Wednesday, May 22, 2019

SMALL-MINDED PEOPLE MAKE BIG MISTAKES




EXODUS 32:1-35

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THE MISTAKES OF SMALL-MINDED PEOPLE [v. 1]

1. Living by Sight [v. 1, 2 Corinthians 5:7] For we walk by faith, not by sight:

2. Living by Consensus [v. 1b]

Much is being said these days about "meeting the felt needs of people," but here [Ex. 32] was a nation that didn't really know what its needs really were. They thought they needed an idol, but what they really needed was faith in their great God who had revealed Himself so powerfully to them. - Warren Wiersbe

3. Living by Ignorance [v. 1c]

If you have vision nothing will frighten you. With His vision, God gives you power. You must not be afraid. - Iranian Pastor

II. THE MISTAKES OF SMALL-MINDED LEADERS [v. 2-6]

1. Thinking they can Lead by Capitulation [v. 2-3]

2. Thinking they can Lead by Compromise [v. 4-5]

They imagined that a god formed by a "graving tool" was better than Jehovah, -that a calf which they could see was better than the invisible, yet every-where-present, God, - a visible counterfeit, than an invisible reality. - C.H.M.

3. Thinking they can Lead by Containment [v. 6]

We have learned that suffering is not the worst thing in the world--- disobedience to God is the worst. - Vietnamese Pastor imprisoned for his faith

III. THE MISTAKES OF THE SMALL-MINDED CORRECTED [v. 7-35]

1. Exposure of the Corruption [v. 7-18]

David doesn't ask that the Lord NOT rebuke or chasten him - only that He not do it in anger or hot displeasure [6:1]. Instead he asks for mercy, confesses his sinful frailty and even mentions that sin's natural effects already are making him miserable [v. 2-3]

2. Expectancy of Confrontation [v. 19-24, Matthew 18:15]

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

3. Expression of Choice [v. 25-35]

If God doesn't deliver His child from a problem, He will deliver His child through the problem. But He has a purpose in His child going through it.

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