Deuteronomy 1:1-8

“You have stayed long enough at this mountain.” This was God’s announcement to Israel as they encamped around Horeb, better known as Mount Sinai.

There were the words of God to a people who had known bondage, but were now free and seeking a new home.

There was a land of blessing, a land that “flowed with milk and honey”, that God wanted His people to experience. It was a land that He had promised. God did not want His people to remain in the desert any longer.

Could it be that God is speaking to us through those words He spoke thousands of years ago? Could it be that God is saying to us today, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. You have stayed long enough as you are. Come follow me into a richer and more productive life than you have ever known before.”

By following the criteria set forth, every person can experience the joy of obedience to God as we follow the pattern for success.

• Rememberance of the past (Deuteronomy 1:2)
  • The importance of this place
    • God called Moses
      • Provided water from a rock
      • Gave the Ten Commandments
    • The place where God dealt with the people to prepare them to be a nation by giving them the law
  • It is an eleven-day journey from Horeb (Mt. Sinai) to Kadesh-Barnea, the gateway to the Promised Land
    • They made their decision in Horeb on whether or not to follow God’s words
      • This stood as a reminder of their past
        • Could have glory, experienced defeat
    • Memory is given not to haunt us but to remind us not to repeat past mistakes
• Recommitment to the task ahead (Deuteronomy 1:6)
  • God was renewing His covenant with a new generation and called them away from Horeb
    • They had come here for a purpose
      • To learn God’s ways
      • To receive the law
      • To prepare for the future
    • Their purpose was now fulfilled
      • To remain longer would be disobedience
      • To remain longer would be defeat
    • This was the launching platform for greater blessings
      • The new generation was faced with the same challenges as their fathers
• Reassurance of God’s blessings
  • Go in and possess the land
    • There would be struggles
      • Hardships
      • Enemies
    • There was an objective
      • A land to possess
      • The same land is in conflict today
    • There is land to possess today
      • A community to reach for Christ
      • A ministry from this church will exalt the Lord

Thus, we can see everyone can experience the joy of success through obedience to God as He speaks to us.

This church can look upon the past as a lesson in obedience for the future.

• Times of victory follow from obedience
• Times of defeat follow when our attention is drawn away from the Lord and to ourselves

If we are to be successful in our walk, we must recommit ourselves to the task ahead. The road may not be easy, but we have stayed at this mountain long enough.