Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 13-24

We start off this week with a warning regarding a prophet that rises up OR Dreamer of dreams

Don’t let them lead you to another god.

“Have no other gods before ME”

• Signs and wonders are not the markers of a true prophet – it’s not an authentication of a true prophet of Yahweh.
  • Remember back to Pharoah’s magicians in the book of Exodus… they had occultic powers that allowed them to perform signs and wonders.
  • Antichrist and false prophet – will perform signs and wonders….
• Death penalty is the just judgement for such a false prophet – anyone who was deceiving God’s people
• “So you shall purge the evil from your midst.”

*We can’t be naïve to think, that we could never do this… we have to be aware of the voices that we’re listening to. Scripture tells us that faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of God…. Our ears are gates to our faith being built up and our faith being destroyed. If we’re listening to voices that plant doubt into what God’s Word says and what God’s word means… take for example God’s words on gender and marriage… culture has looked to re-interpret God’s Word to “mean” something else… that we can still be a “Christian” and live certain ways…. Beware of he false teachers and prophets leading you away from the Word of God.

We can’t pick and choose what verses we want to believe and follow and what we don’t, and still call it Christianity. Careful of the false god of Christianity that is made in the image of man, and not the revered Word of God.

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 1-12

Genesis – The Book of Beginnings

Exodus – The Birth of a Nation

Leviticus – The Laws of the Nation

Numbers – The Wilderness Wanderings

- we we finished last week which covered a span of a 40 year period of when the Israelites were brought out of Egypt, until the point where they were camped across the Jordan River, across from Jericho

- The book of Deuteronomy is considered Moses’ last 24 hours before he dies – essentially made up of 3 farewell speeches. (approx. 2 ½ hours for the 3 speeches)

-Words by Moses through the Holy Spirit, and likely Joshua helped him write it down and potentially

-Torah – The Law

-Deuteronomy means “second law” = the people needed a reminder to trust God and obey Him

-chapter 31:10-11[read] – to be read every year in full during the Feast of Tabernacles

Scripture Reading: Numbers 25-36

This week starts with men indulging in sexual immorality with Moabite women - yoking themselves with Baal of Peor.

Why did they do this?

• We have to look ahead, to discover that Balaam told Balak a strategy to lead the men of Israel away.
• Numbers 31:6 The counsel of Balaam – caused them to commit trespass against the Lord and there was a plague across the people. Balaam tried and tried to curse Israel, but the Lord would not let him.
• When it comes to schemes of the enemy, there is always a way out from temptation. James tells us that it’s our own sinful desires that lead us astray…. If we do not have a renewed mind, in Christ, we are easily led astray into our fleshly desires… just like the men of Israel
  • Teaching of Balaam is spoken of throughout the scriptures many times, most importantly by Jesus Himself. (Rev. 2:14)