Scripture: Deut.34:1-4
How did Moses feel after 40 years through the arid desert, leading 3-4 millions Israelites, standing at this mountain to see the Promised Land but unable to enter it?
Why did God banned Moses from entering the Promised Land?
- Moses' anger and disobedience
- Know that every act of obedience is an act of trusting and honouring God
- Remember that all glory belongs to God
- Understand that every discipline of God is embedded in His love, mercy and compassion
Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-9, Genesis
Lessons from the life of Joseph:
- God's ways are not our ways
- Suffering is a part of walking with God
- We must flee from sin
- Jealousy destroys
- God is with you in the midst of trial
- Forgiveness
Scripture: book of James
Lessons from the book of James:
- How to take joy in times of trial
- How not to boast
- There is strength in humility
- The temptation to sin usually arises within us
Scripture: book of Ruth
Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16
Scripture: Exodus 20:17
The tenth commandment - You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
The last commandment in this series but is this the least important commandment?
The answer to that is No, because God takes coveting as serious offence due to its destructive nature.
- Coveting is a deadly sin like the rest
- Coveting is the deadly motive and motivation for committing sins
- Coveting is the deadly destroyer of souls
Contentment is the first and last protector against the mother of all sin.
- Contentment is about being glad and satisfied with what we possessed
- Contentment is about experiencing the inner secrets of living in every situation
- Contentment is about being satisfied in God because He is enough
Scripture: Exodus 20:16
The ninth commandment - You shall not lie.
The reasons for God's hatred of liars and deceivers are:
- Lying is the language of Satan
- Lying destroys our integrity and God's dignity
- Lying destroys life
The emphasis of this commandment is to preserve, protect and promote truth. This is what we can do to combat lies:
- Support the truth by defending it
- Stand up for the truth by fighting it
- Steadily speak the truth in love without wavering
Scripture: Exodus 20:15
The eight commandment - You shall not steal.
We can all do well and live well without stealing. God who possesses all things gives us all things.
When we steal:
- We deprive victims of their responsibility as stewards
- We deprive victims of opportunity
- We deprive victims of dignity
Here's some guidelines on how to live well without stealing:
- Gain (work) all you can
- Save all you can
- Give all you can
- Pray (trust) all you can