Keep On Moving Forward!
Transforming Truth from God’s Word
On April 10, 1960, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a power message to a Founder’s Day audience at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA. Dr. King’s message was entitled “Keep Moving from This Mountain.” He drew from Deuteronomy 1:6 where Moses is leading the children of Israel to Caanan, the Promised Land. The Lord God has used Moses to emancipate them from Egyptian slavery and he has led them by faith through the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea on dry land and released the waters to drown Pharaoh and the Egyptian army who were in hot pursuit of them. Moses had also slain kings of enemy nations: Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan. At this juncture, the Lord God spoke to Moses and gave him instructions to speak to ALL ISRAEL on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness. In Deuteronomy 1:6 he says, “The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: ‘You have dwelt long enough at this mountain’.”
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Dr. King identifies four symbolic mountains facing the people of that era: relativism, materialism, violence, and segregation. He stated that these mountains must be overcome “if we are to go forward in our world and if civilization is to survive.” The inspirational, yet convicting theme of his message to his audience and to us is: Keep Moving Forward! Do not stay where you are and miss the things God has in store for you.
Dr. King closed his message with this powerful truth:
“If you can’t fly, then run
If you can’t run, then walk
If you can’t walk, then crawl
But by all means, keep moving
Apostle Paul captures this truth in Philippians 3:13-14 when he challenges us and all believers with three actions that enabled him to keep moving forward.
- FOCUS – (v. 13 but this one thing I do) Concentrate on God alone…in His Presence, in Prayer, in the fullness of His Power and in Person!
2. FORGET things past – (v. 13 forgetting those things which are behind) develop the discipline of forgetting past hurts, failures, defeats,
frustrations, mistakes and the like. Allow the Holy Spirit to move you beyond “if I woulda, shouda, coulda”
3. Keep Moving FORWARD – (v. Press to reach the Goal to attain the Heavenly Prize of God’s Ultimate Highest Calling for you in Christ Jesus) See where God is leading you and pursue it with all diligence. It will take prayer commitment, perseverance, resolve and continued effort but press on, don’t stop and keep moving forward in Christ! Know that you ultimate prize is to be received in heaven by Jesus Christ, there to spend eternity in His presence forevermore.
Amen!
Philippians 3:13-14
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
A Psalm for Today
Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with My eye on you, I will give counsel.
God’s Promises for Today
Deuteronomy 1:6
The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: ‘You have dwelt long enough at this mountain.
Your Points of Prayer
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Keep moving towards God and you will ALWAYS be moving in the right direction!