Well, Pilgrim, I'm glad you could come back, spend some more time with me today. I have more I want to say on this. Well, it's been the last three or four. Let's add to it. Ah, grace and peace to you, Pilgrim. Friends, I'm glad you've joined me today, and we'll listen to this old goat. Let's set a spell and talk about something that's really precious, holding fast to the faith we've received at Jesus Christ. These ain't just words from an old book, they're from the Bible, and they're the living truth. And I pray they'll settle deep into your heart, just as they have in mine. You know, there's a lot of change swirling about today, swirling around us. These new ideas, these new teachings, new churches, new groups, new ways of doing church, new ideas, new teaching, new ways of thinking. They seem to pop up everywhere, day by day. And some folks, they get swept up in all that. They get swept up in chasing after what's new, what's shiny. Just like a new religion was like a new car. Forgetting the good, the good old gospel and solid truth they started with. Just let it slip away and grab onto the new. Hebrews 13.9 Don't be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods which have not benefited those devoted to them. Hebrews 3.14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed We hold our original confidence firm to the end. Pilgrim, it's easy to get restless, especially when old truths start to feel a little tame or a little familiar. For some reason, they get boring. Read your Bible more, the whole Bible, and it won't get boring. Pilgrim, but don't let go of what you first found in Jesus. The righteousness of God, that's where it came from. When you realized your sin was laid on Christ and his righteousness was placed on you, didn't that bring you joy and didn't that bring you peace? That blessed exchange, it's your daily covering. Pilgrim, don't let it slip away. It can easily do so. There is such a danger in restlessness wanting new novelties all the time. There's a warning here for all of us. When a person gets tired of what's old and is always grabbing for what's new, it can mean he's lost his taste for the things of Christ and the world and its ways. They can pull us right over the cliff. the TV set, the radio. Does anybody listen to radio anymore? Showing my age, I guess. They all draw us away. All those new shiny churches and entertainment. Some of them seem to me like they're no more than just entertainment centers. Keep you happy, smiling. Fools. Sorry, get carried away sometimes. The Bible talks about this in Ephesians 4, 14. So that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves, by the new ways, carried about by every, every wind of doctrine, every new idea, something better. by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. That's all they are. Also, 1 John 4, 1, Beloved, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God or not. For many false prophets have gone out into the world. They did then, they do now. And there's more of them. More people, more false. Some folks, they love controversy, too. They'd rather argue about their spiritual food than actually eat it, but that's no way to grow strong. You want good food. Eat it. Digest it. Let it go deep into your heart, into your soul, into your mind. Disputes, you know they can eat away at love Even if they don't destroy faith Psalm 52 to says your tongue plots destruction like a sharp razor You worker of deceit you would cut me up throw me away. Have me go to hell, but I'm sticking with Jesus I Sometimes arguments are necessary, but they're tricky to handle and often do more harm than good. Try not to get wrapped up in them. Yet we must cling to the truth. Jude 1 3 urges us, contend for the faith, the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. It ain't changed. God ain't changed. The word ain't changed. The faith ain't changed. Revelation 3.11 reminds us, I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. Take away your faith. Don't play around with error and don't give up the truth, no matter what, no matter what. Proverbs 23.23 tells us, buy truth, do not sell it. by wisdom, instruction, understanding. Look at the calmness of Jesus, our Lord Jesus Christ. It's also important to watch out for excitement, sensationalism, and there's plenty of that. But why do you want that? Why don't you want peace, contentment? The Spirit of God, he works gently, calming our hearts. Remember how Elijah found God, not in the wind, not in the earthquake, but in the still, small voice, still, small voice of God. Loud words, wild images, They might stir up feelings, but they don't build lasting faith. The Lord Jesus, he was always calm. I'll bet he was even calm when he was tearing up the temple, throwing those people out, those bankers and those sellers of goods. Lord Jesus was always calm. His strength brought peace, true spiritual depth that shows itself in quiet confidence, not in noisy displays. Don't misunderstand me, pilgrim. Not all excitement is wrong. Sometimes when God moves in revival, Folks tremble under the word and get stirred up. That's better than a dull sleepy faith or a cold formal religion that never sees a revival. Galatians 4.18 tells us, it's always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you. Romans 12.11 tells us, do not be slothful in zeal. be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Ecclesiastes 9.10 reminds us, whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. Do it with all your might. If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well. Do it with your whole heart. Colossians 3.23 sums it all up. Whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord, not for men. That's the kind of Christianity that pleases God. Not restless chasing after novelties, but steady, steady heartfelt service for the Lord. A lot of value in those old truths. Let's listen to some of them. Charles Spurgeon, he said, to be rooted, to be grounded and settled in the truth is the best safeguard against error. Keep in the book and they won't draw you away. A.C. Reilly warned, Beware of that love of novelty, that love of novelty which makes men ready to accept anything new and to despise anything old, because it's boring. These wise men, they knew the dangers of drifting away from the faith once delivered to the saints. John Owen wrote, Hold fast the truth, for it's the only anchor in the storm. and you're going to be getting in storms. If you haven't yet, you will. Thomas Watson, he said, a Christian should keep the old paths. I like that, old paths, the old ways. For they are paths of peace. And they'll get us to the celestial city. All the new slippery slopes won't. These are just some of the reminders that the ancient truths of Scripture are as fresh today as when they were first spoken, Pilgrim. Simplicity. Simplicity is what we need. Christ, He was simple. He wasn't stupid. He wasn't dumb. He was simple. Paul warned in 2 Corinthians 11.3 But I am afraid that as a serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and a pure devotion to Christ. Pilgrim, let's not let our hearts be led astray. The simplicity of Christ is enough. His righteousness is enough. His love, His love is enough. So don't let your ears itch for new teachers or new doctrines. They'll tickle them for you, but don't let them. 2 Timothy 4.3 tells us, for the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions. Don't let them stay rooted in what you first believed. More heresies have grown up in the church, heresy upon heresy, and they're new every day, new every morning. So persevere. It's easy to become weary. Life throws all sorts of things at us, but Hebrews 10.23 says, let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. hold his hand and don't let it go. It leads you in the right path. Jesus himself said in John 8 31, if you abide in my word you are truly my disciples. Psalm 119 105 gives us this comfort. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. The right path, the path that I pray you're walking on with me. Pilgrim, if we stay in the word, we won't lose our way. John Bunyan, he who would not fall must walk carefully. He wrote that in Pilgrim's Progress. Matthew Henry, he reminded us, the more firmly we hold to Christ, the more safely We walk through this world, a very unsafe place. These old friends, they point us back to the basics, the basics. Stay close to Jesus. Hold fast to his word. Don't be swayed by every new wind that blows. Every which way. Jesus said in Matthew 24, 13, But the one who endures to the end, he'll be saved. Psalm 37 5, commit your way to the Lord, trust in him and he will act. Well, Pilgrim, let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the truth, the truth you have given us in Jesus Christ. Help us to hold fast to the faith we first received. not to be led astray by every new wind of doctrine, every new teaching, every new restless idea. Heavenly Father, give us hearts, hearts that love your word, hearts that rejoice in your righteousness and that stay calm, stay steady in your spirit. Lord, protect us from error, from dullness, from cold formalism. Fill us with zeal for your glory, love for your people. Lord, may we walk in your light, trust in your promises, and abide in your love day by day. In Jesus' holy, precious name we pray, amen. Baroness, come, Lord Jesus, today. Today is soon enough. But in truth, only you know the time, Lord. You will do it at the right time as you did everything. Well, Lord, thank you. Thank you for all. All you were. Thank you for Jesus. Salvation. Well, dear friend, make it your daily habit to read the Bible and pray. There's no substitute for spending time with the Lord in His Word and in prayer. These are the ways He strengthens our hearts and He keeps us closer to Him. If this message has blessed you, please subscribe, like, and especially share it. with others. Let's spread the good news of the gospel. Let's do it together, you and me, you and I. There's someone out there who needs to hear about the hope we have in Jesus. They need to hear it. What other hope do they have? What other hope? Well, walk with Jesus, pilgrim. Beside him, behind him. Don't get ahead of him. And I'll see you later, the good Lord willing, and the creek don't rise. God bless. I love you all.