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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!

MOVING FOR THE LORD!

Introduction

In the first 9 years of our marriage, my wife and I lived in 11 different places. That means we had to move 10 times. Thank God that since that time we have only had to move twice more.

“Move” is a four-letter word! It would suit me just fine if my next move was to go home to be with the LORD! AMEN!!!

I do not enjoy moving! I hate almost everything about it. I hate having to box everything up, I hate having to try to fit it all in a truck, I hate driving the truck, I hate trying to unpack it and put all in a new place, and I hate what the move does to some of our things.

Every time we have moved, we have had to make some decisions. There were some things we took with us, and there was some things that we left behind. Some things were worth moving and some things weren’t worth what it took to move them.

In our text this morning, we see that Abram (whom I will refer to as Abraham from hereon out) was told by God to move. God told Abraham to move but He didn’t tell him where he was going or how long the trip was going to be.

That is the same way it is in the Christian life isn’t it? God wants us moving forward in our Christian life, but he doesn’t tell us exactly where He is taking us or how long the trip will be.

Understand please that in this move to where God wanted Abraham to go, Abraham undoubtedly had to leave some things behind and had to take some things with him. That’s the way it is with moving!

Today we celebrate the 38^th Anniversary of the founding of this Church. In so doing, we need to understand that God would have us to continue moving forward as a Church. We confess as other men and women of God have, that we are strangers and pilgrims in this world.

But as we move there are some things that we must take with us on our journey in this life and there are some things that we need to leave behind!

I.         WHAT ARE SOME THINGS WE NEED TO TAKE WITH US?

            A.        We Need To Take A Spirit of Excitement!

We need an exciting spirit of anticipation that longs to see where God is going to take us in our life together as a Church!

Don’t you know that Abraham was excited about where God had promised to take Him!

                        Philippians 4:4–“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”

We may not be able to rejoice in the circumstances we find ourselves in sometimes, but thank God we can rejoice in the Lord!

                        Our attitude ought to be, “Well praise God anyway!”

Psalm 33:1–“Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.”

Isaiah 61:10–“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

We Need To Take A Spirit Of Excitement!

            B.        We Need To Take A Spirit of Unity!

Psalm 133:1–“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

Acts 2:1, says that the first Church was “ all with one accord in one place.”

Acts 4:32, says that, "the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul:

                        1.         The spirit of oneness is vital in any Church that wants to accomplish something for God!

                        2.         We must keep others in mind as we journey where God is taking us.

                        3.         We must keep the idea of serving and doing for each other foremost and primary in our intentions.

                        4.         Unity is togetherness.

                                    a.         When one is ill, we are all to pray and help out as we can.

                                    b.         When one hurts, we are to all be sympathetic and desire to ease their pain.

                                    c.         We are to care about one another, because we are a family.

                        We Need To Take A Spirit of Excitement, A Spirit of Unity. . .

            C.        We Need To Take A Spirit of Cooperation.

                        1.         An attitude of working together.

                        2.         That means that we each have to be willing to yield our own desires, wants, and wishes, to others.

                        3.         We need the attitude of not what we want as individuals, but what will help us as a Church to meet the mission that we are commissioned to do?

We Need To Take A Spirit of Excitement, A Spirit of Unity, A Spirit Of Cooperation. . .

            D.        We Need To Take A Spirit of Concern.

                        1.         Without a concern for others we turn from being God-centered to becoming selfish and self-centered.

                        2.         Without a concern for the lost we will become cold, indifferent, and ineffective in our mission.

                        3.         Remember that God will only truly bless this Church as we continue to reach out to others, both here and around the world. Are you doing your part to reach out to others?

                        3.         We must do all we can to reach our friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors.

                        4.         Who will reach them if we fail?

            E.        We Need A Spirit of Expectation.

There are so many people who do not have an expectation of very much from God, so the don’t get very much from God.

                        1.         We Need To Expect God To Do The Impossible! Have Faith In God!

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.”

                                    a.         We began this journey by faith. (Salvation)

                                    b.         If we have grown in the Lord, we have gotten to where we are at in our Christian walk by faith.

                                    c.         This Church has come to where it is by the faith of at least some.

                                    d.         Everything we continue to do must be done by faith in a great and a mighty God.

                                    e.         We need to believe God for more great and mighty things.

Luke 1:37–“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

Isaiah 59:1, “Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save...”

We Need To Expect God To Do The Impossible.

                        2.         We Need To Expect Adversity Along The Way!

                                    We can expect adversity because we have an adversary–The devil!

Just as God uses people to do his work, the devil uses people to do his work.

                                    a.         There are always going to be those who say we can’t do something.

                                    b.         I don't like to be around folks who are negative all the time!

                                                Do you?

                                    c.         We need to determine to prove the naysayers wrong by letting God get the glory in our lives.

                        3.         We Need To Expect Souls To Be Saved!

                                    a.         I don’t know about you, but I am expecting to see even a greater number of people coming to Christ this next year.

                                    b.         We should never grow complacent about seeing folks saved.

                                    c.         What a wonderful blessing to have a part in bringing someone to Christ! Whose life have you had a part in seeing them come to the Lord this year?

                                    d.         There are some things we need to do in order to see folks saved!

                                                1)        We need to watch our testimonies!

                                                2)        We need to invite folks to trust Christ!

                                                3)        We need to invite folks to Church!

                                                4)        We need to pray for the services!

                                                5)        We need to participate in the services!

                                                6)        We need to pray during the invitation!

                                                7)        We need to be an encouragement and help to those who accept Christ! (Its called discipleship!)

We Need To Take A Spirit of Excitement, A Spirit of Unity, A Spirit Of Cooperation, A Spirit Of Concern, A Spirit Of Expectation. . .

            F.        We Need A Spirit of Faithfulness.

                        1.         It is all too easy to fall into a pattern of unfaithfulness.

                        2.         As we begin a new Church year, let’s determine that we will be faithful!

                        3.         Faithful in attendance to the services including being faithfully on time!

                        4.         Faithful in participating in all of the programs of this Church!

                        5.         If we don't all do our part to be faithful, our effectiveness is limited.

II.       WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LEAVE BEHIND?

Philippians 3:13-14–“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, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

            A.        If We Bring Excitement With Us, Then We Must Leave Discouragement Behind.

Joshua 1:9–“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

            B.        If We Bring Unity With Us, Then We Must Leave Discord Behind.

A spirit of disunity caused problems between Lot’s herdmen and Abraham’s herdmen in Genesis 13:6-7.

                        Abraham saw the strife and did what was necessary to end the strife!

James 3:14-16–“But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

            C.        If We Bring Cooperation With Us, Then We Must Leave Stubbornness And Selfishness Behind.

1 Samuel 15:3–“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”

            D.        If We Bring Concern With Us, Then We Must Leave Apathy Behind.

Psalm 142:4–“I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.”

            E.        If We Bring Expectation With Us, Then We Must Leave Unbelief And Doubt Behind.

                        Remember the Children of Israel on the edge of the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy 1:21–“Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.”

                        Deuteronomy 1:28–“. . .our brethren have discouraged our heart. . .”

They didn’t enter in to God’s rest because of unbelief and doubting.

            F.        If We Bring Faithfulness With Us, Then We Must Leave Unfaithfulness Behind.

Proverbs 25:19–“Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.”

Conclusion

If you are not a Christian today, why not come to Christ and leave behind your old life of sin and be born again? Trust in Christ today!

Christian, what kind of spirit will we bring into this new Church year?

Will you let God use you to bring others to Christ this year?

Are there some of these things we’ve talked about today that you need to leave behind in order for God to do that? Why not come and do business with God today?

Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!