Sermon Central
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Getting Ready For The Next Step Series
Contributed by Ralph Juthman on Aug 24, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: If we would realize the Promises of God in our lives, the very first thing that you and I must be ready to do is to move ahead obediently into transitions - even with all the uncertainty that comes with change.
TITLE: Getting Ready For The Next Step
TEXT: Joshua 3-5
THEME: Overcoming the grasshopper complex
P.S. I would describe transition as a A Time of Change; A Time for Commitment; A Time to Choose how we will embrace the changes that God brings into our lives.
INTRODUCTION:
Life is full of turning points. Times of change that prepare us for the road ahead and fulfill God’s purposes in our life.
How do we deal with transition?
Transitions are universal: young child into adolescence; teenager into young adult, school transitions, work transitions, grief, divorce, job relocation, physical transitions that come with age. ( Illustration optional- In preparation of this message I came across this humorous story
“Age changes things.” Who changed everything when I wasn’t looking? I’ve noticed lately that everything is farther away than it used to be. It’s even twice as far to the corner now, and they’ve added a hill! I’ve given up running for the bus; it leaves much earlier than it used to. And it seems to me that they are making the stairs steeper than in the old days, and have you noticed the smaller print the newspapers are now using? And there’s no sense in asking anyone to read aloud anymore, as everyone speaks so softly that I can hardly hear them. The material in clothes s so skimpy now, especially around the waist and hips, and the way they size the clothes is much smaller than it used to be. Why, I have to buy clothes two sizes larger than what I wear just so they will fit me right! Even people are changing. They are so much younger than they used to be when I was their age. On the other hand, people my own age are much older than I am. I ran into an old classmate of mine the other day, and she had aged so much that she didn’t recognize me! I got to thinking about my poor dear friend while I was combing my hair this morning, and in doing so, I glanced at my own reflection in the mirror…. Really now! They don’t even make good mirrors anymore. So tell me now… Who CHANGED things?
The basic definition of transition is a “passage from one state or stage to another.”
Some of these transitions are driven by time, others by experience. Our kids grow up, our bodies age - and nothing can stop the transitions that come with the passage of time. But other transitions present themselves to us through things like: an unexpected job offer, a first heart attack, a divorce, or the death of a parent. Or simply moving away for college.
I would describe transition as a A Time of Change; A Time for Commitment; A Time to Choose how we will embrace the changes that God brings into our lives.
The fact is this - change is inevitable, whether it is change we choose or change presented to us.
The secret to success in any transition is….ATTITUDE!
If we would realize the Promises of God in our lives, the very first thing that you and I must be ready to do is to move ahead obediently into transitions - even with all the uncertainty that comes with change.
Joshua was given the task of leading ISreal from one stage of living in the wilderness to crossing over the other side of Jordan into Canaan to live out God’s promise.
The Holy Spirit wants us to make transitions. The “other side” represents our God- given destinies, the plans and purposes of God for our lives.
How do we deal with transition?
The MEANING of the crossing (3: 1-4)
Every Transition in life is preceded by some kind of obstacle. For the ISrealites, the obstacle they faced was the Jordan river which flowed between them and the Promised Land. They could not even begin to fight the enemy until they crossed this major hurdle.
The stakes were high. There was no turning back. Behind them was the vast wasteland of the desert and barren mountains. They endured 40 painful years of God’s discipline and now it was time to move on.
1. This is just as a significant time as when they stood on the banks of the Red Sea.
2. Standing at the Red Sea was going to end 430 years of slavery, standing on the banks of the Jordan river, 40 years of wilderness existence was ending.
a. The end of 40 years of walking in a circle going nowhere fast;
b. The end of striving and never arriving;
c. The end of walking by sight
d. The end of Independent living
e. The end of never being assured of victory over the enemy
f. The end of being constantly reminded of past failures
