Going forward in God

By Pastor Peter Linnecar
God has been causing us to examine the foundation of our lives. But the message we are receiving over and over again is that we now need to turn away from those things which are behind, to give and receive forgiveness, and to go forward in His will for our lives.
Last weekend we looked at how God has been clearly speaking both through Charles Green and through David Matthews. It's a particular truth about what it means to forgive, to be forgiven, to move on, not to look back but to go forward.
Charles Green referred to "forgetting those things which are behind". David Matthews talked about not concentrating on the Poll of Bethesda, but on Jesus Christ Himself.
The end result of the ministry of Jesus was that He gave Himself for the sin of the world, and broke the power of sin. He did something which would allow Jan and her team to stand in front of soldiers, who have known nothing else by the power of a gun and a need to kill. If ever a situation had darkness brought light into it, that was one.
Maybe you think, "It's all very well reaching out across the nations. What about me?" This morning Jesus wants to speak to you.
Luke 9:57-58 (show/hide)

57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

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There's a place for foxes and birds to live, but the Son of Man ... where does He live?
Luke 9:59-60 (show/hide)

59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

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It's just as relevant to us, what God wants to do through your life in Brentwood as it is for other people who have gone to foreign countries. The bottom line is, "Whatever you want me to do, wherever you want me to go ..." I'm available for whatever you want to do in my life.
At this time, God is causing each one of us not only to examine the foundation of our life, but after that examination to move forward with what He wants us to do. The enemy of our souls wants to keep us so much in self-examination that we don't move forward. Jan says how now she sees that things in her past were a preparation.What has God done in your life to date?
For some of the people Jesus was talking to, they were attracted to Jesus – "I'll follow you wherever you go."
Luke 9:61-62 (show/hide)

61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

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"Family is where it's at. Let me sort this out, and then I'll follow you."
Once you've put your hand to the plough, and got underway, the only way you'll get a straight furrow is if you keep your eyes fixed on the destination. If you look back, you'll wander and go in different directions.
Last weekend and today we've heard God speaking to us. "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
This is what Jesus said. Let's remind ourselves of what He did.
John 12:26-27 (show/hide)

26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

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There's self examination if you want it! We tend to forget that when Jesus spoke of putting your hand to the plough, in His own life He worked it out. But His soul was troubled.
John 12:27 (show/hide)

27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

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There are some sitting here who think that their life is a treadmill, and they're trapped. The enemy is saying "All those years were wasted. It's time you got out of the treadmill." And the result is a paralysis.
Here we have Jesus talking about things. But by God's Holy Spirit, Jesus lives in us, and as a Christian I want to go forward fulfilling His purposes in my life.
The moment Jesus spoke these words, a voice came from heaven :-
John 12:27-33 (show/hide)

27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.

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Lifted up on a cross, giving His life so that the power of forgiveness reigns supreme – forgiveness for anyone who lives contrary to God's way, for anyone who, by sin, has wronged the living God.
God who, "gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Don't speak to me of a treadmill! It's a life going forward with joy to fulfil the works He has set before you. What is this idea of a treadmill, that the enemy of the soul has put in your minds?
Hebrews 12:1-2 (show/hide)

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

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We've looked at what Jesus said and did. The resurrection powerfully dealt with all the power of sin, in such a way that we live a different life. Let us lay aside every weight – sin. Let us lay aside every weight.
What causes some to feel burdened, to feel shackled, to be people looking forward in such a way that you don't know how you're going cope – "What's happening to me?" The enemy causes you to swirl about in your thoughts, and the end result is you do nothing.
Come on! Let us lay aside every weight. I'm not going to think that way. If you're running in a race you make sure there are no encumbrances.
What's our destination? Who are we looking at? We're looking to Jesus in the sense that He's the author and finisher of our faith. What does Jesus have for you to do in your life in Brentwood at this time?
Jesus Christ is the one whom we serve, love, with whom we are open and transparent, and it's Father's will in our life that we do this.
Is doing Father's will a treadmill? The complete opposite. Doing Father's will simply means we're open and sensitive to what God wants to do through us to make an impact in this earth. And it's as real in Brentwood as in Dafur.
The enemy would make you think that the wonderful things we've heard about don't happen here. "I've been so caught up with self-examination that I don't know the way forward." But here is the way forward :-
Hebrews 12:1-2 (show/hide)

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

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Later in chapter 12 we have this :-
Hebrews 12:25-27 (show/hide)

25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

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There's a shaking going on. And its purpose is to reveal the foundation of your life – Jesus Christ. I'm going to do what He thinks, fulfil His purpose. Things fall away until ...
Hebrews 12:28-29 (show/hide)

28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.

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The challenge of this morning from Jan, and from what we've just read, and from what we heard last week ... is that in our shaking we wake up to what God wants to do through us. And we'll fulfil His purpose and do what He wants and think the way He wants us to think.
He's a wonderful saviour, and He's been faithful to each one of us.
If you just look ... just close your eyes. Look inside, and just think to yourself how faithful God has been to you. Think back just for this moment at how careful He's been to bring you to this point in time when we can be free to say, "How faithful You have been to me. There hasn't been a day when You haven't been there. There hasn't been a time, even when I've felt washed up on a beach ... You've been faithful."
We thank You that we can acknowledge how faithful You've been and will be. We thank You for Your goodness to each one of us. I thank You that by the power of Your Holy Spirit, it doesn't matter who is here ...