Move Forward by Brother Curtis Hansen

           When we read scripture in the Bible, it is not uncommon to place ourself in the hero's shoes. It could be David slaying Goliath, Paul witnessing and encouraging the early church, Elijah against the prophets of Ba'al. We shouldn't adopt that mindset. Our flesh wants to place our life on the same plane as the heroes of faith. The trials heroes of faith in scripture faced were separate from ours today. If we want to be completely honest, we are more aligned with the troop hiding in the ditch while Goliath was calling out the Israelites. We tend to hitch our faith to the heroes themselves rather than their acts.

        This morning we are going to read from 2 Corinthians chapter 5. It will be verse 7.

        7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

        I want to ask a question, before this message begins, for you to ask yourself. What is the important skill you have in life right now? You may have one but will always need a new skill to go longer or further and achieve more from life. Think about it.

        When you hear or read someone say step out in faith, often it's an empty or hollow statement. To truly step out in faith is to come from a place of courage. Many of us live day to day in doubt, the step is faith. How do you show love when you feel a seething hate? How do you step out in faith when all the conventional indicators in and around you are giving you reason not to? Now, there are some people who will cite James 1: 5-7 as support for the scripture we read.

        It's in human nature to push back at some things and people. Often you may find yourself being tossed to and fro by life. This causes many of us not only to be in a defensive stance, but also in fight mode.

        Every time there is a demonstration of great faith in the Bible, it is often preceded by great doubt. It's a conviction in your spirit which generates great faith.

        Have you heard anyone speak on something that was completely wrong? Whether it's life, health, work, politics, sports, whatever the subject. If you get into any conversation you need to source your information. 1) You behold to your senses 2) You believe it 3) Your behavior changes. 

        Let's look at the first point. You behold. Not only do you need to see something, you need to have it verified. What is some gossip you hear rooted in or slander is sourced?

        Faith isn't a gut feeling, it's a behavior. You need to change what you behold and believe. We aren't walking daily in the spirit with just our basic five human senses. Your senses can and will be used against you. We are going to turn to the book of Exodus chapter 14. We will read from verse 10.

        10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord.

        Moses had doubt as God used him. We often do the same with God because we speak in fear and doubt. The Israelites had left captivity in Egypt after the last plague and had taken Egypt's gold and silver. There are times that God wants to show his power through you. It's never a good situation when that happens. The people in this moment first beheld, then believed the dire situation, and behaved as, "did you bring us out in the wilderness to die?"

        11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with sum to carry us forth out of Egypt?

        12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

        This mindset and opinion would reappear often throughout their period in the wilderness, but it started at the Red Sea. We cry out to God first but we often pivot onto an attack. Now, was their fear a sin? Not necessarily. Their behavior was the sin. Your behavior should reflect faith. What is beholding your attention?

        Is doubt bad? What is doubt? Doubt is a warning from your senses. Emotions will give you a sense of doubt. Senses can only detect the carnal and not the spiritual. If your carnal self could determine and discern the spiritual, you wouldn't need the Holy Ghost.

        So, why did they say all these things? Why do we often go to the worst case scenario in life when we behold what is in front of us? It comes from fear, depression, and pressure. If the outlook is right in your eyes, it's not right in God's eyes. Pressure gets you to dwell in the negative.

        13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

        14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

        You may not know what to do next in life, but if you can quiet the various voices in your mind, your heart, your gut, you can begin to analyze things, determine the situation, and then act upon it.

        15 And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore cries thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they fo forward.

        God is wanting you to move forward and not wait for the external upgrade. No new house, nor job, nor vehicle, will ever arrive and completely change your life. Move forward, and yet the Israelites cannot outrun the chariots. Don't stand still in your emotions. Standing still and operating in your emotions will cause anxiety and nervousness. You and I already have our baggage which we carry, that God is wanting us to remove. God cares about incremental movement forward from his people. God will deal with what is pursuing you.

        Our final scripture is going to come from the book of Matthew. We will read from chapter 14 and starting with verse 22. 

        22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to fo before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

        23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

        24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

        25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

        26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, it is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

        Now, earlier in this chapter, Jesus went among a great multitude, moved with compassion and he healed their sick. He fed five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fishes. The disciples are in the boat alone and the wind was blowing against them. The fourth watch indicates it was between 3am-6am. Their triggers in this are transition and trouble. Given all this information, you would probably exclaim you see a spirit.

        27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid.

        28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

        God will come to you sometimes in your worst case scenario. In the dead of night before morning. God will walk to you. How long does it take him to get there in this moment? How long does it take for him and you to meet? There's no sense of urgency written in this. Peter was a mover. He stepped out in the storm to meet Jesus.

        29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

        30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

        31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

        Peter walked towards God. He didn't run. When his senses registered the winds and waves, he grew fearful and cried out as he began to sink. Jesus immediately stretched his hand out. Caution is a good thing to have, but, don't let your life be ruled by it. Solid growth in your spiritual life is slow but sure in its progress. Standing still in your emotions will only lead to fear, doubt, and often rejection.