Lesson Outline for Aug 13, 2026
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Goal – Understand our enemy waits at “crossroads” to take us off the ancient path
- What is a crossroad, and what happens at crossroads?
- Can you identify crossroads in your life? In your family line?
- What about for our nation, or world?
Hebrew and Greek Terms / Definitions
- stand #H5975 “amad” to take one’s stand, stand still, hold one’s ground, standfast, abide, persist
- road #H1870 “derek” a road, a journey, course of life, direction, manner / habit, moral action / character
- look #H7200 “ra’a” to see, inspect, perceive, watch, distinguish, look out, give attention to
- ancient #H5769 “olam” antiquity, everlasting, continuous existence, eternity; root word “alam” to conceal or hide, secret, to hide oneself
- paths #H5410 “natib” path, pathway, trodden by feet, traveler
- good #H2896 “tob” good, better, right, excellent, beneficial, prosperity, morally good
- walk #H3210 “yalak” to go, walk, come depart, proceed, a manner of life
Crossroads – Are a place of geographic and spiritual significance; they are places of choices, decisions and transitions. In the natural crossroads are places of commerce and trade, military significance, governmental authority, line of travel and communication, where cultures meet and transition, religious activities occur and influence; where decisions are made influencing people, places and times. Spiritual crossroads are similar, for individuals, regions or nations – and manifest in the natural. Crossroads have vulnerabilities and danger areas.
God’s Spirit in us – Holy Spirit allows us to perceive spiritually to choose God’s direction for our life.
The green is the author’s notations in the verses below. Bold text added for emphasis
A few crossroads to consider
Historic, geographic and spiritual
- Middle East – Arabia, informally because it’s where Europe, Asia and Africa meet
- Persia and Levant – Baghdad 762 -1258 AD intellectual/scientific capital of the world
- China – silk road connections India, Persia and Europe
- Rome – “all roads lead to Rome”
- New York – “crossroads of the world” – media, commerce, people/cultures
- Los Angeles, CA “crossroads of the world” 1936 a “Cosmopolitan Shopping Center” 6671 Sunset Boulevard – Hollywood (Daeida Wilcox “I’m superstitious and holly brings good luck” Holly Tree (used in Druid witchcraft) – US film industry, glamour, decadence, stardom, entertainment – tele (Greek-far off) visio (Latin-viewing)
- Clarksdale, MS ~1920’s blues musician Robert Johnson died @27 “made a pact w/ the devil” folk lore or reality? – a tourist attraction – Delta Blues music. Celebrated by Eric Clapton, Rolling Stones
A few Biblical crossroads
Can you see the significance and decisions
- Valley of Jezreel – a territorial crossroad for Israel. Jezreel God sows (restoration) or God scatters (judgment); Gideon’s 300 selected at a spring in Harod; Jehu’s coup – Kings of Israel and Judah; Ahab/Jezebel’s winter palace & Naboth’s execution; King Saul defeated; Armageddon prophesied –
- Bethel (aka Luz)– Abraham first visited by the LORD / altar built; Jacob – dream of angels/ladder, built an altar, Jacob’s name changed to Israel, Elijah’s last ministry location
- Mt Moriah – Abraham / Isaac, Jerusalem / Temple Mount
- Mt Horeb (aka Mt Sinai) – Moses / burning bush, Ten Commandments, golden calf, Elijah fled to cave and received instructions from God
Our life’s journey requires crossing paths
Crossroads require choice and decision – you are in the enemy territory – make a wise choice
Jer 6:16-17 ESV – “16 Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads (derek), and look (ra’a), and ask for the ancient (olam) paths (natib), where the good (tob) way (derek) is; and walk (yalak) in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ 17 I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not pay attention.’”
Jer 18:15 ESV – “ But my people have forgotten me; they make offerings to false gods; they made them stumble in their ways, in the ancient roads, and to walk into side roads, not the highway,”
Matt 7:13-14 ESV – 13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
- When you cross a path look for the “right path” – ancient, narrow, comes w/ God’s covering[1]
- To walk God’s path. We must do more than want a path, see the path, watch others walk it – others walking the path move out of your view
- Forgetting / choosing our own way, instead of God’s way – leads to delays, distractions, traps, and destruction
- Don’t be fooled by shortcuts and distractions
- God’s path develops you for His purposes – His Spirit is your Watchman
- Don’t partner with other gods – demonic forces. – What fruit are you producing?
- God’s ancient path is a “narrow way” He hides you in His covering
Discussion topics for you this week at home regarding life’s crossroads: 1) Identify “crossroads” in your life and discuss them with a “battle buddy” and/or family members; 2) What decisions would you make differently? 3) When you made / make a decision, did / do you listen for God’s voice? 4) Discuss how you are better equipped today to stay on the “ancient path.”
Last thoughts and considerations
- Ask for the ancient path – and move on it
- God’s path prepares us physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually to reach our destiny
- The ancient path may tire our physical body for a time, but our soul gets rest
- Holy Spirit is our Watchman – He will speak to us
- Map / navigation check is your Bible and prayer – check it daily as a minimum
- Rambo is a movie – get a battle buddy, wingman, swim buddy
- We can receive reinforcements against the enemy on God’s path, God hides us from the enemy
- Men you are Watchman over yourself, your wife your family’s, your community – they need you to lead them down the ancient path
Additional verses for self-study
Prov 3:5-9 ESV – “5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;”
- What fruit are you producing?
- Trust God’s compass, not your own to stay on His path
Prov 8:1-3 ESV – “1 Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? 2 On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; 3 beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:”
Num 20:14-17 ESV – “14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: “Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that we have met: 15 how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time. And the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and our fathers. 16 And when we cried to the LORD, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. And here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. 17 Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, or drink water from a well. We will go along the King’s Highway. We will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”
- Not an easy path
- They would not have turned left or right
Deut 11:26-28 NIV – “26 See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— 27 the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; 28 the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORDyour God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known…,”
- Choose what way you want to go – blessings or curses
- No mixing – Men of God don’t mix, tolerate, accept other gods, Satan’s schemes
[1] Walking out your Godly destiny, it’s a battleground. My training as a Recon Marine – trained to travel through enemy territory, navigate “crossroads” danger areas – stay on my course – coming OFF COURSE increased personal and mission risk and severely impact my SUPPORT and EMERGENCY RESPONSE forces if needed; traveled on paths not used or desired by the enemy; sloped mountains, swamps, the DARKER it was the closer we stayed on our compass, we kept pace (count); listening, security and navigation checks no GPS – not easy
