Dec

Don’t Step Back, Step Forward

Current Mood: Blessed & Delivered & Filled with Praise!!!

Oh Magnify the Lord with me let us exalt his name together! God is a good God who is worthy to be praised! I give him thanks for his goodness and his mercy. As you know, we celebrated SGOM Internatioan’s 1st year Anniversary on Saturday with Dinner and a movie fellowship “The Blind side” at Kempsville Cinema Café. Which by the way was a wonderful movie. The climax of the anniversary was on Sunday morning with family and friends day as our beautiful, anointed, but most importantly “Appointed” Pastor stepped forth with the anniversary message “Don’t Step Back, Step Forward.” Let me tell you that if you were not there, you missed a treat. I just don’t know what to say…. Except be there next time. I could hardly write down the notes as the anointed word went forth out of Pastor Christina’s mouth. Her message came from Genesis 50:15-21. Speaking on the life of Joseph, she began to tell us how life is full of stumbling blocks and set backs, but God has given us dreams that has been formed within us since the foundation of the world. Satan hates the plan that God has destined in our lives and he tries his best to put set backs in our way. When the enemy brings a set back in our life, we must resist the temptation to step back, and step forward. Joseph was the son of Rachel and Jacob. Jacob favored Joseph over the other brothers… this was a set back. Although Joseph was gifted in interpreting dreams, the favoritism made him overly confident. The brothers hated Joseph because he was the favorite. What ever you do parents’ don’t choose favorites with your children. It will cause enmity between them. Treat all your children the same.
Josephs hardships :
1. Betrayed or deserted by his family.- Joseph was sold by his brothers. They talked about him, they did not have his back. How many of you have been betrayed by family members or deserted by those who said they loved you.
2. He was faced with sexual sin- When he was faced with the temptation of sleeping with his boss’s wife, he ran! He feared God more than he feared man. Sometimes we need to run when temptation is approaching.
3. He was imprisoned- There are times when Satan will try to trap us and imprison us. Locking us up into situations that will delay our destiny.
4. He was forgotten- Those that Joseph helped had forgotten him, but regardless of them forgetting to help him, he continued using his gifts. He continued to interpret dreams. Keep working your gift even when it seems that you are forgotten. When it looks like you are at your lowest point. God will set you free.
Joseph could have complained about what God had allowed to happen in his life, but he did not allow the set backs to cause him to step backwards he kept moving forward. He was transformed in to moving forward.. We may say, “Why me Lord” and God says “Why not you?” Pastor Christina began to remind us that even when the set backs come in our lives, and they will come, we cannot allow ourselves to go backwards we must go forward. If God is for us he is more than the whole world against us. He is our banner! God will not put any more on us than we can bear. You see the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost sit together and take counsel about your situation. He is working everything together for our good. No matter what we are dealing with. Joseph could have harmed his brothers or took revenge out on his brothers because of what they did to him. But God took the revenge out of Joseph’s heart. He gave him compassion. Joseph turned that thing around and said if you had not thrown me in the pit I may not have made it. What the devil meant for harm, God turned it around for good (Gen 50:20). Listen saints; If it was not for your problem, you may have procrastinated on your purpose. God is here to help you. Look to the hills from whence cometh your help when you are faced with a set back. Your help, Your strength, your fortitude comes from the Lord. He has invested in you a great work. And He who has begun a good work in you is faithful to complete it. God will finish his assignment.(Romans 8:28) It’s working for your good. When we are faced with set backs there are times when we must be put back on the potters wheel. We may have a crack and need a sprinkle of water to soften us up. The water is the Holy ghost. We must allow God to spin us on the wheel and detect all the cracks even as little as a hair line fracture, so that he may mold us and make us better. He will fix it.
Set backs are put in our lives for 3 reasons:
1. To stop you.
2. To shift your focus.
3. Stepping stones.
What every the set back in your life. Don’t let it stop you, keep moving. Keep your focus on your purpose and use that set back as a stepping to set forward and defeat the enemy. Be encouraged my brother, be encouraged my sister. Jesus has your Victory! Is there anything too hard for God? Don’t Step Back, Step Forward!