TODAY’S READING FROM THE ONE YEAR BIBLE
MARCH 30 Deuteronomy 13-15:23; Luke 8:40-9:6; Psalm 71:1-24; Proverbs 12:5-7
Moses predicts that there will be false prophets and dreamers ready to deceive the Israelites with powerful signs and wonders when they enter Canaan. According to Moses, their prophecies may appear to come true. The signs will be impressive. Nevertheless they are snares designed to deceive God’s chosen people from their single hearted devotion to God.
These words remind us of Jesus’ warnings to his disciples prior to his crucifixion:
"Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many” (Matthew 24:1; NASB)
24 "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24;NASB)
24 "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24;NASB)
The apostle Paul warned the church of similar dangers as they embarked on their mission.
3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 (NASB) B
It is a call for spiritual discernment.
Moses reiterates that God has exclusive rights to the love, trust, and obedience of His people.
The first commandment has to do with having no other gods; the second with manufacturing them.
Do we love, trust, and obey the created thing more than the Creator?
The New Testament tells us that sexual immorality and greed are tied to idolatry (Col 3:5; Eph 5:5). Money, sex, power, success, and popularity can all become idols. What we devote ourselves to will be mirrored in our lives. When we put anything or anyone in place of the God who has revealed Himself in the Bible, it will have a corrupting influence upon us.
GUARD YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS
The Apostle John gives a similar warning in the New Testament:
21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols. 1 John 5:21 (NASB)
In Deuteronomy 13, Moses calls the Israelites to resist three major temptations to turn away from their devotion to God and follow after foreign gods.
Moses warns of three temptations:
1. BEWARE ANY UNDUE FASCINATION OR CURIOSITY THAT WOULD CAUSE YOU TO ADD TO OR TAKE AWAY FROM THE WORD OF GOD.
"When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations which you are going in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, 30 beware that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?' 31 "You shall not behave thus toward the LORD your God, for every abominable act which the LORD hates they have done for their gods; for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. 32 "Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it. (Deuteronomy 12:29-32; NASB)
In order to obey this commandment you must truly know what the Word of God teaches and what it doesn’t. We can appreciate different cultures but need to distinguish propositional truths that differ from the gospel.
2. DON’T LET SIGNS AND WONDERS WROUGHT BY FALSE PROPHETS MOVE YOU FROM CLINGING TO THE LORD.
1 "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,' 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 13:1-3 (NASB)
4 "You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. (Deuteronomy 13:4; NASB)
We don’t readily think of our devotion to the Lord being tested when supernatural signs and gifts are present, but there are a number of instances in the history of Israel when counterfeit signs and words were present to confuse and deceive them.(1 Kings 22; Jer 28).
Notice how strong Moses instruction is:
You shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 13:3; NASB)
The purpose is kept in view: TO CLING TO THE LORD.
4 "You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. Deuteronomy 13:4 (NASB)
3. BEWARE BEING DECEIVED THROUGH NATURAL AFFECTION
6 "If your brother, your mother's son, or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul, entice you secretly, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods' (whom neither you nor your fathers have known, 7 of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other end), 8 you shall not yield to him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him, nor shall you spare or conceal him.
Deuteronomy 13:6-8 (NASB)
Deuteronomy 13:6-8 (NASB)
It is always a powerful temptation when someone you cherish would seek to divide you from the God who has revealed Himself through the Word.
The ever present danger of the human heart is that we can put those with whom we are bound with natural affection in the place of God. Misplaced affection and divided loyalty must be refused.
Simon Peter was a close friend of Jesus. Satan used him to attempt to persuade Jesus not to go to the cross.
22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You." 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." Matthew 16:22-23 (NASB)
If inhabitants of a city have been seduced to serve other gods, an inquiry was to be ordered to determine if this abomination actually has been done. If so, everything comes under the ban of destruction.
This becomes a picture of the judgment of the cross of Christ on the world with all of its idolatries. (This will become more clear as we read the Book of Joshua).
DEUTERONOMY 14
This chapter repeats the laws of separation- determining the difference between that which is ceremonially clean and unclean.
Warren Wiersbe explains:
The distinction between "clean and unclean" sacrifices was known in the days of Noah (Gen. 7:1-10) and therefore must have been told to our first parents when God taught them to worship. In the Jewish law, the words "clean" and "unclean" have nothing to do with the intrinsic nature or value of the creatures themselves. This was a designation given by the Lord for reasons not always explained. Some students believe that the Jews enjoyed better health because they avoided certain foods, but both Jesus and the apostles declared all foods clean (Mark 7:14-23; Acts 10:9-25; Rom. 14:1-15:13), the so-called "healthful" foods as well as the "unhealthful." Bible Exposition Commentary (BE Series) - Old Testament - The Bible Exposition Commentary – Pentateuch.
PRAYER FOR THE NATIONS: CAPE VERDE ISLANDS
(p.198-199, OPERATION WORLD)
Cape Verde Islands
Republic of Cape Verde
Africa
Geography
Area: 4,033 sq km
Fifteen dry, barren islands 600 km off the west coast of Africa.
Population:512,58 Annual Growth: 1.43%
Capital: Praia
Official Language: Portuguese. Trade Language: Portuguese Creole.
Challenge for Prayer
Economic and ecological problems must be wisely addressed. Scant resources were poorly managed in the past, intensifying Cape Verde’s poverty. Pray for government leaders who will make good decisions and develop the economy for the betterment of the whole nation.
Most Caboverdians are Catholic in name, but in practice are more influenced by superstitions and African fetishism. Christian literature is lacking in Creole, and most people have only a rudimentary grasp of Portuguese.
Newer groups are growing rapidly. Pray that more indigenous leaders and pastors may be trained for these growing groups. Pray that believers may mature and increase despite poverty and geographical isolation.
There are 490,000 Caboverdians living in migrant communities; the largest are in New England (USA) (266,000), Portugual (80,000), Angola (46,000), Senegal and France. Their remittances are vital to those living in Cape Verde. Pray that many in these communities may become true disciples of Jesus Christ and be spiritual and economic blessings to their homeland.
Pastor David
So, naturally, we proclaim Christ! We warn everyone we meet, and we teach everyone we can, all that we know about him, so that, if possible, we may bring every man up to his full maturity in Christ. (Colossians 1:28, J.B. Phillips paraphrase)
New Life Community Church, Concord, MA 10742
Meeting Sundays at 10:30 AM at the Emerson Umbrella for the Arts, 40 Stow Street, Concord MA
Mailing Address: Post Office Box Five, Concord, MA 01742
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