click to Read the passage: Genesis 24  (a new browser window will open)

v.14- 1. Allow God to  lead.

   24 …(Rebekah…)

v.31 2. Allow God to  open the door.
(And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; wherefore standest thou

without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.)

It may be better than the servant thinks it will be.

v.33 3. Make God’s mission the priority.

(And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until

I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.)

v.40 4. Continue in what God previously said.

(And he said unto me, The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his angel

 with thee, and  prosper thy way: and thou shalt take a wife for my son of 

 my kindred, and of my father’s house:)

v.42- 5. Allow God’s testimony to mark out its course.

   44 (And I came this day unto the well, and said, O Lord God of my master
Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:)
(Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when

the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray

thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;)

(And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels, 

let the same be the woman whom the Lord hath appointed out for my 

master’s son.)

v.45 6. Present God’s appearing solution for validation
(And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came 

 forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well,

 and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.)

v.50, 7. God will clearly validate His will.

51 (Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from 
the Lord; we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.)

(Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her and go, and let her be thy 

master’s son’s wife, as the Lord hath spoken.)

God’s will brings harmony, not division; to the household of faith.

The Source of Relief John 14: 1-12

click to Read the passage: John 14  (a new browser window will open)

v.1 1. Believing in the vast record of truth already existing.

(Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe ion God)

v.1 2. Believing in the vast amount of truth to be revealed to the child of God by

the Holy Spirit.

(believe also in me.)

v.2 3. Believing there is a place in the Father’s house for the child of God.

(in my Father’s house are many mansions, if)

v.2 4. Believing in the adequacy of Christ’s personal teaching.

(if it were not so, I would have told you. )

v.3 5. Believing in the irrevocable commitment of Jesus.

(And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, )

v.3 6. Believing in the personal standing the believer has with Christ.

(and receive you unto myself: )  Our future is settled.

v.3,4 7. Believing in the eternal privilege of living with Jesus. Following the way

Jesus set. 

                (that where I am, there ye may be also.) (I am the way, …)

v.5,6 8. Believing in the totality of the leadership of Christ- as shepherd, as 

teacher, as guide, etc.

(Thomas saith unto, Lord, we know not whither thou goest: and how can 

we know the way?)

v.6 9. Living a life practicing the truths of Christ in every life encounter.

(I am the way, the truth, and the life)

If we seek to know Jesus, we will know the way.

v.9-12 10.  Overcoming all the many threats of unbelief.

(Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast 

thou not known me, Philip? )

God's Voice Psalms 93: 1, 2

click to Read the passage: Psalms 93  (a new browser window will open)

v.1 1. Man cannot compete with it.

(The Lord reigneth, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with

strength, wherewith He hath girded himself: the world also is established, 

that it cannot be moved.)

2. Man cannot drown it out, no matter how many men.

3. Man cannot ignore it. It is as crushing as the sea waves are.

v.2 4. God’s voice overrules all others.

(Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting

5. God’s voice is a record of truth.

(creation) (flood) (stars) (commands of scripture)(word of prophets) (Christ)

(apostles) (church)

6. God’s voice is unending.

7. God’s voice records eternity’s decision.

though already spoken.