Sunday Worship 21 May 2023 : “I have filled him with the Spirit of God”

Text: Numbers 27
21 May 2023

INTRODUCTION

1. The work of the Holy Spirit in a person

a) Special
b) Specific
c) Significant

2. The challenge to Discover

a) How one may be filled
b) What a difference it would make

MOSES AS THE OUTSTANDING SERVANT OF GOD

4 Suddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!” So the three came out. 5 Then the LORD came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward. 6 Then He said,

“Hear now My words:
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision;
I speak to him in a dream.
7 Not so with My servant Moses;
He is faithful in all My house.
8 I speak with him face to face,
Even plainly, and not in dark sayings;
And he sees the form of the LORD.
Why then were you not afraid
To speak against My servant Moses?”

Numbers 12:4-8

1. The prophets of God

a) They are special servants of the LORD
b) God speaks to them through dreams and visions

2. Moses was in a class of his own

a) He is also called “a servant of God”
b) But with a difference
i) He is declared faithful
ii) God speaks to him “face to face”
iii) He speaks to him “plainly”
iv) He does not use “dark sayings”
v) He sees the form of the LORD

JOSHUA THE SUCCESSOR OF MOSES

15 Then Moses spoke to the LORD, saying: 16 “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17 who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.”
18 And the LORD said to Moses: “Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19 set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate him in their sight. 20 And you shall give some of your authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. 21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the LORD for him by the judgment of the Urim. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Israel with him—all the congregation.”

22 So Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. 23 And he laid his hands on him and inaugurated him, just as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

Numbers 27:15-23

1. The Request of Moses

a) That God would set a man over the congregation  (Numbers 27:16)
b) He would lead the congregation  (Numbers 27:17a)
c) He would be a shepherd to the flock  (Numbers 27:17b)

2. The Response of the LORD

a) Take Joshua the son of Nun  (Numbers 27:18a)
b) A man in whom is the Spirit  (Numbers 27:18b)
c) And lay your hand on him  (Numbers 27:18c)

3. The Responsibility of Leadership

a) Set him before
i) Eleazar the priest
ii) The congregation
b) Inaugurate him
i) You shall give him some of your authority  (Numbers 27:20a)
ii) That the congregation may be obedient  (Numbers 27:20b)
c) Confirmation
i) He shall stand before Eleazar the priest  (Numbers 27:21a)
ii) He shall inquire of the LORD  (Numbers 27:21b)
d) Joshua was duly inaugurated
i) Moses obeyed the LORD
ii) Joshua would be his successor

A PERSONAL WORD TO JOSHUA

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: 2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall [a]divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:1-9

1. A special promise of the LORD

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.   Joshua 1:5

2. An important word to Joshua

a) Be strong and courageous
b) Meditate on the Book of the Law day and night
c) Success would be given

CONCLUSION

1. The challenge to seek to be filled with the Spirit

2. The command to know the Word of God

3. Strength and courage to be found and exercised for leadership