God Will Never Leave You (Deuteronomy 31)

(This is an outline of a sermon titled ” God Will Never Leave You”, preached at the People’s Church in Sri Lanka on Sunday, 7th April 2024).

Opening Illustration: Shared a memory of being let down by someone during a moment of crisis. 

Introduction:  Refer to Deuteronomy 31:1-8

a) The nation of Israel was preparing to enter the promised land.

b) Moses  says that he is now 120 years old and unable to lead them any longer.

c) The Lord had told him that he would not be crossing the Jordan to enter the promised land. 

This was a pivotal and important moment in Israel’s history. The people would have been deeply disturbed by Moses’ statement. However, Moses assures them with a powerful promise.

Proposition: “God will never leave you nor forsake you”

I would like to share 3 thoughts on the above theme.

1) God will never leave you in times of change

*What changes are you facing at present in life? Are you feeling overwhelmed as a result?

Some possible areas may be – Children leaving home – A sudden Career change- A loss of a loved one – Having to move house suddenly – A loss in employment – Changes in your body and health.

• Change can be scary and risky.

• Israel was facing a massive change. After 40 years, Moses would no longer be in front of them as their leader. He had taught them, prayed for them, guided them, trusted God for miracles, but now, he was going to step down from leadership. I can almost hear the murmuring of the people in the state of shock they were in!

• But Moses first speaks to the people with words of assurance as seen in Deuteronomy 31:6. He says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

• He then speaks to Joshua with similar words of encouragement in verse 8. “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

• Notice that Moses says, “He (God) will go before you and with you”. He also says, “Be strong and courageous” on 3 occasions in the passage.

• In Genesis 28, we find how Jacob faced a massive change too. He was running away from a death threat given by his brother and leaving behind everything familiar to him. As Jacob rested for the evening, God spoke powerfully through a dream, after which He gave Jacob a powerful promise as seen in Genesis 28:15 – “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” He promised Jacob that He would be with him wherever he traveled. Yes, wherever!

• Illustration – I shared the experience where the Lord carried me through a serious challenge when I had a detachment of the retina on my left eye. Read the story in more detail here.

2) God will never leave you alone in your battles 

• Israel’s new leader Joshua would have wondered how he could fit into Moses’ shoes and lead this great nation. In all he had 13 battles ahead of him. But at that moment, God reiterated His powerful promise in Joshua 1:5 “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you”.

• Similarly, the author to the book of Hebrews was writing to a group of believers who had faced insults, persecution, and imprisonment, with some even having their personal belongings confiscated (Hebrews 10:33-34). To encourage them in their challenges, the writer encourages them to avoid coveting money and to be content with what they have, trusting God to take care of them. He gives them this promise in Hebrews 13:5 – “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”.

• So, what battles are you facing today or is there something terrifying you? Is it a wayward child or a child battling addiction, is it a financial battle or a challenge in your career or job, or is it a health challenge? Let’s trust God in all our battles for He will never leave us (refer Hebrews 13:6)

• Illustration: A young man was going through a season of brokenness in his life and seeking the Lord for strength. In that difficult season, Jesus gave him the lyrics to a song which he wrote and later recorded. Today, I have invited my friend, Ps Nimendra James to minister to you through that song which he wrote.

Song – Cry out to Jesus 

To listen to Ps Nimendra James’ song, “Cry out to Jesus”, click here.

3) God will never leave you in your service for Him

• In presenting The Great Commission to His disciples, the Lord Jesus gave them what could be termed an international plan and vision. They would have wondered how they could ever fulfill such a mammoth task, particularly with Jesus leaving them. But Jesus assures them that He will never leave them but will always be with them.
• “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

• How about your service for God? What has He called you to do? Even your secular work is part of that call. Are you trusting Him and faithful to the task? Are you ready to step out by faith if He leads you to something new?

• A pastor friend of mine once mentioned that when we apply for a job or a position, we show everything we are skilled at and capable of in our CV – yes, all our abilities. But when God calls us, like Moses did, we generally show God all our incapabilities!

• After making all the necessary preparations for the building of God’s holy temple, King David commissioned his son Solomon to handle the massive project. Solomon may well have felt inadequate for the huge task ahead, but David assures him with this promise. 

• “David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished” (1 Chronicles 28:20).

• After completing the project and when dedicating the temple, it is no surprise then that Solomon echoes the same sentiments as shown in 1 Kings 8:57. “May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us”.

• Moment 0f Prayer – As Moses commissioned Joshua, and David did the same with Solomon, let us take some time to pray for the upcoming Generation/s. 

• Closing: In closing, I would like to remind you about God’s promise to us in Isaiah 49:14-15. There are many mothers here and none of you would desert your child or your baby. On a rare occasion, it may happen. But look at what God tells His people – that’s you and me.

• “But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.” “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you”! (Isaiah 49:14-15)

• So, in closing, I would like to open the altars for anyone who needs prayer today. May the Lord meet you today at your point of need and reassure you that He will never leave you nor forsake you. He is always faithful.
• For an inspiring sermon on Psalm 91 click here.