Our God, Our Guide Text: Psalm 48 Key verse: Psalms 48:14 God is our God for ever

and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. How far of a reach does God have in your journey of life? Are you letting God guide you or are you trying to guide God? We all need direction to get us where we need to go and the divine compass and guide of our lives will show us every step of the way, if we will only let Him lead. God guided so many in the Bible: The children of Israel out of Egypt Jonah to his destination, Nineveh (albeit reluctantly) Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness (Matt. 4:1) Paul on His missionary journeys When we take trips, we generally plan ahead; how much it will cost, where we will go, what to take, what we will do when we get there, what kids to leave at home, etc. We are going to look at one particular verse, verse 14. Body The Destination Maturity Ephesians 4:13 - Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: Your goal is to make progress every day of your life. Dr. Maxwell Maltz, quoted in Bits & Pieces, June 24, 1993, p. 12 ii. In this life, this is what God desires of us, that we grow up. iii. These are the steps we take in our lives toward the ultimate destination Heaven John 14:2-3 - 2In my Fathers house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you ii. This is our final destination iii. As Christians, no matter how we get there (rapture or death) we will end up in the presence of God in His abode The Compass The Word of God Psalms 119:105 - Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. ii. Basis Instruction Before Leaving Earth iii. We cannot live without it or see with it. iv. It points us in the right direction and keeps us on the right path

B. The Holy Spirit - John 16:13 - However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own [authority], but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 2. COMPASS A. The Word of God Psalms 119:105 - Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. ii. He is the inner compass iii. When we pay attention, we will stay on the path we are supposed to be on. Gods Will James 4:13-15 - 13Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: ii. Nothing is as mysterious as Gods will. iii. It is the one aspect of God we ought to be most concerned with. 3. The Path. A. Our Life Psalms 16:11 - Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. i. The first part of this begins at conception ii. The most important aspect of this begins at salvation Ephesians 2:1-5 1 ii. B. Our Journey Job 23:10 - But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. i. There were two men traveling in the WAY The first man said to the other man: How long have we been traveling in the Way? The other man answered: Not long enough to get to where we are going but far too long to only be as far as we are. Have you ever looked back on your Christian walk and found you were not as far along as you thought you would be when you started? When we start this new walk, we go all out. We have all the strength imaginable to take the journey. We see the distance we need to travel and say no problem. Then something happens, the truth is we have lost sight of our goal, the prize has lost the allure that the distractions of this life now present; refocus on the prize Christ Jesus, this journey is a process. ii. The journey is not always pleasant iii. The journey is different for everyone but the same destination iv. The journey is rewarding (1st Cor. 3:11-13) 4. i. ii. The Guide He leads us in the right way He leads us in a holy way

B. Comfort - Psalms 23:4 - Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You [are] with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. i. Because of the treacherous nature of the journey, he is careful to never take us to places we cannot handle. ii. He takes us on a walk, not a run. iii. It is better for us in the long term. C. ii. We can trust our guide with every word, every step, every counsel. iii. He will never steer us wrong iv. Earthly wisdom is not adequate and is often governed by the flesh E. Constantly - Isa 58:11 The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. i. We dont have to worry that our guide will take off on His own adventure and leave us stranded. ii. He will never abandon us, even when we sin (Heb. 13:5)Fairness - Psalms 25:9 - The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.