Anselm Bible Fellowship Sunday Worship

March 19, 2006 10:AM

By Pastor John E. Coleman Of Ram Radio Live The Web Cast

“The Severe Consequences Of Unbelief”

Deuteronomy 1:26-37 / Hebrews 3:15-19

Introduction: The Lord is not a Divine heavenly father who can be controlled by our selfish motivation.   He is one that demands of His followers the Holiest of living and obedience on a daily basis.   He is never affected by our whims or disposition of rebellion unto justification.   He is a Lord that is so high and Holy above any and all other thoughts that our coming to Him ought to be preference by an attitude of contriteness.

POINT: Ours is a day and age that is like unto those days of old when God’s chosen has made up minds to rebel with intent and overt justification.

POINT: We are a people that has progressed so far beyond the biblical frame of reference that the man of God now calls each of us to consider afresh our relationship with Jesus as we look at others that denied their God without facing the consequences of outright defiance towards the God that calls each of us to a life of obedience.

• Either we believe the biblical story or we do not.

• We must never come to the text living in a state of confusion.

• Ours is to fully look at every intention of the Lord as He speaks to us about our individual lives for eternities sake.

• We cannot toy with the writ as if it were just some trite explanation of an age past without connecting to our currant situation in life.

• As early as the start of this kind of belief; we see Jesus giving the challenge; John 20:26-27

• Paul the Apostle reminds us of this important factor of our faith; Romans 15:4

Definitions:  Although Christians live under the New Covenant and are not under the authority of the Old Covenant, God’s moral law has not changed and all Scripture is of spiritual benefit (1 Corinthians 10:6, 10, 11;)  2 Peter 1:20, 21).

• Paul’s description of the benefits of Scripture certainly includes the NT, but speaks primarily about “the sacred writings”—or the OT (2 Timothy 3:15–17).

• Thus we see the seriousness of paying close attention to all that the scriptures declare unto those of us that profess to be called of the Lord.

• Try as one might; we cannot escape from the truth of what the scriptures teach.

“The Consequences Of Unbelief”

I. As Seen In God’s Sure Blessings Being Cast Aside As Dung By His People: V. 26

Defining The History Of This Text: Joshua and Caleb had already spied out all of the lands that God had dictated to Moses; He would give them as land flowing with milk and honey.  Numbers 13:17-20

A.     What was the way in which Israel responded to all of God’s Promises?:

1.      Israel, at Kadesh Barnea, deliberately and defiantly refused to respond  to God’s command to take the Land.

2.      Those in that day refused; just as many of us that profess to know Him do the same.

B.     See Psalm 106:24-25;  Isaiah 63:10, Acts 7:51

POINT: We see first of all that rebellion as a symptom of great anger against God yet persist until this day; even in the hearts of many that profess to be God’s children.

POINT: There is no change in the nature of humans for these many thousands of years.

POINT: In the very same way; there is no change in God; he is the same God that acted in the time of the Old Testament times; His nature has not changed; See; Malachi 3:6

Also See; Hebrews 13:8  What do we learn in this verse?

(1)   The impossibility of God differing in His nature in anyway.

(2)   His sureness of expression is of such that change would only mar His attributes.

(3)   That His holy endeavors only entreat us to substantiate His divine will in our lives

(4)   If we do not comply; we immediately realize that He is angered and retribution follows all such behavior.

The Most Confident Belief In Us Is Seen In That;

·        We love Him to the degree that our worship is governed by our obedient life.

·        That our relationship with Him is marred to the degree that He will not hear us when we pray or seek Him in audience.

·        Our life is forfeited by our rebellious disposition; we (though some of us are saved) will be beaten with many strips; unbearable to undertake in a continual state of practiced sin.

·        If we are sinners plagued by our false confession; no chastening will follow; only more rebellion towards a total hatred of God who we have grown to overtly hate with passion.

Ø      When God’s promises are cast aside as filth by those that have experienced His hand in deliverance or compassion; step away from that person.

Ø      Run for a hiding place.

Ø      Look not back as Mrs. Lot did; for judgment will catch you too as you oppose Him.

Ø      Learn a lesson well and quick’ God will judge; He will repay and in such a fashion that all who see it will wag their heads in awe; See; Jeremiah 18:16; Lamentations 2:14-16; Zephaniah 2:15

POINT: You and I do not want to be alive to see this happen in the life of any that laughs at God; nor denies Him in any way. 

II. As Seen In How They Lied On God: V.27

A. The aspect of this verse is that those Jews were unthankful for anything that God had ever done for them.

1. Let us never come to the point of our lives when we would speak such things of our Lord.

2. We ought always keep in our frame of biblical reference that the Lord is Holy.

We should practice abeyance and homage to His name alone everyday of our lives.

3. We ought realize that it is God; our invisible Lord who cares for us; and provides for us everything we receive.

4. We must forbade the spirit that causes us to look unto ourselves in anger at His divine providence.  He Is The Lord God Almighty!  He deserves To Be Praised! 

III. Their Excuses Which Was Faithlessness; V.28-31

What are the excuses that we use today that assist us in our personal rebellion?

What are the words that we find so easy to sputter in His face as we justify us?

Have we thought out deeds or action before we approach a Holy Lord who will judge us for everything we’ve ever said or done?

IV.Their Sin Defined; V.32

POINT: It was not any other sin other then they would not believe.

Ø      This is the typical fate of many that go by the name Christian.

Ø      They do not believe enough to live out what they know to be true.

Ø      Our sins are defined in this one way; we effuse to believe in all that the bible teaches on obedience.

Severe Questions For The Serious Saints:

(1)   Why should the Lord allow us into heaven if we do not believe in all that He has said?

(2)   What was the result of these Israelites who refuse to obey?  See; V. 35-37

Some things that we note in these verses:

That the Lord was angry with His people.

Only those that truly believed in all of His words were allowed to enter into the promise of God’s blessings. 

God has not changed from yesterday; Only Those That Believe In Him Today Also. 

Only those that have a relationship with Him in Jesus Christ through a life of obedience will enter into the heavenly kingdom.  (No WILL BE  no special preference given) 

Conclusion:  Starting right now; each of us can rectify our ill treatment of Christ by way of rebellion and non-belief in all of His commands.  Lets go to the Old Testament to see How our Lord would end this important message to a failing church;

See; Isaiah 55:1-3 & Isaiah 55:6-7 & Isaiah 55:11-12