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Numbers 16 - 17 Bible Study - Pastor Daniel Batarseh · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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Father, thank you for Gathering us as the family of God
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together. Lord, we know that we all have
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our own families and we celebrate Thanksgiving with
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them. But Lord, here we are, is the
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family of God in Christ, and we are thankful for your word
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tonight, Lord. Because we know that this is
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what feeds us and keeps us and sustains us and Lord.
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If there's anybody in here, that does not know the saving power
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of Jesus Christ. Even from numbers.
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Lord, would you reveal yourself in Christ and Lord?
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Save save some saved one. Lord to add to the family of
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God. We know that your return is soon
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though. We know that this Bible study is
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not just to acquire information but to know how to live in light
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of our Salvation And so Lord help us may you speak clearly
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Lord into the hearts of every single.
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One of us in this room in Jesus name we pray, amen.
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Amen. Numbers chapter 16.
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We are Ewing through the Wilderness journey of the
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Israelites and what we've learned up to this point is that
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it's the little things that can change.
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The course of Our Lives Numbers. Chapter 14 is really the down
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the beginning of the downhill spiral of the Israelites and
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what did it begin with? What did it begin with it began
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with complaining and oh, how far complaining can take someone, if
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they do not know how to tame it by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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And now we come to Numbers chapter 16 and we read the first
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few verses to understand another cycle that they found themselves
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in. And this time, it was something
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that might seem so small and hidden but can like complaining
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become so deadly and that is envy Envy as a root of
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insecurity. Stemming from a place in which
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one has placed our identity in something or someone else other
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than God. And so we see now a division,
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taking place amongst the people of God, because there are a
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group of individuals that were coveting, something that didn't
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belong to them. and just for the sake of reminder, look at verse
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eight. When Moses is speaking to Cora
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this chapter is known as korah's rebellion and look up.
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Moses says this is such an insightful thing.
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He brings about him and Moses said to Cora here.
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Now you sons of Levi is it too small?
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A thing for you is it too small? A thing that's where the problem
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started for the sons of Korah. If you don't remember who the
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sons of Korah were they are descendants of kohath.
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And kohath, has been given the responsibility in this A of age
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to transport the Tabernacle pieces from spot to spot.
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That's a, that's a hefty Duty. That's a glorious duty to touch
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the holy things and transport them.
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Forgot to give somebody that that that's a special calling
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but they have failed to realize the significance of it and they
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saw their tasks as a small thing.
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And any time you and I begin to see what God has given us the
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capacity of our ministry or whatever.
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Gifting is as a small thing, we are creating a breeding ground
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for Envy covetousness and security and there's no end to
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where that can take us. It's a dangerous cancer to the
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soul. Envy jealousy is bitter.
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Proverbs, tell us that wrath and anger is one thing, but who can
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stand before jealousy? And so Cora.
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Now recruits a gang of people to rebel against.
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Not just Moses and Aaron but specifically Aaron and what he
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was doing as a priest, we see that.
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Look at the end here in verse 11, look what Moses says, he's
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kind of figuring it out as they are giving their false
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accusations. This is what is Aaron that you
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Grumble against them. He realized that this is really
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about these guys wanting to be priests.
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Now, we have to remember this. This is important to frame it.
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All Levi's, anybody that's from Levi, any levite.
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It's not necessarily a priest. So you have Levites who are
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instructed to work and around the Tabernacle, but the sons of
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Aaron specifically were only to be priests the rest of the
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Levites were given the task to assist the priests, but that
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wasn't good enough for the sons of Korah, they want it to be the
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priests themselves. And they really wanted to be
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somewhere with the high priest specifically, because, look what
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happens in verse 16. That's where we land off.
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Now, the challenge comes from Moses.
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To the sons of Korah. And Moses said, sikora be
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present you and all your company before the Lord you and they and
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Aaron tomorrow and let every one of you take his sensor and put
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incense on it and every one of you bring before the Lord, his
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sensor 250 sensors. You also an errand each his
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sensor So, here was a challenge. The next day you guys are really
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want to become priests. Bring your sensors before the
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Lord. Now why?
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Why? That of all things.
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What's the idea behind Moses giving this instruction to the
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sons of Korah? What's the idea of a sensor?
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What does that have to do with all that we're talking about?
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Anybody have an idea. Think back, think back to that,
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the role of a priest. Well, there's only really one
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place that gives instruction of what the high priest was to do
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with the sensor and Leviticus 16 12 and what the high priest was
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to do is once a year on what day once a year on the day of
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atonement, he was to go into the most.
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Holy place with a sensor and with a coal on it to create a
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cloud to cover the Ark of the Covenant, less that priest dies.
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So that that sensor belongs only to one man, for one day.
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And I says, though, Moses are saying if you really want to
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become a high priest, bring your sensors come into the presence
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of God and let's see who's God's going to choose for this task?
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Here's the thing that we need to understand, we don't have to
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fall into the same trap as Cora in the New Covenant.
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Do you know why Cora wanted that?
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I want to be that high priest that goes into the most holy
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place you and I don't have to covet or fall into that sin.
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You know why? Because we all have access to
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the presence of God, We all have the ability to come into the
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most, holy place, because Jesus tore the Veil.
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And so, you know what that means for all of us, no matter what
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you do, whether you hold a microbe room, you know what that
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means? You don't have to fall into this
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Rebellion. I don't have to fall into this
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Rebellion because you and I are all on the same level.
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We all have access to the presence of God is that not our
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ultimate Pursuit. The only way you can find
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yourself here is, if you are pursuing anything other than
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God, And so he says, okay, do you want to be priests, you
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bring your sensors and let's come before the Lord.
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And let's see what the Lord says unless you who the Lord chooses.
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So we see in verse 19, then Korra all this.
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Now it's getting Troublesome. Then Cora assembled all the
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congregation against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting,
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and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the
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congregation. You don't want to be found and
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willful Disobedience. When the free of God shows up.
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The glory of the Lord, comes verse 20, and the Lord spoke to
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Moses. And to Aaron saying, separate
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yourselves from among this congregation that, I may consume
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them in a moment. So the Lord addresses Moses and
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Aaron and it seems as though Cora was successful in
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recruiting the entire congregation to rebel against
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this Authority. And the Lord says, move out of
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the way. Let me take care of them.
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It will only take a second. And I see something here because
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when we went back to Numbers Chapter 12 we found Aaron under
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the same indictment with his sister.
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When they criticized Moses and his authority in the past and
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the same God that was ready to judge.
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Aaron in. That moment was the same God
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that is now defending him. You see that the Lord is now in
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the defense of Aaron. Why?
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Because Aaron realizes wrong. And now he's in the right.
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And God does not hold our past sins against us.
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That's a beautiful truth. The Lord doesn't come and say
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are and look what you did. Look at you and your sister to
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look at the example that you let.
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No, no, he doesn't do any of that, he never holds what you've
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done in the past against you. You know what it says in the
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scriptures that he will not, remember our sins anymore.
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Do you think God just erases it from his memory of what you and
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I have done in the past? Is that what happens when he
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says in Hebrews, that he will not remember our sins anymore.
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When the authors quoting? Jeremiah And your sins.
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Will I remember no more, you know, it doesn't mean that he
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forgets. It means that he chooses not to
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use it against you. That's what it means.
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Forgot to forget means that he loses his omniscience.
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It's not the case. And that's what forgiveness is
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for us. We don't forgive and forget.
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I know that's a fabulous phrase that we use all the time but
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it's not biblical. You can't forget, that's asking
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something of us, that's not possible.
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But what we do is even though it's been a traumatic
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experience, we choose not to use that against you.
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I choose not to use that against you choose, not to use that
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against me. So the Lord here who came to a
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place with Aaron. Ready to discipline his.
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Now defending him now using his past against him.
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Praise be to God. And so he says, Aaron Moses move
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out of the way I can do this. Something happens, verse 22, and
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they fell on their faces and said the amount of times that
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these men especially Moses have done this.
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Oh God. The god of the spirits of All
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Flesh. Shall one man?
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Sin and will you be angry with all the congregation?
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And the Lord spoke to Moses saying, say to the congregation
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get away from the dwelling of Korah dathan and abiram.
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What do you take out of those verses?
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Anything that sticks out there are many things that stick out.
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Yeah. so if there's one lesson I can take out of this up to this
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point in Exodus and numbers, There's one truth that you and I
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must understand is that God is willing to relent and judging a
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person or a People based on the prayer of one individual.
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How many times has God relented on judging this People based on
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one person as a reflux, who knew how to fall on his face and get
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before the Lord on behalf of even those that are rebelling
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against him. As the leader, it is a powerful
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picture of intercession and the power of it.
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How many How many times have we seen this?
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And what is that saying to us is surely the scriptures want to
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teach us something in an indirect manner, That the prayer
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of a righteous man is surely effective.
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Surely effective and I don't understand how this thing prayer
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Works in terms of how when I pray for somebody salvation or I
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pray for somebody's well I don't know how God does that when it
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comes to his sovereignty and Man's Free Will.
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But if there's one conclusion, I can make from the scriptures
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when it relates to a man praying for whether it's an unbeliever,
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a Christian, whose backs. And if there's one truth that we
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can take out of this, it's this that when we pray God is willing
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to relent and acting in. Me.
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Think of Abraham and lot think of all the moments in scripture,
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when a person prays that God is willing to answer that Prayer by
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holding back on acting in a way that would be unfortunate for
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that person. Keep praying for that family
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member. Keep praying for your son.
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Keep praying for your daughter. Keep praying for your siblings.
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Keep praying for your parents. You never know what your prayers
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are doing in terms of God's dealing with them holding back,
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the powers of Hell of consuming that person and letting them
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slip into an eternity eternity without Christ.
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Keep praying. Moses and Aaron drop to their
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knees. They come to the place where
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they cry out to the Lord. And they say Lord shall one man
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sin and all the people pay for it.
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Now, the whole congregation has been rallied up though, so they
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are in the wrong. But there is a lesson here in
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understanding. How sin works, though.
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All of these individuals that are standing against God are in
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trouble with God. There is a greater
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responsibility, placed upon the person who enticed and tempted
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those to sin. So, the person being tempted, is
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not as much in trouble as a person who was the tempter.
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This is not an old Covenant thing.
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This is very much New Testament in Luke 17 one where Jesus says
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temptation is surely to come, but woe to those from whom it
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comes. It's better that he take a
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millstone that's a grinding thing, a rock that grinds things
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wrap it around his neck and be thrown into the sea then to
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cause these little ones to sin. So the idea there is Temptation,
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surely to come, but it is a scary thing, if you're the
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source of that Temptation, and you are the hook that's bringing
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somebody. D into a decision.
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That is contrary to the will of God.
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And so Cora and his band that started in verse 1 or under a
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greater indictment than those who have been recruited.
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So they are praying for God to have mercy upon mainly those who
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have been duped into Rebellion Look at verse 24 and do you
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notice a detail? And we talked about it last week
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but I wonder if anybody remembers look at these names
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and see if you remember what we talked about briefly last week,
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say to the congregation get away from the dwelling of Korah,
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dathan and abiram. Sandy.
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There's somebody missing, right? Look at verse 1 of 16 Cora.
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The son of Levi dathan and abiram.
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And who else was there on the son of telleth?
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Somebody bailed out. And good for him and he did it
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way. Back in verse 12, Moses sent to
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called dathan and abiram, after you spoke to Cora and on
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realized something, maybe I got duped into this thing.
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In the beginning, I got tricked, I got caught up in the gossip,
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got caught up in this idea of taking over the priesthood, but
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I'm going to step out. And guess what?
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The Lord doesn't do. He doesn't hold it against him.
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And we talked about this last week that even if that seed of
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envies in her heart, if that seed of pride is in there, if
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that seed of rebellion, we see it in its larvae state.
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As long as we are willing to deal with it in that moment and
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not let it act up and bear fruit in our lives.
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God is willing to be gracious to us.
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That's what happens here, on steps away and we don't hear of
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him or see of him. After this moment, it's a
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beautiful picture of a person coming to their senses and we're
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going to see that even more with a different kind of people.
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So what happens here, Moses Rose and went to dathan and abiram,
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and verse 25, and the Elders of Israel, followed him.
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So, the elders. Now followed these leaders the
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same Elders that were anointed at the Spirit, just a few
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chapters earlier. Now, come alongside the
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authority that Has been accused falsely and look, what Moses
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does. He spoke to the congregation
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saying depart please in the King James.
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I pray you from the tents of these wicked men and touch
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nothing of. There's less you be swept away
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with all their sins. So they got away from the
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dwelling of Korah dathan and abiram.
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Whenever you and I partner with a divisive person or people it
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is a guarantee for self-destruction.
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I'll say that one more time whenever you and I partner with
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a divisive person or people that is intentionally stirring up
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something to cause a split to cause type of uproar It is a
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guarantee for self-destruction in your spiritual life.
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Let's go to 3rd, John. That little letter right before
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the book of Jude, right before the Book of Revelation.
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The early church had to deal with this.
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I've said this before, but I'll say it again.
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Oftentimes, and I've said it as well, we say, Lord make us like
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the book of Acts. We have a source of what part
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would be very specific. I think what we want is the book
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of Acts before chapter 5, because after chapter five
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things, get kind of ugly. And we almost think that the
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early church did not have to deal with issues when in
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specific moments. They actually had to deal with
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bigger issues than we're dealing with today.
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Just read 1st Corinthians and you think that's a church.
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We come to third John, and we see something in which the
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Apostle of Love is writing out to and look here in verse 9.
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I have written something to the church, but the ultra fists who
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likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our Authority.
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So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing talking Wicked
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nonsense against us and not content with that.
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He refuses to welcome, the brothers and also stops those
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who want to and puts them out of the church.
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So here's his fellow named diotrephes who is clearly
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causing trouble. Who's clearly trying to dismiss
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the authority of the Apostles. And he seems like he's trying to
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take lead and call the shots and the place.
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How does somebody get to that place?
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Where they can kick people, whoever they want and bring in
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whoever they want and is speaking Wicked nonsense to the
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rest of the members about the leaders.
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That have preached, the gospel to them and planted, these
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churches and appointed Elders. It all starts with the
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description of the orifice. This is how it all starts, who
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likes to put himself first, and the King James says, who desires
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preeminence See if our hearts come to that place.
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An alarm has to go off whenever we desire to be first whether
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that's in position and recognition and admiration
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whatever it is when we want to be number one in a way where we
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receive praise and we want that Authority in our hands and God
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has not given it to us. We have to be careful.
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The artifice is not operating in the spirit of Christ.
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Diotrephes is operating in the spirit of Satan hundred percent
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you say how In Isaiah 14, you have to turn there.
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But in Isaiah 14 there's a little excerpt of a description
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of Satan's fall. And Isaiah 14, and Isaiah 14:14
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is, specifically sends I will Ascend to the heavens and I will
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be like the most high. So you don't want that Spirit.
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Satan wanted to do. He wanted to go high.
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I want to go as high as I can. I want to be in the top.
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I want to be like God, I want to come to a place where I sit on
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God's Throne, where people recognize and worship me.
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That is the literal opposite spirit in which Christ operating
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when you want Christ said, and his description of Philippians
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2:5 that he went low, He became a servant, he went the opposite
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direction. He humbled himself.
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And so Isaiah 14. It shows us the direction that
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Satan's heart. Wasn't, I want to go as high as
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possible. I want everyone to see me.
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I want everyone to recognize. I want everybody.
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Jesus says, I want to come as low as possible.
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So low that I'm going to take a towel and wipe the feet of dirty
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men. And this is what we have to ask
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ourselves every single day. Lord, what direction does my
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heart? Go into?
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Where is it wanting to go into today?
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The artifice had the unfortunate.
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Position here where he was called out by leader to say
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because you wanted to be first, look at the Havoc that you're
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causing the assembly. Here's another verse Titus,
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Chapter 10, excuse me, verse 10 of chapter 3, As for a person
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who stirs up the vision after warning him once, and then twice
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have nothing more to do with him.
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And I want to read this because you can you can almost hear what
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I just said and say are you. That's kind of heavy for to say
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that a person who is divisive is destructive.
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I'm not saying that this is Bible language, Titus 310 have
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nothing to do with him. This is this is the same call
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that Moses making, guys, get away from the tents of these
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men. Why?
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Knowing that such a person is Warped and sinful, he's
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self-condemned. The church is the body of
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Christ. And for a person to come to the
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body of Christ and attempt to rip apart the body.
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Think of that imagery to rip apart the body to remove members
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from the unified thing that Christ has created?
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According to God is Warped and self-condemned.
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So, the artifice was coveting, something that was not his and
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even if a person we almost, were almost hearing something like
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this, and it almost gives a one up for those that are in
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authority to think that they can Lord it over people because of
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the position that they've been given.
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Listen, any spiritual leader in your local church, including
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this one has no Authority in your personal life.
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Their Authority has been given by God to manage to watch over
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to secure the church, the local church.
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And give instruction and exhortation concerning your walk
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with the Lord, but there is no permission for any Spiritual
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Authority to begin to tell you what to do against your will and
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manipulate you. No, no, that's not what
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authorities about any time. You see a Authority given in
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scripture? It's not just leader.
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It's always servant leader. Always they come to serve you.
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Not lorded over you. That's what Peter told the
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elders and first Peter 5, let's come back to Numbers chapter 16.
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Get away from the tents verse 27.
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So they got away from the dwelling of Korah dathan and
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abiram and dathan and abiram. Now, look at their posture.
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So, these guys run and you would think at this point that, these
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people would be convicted enough to repent know.
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It says that they came out and stood at the door of their tents
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together with their wives, their sons and their little ones.
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So everybody else have been to them.
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But here's my family and they're standing in defiance of God's
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Authority saying pretty much with this position, this
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posture, Bring It On. Bring It On.
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They stood at their tents and Moses said, here, by now, Moses
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about to give something in which the people of God would not
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think what's about to happen was by mere coincidence.
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He's about to lay out a specific scenario in which the people
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will know that he and Aaron have not exalted themselves to this
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position of leadership, but God has appointed them to such a
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call. And so what does he say?
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If these guys as paraphrase, if these guys right here that are
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rebelling if they die a natural death then we appointed
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ourselves and were in the wrong but look how specific this is
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but if the Lord opens up the Earth and swallowed them, you'll
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know that we've been called now, if you are Cora, A buyer more
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dathan at this point. Surely you should be trembling
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but no they've allowed their hearts to come to such a state
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in which even a threat such like this.
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There's not move them. And you know what, I think at
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this point, they didn't really have much of a choice because
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once Moses finishes his sentence, it happened.
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What does it say here? Verse 29.
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If these men dies, all men die, or if they are visited by the
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fate of all mankind than the Lord has not sent me, but if the
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Lord creates something new and the ground opens its mouth and
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swallows them up with all that belongs to them and they go down
25:16
alive at the she'll then you shall know that these men have
25:19
despised the Lord verse 31 as soon as he had finished
25:22
speaking. All these words, it happened.
25:26
Who are the two men that went to heaven alive?
25:31
You know, and Elijah and behold. You have the first people that
25:35
went to Sheila live, the sons of Korah, rather the Cora.
25:39
The sons of Korah, we're going to see what happened to them.
25:42
Korah dathan and abiram, went to she ol, the Underworld the grave
25:46
alive. And everybody saw it.
25:50
Everybody witnessed it. So look how the scribes and
25:55
verse 31, the ground under them, split apart, and the Earth
25:58
opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households
26:03
and all the people who belong to Cora and all their goods,
26:07
literally everything. So they came to a place where
26:12
they stood against Moses and Aaron with their families and a
26:17
posture of pride. And got a humbles, those who are
26:22
proud and their Elite wipe them off the face of the Earth
26:27
without exaggeration. Close the Earth.
26:31
It makes them disappear from the scene.
26:35
The intensity of this, this judgment just shows how much God
26:39
hates Division, I believe, and how much God hates rebellion and
26:44
how much God hates a people that are seeking something that's not
26:48
theirs. And began to cause trouble
26:52
because of it. This chapter does not describe
26:58
something that we see later on because it says all their
27:00
households and all their goods. Now you have to go to Numbers
27:03
chapter 26, to see a little detail.
27:07
That changes the whole course of the story.
27:12
Numbers chapter 26. Let's read from verse 10.
27:23
This is just retelling the story here and there's one added
27:28
detail that is so beautiful. And the Earth opened its mouth
27:31
and swallowed them up together with Cora.
27:33
When that company died, when the fire devoured, 250 men and they
27:37
became a warning. Look at verse 11, but the sons
27:40
of Korah did not die. What is that mean?
27:46
We don't see that in Numbers chapter 16.
27:48
We see in Numbers chapter 26 and it shines a whole new light on
27:53
the story and what's that light? Merci.
28:01
Absolutely Mercy on God's part, wisdom on the sons of Korah
28:06
part. So that little verse the sons of
28:09
Korah did not die changes how this scene really plays out in
28:12
our minds this and not because what I read here in Numbers,
28:15
chapter 16 is the earth splits, open Korah, dathan a Byron, all
28:19
their house with all their Goods, close Verse 11 tells us
28:25
that somebody didn't go into sheol and that was the sons of
28:27
Korah. So it repaints, the whole scene
28:30
in this is the scene. You go back to verse 16 down,
28:33
specifically, verse 25, 26 27. Moses comes and he tells the
28:38
whole congregation listen, depart from the dwellings of
28:42
Korah dathan, abiram, get out of here.
28:45
You don't want to be a part of this group.
28:46
You don't want to be a part of this device of people and we see
28:49
that the whole congregation moves but you know who else
28:51
moves the sons of Korah. Ah, So this is what it looks
28:55
like you, have Korah dathan the byrom with their families and
28:59
when Moses makes the call, the sons of Korah are looking at
29:02
their families. Looking at Moses, looking at
29:04
their families. Looking at Moses, they look at
29:07
their dads and say dad's we love you, but we love God more.
29:14
And they step away. From the dwellings of wickedness
29:20
and perhaps, that's what the sons of Korah had in mind in
29:22
Psalms, 84 10. Where it says, what?
29:27
I'd rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to
29:30
dwell in the tents of weakness. What does that mean in light at
29:35
this? The house of their own father's
29:38
that rebelled against Authority? As a lot more deeper, meaning
29:42
there's a not we have that truth generally understand.
29:45
I'd rather be with with the Lord and his house then to be
29:48
anywhere else in the world. But let's look at it
29:49
specifically, I'd rather be with the Lord then with my family.
29:54
I'd rather be for God and lose everything else, including my
29:58
dad, that raised me up and all the possessions that they
30:00
blessed us with, that means nothing in light of honoring.
30:03
God, That's significant. Now we read them, we go that's a
30:10
great Insight but now feel it feel the text.
30:15
You have sons of a family that walked away and saw their entire
30:22
household swallowed up by the Earth.
30:27
Standing in a place of absolute, awe and Terror.
30:30
Shirley But God bless that. God bless that. because I
30:41
believe based on that one decision, Well, we see later on
30:46
in the narrative, specifically with the sons of Korah is quite
30:48
astounding. So, as much as this site is so
30:53
terrifying. As our brother mentioned, we
30:54
also see the tender mercy of God, I praise God, that he does
30:59
not with take the wickedness or the sinfulness of our past
31:02
generations, and bestowed upon us even as close as your fathers
31:06
or mothers that might not be serving God.
31:08
That might be rebelling against God.
31:10
He doesn't take what they're doing and pin it against you.
31:13
He judges each man, according to his own sins.
31:17
But this act of allegiance to God was honored by God.
31:23
If you read carefully and see what God does with the sons of
31:26
Korah. So turn your Bibles with me to
31:29
me. Be a place where we would admit.
31:32
We would kind of skip over genealogy and First Chronicles
31:36
chapter 6. Meet me in first Chronicles
31:39
chapter 6. To see something quite
31:43
astounding. Verse 31, these are the men whom
31:46
David put in charge of the service of song in the house of
31:50
the Lord. After the ark rested there, he's
31:53
about to describe. Now, the worship leaders that
31:56
have been chosen by David, to sing continually in the service
32:00
of worship in song. In the Tabernacle, they
32:03
ministered with song before the Tabernacle, the tent of meeting
32:06
until Solomon, built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem and
32:09
they performed their service, according to their order.
32:11
Now, look at this list. These are the men who served and
32:15
And their sons of the sons of the coefficients.
32:18
She meant the singer of the son of Joel.
32:21
Now, look at this. Son of Samuel son of elkanah.
32:26
Which Samuel are we? Speaking of here?
32:31
Which Samuel? We speaking of you, the prophet.
32:35
Who was a descendant of Cora. And so you have God in the days
32:40
of Hannah, Eli the high priest when there was such a pasta
32:42
seen, apathy amongst specifically the spiritual
32:45
leaders. And God is looking for a profit.
32:48
God is looking for a spokesperson.
32:50
God is looking for a man, that was established righteousness
32:53
and Justice in the land and, you know, who he doesn't bypass,
32:56
because of their history Cora. He finds a man from The
33:00
Descendant of the sons of Korah and chooses him to be a
33:03
messenger and representative of him.
33:07
And not just that, not just Samuel the prophet. realize that
33:14
one of the main, People, for the worship of the Tabernacle was a
33:20
descendant of Cory. You see that?
33:21
At the end of verse 37, look at verse 37.
33:26
See that name their Cora, son of Cora.
33:29
You trace these names back at all, goes back to Korra and it
33:33
says specifically in verse 31, that David chose himin who was a
33:38
worship leader, descendant of Cora to have such an awesome
33:42
responsibility at the service of the Tabernacle.
33:46
David could have chose whoever he wanted amongst the Levites.
33:50
He could have ignored Korra and the lineage, and the genetic
33:53
genealogy in the heritage, of course, that he carried.
33:55
But no, he sees Cora a descendant of him though, it's
33:59
distant chooses them. You re later on his second
34:02
chronicles, you see that there is a group of Cora people from
34:05
Cora. Worshiping the Lord, you see in
34:07
Psalms that 11, Psalms in the psalter have been written by the
34:12
sons of Korah. And you think David chose This
34:17
man to be a leader. Of the songs.
34:24
I think to myself, why did David choose that?
34:26
And I don't want to read too much into David's thoughts. but
34:30
perhaps though, distant from what we read in number 16,
34:35
Perhaps David had an understanding.
34:40
Of the sons of Korah. That they would make great
34:43
worship leaders. Because I one point in their
34:48
history that the sons of Korah, make a stance for God that they
34:53
would rather choose God even over their own blood family,
34:58
that they would rather choose God, that have the security of
35:01
whatever they were rather choose God, no matter what position
35:04
that they've been given. And perhaps David said, you know
35:07
what They displayed something in contrast to their fathers.
35:12
I think they would make great song leaders.
35:16
Willing to step out in anything and for anything for the glory
35:21
and honor of God. Maybe David had that Revelation
35:27
when choosing leaders and choosing servants, Those make
35:31
the best worshippers whether in song or any type of service,
35:34
when those people have already determined in their hearts, take
35:37
it any take anything away from you.
35:39
Take my own family away from me, I'm still going to serve him.
35:42
I'm still going to love him. As terrifying as it might be to
35:46
be separate, even from my loved ones, if it's for the Lord, I'm
35:48
going to do it. Those are the most effective
35:53
Servants of God. Those are the ones that when
35:56
they when they truly lead and when they truly serve, you know
35:59
that they're doing it ever love for God.
36:02
Maybe David didn't recruit them though.
36:04
Skill is important though Talent is important.
36:06
There's something deeper in the sons of Korah a Devotion to God
36:10
that was rare. We see that in the Psalms that
36:16
we not one of the most intimate, Psalms one of the most
36:19
heartfelt, the voted Psalms concerning relationship to God
36:24
and sacrifice to God and searching for God, is from the
36:26
sons of Korah and I believe because it's come from a place
36:32
in which they've already determined within, God is
36:34
Worthy. You give or take away this in
36:37
matter. Here's an example.
36:42
Psalms 46. You can turn there if you want
36:44
but it's so known. I'm sure as I read it, you'll
36:46
know it. God is our refuge and strength.
36:49
A very present help in trouble. Now, look at the description of
36:52
this. Maybe, maybe, maybe this is the
36:55
image that the sons of Korah had though.
36:58
They weren't there at the time of writing this, we don't know
37:00
when it was written but maybe this image from number. 16 came
37:04
to mine when they wrote Psalms 46 specially in this one line.
37:08
God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble.
37:11
Therefore we will not fear though.
37:13
The Earth gives way. Though the mountains be moved
37:19
into the heart of the sea, though, its Waters Roar and foam
37:22
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
37:26
Is it possible that the sons of Korah thought of their history?
37:31
When at one point Cora rebelled and the Earth gave way and
37:34
swallow them up? And surely the people, the sons
37:37
were fearful of such a sight but they trusted in God who was The
37:41
Refuge and strength. It's a thought.
37:46
But oh those who go to Great Lengths to show their Allegiant
37:49
and express their Devotion to God.
37:51
In spite of all things, they make great worshippers And
37:57
worship leaders. So, we come back to number 16.
38:04
And we read verse 35. So you have Korah dathan and
38:06
abiram swallowed up by the Earth and then you have those 250
38:10
Chief leaders that came with their sensors and what does God
38:13
do while he dealt with the first ones by letting them go down?
38:16
And for the second group, he let something come from heaven and
38:19
fire came out from the Lord and consumed.
38:21
The 250 men offering the incense that shows me one thing in that
38:27
one verse that God rejects the worship of those people who are
38:30
divisive Thus, they came with her incense, which is a form of
38:36
worship and God consumed them in Flames because God is not
38:40
interested in receiving worship from those that are trying to
38:42
divide his people. What happens verse. 36 God takes
38:50
advantage of this moment in his Mercy.
38:52
Gives instruction for his people concerning generations to come
38:56
because he knows something about the human nature that we are
38:59
bound to repeat the same mistakes that we've made even
39:02
though it costs very much. So he tells Eliezer this
39:07
analyzer. Take those sensors that were
39:10
consumed with those men and build something with it.
39:14
Hammer it out and make it covering And what this covering
39:17
will do is will be placed upon the altar of burnt sacrifices.
39:21
And what that will do is continually remind the people of
39:24
what happened in this day, for the rest of the Wilderness
39:26
journey and the rest of time, that's what it says in verse 40.
39:29
Look at verse 42. Be a reminder to the people of
39:33
Israel so that no Outsider who is not of the descendants of
39:35
Aaron. Should draw near to burn incense
39:38
before the Lord, lest he become like Korah and his company.
39:41
As a lord said to him through Moses.
39:45
In order to preserve the Purity and the Holiness of my people
39:50
again, the people are in need of another visual aid.
39:53
The first one, we read a numbers. 15 was what these
39:56
tassels that will remind him of The Commandments of God.
39:58
Now he brings this golden plate thing, this covering for the for
40:02
the burnt offering Altar. And he says they're going to see
40:05
that and they're gonna remember now how much more will the
40:07
people who are kohathites remember as they carry that
40:09
thing. Remember their instructor at the
40:11
carry the furniture and so they would remember as they Carry
40:14
that thing. Oh, gosh.
40:17
We're going to stick to this responsibility, thankful for it.
40:21
To be a reminder. You know what God's wisdom is in
40:24
preserving your Holiness and mind and longevity.
40:28
To not just learn from our own failures but to learn from the
40:31
failures of others. That's wisdom.
40:36
Wisdom does not just Express itself when I realized my
40:40
failures and learn from them, wisdom goes beyond that.
40:43
Wisdom looks at other people who have fallen not in judgment, not
40:45
in criticism, not in self-righteousness.
40:47
But realizes like Galatians 6:1 says that if your brother Falls
40:51
don't be careful, lest you too be tempted by the same
40:53
Temptation. When you see someone fall, when
40:56
you see something happen in another person's life, learn
40:59
from their failures and ask God In Prayer as God and wisdom to
41:03
protect you from such a thing yourself.
41:05
That's what he's doing. This is God's wisdom.
41:07
You need to be reminded people of Israel that you don't fall
41:10
into the same trap, because I know the human heart more than
41:12
you do. So God is acting and Mercy by
41:16
giving this out and you would think, okay, we're ready to move
41:20
Israel, you're ready to move, we're ready to go.
41:22
We can move on here. Let's learn from our mistakes.
41:24
Let's not do that. Let's be content and what God's
41:26
given us? Happy Thanksgiving verse 41.
41:32
But on the next day, you have got to be kidding me.
41:38
You have got to be kidding me, but on the next day, all the
41:42
congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses
41:45
and against Aaron saying, you have killed the people of the
41:47
Lord. Like, not even two days.
41:53
Not even a week. The conference.
41:57
Hi didn't even last 24 hours. And what a conference that was
42:02
that would be an interesting conference when the earth
42:03
swallows up some people. Go back and see here.
42:10
In verse 34 and I wonder why that wasn't preserved till the
42:14
next day and all Israel who are around them fled at their cry
42:18
for they said less the Earth swallow us up.
42:23
So the Earth swallows up these men and their families and you
42:25
what the people do? They scatter and scream at the
42:27
top of their lungs. Unless the Earth swallows up and
42:29
then the next day they go, you killed the people of the Lord.
42:33
That tells you. And I something about the human
42:35
heart, that no matter, how wonderful, unfortunately, even
42:39
terrifying, God displays his majesty in his glory.
42:44
It takes a supernatural transformation of the human
42:47
heart to bring a true change. One day men and you're accusing
42:54
and you've identified them wrongly.
42:56
The people of the Lord, we're going to find out that he calls
42:58
them Rebels God. Cause these men Rebels, and they
43:01
identified, you killed the people of the Lord.
43:03
And you're accusing the true people of God.
43:08
Who are acting like it as least. You have killed the people of
43:12
the Lord. What happens when the
43:16
congregation is assembled against Moses and against Aaron,
43:18
they turn towards the tent of meeting and behold.
43:20
Here we go, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord
43:23
appeared, And what happens verse 45, the Lord says, get away from
43:28
the midst of this congregation that.
43:29
I may consume them in a moment. And the Lord meant it.
43:36
They fell on their faces and Moses knew that something had
43:39
broken out. A plague had broken out and so
43:42
intense, was this plague, look at the language.
43:46
He tells Aaron to do what to quickly go.
43:50
Grab an incense to go into the midst of the camp to make
43:54
atonement for the people that plague has begun at the end of
43:56
verse 46. And how this Aaron react.
44:00
Aaron. Took it as Moses said and ran
44:02
into the midst of the assembly. And the plague had already begun
44:05
among the people. I believe that this happened in
44:09
a matter of seconds that by the time the Lord said this was
44:12
going to happen. And by the time you got errand
44:14
to run into the midst of the camp, it was a matter of
44:17
seconds, very few minutes. The most and you know what
44:20
happened in a matter of that short time frame.
44:22
Look how many people died verse 49 on those who died in the
44:26
plague were 14,700. The Lord really meant in a
44:31
moment. Just a matter of few seconds.
44:35
He would, he just almost 15,000 people were wiped off by plague.
44:40
You know, what Aaron does? He runs in grace and mercy to
44:44
make atonement for the people. He does not wait a moment.
44:47
He does it as quick as possible, and he comes to place where he
44:51
stands in the gap for these people and God sees his act.
44:56
And he honors it. And the people were spared Then
45:03
we come to chapter 17 as we close.
45:07
God, I said teach his people again so what does he do?
45:10
We're not going to read it, but I'll explain it.
45:13
He says this is what's going to happen.
45:15
In order for you to realize that I've truly chosen Moses and
45:19
Aaron you take a staff from each of your tribesmen, every leader,
45:24
bring a staff, from every tribe. And when it comes to new
45:27
bringing those staffs write the name of the chief on that staff.
45:30
Aaron's name is going to be written on the staff dedicated
45:33
to Levi and when you bring it, lay them all.
45:36
Before the tent of meeting. Lay It All Before, the, the
45:39
testimony and what happens, I'm going to show you through this.
45:44
Then when I make a specific staff Bud, it will be the
45:48
signal. It will be the sign that I've
45:49
chosen. This person to be high priest,
45:51
and for his descendants to be priests.
45:54
So, what happens in verse 8, on the next day, Moses went into
45:57
the tent of testimony, behold, the staff of Aaron, and the
46:00
house of Levi had sprouted and put forth Buds and produce
46:04
blossoms and bore almonds. So, it happens.
46:10
He chooses to teach him in this way, look at the stats and they
46:14
bring their staffs to the men, each of them, hold it.
46:17
And they realize, okay, I'm not supposed to be the priest.
46:26
God will defend your ministry if you're truly called by God, If
46:33
you've truly been called to a specific thing, you don't need
46:36
to defend yourself. God will make it known to
46:40
others. That he has called you to
46:43
specific tasks and if God has not called you to specific tasks
46:47
and you attempt to go into that lane fruitfulness will not come
46:50
out of it. Ask the Lord to give you the
46:53
grace to understand that your identity is not in this ministry
46:57
but that he's called you to it nonetheless and to stay in that
47:00
lane and fruit will come out of it.
47:03
It's better for fruit to come out of the ministry that God's
47:05
called you to then out of weird insecurities or whatever is
47:09
going on to step into another Lane not experience fruit.
47:15
And this is the miracle that it didn't just bud, but it fully
47:18
Blossom went through all the stages overnight and almonds
47:20
came out of it. They brought it to the man and
47:25
he says, put it in the ark of the testimony put in the Ark of
47:28
the Covenant for what reason as a sign for the rebels.
47:32
That you may make an end of their grumbling against me.
47:35
This is verse 10, lest they die. Thus Moses didn't Lord commanded
47:38
him. So he did take that staff and
47:40
it's added. So, what items do we have in the
47:42
Ark of the Covenant up to this point?
47:45
The stop, the tablets Manna, three things, three things.
47:53
Now, if there's any other picture that we can get out of
47:55
this, it is the power of the Living God, how because he took
48:00
these dead branches, which were staffs.
48:03
And he brought life to something that was dead.
48:07
He made something as though it was connected to a Life Source
48:11
though it was not this staff. That was dried up many.
48:16
Many months ago is now something that is blossoming and fruitful
48:20
and fragrant it speaks. Of resurrection power that God
48:26
can bestow and listen as amazing as it is that he did it with his
48:29
stick. You know what it is in the New
48:30
Covenant, you and me. Thank God, takes you and I were
48:34
dead in our trespasses and sins. And what does he do?
48:37
He infuses life. So that what was known as dead
48:40
to me and to the world to you and to the world.
48:43
Now, produces life, produces life.
48:48
And we need to know how to tap into that resurrection power,
48:50
and it's flooded throughout the New Testament.
48:54
That stick did not produce anything on its own to produce
48:56
fruit, it relied completely on God, you and I need to do the
49:00
same. And the devil would love to rob
49:04
that Revelation from you and I more than anything.
49:06
Do you know how he did it? Even in a subtle way you say how
49:11
turn to 1st Kings? chapter 8, First Kings chapter
49:14
8, This is when the temple built by Solomon was dedicated and
49:21
they had brought in the Ark of the Covenant.
49:24
When they brought in the Ark of the Covenant, there's a little
49:26
commentary and what happened to these elements that we just
49:29
confessed were in the ark? Look with me here in verse 9.
49:35
Let's go to verse 7, for the cherubim spread out, their wings
49:38
over the place of the arc so that the cherubim overshadowed,
49:40
The Arc of its pole. And its poles, and the poles
49:42
were so long that the ends of the polls were seen from the
49:45
holy place before the inner Sanctuary that they could not be
49:47
seen from outside and they are there to this day.
49:50
Verse 9, there was nothing in the ark except the two tablets
49:53
of stone that Moses put there with the people at Horeb were
49:57
the Lord, I made a covenant with the people of Israel when they
49:59
came out of the land of Egypt. So after this place in Israel's
50:04
history, Something had happened to two of those items, the Manna
50:08
was removed. And so is that the staff by
50:12
Aaron that was budded and the only thing that was left, there
50:15
was the law. How did that happen?
50:20
many speculations, I believe this part that something
50:24
happened between The days of first Samuel chapter 1, 2 and 3
50:32
were Eli. Was the high priest and the
50:33
Philistines came in and took the ark and was brought back by
50:37
David under his Reign, something happened in that time, and I
50:40
believe that the Philistines removed it, Because it's the
50:43
only explanation they were there before the Philistines took it,
50:47
and then once the Philistines removed it and then brought it
50:49
back. This is speculation.
50:50
This isn't dogmatic. But it's a thought that when
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they brought it back, it's not there anymore.
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When Solomon was dedicated to Temple its commentary, the only
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thing that's left there is the law.
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The enemy took mana and the enemy took the rod and left the
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law. Of all things.
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Because the enemy would love to rub the law in our face.
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To show us how we do fall short. God does the yes to show us that
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we need the gospel? But you know what?
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He removed the rod that speaks of power, the rod that speaks of
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how God can change something, that's dead, and bring it to
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life. He does the same today with so
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many people to do, everything in your own strength and mine.
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And to attempt to keep God's Commandments without that power
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and to do it in our own strength.
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You will experience true misery. I will experience true misery
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when we fail to realize that what God has given us was
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intended to be obeyed with his power.
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With his grace, with his assistance.
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That his Commandments are not burdensome only when we know to
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rely upon him to walk it out. And that's what we need to do.
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It's a second thought to this main thought that up to this
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point out in numbers, things have calmed down in relationship
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to the authority that God has established for the people of
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Israel. So many things can be pulled out
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of this study, but what concluded with this thought,
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going back to the sons of Korah what a wonderful thing that God
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has given us through these men. Who have come to a place where
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they realize. Just think about it.
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I'm sure they did not think in their minds when they step back
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from their families. Oh God is going to really use me
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now. I'm sure that then a run through
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their minds that God is going to give me a specific assignment
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down in history through my general.
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I'm sure that did not come. In fact, God did not say
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anything. He said it with the Levites when
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they when they step back and exodus 32 says, now I'm going to
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use you, I'm going to use you as priest.
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He didn't say anything to the sons of Korah.
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It just came down the road which says something about sons of
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court to some degree. but in that moment, they just They just
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wanted to make a statement to the Lord.
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I want you above all else. I choose to obey you even if it
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costs me my family. It's a beautiful thought and
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it's something that we should really meditate upon.
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And as we end with the idea of core on the sons of Korah, let's
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ask the Lord to be able to confidently.
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Say I rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God.
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I rather be a doorkeeper and the house of my God, better is one
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day in your courts and a thousand elsewhere.
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That is coming from a that's not coming from just any lip that's
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coming from a descendant of someone who actually lived it.
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And actually paid the price for it.
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And true Ministry with its authenticity.
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And Effectiveness comes from a place where it's lived out.
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And not just said, May we get there by the grace of God by his
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power. Not our own.
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Let's pray. Lord, we thank you for your
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word. Got our hearts come alive, at
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the revelation of the scriptures.
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When we realize Lord that you are speaking loud and clear even
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from numbers. And Lord, this is our hearts
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desire. To express our allegiance to
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you. Whatever costs, Lord.
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And where we want to do that even now.
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Thank you for your Tender Mercies.
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Thank you that with the same errand that you were ready to
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discipline. You defended.
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Thank you. That with the sons of Korah,
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though, their Heritage in their fathers did not exemplify true
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Devotion to God. You rewrote their story.
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Thank you. That we have resurrection power.
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That you can take any deadness in our lives and bring it to
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life in Christ. Lord, we worship you in light of
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this. In your name, we pray.
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Amen.