What Holds You Back?

This morning, I preached on Moses being held back from the Promised Land (Deut. 32, Num. 20, Psalm 106)

It was a good Sunday. Members of the youth group led the music. I felt the anointing as I spoke, and the message seemed to hit home. Attendance was down a bit (580), but the the spirit was good.

The great news is, God showed up! (Without Him at church, we're sunk! I'm glad He's not in the habit of skipping church.)

I'm grateful to my friend , Marlin Mull, of Brooksville, Florida, who graciously took time over the phone last week to help me frame some of the message -- from the events in Numbers 20.

Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land because He Did Not Exalt the Holiness of God. (Deut. 32: 51)

How did Fail?

1. He Grabbed for the Glory that Belonged to God Alone. "Must WE bring you water from the rock?" (Num. 20:10)

God said I will not share my glory with another.

When someone comes to you with a compliment, don't stammer around in false humility.
Say "Thank You" and then take the compliment and offer it to the Lord. Anything good that comes from us is a gift from God, and should be returned to him as thanks.

(We can do the same thing with criticisms too!)

Together, as a congregation, we spoke, aloud, the following words from Simone Weil:

My job isn't to think about myself.
My job is to think about God,
And to let Him think about me.

2. He Reacted Harshly "Listen, you REBELS. . ." (Num. 20:10)

Moses was right in what he said -- but WRONG in HOW he said it.

You can be very right -- and also very wrong!

3. His Impatience Led to Disobedience "Moses struck the rock twice. . ." (Num. 20:11)
God said "Speak" and Moses, in a fit of anger, Smacked the rock with his big stick.

About 40 years earlier, there was a similar situation (Ex. 17) where God told Moses to stike the rock to provide water for the Israelites -- and here he is -- striking again.

The first time -- it was the strike of positive faith.
The second time -- it was the strike of impatient anger.

4. He Spoke Hard and Hurtful Words. (Psalm 106:33) "Rash words came from Moses' mouth."

It pays to think before you speak.

A friend of John Wesley commented that Wesley seemed to be much better in control of his temper in his later years, than when he was younger. The friend observed that it seemd Wesley "held Christ more closely in his heart" and "kept his thoughts close"

Hold Christ close to your heart! Keep your thoughts close -- or think before you speak.

A Beautiful Postlude: Although Moses failed in this, God still treasured him -- and gave him a special view of the Promised Land -- a panorama. The last scene Moses beheld before he died on Pisgah's lofty peak was Canaan: his destiny. He beheld it with his eyes, and held it in his heart.

Then, he died and God buried him with his own hand. (Deut. 34)

Moses was an extraordinary man -- but an ordinary extraordinary man.

His faith serves as an inspiration. His failure serves as a warning.

For our Benediction: I shared from Moses' last message to his people in Deut. 32:3-4

"I will proclaim the name of the Lord. O praise the greatness of our God. He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he."