The Voice

Reading Numbers 11 for Saturday, July 15th. God burns up some complainers, gives his spirit to 70 elders to help Moses not to be overwhelmed with the people, and strikes some ungrateful seekers of other food with a plague. 

Reading Numbers 10 for Friday, July 14th. Moses invited his father-in-law to come with the Israelites, even though he was a Midianite. 

Reading Numbers 9 for Thursday, July 13th. God showed the Israelites when they should camp and when they should go out. He explained to Moses that it was only OK to not observe the Passover at the appointed m time for those who were unclean or if they were traveling. Others who did not observe the Passover on time would be subject to the consequences of their sin. 

Reading Numbers 8 for Wednesday, July 12th. The Levites were set apart to be wholly God’s people, and worked until they were 50. 

Reading Numbers 7 for Tuesday, July 11th. 12 sets of matching offerings and sacrifices were presented and then Moses spoke with God. 

Reading Numbers 6 for Monday, July 10th. Rules for being a Nazirite. 

7/8/2017 discussion led by Ezra Engle

Do we need to strive for salvation? Should it require a great effort?

How does our pursuit for a right relationship with God and to honor His commandments differ from our salvation in the amount of energy we invest to maintain?

…”The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

-Romans 10:8b-13 NIV

How much confidence do you have in your salvation?

According to the passage in Romans we just read, how much confidence should you have? 

It seems much simpler when you distill it to three things: confessing with your mouth that “Jesus is Lord” and believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. Simply trusting in Jesus will never put us to shame.

Sometimes we allow the world to interject our thoughts with fear of being shamed for putting our faith in Jesus, but we are not called to put anything or anyone but Jesus in place as our Lord.

Have you called on the name of the Lord Jesus to be saved?

Simply calling on Him reveals your belief that He can save you. Allowing Him to lift you up is surrendering to Him the authority to direct your life. Now all you need to do is declare that “Jesus is Lord” to make it public.

Here is a verse describing a man dying on a cross next to Jesus, and being saved by putting his faith and belief in Jesus:

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

-Luke 23:42-43 NIV

Have you had a challenging experience talking about your faith with someone? What made it hard to do? How did it turn out?

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”

-1 Peter 3:15 NIV

Reading Numbers 5 for Saturday, July 8th. What to do if you are jealous Israelite husband, but have no evidence of your wife’s assumed unfaithfulness. 

Reading Numbers 4 for Friday, July 7th. Several groups are assigned work carrying parts of the tabernacle, but they are warned not to touch what they are not allowed to. 

Reading Numbers 3 for Thursday, July 6th. The Levites take the place of the first born sons after they have been redeemed.