PROVERBS 4:18; EXODUS 14:15-16; DEUTERONOMY 1:6-8
INTRODUCTION
Stagnation is the major cause of frustration and concerns in many lives today. You may see a very hard working man, laboring twelve hours or more daily for several years, yet he has nothing to show for it.
No rewards; no change! Many people have come to a standstill in several areas of their lives. Others are plagued with ‘slow motion;’ promotions and breakthroughs come for them at intervals of several years!
Lack of progress or stagnation is an evil device that is intended to keep people from accessing their glorious destinies in God.
But, I am glad to let you know that God’s will for you is progress.
God is anti-stagnation. He is against everything that is opposed to His program for your life. When the children of Israel came out of Egypt after four hundred years of bondage, the Egyptians pursued after them and they found themselves between the Red Sea in front and the Egyptian army behind. They were stranded between these two dangers so they lifted up their voices and wept. But God said to Moses,Exodus 14:15
1. THE WEIGHT OF OUR MINDS – Prov. 23:7; Num. 13:33 The mind is where the foundation for progress is laid. The state of your mind is what makes the principles and strategies for progress to produce unending results.
To make appreciable progress in life, you must think the thought of God and see ourselves through His eyes.
You must have a correct mindset because your mindset is ‘your life set’
“For as he thinks in his heart, so he is.” Prov. 23:7
2. THE WEIGHT OF OUR MEMORIES – Phil. 3:13
Our memories, either good or bad can be a weight that will not allow for our progress.
Hanging on to good memories keep us from walking into new things; while bad memories can paralyze or imprison us!
3. THE WEIGHT OF CONFUSION – Ps. 71:1
Confusion is lack of clarity.
A confuse man has no sense of direction, hence, no progress in view.
God is not the author of confusion – 1 Cor. 14:33
David cried to God in prayer, “…let me never be put to confusion.”
It is a weapon in the hand of Satan to keep a man on the same spot. Make him stagnant!
4. THE WEIGHT OF COMFORT ZONE – Amos 6:1
Those who are satisfied with the present level cannot see the glory of the next level.
Progress is far to those who feel okay at zion.
Your present achievements should be a pointer to move you to higher ground.
Just keep moving and moving and moving and moving…
5. THE WEIGHT OF YOUR MOUTH–Num. 14:26-30
Your mouth is a gateway to your destiny and by extension your progress.
When a man does not know how to use his mouth positively, then he cannot enjoy notable progress.
Always say good things to your life inspite of the present situation and circumstances.
Jabez earned his name as a result of the pronouncement of the mother due to her situation.
6. THE WEIGHT OF SIN – Heb. 12:1
You must take care of the weight of sin in order to move forward in life.
The weight of sin keeps a man on the same spot for long until it is removed.
Different kinds of sin – prayerlessness, backbiting, fornication, lies, adultery, stumbling block to the way of others, drunkenness, living a couple’s life without proper marriage, cheating, doing illegal business, taking hard drugs, etc.
You must come out of them if you will enjoy progress in every facet of your life.
From the Altar of Sanders Memorial Baptist Church, Iree, Osun State Nigeria.
Copyright: Pastor Adekunle Adeyemi
Sunday May 1, 2016.
Church Pastor.