Hi, I'm Darrell Bailey. Thank you for tuning us in tonight. Servants for Christ, for we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus, the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. What an honor it is to come into your homes with the wonderful word of God. Here tonight, open your books up to the book of Isaiah, Isaiah chapter 46, verse 9, October the 6th, 2024, the fourth of Here tonight from Isaiah chapter 46, we're going to be talking about remembering the ancient past. And so when we look tonight, we realize that as I go through life today, many of us have things that we really have held on to for a long time. I have antiques that My mother's passed on to me that I would never depart with because they're precious to me. They're old things. And there's some old things that my mom gave me and taught me that helps me in my path on a daily basis. And I'm so thankful for the legacy that my family left me. As we go through life today, we remember the old paths and I'm glad that here from Isaiah chapter 46, from these old paths, many of us can learn a lot of things. And so as we get into the word of God, take your Bibles with me to Isaiah chapter 46. And as we get into it, we're going to open with a word of prayer and ask the Lord to lead us and guide us here tonight as we get into the wonderful Word of God. Will you pray with me tonight? Heavenly Father, we come before you with hearts acknowledging your power and wisdom that your Word declares in Isaiah 46, that Lord, that we remember the former things of old. And Lord, I pray that as we reflect on the treasures of your truth, We ask you to help us cast off every burden that weighs us down. Lord, equip us with the full armor of God, the truth, the righteousness, Lord, your word, so that we may stand firm and Lord, be prepared for every challenge that Lord, that we open our hearts to the timeless wisdom of the ancient paths that we may walk in the way of righteousness and glorify your name. Thank you, Lord, for our pastor, Keith Dempsey, and our church family at Bethel Crossroads. And what a great honor it is to be a part of that family and that church. And Lord, I pray for our families as well, our pastors, and I pray that you, Lord, just watch over each and every one of our men and women of God across this land, as Lord, that every one of us may be about the great commission in Jesus' marvelous mighty name. Amen. All right. When we look and realize that in the nation of Israel, they got involved in worshiping something other than the Lord. You know, it's easy to do sometimes. We get to worshiping a lot of things. And it's sad that God is the creator of the universe. When we look at Isaiah 46, we'll found out that the children of Israel got sidetracked. They got to going after other things, focusing on other things, and they got off of the path of their forefathers. When we look at the Word of God and we remember the ancient past, we're reminded of how great God is because there are over 200 billion stars in our galaxy alone. And there are also over 200 billion galaxies as well. And so when we look at all of this with an imagination and realize that God is the creator, the vastness of our universe, it's our human mind just cannot comprehend it. The Lord himself dwells in a glory that men cannot possibly understand. And in light of that radiant glory, The Lord must be totally the one that is worshiped and given all the glory and the honor. As we look at God's creation and his wonderful salvation that he's provided for the human race, it's inconceivable how anyone could deny God. But idolatry is the subject of this present scripture. Isaiah had already predicted that Babylon would be the agent of judgment God had pronounced upon Israel. And Isaiah predicts that the Lord would also eventually judge Babylon because the cruelty and the wickedness, the false gods, the idols that was worshiped by the citizens of Babylon would be powerless to stop God's judgment. But despite the people's crying out to their God for deliverance, the great empire would fall. and the idols in which the people trusted would be helpless, unable to save them. And so God issued a strong appeal and a strong warning to all idlers. They must immediately take three steps to become acceptable to him and to escape the coming judgment. And one of the first things here in the book of Isaiah is we get into an introduction before we read the wonderful word of God out of Isaiah chapter 46 verse 9. The idolaters must remember that they are sinners, transgressors, and they're rebelling before God. And so they had rejected God's righteousness and his holy commandments. And they were chosen, choosing instead to live immoral and wicked lives. It sounds like America, doesn't it? But the false worship practiced by their neighbors appealed to the Israelites. And so their religions, these religions allowed people to live as they wanted. fulfilling their fleshly desires. And so most of the Jews followed a religion that mixed the worship of God with the worship of idols. And they accepted only part of God's revelation of himself, rejecting his righteousness and his demand for them to live righteously. And as a result, their religion became a mixture of truth and error. And they considered themselves to be followers of the Lord, They had become idols, rejecting God's revelation of himself. And so they become rebels. And it was the Lord himself making a very harsh but accurate charge against those who profess to worship him. And so. They had to take three steps to become acceptable to him and to escape his coming judgment. And the first was they must remember that they're sinners, transgressors, and they're rebelling before God. And secondly, they must remember God's works down through history for his former works prove that he's the Lord and the only living and true God. Time and time again, the Lord had demonstrated that he alone was God. He demonstrated his existence. He demonstrated his power throughout history, beginning with creation. He demonstrated his power in the great flood of Noah's day, in the deliverance of Israel from the Egyptian slavery, in the giving of the law at Mount Sinai, in the choosing of Abraham to be the father of the great nations, but especially in the promised seed. which was fulfilled in Christ and those that believed and followed him. And so there were just a few of the marvelous works of God that Israel needed to remember. But they chose the idols. And so from the beginning of human history, God has revealed truth to man, foretold the important future events, even those that will take place at the end of the world. Many of those events have already taken place, given further evidence that God alone is the Lord and the only living true God, his purpose and his plan for his people. God would raise up Cyrus for two very specific reasons. And that King Cyrus of Persia was to execute the Lord's judgment on all the idlers and to free his people from the Babylonian captivity. And so, God gave a double guarantee that these events would take place. He says, I have spoken. I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it. I will also do it. And so We see that the idlers must remember that they're sinners, transgressors, they're rebelling before God. The idlers must remember God's works down through history for his former works prove that he's the Lord, the only living and true God. But also thirdly, idlers must listen to the Lord. And when we look at this, we're reminded that he says in Isaiah chapter 46 verses 12 and 13, hearken to me, ye stout-hearted that are far from righteousness. I bring near my righteousness, it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry. And I will place salvation in Zion for Israel, my glory. And so when we look at this, we're reminded of all of the ancient past, all that the Lord had done through up until this time, amen. And so these ancient pasts not only offer insight into the past, but also they teach us the importance of connection, journey, wisdom, both in the physical and the spiritual sense. And by learning from these historic routes, we can apply these lessons to our walk of faith today. What's the word of God say remembering the ancient past? Isaiah 46 verse 9, remember the former things of old for I am God and there is none else. I am God and there's none like me. And so when we look at this, we're reminded that the ancient past, they are a metaphor for the time tested godly ways that provide direction, wisdom, and peace. And as we reflect on those literal ancient pasts, We can also think about the spiritual old paths, following God's eternal truths as our guide in a modern life that is here today. And so when we look at all of those paths, from days gone by, the ancient past and the roadways of the world represent not just physical routes, but also connections to history, to culture, to civilization. And many of these ancient paths still exist today, carrying stories from the past. When we look at some of those most magnificent, significant ancient paths and roadways of ancient history that still exist today, We look and we see that God has paths for us to walk. Israel sought its own path instead of following the Lord's, and they should have sought the old paths. But Isaiah foretold of a time when God's people would walk in his path. Out of these, we see the Silk Road. Of it, we look and we realize from 300 BC AD to 100, the Silk Road that was located from China through Central Asia, Persia, and into Europe that began around 130 BCE during the Han Dynasty and was used for centuries. This ancient network of trade routes connected the East and the West, allowing for the exchange of goods like silk. spices, precious stones, and it facilitated the exchange of ideas, culture, and religion, including Buddhism, which spread from India into China along the Silk Road. Portions of that Silk Road can still be traveled today, and it remains a symbol of the global interconnectedness. We look and we see the first one, the Silk Road. The second one, the Roman roads, that they built some of the best roads across the Roman Empire, which included much of Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East. It began around 500 BC and expanded throughout the Roman Empire. And the roads were incredibly well-constructed and allowed for efficient travel, trade, and military movement across the vast empire. All roads lead to Rome was the literal statement reflecting the connectivity the roads provided to the Roman capital. Many modern roads in Europe still follow the paths laid out by Roman engineers, including parts of the famous Appian Way. And so we see the third one, the King's Highway. This was the biblical route of Sinai in Egypt, because as it spanned It spanned from Egypt throughout Sinai Peninsula up into the level of modern day Jordan, Syria, and Israel. And it dates back to at least the time of the exodus around 1400 BCE. This ancient trade route that is mentioned in the Bible in the book of Numbers chapter 20 verse 17, it was used for the movement of goods, armies, and people. It played a crucial role in connecting empires like Egypt and Mesopotamia. Portions of the route still exist today, and it's considered one of the oldest continuously used roadways in the world. And then we see the Inca Road system, the Adean region of South America and modern-day Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. that was constructed around 1438 to 1533 CE during the height of the Inca Empire. And the Inca road system known as Aquaponan, stretched for thousands of miles and connected the Inca capital of Cuzco with outlying regions. And these roads were critical for the communication, trade, and the movement of troops. And the famous Inca trail to Macu, PICU is part of this vast network that is still a popular hiking route today. And then we go on and we see the Domingo de Santiago, that the Way of St. James. This is old paths of northern Spain leading to the Cathedral of Santiago de Corpostela in Galicia. And it dates back to the 9th century CE as a Christian pilgrimage route that was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages in the Middle Ages. Pilgrims traveled the route to reach the reputed burial place of St. James. And the Camino is still a major pilgrimage path today with thousands of people walking the route each year. We see also the Royal Road, which is known as the Persian Empire that located from Susa in modern day Iran to Sardis in modern day Turkey. And it was constructed in the 5th century BCE under King Darius I of Persia. And the Royal Road was a major trade route and communication route within the Persian Empire, allowing for the swift movement of messages, trade, military forces across the entire region. The concept of organized long distant roadways for communication and commerce heavily influenced later empires. We see all of the ancient pathways, the Amber Road, here that stretch from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean. Here, that dates back to the second millennium BCE, significance that this ancient trade route was used for the transportation of amber, a valuable mineral in ancient times from Northern Europe to the Mediterranean world. The Amber Road laid the foundation for later trade routes connecting Northern and Southern Europe together. Out of all of these, of Russia, Poland, Germany, Ukraine, and Borussia, and the Czech Republic as on and on. And so we look at the Via Francigena because the Via Francigena ran from Canterbury in England to Rome, Italy. And it was around the 10th century CE, like the Camingo di Santiago, the Via Francigena, was a pilgrimage route connecting pilgrims to the heart of Christiano in Rome along the way as pilgrims passed through France, Switzerland, and Italy. The Via Francigena remains a spiritual and hiking route with modern-day pilgrims and travelers following in the footsteps of medieval Christians. We look and we see the Great Wall path, the location along the Great Wall of China, which spans northern China. constructed of the Great Wall that began in the 7th century BCE, continued through various dynasties, and while not a road in the traditional sense, the pathways along the Great Wall were critical for Chinese soldiers to patrol and defend against invaders primarily from the north. The Great Wall and the path along it remains one of the most iconic structures in human history, and all are still accessible to visitors. As we look at the ancient paths today, We see the Hadrian's Wall path because in northern England, stretching from the River Ty in the east to the Solway Fir in the west, constructed in the early 2nd century CE under Roman Emperor Hadrian, built to keep out the Picts and other tribes from the north. Hadrian's Wall was a defensive fortification of the Roman Empire in Britain that served as a controlled entry point for trade and movement between Rome, Britain, and the tribes of Scotland. And today, Hadrian's Wall Path is a popular hiking route following much of the original Wall's route as we look over the lands of Ireland and Wales and England and Scotland. And so, when we see all of these, we look and we see Oso, one of the most powerful paths of all, remembering of the ancient paths. And that, as we start out, we see the ancient paths that lead us to eternal truths. I'm glad that this path is one of the most wonderful paths that you'll ever encounter in your entire life because it is the path that the Lord leads us all along. And so a legacy is represented, a timeless treasure, Because every one of us, as we look, we look at the ancient past that lead us to eternal truth, amen. And what do we read, amen? We read that we remember the former things of old, for I'm God and there's none else. I'm God and there's none like me. And so the ancient past lead us to eternal truth. The importance of being able to remember these ancient past, amen, as we go into I'm glad that in the importance of remembering, God commands us to remember the ancient past, for in them we can find eternal wisdom. Deuteronomy chapter 32 verse 7 says, Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations. Ask thy father and he will shew thee, thy elders and they will tell thee. And so when we remember the past, it teaches us of God's faithfulness through generations. Not only as we look and we begin to see that each and every one of us, the ancient past that lead us to eternal truth, the importance of remembering, but also learning from the past, the wisdom of the past guides us in the present. Job 8, verse 8 says, For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself for the search of thy fathers. You see, God's Word is timeless, and it gives us the wisdom to navigate modern challenges. There's a story of sailors in the early days of navigation. They would travel across uncharted waters with nothing but a compass and the stars to guide them. And the compass, though simple, was reliable and it was unchanging. No matter how lost they felt in that vast ocean, the compass always pointed them toward true north. And as long as they followed it, they could find their way back home. You know, in today's fast-paced world, people often feel lost. adrift in a sea of changing values and shifting morals of America today. But in Isaiah chapter 46 verse 9, it reminds us that God's truth is like that compass, unchanging and eternal. His guidance establishes from the beginning of time that will always lead us in the right direction. And when we rely on God's timeless word, we find clarity amidst confusion. And I'm glad that just like the sailors that needed to trust their compass, we need to trust God's word to guide us through life's uncertainties. The world may shift, but God's direction remains constant. And in a society that is obsessed with new and trending, we must remember that God's eternal truth is the only guide that we need. And so we see the ancient past that lead us to eternal truth. The importance of remembering, learning from the past, but also avoiding forgetfulness because forgetting the ancient past leads us to a spiritual drift. Jeremiah 18, 15 says, because my people have forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity and they caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient past. You know, forgetfulness of God's ways leads to empty pursuits. In the 1800s, a famous clockmaker crafted one of the most beautiful, intricate clocks for the town square. It was designed to last for centuries, and each part was carefully assembled to ensure that the clock would always keep perfect time. Generations passed, and though the clock had its share of wear and tear, It remained reliable because the town never replaced the original parts. And whenever the clock needed repair, they went back to the original plans of the watchmaker, ensuring that it remained as the creator had intended. God, the creator of the universe, has set everything into motion with precision. and purpose, and he's designed his world and his truth with eternal principles that do not wear out. And so in Isaiah 46, it calls us to remember the former things of old because God's plans are perfect and his wisdom remains as relevant today as it was when the world was first created. So in today's society, we often seek out new trends or philosophies to try to fix all of our problems. But God's wisdom is timeless. And when our lives are out of sync, we should return to his original design. The same truths that guided people centuries ago on roads, ancient roads that are still around today, still apply to us right now. And so what do we see? We see that through the remembering the ancient past, that we see the ancient past that lead us to eternal truth. But secondly, we also see treasuring the eternal promises of God. When we look at the word of God, Psalms 119 verse 89, forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. And so one of the first things that we see is the stability of God's word. Thy word is settled in heaven. God promises are unchanging, and they provide us with a foundation that we can always trust. Matthew 24, verse 35, heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. In a world of change, God's word remains a constant guide. C.S. Lewis said one time, we need intimate knowledge of the past. precisely because we cannot study the future and yet need something to set against the present." Lewis believed that understanding history and ancient truths helps us better to navigate the present and the future. And so Isaiah 46 urges us to look back and remember who God is and what he's done in an age that glorifies innovation and novelty. That Lewis's quote is a reminder that the past holds wisdom for our future. In a world obsessed with ideas, we overlook the eternal truths of the Bible. But we need to remind ourselves that God's nature, God's promises, they never change. The same God who was faithful in the past will continue to be faithful in the future. And by reflecting on God's past acts, we can trust him with the uncertainties of the day. There was an old oak tree that stood in the middle of a field for over 100 years. and through countless storms, countless winds, countless seasons, that we look and we realize that out of all of this, it remains strong, its roots deeply embedded in the ground. The tree never moved, and it was admired by all who passed by. The secret of its strength was not what was seen above the ground, but the deep roots that held it firm through every trial. God's character and his word are like those deep roots of that oak tree, reminding us to remember God's unchanging nature. He's the same God who was faithful to Abraham, Moses, and David. Just as the oak tree is unshaken because of its deep roots, our faith will be unshaken if it's rooted in the eternal truth of who God is. And so everything is constantly changing in this world, evolving as they like to say it. People crave stability. By remembering God's unchanging nature, we can find the stability that we need in our lives. Just as that oak tree stood strong through every storm, so will all of us when our trust is in God's timeless truth. And so we see that through this, amen, that the treasuring the eternal promises of God, we see the stability of God's Word, but also our inheritance of the truth, because the eternal world is passed down as a treasure from generation to generation. And as Psalms 119, it goes on in verse 111, Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart. You see, we inherit God's Word as a treasure that sustains us. And then not only do we see that we treasure the eternal promises of God and the stability of God's word, our inheritance of truth, but also guarding what is sacred, because we're called to protect and uphold the truth as sacred. Paul said in 2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 14, that good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. And so the truths of old must be preserved in our hearts through the spirit. Imagine walking into an antique shop filled with old items that have stood the test of time. Furniture. clocks, artifacts from bygone eras. And some of these items, though aged, are still functional. But they're valuable, not because they are perfect, but because they represent history. They represent craftsmanship. They represent tradition. They carry stories and memories that modern mass-produced items can never replicate. And in the same way, God's truths are ancient, but they're never outdated. Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. And so, as it calls us to remember the things of old, because God's truth, though ancient, they are eternal. They are heaven. They carry the weight of history, the proof of faithfulness, and the testimony of those that have walked with God before us. And so, the society that today often devalues the past, we need to treasure the ancient wisdom found in scripture, just as people search for valuable antiques, we should seek out the treasures of God's word. His truth provide lasting value in a world filled with temporary solutions. And so as we get close to closing out, we see not only as we remember the ancient past, the ancient past that lead us to eternal truths. We see secondly, that we treasure the eternal promises of God. But thirdly, in closing, that we walking walking in the light of those ancient paths. Because when we look, we see out of Jeremiah 6, verse 16, Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths. Where is the good way? And walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. You know what? We see the call to seek those ancient paths. And God invites us to seek the paths of the righteousness that leads to rest. The wisdom of Proverbs 4 verse 18 tells us, but the path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more under the perfect day. And so the ancient past lead us to the light of God's wisdom. Again, one of my favorite authors, A.W. Tozer on God's unchanging nature said, God never changes. What God was, God is, and what God is, God will be, and God is always the same yesterday, today, and forever." And so I'm glad that A.W. Tozer calls us to remember that there's no other God like him. His nature, his promises, his word that never changes, even as the world around us does. And so in a culture that the truth brings comfort, knowing that God remains the same gives us confidence in those promises. No matter what challenges we face in the coming days of this election, of all of the ones of who's going to be in the White House or whatever, The same God who delivered his people in the past will be our deliverer now. And so walking in the light of the ancient past, there was a call to seek those ancient paths, but also the consequences of ignoring the ancient way. Those who reject God's way find out they got some problems. Isaiah 30 verse 21 says, And thy ears shall hear a word behind thee saying, This is the way, walk ye in it. When you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left, you see, when you ignore the path that leads to confusion, but walking in it brings clarity. You see, we see not only the call to seek those ancient paths, but we also see the consequences of ignoring those ancient ways. And we see finding rest for our souls because when we follow the ancient paths to peace and spiritual rest, Matthew chapter 11 verse 29 tells us, take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and you shall find rest under your souls. Jesus invites us to follow him, the fulfillment of the ancient path. That is one of the most wonderful paths that we can ever follow, the path of following Jesus. A family passed down a Bible from one generation to the next. It wasn't just any Bible. It was worn, the pages fragile from years of reading. but it was the most treasured possession in the family. Every generation added their own notes and prayers and reflections in the margins. The Bible had been through wars, migrations, and trials, and yet it remained a source of strength and guidance. Isaiah 46.9 calls us to remember the former things because the same God who was faithful to our ancestors is faithful to us. And the Bible is not just a book. It's a testament to God's unchanging nature and his eternal promises. Like the Herelin Bible, God's word has been the source of life and hope for generations. We need to treasure it and we need to pass it on to the next generation, knowing that the same truths that sustained our ancestors will sustain us today. I remember one time I went into church and I had this box. I didn't tell anybody what was in there. And a lot of people thought, man, I hope he ain't got no snake in that box. I'm going to knock the walls down. I'm going to put a new door in this church. Well, as I let it on, the mystery of what I had in the box, I begin to challenge everybody. If a fire broke out in your house, what would be the first thing that you would run and grab and leave out? knowing that one of my friends is a new someone that run back in the house of a fire after they escaped. And when they did, they didn't make it out. So I wonder, everybody was thinking, what do I have in this box? And when I opened the lid and pulled it out, I pulled out the big old giant family Bible that we had, that had all the recordings of things in there. You know, as we reflect on remembering the ancient paths today. The biblical reflection on the ancient paths, as Jeremiah 6.16 told us, amen, that the Lord stand ye in the ways and see and ask for the old paths, where's the good way and walk therein and you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, you know what? A lot of them said they wouldn't walk. Ancient pasts are that metaphor for the time-tested godly ways that provide direction, wisdom, and peace. And when we reflect on the literal ancient past, we can also think about the spiritual old past, following God's eternal truth as our guide in modern life. The ancient past not only offer insight to the past, but also teach us the importance of connection, journey, wisdom, and both in the physical, the spiritual. By learning from these routes, we can apply the lessons to our walk of faith each and every day. And so the ancient paths are not outdated relics, but living truths that lead us to eternal life. God's word handed down through generation provides us with wisdom, stability, the light to navigate the darkness of this world. And I'm glad that every one of us, as we look at everything, of all the timeless treasures of God's word, and as we walk in his ways, amen, I'm glad that when we find ourselves lost, whether spiritually, emotionally, or physically, much like Israel did at times during their history, it reminds us of God's unchanging nature and his role as our God. You know what? As we get ready to leave out, I wonder that what ways can we find direction when we're lost, drawn from the lessons of Isaiah 46.9 and its biblical principles. What kind of direction when we're lost, how that we can find by those remembering the ancient past? Well, first of all, when we look, we see that we could remember God's faithfulness in the past because I'm glad that the former things of old reminds us to look back at how God has worked in our lives and throughout history as Israel often wandered away from God's guidance but each time God brought them back demonstrating his faithfulness. We need to have that practical step and reflect on times in our life when God has guided us through those difficult times and I'm I'm glad that each and every one of us can look back at those times and remember God's faithfulness in the past, the victories that he's helped us as we trust him. And so the Psalmist said, I'll remember the works of the Lord, surely I'll remember thy wonders of old. And so we see that we remember God's faithfulness in the past. But secondly, acknowledge God as the ultimate guide as we close out. Because I'm glad that in moments of confusion, we need to acknowledge that God alone knows the way that we should go, trusting in his guidance instead of relying solely on our understanding as a key. And so we take time in prayer, we seek God's direction. And we asked him to reveal the right path, knowing that he promises to lead those who ask, amen. And so the wisdom of Proverbs, we see, trust in the Lord with all thy heart, lean not on thy own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths, amen. And so not only do we remember God's faithfulness in the past, acknowledge God as the ultimate guide, but thirdly, we seek God's guidance through his word because His wisdom and guidance are unparalleled. The Bible is God's revealed word where we can find direction for all aspects of life. Israel's failure often came when they ignored God's word and relied on their own plans. But I'm glad God's word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. When you're lost, the Bible provides wisdom, correction, and instruction on how to navigate life. And so, you know what Isaiah said one time, And thy ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it. And when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left. And so we see that out of remembering God's faithfulness in the past, acknowledging God is the ultimate guide, seek God's guidance through his word. We surround ourselves with wise counsel because when we do this, as Israel had suffered when they ignored the counsel of the prophets or godly leaders. When we feel lost, it's crucial to seek advice from trusted and spiritually mature individuals who can point us back to God's word. Reach out to a pastor, a mentor, or a strong Christian friend for guidance. Because wise counsel can help you avoid the pitfalls and find direction in tough situations. The wisdom of Proverbs 11 says, where no counsel is, the people fall. But in the multitude of counselors, there is safety. And so we remember God's faithfulness in the past. Acknowledge God as the ultimate guide. Seek God's guidance through his word and surround ourselves with wise counsel, but also wait on the Lord in trust and patience. Because when Israel had to wait for God's deliverance, even though it felt like he was distant, God's timing was perfect and his promises renewed the strength of those that wait on him. Don't rush into decisions when you feel lost. Pray. Wait for God's peace. before moving forward. Sometimes direction is found in patience, trust, rather than immediate answers. Isaiah 40 verse 31. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint. When we get lost, just like Israel did, every one of us, we can find direction by remembering God's path, past faithfulness, acknowledging his sovereignty, seeking his guidance in the word, surrounding ourselves with wise counsel. Amen. And so when we do this, each and every one of us, we're able as we wait on him with trust, Isaiah 46 9 encourages us to remember that God is always in control and he's ever faithful to lead us back onto the right path. Amen. And so I hope and pray by turning to God through these practices that we allow him to lead us out of confusion into his purpose. And I'm glad, just like he continually guided Israel back to him, the ancient truths of the scripture. I hope and pray that you remember the ancient past, praise God. Now, thank you for tuning us in. Let's pray. Thank you for the timeless treasures found in your word. Remember that the ancient paths to walk in your ways that we're grateful for your unchanging truth. Help us, Lord, to cast our burdens upon you as your word says. And Lord, that you shall sustain us, that we never suffer the righteous to be moved, moved by the trials of the world, but stand firm in your promises. And we ask that you save those that are far from you and those that do not know you, Father, grant us the grace to repent daily. Lord, as we put on the forearmer of God and stand against the schemes of the enemy, to sustain us, Lord, guide us in the light of your ancient past. In the mighty name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Thank you for tuning us in. May God bless you.