A JOURNEY WITH THE SHEPHERD

INTRODUCTION

• Journey is inevitable in life. Everyone is involved in one journey or the other.
• It may be of varying distances; short, intermediate or long ( Job 14:1; Gen.47:9-10)

• The purpose of every journey also differ by individuals.
• It may be smooth, rough or mixed feelings.

• One of the certainty is that we cannot run away from journey of life.

The common factors to any kind of journey are:

1. There exists the beginning and the exit point
2. End is expectedly determined from the begining or at start
3. Movement are always involved, it starts with a step and follows a direction
4. Its purpose driven and goal oriented
5. It has a pace or amplitude of movement – Isaiah 40:31; Heb.12:1c

A GLIMPSE INTO JOURNEY OF YEAR 2025

• Be it physical, social, mental or spiritual, we are all going to journey through it everyday.

• 2025 is a brand new journey with diverse opportunities for greatness, achievements,  and outstanding successes.- Psalm 68:19; Lamentation 3:21-24
• It is also full of challenges, difficulties, potential limitations and hindrances on the path of life.- Eph.5:15-16; Matt.6:34
• There are requirements to make the journey easy, possible and feasible
• The two essential keys needed in this journey are DIRECTION AND SUFFICIENCY.
• God has made the provisions of both for all His children this year 2025-  Psalm 95:7; 100:3

1. The Shepherd knows the way and He gives the needed directions to all the sheep of his pasture. Isaiah 40:11; John 14:6; Exodus 13 :21-22. He goes all the way and any length to care, guide and protect them (John 10:11-12). He abides with them to prevent them from straying- Ezekiel 34:11-12.

• The Shepherd is all sufficient God – (Psalm 23:1-3; II Cor.9:8; ; Gen.17:1) and the All-sufficient God is the Shepherd – Col 3:10

His sufficiency covers all things for us and all areas of life – Psalm 23:1; II Cor 3:8.

• All that is needed for the journey (  Phil.4: 11-13)  to get to glorious end is in the package the Shepherd has come to offer this year ( The names- El- Shaddai; Adonai; Jehovah Jireh;  Psalm and Hymns( YBH 84; 645;335, 603- EBH )

It’s not an easy road

We are traveling to heaven,

For many are the thorns on the way;

It’s not an easy road,

But the Savior is with us,

His presence gives us joy every day.

No, no, it’s not an easy road,

No, no, it’s not an easy road;

But Jesus walks beside me

And brightens the journey,

And lightens every heavy load.

HOW BEST TO JOURNEY WITH THE SHEPHERD

The sheep journeying with the Shepherd this year 2025 is expected to possess the following virtues:

1. It’s a journey of relationship and intimacy – John 10:14; Psalm 91:1-2; Psalm 63:1-2[ Psalm 42:1-2; John 15:5-6
2. Its a journey of trust and confidence in God and His power- Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 26:3
3. It’s a journey of total dependency on God- John 15:5-6
4. It’s a journey of growing faith and keep believing- Romans 1:17; II Cor.5:7. No faith… Little faith… Great faith-Mark 4:40; Matt 8:26,8:10; 15:28
5. It’s a journey of obedience and submission- I Samuel 15:22; John 14:15; James 1:22

CONCLUSION

The journey through year 2025 is desirable and inevitable.  The joy is that we have the Shepherd set to lead us, will you allow Him to lead?