New Beginnings Weekly Message 10-8-07

October 8, 2007

Disobedience Is Costly!

Deuteronomy 3:23-28, says: 23 -25 At that same time, I begged God: "God, my Master, you let me in on the beginnings, you let me see your greatness, you let me see your might—what god in Heaven or Earth can do anything like what you've done! Please, let me in also on the endings, let me cross the river and see the good land over the Jordan, the lush hills, the Lebanon mountains." 26 -27 But God was still angry with me because of you. He wouldn't listen. He said, "Enough of that. Not another word from you on this. Climb to the top of Mount Pisgah and look around: look west, north, south, east. Take in the land with your own eyes. Take a good look because you're not going to cross this Jordan. 28 "Then command Joshua: Give him courage. Give him strength. Single-handed he will lead this people across the river. Single-handed he'll cause them to inherit the land at which you can only look."

This scripture tells the story of Moses begging God to allow him to enter the promised land. Moses one act of disobedience cost him going into the promised land with the Israelites. He was forced to look down upon it from a mountain and to pass the baton of taking the people in to Joshua.

What act of disobedience could cause you to forfeit the promise? What act of disobedience has cost you something and what was the cost?

Like Moses you can see the promise, you can see the options laid out before you, you can see your future, but you just can’t get there. You can see the stuff, that is blocking your path, but you have no ability to move the stuff. I want to challenge you to move it by prayer and obedience. I am a witness to the fact that your and my disobedience can and does cost us. Disobedience is not just the stuff that we do which is wrong or bad. Disobedience also includes the stuff that God told us to do that we failed to do, because of fear, because what He asked us to do did not make sense based on our limited understanding and knowledge of the big picture or because it was just too hard.

We do not understand what God is doing in our lives. Our disobedience slows down the process, puts it on delay or can send us in the wrong direction as we attempt to do it our way.

God knows why He tells us to do what He tells us to do and why He tells us to do it the way He tells us to do it. You could have been married if you had let God deal with your weight and your attitude. He is still going to do it, even if it takes some additional time, but why waste time because of disobedience. I have been on the seven year plan. He has been telling me to do it forever. I am doing it now and I can see the difference in my total package, not just what my body looks like. The butterfly is coming out of the cocoon now. What if I had done it when He first told me? Where would this ministry be now? Where would I be now? What is your area of disobedience? What was the thing God told you to do that you decided not to do? What is the thing that you wish you had done?

For me there are some conversations I should have had? Some meals I should have changed — Less bread and sweets and more fruits and vegetables. Maybe I should have said I love you more often to the people that are important to me, because that is what they needed to hear. Maybe I should have been less busy with church work and got my priorities right. I don’t know what you should have done but you are human, so I know there is something.

Did your act of disobedience cause you to forfeit the promise God had for you?
Take some time to identify your areas of disobedience what it cost you and whether or not the time can be redeemed. Do you have a chance to undo or reverse the cost that has been paid? Can you get it back or is it just a missed opportunity?

Weekly Scripture:

We just worked out spiritually. If you have not worked out your physical temple get up and put your video in or go for a walk, but do something. Remember to work out at least 3 times per week (20-30 minutes per day) to experience a New Beginning physically. Work out to music, workout and pray. Just workout.

For further discussion contact angela@mynewtemple.org or write to us on the message board