This post is based on a message from Pastor Todd Cosenza, given at Hope Church on Sunday, January 7, 2024. Click the link at the bottom of the page to watch the entire message.
Let’s review some of the points from last week’s message — Forward, Part 1:
- 2023 was a year of simply standing firm for many people. (See Ephesians 6:13b-14a — “ . . . so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then . . . “) Many in the Body of Christ had to simply take our stand against the devil’s schemes. The enemy intended to rob us and destroy many in our church family. 2023 was a year of defending what God had already given us, not a year of advancing. Not every season is one of advancement, and that’s ok.
- 2024 is going to be a different season. It will be a season of not just taking a stand but moving forward in God. God shifts the seasons of our life not based on what we’re going through but what He’s declaring in heaven. It’s time for us as a body to move forward.
Today let’s look at a scene from the life of Abraham (Abram) in Genesis 15, where we will learn several important lessons about moving forward.
Lesson 1:
God wants us to have a clear understanding of who He is — and not be “afraid” of Him.
“After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.’” (Genesis 15:1 NIV)
From the start, God’s priority was reminding Abram who God is. Abram was not walking in a healthy fear of the Lord; he was merely afraid of God. Whatever we fear we tend to avoid. God is saying, “I’m not the one you should be afraid of and run from! I’m the one who protects you! I am your great reward!”
This important shift in our heart must happen before there can be forward movement. God wants to bring correction to our perception where it’s needed. He wants to enlarge our understanding of who He is, though in this life we will never have a full revelation of who He truly is. We see Jesus doing this same thing with a few of his disciples in Matthew 17. He revealed His glory to Peter, James, and John in a special encounter (on the “mount of transfiguration”) because He needed to move them forward to prepare them for the birth the Church.
Lesson 2:
Any lack we’ve experienced in the past is not God’s fault.
“But Abram said, ‘Sovereign Lord, what can You give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?’ And Abram said, ‘You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.’” (Genesis 15:2-3)
Abram answered God with a soft accusation: “The reason I am childless is that You have given me no children. This predicament is really Your fault, God.” In order for us to move forward, we must understand that it’s not God’s fault we have any lack. He’s the one who is our shield. He is our reward. He is the one we go to for what we need. As long as we blame Him for our lack we can’t receive His blessing.
Lesson 3:
Natural solutions to our problems will not always work.
“Then the word of the Lord came to him: ‘This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.’” (Genesis 15:4)
In essence, God’s response to Abram is, “I understand you have a natural problem (you have no heir). And you’ve put together a natural solution to your natural problem (letting your servant Eliezer be your heir). But as the Lord and God of your life, I have the right to foil your natural solution, because a natural solution isn’t what you need. What you need is a supernatural solution. A natural solution might help you feel better for a moment but it won’t deal with your real problem at the root.”
We need to acknowledge that God has the only solution to our real problem. We need to realize that our peace is found only in letting go of our own solution and allowing Him to move. God is not going to move in a situation supernaturally when we are controlling it in our flesh. We must take our hands off and trust Him, that He is working out a bigger purpose.
Lesson 4:
God usually has a greater purpose for meeting our need than simply helping us accomplish our goals — tapping into that greater purpose is important in order to move forward.
“He took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the sky and count the stars — if indeed you can count them.’ Then He said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:5-6)
The word “offspring” literally means “seed.” God designed the world with multiplication in mind. Seeds cause created things to multiply. God planned to multiply Abram’s offspring/seed far beyond what he could ever imagine. God could not move Abram forward with his limited view and request: “I just want one son so I can give him my stuff when I die.” God had to increase his thinking and expand his faith so he would be able to receive the massive fullness of the promise God had for him. God didn’t want to just bless him alone; God wanted to bless the entire world and all future generations through him.
This is not just about you getting the one small thing you’re asking God for. There is mystery around it, but we must learn to align our desires with God’s. When we’re aligned with God and we see the greater purpose for the blessing, God releases the blessing and we are able to receive the blessing.
We need to seek the Lord for the greater purpose behind the blessing we’re praying for. Here’s an example of how to pray: “Lord, You know my need. I’m asking You, please show me the greater purpose for why You’ve given me this desire. I want to align my faith for what’s on Your heart.” This is how we increase the capacity of our faith. By allowing God to expand our perspective and our faith, we’re prioritizing what God wants over what we want. God is moving us forward for a greater purpose.
Lesson 5:
When God gives us something, we must take steps to possess it.
“He also said to him, ‘I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.’” (Genesis 15:7)
First God told Abram he’d have multiple descendants; now He’s telling him he’s going to inherit a land. Listen to the progression God describes:
“I’m going to give you this land,
[for you] to take possession of it.”
When God is releasing something to us, there are steps we must take to take possession of it. Receiving from God is not just passive. We have to know how to step forward in faith. We have to engage our faith for what He’s giving us. We have to discern when He’s releasing something new so we’re prepared to actively receive it. Sometimes it involves us choosing to give even when we’re in need, talking with someone who intimidates us, or taking other specific steps of obedience. With every blessing, God gives us instruction on how to possess it.
Moving forward always involves taking steps. We simply won’t move forward in the Lord if we don’t take a step. All steps involve risk, so let’s be led by the Holy Spirit. Let’s endeavor to keep in step with God as He moves us forward this year.
Be sure to check out the first part of this 2-part series here — Forward, Part 1.
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