Distinct in the Wilderness part 1

Second day, morning message notes.

"There is no limit to the usefulness of the one, who putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God." ~Ellen G. White, Southern Watchman, Aug 1, 1905

1 Corinthians 10:7
"Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry."
From Genesis up to Exodus, Exodus to Daniel, Ezra to Matthew, until from Acts to Revelation are Bible stories where things seems to start well but because of disobedience resulted to disaster. 

Exodus 25:8
"Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them."
It is always God's desire to be with His people.
He tried it with Adam, Noah, Abraham, but failed. But still, always longs to be with us.
"God wants you, God wants me."

GOD'S WAY TO FREEDOM:
Egypt ---> Wilderness ---> Canaan 

1 Corinthians 10:1-4
"For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ."
A pictorial experience with God is good, but not enough to be distinct in God's eyes.
"To be distinct, we must learn from the mistakes of our forefathers and do better."Too many people repeat the mistakes of our predecessors. 

1 Corinthians 10:7
Whenever God is the beginning, be sure to expect a splendid ending. If not, disaster will surely fall.
Do not be fooled; we can be distinct either with good or evil.
Exodus 32:1
"When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming...."-INITIATOR: People
Some verses where the initiator is man and with the word 'saw': ( I wrote only few.)

• Genesis 3:1 - "Eve saw..."
• Genesis 6:1 - "The sons of God saw..." 

"Sightseeing can be very dangerous."
By beholding we are changed, what are you beholding? 

Exodus 32:1
"When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down form the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him."
-They had come to rely upon Moses to sustain their faith. ~Patriarchs and Prophets p.315
Many people do not live their faith alone. They depend it to other people. 

Exodus 32:2-6
6...."people sat down to eat, drink and rose up to play.."-the same as 1 Corinthians 10:7
Isaraelites wanted the best of the Spiritual and of the world. But Matthew 6:33 says to us..
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you."A very good illustration would be with the sun and the shadow:
If I face the sun, my shadow will follow me. But if I turn my back from the sun, I will follow my shadow.
The same with God. If I follow God first - seek Him first in anything and in everything, all these things will just follow me. But if I turn my back from Him, these worldly things I will follow. 

Exodus 32:8
"They have been quick to turn away form what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of Egypt.'
Speak what you want to speak, Do what you want to do. But remember, judgment day shall come. 

Exodus 32:17
"When Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses, "There is the sound of war in the camp."-The closer to God, the closer to truth. 

Exodus 32:19
"When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands...."
Altar, Calf, People dancing.. - Israelites' idolatry
Stage, Idol, People dancing - rock concert. 

Let the whole world go their way but BE DISTINCT and stay with GOD. 

GOD'S WAY TO FREEDOM:
Calvary ---> History ---> Heaven
History - OUR own wilderness, the distinct us, separated from the world, God by our side.