New Beginnings

New Beginnings

Joshua 1:1 - 9
The Israelites were probably a bit perplexed as to what to do next. Their fearless leader was dead. The desert loomed behind them. A mighty river stood before them. On the other side were nations bigger and mightier than they were. What now? was the question on everyone’s lips. I’m sure Joshua didn’t quite know what to do either. But God knew. It was time for a new beginning for His people.

The book of Joshua is about ‘new beginnings’.
New LEADERSHIP.
New DIRECTION.
New VISION.
New BATTLES.
New VICTORIES.
The children of Israel had wandered around in the Sinai desert for 40 years and it was time for them to move on into the new things God had for them. After a suitable length of time for mourning after the death of Moses, God speaks to Joshua and very clearly sets him on a new path.

Joshua 1:1 – 9 In this passage there are 3 very important principles that we need to observe if we are to move on into the new things of God.

1. Let go of the past
God never gets stuck in the past. He is always moving forward.
Cain murdered Abel but God moved on with his plans and purposes.
David committed adultery but God’s purposes moved forward.
Thousands of Israelites died in the wilderness through rebellion and sin,
but God continued with his plan to establish a people for Himself.
Judas hung himself, but God’s plan of redemption did not stop.

Whatever happens God always moves forward. He doesn’t waste time worrying about if-only’s or maybe’s. His words to Joshua were simple. Moses my servant is dead.

The Lord had done great things under Moses’ leadership.
* Israel had been delivered from the oppression and bondage of Egypt.
* They had passed through the Red sea and seen the Egyptian army annihilated.
* They had seen miracles such as water from a rock, fresh manna on a daily basis, and even the ground opening up and swallowing a rebellious family.

But it was time to move on. The past had its purpose but the future was waiting.



Paul the Apostle came to the same conclusion.
Philipians 3:13, 14 this one thing I do; forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul was in prison when he wrote these words.
He had been beaten on many occasions, persecuted & shipwrecked.
But he had also started many churches, brought revival to numerous towns and seen incredible miracles.
But he understood the need to forget the past and move forward.

We too must lay aside the things of the past and step forward.
That includes the good and the bad.
Forget about the mistakes and the failures. Learn the lessons and move on.
Thank God for the good things he has done in you and for you but don’t camp there. There is much, much more.

What God did yesterday will not get you through tomorrow.
New beginnings require new vision, new direction, new strategies.
God told Joshua to go over this Jordan and possess the land. That had to become Joshua’s vision. Joshua could no longer look back to the events of the wilderness wanderings. God gave him a new vision. He saw the promised land and his vision determined his direction.

In order to accomplish the vision, Israel’s leadership moved from Moses to Joshua. It moved from lawgiver to warrior.
From learning the fear of God to learning to fight for God. They had learned who their God was and how he provided for them. They knew and understood His power and authority.
They needed this knowledge and understanding before they could go to battle otherwise their hearts would faint and they would quickly give in to the nations and become their slaves.

The things of yesterday have equipped you to face your new beginning. Our focus must be taken off our past and firmly placed on ‘What now, God?’

Isaiah 43:18, 19
‘Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth. Shall you not know it?









2. Be strong and courageous Vss 6,7 & 9
Weakness, fear and timidity are emotions we all feel at different times in our lives, but we must conquer them if we are to move on to new things in God. God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

God has given us power, power over all the power of the enemy and we needn’t fear the devil at all. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. When Jesus Christ rose from the dead he proved how weak the devil’s power was. He is a defeated foe. (Isaiah 14) The battle has already been won, and we are called to claim and enforce the victory.
Deut 3:22 Moses told the Israelites ‘You must not fear them, for the Lord your God Himself fights for you’. God can and will deal with anything or anyone that stands in the way of God’s plan for your life, if you let him. You must trust God and be courageous.

God has given us His love. God is love and perfect love casts out fear.
His love for us means
* we can trust Him no matter what circumstances come our way
* no matter what situation occurs He has the answer
* no matter what people think of us, say about us or do to us, God is still on the throne and He will avenge his people.
When we truly understand the incredible love that God has for his children, we will not be afraid.

God has given us a sound mind.
* God has given His children the power to think clearly and rationally.
* He has given us the ability to discern wisdom and deception.
* We have the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.
Yes, there will always be a battle in our minds, but when we submit our minds to the word of God, His truth will always triumph.

Be strong and courageous. God told Joshua this three times.
The last time in vs 9 God even emphasizes it again. 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.

3. Trust and obey Vs 8
This book of the Law was the first five books of the Old Testament. It contained the account of creation and the history of the Israelite nation. It also contained all of the laws that God gave His people so that they could live prosperous and successful lives.

It is very much to our discredit that we have another 34 Old Testament books and the New Testament, plus the help of the Holy Spirit and we still can’t get it right a lot of the time. Thank God, his mercies are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22,23) But we don’t have any excuses for not moving on and possessing our promises.

God’s word must be the final answer. If it is written in there, we can believe it. We can sing and dance, fast and pray, or seek counsel from books and other people, but if what we want or what we are hearing doesn’t line up with God’s word, we must ignore it.
What often happens is that we have already made up our mind to go a certain direction, and then we seek God. What we really want is God’s approval. We want Him to come into agreement with us. HE WON’T.
We must come into agreement with Him if we want to be prosperous and successful.
Amos 3:3 says: ‘Can two walk together, unless they agree’ You can’t walk with God unless you agree with Him and His Word. And you can’t agree with His Word, if you don’t read it and know it.

The Jordan River represents our sinful nature. It flows from ADAM to the Dead Sea (3:16). Just as the Jordan River stood between the Israelites and the promised land, so too, walking in the flesh, or allowing the old man to dominate us, will stand between where we are now and moving on into the promises of God and the new things He has for us.

Crossing your Jordan River means ‘dying to self, death to the flesh and crucifying the old man’. That means laying aside all of our own agendas, desires and plans and being fully committed to obey God in all things. We must choose to follow God. Choice is an act of our will.
Isaish 1:19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land….
We must be willing and obedient.

Be assured that God wants to lead you.
Isaiah 42:9 Behold the former things have come to pass and new things I declare. Before they spring forth I tell you of them.
Amos 3:7 - Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals is secret to His servants the prophets.

When we choose to spend time in the Word, meditating and listening to the Holy Spirit, we will know the directions and timings for our lives. Then as we trust and obey, we will be prosperous and successful.












The 3 Principles
1. Let go of the past. Are you ready to let go?
Do you need to forgive someone, maybe even yourself? You may need to let an offense go.
You may need to say goodbye to some ‘good things’ you have been involved in.
You might need to stop looking back at the successes of yesterday and begin to believe for ‘even greater things’.
Whatever is in your past, you can’t look ahead until you stop looking back.

2. Be strong and courageous. Strength and courage come from knowing who God is and knowing who we are in Christ.
If you are bound by a spirit of fear, get free from it. Confess fear as sin and repent of it.
Memorize and confess 2 Timothy 1:7 until it is a part of your being.

3. Trust and obey. This week determine to seek God in His Word.
Ask Him to show you any area of your life that may be holding you back.
Is there something that you know in the Word that you are not standing in agreement with?
Has God asked you to do something but you have not obeyed. Ask His forgiveness and determine to walk in His ways.
Ask Him for clear vision and direction. He longs to show you great and mighty things that you do not yet know.

SALVATION
The greatest NEW BEGINNING is the very thing we celebrate at this time of year. After 400 years of silence from God, the birth of Jesus heralded a new beginning for mankind.

The Old Testament had done its job. It was now time for the new.
Jesus was God’s signature on the new covenant.
1 Cor 11:25 This cup is the new testament in my blood.

SALVATION is the ultimate ‘new beginning’.
Galatians 6:15: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

SALVATION IS NOT ABOUT OUTWARD ACTS, BUT THE INWARD MAN NEWLY CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.

If you haven’t made a decision to accept Christ yet, the same three principles apply to you. God is offering you a new beginning but you must:
1. Let go of the past
2. Be strong and courageous
3. Trust and obey.