Move Forward in God’s Purposes

Pray - (1/2 minute)

Read - (2 1/2 minutes) - “The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites. . . I have give you this land. Go in and take possession of the Land that the Lord swore He would give your fathers. . .” (Deuteronomy 1:6-8)

Passage: Philippians 3:12-15a

In 1948, President Harry Truman gave a speech in which he complained about the lack of support he was receiving from Congress for his proposals. He said, “These men live in the past. They remind me of a toy I’m sure all of you have seen. It’s a small wooden bird called the floogie bird. Around its neck is a label that says, “I fly backwards. I don’t care where I’m going. I just want to see where I’ve been.” That floogie bird is a picture of why many churches and many believers are not growing. They are looking at the past and not moving forward in the purposes God has for them.

When God used Moses to deliver His people out of slavery in Egypt, they moved quickly toward the Promised Land. Due to their disobedience, they ended up spending 40 years in the wilderness. During that time, even though a generation died, the people got comfortable with wilderness living. Finally, the time came when the Lord told Moses they had stayed there long enough. They need to move forward like they should have 40 years earlier. God never wants us to live in the past. He has plans and purposes for us to fulfill in our lives and in our churches. Pray for yourself and for your church to always look ahead and move forward in God’s purposes. In Christ, the best is always yet to be!

Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)

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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)