march On!

Philippians 3:12 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.

There are many reasons the Body of Christ has slipped from being the church militant to the church dilettante. We have gone from serious disciples and making an impact on the world to being a group of people who look like we are just toying around with Christianity so we can make it to Heaven with no real zeal for God or concern for folks going to Hell. We have stopped singing “Onward Christian Soldiers” and “Am I Soldier of the Cross”. Now it is “Kum-by-ya” and “We Gotta Get Out of this Place”. We may be “Standing on the Promises”, but we are sitting on the premises waiting for the Rapture. We meet. We eat. We retreat until next week if we are not too busy or the Cowboys aren’t playing. We give a small amount of our time, less of our talent and whine about the tithe. We want to do what we want to do while singing “You Are Worthy of It All”

Forgetting that which is behind

To many people are stuck in the Past/Nostalgic

Isa 25:6 And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.

Lees are residue during fermentation and aging. Good for wine, but bad for people. Hard and crusted. Always done this way, won’t work, content with status quo, false security. Bills are paid, enough members, apathetic.

Jer 48:11 Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed.

12 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles.

Zep 1:12 And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

Personal failure – 1 John 1:9 Everyone God ever used was a sinner and a failure at some point.

Hurt by People - Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Hurt By God -

Psa 73:2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

David often felt like God abandoned him. Jeremiah called God a liar and suffered greatly for telling the truth. Moses complained to God because things were not going smoothly. David’s child with Bathsheba died. His favorite son rebelled and then was killed. All of the Apostles were executed except John who was exiled. Somehow they missed the prosperity gospel.

Some are stuck on Today. They have no vision.

Pro 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

It may take awhile to be fulfilled. Most people quit just short of achieving their goals. “Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second.” - William James

Dan 8:26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.

Now be careful. Many people are running around today seeking visions and can find plenty of people to oblige. There are false prophets and false visions. Some will try to sway you from your mission and disobey God.

1Ki 13:14 And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am.

15 Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.

16 And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: