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God’s chosen people… (3 things)
- 1st – Chosen to be Holy… vs. 1-6 Read: Deuteronomy 7:1-6
- 1st – Israel was to conquer seven nations – each mightier than they were…
- In other words – they were heading into a HUGE fight – and they were outmatched…
- If Israel tried to fight the coming war on their own – they did not stand a chance…
- They were going in as – sheep among wolves – Matthew 10:16…
- A picture meant to show us they had better not go out in their own strength…
- As we step out to follow Jesus – we step into a VERY hostile world…
- As we live for Jesus we are sheep in a world that is full of hungry wolves…
- People would like nothing more than to devour us – with hurtful words…
- They would love to make fun of us – belittle us – make us look foolish…
- Sad that we can be involved in almost an kind of activity and people don’t care…
- But if we choose to live and stand for Jesus – we are a target for ridicule…
- The only way we can stand is to completely and totally depend on Jesus!
- In other words – they were heading into a HUGE fight – and they were outmatched…
- 2nd – Israel was not to make any treaties with them…
- Israel was to completely destroy these nations – they were not to compromise…
- Looking at the battle ahead – it would have been easy to want an easy way out…
- Rather than ‘destroy’ the nations – a peace treaty might seem a better solution…
- But these nations had only one purpose – to destroy the faith of God’s people!
- There is no compromising with our enemy…
- There may be days we are tired of fighting the war with our flesh / satan…
- Thinking perhaps if we just compromise – it might make things easier…
- We must remember satan had only one goal – to kill and destroy us – John 10:10…
- If we try and ‘compromise’ with our flesh – give in to our sinful desires…
- That ‘one drink’ that could not possibly hurt – which leads to another…
- The one little ‘white’ lie we tell – which will lead to more and more lies…
- When we give in to the flesh – the flesh desires more – and then more…
- We end up on a slippery slope that quickly draws us away from the Lord!
- Israel was to completely destroy these nations – they were not to compromise…
- 3rd – Israel was never to marry any of them…
- Under no circumstances were they allowed to marry these nations – son or daughter…
- The danger was if they married into these nations – they would worship their gods…
- Just as with Solomon – I Kings 11:14 – they would turn away from the Lord…
- Do not be unequally yoked…
- * II Corinthians 6:14 – “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers…
- If someone is ‘religious’ and knows ‘about Jesus’ does not mean they are saved…
- Don’t marry someone just because they are cute – marry one who loves the Lord…
- Be very careful whom you choose to be your spouse – it is a permanent decision…
- Find a man/woman who loves the Lord – not just in words – but also in actions…
- Otherwise they might end up drawing you away from your walk with Jesus…
- Under no circumstances were they allowed to marry these nations – son or daughter…
- 4th – Israel was to destroy the Canaanite’s altars / pillars / wooden images…
- Israel was to be a holy nation – they were not to follow the gods of these nations…
- Leviticus 19:2 – “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.”
- Israel was to be set apart – they were not to look or act like the world…
- Instead they were to be a representative of God to a lost and dying world!
- God calls us to be Holy – we are called to be saints…
- The NT word saints – hagios – means to be holy – set apart…
- We are called saints – it means we are to be set apart from the world for God!
- The NT word for church – ekklesia – mean to be called out – of the world…
- If we as Christians look and act just like those who do not know Jesus…
- Why would anyone want to hear about Jesus – come to church…
- It is only as we are HOLY – that we are able to shine and point others to Christ!
- Israel was to be a holy nation – they were not to follow the gods of these nations…
- 1st – Israel was to conquer seven nations – each mightier than they were…
Choose to HOLY – set apart from the world – dedicated the Lord!
2nd – Chosen by God… vs. 7-16 Read: Deuteronomy 7:7-16
1st – Chosen – because you were the least of all nations…
God choose Israel to be His special treasure – but not cause they were the best…
In fact for just the opposite reason – because they were the least!
No one credited Israel for destroying the armies of Egypt…
Israel was a nation of slaves – all the credit went to God alone!
God does not look at our qualification to see if we can be saved…
God does not pick just the brightest – beautiful – wealthy – I Corinthians 1:27
In fact those are the exceptions – God tends to choose the ‘foolish’ of the world…
God picks us – the foolish (morons) because then the world sees God in us!
Then the world knows that God can save/use anyone – I Timothy 1:16
God choose Israel – to be the people through whom the Messiah would come…
Jesus was an Israelite (on His mothers side) – Romans 9:5
It would be through Israel that Jesus would be given to a lost and dying world…
God chooses us for the same reason – to give Jesus to the world…
2nd – Chosen because God is faithful to His Word…
If God says something it happens – if He makes a promise He fulfills it!
God promised to bless Abraham/Isaac/Jacob – God had been faithful to His Word…
Genesis 22:17 – “I will multiply you like the stars… and the sand on the seashore.”
Israel came to Egypt with 70 – 400 years later – they left with 3 to 5 million!
God keeps His promise – even if it takes 1000 generations!
God cannot lie – Hebrew 6:18 – and God will not change his mind…
II Corinthians 1:20 – “All the Promises of God are Yes, and Amen…”
God will always be faithful to His Word – if God says something – count on it!
Attempt to count the promises of God in the Bible – between 3000-7000!
Our challenge is to get to know God’s Word – so we know what He has promised!
3rd – Chosen to obey all God’s commands…
God does not hesitative to punish and destroy those who hate Him…
As displayed by God’s command to completely destroy the 7 Canaanite nations…
There is a VERY real consequence to hating God – judgment is certain…
You might think – ‘I don’t hate God’ – but the line is VERY black and white…
Matthew 12:30 – “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.”
Often people think that they can stand in the grey area…
They don’t want to believe in Jesus – live for Jesus – but they aren’t against him…
If you are not for Jesus – then you are against Him – you ‘Hate’ God…
And God has a VERY real eternal judgment waiting for that person
Therefore obey His commands and laws…
The way Israel could be sure they loved God – obey His commands…
I John 5:3 – “Loving God means keeping His commandments…”
To say we Love God – but not obey His Word – means we are lying to ourselves…
Not that we are saved by obeying the commands of God – Ephesians 2:8-9…
But if we are saved – Love God – it will show through our fruit – James 2:18…
Our love for God is revealed through our changed life – obedience to His Word!
If you listen and obey – you will be blessed…
God will give you many kids – there won’t be one family without children…
God will bless the crops in your fields – and multiply your animals…
God will protect you from sickness – from all the plagues of Egypt…
You will be blessed above all the nations on the earth…
There is every reason to Love the Lord – be obedient to His Word…
It means we will have a blessed/abundant life here on earth…
As well as eternal life with Jesus forever in heaven!
3rd – Chosen to be victorious… vs. 17-26 Read: Deuteronomy 7:17-26
1st – Do not be afraid – God fights for you…
Israel was bound to ask – how can we fight nations mightier than we are…
God reminded them of what He did to Egypt – the superpower of the day…
10 increasingly devastating plagues – topped off by parting an ocean!
God would use the same mighty power against the nations in the Land…
Stop the sun in the sky for a day – rain down hail from heaven – Joshua 10:12-13
With God on their side – 1 could defeat 1,000 / 2 – 10,000 – Deuteronomy 32:30
God still fights for Israel…
God promised to send hornets to attack their enemies… vs. 20
In the 1967 ‘6 Day War’ of Israel – Israel was outnumbered 10 to 1…
The 5 attacking Arab nations easily outgunned Israel in tanks and weapons…
There is one story where honey bees – attacked a column of Egyptian tanks…
Driving them out of their tanks so that Israel could come and confiscate them!
If God is the one fighting for us – who can possibly stand against us!
Romans 8:31 – “Since God is for us – who can be against us!”
As we learn to depend on the Lord – we are absolutely assured of our victory…
Sin / satan / the flesh don’t stand a chance – God will overcome them all!
He will complete the work of salvation He began in our lives – Philippians 1:6
2nd – God will not defeat them all at once…
God would not defeat all of the nations at once – victory would take time…
The Israelites were too few to inhabit the whole of the Land…
If they conquered all the nations – the land would be empty – full of wild animals…
Israel had to be patient – God would give them TOTAL victory…
The Christian walk takes time – we are not perfect in a day…
Just as an athlete does not happen by accident – and they don’t happen overnight…
They have to get up early every day and practice – and it takes years of training…
In the same way we as believers need to train – work hard…
Living for Jesus is a daily choice – and it takes work and commitment on our part…
We choose to take the time to get into God’s Word – set-aside time to pray…
We make the time to attend Bible studies – grow in our faith…
We need to avoid those temptations in life that would distract us…
Not that we will be perfected in a day – we will be perfect the day we see Jesus!
3rd – Do not follow in their footsteps…
God warned Israel – i f they began to follow the pagan practices – thorn in their side…
Which is exactly what happened – Israel did not wipe out all the nations…
* Judges 2:2-3 – “They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a constant temptation to you.”
When we open ourselves up to sin – we create a thorn in our side…
Someone who has never taken drugs – is not very tempted by drugs…
But to a recovering addict – there is a constant battle to stay clean…
When we choose to give in to sin – we open ourselves up to repeated temptation…
Choose to be victorious – choose to depend wholly on Jesus…
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