Faith EnergizersSample

LESSON 16

Go Forward - God's Direction for Your Life

Everybody wants to know what to do when they are facing adversity or a seemingly impossible situation. Many times the situation may look hopeless, but we shouldn’t be ready to accept defeat when defeat is not inevitable.

Moses was faced with what appeared to be a hopeless situation. The Bible tells us in the 14th chapter of Exodus that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he would follow after Moses and the over two million children of Israel. Pharaoh made ready his chariot and took 50 chosen chariots and captains of the Egyptian army and pursued the children of Israel who were sojourning through the wilderness out of the land of Egypt.

10And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. 11And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? 12Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

Exodus 14:10-12

These people were very easily discouraged. As long as God was doing great things, they had a song in their heart, but as soon as adversity came, they forgot about God’s miracles and began to murmur and complain. Even though it looked as if it was all over for the children of Israel, God proved that defeat was not inevitable. He told them to “GO FORWARD.”

Many times, all it takes is a negative word from someone or a little symptom, and you are ready to accept defeat. Do you know that most people give up because of thoughts that come to their minds before they ever take action? Have you ever prayed about a pain in your left side, only to find that when you finished praying, it had spread to the right side, too?

Sometimes, I feel like I can’t stand it any longer. I have had situations in my life where it looked like Pharaoh’s army was behind me, and the Red Sea was in front of me. I’ve said, “God, what am I going to do?” He said, “Son, there is only one thing to do. GO FORWARD.”

People often give up too soon. If they would have just held on a little bit longer, the manifestation would have come. Many give up just before crossing the finish line. All it would take is a little more fortitude and endurance, and it would be over. I would rather go forward with God than to compromise and go backwards with the devil. We have come too far to go in reverse.

I was a long-distance runner in high school, and I remember there was one boy on our track team who was the fastest mile runner in our school. We were going to an invitational track meet, but only the two fastest runners were allowed to go from every school. We were running at practice one day, and I was outrunning him. I only had a few yards left before the finish line when I turned my head back to see where he was and suddenly lost my footing.

I tumbled embarrassingly in the cinders and didn’t cross the finish line. The slowest runner on the team beat me that day because I looked back.

Every long-distance runner knows that in order to finish the race, he must pace himself throughout the distance of the race. Christianity is not a 100-yard dash. We are in an endurance race, and we cannot look back.

The children of Israel looked backward. They knew if they went back, they were sure to die. God told them to “GO FORWARD,” and when they stepped into the Red Sea, the water rolled away, and they crossed over. Just because you have adversity all around you doesn’t mean it is over. Are you defeat-minded? Are you ready to think the worst before you think the best when faced with a dilemma? Success and defeat hinge upon how you look at and react to adversity.

Moses did not have a pity party when he was faced with an obstacle. He didn’t throw in the towel and call it quits. He had Pharaoh’s army behind him and the Red Sea in front of him. It looked as if they would be killed, but God said, “GO FORWARD,” and Moses listened to God.

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

Exodus 14:13

Even psychiatrists agree that man is not born with fear. If he is not born with it, and God does not give it to him, then how does fear come? Man has to be trained and taught how to fear. It is developed over the years until it becomes a natural reaction to adversity. Certainly, you have heard someone say, “I have developed a fear of flying. "Most of the people who are afraid of flying have never been up in an airplane. Satan implanted the fear in their minds, and they accepted it as final authority.

God says that your faith will overcome the world. Don’t accept defeat just because of the way circumstances look. Paul said in Ephesians 6:13-14 and having done all, to stand. STAND. The Phillips translation says it this way: And when you have fought to a standstill, stand your ground.

There, on the bank of the Red Sea, the people of Israel watched Pharaoh’s army drown as the waters came together. It was a great victory. Soon after that, however, the children of Israel were ready to accept defeat once again.

And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

Exodus 16: 3

After every major victory in your life, there will come a Red Sea. God delivered the children of Israel from the hand of Pharaoh only to face hunger. Some people have the idea that one of these days, God will deliver us from our problems and that we won’t have any more problems ever again. The only way you are going to be set free from ever having a problem is if you leave this planet and go to heaven. As long as you are here, you are going to face obstacles in life.

13Brethren, 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, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14

Paul was determined to go forward. The word press indicates that it might not be easy getting there, but he was determined to attain that goal. We need to reach forward to attain the vision and goals that God has set forth in our lives. God’s plan for you is victory, not defeat!

Bad memories of the past keep a lot of believers from going forward. You cannot hang on to memories of the past. If you dwell on your failures, you will always be pulled back into defeat. Don’t give up because of one bad experience. Jesus didn’t give up because He wasn’t accepted in His hometown. He had started His ministry (Luke 4), and after preaching a sermon to His neighbors, the people of Nazareth sought to kill Him by throwing Him over a cliff. But He did not let that bad experience stop His ministry. He walked through the crowd and went on to Capernaum, where the people loved Him. After He preached there, they begged Him to stay.

God wants us to continue moving forward regardless of our bad experiences or good experiences. If you have a bad experience, shake it off and move on; if you have a good one, praise God for it and keep GOING FORWARD!