Deuteronomy

Deu_2:14

Imagine the Bible terms that you find in this verse.  They were "men of war" and they were "wasted out" from among the host.  I ask myself how many of the men of God, men of war, in the church of Jesus Christ are wasted out.  This story is the story of being wasted because of sin but isn't that the same story today.  Do not men decide to not believe God today. Do they not decide not to step forward in faith to fulfill with their lives what He has for them.  So their lives are wasted out.  How many churches and families wander around in a spiritual wilderness because they have yet to hear the Great Commission to go into all the world.  Mat_28:18-20. For some reason they believe church is about improving their quality of life and that of their children.  They desire to raise a good family. They desire to have God's blessing on their lives but little realize that although he will give you shoes, clothes, and food while you wander in the wilderness waiting to die y0ou will never know the rich blessings of victory that God made you to enjoy. Rise up on Church of God. Deicide now to live the life God calls you to and commands you to have. Do not be satisfied with wandering, wasting, waiting, weeping , and passing that same life on to your children.  WAG

Deu_4:6

God's Word and what it does in our lives is a testimony to the world that God is with us.  His Word will give us a wisdom and understanding that other countries do not have because they do not have the Word of God nor a relationship with Him.  Notice that the people will hear of the statutes and say Surely this great nation is wise.  Do we so live in the Word of God that people can tell it is making a difference in our lives?  If we believe this about the Bible how can we not seek to make other nations wise and understanding. The differences between people and countries is not the language or the skin color but whether or not they have the Word of God and have put it into practice in their lives.  Let us take the Word.  Let it have free course or run and be glorified all over the world.  2Th_3:1 WAG

Deu_7:18

What a promise!  Don't be afraid just remember!  He said you aren't to the size of your enemy or the task ahead of you just remember what you have seen me do.  If you will be take the steps to grow in the Lord everyday you will have more and more to remember that He has done and you will be able to see Him and not the obstacle.  WAG

Deu_7:22

God programmed growth into our lives.  He could do it all at once but if He did we would be unable to handle it.  It wants there to be a problem in front of us. He wants us to be challenged everyday.  If He gave it all to us at once then we would lose it to another enemy (the beasts) so He gives it to us as we are able to manage it.  Do not despair if you do not have it all today.  Just do right with what you have and wait on Him.  He is preparing you more than He is giving you the land.  The man must be strong and ready before He gives you the land.  WAG

Deu_8:17

Oh the temptation to think that my success is what I have done. Every human being has a tendency to think highly of himself but it is God that is doing the work.  I have seen wicked lost people get saved. They were at the bottom of the barrel but some where along the way they begin to think that they pulled themselves up by their own boot straps.  They forget that it was God.  Oh we must  be careful that He always get the honor and glory for what is and has happened in our lives.  It is He and not we ourselves. 

The same truth holds for any work that we do in the ministry.  We will work hard and harder than most.  We will use to the fullest what He gives us but it is still the grace of God in our lives. 1Co_15:10 WAG

Deu_8:18

It is He that gives us the power to get wealth but even in giving us wealth and the power to get wealth He has a purpose.  He is establishing His covenant.  He is proving His love towards us. Today we live under the New Covenant or New Testament.  Does He give us wealth to establish His covenant today. Could it be that He wants the New Covenant spread all over the world.  The wealth you have is to get the Great Commission to the world.  How are you investing what He gives you the power to get.  WAG

Deu_10:19

The call to reach the unreached and the lost extendeds before the law in the blessing God gave Abraham (Gen 12:1-4), in the law itself (Deut 10:19), and by Christ under the New Testament (Mat 28:19-20). All of God's people in every generation and every dispensation are commanded to love and reach the "strangers". Here in Deut 10:19 we are given the reason: Love the strangers and sinners because you were where they are. ALB

Deu_15:10

Giving should be done with the right heart attitude.  We are to give but it is not to grieve our hearts nor should it because as we give we have the promise of God that he will bless our works and whatever we put our hands to.  Be a giver and be blessed.  WAG

Deu_17:18

Extremely interesting that the king was to write his own copy of the law.  He was to read it but more than that he was to write his own copy.  If God's leaders here on earth right now would take into account the need to be in the in the Word on a daily basis it would make a definite difference in our ministries.  How long would it have take to write your copy of the law.  How much would you have to concentrate on what it said to make a faithful copy.  Let us be known as men and women of the Book.  WAG

Deu_17:19

He was to read the Word of God every day of his life so that he might learn to fear God and keep his words in order to do them.  This would also help him not be lifted up in his own heart among his brethren.  Deu_17:20.  If we made a copy of the Scriptures of our own Deu_17:18 and then read it every day would we get the idea that God wants the gospel to get to the entire world.  Would the Great Commission mean more to us.  I believe that it would.  We must do all in our power to get men and women to read and study the Word of God to put it into practice in their lives.  WAG

Deu_23:13

Missionaries would do well in third world countries to teach the people about cleanliness not from an American point of view but from what the Word of God says.  Often times they relieve themselves in the street.  Making for terrible smells and terrible filthiness.  What is the answer? Show them that God taught the Jews in the wilderness to never relieve themselves without properly disposing of their waste because it makes for disease etc.  Help them see that what you are teaching is not your culture but the Word of God.  Have a course showing them Bible instructions about the care of food, cleanliness, and infection.  It is all there in the perfect Word of God. WAG

Deu_23:24

Missionary please recognize the differences in culture when you arrive in your country. They will not do things the way you have done them or see it from your cultural background.  It is highly interesting that the Jews, God's people were taught that it was not stealing to go into your neighbor's field and eat your fill of his grapes or wheat.  You could eat all you want but you just couldn't put any into a bag to take home with you.  By cultural background says that is stealing but the Bible says that for the Jews that was perfectly acceptable and right.  Be careful to not judge quickly and harshly another culture but rather adapt to that culture.  WAG

Deu_24:19

God had a tremendous way of taking care of the poor in Israel.  They were to gather their own food but those who were producing were to allow there to be food available.  This goes very strongly against the culture that I was raised with.  The farmers were I come from would see to it that they got all the fruit and not be allowing the poor to come into their fields and glean.  For you the missionary this is a way to recognize that God understands cultural differences.  One of the hardest things that you will deal with when you leave your country is adjusting to the way the people in your adopted country do things.  Their ways will not be your ways.  You will want to say that they are wrong.  If God gives the instructions that we see in these verses and they go against our culture maybe we are wrong or at least will have to recognize that there is more than one way to do things.  Learn to adapt.  Don't be telling them that it is wrong because of your cultural preparation and perspective.  You are the visitor and stranger.  Learn the ways of your people.  WAG

Deu_25:3

We need to learn a great principle from this verse.  Correction is good and correct.  Over correction is a mistake.  They were given fair punishments although very hard but the interesting comment in this verse is that if you beat him too much you will seem vile.  What a condemnation that we so often deserve because we do not treat him as our brother. WAG

Deu_25:4

Be careful as you train and prepare people on the mission field to teach them that the pastor is worthy and deserving of a salary and a good one.  This verse is referring to the salary the man of God is to receive.  There is not a double standard -- one for missionaries and another for the national pastor. His people should be taught to take care of his needs.  Consider the following verses:  1Co_9:9, 1Ti_5:18,  Luk_10:7, 1Co_9:1-14 WAG

Deu_25:5

Loose Shoed Christians

Deu_25:5-10, 1Co_10:11, 1Co_9:9-10

I.          Christian Concern

a.   Raise Up your brother's name Deu_25:7

b.   Build your brother's house   Deu_25:9

c.   Brother Love is our mark Joh_13:34-35

d.   Work together

e.   Pray one for another

II.          Christian Consolation

a.   Barnabas helping the young church  Act_4:36-37

b.   Barnabas Helping Saul become Paul Act_9:27

c.   Barnabas helping John Mark return to the ministry Act_15:37-38

d.   Boaz taking in Ruth to the detriment of his own name Rth_3:9, Rth_3:4-8

III.         Carnal Competition

a.   Gen_38:9 tells how God disciplines a man who will not build up his brother's name and house

b.   1Co_3:1-9

c.   Mar_9:38-39

d.   Apostles arguing over who gets to sit on the right hand and who on the left

e.   Absalom taking the throne of his father, David

f.    Korah rebelling against Moses

g.   My name, my ministry, my house

IV.        Contemptible Consequences Deu_25:9-10

a.   Rebuked in Public

b.   Shoe is loosed

c.   Spit in his face

d.   Nickname is given to him  

WAG

Deu_26:11

Attitude is a key word for any Christian but especially for the missionary.  Rejoicing is a Biblical attitude.  Notice that they were to rejoice in every good thing that the Lord had given them.  So often we whine about what we do not have instead of rejoicing in what we do have.  God is looking for a grateful people to follow Him and serve Him.  How is your attitude today?  WAG

Deu_30:11

God speaks very clearly about what He wants from His people. The commandment here is not hidden nor is anything else.  Our problem is not what we do not understand nor is it what we do not know but to do what we have clearly been told.  God is often the one who is blamed for our not doing His will but I believe that it is clear that He is not trying to hide anything from us. Read this passage slowly, meditate in what it says.  I know that it is talking about the blessing and the curse but is it not also talking about His will, His commandment.  It can say clearly Go into all the world and we think that his commandment is in heaven and somebody needs to go get it so we can understand.  I am afraid that the problem is that we do understand and are simply rebellious and selfishly doing what we want to do.  WAG

Deu_32:3

Moses had seen the greatness of the Lord.  Now he says that he will publish the name of the Lord.  He will ascribe greatness to our God.  I find it hard to believe that commentators can read the Old Testament and not realize that God had already taught His people to get the gospel to the world.  Over and over it is mentioned that they desire to get the name of the Lord to the world.  That was the purpose of Israel--to be a blessing to all nations. Gen_12:2, Gen_22:17-18  When they failed temporarily God moved in the Church to get His gospel out and soon He will bring back Israel to finish the job.  I wonder how much we miss God's will and blessing because we are only willing to publish his name and ascribe greatness to Him within the confines of our church.  WAG

Deu_34:4

What a heart breaking shame!  To get so close to what God has for you and then lose it.  We must ever be mindful and careful not to squander and lose what we have.  Paul having been so used of God feared this in his own life.  1Co_9:27  How often will be lifted up in pride believing maybe that we did it in our own strength when it was God that did it and there by lose our rewards.  One can serve God well and then lose it if he is not careful.  Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.  Mat_26:41 WAG