Marching Orders For The New Year

MARCHING ORDERS FOR THE NEW YEAR

Josh. 1:1-9

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: RESOLUTIONS

1. Most of us make resolutions at New Year’s. One young boy asked his father what his new year’s resolution was, and his father said he was going to do everything possible in the new year to make his mother very happy.

2. The boy asked his mother what hers was, and she said, “To do everything possible to make sure your father keeps his resolution.”

3. FUNNY RESOLUTIONS

a. “I’ve resolved not to do drugs anymore, because I get the same effect just standing up really fast.”

b. “I have resolved to stay married, because it’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.”

c. “I have resolved to not make any resolutions, because nobody is perfect. I’m a nobody, therefore I’m perfect.”

B. TEXT

After the death of Moses...the Lord said to Joshua... 2 “Moses my servant is dead....get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give [you]...3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Josh. 1:1-3,5,8-9

C. THESIS & TITLE

1. For 40 long years, the Marching Orders for Israel had been: “Take another lap around Mt. Sinai.” Now, at last, Joshua received new Marching Orders.

2. The book of Joshua starts with a bang: “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise and go…” Josh. 1:2 The Message Version puts it like this: "Moses my servant is dead --- so get going!”

3. The title of this message is “Marching Orders For the New Year.”

I. THE PAST IS BEHIND YOU

A. A CHANGE IN DIRECTION

1. Joshua and the people faced a paradigm shift. They were about to:

• Quit being nomads and become landowners.

• Stop living in tents and move into homes.

• Quit eating Manna and start eating harvested crops that others had planted.

• Get off of Defense and start playing Offense.

2. For 40 years they’d avoided trouble by walking around it. Now it was time to face it head-on as Warriors. No more desert but a land flowing with milk and honey.

3. Moses was dead, BUT God’s Purpose was very much alive. It wasn’t time to stand around grieving --- or reminiscing about the good old days --- or thinking about the “what if’s.”

B. FORGETTING WHAT’S BEHIND

1. HUMOR

a. Many people have a very faulty way of gauging their success. It reminds me of the…

b. A biologist, a chemist, and a statistician were out hunting. The biologist shot at a dear and missed 5 feet to the left. The chemist then took a shot and missed 5 feet to the right.

c. That's when the statistician yelled, "We got ‘em!" REALITY? THEY ALL MISSED!

2. This is not the time to think about the past. It’s time to move forward. The saying on John Wesley’s grave helps us carry home the point: “God buries his workmen, but His work goes on.”

3. As we approach 2025, maybe thoughts of the past are holding you back. It’s easy to get bogged down in regrets that can’t be changed.

4. It’s time to leave the past behind. The second lesson we can learn from Joshua’s Marching Orders is that...

II. THE LORD IS WITH US

A. A TOUGH ROAD CALLS FOR FAITH

1. God said, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” Josh. 1:9.

2. “Strong and courageous” is a tall order. 40 Years before, the prospect of taking the Promised Land had frightened the Israelites. Joshua and Caleb were the “minority report” who believed they could win against the enemies of God.

3. In Joshua chapter 2, you see how ironic it was that the Children of Israel doubted God’s power. Rahab told them. "...the LORD has given this land to you. A great fear of you has fallen on us…[we] are melting in fear because of you. We’ve heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you ...for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” Josh. 2:9-11.