Subject: "Let’s Break Camp and Move On!"
Text: Deuteronomy 1:3-8 (NLT)
“But forty years after the Israelites left Egypt, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses addressed the people of Israel, telling them everything the LORD had commanded him to say. This took place after he had defeated King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, and at Edrei had defeated King Og of Bashan, who ruled in Ashtaroth. While the Israelites were in the land of Moab east of the Jordan River, Moses carefully explained the LORD’s instructions as follows. “When we were at Mount Sinai, the LORD our God said to us, ‘You have stayed at this mountain long enough. It is time to break camp and move on. Go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all the neighboring regions—the Jordan Valley, the hill country, the western foothills, the Negev, and the coastal plain. Go to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, and all the way to the great Euphrates River. Look, I am giving all this land to you! Go in and occupy it, for it is the land the LORD swore to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to all their descendants.”
Introduction: Israel continued in the wilderness of Sinai for the space of almost a year, in which time they received their law, erected their tabernacle, numbered their people, set up their standards, and encamped by them in the order prescribed. They were now sufficiently prepared to march onward in great order. It was God's purpose that the Israelites should enter into the land of Canaan from their encampment at Kadesh-barnea, But they were hindered by their unbelief. Now, it was time to possess the land!
A.W. Tozer, one of the great preachers in Church history, preached a sermon from this text entitled “Rut, Rot or Revival”. Tozer maintains that if most church were asked, “What is the worst enemy the church faces today?” most would come up with the wrong answer. Tozer says, “The treacherous enemy facing the church of Jesus Christ today is the dictatorship of the routine. When the routine becomes ‘lord’ in the life of the church, programs are organized, and the prevailing conditions are accepted as normal. Anyone can predict next Sunday’s service and what will happen. The enemy called “Routine” still seems to be the deadliest threat in the church today. When we come to the place where everything can be predicted and nobody expects anything unusual from God, we are in a rut. The routine dictates, and we can tell not only what will happen next Sunday, but what will occur next month and, if things do not improve, what will take place next year. Then we have reached the place where what has been, determines what is, and what is, determines what will be.”
Falling prey to this treacherous enemy does not happen all at once. It happens in progressive Stages. The first stage Tozer calls the routine. But too many are caught up in the routine, repeating without feeling, without meaning, without wonder and without any happy surprises or expectations.” Tozer then says, “We go one step further and come to what he calls a rut, which is bondage to the routine.” It has been said that “a rut is a grave with both ends kicked out.” The third stage is the most horrible of all, which Tozer calls “rot”. This is best explained as the psychology of non-expectation. Rot takes over and spiritual stiffness sets in, which is an inability to visualize anything better, a lack of desire for improvement.”
This attitude can happen in a church, a family and in an individual. This message is important as we move into a new year, a new season, and as we face the future. Ecclesiastes 3:1 "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:"
We are people of destiny and purpose. Everything we have been through has been preparing us for the special purpose of God. God has been ordering our steps through each stage of ministry. We should learn to enjoy every stage because ministry and life have distinct stages. There is an infancy stage of faith: where we spend time learning whose we are, who our Father is, how to please Him, and we even learn to talk the language of faith. There is a youth stage: where everything is provided for us; we are spoon fed the word of God; we take God’s blessing for granted; we must learn to deal with our selfishness and must start to make attitude adjustments. There is an adult stage: we learn the responsibilities of adulthood. We are responsible for keeping the laws of God; engaging in spiritual warfare; enlisting in the army of God and learning to make intelligent decisions.
The nation of Israel went through similar stages of development. The infant stage: where Moses had to tell them who they were and who God was. The youthful stage: where all the provisions were given to them; manna from on high; water from a rock; protection from their enemy; and even a cloud by day and a fire by night. This text is the beginning of the adult stage: where the nation of Israel must accept the responsibility of obeying the commandments of God; break up camp and go in possess the land. They are to become a mature nation who is able to go in, dispossess the enemy, possess their possessions, and receive a full reward in God’s land that flows with milk and honey. On the border of the Promised Land, Moses in his final three messages, remind Israel of what God has done, where He has brought them and What He expects from them.
The command from God was: "Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: Turn you, and take your journey, go in and possess the land." One translation says, "you have been here long enough, get up and resume your journey or get back on course" another says, "Enough of this, Break up camp and advance" or literally, "pull up your tent pins and get ready to move". You have been in this wilderness long enough, turn and face your future, be on your way and go forward. The word "go in" means to besiege, to come against, to run down, to war or to cause to enter in. The word "possess" is the Hebrew word, "Yarash" which means to occupy by driving out the previous tenants, to siege, to inherit, to expel without fail, to succeed utterly. Most of the terms used in the text are military terms used by a warring army.
Maybe God uses military language because taking possession of your land may not be a "cake walk" because there are some battles ahead, they must fight. It is still time to possess the land. It took Israel three month to come to Mt. Sinai. After about a year had been spent among the recesses of that wild solitude, in laying the foundation, under the immediate direction of God, learning how their new and peculiar community was to function socially, politically, and, above all, religiously; God commanded his people to rise go in and possess the land.
Today's lesson is a part of Moses farewell address to the people of God before turning over the reins of leadership to Joshua. The word Deuteronomy means second law. Moses uses a series of sermons to remind Israel of all that God had said and done. They were a covenant obligated people called to keep God’s commands, love God with all their hearts, souls and strength and to love their neighbor as themselves.
Our text reveals God’s announcement, "Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount." This journey was only 150 miles long. It should have taken them about 11 days or less than two weeks, but they spent 39 years and 11 months circling in complacency. Like Israel, many congregations start out for the Promised Land but spend years wandering in the wilderness of life, never reaching their potential, never accomplishing their goals, or fulfilling God's purpose for their lives. Some live with unrealized dreams and die with their gifts still in their hearts. Many spend months standing still, not willing to move towards their dreams and goals. Days roll into weeks and weeks roll into months without any progress.
The Israelites found themselves in this wilderness nearly 40 years. Somehow they were going around in circles. One way or another, over and over, they were dealing with the same fears, temptations, complaints and problems. Never getting one step closer to their goal! They remembered their original destination, but they found contentment walking in circles. Sometimes, New Testament believers get caught up, going in circles, dealing with the same old problems, the same old feelings, the same old desires, and stop by the same old failures. Some churches get caught up in routines and ruts because of complacency! Complacency leads to mind set or what I call a “wilderness mentality.”
The Scriptures command the believer to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, to be not conformed to this world. The idea is not allowing the world to mold you or to determine your mindset. Many of us know that the seeds of greatness have been planted within us. We are created in the image and likeness of God. We are called witnesses of the Kingdom. We live a life of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. We move from glory to glory. We must not allow complacency to blind us from the truth. The truth is that we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. The truth is that greater is He that is within us than he that is in the world. The text today is a challenge to many who are trapped in the wilderness on a journey that should have been over long ago. Some have allowed a temporary situation to become a permanent lifestyle. The culprit is a Mindset! The Scripture says, "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he." I want us to consider first of all:
1. Possessing the land requires Us to go in a New Directions. Many of us must be pushed out of our comfort zone. Israel did not become bored or impatient here as a matter of fact they had become satisfied with eating manna and drinking water from the rock. They were living on God's wilderness welfare system. Satisfied in circling with a mindset that said, “this is all there is for us”. After all, there is no telling what lies ahead! Israel was like a church that worked hard to acquire a building, learn to sing, shout, and pray. Although, they were called to be witnesses and to reach the world for Christ, something stopped their progress. Israel was so satisfied that God had to stimulate them. While enjoying worship services, paying the bills, having programs, paying assessments and the like, the believers stop short of fulfilling God’s purpose. What has God called you to do? What are you doing? The people needed outside stimuli. So, Moses said, you have been here long enough. We must have the courage to go in a new direction, and we must maintain a strong desire!
2. Possessing the Land Requires a Strong Desire! Being pushed into a place of opportunity is one thing, possessing the land is something else. We need a strong desire. A strong desire comes from knowing that there is something better ahead; something worth fighting for. Israel was delayed because of their fear to face the enemy. They had a grasshopper mentality. Even after Israel invaded the land, they fail to completely subdue the enemy or completely possessed the land. After possessing a part of the land, Israel gave up and they chose to allow some of inhabitants of the land to remain in the land. They had the power to drive them out, but they lacked the desire. How much has the wilderness taken out of you? Do you have enough desire left to possess the land? What has hindered you? What Fear is stopping you? Do you have enough desire to develop a new habit, learn a new skill, and move in a new direction? Strong desires can overcome discouragement and delays.
3. Possessing the Land Requires a New Mindset! God was saying, “Enough is enough!” The last of the giants, Sihon and Og had been completely conquered, The Lord our God said, "You have dwelt long enough in this mount." These two remaining giant kings and their kingdoms were the first to fall before Israel. Past victories should push us forward. Israel had made this station of life their permanent residence. They were living here! Yes, they had to pass this way. Yes, there were lessons to be learned here, it was a part of your journey, but this is not your home. There is so much more, and the best is yet to come. You have dwelt here long enough!
Israel’s first step was to "Turn". The New Testament word turn means to repent. You cannot make progress until you turn. You must change your direction. Change your thinking. Change your attitude. It’s time to turn. Why, because if you keep doing what you have always done, you will get what you have always got. We must take personal steps of obedience! God’s word has the power to break Satan’s hold on our mind. A mindset is a stronghold. It’s rut thinking! A stronghold is a place where the devil holds you strong. You are not held everywhere, but the mindset can make you think you are held everywhere. Like a 3000-pound, trained circus elephant held by a two-foot stake or a rooster in a box. Possessing the Land requires a new mindset that will embrace God’s command and move forward!
4. Possessing the Land Requires Us To Go Forward and Take your Journey. Why? Because God says it’s time, “turn, go forward, and take your journey. Cast down every thought that is contrary to what God said. This word is from God. Get rid of your excuses, your stinking thinking and stop allowing your opinion or the opinion of others to stop you!
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" 2 Corinthians 10:4,5
Choose to look up and not down, choose to meditate on the good and not the bad. Remember the Bible says,
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." Philippians 4:8, 9
If we will guide our thinking and take control of our mind, we can possess the land. The commandments of God are not grievous to us. They are good for us. I can choose to think positively rather than negatively. I can choose to look up instead of looking down. I can choose to believe God rather than doubt His word. I can choose to believe that something good is going to happen to me and for me. There are some things that you have learned while in the wilderness, that God can be trusted. There are some things that you have experienced in your own life. God has made ways for you personally. There are some things that you have heard, like the testimony of others. Are you ready to turn and take your journey, to go in and possess your land? Don’t you want to Turn and take your journey? You must not allow my choice to effect you…take your journey! What excites you? What are you attracted to? What is your church and ministry good at? God has a place where you fit and a task for you to do. Notice God set the entire land before them and encouraged them to go forward. Go to the mount of the Amorites where you may finds minerals or dig out precious stones, or to the plain and farm the fields, so you can produce large crops of delicious food, to the hills where you can build houses overlooking the valley, or go to the vale where you can grow a vineyard that produce sugar, wine and honey, or to the south, by the seaside, where you can fish and harvest the sea. The whole land of the Canaanites, from Lebanon to the great river Euphrates is before you. Just go and take your journey!
The land was filled with seven different terrains and occupational opportunities, from the mountains to the sea, from fishing to prospecting and everything in between. Find your place and go forward. Take your journey, follow your own heart as you follow God. We are one month in a new year, are you moving forward or standing still? Isn’t it time to make a move? “While the Israelites were in the land of Moab east of the Jordan River, Moses carefully explained the LORD’s instructions as follows. “When we were at Mount Sinai, the LORD our God said to us, ‘You have stayed at this mountain long enough. It is time to break camp and move on.” The message today, break camp and move on. Amen.
