So Big, So Close - Holy Living in a Hostile World

A “Poseidon” world

A manual for an upside down world - The Book of Deuteronomy

Choices for a time of seismic upheaval and anxious uncertainty.

The journey begins with God saying . . .

You’ve stayed where you are long enough . . . You’ve got more ground

to conquer . . . Move out of your nest – there’s land to possess! Deut. 4:9-10; 13-14; 19-20

A God-visited, God-valued people, plunged into a pervasive, seductive culture that ignores God.

The journey ahead promises . . .

Great blessings - Deut. 6:10-12; 28:12

And . . .

Great batles Deut. 7:1; 17-20; 20:1,4; 9:1

The best is not behind you . . . the best is yet to come!

1. THEENEMIESTHATWILLSINKYOU Deut.31:8;1:21

• Fear

Fear paralyzes. Fear clouds your judgment. Inflates your obstacles.

Shrinks your faith. Leads to expedient but expensive decisions. Causes you to compromise. Fear can cost you God’s will!

Fear focuses on how big the risks and the obstacles are.

Faith says, “Go!” Fear says, “No!”

10 times in their changing season - “Do not be afraid! We can choose not to be afraid.

Fear makes the mistake of comparing me to my monster instead of comparing my monster to my Master!

• Discouragement

Focuses on your feelings. And strips away your courage.

There are four words that are all we need to know as we face the unknown, the uncertain, the immovable, the overwhelming. Four words that are the heart and soul of holy living in a hostile world. Repeated an amazing 272 times in the Book of Deuteronomy alone!

“THE LORD YOUR GOD!”

How can we choose to “not be afraid?” Deut. 1:29-33

• He will fight for you when it’s bigger than you can handle.

• He will carry you when your strength is running out.

• He will go ahead of you when you can’t see what’s ahead.

• He will make sure you have what you need.

• He will show you the way when you don’t know which way to go. BOLD CHOICE # 1 - I WILL REST IN HIS SOVEREIGNTY!

“The Lord” - “Yahweh” The God of personal relationship

“My God” - “Elohim” The Supreme One. The mighty God of gods.

“Yahweh, your Mighty God!”

Whatever the obstacle, whatever the fear, whatever the doubts, whatever the questions, whatever the need, whatever the batles – He is . . .

Deuteronomy will show us – against the backdrop of a dark culture and powerful forces – a God to love deeply . . . obey completely . . .

and trust more fully!

God’s people then – and God’s people in our troubling times – had one thing to go on. To cross a flooded Jordan, defy a looming Jericho, possess the “more” God wants to give.

We can proceed boldly into the unknown because we have . . . A PROMISE!