CCF International Church

Ex 32:7-11

7 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’

9 “I have seen these people,” the LORD said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”

• Moses receives a damning appraisal report from God regarding his congregation of Israelites. He is standing under the cloud as God’s chosen leader and God is speaking to him about his people.
• The challenge that Moses and any other set man faces is how do you communicate this information to the multitude in the valley where there is a dominant mood of celebration. Moses is returning to speak at a celebration service. The frequency in the valley did not determine his message; his message was determined by the revelation received from God. Daniel and his friends openly refused to be part of the praise service set up by King Nebuchadnezzar. We will celebrate truth.Whenever we gather to listen to the Word of the Lord we are positioned under the cloud, where the Lord would speak to us through His chosen vessel. Yet we falter in communicating the mood of God  to our people because this will dampen the spirit of celebration. As we make our way back, people like Joshua would attempt to cause us to doubt what we have heard. You see God did not speak to Joshua; God spoke to Moses, the one called by God. Joshua was not under the cloud; Moses was.
• The purpose of revelation is to develop strategy. When Moses went down to the valley, he knew what he was dealing with; he did not have to further wait upon the Lord. He already heard from God. He now has to develop strategy to manage his congregation.
• The strategy would be based on the following observations of the Lord:

The people are now corrupt…the mood must change from celebration to repentance. The utter destruction of the calf was an act of repentance.

The grinding of the calf to powder was a clear demonstration by Moses in the sight of his congregation of his zero tolerance policy towards idolatry and anything that would distract us from following Christ. Moses made them drink it so that its ultimate destination would be the toilet.

They cannot be left alone …. Implement a “hands on” leadership style. We have to be visible as leaders. Our people have to be told what to do.

They are quick to follow other gods….. our preaching and teaching must demand allegiance and devotion to Christ.

They are a stiff necked people  refusing to yield to the commands of God.

What this congregation needs is the Word of the Lord. They need to be taught at every opportunity. Their celebration service has to be interrupted. This burden is carried by all of us who have embraced the need for reformation.Be strong and courageous and preach the Word!

SOUND THE ALARM ON GOD'S HOLY MOUNTAIN