I’m excited about what we are going into, a new season. In Genesis 8:22, God talks about seed time and harvest time. In order to rejoice during a harvest, you must have really planted a good seed. The greater the seed that was sown, the greater that harvest and praise we reap. How many here this morning can attest to planting a good seed last year? Well get ready for a bountiful harvest.
I know I have.
The benefit to our trials is the riches on the other side.
From a spiritual growth, personal growth, physical growth, we all have seen our share of issues last year. In Exodus 12:2, God speaks to Moses right before the Passover. He says…
“This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.”
Sounds to me like a new beginning, a new life, a New Season that is about to happen. So get ready.
What does a New Season bring?
- A New Season Brings Changes (some we like, some we don’t)
- A New Season Brings Challenges (all obstacles are for the better)
- A New Season Brings/Exposes Champions (new leaders emerge when there is a big change from the status quo). Many individuals excel or standout in the midst of trouble.
(pray)
In Exodus the children of Israel faced their trials/tribulations for 400 hundred years at the hands of Pharaoh. Moses, being God’s messenger, was a tool to bring about the plagues on the land that would begin the journey to their freedom.
• Rivers of blood
• Borders of frogs
• Lice from the dust (created)
• Flies
• Boils on man & beast
• Hail
• Locusts
• Darkness
• Death to the first born (Side note: Notice Pharaoh didn’t let the Hebrew slaves free until his own child was taken from him. Naturally speaking we are like that sometimes. We remain stubborn to the plight of other cultures until that same plight hits home.)
God will put the enemy through turmoil just to set his children free. He will do whatever is necessary to bring you out of bondage into a new season. But not everyone is ready to be free when they are set free. No plans. No preparation.
For example:
One of the first things we do when we get out of trouble is say, “What do I do now?”
I’m briefly talking about the Exodus from Egypt because of the story we are now going to explore.
Let’s go there now
Let’s go to Joshua 1:3
“Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses”
God is talking about the promise land, the land Abraham dwelled. Canaan.
After the journey out of Egypt and crossing the Red Sea, the Hebrews began complaining because they had been on their feet so long. They were unhappy with Moses, unhappy with their deliverance because they were promised something and wanted to take their rightful place in the land of milk & honey. So they rebelled by making images of other Gods while Moses was in the presence of God receiving the 10 Commandments.
How many times in your life have you been promised something and it wasn’t delivered? For many of us that’s too many to count. Then you decided to do your own thing. Only you know if that plan worked out or not.
God wiped out a whole army by putting them under water. He even prepared them for a New Season with the Passover, a new calendar year to commemorate the jubilation and they still didn’t recognize their full blessings. So he gave them a second chance under Joshua.
I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again. If there is a vision (promise), there will be pro-vision (needs met).
Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord the God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Here God is speaking to Joshua to give him encouragement. Last week if you remember, we spoke about discouragement and encouragement. We all need it from time to time. Leaders need it from time to time. Parents need it from time to time. Children need it from time to time. When you are about to embark on something new (go to a new land in this case), not just guidance is needed, but a strong support system.
After 40 years in the wilderness, I am sure someone would need a pep talk. Now the children of Israel had been in the wilderness for 40 years and are about to be lead to the Promised Land by Joshua, Moses right hand man. Though the land had been promised, they couldn’t just walk in, they had to be prepared.
In Deuteronomy 8:2 God says to Moses,
“And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.” Here are some of the different seasons they may have gone through.
Different reasons for new seasons
1. Seasonal changes (winter, spring, summer, fall)
2. Marriages
3. Birth of a child
4. New calendar year
5. New rituals (worshiping God) - built the Ark of the Covenant
6. New laws (10 Commandments)
Now remember I just said they were being prepared. Here is what God was also doing on his end of the bargain. As they got to the River Jordan and set up camp, Joshua sent two spies into Jericho. To hide from their prophesied enemy, Rahab kept them hidden. Guess what she told them.
Joshua 2:9-11 (5: 1)
“And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, who ye utterly destroyed.
And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in the earth beneath.”
Word had spread about their triumph over Pharaoh, Shion and Og. For your upcoming enemy to already be filled with fear, you should know that we have an all knowing, all powerful God. Sometimes your battles are already won for you and just have to go through the motions of claiming the victory and prize.
How do you enter a New Life/Season
1. Sanctify (consecrate) yourselves. - to devote or dedicate to some purpose
a. Joshua 3:5 (Ex. 19: 10 & 14)
2. Follow Gods Law – Ten Commandments
a. Exodus 20: 1-17
3. Be prepared for the enemy to strike in a different way. Last year, the enemy tried to take you out by attacking your family, friends, and finances. Know that he is a multi-faceted enemy, so he will come at you another way if the first didn’t succeed.
4. Remove your future enemies
a. Numbers 33: 50-56
i. The situations or people that got you distracted, away from God. It may hurt both of you, but you have a different direction in life.
5. Claim your victory
a. Joshua 6: 20
“So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that “the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.”
Let’s give the Lord a shout for Victory going into a new season.
