2023 New Year’ Message: “Preparing For the Journey Ahead”
Scripture: Deuteronomy 11:8-17
“Therefore, be careful to obey every command I am giving you today, so you may have strength to go in and take over the land you are about to enter. 9 If you obey, you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord swore to give to your ancestors and to you, their descendants—a land flowing with milk and honey! 10 For the land you are about to enter and take over is not like the land of Egypt from which you came, where you planted your seed and made irrigation ditches with your foot as in a vegetable garden. 11 Rather, the land you will soon take over is a land of hills and valleys with plenty of rain— 12 a land that the Lord your God cares for. He watches over it through each season of the year! 13 “If you carefully obey the commands I am giving you today, and if you love the Lord your God and serve him with all your heart and soul, 14 then he will send the rains in their proper seasons—the early and late rains—so you can bring in your harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil. 15 He will give you lush pastureland for your livestock, and you yourselves will have all you want to eat. 16 “But be careful. Don’t let your heart be deceived so that you turn away from the Lord and serve and worship other gods. 17 If you do, the Lord’s anger will burn against you. He will shut up the sky and hold back the rain, and the ground will fail to produce its harvests. Then you will quickly die in that good land the Lord is giving you.”
Introduction: The Book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ 5-part sermon presentation of God’s history with Israel as they prepare for the next move of God. Moses prepares them for the new level of their future. Unbelief caused their forefathers to die in the wilderness, never seeing God’s best, and never experiencing the future God had for them. How sad it is to have God as their father, Moses as their leader, the promises of God is their hearts and the Promised Land as a gift to die with their dreams unfulfilled.
Chapter 1-3 Moses urges the present generation of God’s people to forward in faith and dare to possess the land because this new land and new day was their heritage from God. God’s gift to them. God has kept them alive for this moment! It was in His plan, in His will and because of His good pleasure, you are here!
Chapter 4-6 Moses reminds them of all the things their great God has done for them. Moses list the victories God has given them, the provisions God has given them for every challenge and the ways God has lead them.
Chapter 7-10 Moses reaffirms God’s love towards them and charges the people to love God with all their heart, mind, and soul, then cautions them to hold on to God. Prosperity and plenty can sometimes create a feeling of self-sufficiency or self-reliance. Moses knew that they would need God even more in the future.
Here Chapter 11, the new generation is on the verge of doing something their parents failed to do. Moses helps this new generation to be mentally, physically, and spiritually prepared for the task ahead. “For the land where you are going is not like the land from which you have come.” No one can predict the events of the coming days, yet many are predicting a new day, a different day and we must prepare for a new normal. They are moving to the next level, and we are moving into the next year. What will tomorrow bring? What will the new level require? What will the new year require?
1.The next level will require warfare, determined warfare. “Therefore, be careful to obey every command I am giving you today, so you may have strength to go in and take over the land you are about to enter. 9 If you obey, you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord swore to give to your ancestors and to you, their descendants—a land flowing with milk and honey!”
We must be strong, keep going and possess the Land. Going to a new level, a new year or a new normal will not be a cake walk! Yarash in the Gk. Means to take possession, drive the enemy without fail. You cannot have a bright future without a fight. Learn new skill, sharpen your weapons and look for opportunity. Sometimes opportunities knock, but at other times they must be found, yet many opportunities must be created.
2.The next level will require work, productive work. “10 For the land you are about to enter and take over is not like the land of Egypt from which you came, where you planted your seed and made irrigation ditches with your foot as in a vegetable garden. 11 Rather, the land you will soon take over is a land of hills and valleys with plenty of rain— 12 a land that the Lord your God cares for. He watches over it through each season of the year!”
The new land is a land of labor, not leisure. The land flows with milk and honey. The new land is bountiful, the new year brings many opportunities, but it will require labor, not laziness. Milk is plentiful but it must be gathered. Cows don’t give milk; you must squeeze out every drop. Gathering honey requires protective equipment, skill, and determination. We much not allow this down time to make us lazy and unproductive.
3.The next level will require wisdom, additional wisdom. The new land is not like the land of Egypt they are leaving behind. In Egypt, the seed was provided; the tool required was minimal, they could plant seeds with the heel of their feet. The water from the Nile River was used for irrigation. Canaan with its rocky hills and seasonal rains will require more wisdom. They must understand the terrain and seasons; They will need plows, oxen, hoes, picks, and additional wisdom. We must continue to grow, and we can grow. We all can become stronger, wiser, and better. They would need a close, obedient relationship God. God is the father of the rain. Our success will depend on His showers of blessings. Our new year will require determined warfare, productive work, and additional wisdom.
4.The next level requires Careful Attention. 16 “But be careful. Don’t let your heart be deceived so that you turn away from the Lord and serve and worship other gods. 17 If you do, the Lord’s anger will burn against you. He will shut up the sky and hold back the rain, and the ground will fail to produce its harvests. Then you will quickly die in that good land the Lord is giving you.”
The new land would be filled with challenges for Israel. The new year bring equal challenges for us but remember, these things are not new to Our God. Years have always changed. Seasons will always change. Conditions will change. Difficulties will come and go. There will always be hills and valleys, yet every trial will conquered, every victory will be won if we maintain our relationship with God. God knows where he is leading us. The Lord God cares for this land and watches over the land and directs our steps from the beginning of the year to the end. Under His watchful eye, He gives rain as needed, the former and the latter rain. He will give rain in due season when it’s needed. You will be fruitful and prosperous in the new year, your crops will produce abundantly, and your livestock will be fat and full.
“If you carefully obey the commands I am giving you today, and if you love the Lord your God and serve him with all your heart and soul, 14 then he will send the rains in their proper seasons—the early and late rains—so you can bring in your harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil. He will give you lush pastureland for your livestock, and you yourselves will have all you want to eat.
Notice the blessings of obedience, rain in the proper amount and proper time for maximum production. You will have grain for food, selling, and planting; new wine for pleasure, and enrichment; olive oil for lighting, cooking, for beauty and blessing others; lush pastureland for your livestock, sheep, cattle, horses, and everything else. And you yourselves will have all you want to eat.
I know you maybe asking, does God know about inflation or economic downturn or Covid-19 or the flu? Here is God’s response in verse 18-20,
18 “So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 19 Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 20 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors. Happy New Year! Amen
