What Graduates Seek
Introduction
Joshua 3:3-7, “3 and they commanded the people, saying, ’When you see the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.’ 5 And Joshua said to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.’ 6 Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, ’Take up the Ark of the Covenant and cross over before the people.’ So they took up the Ark of the Covenant and went before the people. 7 And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.’” NKJV
I went out on the internet looking for the lyrics to the top ten songs of the day. What I found I will not repeat. But to show you how great your moms and dads songs were listen to this words.
The Witch Doctor Lyrics (Words and Music by David Seville)
I told the witch doctor I was in love with you
I told the witch doctor you didn't love me too
And then the witch doctor, he told me what to do He said that...
“Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang Walla walla, bing bang
Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang Walla walla, bing bang...
Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang Walla walla, bing bang”
Now really I do not want to advise you to go to the Witch Doctor, or the present day society to discover the path of life. I desire for you to go to the Word of God. I want to encourage you to have a Godly Mission, Mandate, and Master. Many of you are very good students and have a course for your future. I urge you to make sure your course and path are Godly, and that can only come from God's Word.
I. Graduates Seek A Godly Mission
Joshua 3:3-4, “3 and they commanded the people, saying, ‘When you see the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.’" NKJV
A. The Mission To Believe The Law Of God
Joshua 3:3, “3 and they commanded the people, saying, ‘When you see the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.’”
B. The Mission To Behave According To The Law Of God
Joshua 3:4, “’4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.’"
Story of an architect who built a home that turned out to be his. But he had use inferior products to build, only to discover he was required to live in it.
Your grades will follow you into college, graduate school, and into your occupation. Put into practice what you have learned from the Lord and His Word, …”for you have not passed this way before."
II. Graduates Seek A Godly Mandate
Joshua 3:5-6, “5 And Joshua said to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.’ 6 Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, ‘Take up the Ark of the Covenant and cross over before the people.’ So they took up the Ark of the Covenant and went before the people.”
A. Mandate For Lifestyle
Joshua 3:5, “And Joshua said to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.’"
One of my friends yesterday showed me a picture of a beautiful young lady. He then told me her mom and dad are very proud of her for several reasons, but also because she wears a True Love Waits ring. A few years ago on the today show they interviewed some teens who had signed a True Love Waits Pledge. Katie Couric asked, "How do your friends react to that?" They answered, "They say they respect me, and one girl told me, “I wish I had waited. You can be like me anytime you want to but I can never again be like you."
A Christian actor received an offer of a part in a Made for TV Movie. He had to passionately kiss a beautiful young lady. He refused the part even though the salary was $100,000. I am not telling you that you have to do that, but whatever you do should be clear for you in a God-directed lifestyle.
B. Mandate For Leadership
Joshua 3:6, “6 Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, ‘Take up the Ark of the Covenant and cross over before the people.’ So they took up the Ark of the Covenant and went before the people.”
Joshua led because He Followed The Lord.
Here are a few points from a list someone used while talking to Graduates -This is not Bill Gates.
Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!
Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.
Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.
Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.
Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.
Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.
Graduates Seek A Godly Mandate. 3:5-6, …”for you have not passed this way before."
III. Graduates Seek A Godly Master
Joshua 3:7, “7 And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.’” NKJV
A. Magnify The Personal Master
Joshua 3:7a, “7a And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.’” NKJV
B. Magnify The Promising Master
Joshua 3:7b, "…’that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.’”
I am a St. Louis Cardinal Fan. Albert Pujols gave his life to the Lord several years ago, and he is a fine example. After every home run he hits, he points to the heavens.
A city slicker went to the country for as change of pace. He came into town and noticed in a shop a man was making a beautiful gun stock. So he went in and watched and admired the work, after seeing the gun assembled he said, "I'd like to buy that, how much is it." The merchant said, "It is not for sale." The man said, "Nonsense, everything has a price; how much do you want?"
The store owner then said, "Sir, I am making this for my grandson and it is not for sale for any price." The city man then took out a roll of bills that would choke a horse and said, "How much sir?"
The gunstock maker look sternly in the visitor's eyes and said, “Sir this is not for sale at any price, it is for my grandson. It is not for sale. I will make you one like this but you can't buy this, it is not for sale.”
The city slicker was stunned and as he walked out said, "Everybody ought to have something that is not for sale."
Graduates Seek A Godly . . Mission, Mandate, And Master