WHY SHOULD I KEEP MOVING FORWARD?: PASTOR J.F. ODESOLA, DIGGING DEEP TUE. OCT. 20TH 2020

RCCG ONLINE CENTRAL DIGGING DEEP SERVICE TEACHING

MINISTERING: PASTOR JOHNSON FOLORUNSHO ODESOLA (ASSISTANT GENERAL OVERSEER (AGO) ADMIN. AND PERSONNEL, RCCG)

TOPIC: WHY SHOULD I KEEP MOVING FORWARD?

DATE: 20TH OCTOBER, 2020

BIBLE TEXT: PHILIPPIANS 3:12-14

We Thank the Lord for that Rendition by the Choir.

We Pray that God of Heaven would anoint them further, and He will continually keep them to be Instruments of Glory, more and more for Him, in Jesus’ Name – Amen.

Shall we just Pray!

SONG

Jesus is Alpha,
Alpha and Omega
Jesus is Alpha
Alpha and Omega
So I Praise Him for He is Alpha,
Alpha and Omega;
So I Praise Him for He is Alpha,
Alpha and Omega.

Like Him I want to be
To live in Holiness,
Like Him I want to be
To live in Holiness;
I Praise Him for He is Alpha,
Alpha and Omega.

OPENING PRAYER

Saviour of the world, we want to Bless and Praise You because You are the Alpha and You are the Omega!

We want to Thank You because You are our Lord. Thank You for what You are doing on this Particular Platform.

Thank You for Your Grace over our father in the Lord who has allowed us to do this.

Thank You for the Grace over the People who are reading now on the Label of DMC; and we Thank You O Lord, for your Grace over our Media House (Dove Media). We say Thank You!

Lord Almighty, today again we have come to the Table of the Lord: we ask that You Who can feed us with Eternal Word – feed all of us;

From the Person You are using his mouth to all the People who are watching and reading now on the label of DMC; fill all of us to the brim and let us have a Testimony that You have really dropped something in us!

Let there be Healing, let there be Salvation, let there be Freedom and Deliverance. Lord, let there be Encouragement and Possibly, chastisement! And let everything work to Your Glory.

I commit my head and mouth unto You, I don’t know nothing; but my father in the Lord has given me this Privilege to speak; I Pray that Holy Spirit, You will help me: and Your Great Name will be Glorified!

Thank You Eternal Father! We Bless and Praise Your Name! In Jesus’ Mighty Name we Pray – Amen!

Let somebody shout Hallelujah – Hallelujah!

Today, we want to answer a question which we received consistently, for about five (5) times now:

“WHY SHOULD I KEEP MOVING FORWARD?”

Why should I keep serving God?

What are the Motivations Oushing you (the Preaching) – to move forward?

… These are the questions we want to answer today!

And the Bible will give us answers; because there are People who have gone this road before us. There are People who have travelled these routes before us; and they made it.

They had troubles, tribulations and challenges as we have in our time; yet they made it. So we want to look at their examples.

… That’s all we want to do today.

Philippians 3:12-14;

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The Lord Bless the reading and hearing of His Words, in Jesus’ Name – Amen.

WHY I KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

… Why you should keep moving forward

Apostle Paul said in verse 14: “I Press towards the mark for the Prize of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

“TOWARD” that’s what he said – It implies Progress or moving forward.

It is very easy to have spiritual blowout on the highways of life!

I mean, it is easy to have flat tyres when travelling in your Vehicle. When you have flat tyres, under normal circumstances, you can fix it and continue your Journey.

So, you must keep moving on until you are able to attain what God has ordained for you.

You must make it a Vow: “Forward ever and backward never”

Why should I keep moving forward in spite of Difficulties, Obstacles and Troubles?

There are several things God reminded us in His Words and we are going to look at few of them Today.

Why should I keep Moving Forward?

1. My Saviour is in ME; your Saviour is in YOU.

Since Jesus Permanently indwell all Believers as it were; there is never a moment that we are alone.

He said to us in Hebrews 13:5 – He Promised never to leave us alone.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

His Presence should Sweeten our Spirit, Stabilize our living and Stimulate our growth.

Thank God that we are Standing but we are not standing alone; We stand with CHRIST.

2. My Sins are BEHIND me.

For those of us who are Born Again, our sins are behind us.

… What a Joy to know that: my sins are forgiven, your sins are forgiven.

Ephesians 4:32 (the last Phrase says):

“… Even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.”

The word basically means ‘A Pardon’.

We are Pardoned by God.

When we talk about being Pardoned, we are talking about someone who is released and absorbed from the Pain of Punishment.

Somebody took the Punishment for us – He used higher Authority to get that done.

Because we are born of God, we do not have to suffer the Penalty of our sins; Jesus Paid for them on the Cross.

We are all forgiven, and those sins are forgotten.

3. His Spirit Empowers me.

… The Spirit of God empowers you!

The Bible says in John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave He Power to become the sons of God.

Could you imagine living in the world where you have temptations and trials, where you have all kinds of evil, without the Power of God?

Thank God the Spirit of God is there to empower us!

No wonder Ephesians 6:10 says; “Finally, my Brethren, be Strong in the Lord, and in the Power of His Might.”

First, there must be an emptiness by you so that you can experience an expression of God’s Fullness.

So empty yourself!

And as many of you who are Born Again, and are not filled with the Holy Spirit, it’s high time for you to get connected by asking God to fill you with His Spirit with the evidence of speaking in Tongues.

… And He will do it.

His Spirit Empowers me!

4. My Hope Motivates me.

Your Hope in God should also motivate you.

Hope looks forward to recognition of the Saviour and the Saints; a reaping and a rest.

So, we look forward in Hope, that God who has started the Good Thing in us, has the capacity to finish it.

He is the One holding us.

Philippians 1:6 says: “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a Good work in you will Perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

Galatians 5:5 says: “For we through the Spirit wait for the Hope of righteousness by Faith.”

… HOPE of righteousness by Faith!

5. The Saints are Cheering us.

Some People had gone before us, they are waiting: Oh, this brother, this sister, will finish well; they will not disappoint the trust repose on them.

The Bible says there is rejoicing in the Presence of God, over one (1) sinner that repents.

You can read that in Luke 15:10.

Since that is so, it indicates that Heaven is aware of the happenings on Earth.

In Heaven, they cheer us daily to keep moving on!

No wonder the Bible says in Hebrews 12:1 that: We are surrounded with a cloud of Witnesses.

WHAT ARE THE INSTRUMENTS OF MOVING FORWARD?

Two (2) basic Instruments.

And under these two (2), I will discuss Seven (7) Major Things under:

I. The Instrument of RESOLUTIONS

And Five (5) Things under,

II. The Instrument of STEADFASTNESS.

So, here are the Two Instruments of Moving Forward:

• RESOLUTION and
• STEADFASTNESS (on daily basis)!

I mean, we should resolved everyday, and should make compartments everyday.

And David, in the whole Book of Psalms 119; mentioned one hundred and seventy six (176) times “I will”.

I. DAILY RESOLUTION.

So I want to mention Seven (7) of the DAILY RESOLUTION: which should serve as Boosters as you travel on your life’s journey:

1. I WILL REJOICE.

… That’s what David said.

Psalm 119:7: I will PRAISE Thee.

Instead of grumbling over what we do not have; we should rejoice over what the Lord has given to us: Materially, Spiritually, Domestically.

Jesus gives us Gladness, not sadness; He gives us Glory, not gloom.

… I will REJOICE!

2. I WILL REFLECT.

Psalms 119:15, 48 and 78; all these three (3) references speak of Meditating.

They deal with the source of Meditation – which is the Word of God.

Some People speak all day, Pondering on Newspaper and Magazine, instead of Meditating on the Word of God.

Some talk of Politics, more than they talk about the Word of God.

But David said: I WILL MEDITATE.

Way back, when the People of Israel were moving from the Land of Slavery to the Land of Promise – When Joshua took over from Moses, one of the charges (commandments, Instruments) God gave to Joshua was the Word of God.

In Joshua 1:8 He (God) said: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way Prosperous, and then thou shalt have Good Success.”

So David said; ‘I will REFLECT.’ And it should be a daily resolution.

3. I WILL REMEMBER.

Psalms 119:16 and 93;
David made up his mind not to forget the Word of God because it has been the source of his quickening (Giving life to him).

The People who hears the Word of God, are the People who can connect to His Words.

Jesus when He was speaking said: “The Words that I speak to you, they are Spirit and they are life.”

So, David said: I will Remember!

Remembering that the flesh and the worldly systems Profits nothing!

But the Word of God stands forever!

4. I WILL RUN.

In Psalms 119:32, the sweet Singer of Israel said: “I will run the way of thy commandments.”

That expression speaks of AFFECTION, READINESS and CHEERFULNESS.

There should be nothing wrong about the commandments of God to the Person who loves the Lord.

… And David said, I will run.

I need to let you know Sir/Ma; as a Born Again, saved Person, you are released to be able to help others.

You need to run with the Word, and the Solution that God has given unto you.

Hear the Master Himself talking in Matthew 28:18-20, saying to us: “Go ye therefore to the world!’

He repeated the same thing in the Book of Mark 16:15-17.

So, we need to RUN in the way of the Commandment..

Release them from the Kingdom of Darkness and we can run it!

And it is the commandment of God that can set us free.

… It should be a daily resolution!

5. I WILL REVEAL.

Psalms 119:46 says: “I will speak of thy Testimonies also before Kings, and will not be ashamed.”

The Truth of God so thrilled King David, that he felt he had to speak to others, and tell the Character and Kindness of God.

We need to give Testimonies!

Has God done anything for you of recent? You need to give Testimony!

Everyone living in the Country where I am speaking from; where life’s expectancy is put at thirty eight (38) to forty (40) years; and that I can live to be over sixty (60); some of us are older than that – Share your Testimonies!

Oh, you list a lot of things that God has not done; but see you are able to keep your marriage, your children are still following the Lord, your brain has not gone cranky – You need to Testify!

You can think, you can wear your own clothes, you can think.

Oh, you say: But I have not eaten any delicious meal of late.

But there are People who eat delicious meal and yet take ‘delicious’ injections and drugs – They are not healthy.

But you consumed everything that comes your way, and you are very healthy!

Some People lie on waterbed, yet they cannot sleep!

But even as I am teaching now, some People are already dozing off on a bench.

… David said, I will REVEAL!

6. I WILL REST.

Psalms 119:117; David expressed his confidence in God.

“Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.”

When you understand that underneath you are His Everlasting Arms, then you will be able to rest in spite of all the Challenges, the Storm!

In Deuteronomy 33:27, the Bible says: “The Eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the Everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.”

Rest; God will do those things He alone can do.

And He can do anything!

He says in John 14:27; “Peace I leave with you, my Peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Because He is the Prince of Peace according to Isaiah 9:6.

So you need to Rest because He is the Giver of Peace. Hand over the load to Him and go to bed.

Stop carrying load that is not yours; hand them over to the Burden Bearer.

7. I WILL RESPECT

Psalm 119:117 “I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.”

The word ‘RESPECT’ suggest to us – Esteem or a sense of Worth; or Excellence of something or someone.

The Word of God is Valuable; because Faith is found in it.

So, don’t let the Modernists, the Polluted Doctrines of our day, the liberal Atheist or the Skeptics, lessen your Faith in the Word of God.

Because God is the Word, the Word is God.

The Bible says in John 1:1:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

You need to give room; and give respect to the Word of God. It is only the Word of God that gives Life.

Respect the word!

Anything God does is packaged in His Words. So it is very important!

II. STEADFASTNESS.

There is something I like about my Father in the Lord, Pastor E.A Adeboye – And that is his consistency!

By the Grace of God, I have been with him now for about forty six (46) years. And I have watched him closely – He is consistently steadfast!

… And that is what the Word of God enjoins us to do.

And hear this (it’s one of my favourite Verses) – 1 Corinthians 15:58:

“Therefore, my beloved Brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

Saints, Believers, are to be steadfast in the right things; there are so much wavering among Saints of God.

Many are going one way today, and on another way tomorrow!

You have to stand firm in the Lord like the three (3) Hebrew Boys – “Even if He will not deliver us.” It’s okay, we will still remain steadfast.

So, five (5) things under that:

1. Be Steadfast in FAITH.

1 Peter 5:9 tells us: “Whom resist stedfast in the Faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your Brethren that are in the world.”

That means we are not to give in to the devil in any way! We stand in the Grace of Faith, exercising in it – The Promise, the Power and the Faithfulness of God.

Faith actually act as a Shield against Satan and his demons; you are to be steadfast in FAITH.

Because we are to WALK by FAITH, and NOT by SIGHT. 2 Corinthians 5:7

And if you don’t walk by Faith, your Service is useless (my service is useless).

Because the Bible says in Hebrews 11:6:

“But without Faith it is impossible to Please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”

… So be Steadfast in FAITH.

2. Be Steadfast in WORK.

In 1 Corinthians 15:58, we are told to always abound in Good works of the Lord.

So many Christians are lazy these days – I am not referring to you as Slothful.

Some would rather watch television than Pray and listen to the Word of God.

They would rather be in Political debate, than spend time in Prayer!

Spiritual Progress requires diligence.

Don’t do things halfway for God – give Him your Best!

3. Be Steadfast in LOOKING.

What are we to look out for? – We are to look for the Coming of the Master.

Acts 1:11 says:

“Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven.”

We are to be looking out for Jesus Christ’ Second Return for His Saints.

A day is coming that He will Come Again; He will not tarry. I am waiting for that day when we will get away from this terrible inequality world; when we will be free from the Oppressions and Afflictions; when we will get away from sicknesses and sorrows.

Keep looking forward to His Second Coming!

I Pray for us, we will hear the sound of the Trumpet and we will meet Him on His return – Steadfastly looking toward to the Second Coming of our Master (Amen).

4. Be Steadfast in DOCTRINE.

Acts 2:42 says: “And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles’ Doctrine and Fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in Prayers.”

It was a Doctrine of Peace, it was a Doctrine of Pardon, it was a Doctrine of Righteousness, it was a Doctrine of Salvation, it was a Doctrine of Restitution, it was a Doctrine of Forgiveness, it was a Doctrine of Love, it was a Doctrine of Help; it was also a Doctrine to suffer affliction; to be able to establish what you believe from the Word of God.

He said in 2 Timothy 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.”

Doctrinal Error keeps one from knowing God’s best for his or her life; it hinders others from knowing the Truth.

Please, let’s know the Fundamental Doctrines of God for our generation:

• What do you know about Heaven?
• What do you know about His Second Coming?
• What do you know about how to relate with others?
• What exactly are the things you know?

Let’s go back as the Barean Christians – To study His Words, and Participate in the Doctrinal Teaching of this Mission.

Do you even know the Fundamental Doctrine of the Organization you belong?

… Be Steadfast in DOCTRINE.

5. Be Steadfast in MIND.

Ruth 1:18 says: “When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.”

… She was steadfastly minded to go!

She had her mind on doing the Will of God.

We need to make up our mind and rely on the Holy Spirit.

What are we saying?

The three (3) Hebrew Boys were determined!

Whatever you have decided to do; we have made up our mind to serve our God.

Take us to the fire, fine!

Daniel said, I will go to the lion’s den rather than not to Pray!

Be steadfast in your mind!

What a timely advice from a man of God, called Apostle Paul – who wrote half of the New Testament Letters.

This same Apostle Paul is talking to us today, by his word which God has approved:

WHY SHOULD YOU KEEP MOVING ON?

Oh, Pastor you don’t know I have difficulties. Keep moving on!

Paul had, Peter did and even our Lord Jesus faced champion crises; at the time He needed His disciples, they were not there for Him.

None of them were with Him on the Cross. He died alone on the Cross.

So, keep moving on; despite the challenges!

ALTAR CALL

And if you are not Born Again, i beg of you today; God is calling you, give your life to Him.

… How long will you live in sin?

You have long dwelt in sin believing you are enjoying your life.

Yet, you don’t have Peace of mind, you can’t sleep. Give Him the right to Possess your life.

And if you are Born Again Christian, but you are tired, you are burn out. Ask for the Spirit of God to help you.

You can move forward, you can advance in adversity, you can move forward even when all things seems to be stagnant; because GOD IS IN YOU!

Shall we bow our heads, as we Pray?

If you are there and you want to surrender your life; I beg of you in the Name of Jesus, just tell Him:

LORD, COME INTO MY LIFE, I RECEIVE YOU INTO MY LIFE, FORGIVE ALL MY SIN AND I WILL FOLLOW YOU. COME AND BE MY SAVIOUR, COME AND BE MY LORD

THANK YOU FOR COMING, IN JESUS’ NAME I PRAY – NAME!

… Let me Pray with you now:

PRAYER FOR SALVATION AND CLOSING PRAYER.

Father in Heaven, Thank You for all the People who have listened to the Word or who are reading on the Label of DMC.

For all the People surrendering their lives; Please, God of Heaven, save them today, and write their names in the “Book of Life.”

I Pray that this day onward; they will serve You with Joy and Gladness. And give them Power to serve You till the end.

For all our Brethren across the Globe or reading now on the Label of DMC; who are going through issues, i Pray today: The Spirit to move forward, release on them Oh God. Encourage them again, and stir up a Revival in their Spirit; and let the Name of the Lord be Praised.

That when the Roll is called up in Heaven, let us make it there together.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name we Pray – Amen!

OFFERING AND PRAYERS

Let’s give our Offering!

Father, we Thank You for the Privilege to give an offering. I Pray over their offering; Jehovah God, receive their Offering, and Bless them also!

Oh God of Heaven, we Pray they will never be beggars; You will send Blessings to their lives.

Thank You because it is done!

In the Kingdom of the Righteous, count us Worthy to Reign with You.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name we Pray – Amen!

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