Sermon “Navigating this New Season" (Understanding What Lies Ahead)
Scripture Lesson - Deuteronomy 11:8-17 “and so that you may live long in the land the Lord swore to your ancestors to give to them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey. The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.
So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. Then the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut up the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you.”
Introduction: Being release from the Egyptian bondage, the hearts and mind of the people were saturated with the word “freedom.” What does it mean and where will it lead us? The more the word is used, the less meaning it seems to convey. For many in our culture, the concept of freedom is only understood in a negative way. Freedom is the unbinding of any authority over us. It is freedom from. In this view, any degree of authority over an individual is deemed oppression. Thus, the primary goal of life and citizenship is to rid oneself of as many constraints as possible to live a full, actualized life as an individual, liberated from the restrictions.
If the greatest good is my own personal freedom, then what hinders me from doing anything to anyone for any reason other than the sheer fact that my freedom says I can?
Moses must prepare the generation for the freedom they have been given. If he does not, the liberated people of God would fight against the limitations of God and protest what would save their lives and chase after their own death, all in the name of freedom from what they perceive to be a barrier to their freedom. Moses offers an alternative understanding of freedom. It is not so much a negative freedom as a positive freedom, not so much a freedom from Egyptian bondage as a freedom for becoming God’s covenant people. He commands Israel to ponder the purpose of their freedom. Freedom misunderstood will generally be abused.
It said that every time Napoleon sent out one of his officers with a message, he reaffirms it by saying, “Be clear, be clear, be clear” The man Moses was probably one of the greatest leaders that ever lived. He knew his congregation and knew best how to help them. The book of Deuteronomy means “second law” or the law given again. The key word in the book is "remember." The former generation of Israel had died in the wilderness because they forgot the assignment; so, it was important that Moses rehearse the law and expound the principles to the new generation before they enter the Promised Land. He endeavored to be clear, be clear, and be very clear so that they might understand. This rehearsal of the Law proclaimed at Mt. Sinai was a call to obedience, a review of past experiences and a prophetic word for the future.
Chapter 4 deals with remembering the giving of the Law and the covenant of God. Chapter 5 & 6 deals with remembering the past slavery in Egypt. Chapter 7 deals with remembering the great deliverance God performed for them. Chapter 8 deals with remembering God’s divine leadership. Chapter 9 & 10 deal with remembering the high cost of sin and disobedience. But in chapter 11, Moses deals with helping this new generation understand what to expect as you follow God into this new land. This land of Canaan is a type of life beyond the norm that must be embraced with a new mindset and a new understanding. It is a land of productive labor. It was a type of the higher Christian life or the higher call of God that can only be won by warfare, obedience and dependance on God.
This young, new generation would go in under the new leadership of Joshua and Caleb. Navigating leadership changes can be hard. So, Moses publicly anointed Joshua for the role in the presence of all Israel. God had chosen Joshua, just as he had chosen Moses years before. God had selected this good land. The new land was a land that flows with milk and honey. It was a land highly valued and greatly desired. The more priceless the possession, the more determined your adversary is. Many today talk about new goals, going to the next level, moving to a new dimension, but many are not willing to pay the price. Not only must we be willing to pay the price to get there, but they must also pay a price to stay there! What does it mean to possess the Land? What does next level living require? What kind of new attitude will this new land require? Under new the leadership of Joshua, the people must embrace a new kind of warfare.
1. Fight Hard – Deuteronomy 11:8 “Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it;”
This new land requires a new mindset. They must be strong to keep all God’s commandment, be strong as you go in, be strong to possess the land. They must be determined and strong! Be full of courage and be ready to encourage yourself! This will not be easy. Expect opposition. Why should the devil step aside for you? Why should he give you ground? You must be determined to possess the land. The Hebrew word, “Yarash” means “to occupy by driving out previous tenants” and possessing in their place; to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel. You cannot have this land unless you are willing to possess it. Be strong in your mind because everything has changed. We must fight as obedient servants of God. We advance by His command. If the battle gets hard, we will fight hard. In Egypt, they were fighting for survival and building for Pharoah, in the wilderness, they were fighting for the lives in a hostile environment, but in this new land, they are fighting for the abundant life God promised. It is ours, but we must fight hard until victory is won.
2. Work Hard - Hard Work will still be required. Deuteronomy 11:9-11 “And that ye may prolong your days in the land, which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give unto them and to their seed, a land that floweth with milk and honey. The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.”
This land is free, fruitful and productive, but requires labor. It is a land flowing with milk and honey, yet rivers must be crossed, the ground must be cultivated, crops must be planted and gathered, and the relationship with God must be maintained. Remember honey must be gathered from a beehive. You will need added skills, protective equipment and much determination to get it. Milk comes from a cow, but cows don’t give the milk, but you must learn to squeeze it out. This is not a land of leisure, it’s a land of labor! Not only must we fight, but we must also acquire new skills and be willing to work hard. Everyone wants to experience the abundant life Jesus promised. John 10:10 reminds us, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Sometimes we read that verse without emphasizing the fact that there is a thief present in the land flowing with milk and honey. Every harvest requires hard work. Tilling the ground is hard work. Planting the crop is hard work. We must protect what we plant. There are always weeds and bugs of every size trying to kill, steal and destroy. Everybody wants a growing church! Everybody wants to reach their community, but most are not willing to do what it takes. We must fight hard and we must work hard.
3. Grow Continually - “So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.”
Abundant life requires continual growth. Abundant life requires faithfulness in your relationship with God. We must obey God and love God wholeheartedly. Abundant life requires new skills. Your old techniques will not work in the new land like they worked in Egypt. This new land is not like the land of Egypt. The land of Egypt was soft and fertile; irrigated by the Nile River and managed as easily as a backyard garden. It is not like the land of Egypt! In Egypt, they did not depend on the rains; the land itself was moist and fertile. They needed little equipment, only the seed and the heel of their foot. and they could expect a good harvest. Hills and valleys require a different skill set. The land will require cisterns and wells, livestock and equipment, storage bins and barns. The land requires continual growth.
We must be careful not to expect every assignment to be easy; or every year and season to be the same. We must grow and remain flexible. God does not change, but His methods do. Many times, we promise people what God has done of others, He will do for you. Yet we never know the method God will use. God does not necessarily give rewards like the world, or riches like the world or power like the world. It is not like Egypt! In Egypt they did not depend on rain, the land itself was moist and fertile because of the Nile River. They needed little equipment, only the seed and the heel of their foot. The pandemic changed the landscape. The election changed the landscape. Business as usual will not work! Just as God had a plan then, He has a plan now!
Deuteronomy 11:10-11 “For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs: But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven:”
This land is a land of hills and valleys and needs the regulated rain of heaven. It’s rough and rocky, hard to till and break up, and it must have water to produce a harvest. In other words, you can't make it without God. You will need constant contact with God and heaven. He must give you health and strength. He must give rain in due season. Besides all this, you will have highs and lows, ups and downs, good times and hard times in this land. You must keep learning new skills and keep growing in grace. There was a day when people would go to church and join out of habit and tradition. The church seemed to grow automatically, that day is over! Today, growth requires warfare, hard work, new skills and the favor of God. Notice that all these things are required. Nothing works without the favor of God, yet even with the favor of God, Abundant life comes through warfare, we must fight hard, it comes through labor, we must work hard. It comes through growth, we must learn new skills and keep on learning.
4. Embrace the New Move of God. Deuteronomy 11:12 “A land which the LORD thy God cares for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.”
We must embrace the new move of God. We may not always understanding what God allows and predetermines, but we must accept it and embrace it. The next move of God is not optional. God has pre-determined the next move. Neither the pandemic nor the election could alter God’s plan. Thing might at times speed up or delay, but nothing changes God’s plan. This is the land that the Lord thy God called them to, gave to them, and cares for. In other words, in this land you are under the divine care of God. His eyes are always upon it.
Regardless of the giants, the walled cities, the difficult terrain, and the obstacles they face, they are right where God wants them. Go in and possess the Land and serve the Lord. Your place of service is God’s gift to you. Your faithful service is your gift to God. God has His eyes on you. You must remember everything depends on your obedience to Him, so obey his word, Love the Lord your God, and Serve him with all your heart and soul. Standing still or returning to Egypt is not an option. God has commanded and they must obey. If they do (1) God will give them rain at the right time and in the right place (2) Your crops and livestock will produce abundantly (3) all will be fat and full (4) and they would be God’s chosen people and His constant witness to the world. Fight hard, work hard, grow constantly, embrace the new move of God and Take advantage of every opportunity.
5. Take advantage of every opportunity. In this new environment, we must seize the moment and take advantage of every opportunity. God provides opportunities in every season. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reads, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Whether we like it or not, all seasons come to an end. We know that bad seasons in our lives have an expiration date, but even the great seasons of life will come to an end at some point. It's a transition that often catches us off guard, as we find ourselves grappling with the reality that even the most cherished moments are fleeting. In those moments of transition, it's essential to remember that God is with us, guiding us through every season of change. Life is full of seasons—some marked by joy and abundance, while others by trials and tribulations. Yet, in the midst of both the highs and lows, God remains constant, His love unwavering and His presence is always near.
The most important thing for us to do today, should be taking advantage of every season. There are conditions in God’s covenant that must be obeyed. Why? God’s land grant can be terminated, and His lease can expire, if His covenant people refuse to be obedient, faithful, and loyal. To turn aside to other gods, and turn away from God, they will miss the moment and turn from grace and favor towards His wrath. In His wrath, the heavens will shut, and no rain will be given; fruitfulness will vanish and you will quickly perish off the land.
Deuteronomy 11:16-17 “Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; And then the LORD'S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.”
Understanding What Lies Ahead for us as God’s people is a must. We must understand our assignment as a Church, as a family, and as an individual. This new environment requires warfare; nothing worthwhile can be obtain without real effort. It requires hard work, Continual Growth, embracing what God permits and taking advantage of every season. There is a difference between our old life and this new life. Even though our land is filled with hills and valleys, we never walk it alone. The blessing of God may take you there but it’s faithfulness to God that can keep us there. Drought and lack are not normal; They are attention getters. Judgments are usually the fruit of sin, and should lead all to repentance, knowing that if we continue in sin, it will lead us to ruin. Listen to the following verse:
Deuteronomy 8:9 “A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.”
Psalm 34:10 “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.”
2Chronicles 7:13-16 “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attend unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house that my name may be there forever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.”
When we understand what lies ahead, we can be fruitful and flourish. We should decide to embrace God’s plan regardless of the warfare; the hard work; or the new skills needed…whatever it takes! I want to fulfill my assignment. The church has an assignment. It has little to do with the size. It has been said, It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog! God has equipped us for this moment.
Jeremiah 29:5-7, 11 “Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.…For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Understanding What Lies Ahead for us as God’s people is a must. We must understand our assignment as a Church, as a family, and as an individual. This new environment requires warfare; nothing worthwhile can be obtain without real effort. It requires hard work, continue to grow, embrace what God permits and taking advantage of every season. Then we are encouraged to live life to full. Build houses, build your family, pray for peace, and pray for the nation. Just as God blessed you with increase in Egypt, increase in the wilderness, and He will bless you in the new environment. Take advantage of every God-given opportunity!
