I'M PRESSING ON:
A 2011 new year message to CWC!
Philippians 3:13-15
Intro: The Old Hymnal, “Higher Ground” is a spiritual declaration of one determined man Johnson Oatman, Jr.put to music! Some refuse to believe that our personal faith plays a role in our spiritual growth and in experiencing Christian victory. Having said that, in all my 20 years of preaching and being a pastor, I'VE NEVER SEEN A PERSON WHO IS SIMULTANEOUSLY WALKING IN VICTORY WHILE TALKING DEFEAT!
Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not one of those “name it claim it” individuals; however, one cannot deny the power of our own words. Proverbs tells us that there is death and life in them. Our words, can destroy or build up friends, business associates or important business deals. Clearly, our words can hurt or heal others but too often, we fail to realize the impact our own words have on our own spiritual, mental and emotional life.
Proverbs 18:19-21 (KJV), “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. (20) A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. (21) Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
Johnson Oatman Jr. declared by way of song his refusal to live and function among the doubters.
VERSE 2 OF HIGHER GROUND BY JOHNSON OATMAN JR.
My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay
Tho' some may dwell where these abound
My prayer, my aim is higher ground.
Interrogative: is your plan is to leave doubt, fear, sin
and complacency behind in 2011 and move on to “HIGHER GROUND”?
Transition: If so, will you make the first declaration with me by
Saying …
I. I DECLARE THAT MY FUTURE IS GOING TO BE BETTER THAN MY PAST!
Phil 3:13-15(KJV)
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.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
A. You cannot move ahead until you are willing to leave the past behind you!
B. Doing the same thing and all the while expecting different results has been defined as insanity.
C. Satan doesn't want any transformation in your life, he will do what ever it takes to keep you marginalized and ineffective.
Why?
He doesn't want you making an impact in your family (if we impact our family/children, it means 2nd and 3rd generation gains for the Kingdom)
He doesn't want you making an impact at work, in your community, etc.
D. The last thing he needs is another mover and shaker for God's Kingdom.
II. I DECLARE FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, I WILL NOT LIVE OUT A PROFESSION BUT A PASSION!
Ps 63:8(KJV)
8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
A. Our Desire = the level of anointing (God's presence in our life)
Mat. 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
B. Our Prayer Life = Our Desire
Prayerlessness is godlessness
Luke 11:9-13(KJV)
9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
James 5:17-18(KJV)
17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
III. I DECLARE THAT I WILL NOT STOP PRAYING (HUNGERING/DESIRING) UNTIL, I EXPERIENCE A REAL SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH IN MY LIFE!
A. (I'M GOING TO PRAY THROUGH TO VICTORY)
As you make this declaration, you need to be aware that Satan will do almost anything to distract you and keep you from praying.
Why? Prayer is the one single most effective spiritual tool in bringing real growth and maturity in your life. He will not stand idle while you gain access to the riches of heaven!!!
An old puritan said, “prayer is a canon set before the pearly gates of heaven!”
Luke 18:1-8(KJV)
1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
What if Israel stopped marching around Jericho on the 6th day?
What if Daniel had quit praying on the 20th day?
What if Paul and Silas quite worshipping/praying at 11:45?
1 Pet 5:8-9(KJV)
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
B. We can live very close to God with out experiencing the power of God that brings revival, deliverance and miracles.
Battery post & Corrossion
C. We are the key to experiencing more of God’s power and presence in our life. God desires to move in our church just as much as in other churches that are experiencing real revival and growth, because He is universally the same to all men. The Bible tells us that God is in the process of moving throughout the entire earth seeking out men to whom He can show Himself strong.
2 Chr 16:9(KJV)
9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
D. We must not quit when things become difficult, we must rise up and conquer in Jesus name. We are soldiers in the army of the Lord.
2 Tim 2:1-5(KJV)
Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
Conclusion:
Today, we can make a decision and declaration that 2011 is going to be a year of godly & personal gains and spiritual progress. WILL YOU SAY TO YOUR NEIGHBOR AS PAUL SAID TO THE CHURCH IN PHILLIPI, “THIS ONE THING I DO!”
Rev 3:21-22(KJV)
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rom 14:17(KJV)
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
