Talk of a Champion

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Sermon Text: Exodus 33: 11 the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend, Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Sermon Title: The Talk of a Champion

Song: The Hall of Fame

Context: In our text this morning we have Moses going outside the Camp to a tent that he has set up to meet with God face to face. This tent is called the "tent of the meetings" because it is the place where Moses meets God and God meets Moses. It is also the substitute for the Tabernacle that is supposed to sit in the middle of the Camp. The Tabernacle is the place he was supposed to meet God, but its construction has been put off because there is so much murmuring, talk and disobedience going on inside the camp. Since Moses still had to hear from God he built the tent of the meeting outside the camp so he could hear what God said and not what "they say." What stands out to me in the text is what Joshua does.

Point 1: Joshua Waited on a Word from God vs. 11b …but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. Joshua did something most people no longer do. Joshua refused to go anywhere until he heard from God. David said in Psalms 27: 14 wait on the Lord be of good courage and again I say wait for the Lord. He didn't leave the tent.

Point 2: Don't Use Wilderness Words while you Wait vss. 3 - 5 But I will not go with you because you are stiff-necked people…When they heard these distressing words, they begin to mourn and no one put on any ornaments.

Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.

Numbers 11:1 The Message (MSG) Camp Taberah 11 ^1-3 The people fell to grumbling over their hard life. God heard. When he heard his anger flared; then fire blazed up and burned the outer boundaries of the camp. The people cried out for help to Moses; Moses prayed to God and the fire died down. They named the place Taberah (Blaze) because fire from God had blazed up against them

Exodus 16:2-3
Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. And the children of Israel said to them, Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

Numbers 21:4-7 The Message (MSG) The Snake of Fiery Copper ^4-5 They set out from Mount Hor along the Red Sea Road, a detour around the land of Edom. The people became irritable and cross as they traveled. They spoke out against God and Moses: “Why did you drag us out of Egypt to die in this godforsaken country? No decent food; no water—we can’t stomach this stuff any longer.”

Point 3: Winning Words Numbers 14: 6 - 8 Joshua son of Nun…said to the entire Israelites…if the Lord is pleased with us he will lead us into the, a land flowing with mild and honey, and will give it to us He knew how to say words that brought on victories. Listen to what else Joshua said when it was time to fight like a Champion.

Joshua 24:15
¹⁵ But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Where did Joshua get those words? While he was in the presence of the Lord listening to what God said not what they say. This is the way the song put it.

Yeah, You could be the greatest
You can be the best
You can be the king kong banging on your chest
*You could beat the world
You could beat the war
You could talk to God, go banging on his door
*You can throw your hands up
You can beat the clock
You can move a mountain
You can break rocks
You can be a master
Don't wait for luck
Dedicate yourself and you can find yourself
*Standing in the hall of fame
And the world's gonna know your name
Cause you burn with the brightest flame
And the world's gonna know your name
And you'll be on the walls of the hall of fame

*You could go the distance
You could run the mile
You could walk straight through hell with a smile
*You could be the hero
You could get the gold
Breaking all the records they thought never could be broke
*Do it for your people
Do it for your pride
Never gonna know if you never even try
Do it for your country
Do it for your name
Cause there's gonna be a day
*When your, standing in the hall of fame
And the world's gonna know your name
Cause you burn with the brightest flame
And the world's gonna know your name
And you'll be on the walls of the hall of fame
*Be a champion, Be a champion, Be a champion, Be a champion
On the walls of the hall of fame
*Be students
Be teachers
Be politicians
Be preachers
*Be believers
Be leaders
Be astronauts
Be champions
Be true seekers
Life Application:

1. Sign up and serve like a Champion

2. Ignore what they say about you listen to what God says about you…he says he sent his son to save you…

3. Live by what God says about you!