KEEP MOVING FORWARD!

Job 17:9 “The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.” (NLT).

Romans 4:18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.

As Christians it's important that we keep moving forward.   Moving forward means that you don't let anyone or anything get in the way of your journey of faith.    Or your walk of faith with the Lord.   

It is amazing how many people start out strong, and end up at a stand still.

I spoke to a man just this past week whom I knew was an excellent Christian musician and about 15-20 years ago.  He was on fire for Jesus.  But when I saw him just the other day, I asked him is he still playing for the Lord?  He told me no.  He said that he was leaving that to the young people.   

One of the dangers in the Christian life, you can stop moving forward.   You started out strong, somehow, the troubles of life slowed you down.   You stop witnessing for Jesus.  You stop having a joyful testimony at your job.  You're not praising him like you used to.  You don't go to choir rehearsal no more.  You don't praise him like you used to.  You used to pray everyday, but now, you're hardly blessing your meal..  

Struggles can bog us down, until we just feel tired and worn out.  Pretty soon, we don't even feel like going to church no more.     

You don't want to admit it, but the reason that you stopped moving forward is because you're tired, frustrated, and disappointed.

But the only way that you're going to get your victory, your blessing, your breakthrough, is through the struggle of moving forward.

One of the things that I appreciate about this story of Abraham is despite all of his demotivating circumstances, Abraham kept moving forward.  He kept moving forward until he received his promise from God.

Romans 4:18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.

HE BECAME BECAUSE HE BELIEVED GOD AGAINST ALL HOPE!

Three reasons why Abraham received the promise:

1. Abraham kept moving forward against all hope.

In other words, Abraham never stopped believing God in spite of the hopelessness of his circumstance.

God told Abraham, I'm going to bless you to become the father of many nations, yet Abraham was an old man.

100 years old.  Sarah 90 years old.  Having a baby.  

The scripture says that their bodies were dead.  Yet, Abraham against hope believed.

When my wife Sandra finally became pregnant at the age of 40, we were surprised because we had determined in our mind that it just was not met for us to have a child. After trying for many years, we gave up, because we thought it was a dead issue.  God gave us a child against hope.

God can bless you against hope!

2.    Abraham kept moving forward against all facts. 

Romans 4:19  Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead.

Facts don't matter with God.

The Bible says that Abraham faced the fact that there was no way he was going to be a father, yet, he did.

God is not concerned with the facts.  I remember when I was applying for a house in O Fallon for me and my young bride.  I had very little money, I had very little income, and I had never owned a home.  But facts don't matter to God.

I remember telling my mother, I could never afford to move into that house, but God said you will.  Guess what?  I moved in because facts don’t matter to God


3.   Abraham kept moving forward against time.

The bible says, that God promised that Abraham shall be the father of many nations.  But it took over 30 years for the first sign of that promise to manifest.

The question I want to ask you is are you willing to wait for the promise to manifest?

Isaiah 40:31King James Version (KJV)

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

But the Bible says, Gal 6:9 "let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season, you shall reap if you faint not."

This is why the apostle Paul stated (Phil 3:14) that I (daily) press towards the mark of the higher calling of God that is found in Christ Jesus

God wants us to keep moving forward.