 1 Corinthians 10:11 These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.

Journey to the Promised Land The Believers Promised Land

I. Follow the Cloud  Numbers 10:11-12 – Israel leaves Sinai

 Number 9:15-23

●Whenever the cloud lifted, the people would break camp and follow it ▪Overnight, few days, month, year ▪Camped or traveled at the Lord’s command ▪They did what the Lord told them through Moses ●Whenever the cloud lifted, the people would break camp and follow it ▪Overnight, few days, month, year ▪Camped or traveled at the Lord’s command ▪They did what the Lord told them through Moses

 Deuteronomy 1: “…the LORD your God, 33who goes before you looking for the best places to camp, guiding you with a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day.

 Number 10:29-36 – destination Promised Land ●We are on our way to the place the Lord promised – wonderful blessings ●Moving with the cloud ●Moses giving leadership – acknowledging the move of God  Number 10:29-36 – destination Promised Land ●We are on our way to the place the Lord promised – wonderful blessings ●Moving with the cloud ●Moses giving leadership – acknowledging the move of God

●Ark set out – “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered” ●Ark set down – “Return, O Lord, to the countless thousands of Israelites” ●Significance of the Lord’s presence ●Ark set out – “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered” ●Ark set down – “Return, O Lord, to the countless thousands of Israelites” ●Significance of the Lord’s presence

 Exodus 33: Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. 16How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart (NASB - may be distinguished) from all other people on the earth.” ●God’s presence is the distinguishing factor  Exodus 33: Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. 16How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart (NASB - may be distinguished) from all other people on the earth.” ●God’s presence is the distinguishing factor

 Psalms 68:1-3 NASB "Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; And let those who hate Him flee before Him. 2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked perish before God. 3 But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God; Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.”

Let God Arise, His enemies be scattered Let God, Let God, Arise Let God Arise, His enemies be scattered Let God, Let God, Arise

Let God Arise, Let God Arise Let His enemies be scattered But let the righteous be glad Yes, let them rejoice with gladness God has triumphed mightily Let God Arise, Let God Arise Let His enemies be scattered But let the righteous be glad Yes, let them rejoice with gladness God has triumphed mightily

 To Israel ●A cry of Change ●A Cry of Progress ●Caused the entire camp to move on with God  To Israel ●A cry of Change ●A Cry of Progress ●Caused the entire camp to move on with God

 Perils of not following the Cloud ●No warmth ●No protection ●No manna ●No water ●Temptation to go back to Egypt  Perils of not following the Cloud ●No warmth ●No protection ●No manna ●No water ●Temptation to go back to Egypt

II. The Church’s Cloud  Who has been given to lead the church in its continued journey of possessing its promised land? ●The Holy Spirit – John 16:13-15 ▪He will guide you into all truth ▪He will tell you about the future  Who has been given to lead the church in its continued journey of possessing its promised land? ●The Holy Spirit – John 16:13-15 ▪He will guide you into all truth ▪He will tell you about the future

 Acts 16:6-10 ●The Holy Spirit prevented them from preaching in Asia ●Did not allow them to go to Bithynia ●Vision to go to Macedonia  Acts 16:6-10 ●The Holy Spirit prevented them from preaching in Asia ●Did not allow them to go to Bithynia ●Vision to go to Macedonia

 Acts 15 – Elders of the church ●Pharisees contending that Gentiles had to become Jews to be followers of Christ ●Leaders listen to testimonies of God’s work among the Gentiles ●The testimonies are confirmed with God’s word ●The leaders make a determination “for it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…” ●Leaders crying out “Let God arise…”  Acts 15 – Elders of the church ●Pharisees contending that Gentiles had to become Jews to be followers of Christ ●Leaders listen to testimonies of God’s work among the Gentiles ●The testimonies are confirmed with God’s word ●The leaders make a determination “for it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…” ●Leaders crying out “Let God arise…”

 Letters to the churches in Revelation – “Anyone who has ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”

 Manifestations of the Cloud (the Holy Spirit) ●Peace ●Provision ●Comfort ●Change ●Progress ●Distinguished by God’s presence  Perils of not following the cloud (the Holy Spirit) ●Off course ●Vulnerable to temptation ●Not attain possession of the believers promised land ●No presence of God  Manifestations of the Cloud (the Holy Spirit) ●Peace ●Provision ●Comfort ●Change ●Progress ●Distinguished by God’s presence  Perils of not following the cloud (the Holy Spirit) ●Off course ●Vulnerable to temptation ●Not attain possession of the believers promised land ●No presence of God

III. The Profile of a Leader  Numbers 11:16-30 ●Men recognized as elders ●Put the same Spirit on these men ●Moses, make them stop prophesying ●I wish all the Lord’s people were prophets  Numbers 11:16-30 ●Men recognized as elders ●Put the same Spirit on these men ●Moses, make them stop prophesying ●I wish all the Lord’s people were prophets

 Numbers 12 – response to challengers ●Has the Lord only spoken through Moses? ●Moses – very humble – more humble than any other person on earth ●God spoke to Moses face to face – trust ●Exodus 33:11 "Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend…”  Numbers 12 – response to challengers ●Has the Lord only spoken through Moses? ●Moses – very humble – more humble than any other person on earth ●God spoke to Moses face to face – trust ●Exodus 33:11 "Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend…”

●Miriam punished ●Moses intercedes ●Miriam punished ●Moses intercedes

 The Principle of Leadership – Matthew 20:25-28

●Rulers in this world lord it over their people ●Different among you ●Leader must be servant ●First among you must be slave ●Rulers in this world lord it over their people ●Different among you ●Leader must be servant ●First among you must be slave

 We all have the Spirit – why do we need someone to cry out “Let God Arise”? ●Areas of jurisdiction ▪The church elders ▪Pastors/shepherds – flock overseers ▪Areas of various ministries ▪Family ●Lead in your area of jurisdiction ●Follow others in their area of jurisdiction ●Trusted leader profile ▪Humble ▪servant  We all have the Spirit – why do we need someone to cry out “Let God Arise”? ●Areas of jurisdiction ▪The church elders ▪Pastors/shepherds – flock overseers ▪Areas of various ministries ▪Family ●Lead in your area of jurisdiction ●Follow others in their area of jurisdiction ●Trusted leader profile ▪Humble ▪servant

Reflection Time  People have rejected the cloud and strayed off course. What is the draw out from under the protection and into the place of vulnerability? Do you value the Lord’s presence?  How have you embraced your area of leadership? Do you know when to say “let God arise?”  How are you following other leaders? When they say “God is arising” are you ready to move with them?  People have rejected the cloud and strayed off course. What is the draw out from under the protection and into the place of vulnerability? Do you value the Lord’s presence?  How have you embraced your area of leadership? Do you know when to say “let God arise?”  How are you following other leaders? When they say “God is arising” are you ready to move with them?

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