“For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.” - Leviticus 11:44

Never Settle:

Numbers 32:1-5 1The tribes of Reuben and Gad owned vast numbers of livestock. So when they saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were ideally suited for their flocks and herds, 2 they came to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the other leaders of the community. They said, 3 “Notice the towns of Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, 4 Sibmah, Nebo,and Beon. The LORD has conquered this whole area for the community of Israel, and it is ideally suited for all our livestock. 5 If we have found favor with you, please let us have this land as our property instead of giving us land across the Jordan River.”

Self focused is a lack of focus.

Numbers 32:6-7 6 “Do you intend to stay here while your brothers go across and do all the fighting?” Moses asked the men of Gad and Reuben. 7 “Why do you want to discourage the rest of the people of Israel from going across to the land the LORD has given them?

Moses knew from experience that Satan uses every means possible to distract us from the very best that God wants.

Our worst pain is where our FEAR and our FAITH collide…and we experience God in ways we never imagined.

God’s best sometimes means we must face our deepest fears.

Numbers 32:12 12 The only exceptions are Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they have wholeheartedly followed the LORD.’

God knows what is better for us than we know ourselves

So What?

What areas of your life are you______?

God has a plan…FOR YOUR VERY BEST…DON’T SETTLE.

Jeremiah 29:11 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” NOTES:

Now What? [For further reflection]

Take a moment to reflect what happened in Number 32:1-15

How does a personal agenda affect the bigger picture (God’s plan)?

Pastor Dan said, "Never settle for less than God's best." Can you think of some areas in your life where you have settled? What were the consequences of settling?

Read Psalms 18:30 (NLV) 2 Samuel 22:31 How are God's plans described? How are his promises described? Do we seek the protection He promises or trust our self-protection methods? How does this fit in the cycle of Knowing -loving- trusting -obeying? Are you ready to trust God with your plans, your future and your whole heart. How will that change your daily routine? What will you have to give up to receive God's "best" for your life?

Read Matthew 7:11 What promises do you receive from this passage? What does this mean to us to today? From this passage, what must we do to know God's plan for us?

Romans 8:28 - And we know that God causes EVERYTHING to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to HIS purpose for them. (NLT)

God has a “good” will for your life, but He also has a “perfect” will. His perfect will and the blessings that accompany it are reserved for those who are willing to be radically obedient and to wait when necessary. Those who are slow to learn this lesson will make many trips through the wilderness and endure much unnecessary hurt and loss just like the Israelites who missed God's "Best".

Today’s Scripture is from the New Living Translation [NLT] Dan Shows, March 8 and 9, 2014

To listen to this sermon again go to www.heritageqc.com. Click Media then click Current Series.