GOING A NEW WAY WITH THE LORD
 

Exo 14:15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
Josh 3:4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
Exo 33:14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
 

LIKE A LITTLE SHIP

It's almost gone; short hours now,
This year will soon be past.
'Twill be, like other yesterdays,
Laid to rest at last.

For those who used it well, it goes
Like a little ship set sail
O'er waters peaceful and serene,
Not fearing stormy gale.

It glides toward time's horizon,
Then disappears from view.
We check its cargo, left behind,
Of blessings, quite a few.

Then, even as we watch, it seems
A ship with sails so white,
Drops anchor in the harbor
On this New Years' Night!

We wonder at its' cargo,
Piled high upon its' deck;
And, will it leave still bright and clean,
or, a pitiful old wreck?

Its' cargo is a marvel.
Each package is a day,
To hold what YOU put in it.
It holds what e'er YOU SAY!

fcc
 

Illustration; The wagon train pauses at the foot of the imposing mountains. The guide warns of hard trails ahead but passable. The people look south to the broad, easy path of the plains and go that way, not realizing that the Valley of Death lies that way.

I. The command, "Go forward." Milling around and murmuring will accomplish nothing.

A. A few of the ways God's people need to forge ahead.
1.With an ever widening vision. Even to becoming leaders in the work.
2.In greater fields of service. Allow new laborers to have room to work. Strive to be better at what you do.
3.Go forward in study and knowledge.
4.In witnessing and soul winning.
5.GO FORWARD WILLINGLY!

II. The Caution. "Ye have not gone this way heretofore."
A. New days bring new dangers. Satan is continually coming up with new ways to trap God's people.
1 Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

B. New opportunities to serve bring with them the possibility of failure.
1Cor 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

C. A New Path. But Christ is our Scout who knows the trail!
Heb 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.
Heb12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

III. The Promise. "My presence shall GO with you!" [Note; the promise is conditional upon GOING!]
A. The promise of his presence always follows the obedience to the command.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

B. Five times God promises, "I'll never leave you nor forsake you."
At other times his promise comes by inspiration through others.
1.Promise to Jacob in Bethel.
Gen 28:15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
2.To the people as they prepare to posses the land .
Deu 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
3.To Joshua as their leader.
Deu 31:8 And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
4.To Joshua as he receives his commission.
Josh 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
5. David's assurance to Solomon as he prepares him for the work ahead
1Chr 28:20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
6.The prophecy of his presence with his people today.
Isa 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
7.Even in material blessings to the individual who serves God!
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
This assurance has enabled God's people to continue in the face of all adversity down through the ages even when all hope seemed gone!. Abraham and Israel, in Egyptian captivity; Peter in prison and Paul in every situation, even aboard a sinking ship. Martyrs, missionaries, churches and individual children of God.
IV. A New Way lies ahead.
There are 365 peaks to climb and perhaps as many valleys to traverse. Will you walk this path alone or will you claim Jesus as your companion? Choose others and you might find that when the path gets rough you are walking it alone but choose Him and have as your companion, not only Him but all others who love him and his Word!