Series: Questions
Title: Only One Cure
Text: Numbers 10: 33-11:9
Date: November 17, 2013
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
They congregation
of Israel was assembled by the hand of God.
God gave them a preacher, brethren and God gave them his word of
promise. That is what we have in this
place. But many became troubled. They thought they knew the cure. But there was only one cure.
Title: Only One
Cure
I. IF CHRIST HAS FIXED YOU IN THIS BODY THEN
HE WILL LEAD YOU SO YOU MUST FOLLOW HIM BY FAITH.
The
congregation in Israel had gone 3 days journey from Mt. Sinai.
Christ Leads His Church
Numbers 10: 33 And they departed from the mount of the LORD
three days’ journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them
in the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them.
By
faith, the true believer follows Christ our Ark. Christ is our Mercy Seat where
God meets with us and has mercy on us.
He is the one in whom God has made his everlasting covenant of grace in
our hearts through faith.
Christ
goes before us. He is the Way to God and
Christ makes a way for his church in this wilderness as we journey through it. Christ
is our resting place and he searches out a resting place for his church in this
wilderness.
Christ Defends His Church
Numbers 10: 34: And the cloud of the LORD was
upon them by day, when they went out of the camp.
The
believer has Christ to cover us and defend us constantly. Believer, Christ is the Covering over His
Assembly—as citizens of heavenly Mt. Zion, this is God’s promise to each of us
in the assembly he has assembled.
Isaiah 4:5: And the LORD will create upon every dwelling
place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the
shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a
defence. 6: And there shall be a
tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of
refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
Christ
is that glory, Christ is that defense, Christ is that refuge and covert.
Isaiah 32:2 And a
Man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest;
as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary
land…18: And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure
dwellings, and in quiet resting places;
Psalm 91:1: He that dwelleth in the secret place of the
most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Brethren,
we have been given something more precious than all the treasures of this world
combined: we are members of God’s secret place, Christ’s body, the church of
the living God. Christ is our Head and we his body.
Christ Directs His Church
Numbers 10: 35: And it came to pass, when the
ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be
scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. 36: And when it rested,
he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.
Believing
Christ requires the believer to follow the Lord. When Christ moves, he gives his messenger the
faith to declare to his people, it is time to “Rise up!” We do so praying in faith, “LORD, will you
rise up, will you let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee
flee before thee.”
When
Christ rests, he gives his messenger the faith to declare to his people,
“Return!” He does so praying, “LORD, will you return unto all your people in
Israel.” We won’t rest unless you rest
upon us.
II. YET, FLESHLY MEN ONLY LUST AFTER FLESH.
Many in
the congregation were not satisfied with what God had given them and what he
was doing in their midst.
Stiffnecked & Impatient
Numbers 11: 1: And when the people
complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was
kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were
in the uttermost parts of the camp.
First,
fleshly men do not like having to follow the LORD or wait on the LORD—1. From
the meaning of the word here, it appears those in the uttermost parts of the camp
were planning to separate and return back to Egypt. “But without faith it is
impossible to please God.” Brethren, do
not even think about going back to Egypt!
Numbers 11: 2: And the people cried unto
Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched. 3: And he
called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among
them.
Moses,
in faith, in love for his brethren, interceded with the LORD on behalf of
Israel and the LORD quenched the fire—what a type of Christ our Intercessor! Christ consumed the wrath for his people.
Only unbelievers will be consumed in his wrath. Christ everlives to make
intercession for us.
Lusting for Flesh
Numbers 11: 4: And the mixt multitude that was
among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and
said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? 5: We remember the fish, which we did eat
in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions,
and the garlick: 6: But now our soul is dried away: there is
nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
Secondly,
they were fleshly men so they longed for flesh rather than the manna from
heaven. These were Gentiles amongst
Israelites. But in every congregation there is a mixed multitude: unregenerate
sinners mixed with regenerated believers. Some join the Lord’s people, professing faith
in Christ, but it is for vain reasons—fleshly reasons. The Holy Spirit has not regenerated them and
given them faith in Christ. The complaint
of the mixed multitude resulted in the children of Israel complaining with
them.
1 Corinthians 15:33: Be not deceived: evil communications
corrupt good manners.
Galatians 5:9: A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
What an
instructive picture! Let’s apply this to where we live. When a false believer joins with God’s people
under the sound of the gospel of Christ, they start out rejoicing. Yet, without the Spirit of God to sustain the
heart, they begin to long for the world or for what they were fed in the religious
assemblies from where they came, saying, “I remember the programs, the humanitarian
services, the community services, the activities, the plays, the awards, the
Sunday school pins, and so on.” Those are fleshly things which appeal to
fleshly men. It a lust for bondage.
Men
begin to say in their hearts, “We ate so freely then?” Worldly men, as well as men in works religion,
are themselves slaves in bondage so they are not free. And that fleshly meat free-will
preachers give is not free—the world and all false religion comes with a great price.
Men
will say, “But now our soul is dried away.” A man’s flesh may wither under the sound of
the gospel because he’s not being fed fleshly works which the sinful flesh
craves. But if a man’s soul is dried up it is because of unbelief, it is not
the fault of the gospel.
The false professor begins to think, “there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our
eyes.” The manna represented Christ our
Bread from heaven. They wanted earthly flesh rather than heavenly manna.
In this
place, we do not spread the table with flesh-pleasing meat. We preach Christ
and him crucified. But fleshly men will say, “All he ever does is preach Christ
and him crucified?”
God
tells us plainly what the problem was with those in our text and with men who
long for the slavery of this world and of works religion.
Psalm 106: 12: Then believed they his words; they sang
his praise. 13: They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
14: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
15: And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
First,
they rejoiced then they soon forgot God’s works. We preach the works of the LORD rather than
men’s works because that is what the LORD sends his preachers to preach.
Psalm 9:11: Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in
Zion: declare among the people his doings.
Psalm 105:1: O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his
name: make known his deeds among the people.
Psalm 107:22: And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of
thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. 2: Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all
his wondrous works.
Isaiah 12: 3: Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out
of the wells of salvation. 4: And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD,
call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his
name is exalted.
We do
so to turn men FROM their works TO Christ because the believer is Christ’s
workmanship. Christ said, “He that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his
deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” (Jn 3: 21) We preach the works of the triune God in
Christ so we will not soon forget his works.
Secondly,
they waited not for God’s counsel. Men
who do not believe God will not wait for God to bring his works to pass. Unbelief
makes men impatient to wait on God to do what he has promised in his gospel.
Thirdly,
they lusted exceedingly and tempted God. Men long to return to free will religion
because they are flesh and flesh lusts after flesh. God gave them what they
wanted.
III. THE ONLY CURE IS THE GOSPEL--CHRIST
JESUS IS FOOD FOR OUR SOULS
As Coriander Seed
Numbers 11: 7: And the manna was as coriander
seed,
Like
coriander seed, our gospel may appear as a small insignificant thing to fleshly
men who perish but like coriander seed the gospel is plentiful to the believer
because it is from Christ’s fullness. Christ
our Bread comes down in the gospel to his people and blesses us from Christ’s
fullness.
John 1:16: And of his fulness have all we received, and
grace for grace.
Through
the gospel Christ accomplishes the work of grace in the hearts of those he has
redeemed by his blood.
John 3:34: For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words
of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
Christ
said to those born of his Spirit,
John 15: 3: Now ye are clean through the word which I
have spoken unto you.
Illustration: When the lame man was healed, Peter said,
Acts 3:16: And [Christ’s] name through faith in his name
hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by
[Christ] hath given [this lame man] this perfect soundness in the presence of
you all.
Christ
is the food for our souls because,
Colossians 2:3: In [Christ] are hid all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge…
Ephesians 1:7: In whom we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8:
Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
1 Corinthians 1:5: That in every thing ye are enriched by
him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 6: Even
as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7: So that ye come behind in
no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8: Who shall also
confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Ephesians 4:7: But unto every one of us is given grace
according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Illustration: Sarah’s Soul Food—Home of No Cans and No Boxes. The gospel is true soul food.
As the Color of a Precious Stone
Numbers 11: 7:…and the colour thereof as the
colour of bdellium.
When
Christ speaks effectually into our hearts, Christ becomes precious to the
believer. It means as the color of a
precious stone—the color of a pearl; a round white stone.
Revelation 2:17: He that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh [we overcome by
faith, so it means to him that believeth] will I give to eat of the hidden
manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written,
which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
When
the Holy Spirit forms Christ in the heart we are given the hidden manna and
Christ becomes the white stone, the pearl of great price, his name is our name—the
LORD our Righteousness. That precious, white stone makes a man depart from Egypt
and all vain bread.
Matthew 13: 45: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto
a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46: Who, when he had found one pearl of
great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Christ is the Only Cure
Christ
and his gospel is the only cure for our unbelief.
Numbers 11: 8: And the people went about, and
gathered it, ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans,
and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.”
What is
the cure for hunger? What do you do when
you are hungry? You eat. By the Spirit giving us a hunger and
thirst after righteousness, the believer does not depart from the table, we
assemble and gather Christ our Manna. He makes us hunger to hear his gospel; he
makes us thirst for the sincere milk of the word
While
preparing it they looked at that manna being “ground in mills or beaten in a
mortar.” As we gather Christ, through
faith by the Holy Spirit, we behold Christ “wounded for our transgressions, bruised
for our iniquities.”
As they
prepared it they watched that manna being “baked in pans’—through the gospel we
behold Christ enduring the fire of God’s wrath in our room and stead. We eat Christ our bread—like as they made “cakes
of it” and ate it. By the Holy Spirit’s discernment—“the
taste is as fresh oil”: we have peace with God because in Christ: by his work
we are justified, made righteous, redeemed by his precious blood and kept by
his grace.
We do
none of this of ourselves, it is all of his grace. Verse 9 says, “the dew fell
upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.” The Holy Spirit falls upon us in this world
of night, into our dark, unbelieving hearts like “the dew fell upon the camp in
the night.” As the Holy Spirit enters, Christ
falls upon us to the nourishment of our souls—as “the manna fell upon it.”
In
twenty-five years, I have seen this time and again. Men and women become troubled.
They begin to whisper and complain. They want to talk about their troubles.
They want men to tell them what to do. They begin looking back. Then they
vanish.
Please
try to hear what I am about to say. If you truly desire a cure for the
withering away of your souls, for any and every trouble you have, assemble with
Gods people under the preaching of the gospel. Give your undivided attention to
hear and study Christ. Follow the Ark
under the Cloud together with God’s people as we hear of his wonderful works
and wait on the LORD to do those works. Christ and his gospel is the cure—the
only cure—for unbelief.
Amen!