Love vs. Fear – Don’t misunderstand or abuse either
Numbers 12-13 /1John 1-2
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OT
12:1-8 While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite woman. They said, “Has the LORD spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he spoken through us, too?” But the LORD heard them.
Now Moses was more humble than any other person on earth. So immediately the LORD called to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam and said, “Go out to the Tabernacle, all three of you!” And the three of them went out. Then the LORD descended in the pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the Tabernacle. “Aaron and Miriam!” he called, and they stepped forward. And the LORD said to them, “Now listen to me! Even with prophets, I the LORD communicate by visions and dreams. But that is not how I communicate with my servant Moses. He is entrusted with my entire house. I speak to him face to face, directly and not in riddles! He sees the LORD as he is. Should you not be afraid to criticize him?”
NT
1:1-5 The one who existed from the beginning is the one we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is Jesus Christ, the Word of life. This one who is life from God was shown to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and announce to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was shown to us. We are telling you about what we ourselves have actually seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy will be complete.
This is the message he has given us to announce to you: God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.
OT Flash Points
God’s promise vs. Obstacles
Courage vs. Dis-courage-ment
Faith vs. Natural Calculation
Pastor [servant-shepherd], dare you raise yourself to Moses’ place before the people you serve?
NT Flash Points
God’s love – the basis for our life
Fear does not have a place in that love
Perfected love squeezes the fear out
Note: self-promotion and some aggressive organizing is for fear of missing some opportunity
Jesus, the tangible love of God, requires repentance
Turn and follow
Perspective
Relying on a sense of duty, etc, competes with the resurrection life of Jesus
A saint can be easily ridiculed
Don’t let that move you, be who you are in Jesus