gtcotr/ss100216
L’shanah
Tovah!
Worth
noting – Sundown today, October 2,2016 in Israel, marks the beginning of the
New Year 5777 of the Hebrew calendar. This simply means that by the most
studied approach in Biblical Judaism the scholars calculate there has been 5777
years since God created Adam. The New Year is now called, Rosh Hashanah which literally translated means the
head of the year. Biblically we also recognize it as the Feast of Trumpets. The
date is known as the 1st day of the Hebrew month of Tishri.
Without
going deep into all the surrounding elements of this season allow me to simply
inform you that all Believers in Jehovah God, both Jew and Christian, are
entering into one of the most holy seasons of the year. It is not a time to
party but a time to pray. This is the season when both Jews and Christians
expect the coming of Messiah. If Jesus is going to come this year it will be in
the next 2 or 3 days … personally I hope He does … I don’t see how this world
can make it another year without breaking out in complete chaos and great tribulation.
(Explain: These are the High Holy Days …
This is not party time but a time prayer. 1 Elul; Daily Trumpet; 1 Tishri -
Last Trumpet; 10 Days of Awe; Shabbat Shuva; 10 Tishri - Yom Kippur - Day of
Atonement - Great Trumpet; 15 Tishri - Feast of Tabernacles) (The return of
Christ – Matthew 24:31&36; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16;
Isaiah 27:13)
L’shanah
Tovah!
Well,
that’s our history lesson and our great hope for this week. Now … let’s prepare
ourselves as though we are going to have to continue to live in this world for
another year and let’s pray we don’t!
Turn
with me to the book of Joshua chapter 1.
·
We cannot allow the negatives to dominate our lives.
·
I
believe the Lord wants you to Live a life of what you
do want instead of living a life of what you don’t want.
·
It is often the trouble we encounter that points us in the right
direction.
(I’m not talking about God causing or giving us trouble – but when we do find
ourselves in trouble, whether in mind, body or spirit, we can easily identify
which way we should go to get out of it … Just like the prodigal son … he knew
his father would help him.)
BTW
- 5777 is an interesting grouping of numbers with some varied suggested
meanings. Hebrew Gematria, Jewish Gematria and Numerology are long established
methods of calculating the values of words and meanings of numbers based on the
computations of their values.
·
5
for example is the number recognized for the grace of God
·
7
is the number for complete or final
·
3
is the number assigned for divine wholeness or fulfillment
·
So,
5777, in some assignments suggest the completely finished work of the divine
grace of God.
Let’s
hold that thought as we read our text for today:
Joshua 1 NKJV – Well, let’s back
up to the last chapter of Deuteronomy …
Deuteronomy 34:8 And the
children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. So the
days of weeping and mourning for Moses ended.
There
they were, 30 days in the wilderness without divine leadership or direction …
what do you do at the end of a long hard journey ??? begin a new one!
Joshua 1
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.
3 "Every place that the
sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.
Arise
·
Wake up
o wake up to the need
you have for divine leadership and a fresh word from God – what would a better
day look like?
·
Get up
o Not just wake up but
get up and do something … the next step!
·
Stir up
o Some of you need to
wake up and some need to get up but some of you simply need to stir yourselves
up and begin again.
o Don’t allow sameness
to become lameness. You can have a new day – every time you need one. Trouble
points the way …
o Revisit why you
began this journey in the first place.
o The goal has always
been to cross the Jordan and inherit the land. Don’t forget why you came this
far and worked so hard.
Arise
also means:
·
To
Continue
·
To
Persist
·
To
Endure
One
day the Apostle Paul found himself in a great time of need. He had worked hard
and long and was evidently more than a little frustrated when he first
petitioned God to deliver him from what he called a “thorn in his flesh”. God
replied to Paul’s request by saying, “My grace is sufficient … for my strength
is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
<5777>
Perhaps
there is no better time than right now, the beginning of the new year, 5777, to
realize that the grace of God full and final and completely sufficient for your every need. Arise!!!
1.
You cannot allow the negatives to dominate your life.
2.
Live a life of what you do want instead of living a life of what you
don’t want.
3.
Wake up!
4.
Get up!
5.
Stir yourself up!
I
say to you, Arise in the Name of Jesus! Are you awake to the grace of God? What
if Jesus was to come today … are you ready??? L’shanah tovah!
