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Sermon Outline - When the Pit Opened, Numbers ch.16 vv.32-33

Date21/09/2003
Time17:30
PreacherRev. Maurice Roberts, Inverness
Sermon TitleWhen the Pit Opened
TextNumbers ch.16 vv.32-33
Sermon ID670

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Introduction

DOCTRINE: those who rebel against God will meet a fearful judgement at last.

  1. THE SIN OF REBELLION HERE DESCRIBED

    1. Their complaint was against the authority which God gave to His closest servants:
      • Moses - man inspired of God
      • Aaron - a man ordained by God
      APPLICATION: Sin in the heart rebels against the authority of Christ in His Word and in His servants.
    2. The sin of rebelling against God's Word is very common:
      1. The "leaven of the Pharisees" - what?
      2. The "leaven of the Sadducees" - what?
      OBSERVE: By adding to/subtracting from God's Word, men attempt to cast off the Bible's authority.
      OBSERVE: To reject the authority of God over our life is our great sin as a world.
    3. What makes sinners rebel?
      • dislike of God's holiness
      • resentment against God's authority
      • self-deception as to the consequences
      APPLICATION: If you refuse Christ's claims you too are a rebel.
  2. SINNERS HOPE TO KEEP UP THEIR REBELLION AGAINST GOD BY BLUSTER AND VAIN-CONFIDENCE

    1. Look at these rebels: v.2-3; 12-14.
      They attempt to give sound reasons for their rebellion and colour to their conduct
    2. This is how sinners always behave:
      "I do not believe because"
      1. "The Bible is not reliable" -
      2. "The Church is full of hypocrites";
      3. "Who knows which religion is right?"
      4. "No one ever came back from the dead."
      OBSERVE: By arguments like these sinners, people think to justify their unbelief.
    3. We must learn that all who attempt to reject the Bible/Gospel claims of God are in fact making war on God Himself.
      Look at v.19 - God's appearance!
      OBSERVE: Sooner of later God will break into the lives of rebels and deal with them:
      1. "He that being often reproved"... (Proverbs 29:1)
      2. "Today if ye hear his voice"... (Hebrews 2:3)
      3. "How shall we escape"...? (Hebrews 2:3)
    4. What we need to do is to stop arguing against God and to begin to see that man is so much lower than God that we dare not contradict Him.
  3. GOD IN HIS WORD SHOWS US THE LATTER END OF WICKED MEN TO DRAW US TO FAITH, AND OBEDIENCE TO HIMSELF

    1. These rebels now have to face God whose authority they have scorned. We are here shown how they fare: v.28-30;31-33.
    2. Why does God terrify us with this knowledge of His fearful judgement?
      A. To show us -
      1. that He demands to be obeyed
      2. and warns us of our end if we are rebellious
    3. To what then are we to obey?
      1. We are to admit we are rebels.
        Q. Have you done so?
      2. We are to recognise our rebellion.
        Q. Why have you not done so?
      3. Give ourselves to God by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.
        Q. Do you believe?
    4. The Gospel has 2 edges like a sword:
      1. to judge: or heal
      2. to comfort:
      ILLUSTRATION: The two thieves

CONCLUSION

The time to come to Christ is NOW.


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