The Journey

Let's move right into the study. The title of today's study is The Journey. The Journey. Let's begin today by putting ourselves with the Israelites as they walked out of Egypt. Now, with Pharaoh's pride finally crushed, the Israelites will begin to move out. If you were one of the Israelites at that time who were exiting from Egypt, you would have started off in the basic direction of east. Almost immediately, you would notice something was wrong. Something was wrong. After you made some different turns and directions, you would quickly begin to feel that the direction you were going, and being led, was not the direction that you would want to go. Because you would see the direction that you were being led was now going to lead you to being trapped. Trapped by the wilderness and the sea. And going this way, you would never reach the Promised Land. And maybe, as you followed at that time, human reasoning would begin to kick in. And you'd quickly conclude again that your course was not reasonable at all. Obviously, Moses was making a big mistake. And I don't know. I know that God delivered us, but maybe he's not engaged at this point. It's obvious. And so, doubt and confusion would inevitably begin to shape how you were following. So, you're still following along, but maybe you've worked yourself out to the outer edges, looking forward, looking back. Still following, but maybe not with your full heart. And as you walk again, doubt and confusion would be upon you. Not sure what to do because of this circumstance that's now been placed before you.

What a difficult and confusing place we would have found ourselves in. And that certainly would have been the case for many of the Israelites at that time, where the circumstances they were facing as they exited out of Egypt caused this extreme doubt in their hearts and their minds. We know that feeling, don't we? Because likewise today, the things that we face in this journey through life can certainly have that same effect. It is so easy to find ourselves in that mental and spiritual place because of the difficult circumstances now that we find that are in front of us. But there is a crucial understanding that those Israelites needed to have at that time. And there is a crucial understanding that we today must have as well in our journey. And it is this. The understanding is this. That it is God the Father and Jesus Christ who often allow and even put the Red Sea in front of us, the wilderness to our side, and oh by the way, hundreds and hundreds of chariots stampeding upon us.

The real challenge in the Israelites deliverance from Egypt was not in getting them out. Did you know that? Did you know that the real challenge was not getting them out? That was certain. Deliverance was certain on the account of God's plan and His power to deliver Israel. No, the real challenge out of slavery began, it began, when they stepped out of Egypt. The real slavery that the Israelites would need to be free from was not that of physical Egypt. The real slavery they needed to be free from was from what Egypt symbolized spiritually. And that was a slavery to sin. And the same is with us. Delivery for us, deliverance for us, was certain. Jesus Christ's sacrifice was certain. His rising up was certain. It was predetermined since the foundation of the world. It was never in question. Deliverance for us was never in question. Ah, indeed, the real question with regards to you and I came after we stepped out, after we were freed. Let's see this. Turn with me to Deuteronomy 8, if you will. Deuteronomy 8, and we'll start in verse 1. Deuteronomy chapter 8, in verse 1. This chapter here in Deuteronomy 8 is so interesting as it describes the totality of Israel's physical and spiritual bondage and their journey out of it. Here in Deuteronomy 8. And this is a very interesting perspective that we're going to find here. Because it comes at a point where God only allowed the younger generation of Israel to enter into the physical promised land. Not allowing the older generations to enter in. And so this perspective is vital because he's surmising now the walk that the fathers made. He's surmising that to this younger generation. And he's telling the younger generation of Israelites what they are to learn from the walk of their fathers. And it gives such precious understanding in our journey out of bondage today. So, let's begin reading here. We'll ask these questions to ourselves. We're going to ask these questions. What is the understanding that we have and should have with regards to our journey? What understanding should we carry with us now as we step out? Why have we been freed? Why have we been freed? What is to be our journey perspective? Deuteronomy 8. Let's read verse 1 through 2. It says, Every commandment which I command you today, you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply and go in to possess the land which the Lord swore to your fathers. And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness. Why? To humble you and test you. To know what was in your heart. Whether you would keep his commandments or not. Let's stop there. So why has God rescued you? Why has he provided you deliverance? Simply to humble you and test you so that he can know what's right here. So that he can know what's in your heart. So he can truly know that you have the heart needed and the character required to achieve true freedom by entering into the spiritual promised land. Do you know why you've been delivered in this lifetime? The reason?

It is for a determination. It is for a determination. Let's continue to read here. Verse 3 and 4. Verse 3 and 4. So he humbled you. He allowed you to hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know. But that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. In other words, I gave you just enough to keep going. Verse 5. You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you. Let's stop there for a moment. That Greek word chastens is yasar. It's a Y-A-W-S-A-R. Y-A-W-S-A-R. And its primary meaning is instruct. So verse 5 could read this way. You should know in your heart that as a man instructs his son, so the Lord your God instructs you. Let's read verse 6 through 10. Therefore, therefore, you should keep the commandments of your Lord your God to walk in his ways and to fear him. Why? For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks and of water, of fountains and of springs, that flows out of valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley and of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey, a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. Verse 10, When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which he's given you. So this is very clear what we're leading to. But, verse 11, beware. Understand, as we begin verse 11 here, remember that this whole journey is a determination. There's a process that's occurring here in this journey. Beware in this walk. Verse 11, Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments, his judgments, his statutes, which I command you today. Lest when you have eaten and are full, and I've built beautiful houses to dwell in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, when your heart is lifting up, and then you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, this world, in which where there were fiery serpents and scorpions, thirsty land where there was no water, who brought water for you out of the flinty rock, who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know. Why? That he might humble you and that he might test you to do you good in the end. Let's stop there. This chapter, this chapter is fascinating. It should be one of your favorite chapters in the Bible. It really is what it's all about. This chapter captures the journey of God's chosen then. It captures the journey of God's chosen today. It's just so clear, simple, profound, daunting, hopeful, challenging, rewarding. And what's at its core? What's at the core of our journey? It's clear. From the time that they were rescued by the blood of the sacrificial lamb that was smeared on their doorpost, from the time that you and I have been rescued by the blood of the perfect sacrificial lamb, there is nothing, nothing in this journey that should be confusing or take you off course. Why is that? Well, from our Savior, the inspired instruction here that give us this instruction. He has instructed that the deliverance was simply and clearly and clearly for a determination. It is for a purpose, one sole purpose.

You have been delivered for one sole purpose. What is it? So that he can determine what's here in your heart. So, things will be placed before you with the instruction and expectation for you to respond in a way that you might enter into the spiritual promise land. This is it. The totality of our walk. The totality of our journey. During the good times, during the blessings of beautiful houses, flocks, gold, silver, during those times in which you just feel like everything is multiplied, it is a test. It is a determination process that's happening to see if you will continue to obey Him to see if you will continue to obey Him and His commandments. During the hard times, when we're hungry, thirsty, when there's fiery snakes, when there's scorpions, it is a test. It is a determination process that's occurring to see if you will continue to obey His commandments or not. And it is to answer this question.

With all we face in this journey, no matter what is put before us, the question is, will you still obey? Your answer to that question is in how you respond. And your answer to that question will determine whether you enter into the Promised Land or not.

Every day, the Israelites were expected to face whatever was put before them in accordance to the law of God. They were to come out of Egypt, not carrying any of the leaven. They were to leave all that behind. But they failed.

And see if what I'm about to say sounds familiar. See if this hits home personally. What we're going to see here in Scripture is that despite experiencing an incredible deliverance from God, despite experiencing this incredible exodus, this incredible deliverance, they allowed human reasoning, speculation, lack of faith, doubt, fear, wrong attitudes, other priorities to creep into their lives. And they crept in in just a short period of time, such a short period of time after this miracle, absolute miracle of deliverance. God was looking to see if they would have the faith in Him, and the faith would be shown in their obedience no matter what was put before them. What's put before you right now?

What is put before you right now? Think about that.

It's a test. It is a test. Plain and simple. Go over to Exodus 15, if you will. Exodus 15, verse 22. Exodus chapter 15.

And let's read verses 22 through 26.

As we think about the difficult situation, what circumstances has been placed before you right now?

Exodus 15, verse 22 through 26.

No water. No water. Exodus 15, verse 22.

So, Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shear, and they went three days into the wilderness and found no water. Now, when they came to Mora, they could not drink the waters of Mora, I think it is, for they were bitter. Therefore, the name was called, I believe it's Mora, and the people complained against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? So, he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. And when he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There he made a statue in an ordinance for them. And there, what? He tested them. Capital H, by the way. God tested them. And said, If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in his sight, give ear to his commandments, and keep his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you, which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you. So, he says, I want you to learn something from this. I can see that you've already forgotten your deliverance. Insert your name here. Insert my name here. I have delivered you. I will not leave you. All I require is that you heed my voice. So, don't doubt. Don't fear. Don't lose faith. I know there's no water. It's purposeful. How will you respond? Let's go down to Exodus 16. Exodus 16. How about no food? No food. Exodus 16. Let's read verses 2-4. Then, the whole congregation of Israel, the children of Israel, complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness once again. And the children of Israel said to them, O that we had died in the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat and we ate bread to the fool. For you have brought us into the wilderness to kill us in the whole assembly with hunger. Then the Lord said to Moses, Behold, then I will rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a certain quota each day. That I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.

Their entire walk was a determination. It was a test of their obedience. Our entire walk is a determination. It is a test of our obedience. The whole thing. The whole thing. To see if the difficulties put before you will change how you walk. How you walk.

And if you're like me, sometimes our disobedience just can creep in so subtly, where we get to the point where we realize we've worked ourselves to the outer edges of following God. But do we see the clarity here in these chapters? Here's the clarity. No water is supposed to happen. No food is supposed to happen. Fiery snakes are supposed to happen. Scorpions are supposed to happen. It's all part of his instructing us to do us good in the end.

And so that he might know. And so that he might know that he can trust us with eternity.

How are you walking in this journey today? Think about it. Can he trust you at this point in your life with eternity?

Can he truly trust you?

It's part of our test and instruction. It's a preparation to get us into the Promised Land. So don't let anything shake you or take you off a course. Instead, have these things producing you a strengthening of your obedience. Let's turn over to Ezekiel 20, if you will. Ezekiel 20 in verse 5. Ezekiel 20 in verse 5. God has a specific word to us and a response to us when we find ourselves walking on the fringe, on the edges of obedience to him. Now, Exodus 20 in verse 5. Now, I'll warn you, these are pretty tough words, but these are words that are for you and I here. Ezekiel 20. Let's read verse 5 through 8.

It says, Say to them, Thus says Lord God, On the day when I chose Israel, and raised my hand in an oath to this descendants of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, and I raised my hand and oath to them, and insert your name here, to you, saying, I am the Lord your God, on that day I raised my hand in an oath to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt, you and I, out of our sin, into the land which I have searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all the lands, that there is the offer to you of eternal life.

Verse 7, he says, But despite all of that, all that he's done, He has given me the power to be the Lord of Egypt, and then I said, I will pour out my fury on them, and fulfill my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. Let's stop there. These are harsh words, aren't they? God is speaking about raising his hand in an oath He asked from us our obedience, and yet, in many ways, we hang on to those abominations, to those idols.

So, such strong words there we see at the end of verse 8. But we have to realize that there is a reason for these strict words of obedience, and then there's a reason for laying down the consequences for failing to obey. You see, we have to understand that Jesus Christ has seen it all before. Think about this. Christ has seen firsthand what just a little bit of disobedience can begin, what just a little bit of leaven can do.

He has seen the walk done in a way where doubt begins to creep in. He has seen the walk done in a way where remembrance of God and what he has done begins to fade. He has seen the walk done in a way where it starts off on the fringes, and eventually leads to complete opposition to God. He has seen it firsthand, the incredible and unimaginable damage that disobedience and sin can do. Let's see this. Turn with me to John 8 verse 37. John 8 verse 37. Here we will uncover this understanding as to why Christ puts forth such a strong warning to physical Israel and a strong warning to spiritual Israel.

You and I today. Why so harsh? Why such the strong consequences in harsh words? John 8. Let's read verse 37 through 47. Verse 37 through 47. Christ has seen what the power of sin can do and the damage it can do. See if you can uncover it here. John chapter 8 verse 37. I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill me because my word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with my father and you do what you have seen with your father.

So let's stop right there. He says, He's saying my father and I have seen the originator and root cause as to why you look to murder me. Verse 38 again. I speak to what I have seen with my father and you do what you have seen with your father. Verse 39. They answered him and said Abraham is our father. But Jesus said to them, if you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God.

Abraham did not do this. He says, actually in verse 41, you do the deeds of your father. And they said to him, we were not born of fornication. We have one father, God. And Jesus said to them, if God were your father, you would love me, for I proceeded from and came from God. Nor have I come of myself, but he who sent me. Why do you not understand my speech? Because you are not able to listen to my word. No, verse 44. The reality is Verse 44.

You are of your father the devil. The desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there's no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he's a liar and a father of it. But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me. Which of you convicts me of sin? And if I tell you the truth, why do you not believe me? He who is of God hears his words.

Therefore, you do not hear because you are not of God. Let's stop there. This is so interesting, this passage, because we see just the smallest glimpse and understanding as to why Jesus Christ is so adamant with his instruction of obedience in this journey that we're on, and why he's so absolute with his warnings to his chosen people who he's rescued out of slavery.

And the key verse here, I think, is verse 38, when he says, I speak what I have seen. So we remember, of course, Jesus Christ is the word with God since the beginning of time. So what has he seen? What has Jesus Christ seen? Starting in verse 44, he now hearkens back. He's almost remembering back to that time in which he saw this disobedience and the sin begin. Christ says there in verse 44, you are of your father the devil and the desires of your father you want to do.

He was a murderer from the beginning, and he does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. You know, Jesus Christ was there from the beginning, the very beginning of all things. And he's now speaking of this development of a murderer and what he witnessed. And what a statement. He's now recounting back to that time in which a incredibly beautiful being, Lucifer, stepped outside of his obedience in his walk with God. You can almost see Jesus Christ now thinking back to this time with those men and women he was speaking to.

Thinking about back when Lucifer began to doubt. Thinking back to that moment in which Lucifer worked his way out of to the outer edges following God. When that little bit of leaven entered into Lucifer. I don't know. I don't know. But probably there may have been a challenge put before Lucifer. A challenge. A tough circumstance. A trial.

A test. Maybe a determination.

Have we thought about the fact that Jesus Christ was there to witness the change occur before his eyes of this once beautiful being and a third of the beautiful angels there with him? The I AM was there. Jesus Christ was there. So with Christ being there from the beginning of Lucifer's dark transformation, we see now the perspective of it all. We see the perspective of the harsh words, where they're coming from. Christ knows what those beginnings look like. And he was looking to give the physical Israelites an understanding then. He's looking to give spiritual Israelites an understanding today. This wisdom and the understanding of what the journey is all about.

What is the journey all about?

And in a way, he's saying, let me warn you, if it took him down, it'll take you down very easily.

So I'm going to give my chosen strict warnings. You better believe I am.

So the question for us today, whose father do we currently belong to? How are we walking? Does our walk and our journey show character traits to be more of that having a father of the devil? Or God the father? That's the observation here. That's the question that Christ is putting forward. This is the warning he's giving. And it's a little bit disturbing to think about, really. Satan at one time followed God, just like you and I, but then he had this incredible, sad transformation. And it always starts small. It always starts small.

That transformation. And so Christ will do everything he can to prevent that from happening to us. If sin can take down one of the greatest of all angels at one time, we better beware. It can take down some of the finest of God's servants as well. And that fact we see most clearly in Moses himself. Moses did incredible acts in the name of God. Moses did incredible things in representing God and the Israelites in this deliverance out of Egypt, leading their walk out of slavery. But even Moses had a moment. Even Moses had a moment in the journey in which he forgot what the journey was all about. He forgot. And what we're about to see with with Moses is a incredible lesson for you and I. Once we accept our deliverance out of sin made possible by Jesus Christ, we must understand that things will be placed before us for a determination. And in that, as we respond poorly to those things, we can rest assured that Jesus Christ and God the Father will do all that they can then to prevent from what happened to Lucifer, from happening to us. So let's turn over to Numbers 20. Numbers 20 in verse 7. Let's let's see this moment of Moses. Numbers 20 in verse 7. Let me set the stage here while you're turning there. Numbers 20 verse 7. We find the Israelites are at the end of the 40-year journey and they begin to raise their voice of complaint again, this time to deafening degrees. And these complaints now are going to fill Moses's ears. And we're going to see Moses then begin to allow Levon to creep in and allow that to change his course in following God's commandments. Even Moses himself. Numbers 20. Let's read verse 7 through 9. Numbers 20 verse 7 through 9. Then the Lord spoke to Moses saying, Take the rod, you and your brother Aaron, gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water. Thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock and give drink to the congregation and their animals. So Moses took the rod before the Lord as he commanded him. Now here's the moment in which he disgraced God. Verse 10. And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock and he said to them, Here we go. Here now, you rebels, must we bring water for you out of this rock? And then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice, boom, boom, with his rod. And water came out abundantly and the congregation and their animals drank. Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, Because you did not believe me to hallow me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them. Let's stop there. Those words in verse 12, because you did not believe in me, in what? To hallow me. In a way he's saying especially in front of the eyes of the Israelites.

Moses, have you forgotten? Have you forgotten who sent you? The I am has sent you. The I am is with you. You represent me. How you walk affects them. Now you've disgraced me. You've disobeyed me in the eyes of the Israelites. And just know all of us represent God. All of us are representatives of God. How we walk affects others. It matters. It not only matters to ourselves, but God is is particularly angry when our walk affects other people. And we're walking together. We really are. These things matter. So God hands down this incredible punishment, can you imagine, and decrees to him that he will not be allowed to enter into the promised land. Wow. Wow. How can that be after all of those years? Think about all the good that Moses did following God. Think of all the good he did in representing God. Think about all the years of obedience in this walk. What a steep consequence.

It's difficult to get your mind around this sometimes, but it's how harsh it is. How God could not allow Moses to enter into the promised land after so many years of following him. Yes, I see the sin. We see the sin. Of course, we see the disobedience. I don't know. It seems kind of small to me.

Just one time. I'm not sure if I get it. But think about it. If we do think about it, this punishment is quite clear. The punishment handed down by Jesus Christ is really quite clear to understand. Once we realize what the eyes of Jesus Christ have seen. He has seen the loss of a beautiful being. And the loss of a beautiful third of angels destroyed. And disobedience always starts small. Just a little bit of leaven. Know that.

The small things mean the most to God.

So you better believe he was going to hand down an incredibly harsh consequence to Moses. Why? Because Jesus Christ and God the Father loved Moses. Loved him dearly. And they were going to make the determination to give Moses the best opportunity to change and move from that hatred that had now filled his heart at that moment. Christ loved him dearly. And now he was going to do all he could to prevent and turn Moses from going down the path that Lucifer did. And we can thank God. Thankfully, it worked. Moses turned from his disobedience and went on to prepare Joshua for the leadership into the Promised Land. And at his death, Scripture indicates that the Lord himself buried Moses. Imagine how hard that was not to allow Moses to enter into the Promised Land. But it's exactly what Moses needed. The Lord dearly loved him because he came back to obedience. Let's turn to Hebrews 11. Hebrews 11 in verse 24. This is a short little passage here that gives us a glimpse in a summary of Moses's journey. Hebrews 11, and let's read verse 24 through 27. It gives kind of this passage gives a totality of Moses's journey here. And it's really quite profound. Just three verses. Hebrews 11 in verse 24 through 27. We could all hope this is the summary of our journey.

Hebrews 11 verse 24. By faith, Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ's greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. For he looked to the reward. By faith, he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king. For he endured as seeing him who is invisible. Let's stop there. That's really how we want our journey to be described by God in the end. Is this where your journey, your walk, is today? Is this where your walk is leading to this very conclusion? Or have you found yourself off course? Have you found yourself in this journey, still following? But still follow, just disobedience to God. In whatever sinful weakness you have, recognize it's not small. It means something.

And it's time to get back on course. It's time to come back. It's time to return to God and eliminate whatever sin that has gotten you off course. It's time. It's time to return to following Him properly, without leaven. We are called to a higher level of righteousness. Fair or not? That's the truth. Don't get complacent in the standard, or what we might deem as the standard. We are called to a higher level of righteousness. And so, if you are not there, you need to return to God. And ask yourself, am I walking in that higher level? And I hope every one of us answers, no, I'm not. That's probably the right answer. That's where we need to start with that acknowledgement. And if you're not there, there's hope. I want to encourage you today that if you found yourself spiritually scattered, you're off course, you're just showing up to church in some outward reformation, but in your heart, you're on the fringes, that's okay. Because it's not too late to come back. Let's see this. Turn with me to Nehemiah chapter 1. Nehemiah chapter 1, what we're about to read in this passage is something absolutely profound, I believe. And I believe it is for those of us who have held on to a little bit of leaven in this journey, all these years. This passage in Nehemiah chapter 1 is for you, it's for me. If you are one that needs to return in this walk, this passage of scripture is for you. So Nehemiah chapter 1, Nehemiah opens, and we're immediately introduced to Nehemiah, whose name means comfort, comfort of the Eternal. So this is certainly fitting. This is a comfort for us. So let's begin in verse 5. So Nehemiah chapter 1 and verse 5. Again, this is for those who have been scattered in the journey today. This is your prayer. So here, Nehemiah prays for himself, and he's prayed for others that are off course in this journey. Nehemiah 1 verse 5. And I say, I pray, Lord God of Heaven, O great and awesome God, you who keep your covenant and mercy with those who love you, and observe your commandments. Verse 6, please, let your ear be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may hear the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you now, day and night, for the children of Israel, your servants. And confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Both my Father's house and I have sinned. Verse 7, we have acted corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, the ordinances, which you commanded your servant Moses. Remember, I pray, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations. Let's stop there. We're all scattered. We all have acted corruptly. We all have not kept the commandments. Is it too far gone? Are we too far gone? Is there no hope? There's no hope, it would seem, once I start digging into my heart. Well, not so fast. Nehemiah continues. Let's see what God has to say about that. Verse 9.

Let's stop there. Some of you were. Some of us are cast in the farthest parts of heaven right now, with how we are living our lives. No hope, right? No. God can even gather you up from there and bring you back from the farthest parts, no matter how far you've gone. God has chosen you. He's placed His grace upon you. You can come back. You can come back. But you have to want to come back. And you have to make this prayer first. Acknowledge where you have failed in this test. Pray that you failed in this determination. Acknowledge that.

And then say, please God, I want to come back. And I believe He will bring you back. And I have no doubt that was the prayer of Moses on that day he struck that rock. I know that was his prayer. And while not able to enter into the Promised Land, we know he will be there in the Spiritual Promised Land.

And you and I can be there as well. Everything we're studying today is nothing new, nothing you're not aware of, but it is important for us to never forget. And it's just such an immense privilege that we're even able to be on and end this journey. Such an immense privilege. And so, don't let life sidetrack you. We can be full of so many expectations, so much opportunity, so much potential.

How sad it would be if we come short of the Promised Land. How sad. So as a group, we must encourage one another as we go through these times. Times of hunger, thirst, fiery snakes, scorpions. Let's encourage one another with the understanding that Christ has told us they are to be there. They are to be. They are to be. And so while we know many times they're perplexing, they're never despairing.

They can strike us down for a time, but we get up. We're not destroyed. Why don't we lose heart? When these things hit us, just square in the face, why don't we lose heart? Well, we know it's because it's working in an eternal weight of glory in us. And it's for a purpose to do us good in the end. All of it. The good and the bad. So in conclusion, let's turn to 1 Peter 1.

In verse 1, 1 Peter chapter 1 and verse 1, I think this is a fitting place to conclude here in this passage. 1 Peter chapter 1, we'll read verse 1 through 9. 1 Peter 1, 1 through 9. I love the title here in my book, in my Bible. It says, Greeting to the Elect Pilgrims, the Journeers. Peter here speaks to us in all pilgrims in this journey, and it's absolutely beautiful here. It's a great summary to all that we've studied today. So 1 Peter 1, and let's read verses 1 through 9.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. So he's writing to the pilgrims, the pilgrims here in London, Kentucky. Verse 2, to the Pilgrims of London, Kentucky, the elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, and sanctification of the Spirit for obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.

He says, Grace to you, and peace be multiplied. Bless be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, you who keep by the power of God through faith for salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. Verse 6, In this you greatly rejoice, in this you greatly rejoice, though now, for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom, having not seen, you love.

Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, and rejoice with joy inexpressible in the full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Let's stop there. You know, we can expect these struggles, if need be, to be put before us, and we can expect wonderful moments as well.

Let's thank God for both. Thank God for both. Let's thank God for the opportunity to be in this walk. Let's rededicate ourselves to the commandments so as to honor God and Christ for rescuing us. To honor that, deliverance, showing our love to them through our obedience. Let's thank God for putting in our lives exactly what we need so that at the revelation of Jesus Christ, we will receive salvation. Walk strong and know whatever's in front of you today, that God loves you. And know the good land is coming.