Lessons From Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 1:1 (3/16/17)
March 16, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* Deuteronomy is Moses’ farewell speech - we should pay close attention to it. * Jesus quoted more from this book than any other. So did America’s founders. * He was addressing people who had not witnessed all the plagues and miracles God did in Egypt and on the journey through the wilderness. * So what did the greatest leader ever to live say: * 1) He reminded them of who they were. * 2) He reminded them how they got to where they were. * 3) He reminded them who God was. * 4) He reminded them of their mission. * 5) He equipped them for battle. * 6) He encouraged them to remain true to God.
Deuteronomy 1:1-4 (3/18/21)
March 18, 2021 • Benham Brothers
* Forgetfulness leads to Fearfulness which leads to Faithlessness. * Psalms 78:9-11 - “The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle…they FORGOT His works and the mighty wonders He had shown them.” * If you want to face your fear, then you have to REMEMBER what God has done in the past. * Two areas to remember what God has done: * 1) In YOUR past (personal history). * 2) In OUR past (collective history - the Bible, etc). * Moses is giving his farewell speech. * The people are about to enter the Promised Land, but it would involve a fight. * In order to ENCOURAGE them, Moses REMINDED them! * Courage means “to make courageous.” * Vs 1-4 - he reminded them of Og and Sihon (two names you’ll hear a lot in the OT). * Sihon was known as a might king with a strong and terrible army. * The Israelites wanted to pass thru his land, but he wouldn’t let them. * He picked the fight and God helped the Israelites kick his butt. * EX: Like David beating Lebron in one on one. * Og was a giant king who had a bed that was twelve feet long, made of iron, and weighed nearly 500 lbs. * The Israelites kicked his butt too. * Moses was reading them of God’s faithfulness in the past, which would help them walk faithfully in the present. * EX: A few years ago Tori had to speak at a conference. She was nervous. She told a friend. The friend reminded her that she had done much harder things in the past and that she’d get through this the same. She remembered she’s delivered four babies! Speaking publicly was nothing compared to that! * So what is the OG and Sihon in your life? * Look at what God has done in YOUR past. * Look at what He’s done in OUR past. * He’s got your back!
Deuteronomy 1:6 (3/15/18)
March 15, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* Moses is reminding the Israelites of their history. * The Israelites had to remain in the wilderness as punishment for their sin. * But God announced that their punishment was over and it was time to move on. * Principle - if you’re going to move in you must move on. * If you want to move into your future you must move on from your past. * The Promised Land was a good place but they had to first leave Horeb. * We need to stay at Horeb until the lesson is learned, then leave! * So many people continue to live in light of the hurt they experienced in the past. * While it’s healthy to know your history, it’s unhealthy to let it define you. * So many secular counselors want you to have something you can point to so that you don’t have to take responsibility for your situation. * God wants you to re-write your history, but you have to be willing to first move on. * Start with saying, “That’s enough - I’m not going to live there any longer.”
Deuteronomy 1:20-23 (3/16/17)
March 16, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* When the focus is not on God strategy takes the lead from the spirit. * The Israelites should have taken the land, not send out spies. * God probably knew they would be intimidated if they dipped their toe in the water - He wanted them to trust Him fully and just jump in. * Here’s the interesting part - God gave them a strategy on how to do it. * This is just like He gave Balaam permission to go with Balak. * Just because God may have given you a good idea does not mean you’re going the direction He wants you to go. * Often times He let’s you have what you want to get you where you need to be - broken and repentant. * Here’s the key - when people stop focusing on God then curiosity and cowardice replaces commitment and courage.
Deuteronomy 1:26 (3/17/16)
March 17, 2016 • Benham Brothers
• In culture today Christians are considered “haters.” • In the first century Christians were considered “haters of the Roman empire” - same narrative. • Moses reminded the people how they accused God of being a hater. • They rebelled first, they accused second. • God had given them commands they didn’t like, so their view of Him changed. • When we rebel against God’s clearly defined boundaries then our view of God will change too. • And those who serve God will be viewed the same way God is viewed - as a hater. • We can’t concern ourselves with this label - we just be reverent to God and obey His commands.
Deuteronomy 1:28-31 (3/15/18)
March 15, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* A popular business motto is to “play to your strengths.” * There is a lot of truth in this - doing what we’re designed to do. * But you don’t need God when you play only to your strengths. * The Israelites properly recognized the Amorites were stronger than they were. * But allowing their strengths to guide them caused them to miss what God had in store. * The Bible teaches “when I am weak then I am strong.” * Here’s the deal - God often asks us to do things we’re NOT good at to prove His power through us. * In this way He can test our loyalty AND He can get the glory when we obey. * In business I had to do a lot of things I wasn’t good at, but when I did them with a heart to please God I found myself getting really good at those things. * Fortunately I didn’t have to work in those areas forever, but the principle remains true. * Don’t focus on playing to your strengths, focus on obeying the voice of God. * Then trust Him to be strong through you. *
Deuteronomy 1:29-31 (4/19/23)
April 19, 2023 • Benham Brothers • Deuteronomy 1:29–31
Wisdom says “Play to your strengths.” God has given you certain strengths, and you need to stay in your lane in order to fully utilize them. Your strength can be a talent or a skill. Talent - you’re born w/a natural bent (strength). Skill - you learned something and now you’re good at it. But “Play to your strengths”must be balanced by “Walk in obedience.” Why? Because God often asks us to do things we’re not good at in order to show His strength through our weakness. EX: Creating systems for our business. Backstory - Moses is preparing the people to take the Promised Land. He gives them a history lesson so they won’t forget God’s role in their lives. One of the things he reminds them of is when they chose to “play to their strengths” rather than “walk in obedience.” Vs 29-33 - “Then I said to you, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. 30 The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, 31 and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.32 In spite of this, you did not trust in the Lord your God, 33 who went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go. The result of playing to their strengths rather than walking in obedience: Vs 34-35 - “Then the Lord heard what you said, he was angry and solemnly swore: 35 “No one from this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your ancestors…” The result was 40 years of wandering in a wilderness when they could have been chilling in the Promised Land. Playing to your strengths only can result in not inheriting the place God wants you to be. It’s a scary place at first, but a great place once you’re there!
Deuteronomy 2:4-7 (3/14/19)
March 14, 2019 • Benham Brothers
* The Israelites were on their way to the Promised Land. * Along the way they would pass through lands they were not to touch and people they were not to fight. * God gave them many commands, but here in this chapter we find two of them. * On the way to your sweet spot: * 1) Mind your business. * Don’t meddle in stuff that’s not you. * Paul told Timothy to act like a soldier. * A true soldier doesn’t get involved in petty skirmishes. * 2) Handle your business. * Pay for what you eat and drink. Don’t look for handouts. * God didn’t want the Israelites to be in debt to these people. * Abraham paid for Rachel’s grave, David paid for the threshing floor of Aruna. * They didn’t want to be in someone’s debt and “owe” that person. * EX: Benjamin Netanyahu paying for his own food in the market. * If you mind your business and handle your business you won’t need others to provide for you.
Deut 2:31-33 (3/28/14)
March 28, 2014 • Benham Brothers
There's a fine line between waiting on God and being proactive to go out and get it. God provided manna but the people had to go get it. God provided the Promised Land but the people had to go in and take it. When God is providing He puts it within reach, but you have to go and get it. You know you have waited on God by how you respond when you get it! In vs 33 - The Israelites claimed God as giving them victory over their enemies - they didn't take the credit.
Deuteronomy 3:1-6 (3/14/19)
March 14, 2019 • Benham Brothers
* It was time for the Israelites to finally take the Promised Land. * God had to encourage them first. Why? vs 11 - Og was a monster! * We don’t fight FOR victory, we fight FROM it. * The land was already theirs, but they had to go out and get it. * They had to walk in authority, and when they did they would have what God wanted them to have. * But it was their choice. * They originally backed out of the fight 38 years prior because they believed they had to fight FOR victory. * Seeing it that way meant they could never win because the giants were too big. * Testimony - when we first got fired from HGTV and we went on all the interviews… * The first few were so hard because I was nervous and not walking in authority.
Deut 4:9, 15, 29 (3/14/13)
March 14, 2013 • Benham Brothers
* Moses is making a distinction between Soul & Spirit * He is saying that you are to love God with both * Your Spirit is to guide your Soul * Your Soul is your Mind, Will, Emotions - the Mind is chief * You spirit leads your mind, then your mind directs your will and emotions
Deuteronomy 4:24 & 6:14-15 (3/15/18)
March 15, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* Moses was warning the people about idolatry. * Don’t let your relationship with Jesus turn to religion. * Religion is about our way of getting to God and making Him happy. * Relationship is about our response to God reaching down to us. * Here’s the differentiator - religion does not involve jealousy. * When we give our hearts to Jesus we become “His,” and He’s jealous of what’s His. * If we cheat on Him He doesn’t like it. * The reverse is true as well - if we see someone bad-mouthing Him or misrepresenting Him we should be jealous for His reputation. * Our relationship with God should be treated like our relationship with our parents (or spouse). * How would we respond if we heard someone bad mouthing or misrepresenting them in public? * How do we know if we’re operating by religion or relationship? * By how you feel when God is misrepresented. * You should be jealous for His reputation.
Deuteronomy 5:1 (3/15/18)
March 15, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* The first 5 commandments deal with causes. * They all point to HONOR for authority: * Honor God. * Honor the Sabbath (Jesus). * Honor parents. * The last 5 commandments deal with effects. * If you honor God, the Sabbath, and your parents, remaining properly aligned under authority, you will do the last 5 commandments. * You won’t kill, covet, steal, commit adultery, lie. * It’s all about authority - if we honor authority we’ll walk in authority. * Apart from honoring authority we won’t have authority over our lives. *
Deuteronomy 5:29 (3/16/17)
March 16, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* Jeremiah 29:11 reveals God’s plan for us - to bless us, not to curse us. * But if we want to experience this plan we have a part to play. * Numbers 33:55-56 - If God’s people disobeyed, listen to what He said: “And I will do to you what I had planned to do to your (enemies).” * Key - We can change God’s plan if we refuse to adhere to God’s principles. * Notice the very next thing Moses addresses in Numbers 34:1-2 - BOUNDARIES! * Deuteronomy 5:29 - God had just given the 10 Commandments, and then said this. * If we want God’s blessings we must stay inside His boundaries, living by His principles. * It’s our choice - how God treats us is up to us. * Psalms 34:15-16 - It’s Our Choice. * I’ve told my kids I am not here to be their friend - I’m here to be their dad. * If they can honor me as dad then we’ll be best friends, but if they don’t then I’ll be the worst enemy they’ve ever had. * I want to be friends with all my kids, but it’s their choice. * If they honor me by obeying my rules, then we’ll be friends and they’ll be in my favor. * If they don’t then we won’t be friends and they won’t have my favor. * They’ll have my love, but not my favor. * My love is unconditional, but my favor is conditioned on their obedience.
Deut 6:4-5 & 25 (3/28/14)
March 28, 2014 • Benham Brothers
Moses was giving the people final instructions from God before they entered the Promised Land. The reward for them if they 1) Believed, 2) Loved, 3) Obeyed God would be that they would be counted as "righteous." Righteous means "right relationship" with God. If you are in a right relationship with God then you have LIFE! Profit is anything that leads to LIFE, so righteousness is very profitable! It's a great reward. In the OT it was: Believe - Love - Obey (behave). This was the foundation for God to build a relationship with us. When Jesus came it was: Believe - Become - Behave. Religions go from Belief to Behavior. Christianity goes from Belief to Becomming and then to Behavior. Christianity is about RELATIONSHIP - a Father / Child relationship that can be experienced. When we "become" a child of God then we "behave" as one.