A New Direction For A New Beginning
NEW DIRECTION NEW BEGINNING
The word “direction” is variously defined by dictionary: A theoretical line (physically or mentally) followed from a point of origin or towards a destination. May be relative (e.g. up, left, outbound, dorsal), geographical (e.g. north), rotational (e.g. clockwise), or with respect to an object or location (e.g. toward Boston).
A general trend for future action.
Guidance, instruction.
TEXT:
Gen 37:12-17 KJV 12 And his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. 13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I. 14 And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou? 16 And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks. 17 And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.
Jacob sent Joseph to go and check the welfare of his brothers at Shechem, but when he got there he could not find them. He didn’t know their whereabout and he was walking up and down the bush, making hess noise. The Bible says he was wandering in the field.
The Hebrew word used for wandering is “ta‛ah” and it means to: err, wander, go astray, stagger, to wander about (physically), of intoxication, like a (drunkard), to be led astray
But the Bible says a certain man found him and asked him what are you seeking for, what are you looking for. Many Bible scholars says the man could be an angel or a man, but somebody found him and gave him the precise direction of where his brthren were.
This year, someone will locate you
There are many people wandering today. They don’t knoow where they are going, what they want, but after this encounter, what you are looking for will start looking for you. help will locate you, someone will locate you. This year may business partner locate you, may that person that will champion your cause find you, may the person that will marry your sister locate her. I decree there shall be no more wandering, you will not run helter skelter in Jesus name. Life is too short to use one month seeking things up and down.
God is interested in giving people direction that they must follow in life, He doesn’t want people wandering like Joseph in matters of life, mariage, business, ministry and in life.
In the account given to us while about crossing River Jordan, the Lord told the children of Israel the procedure to follow.
God provides the direction and they follow suite. Two things were involved:
The ark and the feet of the priest
Jos 3:3-4 KJV 3 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. 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.
The people follow suite
Jos 3:13 KJV And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
The Priest that carry the ark will go in front and the children of Israel were to give a space of 2000cubits behind it and the reason was that so that they may know the way to follow since they have not pass that way before.
God, on this occasion, required the Israelites to leave betwixt it and the head of their camp a distance of about 2000 cubits, i.e. 3500 feet, more or less; for, in a great army, the marshalling can hardly be perfect. But wherefore this disposition? Why this distance between the ark and the camp of the Israelites? The reason is evident from the words immediately following: it was in order that the Israelites might know the way.
Your feet will take you to your destination in Jesus name. Whereever miracle is waiting for you, your feet shall step there.
A guy has been looking and searching for job for years, when he arrived Port-harcourt, as soon as he alighted from the bus, he said Port-harcourt i have come, my feet take me to my place of employment, not up to a week of his arrival, he got several offer.
This your beautiful feet will walk you to your destination.
God is so much interested in giving direction to His people and does not want them to go helter skelter.
Ealier while they were in the wilderness, they had direction too. The wilderness does not have established route or road by which someone may pass and follow to reach the other end, its just a wide expanse of land and yet the children of Israel were able to move from one point to another point. How was that possible?
Exo 13:20-22 KJV 20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. 21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
This is what Nehemiah said about the event in the wilderness
Neh 9:19 KJV Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.
Even when they were rebellious, God was still showing the way
It is therefore expected that we seek direction from God. Especially at the beginning of the year like this. We need to find out which way we should follow for our ministry, our marital life, career change, business. May be we need to change strategy. Myles Murone says it is highest form of insanity to continue to do things in the same way and expect a different result.
case study
David had been running away from Saul for many years but that running up and down ended when Saul died in the battle with the Philistine 1 Sam 29. Bible says God make war to come to an end, i pray for someone every battle causing you to run up and down is terminated today in Jesus name.
So David wanted to know the next line of action on what to do and where to go so he made an enquiry from the Lord and it is very interesting to read it.
2Sam 2:1 KJV And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.
David went there and when he got there, something happened that changed his life for ever.
2Sa 2:4 KJV And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.
You see, it was while they were in Hebron that the men of Judah came and anointed David King. This was what David had been believing and clamoring for. He was ordained king in the midst of his brethren many years back but it never came to full manifestation. There are many of us that are carrying long time prophecy like David and one of the reasons why it has not come to pass is because we have not reach our Hebron.
When David got to Hebron, there was no more running here and there, he had peace, he became king. May i pray for you the grace to reach your Hebron comes upon you in Jesus name. May God settle you.
In Act 16, Paul wanted to preach the gospel to many towns and he had that zeal and passion unlike many Christians today who have no such desire at all. In fact he placed himself under a vow and strong obligation in his letter to the Romans:
1Co 9:16 KJV For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
But in Act 16, there was a mild drama there:
Act 16:6-10 KJV 6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. 8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
The Holy Spirit directed them specifically to where He wanted the gospel to be preached, we don’t fully know why may be those other people were not ripe for harvest and does not want their effort to be in vain. But He led them
May God show you where your effort will be rewarded in Jesus name.
God do direct and connect two people together.
Philip was directed by the angel of God on where to go
Act 8:26 KJV And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
When he got there he had an encounter with the Ethiopian man and that was what brought gospel to Africa.
2021 is also a new year and just like what Joshua told the children of Israel we don’t know to be precise the direction we are to follow. It will be wonderful if we can have Pillar of cloud in he day time and pillar of fire in the night time at least to show us direction.
UNDER THE NEW COVENANT
But here is the good news, that under the New Covenant, we dont need pillar of fire or pillar of cloud or even an ark because we have God Himself dwelling in us by His Spirit to give us direction. This is what the Lord Jesus said regarding the Holy Ghost:
Joh 16:13 KJV Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
The Greek word for “guide” there is “hodegeo” and it means to be a guide, lead on one’s way, to guide, to be a guide or a teacher, to give guidance to show the way (literally or figuratively [teach ]): – guide, lead.
In fact one of the understanding of the new Testament is that we are led.
Rom 8:14 KJV For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
The Greek word they used for “led” there is “ago” and it means to lead, take with one, to lead by laying hold of, and this way to bring to the point of destination: of an animal, to lead by accompanying to (into) a place, to lead with one’s self, attach to one’s self as an attendant, to conduct, bring, to lead away, to a court of justice, magistrate, etc. to lead, to lead, guide, direct, to lead through, conduct to: to something, to move, impel: of forces and influences on the mind
The Holy Spirit does not just point at direction but He actually accompanying us to the very place
There are many Christians that don’t know specifically what they ought to do, where they ought to go, the place they should be, the people they should have relationship with. They don’t know the nature and type of business they should engage in.
It shouldn’t be this way, one of the greatest priviledge we have is that we have “way maker” “GPS” based on google map in us to lead us, show us things.
David did not just went to just any city in Judah, God told him specifically the name of the city. It was not based on assumption.
The business you should do, the place or town you should pack into, the person you should marry should be directed in the new year. That is what will ensure peace of mind and flourishing.
We are always led because He is ever present in us.
How do we receive His direction?
- Humble yourself before Him: It takes a lot of humility to take direction from another person. There is this natural and inherent ability in every man called self determination, self assurance, self exaltation, self lifting and self esteem. It makes man to resist correction from other people. They call it “i go do my own thing in my own way”Jas 4:10 KJV Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
1Pet 5:6 KJV Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: - Acknowledge Him as the leader
Pro 3:5-7 KJV 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
The Lord gave you understanding but He want you not to lean on it. - Desire to be led: The Holy Spirit is a gentle Spirit, even though He lives in you but He will not automatically lead you until you require Him to do it
- Take counsel: God flows through people. There are things God expect that people shoud be able to do for us. Proverb says in the multitude of counsel, purposes are established. Speak to people who has been through what you are trying to do; business, marriage, career change, academics, Visa, etc
A good case study is Moses.
Num 10:29-31 KJV 29 And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses’ father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel. 30 And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred. 31 And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes.
Even though as i said before they had pillar of fire and pillar of cloud yet Moses spoke to Hobab about showing them specific places in the trackless desert.
But what need had they of Hobab, when they had the pillar and fire continually to point out their way? Answer: The cloud directed their general journeys, but not their particular excursions. They therefore needed such a person as Hobab, who was well acquainted with the desert, to direct these particular excursions to point them out watering places, and places where they might meet with fuel, etc. What man cannot, under the direction of God’s providence, do for himself, God will do in the way of especial mercy. He could have directed them to the fountains and to the places of fuel, but Hobab can do this, therefore let Hobab be employed and let Hobab know for his encouragement that,
But Moses probably refers to Hobab’s accurate knowledge of the wilderness, and to the assistance he could give them as a guide. - Listen to Him: He does speak through dreams, vision, prophets, messages like preaching.
Isa 30:21 KJV And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT THE DIRECTION IS OF GOD? - Peace of God as umpire: Let the peace of God be the final judge: Do you have peace concrning that direction you want to follow or you are sceptical and doubtful about it. If there is no peace, stay off until you have peace.
Col 3:15 KJV And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
The Greek word for “rule” there is “brabeuo” and it means to be an umpire, to decide, determine, to direct, control, rule, to arbitrate. - Guidance of the word.: The Spirit and the word are the same. whatever guidance you received must be consistent with the scripture and it doesn’t matter the prophets who spoke to you.
Conclusion: One of the things that change a man’s life is when he is in the right place at the right time. Solomon said the race is not for the swift.
Ecc 9:11 KJV I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
This is how New Living Translation Bible put it
Ecclesiastes 9:11 I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.
How do you get to the right place at the right time?
Psa 37:23 KJV The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Amplified BIBLE
Psalms 37:23 The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step].
Testimonies
A man in this town looking for job walked into where they were conducting interview along Airport road, he was not invited yet got the job
The Holy Spirit will bring two people together, he will bring seller and buyer together, he will connect the lady to her suitor, He will send people across your path, He will lead you in the way you must follow.