Guest Minister(Pastor Cornelius Abodunrin )Moving Forward in the right direction(Part 1).

Comments: Pastor Cornelius made a number of illustrations about change in the introduction to his message. Among those he cited were obvious physical changes in growing children and adults which results in them letting go of previous size clothing and outfits in order to use outfits that are more suitable for their present age. After giving these examples Pastor Cornelius stressed that IT IS NOW TIME TO MOVE FORWARD IN FAITH AND IN HOPE! The loss of Hope RESULTS IN SOME DESCENDING EVENTUALLY INTO A VISCIOUS CYCLE OF DESPAIR AND EVEN SUICIDE.

Affirmation by Pastor Cornelius: You can make it with determination, Move forward with the right attitude and in the right direction!

BACKGROUND TO THE MESSAGE:Deuteronomy 1:8 . In this verse God was urging Moses and the nation (of Israel) he was leading to move forward. HE SAID TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THAT IT WAS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD! What does this mean, and how does this injunction apply to us today?GOD IS SAYING TO US THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A VISION FOR THE FUTURE, BECAUSE THERE IS PROSPERITY IN THE FUTURE! THEREFORE,WE MUSTN'T GIVE UP!
If you don't know how to leave certain things behind, you will be left behind when Jesus Christ comes! The list of things we need to forsake or relinquish and leave behind include:

• Worldliness
• The lust of the flesh
• The Pride of life
• Double mindedness
• A Bad Attitude

We need to move on in stability and mature to the level whereby we are not constantly dependent on others to provide the ministry of prayer for our needs . We ought to learn to take our burdens to God and achieve results in prayer!

FIVE THINGS THAT CAN HOLD YOU BACK

1. The first hindrance to moving forward is SIN. God hates sin . The Bible says righteousness exhalts a nation but sin is a reproach to a people(and anyone who indulges in sin). Sin will cripple you. The Psalmist says (), 'if i regard iniquity in my heart God will not hear me(my prayers). Sin degenerates our quality of life to one that stays within a state of lawlessness. Read James 5:16-18 and then go to verse 14. There is a possibility that our promotion in God is being hindered by MANY WEIGHTS(BAGGAGES).Hebrews 12:1-2 provides another illustration about how a besetting sin or 'pet sin' can become a hindrance to making progress in our life and in the Lord. WHAT ACTION SHOULD WE TAKE? We need to ask God to show us how to move forward and what it is that is hindering us.Some of the areas that can result in a sinful hindrance are 'bad company' and 'wrongful association'(psalm 1). This can lead to destruction. Abraham had to let his nephew Lot go and it was after he had become separated from Lot that God moved him into the next level of the manifestation of God's glory in his life! Now read Romans 6:12 and verse 13. Note the emphasis in verse 13'.....yield not your members'. Sin is what destroys the very fabric of our family, the divine institution of marriage and our society. THIS IS AFFECTING OUR NATIONS! It has 'infected' the United Kingdom, the U.S.A, Nigeria, Ghana(the reader can provide additional examples)! WHAT ACTION SHOULD WE TAKE?We need to ensure that we are not a hindrance to the corporate body of believers we are linked with. As a local church, the move from Deptford by HOPEGICC is a positive development! In the porocess the church has left certain situations behind in order to embrace new opportunities and situations that are ordained by God!It is a sign of God at work leading His local body into another phase of ministry. But as an individual you need to move with God when He moves.(click part 2 for continuation)