But. ( Matthew 10 v 22 - 25 )

The moment had come, the promise land lay before them, Moses speaks, reminding them of what God had given them, it was now time to enter and take possession of the land ,this is what God had  promised,they were not to be afraid or dismayed. (Deuteronomy 1 v 21).Instead of going ahead the people asked that they send spies into the land,and report back their findings.It appeared a good idea at the time,so 12 men were chosen,and when they came back,they said ,'It is a good land that the Lord our God is giving us,'' so far so good,then there is that ,but..There are always reason not to obey God,if you are a Muslin in a Muslin land,there would be a but,if I trust Jesus my family will hate me, and even want to kill me, my friends will forsake me,society will reject me.This is what our Saviour said will happen '( Matthew 10 v 22 - 25 ).                                                                                                                                                    I have decided to follow Jesus                                                                                                                  No turning back, no turning back                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   The world behind me, the cross before me,                                                                                               No turning back, no turning back.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Though none go with me, I still will follow,                                                                                              No turning back, no turning back.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Will you decide now to follow Jesus,?                                                                                                       No turning back, no turning back.

All things new. ( Revelation 21 v 1 - 4 )

King Canute  king of England was famous for a legend, about his failure to stop the waves coming to the beach.The fact is some things you just cannot stop.That lovely old hymn by Isaac Watts, has a verse in it  which reads,                                                                                                                                                                                 Time like an everlasting stream,                                                                                                                  Bears all its sons away;                                                                                                                              They fly forgotten, as a dream                                                                                                                  Dies at the opening day.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Again this verse reminds us that there are things like old age and death we cannot do anything about,but of course many do try.The plastic surgeon is a very busy person as people try to stop the inevitable,but in the end  it all ends in dust and ashes.The word of God reminds us that we are dust,God made us from the dust, (  Genesis 1 v 27 ), no matter how much we try, we cannot change this fact. Yes we are all being borne along like an everlasting stream. No matter what we do, we cannot  change anything,we will never be able to hold back the corrupt bodies deterioration.While that is true  there is a greater truth,a truth that brings hope beyond time.,read about it in 1 Corinthians 15 v 35 ff  ,the heading reads ,'A new heavenly body'.writing to all who have trusted in Jesus,it describes,that time when we will all have a new wonderful body,when death will be banished, and we will enter into a wonderful newness ,for Jesus said He will make all things new.( Revelation 21 v 5)

Keep right on to the end. ( 2 Timothy 4 v 6 - 8 )

Sir Harry Lauder was a  super star of his day, not just in his native Scotland,but in USA, Australia,and other lands.He wrote many songs which were very popular,one of his recordings sold  over two million copies. Here is the chorus of one of them.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Keep right on to the end of the road,                                                                                                          Keep right on to the end.                                                                                                                            If the way be long,let your heart be strong,                                                                                                Keep right on round the bend,                                                                                                                    If you're tired and weary, still journey on,                                                                                                Till you come to your happy abode,                                                                                                          Where all you love,that you're dreaming of,                                                                                              Will be there at the end of the road.                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The question is how are we going manage  to keep right on to the end of the road? the answer for the Christian is very simple ,by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus ( Hebrews 12 v 2 ) .who will grant us the strength  to press on ( Philippians 4 v 13 ) and to keep the eye of faith on our glorious future with Jesus ( 1 Thessalonians 4 v 17 )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Are you sleeping?. ( Judges 16 v 19 )

C.H.Spurgeon wrote the following, ''When is the Christian most liable to sleep? Is it not when his temporal circumstances are prosperous?. Have you found it so? When you  had daily troubles to take to the throne of grace, were you not more wakeful than you are now?. Easy roads make sleepy travellers.Another dangerous time is when all goes pleasantly in spiritual matters.Christian went not asleep when lions were in the way,or when he was wading through the river, or when fighting with Apollyon , but when he had climbed half way up the Hill Difficulty, and came to a delightful arbour he sat down,and forthwith fell asleep, to his great sorrow and loss.''                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Be alert at all times,be on your guard                                                                                                        when the sun is shining,be on your                                                                                                            in days of  prosperity.Be on your                                                                                                              guard.

Adding on. ( Psalm 119 v 105 )

One of the things our Saviour had to cope with was the traditions of the elders, often in relationship to the sabbath,in Matthew 15 v 6, we read Jesus accusing the Jewish leaders,that for the sake of  their traditions they made void the word of God. Many Christians have traditions , that have no bearing on Gods word .When the Law was being given to Israel,they were instructed, that they must not add anything to what God had told them, nor take anything  away from it ( Deuteronomy 4 v 2 ),we have a similar statement in Revelation 22 v 18 - 19.Beware of those who add on to the Bible ,the Mormons , accept the King James version of the Bible,but they base their beliefs on the book of Mormon. The Roman Catholic church,believe the Bible is the word of God,but they add on tradition, and church teaching.The result is many erroneous beliefs are accepted as the truth .There are so called Christians who would remove from the Bible , creation, miracles,hell,some would love to remove the Old Testament. Beware of those who add unto the scriptures,or take away from the scriptures.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           All scripture is inspired by God                                                                                                                 and is useful for teaching,for                                                                                                                     reproof , for correction, and for                                                                                                                 training in righteousness,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      (  2 Timothy 3 v 16 )                                                       

Your way. ( Psalm 119 v 1 - 8 )

Lets think about being,' led by the Spirit,' ( Galatians 5 v 18) and,'walking in the Spirit', ( v 16),,John Stott puts it like this, ''It is the Spirit who does the leading, but we do the walking''.Consider the Spirit and the word of God, will always work in harmony, they will never contradict each other. The believers in Galatians were being fooled to walk contrary to Gods revealed word,it was not the Spirit that was leading them.Let us remember there is only one word of God, never forget this, do not be fooled to think otherwise,and to act contrary to Gods word,if you do you will regret it.In Psalm 119 v 105, we read, 'Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path'. Make no mistake if we forsake Gods word we will stumble in the dark, we will loose our way. There must  be an obedience to the word of God at all times,when the prophet disobeyed Gods word ,he was slain by a lion (  1 Kings 13 )When Lots wife disobeyed Gods word she was turned into a pillar of  salt (Genesis 19) ,when Jonah disobeyed Gods word he was swallowed by a great fish  (Jonah 1 )The Christian life is not a passive life, it is ,each day, a walk, in the Spirits, according to Gods  will ,as revealed in His word.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 '' The Christian can never say or                                                                                                                  sing ,I done it my way.''

With Him we can. ( Ephesians 6 v 10 )

In  Galatians 5 v 25 ,we read ,'If we live by the Spirit, let us walk by the Spirit',Paul the apostle is stressing the challenges that we face ,the conflict that every Christian has because of the 'Flesh', which J.B.Phillips calls our lower nature ,he gives a list,that is not exhaustive ,5 v 19 -21 , we all need this reminder that we have to contend with the evil within,we cannot know victory  in ourselves ,we must receive the Holy Spirits enabling. With His help we can manifest the fruit of the Spirit , they are, ,Love, Joy, Peace,Patience,kindness, goodness, Faithfulness, gentleness, self -control.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A prayer                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Dear God and Father grant us your Spirits power                                                                                     to overcome the evil within all of us,and enable                                                                                       us by that same Spirit to manifest  godly qualities                                                                                     this day.                                                                                                                                                                     In Jesus name Amen.