MOVE ON, DON’T LOOK BACK
Memory Verse: “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” (Philippians 3:13).
Introduction: Many Christians find themselves looking back, with longing to their old lives, forgetting the misery that went along with them.
They see their new lives in Christ as merely enduring until they go to heaven. Constantly looking back to past life, renders us worthy of life in Christ.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOOK BACK?
1. TO LOOK BACK MEANS TO BE DISTRACTED
2. IT MEANS TO GO BACK TO ONES VOMIT
3. IT MEANS TO LOOSE FOCUS
4. IT MEANS TO DERAIL
5. IT MEANS TO GIVE UP
CAUSES OF LOOKING BACK:
a. Hopelessness
b. Fear of the unknown
c. Tiredness
d. Wrong desires
e. Negative talking
f. Inferiority complex
g. Lack of self-discipline
h. Wrong friendship/companion
Biblical Examples of those who Looked Back:
DEMAS: He was a privileged minister who worked directly with Paul. He mistakenly hung on to his past life. He fell because he looked back (2 Tim. 4:10).
The sin that disqualified Demas was his Love for this present world. His final actions proved that he never stopped looking back.
LOT’S WIFE: (Genesis 19:26) she looked back longingly to the “good” times in Sodom, after they were commanded to run and never to look back.
ALEXANDER THE COPPERSMITH (2Timothy 4:14-15): He was one of the disciples under Paul’s ministry. He became antagonistic to the gospel and to Paul. And strongly opposed the message. He did Paul much harm.
Say this prayer Loud and Clear: Oh God, may I not become an opposition to your word (the gospel of Christ) and to the ministry of my man of God!
You Can Avoid Looking Back:
Keep pressing On: If you don’t press on, you could be pressed down. Press towards the mark of the high calling of Christ. (Hebrews 5:12, 6:2).
Be desperate for God: Have a high tension hunger for His presence; a desperation for His seeable presence (Psalm 42:1-2). Desperate causes you to long for God. It helps you to inquire in His presence (Psalm 27:4), pursue life diligently and persistently. It creates the miraculous –the woman with the issue of blood. Jacob said “I will not let you go, unless you bless me”.
Desperation helps you to reject what is not relevant to your destiny:
Mordecai rejected clothing from Esther. He was desperate for freedom and equity. (Esther 4:3-4).
Divine Location: This is a place God can locate you for the blessing. When Divinity condescends to rub minds with humanity, we call it visitation. God does not visit at random.
There is always a place for such visitation (Exodus 3:1-10, Luke 19). The Lame man at the Beautiful Gate, was where Divinity could locate him (Acts 3).
Be addicted to the word of God: Study it earnestly. The word of God will keep you focus and balance. Psalm 119:130.
Don’t despise what you have presently: Your home may not look like what you expect. Be proud of what and where you are. It is sheer waste of energy to worry about what you cannot solve.
Channel the challenge to God in prayers. There are things you cannot do for yourself. Calculate what you have and keep hope on God for more.
Remember how you started with God. Remember where and how He picked you up. Don’t forget too soon. Refuse to be an ingrate. Always remember how God helps you out of challenges.
Conclusion: Look ahead. Set your affection more interesting and this makes life more interesting and exciting. More so it makes the journey easy, accompanied with regular blessings.
Personal Spiritual Development: Read Psalm 42. Study and meditate on the verses. Ask God for fresh hunger for Him every day.
