Moving Forward
Sunday 2/12/17
Pastor Steve Bayne
SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 12: 1-3
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside
every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set
before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the
throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that
you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”
MAIN IDEA: Forward Progress
Are you making forward progress? Are you handling life better today than yesterday? God
listens...He loves us and He never rejects us or our prayers!
Making Progress:
Outside vs. Inside
Marriage Plans Walk with God
Retirement Time with God
Vacation Peace with God
Money
Is God's Peace a part of your life? How real is He in our lives? Who's steering your
ship...you?...or God? How we are on the inside will ultimately effect how we are on the outside
and vice versa. We get controlled by what we do on the outside and forget to check on our
progress on the inside. God wants to reach in and work on our lives (inside and out).
Roadblocks: How does what's going on around you effect what's happening inside you? God
has the ability to give us what we need to succeed in life! Roadblocks can be out of our control
- but pride, fear, anger, depression and forgiveness are within our control. Are you avoiding
what's going on on the inside by staying busy on the outside? Only God can fill the void in our
lives...not keeping busy. He can give us peace if we give control of our lives over to Him. The
stronger our walk is with God on the inside, the better equipped we will be to handle things on
the outside. We always have a choice in how we respond to things.
APPLICATION: Four ways to get better at Forward Progress:
- Preparation: How do you start your day (Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of
God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”)
- Direction: What does God want to accomplish and what do I want to accomplish?
(Jeremiah 6:16: “Thus says the Lord: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient
paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will
not walk in it.")
- Power: Be involved but stay out of the way! The Apostle Paul was a good example of
this. God gives us the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us.
- Clear Vision: We need to see (2 Corinthians 4:18 "as we look not to the things that are
seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things
that are unseen are eternal.”)
What's going to matter in Eternity? Are we keeping our eyes fixed on the bigger picture? We
don't always have to solve a problem to move beyond it. The Lord wants us to make forward
progress and be a blessing to those around us and them to us!