Choices For The New Year

                                   

Joshua 1:1-9

INTRO: Our lives are a journey from the cradle to the grave. We are constantly making decisions as we live our daily lives. We have just begun a new year. We will have many more choices to make each day. Some will be fairly easy and some will not. Will I continue to work at this job or find another one? Will I continue in my marriage or get a divorce? What will I wear each day and what will I eat? What will I do with my time? What will I do with my money? Will I retire or keep working? Will I continue to attend church or stop attending? Who or what will I look to for help making the crucial decisions in my life? One crucial decision this year will be,will God and His word be a priority in my life? Colossians 1:28-29 NKJV²⁸ Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. I desire as did the apostle Paul here in these verses, to see all of you mature in Christ, because that's the way to successful and prosperous living. So, I, am striving to encourage you the Lord's flock to feed on the riches of His word. God's word is His road-map to guide us thru life with His blessings. Thru reading, studying, and obeying the word, we grow toward maturity in Christ, living the most successful and prosperous life possible. The worlds philosophy and ways of thinking and living will fail. We can see the importance of God's word in the O.T. Book of Joshua chapter one.

Moses had died and God chose Joshua to lead them into the promised land. Joshua and the Israelites would have to make many important decisions on their journey. These decisions would be a matter of life or death. So God tells Joshua how to be successful and prosperous on their journey into unknown territory. God gave Joshua and the people instructions. In Joshua 1:1-2 (NKJV) ¹ After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying: ² "Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them--the children of Israel. God told them to cross over to the promised land. God gives us instructions for our lives each day. The bible is full of God's wisdom, knowledge and understanding for living the successful life. God speaks to our hearts and Then we make a choice to listen to God's word or not.

Joshua 1:3-4 (NKJV) ³ Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. ⁴ From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.

God told Joshua that He would give them the land He had promised to Moses and him. God said every where they put their feet would be theirs. God has given us Christians promises also. Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV) ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. John 14:12-14 (NKJV) ¹² "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. ¹³ And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NLT) ²⁰ Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. ²¹ Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. Let us walk in the promises God has given us and claim His victory in our lives.

Joshua 1:5 (NKJV) No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. God promises He would not leave Joshua and the Israelites. God has also promised us in: Hebrews 13:5b (NKJV) For God has said, “I will never leave you. I will never (forsake) you.”6 So we may boldly say “The Lord is my helper;I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
Joshua 1:6-8 (NKJV) ⁶ Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. ⁷ Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. ⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
God instructs Joshua not to deviate from what He had instructed Moses in His law. God is stressing the importance of His word. He must speak and do God's word at all times.
Joshua 1:8 (NKJV) This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Only obedience to God's word brings victory. God's prosperity and success are conditional. It depends on reading, meditating, then speaking and doing (living) what God's word says to do. We are not to be conformed to the world's way of thinking and acting, but be transformed by renewing our minds with God's word. Romans 12:2 (NKJV) ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  Age has nothing to do with maturity or perfection of the believer in Christ. It takes a renewed mind to be spiritually mature. To think and act as God wants us to. As you read the bible your mind will be transformed from the fleshly worldly way of thinking to God's way of thinking. You will begin to speak God's word over your situation and circumstance. You will begin to conduct your lifestyle accordingly. Then you will be doing what is God's will for you. Then You will find His way good, pleasing, and perfect for successful living.
We don't know what this year will bring to us, but if we do these things that I just talked about, we will have God's presence with us no matter what we have to face. God wants to reassure us today as He did Joshua then. Because there would be a tendency to be afraid of all the unknowns they were fixing to face, God tells Joshua again Joshua 9 (NKJV) Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." God again reassures Joshua again He will be with him and the Israelites. That's how Joshua could be strong and of good courage.That same promise is good for us today. Hebrews 13:5-6 (NKJV) ⁵ Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." ⁶ So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" Because God is our ever present helper, we can be strong and courageous as we face the rest of this year reading, meditating, speaking and obeying His word!

Invitation: Have you ever made the choice to ask Jesus to forgive your sins against Him and the Father. Have you asked Jesus to be your personal Savior? Have you confessed Him as your Lord? If you make that choice, you will gain eternal life? Have you made the choice to live for Him in all you do? Will you choose God's way for your life this year? Pray and ask for His guidance and direction for your life.

God's promises depend on our obedience to Him. The choice is ours! Ask Jesus to forgive your sins and invite Him to take charge of your life from now on till eternity. He will give you a home in Heaven with God.