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.
4. How ironic to realize that the Heathen BELIEVED God could do it, but God’s people didn’t believe God could pull it off!
B. GIANTS IN OUR PROMISED LAND
1. When you look ahead into 2025, you may see some Giants standing in your path.
a. Some HEALTH concerns.
b. Challenges in SCHOOL or JOBS.
c. FINANCIAL or RELATIONSHIP issues.
d. Some are called to a NEW MINISTRY that seems formidable.
2. Whatever our Obstacles, God says, “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will be with you wherever you go.”
III. MIRACLES WILL FOLLOW YOU
A. A CHANGE IN METHODOLOGY
1. Under Moses, it was: “Miracles first, obedience second.” But under Joshua, the Marching Orders became: “Obedience first & miracles will follow.”
2. It’s similar in our walk of faith. God says, “YOU OBEY ME, and the Miracles will follow.”
3. It happened at Jericho. They marched around the walls 7 days, then the walls fell down flat.
4. God performs Miracles any time He chooses, but more often than not, His miracles will come AFTER we step out in active faith.
B. GOD’S ORDERS? “GET GOING”
1. What are God’s Marching Orders for you? Just “look straight ahead.” Do you see a Job that needs to be done? Then do it.
• If someone needs prayer, then pray.
• If they need money, then give.
• If the trash needs taking out, then empty it.
• If the kitchen needs to be cleaned then clean it.
• If the kids need some attention then give it.
• If a class needs a teacher, then teach it.
• If something’s broken, then fix it.
2. When you see a need --- get busy filling that need… and Miracles will follow after you.
3. That’s how we show our Faith in God. And that’s when God will bless us in supernatural ways.
4. The World says, “Show me and I will believe.” But God says, “If you can believe, all things are possible.” Miracles Follow when we step out in Faith.
CONCLUSION
A. POWER OF OBEDIENCE
1. Missionary Sidney Wilson told of how he "prayed through" to become a missionary.
2. “I wanted to make a commitment at church, but I was too embarrassed. So I went out to the side of a canal and began talking to God.
3. I prayed right through lunch, right through Sunday afternoon, and on into the evening. And still I had not reached the point where I was willing to accept God's plan for my life.
4. After I asked, "What is it, Lord? What am I holding back?” Then I finally had my answer.
5. My "yes" to God had always been a "yes...but." “Yes, but….I'm not educated.….Yes, but I'm lame.”
6. Finally, I said "Yes" without any qualification. "I'll will go, Lord," I said.
7. "No matter what; whenever, wherever, however You want me, I'll go. And I'll begin this very minute. Lord, as I stand up from this place, and as I take my first step forward, will You consider that this is a step toward complete obedience to You? I'll call it the Step of Yes."
8. “I stood up. I took a stride forward. And in that moment there was a sharp wrench in my lame leg. In horror I turned to my crippled ankle.”
9. Slowly and very cautiously I began walking home, and as I walked, one verse of Scripture came to my mind: "Going, they were healed."
10. That evening Sidney was gloriously healed. He walked 12 kilometers that night. The following week he applied for Missionary Training in Glasgow. [Open Doors, Brother Andrew with John & Elizabeth Sherrill, The Narrow Road].
B. THE CALL
1. What would you like to see happen in 2025? Can you think of something specific? Why don’t you stand to represent that and let’s take it to the Lord.
2. How many of you want to start off the New Year with a clean slate? I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Let’s get all our sins washed away and start off forgiven!
3. Prayer for forgiveness of sins and bringing our giants and challenges to the Lord, asking God to help us overcome them – in Jesus’ Name!
[This is a rewrite of K. Edward Skidmore’s message of the same title]
