Bible Study - Build (6) - Communicate GOD'S Word - Deuteronomy 6:1-9 - November 20, 2022

 

Bible Study – Build (6) – Communicate GOD’S Word – November 20, 2022

This is our final lesson in our series entitled, “How to Build Your Life on GOD’S Word.”

Our focus scripture is Deuteronomy 6:1-9.

Knowledge of GOD’S Word should not be kept to yourself but pass it on.

It is such a joy to discover truth in GOD’S Word and when we do, we want to share it with others. When we share truth with others, we should not get disappointed if those to whom we share are not as excited as we are. It may not mean they are less Spiritual. We should not get discouraged from sharing truth that we have learned.

We expect our pastors and teachers in the church to know and teach GOD’S Word. The Holy Spirit reveals truth and helps us to apply it and gives understanding to GOD’S Word as we hear/read it.

We finish our series of study, entitled Build with scripture in Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy was written by Moses for the most part. Moses is credited for writing the first five books of the Bible; however, the death of Moses is recorded in Deuteronomy 34, therefore another writer had to finished it.

Deuteronomy means “second law” or “repetition of the law.”

The Israelites had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. The book of Deuteronomy represents a restating of the law as the Israelites were preparing to enter into the Promised Land.

Why had the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before entering into the land GOD had promised them?

We read in Numbers 14:33-34:

Your children will be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years and bear the penalty for your acts of unfaithfulness until all your corpses lie scattered in the wilderness. ³⁴ You will bear the consequences of your iniquities forty years based on the number of the forty days that you scouted the land, a year for each day.^[d] You will know my displeasure.^[e]

Faith in GOD is vital when we face giants in our lives as we read in

Numbers 13:27-33:

²⁷ They (the spies) reported to Moses, “We went into the land where you sent us. Indeed, it is flowing with milk and honey, and here is some of its fruit. ²⁸ However, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We also saw the descendants of Anak (Giants) there. ²⁹ The Amalekites are living in the land of the Negev; the Hethites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.”

³⁰ Then Caleb quieted the people in the presence of Moses and said, “Let’s go up now and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it!”

³¹ But the men who had gone up with him responded, “We can’t attack the people because they are stronger than we are!” ³² So they gave a negative report to the Israelites about the land they had scouted: “The land we passed through to explore is one that devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw in it are men of great size. ³³ We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim! To ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and we must have seemed the same to them.”

Two of the twelve spies had faith in GOD; Caleb and Joshua.

Numbers 14:6-14:

⁶ Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who scouted out the land, tore their clothes ⁷ and said to the entire Israelite community, “The land we passed through and explored is an extremely good land. ⁸ If the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and give it to us. ⁹ Only don’t rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Don’t be afraid of them!”

¹⁰ While the whole community threatened to stone them, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the tent of meeting.

We all face giants in our lives. The question is, “Is GOD on our side and leading us? If so, there will be victory.”

What does the LORD promise to those who have been born Spiritually into GOD’S Family?

Hebrews 13:5:
Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you.

GOD must be our first and only love through faith in JESUS.

Let’s read Deuteronomy 6:1-3:

1 “This is the command—the statutes and ordinances—the Lord your God has commanded me (Moses) to teach you, so that you may follow them in the land you are about to enter and possess. ² Do this so that you may fear (reverential respect) the Lord your God all the days of your life by keeping all his statutes and commands I am giving you, your son, and your grandson, and so that you may have a long life. ³ Listen, Israel, and be careful to follow them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly, because the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you a land flowing with milk and honey (prosperity).

Verses 1-3 are referred to as the bridge; the restatement of the Ten Commandments and the Shema (Shema in Hebrew means listen and obey). Statutes come from a root word that meant to scratch or engrave as the law. Ordinances result from the interpretations of the statutes of GOD. GOD commanded Moses to teach the Israelites. Ignorance of GOD’S statutes and ordinances do not mean a person is not guilty. All are accountable to GOD. HE places light within every person and the light demands a response.

The Shema was GOD’S marching orders as the Israelites entered the Promised Land and their guide while they were in the Promised Land.

Often, when we relocate and arrive at our destination, we drop our bags, kick off our shoes and relax. GOD was cautioning the Israelites to stay focused upon HIM as they arrived and established themselves in the Promised Land. Why? Because this promised land would offer challenges that could compromise their relationship with HIM.

Often, when Christians move to another area, they are grateful to have a new job, new house, new neighbors but somehow, we put off finding a good church where we can grow Spiritually and worship.

GOD knows this; therefore, HE gave HIS chosen people excellent instructions for them to follow.

A scribe approached JESUS and ask HIM a very important question which is recorded in Mark 12:28. JESUS gave him the answer as recorded in verses 29-31:

²⁸ One of the scribes approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which command is the most important of all?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The most important^[j] is Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^[k] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.^[l][m] 31 The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself.^[n] There is no other command greater than these.”

³² Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, teacher. You have correctly said that he is one, and there is no one else except him. ³³ And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding,^[o] and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

³⁴ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question him any longer.

What had the scribe missed? He, a student of the scripture, failed to see that JESUS was the promised Messiah. The scribe needed to take a step of faith.

There are many who hear the knock of JESUS at their heart’s door and refuse to respond. Don’t refuse to open your heart’s door. When JESUS knocks upon your heart’s door, open the door of your heart and invite HIM to come in.

There is a small booklet, “My Heart Christ’s Home” which gives a wonderful picture of JESUS knocking on the door of our heart’s door. HE asked the home owner for a tour of his or her house. The person shows HIM all the rooms so clean and tidy, except one. That is where the person kept all of his or her secret things. JESUS wants access to every room in our heart and let HIM help us to clean out our house and let HIM be a welcome guest in every room.

GOD was leading HIS Chosen people into the land HE had promised them and HE was preparing them foundationally to occupy and be prosperous. Israel is still in the Promised Land.

Let’s read Deuteronomy 6:4-5:

⁴ “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^[a] 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 

The Lord our GOD is one and HE has expressed HIS love and fulfilled HIS promise to all the world by sending HIS only SON, JESUS, to earth. JESUS was and is the visible confirmation of GOD in the flesh. JESUS lived a sinless life, which qualified HIM to pay the penalty for sin, in full.

As proof, GOD allowed evil to take the physical life of JESUS by crucifixion and which resulted in the shedding of JESUS’ blood. JESUS was dead when GOD raised HIM from the physically dead. Therefore, the people of the world would know that JESUS conquered physical death. As such, when ANY person asks JESUS to forgive him or her for his or her sins, believing that HE is the sinless SON of GOD, that person is Spiritually and eternally born into GOD’S Family. Thus “born-again.”

All who have been Spiritually born are destined to live eternally with GOD and JESUS in Heaven. This is GOD’S desire.

GOD gave us the Bible for us to read and glean from it the path to salvation through faith in JESUS and that which builds upon our faith in JESUS as we serve HIM upon earth.

GOD knew the Israelites would face issues and so will we. What sustains us during trying times is GOD’S Word and the assurance of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is GOD’S eternal seal/guarantee for those who are Spiritually born into GOD’S Family of salvation and eternal life. Second Corinthians 1:22 - ²² He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.

Let’s read Deuteronomy 6:6-9:

⁶ These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. ⁷ Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol^[b] on your forehead.^[c] 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.

The complete Shema is found in Deuteronomy 11:13-21 and later, Numbers 15:37-41 would be added but the heart of the Shema is what the scribe quoted to JESUS.

When GOD leads HIS Chosen Children into the Promised Land of salvation, through faith in JESUS. It is only the beginning of Spirit-born people’s Spiritual journey as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit. The issues we face in life’s journey are designed to strengthen us and for us to experience the fulness of JESUS in our lives. Reading, studying, meditation and application of scripture is foundational for Spirit-born people to grow Spiritually and bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Read, study, memorize and share GOD’S Word with others as GOD gives us opportunity. Blessings!!!