Transcription downloaded from https://sermons.cccharlotte.org/sermons/93544/progress-forward/.

Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions.
Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt.


[0:00] A pastor's reflections. Progress forward. John 5.8. Jesus said unto him, rise, take up your bed, and walk. Exodus 14.15. And the Lord said unto Moses, wherefore cry you unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward.

[0:20] Philippians 3.13. 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.

[0:35] The life of faith is like nothing else we will ever experience in this world. Not only do we have the opportunity to come into relationship with God as our Heavenly Father, we are then gifted with strength, life, and ability that only comes through the life of the Spirit.

[0:55] Through the Word, we come in contact with the One who changes our lives because He first gave His life. As remarkable as all of this is, and it is, we are also given something more. We are given a walk.

[1:11] The life that has been granted to us to live through faith is not a life that is meant to be stationary. The effect of the resurrection is not just a new life of faith, but a new and active life of faith.

[1:25] Romans 6.4. Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death. That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

[1:39] Our example is Jesus. The new life that Christ exhibited after His resurrection was a life of action, motion, and progress. Jesus did not just sit back and relax once His death, burial, and resurrection were accomplished.

[1:56] After He accomplished His work in this world, He then ascended to heaven, not to cease from work, but to still be working on our behalf.

[2:09] Romans 8.34. How then, should we live who have experienced the resurrected life of Christ in our lives?

[2:28] Should we be content to just rest in the past work of God? Have we been born again to simply sit stationary in our faith? No.

[2:40] God forbid. We have been born again so that we might live active lives of faith. God is at work in our lives. He is not stationary, and neither should we be.

[2:51] God has given us not only a new life, but a new walk. How foolish it would be for someone to have the ability to walk, but to never use that ability.

[3:03] Think of all of the things they would miss out on in their lives. It is just as foolish for we, who have been given a walk of faith, to never then use that faith for walking.

[3:15] Today, progress forward in all that God has for you. It's a beautiful day for walking. Father, thank you that in Christ we have a new life and a new walk.

[3:31] Thank you that in the Spirit we have a new strength and a new purpose. Help us to progress forward by faith into the wonderful life you have for us. A life of action, motion, and progress as we represent Jesus in this world.

[3:47]  Amen.