God gives the freedom and opportunity to seek after and find Him. He says two paths are set before us, may we always choose the path of life.
Deuteronomy 30: Repentance and Forgiveness
1 "And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God has driven you,
2 and return to the LORD your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul,
3 then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you.
4 If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there he will take you.
5 And the LORD your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers.
6 And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
7 And the LORD your God will put all these curses on your foes and enemies who persecuted you.
8 And you shall again obey the voice of the LORD and keep all his commandments that I command you today.
9 The LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the LORD will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers,
10 when you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, when you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
The Choice of Life and Death
11 "For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off.
12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'
13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'
14 But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.
15 "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.
16 If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.
17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them,
18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.
19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,
20 loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."
Deuteronomy 31: Joshua to Succeed Moses
1 So Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel.
2 And he said to them, "I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The LORD has said to me, 'You shall not go over this Jordan.'
3 The LORD your God himself will go over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, so that you shall dispossess them, and Joshua will go over at your head, as the LORD has spoken.
4 And the LORD will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them.
5 And the LORD will give them over to you, and you shall do to them according to the whole commandment that I have commanded you.
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."
7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it.
8 It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."
The Reading of the Law
9 Then Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.
10 And Moses commanded them, "At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths,
11 when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
12 Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law,
13 and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess."
Joshua Commissioned to Lead Israel
14 And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, the days approach when you must die. Call Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I may commission him." And Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting.
15 And the LORD appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud. And the pillar of cloud stood over the entrance of the tent.
16 And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers. Then this people will rise and whore after the foreign gods among them in the land that they are entering, and they will forsake me and break my covenant that I have made with them.
17 Then my anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide my face from them, and they will be devoured. And many evils and troubles will come upon them, so that they will say in that day, 'Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us?'
18 And I will surely hide my face in that day because of all the evil that they have done, because they have turned to other gods.
19 "Now therefore write this song and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the people of Israel.
20 For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, and despise me and break my covenant.
21 And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as a witness (for it will live unforgotten in the mouths of their offspring). For I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give."
22 So Moses wrote this song the same day and taught it to the people of Israel.
23 And the LORD commissioned Joshua the son of Nun and said, "Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the people of Israel into the land that I swore to give them. I will be with you."
24 When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book to the very end,
25 Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD,
26 "Take this Book of the Law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against you.
27 For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Behold, even today while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the LORD. How much more after my death!
28 Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to witness against them.
29 For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly and turn aside from the way that I have commanded you. And in the days to come evil will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger through the work of your hands."
The Song of Moses
30 Then Moses spoke the words of this song until they were finished, in the ears of all the assembly of Israel:
Things to think about…
1. Our Lord never leaves us confused or in doubt regarding His will and the fruit that follows obedience or the consequences of disobedience, Dt 30:1-3. But following the Lord has always involved the gift of faith acting on the heart. Here the Israelites were told to circumcise their hearts, vs 6. This is exactly what the Apostle Paul told the Romans to do, Rom 2:29. The Lord then delights to prosper his people, vs 9.
2. Is the Word of God difficult to understand? Not according to Dt 30:11-14. It is near us, right beside us and able to be carried out. Paul again applies these words to believers from Romans 10:8, 9. Paul then says “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”, Rom 10:9. Amen. Most scripture is easy to read and interpret. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to obey.
3. The Lord had set life and death, good and evil before the children of Israel. They were exhorted to choose life, Dt 30:19. We have new life in Christ who calls Himself the Way, the Truth and the Life, Jn 14:6. Just as the Israelites had the blessing of length of days through obedience to the law, Dt 30:20, we have the blessing of the length of days into eternity through obedience to Christ. Praise God for your salvation. He granted you the grace to choose life in Him. John says the commandments of the Lord are not burdensome, 1Jn 5:3. Amen!
4. The promises are given to those who have life and length of days, Dt 30:20. Jesus quoted that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Mt 22:32 and therefore the God of the living. Our eternal life has begun, and we rule and reign with Jesus as His children by faith. There is no better news than this!
5. In Dt 31:1-8 we see leadership succession from Moses to Joshua. The Lord raises up leaders in the next generation to carry on the work. Joshua is told – “Be strong and courageous”, vs 6. The same is true today for young people in their faith in Christ. Too often young people are distracted from the main goal of serving Christ in this way. Be a Joshua young people – stop wasting any more time and go and take the land for Christ! The promise is that “He will never leave you nor forsake you”, vs 6. This is quoted in the NT in Hebrews referring to our Lord’s care, Heb 13:5. Jesus says He will not leave us as orphans, Jn 14:18.
6. We hear sermons every week to keep the Lord’s word and works before us. In the same way the entire law had to be read once every seven years at the feast of Booth celebration Dt 31:9-13. God’s word needs to drive us as a people. We in turn drive the culture as we have an influence where we live. Support faithful preaching by praying that it has an impact on people’s minds and hearts.
7. What a sad tale of truth is recorded in Dt 31:14-29. God knows that when they enter the land after they have been blessed, they will rebel and serve other gods. Moses is quite blunt in applying truth, he says “you will surely act corruptly and turn aside from the way that I have commanded you. And in the days to come evil will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the LORD”, vs 29. We know this to be true in the cycle repeated throughout the book of Judges. This is true for us as Australians as well. We have been closer to the Lord and His word in the past. But we are a blessed country and seek after everything materially this world and our country has to offer. Only faith says that heaven and serving Christ is a far better option. We are called to live as Moses before his death and have eyes upon the heavenly Canaan. What are you living for?
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Prayer points
1. Pray Venezuela continues to know healing and grace over the coming weeks as they recover.
2. Nigeria must be delivered from Fulani jihadists. Pray for those poor Christians – the widows and orphans.
3. Pray for Iran the peace process is never going to be kept without a genuine desire for it to be maintained.
4. Pray for the Sacred Minds podcast and our online ministry
5. Pray for One for Israel and their witness in this time of challenge and conflict.
6. Pray for the church in Australia that it focuses on Christ, His Word and holiness.
7. Pray for our leaders in Australia that they press in closer to Christ.
8. The Royal Commission that the Jewish people will feel safe in Australia.
9. Pray for new people to step into ministries at CBC – eg worship, café, Kids@church, sound/technical, giving, podcast.
10. Reform and Revival over our city and country.
11. Finances to cover our needs
12. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to increase.
Praise Points
1. Praise God for His word having an impact on Sunday, may we honour Him this week. Bring a testimony of grace next week.
2. Praise the Lord for children and grandchildren 😊.
3. Praise the Lord for Graham’s message on false prophets.
4. Praise the Lord for the encouragement the Word of God brought people over the weekend.
5. Praise God for ministries – Life Groups, Prayer meetings, Kids@Church
6. Café team every week. Thankyou to all those who serve and bring food. Especially Fiona, Maddie and Suzy and those who supply it every week Eg Ros - Milk.
7. Worship, Admin and Technical teams – Peter, Nita, Brendon, AJ, Suzy, Maddie, Mathys, Doug.
8. Kids Church teachers – Jacqueline, Maddie, Elise, Anastacia and Fiona
9. The Lord’s faithfulness this year to CBC and all who have served in ministries
10. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. No Prayer meeting on school holidays.
2. All Life Groups off over the school holidays
3. Dave Pellowe from Church and State preaching 26th July.
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
5. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for June...
Q. 2. What else did God make? A. God made all things.
