DON'T TURN BACK!

 

Text: Psalm 78:40-42
“HOW OFT DID THEY PROVOKE HIM IN THE WILDERNESS, AND GRIEVE HIM IN THE DESERT! YEA, THEY TURNED BACK AND TEMPTED GOD, AND LIMITED THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL. THEY REMEMBERED NOT HIS HAND, NOR THE DAY WHEN HE DELIVERED THEM FROM THE ENEMY.”

 

Introduction: In Acts 7:38 we find Israel described as a “church in the wilderness.” As such, there is a wealth of lessons we can learn from the experiences they went through. Romans 15:4 tells us, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” I want us to try to keep this thought in mind as we look to the Author and Finisher of our faith. Let’s see if we can learn something from the “church in the wilderness” that will help us so that we Don’t Turn Back!

    I. TURNED BACK IN THE WILDERNESS; V.40
      "How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him"
      • Sometimes we turn back physically.
      • Numbers 11:4-6 "And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? 5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic: 6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes." .
      • Ephesians 4:30 "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."
      • Philippians 3:13-14 "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

    II. TURNED BACK IN THEIR WORSHIP; V.41
      "...they turned back and limited the holy one of Israel."
      • Sometimes we turn back spiritually.
      • 2 Timothy 4:10 "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia."
      • 1 John 2:15-16 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."
      • Not only did they turn back, but they also tempted God.
      • 1 Corinthians 10:9 "Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents."
      • Their lack of faith limited God! See Numbers 13:27-14:1
      • Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”


    III. TURNED BACK IN THEIR WARFARE; V.42
      "They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from their enemy."
      • Sometimes we turn back emotionally.
      • 2 Corinthians 10:4 “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”
      • Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me"
      • Galatians 6:9 "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

 © Steve Streeter

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