By Pastor Elijah Mutiso
Associate Pastor, Fedha Church KAG
Resolve (Kata kauli)
Joshua 3
1. Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over.
2. After three days the officers went throughout the camp,
3. giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.
4. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.”
5. Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”
6. Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them.
7. And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.
Resolve
To resolve is to make a resolution or take a stand. Your 2024 will be guided by your resolutions.
On this very first day of the year, every one of us must as a matter of priority resolve the direction one will take in 2024. Your direction will determine your destination. You must therefore put your priorities right now and here on this material day. The decision you take today will dictate every day of 2024
Verse 1 - Early in the morning ...
We are in the early morning of 2024.
We need first to thank our God for the new year 2024. And we have done so yet we cannot do it enough.
We must choose our direction
The year 2024 is a gift from the Lord. May what we do with it be a gift unto the Lord.
How this year will be, depends on the decisions we make on this very first day of the year.
God has already given us the year but the choices you make from this moment will determine how your year will turn out for you.
The year 2024 comes with a package . It's up to you to choose.
Deuteronomy 30
19. This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live
20. and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
We must choose our path
The year 2024 is not just a year but it is a journey and the gate and the road you take will determine your destination.
You will have to choose your entrance and your path because it will determine where you end in the end of the year.
Matthew 7
13. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
14. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
We must choose our best goal.
Verse 4: You have not been this way before
For sure none of us knows what year 2024 holds for us. We have been through 2023 but not 2024.
The Israelites were told they would know which way to go.
We too can know how to navigate 2024 successfully if we follow the instructions.
We do not have to fear or do trial and error. We can be sure that we will do the right thing.
Let's seek the one who holds the year 2024
The Israelites were led by the priest carrying the ark. The presence of God.
We must, and I insist, choose to seek God and his presence because he knows and has everything we need for 2024.
We must like Moses come to a place where we can't move if God is not going to move with us in 2024. Without him even if we have milk and honey, it will be a tragedy.
Exodus 33
14. The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
15. Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.
16. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
Without God 2024 will not bring any difference in our lives. Our efforts and determination will only leave us disappointed and frustrated. It is his presence that distinguish us or make a difference in our lives and give us rest. Otherwise tutaendelea kuhangaika na shughuli hazina Faida wala mwisho (we will continue to suffer from activities that have neither profit nor an end).
We must seek him like never before and more than anything else. Seeking him must become our greatest priority in 2024
Matthew 6
33. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
When we seek God first even whatever else that we desire in 2024, we will be given. God owns everything, so if we find him we find everything else we desire.
James 1:17 Every good and perfect thing comes from the Lord.
So let us seek him.
He has promised if we seek him with all our hearts we will find him.
Jeremiah 29
12. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
13. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Verse 5: consecrate yourself.
For us to seek him and find him, we must consecrate ourselves because God is a holy God and we must be holy.
1 Peter 1:15. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
And without holiness, we cannot see God no matter how much we seek him.
This means there are things, ways and people that will have to say No to in 2024
When we find God he will be our shepherd.
Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
We will enjoy his Providence and his protection. We will enjoy his guidance and leading. We will be sure of the right direction.
Psalm 32
8. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Brethren let's make up our mind to seek and be led by God and we will not regret our 2024.
Let God be our priority. Let's resolve to seek God like never before. From the onset of 2024. let us make up our minds and purpose in our hearts like Daniel to walk with God.
Daniel made it his priority from the very beginning to walk with God and it remained this way throughout his life. He lived an extraordinary, exceptional, life. He experienced God and prospered greatly serving 3 kings.
Daniel 1:8
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the loyal food and wine and he asked the chief official permission not to defile himself this way.
Daniel made a resolution to live for God, god resolved to honour him.
Resolve today like Daniel to seek God, live for him and serve him above everything else. Make God your greatest priority 2024 and that means seeking him and his presence like never before.
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