OUTSIDE OF OUR COMFORT ZONE

Deuteronomy 8 verses 10-18 Discipleship -

. We come to looking at how we live as disciples outside of the confines of the fellowship of our churches. This is where it really counts and I would dare to suggest to you this is where the real you is seen. Real discipleship is lived out, worked out and witnessed to in the world and not just the confines of the church and its family. You see there is something evil about the man or woman who stands as a pillar of righteousness in church but is a tyrant in his home and is far from righteous in his workplace. There is something sinful and hypocritical about the man or women who stands as the pillar of righteousness in church but gossips, backbites and slanders others in the community. Lets have a wee look at Deuteronomy chapter 8 and verses 10-18.

Deuteronomy is the second book of the Law and is set at the end of the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. It consists of two great sermons by Moses to the people of Israel as they are about to enter the Promised Land. Chapters 1-4 recalls the key events of the wilderness years and contains an impassioned plea for the people to remember God's faithfulness in the past.

Chapters 5-26 is the core of the book. Moses repeats the 10 commandments and focuses on the first commandment in calling the people to wholehearted devotion to God. He provides teaching on the practical outworking of the Law of God when they enter the Promised Land. The remaining chapters are a renewal of the Covenant, the appointment of Joshua and the promise of the blessings that will flow to the people of God if they obey the Law of God in the Promised Land.

Chapter 8 verses 10-18 are part of the second great sermon of Moses spelling out how single-minded devotion to God is lived out each day in the Promised Land.

Verse 10 - here is the immediate context and the controlling principle - they are not to forget God when things are going well for them. When life is good and they are satisfied with all that they have they are to praise God because it was He who brought them out of the land of slavery and bondage into this land flowing with milk and honey, this land of promise. Verses 11 they are given a warning - do not forget God and do not cease to obey what He has commanded you. In the verses that follow Moses paints a picture of prosperity and the accompanying danger.

Verses 12-16. When they have prospered with increased flocks which have resulted in increased wealth that has enabled them to build grand houses they are to be wary of their hearts becoming proud. Here were people who had lived in tents and wandered from place to place for a generation. Now having settled down they enter a period of prosperity and with it they enjoy the trappings of that wealth. Please note God was the one who brought them to the Land of Promise, to a land flowing with milk and honey. Moses does not condemn them doing well and prospering but he does warn them about the attitude of their heart when they move up in the world, so to speak. The danger is stated clearly in verse 14 - their hearts will become proud and they will forget that it was God who brought them out of slavery and provide the means to enter the Promised Land. Moses warns them that the danger will reside in their hearts - not in their possessions. It is in their own hearts that they will become proud. In verses 15 and 16 Moses is very explicit as to whom it was that provided for them when they had nothing - it was God who provided the food, the water, the protection and the guidance for these people. They were not to forget the past now that the present was so good.

Verse 17 here is the danger. Is this not the danger which lurks in all our hearts? When things are going bad or times are hard we blame God but when life is good and prosperous we claim the glory. The people of Israel are warned of such danger lurking in their hearts. Are we aware of such a danger in our hearts? We sometimes tell people 'to be forewarned is to be forearmed' but do we heed that advice here. For the people of Israel the danger is that in their prosperity and pride they might claim that the power and strength of their own hands produced their wealth, not remembering the Lord God gave them the ability to produce wealth in confirmation of His covenant with them - verses 17-18.

Verses 19-20 - just look at them for a moment. There is a dire warning here. If the people of God forget God and disobey the Lord, if they turn and follow other gods it will mean the destruction of Israel as a nation. Repeatedly in this passage the people of God are warned not to forget God when things go well with them and to obey the Law of God, especially in times of prosperity so that blessings may continue to fall on them.

Your own church may have been blessed for some time or maybe you are going through a time of crisis. It may be the Lord is speaking into your heart as an individual or as a church. May be your own church has had difficult times but God will keep His promise to you. On the other hand your church may be growing and the warning here is to always give praise to God for His grace.

Never for a moment think numerical numbers is a sign that God is blessing your church. Bums on seats is no indication of God's Spirit flowing through your church. So many fall into that trap and are caught like a rabbit in a snare. True wealth is in those who have a heart for God, for those who are humble in God's work and for those who show forgiveness and compassion.

I am the worst of all Christian because I can write about God's grace, love and mercy but at times I still fail.
I write about forgiveness but harbour an unforgiving heart towards my ex-pastor for his cruel words. Its so easy to allow our hurt feelings to allow sin into our lives and its a battle that we may all face at one time or another. I don't have any easy answers but God calls me to be obedient to His Word and His Word commands me to walk in Christs shoes

Let me finish by encouraging you all. You do make a difference for Christ in YOUR community. You are salt and light in your community. If you are involved in outside organisations - keep involved and be salt and light there. If you are being a good neighbour - keep being a good neighbour - ask for prayer that you would continue to be salt and light there. As a church you need to start afresh to look outside the building and outside your organisations at new an innovative ways to reach this community with the gospel. I believe we live in a moment of great opportunity to win people for Christ - question is are we willing to step outside the comfort of our church to lead others to the Promised Land?