Jesus Will Never Fail You

SCRIPTURE: 

The LORD Himself goes before you,

and will be with you;

He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Do not be afraid;

Do not be discouraged (Deuteronomy 31:8).

For I know the plans I have for you, “Declares the LORD,

plans to prosper you and not harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

INTRODUCTION:  This morning I am going to equate our traveling into the New Year, 2009 with the movement of the children of Israel, under Joshua, who succeeded Moses, into the Promised Land.  The Book of “Deuteronomy” means the second giving of the Law of God.

Moses was not allowed to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land because he and Aaron broke faith with God in the presence of the people at the waters of Meribah Kadesh and he did not uphold God’s holiness among the Israelites in the Desert of Zin. (Num.13:21; 14:20 ff.

 Moses blessed the nation of Israel and died on Mount Nebo before Israel crossed over the Jordan River to possess the land.

 The leadership of the nation was passed from Moses to Joshua.

 Joshua takes the nation across the Jordan River into the Promised Land.

God has Joshua take the entire Israeli nation through the valley of decision between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal to symbolize for them the choice they have between being blessed and being cursed.

  Gerizim is the mount of blessedness if they keep God’s Law and

Ebal is the mount of cursedness if they disregard God’s Law. God is speaking to Joshua, As I read from Deut. 31: 11-20;  32:1-8 I want you to notice the two  times that the word “if” is used.  Read from Scriptures.  Moses is speaking to the people of Israel:

I.                  What will 2009 look like for us?

a.      individually

b.     as a church

c.     as a community

d.     as a nation

e.      as a world population

II.               The conditional “If” 2 Chron. 7:14

“If my people,

who are called by my name,

will humble themselves

 and pray

and seek my face

 and turn from their wicked ways,

 then I will hear from heaven

and will forgive their sin

and will heal their land.”  (2 Chron. 7:14)

III.           Choosing the right way  Ebal or Gerizim

IV.            Blessedness possessing the land

Deut, 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with your; He will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deut. 31:6). 

What or Who are the giants in your life that need to be confronted and conquered?

V.               Cursedness  losing it all  Delay, Linger, and Wait

VI.            Unity (John 17:20-26)

“My prayer is not for them alone.

I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,

 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.

 May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

I have given them the glory that you gave me,

that they may one  as we are one: I in them and you in me.

 May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me

 and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am,

 and to see my glory,

the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

Righteous Father, though the world does not know you,

I know you, and they know that you have sent me.

 I have made you known to them,

and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them

 and that I myself may be in them”(John 17:20-26)

VII.  What will 2009 look like for  you, me, our church?

a. in your personal walk with the Lord---personal devotional life—living it out.

b.    in  our families 

                                    i.      guard against self

ii.                  unfaithfulness

c.      in our church

i. guard against the “party spirit”

                                ii.      protect love and the redemptive spirit

                                iii.      guard against hypocrisy.