Through out the journey of Moses he knew he would never get to cross over into the Promiseland. Moses is 120 years old when he begins to speak about crossing Jordan and defeating the enemy that was in the land. He speaks to all of Israel and he tells them Joshua would lead them. The passing of the torch of leadership, but the important is their God would go with them, that their Lord was not going to foresake them. If a teacher of God or even a preacher could stress one thing perhaps it should be this for the journey with God and that God will lead you on, as you trust in him. Joshua would be the people's new intercessor to God because of their lack of faith. Yet God was providing a leader like Joshua to take the lead. Joshua had risen up in the ranks of Israel and was not new to leadership, but still it was like handing of the torch to the next person so to speak. Moses had reach the finish line of his journey with Israel.

Moses was instilling in their heart and mind not to fear but that God was still going to be with them. He had not forsaken them, but he would go into the promise land leading Joshua and them even in battle. Not to be discourage or dismay the Lord would be with him, That this journey was journey and promise God was going to deliver on.

To know that God is going to go before you and provide for you is remarkable concept to grab hold of. Yet it even more to do so without the aid of human leader. As the disciples on the last few hours of their journey with Christ in the flesh before Christ would be betrayed was in total preparation of the leading of the Holy Spirit upon each disciple life. If we going to teach about the Holy Spirit we might as well teach it correctly in regards to God is not leaving you without a leader in your life, even when you have no pastor or physical human teacher/leader. If I stop right there for a moment and allow you to grasp as a believer that you do not need a human teacher to teach you. However God uses people like Joshua, Moses, Samuel, prophets, kings and others to lead his people. Sometimes we need the human directive in our life especially still learning to follow after Christ. At some point we realize a need of spiritual leadership coming straight from the Holy Spirit and not through the words of ministers. Yet it is nice to have good teachers and ministers in which to learn from. Especially history lessons, or no time to read, listen to a teacher once a week enables one to mediate on last weeks lesson or next weeks lesson before hearing the teacher or minister out. God still calls his people to fellowship and unity.

Jesus prepares the disciples in John from chapter 14 to 16, but if I had to summon it all up sixteens would do. Like Moses he realize his time is short and that these disiciples needed a shepherd. Jesus knew they need God and his Spirit to lead them on. Persecution was coming to his people and he could not stop the persecution of the early church. Jesus was leaving a people in defeated position and not a victory position if you look from only a total humanity reality. If you look from a spiritual reality persecution is of honor, because you standing your ground of faith and the reward is the promise land called heaven. Jesus would prepare his disciples to know that the journey he was asking them to go on without in, was not easy one to bear.

Moses also told Israel that there be battles as they walked into the promise land. That victory and possession was just in sight. If we look at Stephen sermon in Act 7 the last few verse he see paradise as the doors of heaven open before he dies. Today even when the church is persecuted it is usually bigotry or haters. Those that love the church and the people care about their freedom to worship. There freedom to lean helping hand to those in need by directions of the Holy Spirit. As people up and move to different parts of the world or across even our own nation to share the Gospel with others that have yet to hear about who the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is, they go often times rejoicing as well as in hopes of all God has given them insight to seeing. That same Spirit that lead Moses, Joshua, David, and so forth lives in all believers of Christ today.

Let us stop and remember God's Son prepared his disciples to have that direct line to the Holy Spirit be a direct line to God the Father. If the church is going to be built we must teach who is going to be doing the leading. It not man, for the spiritual church must be built with born again believers. Believers born by the Spirit of God. God wants to lead us not into physical war but to testify to others in peace, in hope and in love of his who he is. None of us do it perfectly, so when we fail God is often seen as the great I am and Christ the word everlasting. The teacher humanity is seen but God is glorified and heathen rage at the leaders, not understanding that when God moves and God's speaks he does so by His Spirit to all that will hear and listen.

Dear Heavenly Father lead your people by your Spirit, giving them courage knowing they will see the true promise land of the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven, with Christ exalted to demonstrate your power and glory. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

P.S. take time to read both passages of scripture and look at what God and Christ is saying to the believers of not leaving them comfortless, but going before them with a promise of victory. When you feel defeat know that victory just in sight.

Continual Scripture Study: John 16:1-33 KJV
1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?
18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.
19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:
27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.
30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

1 John 5:4-6 KJV
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.