Volume 1, Issue 8 Regaining Spiritual Momentum

Momentum is the force or speed of movement that carries an object to its final destination. Sometimes in our spiritual walk we lose our speed of movement and find ourselves headed to a destination off of the path of our final destination. How did I get here? you may ask yourself. Honestly, sometimes we may not even remember where we lost our momentum! But let us do a self-check! Maybe you got really busy, discouraged or just plain distracted and stopped spending time with God. Perhaps you entered a bad relationship or compromised your integrity by ignoring a standard that should have been set in stone. Could you possibly stopped walking by faith and started trying to figure things out by sight; making decisions without consulting God? Did God prompt you to take a step of faith to which you said NO and your life has come to a screeching halt because of disobedience? Or did someone mistreat you and now you are bitter and wont forgive them? Whatever the situation we cant keep going through the motions, but we must refocus in order to regain our spiritual momentum. When I begin pondering the lost

November 2013
of spiritual momentum my mind goes to the story of Jesus walking on the water (Matthew 14:2233). The disciples had seen the wondrous works of Jesus they had just actually witness Jesus feeding the 5000. Then the momentum killer (the storm) comes! The disciples are terrified. Even though the disciples had spent much time with Jesus, they failed to recognize Him in the storm. Sometimes we dont recognize the Lord when he is in the middle of our situations. But bold Peter replies, Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water. So Jesus invites Peter to come. Peter gets out of the boat and begins walking on the water toward Jesus. But when Peter takes his eyes off Jesus and sees the wind and waves, he loses momentum and he begins to sink. But Peter is wise enough and cries out to the Lord and Jesus immediately reaches out his hand and catches Peter. Taking your eyes off Jesus, and focusing on the other things will cause you to lose spiritual momentum. But when you cry out to Jesus, he catches your by the hand and pulls you above your seemingly impossible surroundings. Peter started out with good intentions, but his faith faltered and he ended up in a messy situation. This did not, however, end up in failure. Peter, even in his fear, cried out to the Lord, the only one who can help him. When we allow Jesus in our boat, the storm ceases (our situations and mindsets will change). The storms of life will be calmed and we can worship Him. In conclusion, loss spiritual momentum is not inconsequential. It leaves you in a place of depletion. Spiritual momentum is regained when you place your attention back on God with a willingness to replace your agenda for His agenda. So lets get back on track and Regain Your Spiritual Momentum! Food for Thought: DONT THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH SPIRITUAL MOMENTUM YOU HAVE LOST AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST. I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten. Joel 2:25 God wants to restore His power in your life! God wants you to know that how things have been is not how things have to continue to be. Min Nila ford

When a person does not have faith, he/she lacks both true hope and the evidence of that Right before the Great Commis- hope. And in a court of law, withsion was spoken to the disciples, out the evidence (testimony) I noticed that some of them there is no case. doubted Him still (Matt 28:17). After seeing and witnessing all The believer who longs to bethat Jesus was on earth, some come a disciple MUST not only still did not fully believe. They have faith, but live by it. Faith is doubted His promise of being practical and foundational for resurrected. I guess for the most the disciple. You have to believe part, the first step in being a dis- 1st that HE IS. ciple of Jesus is having faith and That can only happen through believing on Him without doubt- faith. Thats why in the next ing. The Bible declares in Heverse, 3, the Word declares that brews 11: 6 that without faith it we understand things that are is impossible to please Him, for seen by faith. So faith is first. he who comes to God must beFirst you have to believe that HE lieve that He is, and that He is a IS and that he is a rewarder of rewarder of those who diligently those who diligently seek HIM. seek Him. Secondly, the disciple of Christ Without faith Well what does it must apply his faith and put it in action. WE have promises that mean to be without faith? Earare declared by God. On the lier, in Hebrews 11:1, the Word states that NOW FAITH IS (right promises, we increase our faith in God. If God never made promnow, in the present). IS means ises to His people, how much this is the meaning of faith. THE faith do you think we would SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED have? So we have faith 1st to FOR: This implies that you dont believe that God IS, and what have the manifestation of the comes next? A PROMISE!! He IS things yet. If you did have those a rewarder of those that dilithings, you wouldnt need faith. gently seek Him!! How do we So it is the reality (the realness, know this? Lets go back to the actualization in the Spirit realm) evidence or the testimony of it of the unseen. The hope comes all. God is a promise keeper! If we go through the history debefore. THE EVIDENCE OF scribed in Hebrews 11, we can THINGS NOT SEEN: This implies see clearly the evidence on that faith is the testimony which our faith stands upon (evidence) of things unseen. The through Apostle Pauls examples evidence comes after. of Godly people.

Making disciples Matthew 28:18

Heres a roadmap for our faith walk: Hearing the Word (Exposure) Examples in the Word (Identification) Believing the Word (Acceptance by Faith) Obeying the Word (Application) Letting the Word Transform You (Supernatural Change and Growth) Transferring the Word (Impacting others, making disciples) Min. David Simmons

Recurring Events Care Group Fellowship in small groups 5:00 pm Every 3rd Sunday

A2 Fundraiser Supporting and empowering our youth Last Sunday Every Month After Service