Move Forward Now
Christians were designed to move forward in their faith but many people are stuck because they keep looking back.
In a sermon titled, “You will move forward now,” Pastor Mike Signorelli singled out three key reasons why Christians do not progress. There is great importance in being distinct, believers are encouraged to influence the world rather than conforming to it.
Curiosity
The first point highlighted is curiosity. Lot's wife is the only woman Jesus explicitly commands us to remember (Luke 17:32). God commanded Lot and his family to leave from a sin-riddled Sodom and Gomorrah and specifically asked them not to look back (Genesis 19:15–26). Lot’s wife, in her curiosity, looked back and lost her life because she was turned into a pillar of salt. Her curiosity caused her to disobey God and it cost her everything.
Believers are to prioritize Jesus over conforming to the world. Pastor Mike stressed that if Jesus is not “first in our lives, He is last.” The need for genuine devotion rather than superficial adherence to Christian principles will cause you to put God first and above even your own fleshly desire to be curious about sin. In many churches today, people attend to grow their businesses or because of marital pressure and while those are not wrong ambitions, true commitment to Jesus is what God wants from His Children. A follower of Jesus should become the body and bride of Christ through genuine fellowship and sacrifice, rather than treating church as a mere source of personal gain.
Comfort
Another reason people do not move forward is because they are stuck in their comfort. Pastor Mike redefined comfort as attachment. The V1 Church leader called for the detachment from things that hold us back spiritually. Using the example of smoking, he said comfort is a lot like a cigarette. Smoking rapidly increases your heart rate while also providing the illusion of calming the smoker down. Like cigarettes the devil likewise pretends to simultaneously comfort and harm his victims.
Nostalgia is the born again person's enemy. Staying in a toxic place because of what you know, is a trap of the enemy. Lot's wife looked back perhaps because nostalgia and an attachment to her past but being yoked to your past can hinder your progress. Break free from unhealthy ties to the past. Many people stay in toxic situations due to attachments that they can not break free from. Christ gives us power and authority to cut off ties with the past and press forward, as the Apostle Paul discusses in (Philippians 3:14).
Conformity
Conformity is a lot like people-pleasing. So many Christians are held back because they continue to conform to worldly standards. Christians are to stand firm in their faith and avoid compromising their beliefs by wanting to be liked by the world. Like salt we are to be potent, influencing our environment rather than conforming to it.
Jesus’ call for His followers to be salt of the earth, which holds a very big significance. The chemical properties of salt should be viewed by its symbolic meaning of attracting truth and exposing lies. Christians need to keep their “saltiness” to remain effective in spreading the truth and fulfilling God's purpose in the world. Speaking the truth will lead to both rejection and liberation. Christians are to be courageous in proclaiming God's word. Pastor Mike shares his experiences of people getting free from identity and sexuality issues through the truth proclaimed in His church.
Since the beginning of time God has wanted to be in salt covenant with His people. “Whatever is set aside from the holy offerings the Israelites present to the Lord, I give to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the Lord for both you and your offspring.” – Numbers 18:19. There must be salt in our sacrifices otherwise we are doing everything we do just for ourselves.
The way you live your life in God will provoke others to either repent or reject God. Believers must stay away from lukewarm faith. Christ is coming back for a true, uncompromised church, and those living a distinct and holy life. True commitment involves laying down one's life for the cause, very similar to the covenant of marriage. Embrace God's purpose and move forward despite challenges, break ties with the past and strengthen your commitment to God's call today so that you can move forward.
About the Author
Jeannie Ortega Law is a chart-topping singer, evangelist, media personality and author from New York City. She can be reached on social media: @JeannieOrtega or emailed at Info@JeannieO.com
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