Moving Forward for the Lord...
A. Text is Deuternomy 1:1-6
B. History of what had happened to Israel
1. Israel was God's chosen people.
2. Had led them out of Egypt.
3. In Numbers he had given them one
opportunity to enter the land he had promised them.
a. They blew it by not having faith. The episode of the twelve spies in
Numbers 13:27-33; 14:4
b. Had to remain in the wilderness for
another 40 years as a result.
c. Numbers 14:34-35
d. By the time of the text in Deut, they
had been wandering for almost 39 years. The Lord was ready to send them back into the land of Canaan. Thus the statement that he makes in
Deut. 1:6
C. One aspect of Christianity is to be constantly moving
forward. Moving on toward the goal
of salvation.
1. Sometimes we wander around with no
direction in our lives. Wander
around wasting precious time when we could be doing so much for the Lord. Thus, let us apply this to our lives as
Christians.
II. It's Time to Move Forward if you
are:
A. Without Christ.
1. If you are without Christ, then you are
without everything. Paul said
through Divine Inspiration, that you have no hope.
a. Ephesians 2:12-13
2. Before Christ's death on the cross, we
had no hope of eternal salvation. Christ gave his life for our chance of salvation.
3. Many are without Christ in this world.
a. Our job as Christians is to make them
aware that without Christ, they have no hope whatsoever.
b. No hope in worldly possessions, or in
other temporal things.
c. You have "dwelt long enough"
in the sins and the pleasures of the world.
d. No hope for those who simply live
"a good moral life."
4. Galatians 3:26-27
a. Many profess to put on Christ.
b. How have they put Him on? By faith only, etc.
c. If one doesn't put Christ on the way
that He said, then one hasn't put Christ on in the first place.
5. Eph. 2:1; 8-9
a. Notice here that "with"
christ, then we "have been made alive"
b. When one is without Christ, they are
dead spiritually,
1. many in world believe that this is the
opposite:
a. Live it up!! attitude. If one is a Christian, then they don't
have a "life."
b. I would rather have a "life"
with Christ, than the kind of "living" that goes on out in the world
today.
c. They are caught up in:
1. trespasses and sins
2. walked as the devil wanted them to.
d. But with the great sacrifice of Christ,
if we walk in obedience to his will, we have hope of eternal life in heaven.
e. Not by grace only that we have been
saved, but through obedience to his will.
f. If you are not with Christ, then it is
time to move on and be with Him. Before it is everlastingly too late.
B. In Unconcern:
1. As Christians we should be concerned
about what is going on around us.
a. We are all concerned what goes on
around our home.
b. Many of us are concerned about the
upkeep of our homes, and material things.
1. raking, painting, cleaning, mowing,
washing our cars, boats, etc.
2. But do we show any concern for our
fellow Christians? Some are need,
or just need a shoulder to lean upon for support, and we act like we could care
less what happened to them.
a. Look at Israel's attitude in
Lamentations 1:12
b. Do we just pass by a fellow Christian
in need and hope that someone else will take care of them?
c. Do we care or are we like Gallio in
Acts 18:12-17?
1. Gallio proconsul of Achaia.
2. Jews brought Paul before judgement
seat.
3. Gallio drove them from his seat.
4. Greeks took Sosthenes and beat
him. Gallio simply stood by and did
nothing.
d. Do we just stand by and do nothing when
other Christians are in need? Do we have attitudes like these?
1. The elders will help them
2. I have my own problems, I can't worry
about them.
3. They always need a little help.
3. Does not pertain to physical or secular
matters but in spiritual things also. Are we unconcerned about our spiritual growth as a congregation?
a. Are we concerned about our spiritual
growth as individuals.
b. Many congregations think that growth is
by "swelling"
1. Not by adding new "babes in
Christ" but by members of the church from different areas moving in to
work with that congregation. Many
preachers as well as congregations are satisfied with this.
2. have become content as they are.
c. We need to be growing as Christians so
that we can take the gospel out to those who haven't heard it before. They are the ones who need to hear
"Jesus" preached unto them.
4. If we are unconcerned about the Lord's
work, then what exactly are we concerned with?
a. Must all devote our concerns to
something. It is human nature to
do so.
b. If not concerned with the work of the
church, then where are your concerns?
c. Matthew 12:30.
1. If you do not gather seed with Christ,
then you are scattering abroad. What does that mean? If not
gathering for Christ, then you are a gatherer for Satan. Hence, the word "abroad"
means foreign to the kingdom of Christ.
d. If your concerns are not with Christ,
and spiritual things, then you are on the side of the devil.
5. Finally in Romans 12:11, Paul exhorts
the Romans....
6. Let us not lack in diligence to serve
the Lord.
7. If you are unconcerned about other
Christians, or about growing as a Christian, then it is time to move on from
that and do better.
C. In Doubt.
1. Acts 17:11-12
a. many are in doubt in this world
today. They don't know their
bible.
b. They take for granted what the
preacher/teacher is telling them.
1. Do not study to show themselves
approved unto the Lord.
2. Ever heard the phrase, I know that
it's in there...somewhere when trying to prove a point.
c. Look at the Berans. They studied to see whether the things
that they were being taught were so. In studying, their doubts were erased and as a result MANY BELIEVED.
2. John 10:24-26 -
a. Some people are saved, and then doubt
the power of Jesus Christ to save them. or they doubt that they will be saved.
b. Guys here in John doubted who Jesus
was. He told him, and they still
didn't believe him.
c. Let us never doubt the power of Christ
and what He can do for us, if we will obey His word.
4. 1 John 3:2 - Again some doubt that Jesus can and/or would save them
because of some past sins in their life.
a. in other words, they doubt the power of
Jesus Christ.
1.
Think of Paul. Said he was chief
of sinners, but still had the confidence that he was going to heaven when he
died.
2. 1 Timothy 1:13
3. Then 2 Tim. 4:6-8
b. If we truly ask for forgiveness, then
the Lord will forgive us and we do not have to worry about our past sins.
D. Fellowshipping Error.
1. Doesn't have to be "big"
things such as doctrinal error, but
a. members of family who are letting
"little" things go on in life that we are afraid to get them to
correct.
b. sweeping problems under the rug. ---
procrastination.
2. Ephesians 5:11-12
3. 2 Cor. 6:14-16 - here exhibited one of
the most prevalent themes in the bible. --- don't team up oneself with the
world.
a. don't fellowship those in error.
1. Contrary to some who do their best to
look like denominations.
2. Fellowship them (as the Christian
church & some liberals) for the sake of "unity."
b. Hard to understand. --- liberals say
they come from Campbell, and Stone, Tant, and others.... But they violate some of the basic
things these men stood for...
4. 2 John 9-11 - We need to
remember this.
a. Whoever does not abide in the doctrine
of Christ, HAS NOT GOD. Why would we want to associate with
someone who doesn't have God? Remember that "fellowship with the world is enmity with God?"
5. For those who have been fellowshipping
error, it is high time for them to move away from that toward the Lord.
E. Who are Babes.
1. 1 Peter 1:22-2:2
a. many brethren are stuck. They have never completely given up the
things of the world. They are
trying their best to hold on to what is left in the world while just getting
the spiritual necessities.
b. contrary to what Peter said here.
2. Hebrews 5:12-14 - Of brethren who are
stuck in wrestling in giving up things from the world there are just as many
who are not growing spiritually.
a. Reasons:
1. Lack of attendance in bible classes,
worship, etc.
2. When present, lack of attention in
them...
a. not prepared so have to catch up in
middle of class...
b. think the stuff is boring....
4. Look at what Paul told the Corinthians
in 1 Cor. 14:20
5. it is time to move forward if you are
stuck and not growing in the Lord.
F. It is time to move forward Regarding Life on Earth.
1. 2 Kings 20:1- "Set Your House in
order, for you shall die and not live."
a. Hezekiah had been sick and near
death. Isaiah told him that the
Lord said that he would not live.
b. Are we "setting our life in
order?" Are we preparing for
eternity?
c. If we are not moving forward, then how
can we say we are preparing for eternity?
2. Some wait until company is coming to
"set their house in order..."
a. wives frantically dust, clean out the
corners, mop, sweep, vacuum, etc...
b. Some have the same mentality with this
in their spiritual life...
1. There's a catch. We don't know when Jesus is coming
back.
2. Hebrews 9:27-28
a. if you are living in sin, then you
don't eagerly anticipate His coming.
b. But he is coming, and we better get
ready. Is your soul prepared?
3. 1 Peter 2:11 -
a. let us abstain from the things of the
world that can get us into trouble. it is of utmost importance to our salvation. Quit trying to hang on to the world.
III. Are We Where God Wants Us to Be?
A. Are we Moving forward for the Lord.
B. The Israelites had been wandering around with no
direction. God said it was time to
move forward and conquer the land of Israel. They had been there long enough.
C. If you are in sin, then you have been there long enough and
it is time to move forward.
D. Why not come to the Lord in obedience to His will today?
E. If you are already a Christian, and not moving forward for
Him, then why not start over today. Don't doubt what He says.
F. If you are subject to the invitation...