Moving North

Introduction

Good morning and welcome back!

And Happy early 4th of July!

As I was preparing for this morning’s service, a message that I preached all the way back in 2012 came to mind regarding Moses and the Children of Israel in their journey toward the Promised Land.

That story is actually found in Deuteronomy 1-2 and it reminds me sort of the struggle for Independence and Freedom that took place in our nation, which led to the Revolutionary War and our own Independence Day.

During Israel’s struggle, they were fighting for their independence from the Egyptians and the 400 plus years of bondage that they were subjected to.

And even after they had broken free from the Egyptian grip on them they still had a major journey and massive struggle ahead of them.

Because of their lack of trust in God they wandered around in the wilderness for 40 years trying to make their way home.

From the time the first people landed in what is now the United States until the Revolutionary War, the people here struggled for over 100 years trying to gain their independence from the British Empire.

And even through that struggle and afterward, our nation, as blessed and protected by God as it is, still had and has issues.

We still have a problem trusting in and following God completely here.

And in so many ways we are just like the Children of Israel.

And then I look around at the Church as a whole and see some of the same issues and same problems.

The one big difference in the Church though is that we have a tendency to get stuck in our ways a bit.

We either get comfortable living in the past or get paralyzed by the things of the past and we cannot, or rather will not move forward.

We stop trusting in God to lead us from this place to the Promised Land.

And this is precisely where the Children of Israel find themselves in the passage for this morning.

The events of this passage are taking place in the 40th year of the children of Israel's wandering in the wilderness.

Moses has led them through many dangers, trials and tribulations.

They have had times in which they were obedient, in the center of God's Will.

They have also had times that they were completely outside of God's will and suffered the consequences.

And immediately prior to our Scripture focus, the children of Israel had suffered a great defeat and embarrassment that the hand of the Amorites, which is recorded in Deuteronomy 1 . . .

Deuteronomy 1:43–46 NIV84

So I told you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the Lord’s command and in your arrogance you marched up into the hill country. The Amorites who lived in those hills came out against you; they chased you like a swarm of bees and beat you down from Seir all the way to Hormah. You came back and wept before the Lord, but he paid no attention to your weeping and turned a deaf ear to you. And so you stayed in Kadesh many days—all the time you spent there.

So, God had warned them on how they were supposed to be conducting themselves, and guess what—they didn’t listen.

They were arrogant and thought that nobody could touch them or defeat them in any way.

Well, things didn’t turn out so well for them.

They got in a fight with the Amorites and the Amorites gave them a good whoopin’.

So, they retreated and were camping at Kadesh, wandering around the same old hill, "licking their wounds," feeling sorry for themselves.

They were down and out and discouraged, not really knowing where to go or what to do next.

They were feeling defeated.

Feeling sorry for themselves.

And this is when the Lord spoke to them and where we pick up in the passage this morning.

So, Deuteronomy 2, starting in verse 1 . . .

Scripture Focus

Deuteronomy 2:1–3 NIV84

Then we turned back and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea, as the Lord had directed me. For a long time we made our way around the hill country of Seir. Then the Lord said to me, “You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north.

God Has Not Given Up On His People

Now, the first thing I want us to notice is that the Lord didn't pity them, but rather the Lord instructed them.

He didn’t say, “Oh, poor Israel—hang out here for a while and let me pat on you.”

No, He said, get your butt up and go North.

You have sat around long enough licking your wounds.

You didn’t listen to what I said and suffered the consequences, but that is over now.

That is the past and you can’t change it, all you can do is learn from it and move forward.

Which is exactly what the Lord is saying to the Post-COVID Church in the United States.

That is exactly what the Lord is saying to us today.

We've wandered around this same old mountain, same old hill long enough.

We have lamented and fretted over the same old things long enough.

We have “woe is me’d” long enough about the way things “used to be.”

It is time that we get up and move NORTH!

In other words, "GET OVER THE PAST AND MOVE FORWARD."

We are reminded in Isaiah 43 that . . .

Isaiah 43:16–19 NIV84

This is what the Lord says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

The Church is emerging on the other side of things and God is doing a new thing in the Church and in this nation.

The way things used to be are gone—and are not coming back.

The same God who delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians is the same God that is leading them through the wilderness.

And it is the same God who has led the Church for 2000 years that is leading the Church today.

He has not changed—the world has changed.

And we have to perceive and understand the new thing that God is doing within the Church.

We cannot dwell on the past because if we do we will never be able to see the future.

So, look back at Deuteronomy 2 again.

Deuteronomy 2:1 NIV84

Then we turned back and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea, as the Lord had directed me. For a long time we made our way around the hill country of Seir.

I want you to notice what Moses is doing here.

Moses could have given up just like the rest of them.

After all, Moses had put up with a great deal of grumbling, complaining, rebellion.

However, he didn’t give up and quit.

Moses was still being directed by the Lord.

The Lord was still speaking to Moses and leading Moses.

And the Lord still was expecting Moses to lead the people.

The problem though was that the people didn't see it as much as being led by God, but rather being led by Moses.

The same problem holds true for the modern Christians.

We have a bad habit of following man and not God.

The question is, who is in charge of the church?

Is it a man, or a board, or is it God?

Just being honest, it shouldn't matter what person God puts in leadership, if they are following God, then the same God that has directed every leader since the church came into existence, is still there.

Chew on these Scriptures a bit . . .

Malachi 3:6 NIV84

“I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.

And . . .

Hebrews 13:8 NIV84

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

And . . .

James 1:17 NIV84

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

The real question is that should haunt us is this, WHO ARE WE LOOKING TO FOLLOW, MAN (or WOMAN) OR GOD?

If the answer is people, then you will be disappointed because, ALL PEOPLE, fail.

Not because all people are just out for themselves but because all people are flawed human beings.

People cannot lead you to heaven, only God can.

That is why the Psalms and Proverbs tells us to . . .

Proverbs 3:5–6 NIV84

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

And . . .

Psalm 118:8–9 NIV84

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

And . . .

Psalm 146:3 NIV84

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.

And, this is honestly one reason there is so much hurt in the church world today.

People are putting all of their trust and faith in the person, following after them instead of God.

And those in those positions of trust are abusing that, taking advantage of that for their own personal gain.

And what happens then, after people are hurt, they become paralyzed.

Afraid to trust again.

I mean it is a natural reaction, nobody wants to get burned.

The problem is, churches are full of people, who have been hurt not once, not twice but multiple times.

And then something like COVID comes along and well, we are seeing the result in our nation today.

Should We Give Up?

So, things are not all sunshine and roses, so I guess we should just quit.

Just give up and accept defeat.

Pack our toys and go home.

Nope…not one bit.

Look what God told Moses . . .

Deuteronomy 2:3 NIV84

“You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north.

And in a nutshell He is telling Moses that you have wandered around in defeat long enough.

You have been disappointed long enough.

It's time we quit wallowing in defeat.

Quit lamenting because we've been in the wilderness for (40) years.

Get up, put your boots on, get your armor and get into the fight!

Because God didn't call us to sit on the sidelines and wallow in self-pity.

We get knocked down, we regroup, we get back up, and we go again.

And we don’t stop because we have a mission to complete.

We have been commanded to . . .

Matthew 28:19–20 NIV84

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

And we have the power and ability to complete the mission . . .

Luke 10:19 NIV84

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

And we have also been given the tools we need to fight the battle as well . . .

Ephesians 6:10–18 NIV84

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

And it will not look like it used to look.

We won’t do Church the way we always have.

We won’t do outreach the way we always have.

Those days are over.

We have to adapt and understand the needs of our community and how to communicate Jesus Christ in a way that they can understand.

We cannot expect people just to come wandering in to us like it used to be.

We have to go out and reach them where they are.

Share Jesus with them in the community.

Determine what the needs are and help provide those needs, not in our name or the name of the Stanford Church of the Nazarene.

But in the name, power, and authority of Jesus Christ.

Altar/Challenge

So, really what are we waiting on?

Are we waiting on the Lord to fill the church up before we start outreach—so we have enough people to do it?

Or maybe we are waiting on big donations of money so we will have extra cash to do things.

Folks our job is not to wait.

Hell is not waiting.

And any and every excuse we come up with are just those, excuses.

So, honestly what are we waiting on?

Maybe we are discouraged.

Maybe we have been stuck in a rut.

Maybe we have been consumed with worry and dread.

Maybe we have even been questioning God ab it.

Well, the time has come that we quit circling around the same old mountain, living in the past and move forward.

God has great things in store for this church, but we have to be willing to let God lead and trust Him.

The question is, are you willing to go on the journey?

Let’s pray . . .