Reminders for 2010
Deuteronomy
11:1-12
Introduction: The
Israelites were about to go into the Promised Land. The year was about 1451 B.C. It was one of the most eventful years in the history of the
Israelites. Moses speaks to them
at the beginning of the year. He
knows what they will be facing during the new year. (God knew, and He inspired Moses to pen all of it down.)
- In the year 1451 B.C., the Jews would begin the year
in the wilderness in wandering and suffering; but during this year, they would
cross the Jordan River. They would
fight and win the battle of Jericho.
- In 1451 B.C., they would also lose the battle of Ai
because of one man's hidden sin, the man Achan.
- In 1451 B.C., they would conquer the land of Canaan.
They would wander in the wilderness, cross the Jordan,
be victorious at Jericho, get defeated at Ai, and conquer the land of Canaan
all in one year. He was reminding
them that the Lord has His eye on things from the beginning of the year unto
the end of the year.
That means that 2010 will not pass without the Lord
watching over it...and us!
During the coming 365 days, some of you are going to
have to start the year in the wilderness.
Don't forget, the eyes of the Lord will be upon you from the beginning
of the year unto the end of the year.
During the coming 365 days, some are going to face the
Jordan River. Don't forget, the
eyes of the Lord will be upon you from the beginning of the year unto the end
of the year.
During the coming 365 days, some are going to have to
fight a battle of Jericho. Don't
forget, the eyes of the Lord will be upon you from the beginning of the year
unto the end of the year.
During the coming 365 days, some are going to have to
lose the battle at AI. Don't
forget, the eyes of the Lord will be upon you from the beginning of the year
unto the end of the year.
During the coming 365 days, some are going to enter
and conquer Canaan's land. Don't
forget, the eyes of the Lord will be upon you from the beginning of the year
unto the end of the year.
The eyes of the Lord are always open. He never sleeps, He never slumbers, and
nothing ever takes God by surprise!
Nothing will come your way this year that God has not already thought
about and approved for you.
Everything is "Father-filtered."
** This reminds me that...
1. The
eyes of the Lord are open to me in the wilderness.
- This is your
time of Christian growth.
- For many,
the Christian life is difficult.
We often take three steps forward and two steps back. No one ever stays stationary in their
Christian life. You are going
forward or moving backward, but you are not standing still.
- In the
wilderness, the people of God fought many battles, lost a few, but won some
too.
- As you
travel through the wilderness of Christian growth, don't forget, the eyes of
the Lord will be upon you from the beginning of the year unto the end of the
year.
** This reminds me that...
2. The
eyes of the Lord are open to me at the Jordan River.
- The Jordan
River in the Bible is a place of surrender.
- God wanted
His people to leave the wilderness and enter the land of Canaan.
- The Jordan
River would mark the place where they gave it all to the Lord, so-to-speak.
- The Jordan
River is where they would leave the world behind and wholly follow the Lord.
I'm on my way (I'm on my way) to Canaan's land (to Canaan's land).
I'm on my way (I'm on my way) to Canaan's land (to Canaan's land).
I'm on my way (I'm on my way) to Canaan's land.
I'm on my way (Praise the Lord!) I'm on my way.
- Some here
today will face their Jordan River in 2010.
- As you come
to your Jordan and hopefully cross over it, don't forget, the eyes of the Lord
will be upon you from the beginning of the year unto the end of the year.
** This reminds me that...
3. The
eyes of the Lord are open to me at Jericho.
- There are
always more victories in Canaan than there were in the wilderness.
- More
victories mean more battles to fight.
- Their first
battle for the Promised Land was a great victory handed to them by the Lord!
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood!
- Victories
are very possible in 2010, but remember that there has to be a battle in order
for there to be a victory.
- There is
that sin you need to give up, that habit you need to kick, that promise you
need to keep, that vow you should not break, that calling you need to fulfill.
- As you come
to your Jericho, don't forget, the eyes of the Lord will be upon you from the
beginning of the year unto the end of the year.
** This reminds me that...
4. The
eyes of the Lord are open to me at Ai.
- Achan did
not realize that God was watching as he took of the accursed thing, but He was
watching.
- He saw him
covet after the gold, the silver, and the clothing from Babylon; then He
watched him steal them and hide them.
God knew!
- He also
found out that "one sinner destroyeth much
good." He found out
the hard way that sin will always find you out. He found out that what he coveted after and stole was not
worth what it cost him. It cost
him his family and even his own life!
- As you come
to your Ai, don't forget, the eyes of the Lord will be upon you from the
beginning of the year unto the end of the year.
** This reminds me that...
5. The
eyes of the Lord are open to me in Canaan.
- Canaan is
that land of Spirit-filled surrender for the child of God.
- No one else
may think your victories are great, but the Lord does!
- No one else
may see that you are making progress...
- No one else
may see that you are overcoming sin...
- No one else
may see that you are getting rid of sinful habits...
- No one else
may see that you are reading your Bible more...
- No one else
may see that you are praying more consistently...
- No one else
may see that you are delighting more in the Lord...
- No one else
may see that you are tithing and making it...
- No one else
may see that you are more spiritually minded...
- No one else
may see that you are witnessing more, but the Lord does!
- Canaan is a
place of victory, and the Lord is watching during the times of great victory.
- As you enter
your Canaan, don't forget, the eyes of the Lord will be upon you from the
beginning of the year unto the end of the year.
Conclusion: Has it
ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God? His knowledge is infinite, and His vision
is not blurred. God is ever-watching
over you from the beginning of the year unto the ending of the year.
- 1 Peter 3:12,
"For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous,
and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against
them that do evil."
- 2 Chronicles
16:9, "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro
throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose
heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from
henceforth thou shalt have wars."
- Psalm 34:15,
"The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and
his ears are open unto their cry."
- Proverbs
5:21, "For the ways of man are before the eyes of
the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings."
During the coming 365 days, some are going to have to
start the year in the wilderness while others are fighting their battles,
winning some and losing some, while yet others are getting the victory. Whatever you do, don't forget, the eyes
of the Lord will be upon you from the beginning of the year unto the end of the
year!