Progressive Faith - Part 2

By faith Moses, when he was come to years (grew up), refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect for the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red sea as if by dry land: which the Egyptians attempting to do were drowned. —Heb. 11:24-29

This great story of how the Forward Faith of one man advanced an entire race of people, contains a series of steps that we all must take to advance ourselves and others into GOD’s promises...

continuing from Progressive Faith - Part 1

5. FORSAKING Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king

Progressive Faith begins with fearlessly Forsaking the things that resist what GOD is changing you into.

Phil. 3:8  ...for Jesus I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish IN ORDER that I may gain Christ,

Forsaking certain things at critical points in your life is absolutely necessary if you’re going to walk with Jesus.   There’s no Obtaining w/o Forsaking.  But these days we hear very little about Forsaking things to follow Jesus.  Religion has corrupted the idea of Forsaking the old for the new, and turned it into a symbolic gesture w/o any purpose.  No makeup for women, no meat on Friday, bald circles on monks’ heads, etc.  But Progressive Faith only Forsakes what it no longer needs.

When it’s time to become a butterfly the moth must Forsake crawling on branches.

For GOD to bring you into Mercy & Blessing you must FORSAKE unforgiveness. 

For GOD to bring you into into Divine Favor you must FORSAKE corruption.

For GOD to bring you into His perfect will you must FORSAKE all plans that oppose His Destination.

Rom. 12:1-2  And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.  Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. THEN you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

There are potential consequences to FORSAKING the things of the world.  Others will resent you and pull you back.   If you’re high-minded you’ll bring yourself down. 

In Progressive Faith the power of FORSAKING isn’t in what you’re turning from but what you’re turning to.

 

Dedication vs. Commitment

All Christians are Dedicated, but not all are Committed.  You can be simultaneously Dedicated to many things.  But you’re exclusively Committed to only one thing.  You can’t be Dedicated to 2 or more lovers and Committed to one spouse.   A pig and chicken open a restaurant called “Ham & Eggs”.  The chicken’s Dedicated but the pig’s Committed, because the pig FORSAKES everything for his Commitment but the chicken’s only Involved and free for other pursuits.  When David said, “One thing have I Desired and that also will I Seek…(Ps. 27:4)” he was saying I’m ADDING Commitment to my Dedication.   The difference between being Dedicated an being Committed is the difference between having Beliefs and having Faith.

As Christians we tend to think that our Dedication to believing in GOD’s promises is the Faith that will receive them.  But when we FORSAKE the reasons we’re NOT receiving, THEN we have Committed faith to the Promises we believe.   All church members are Dedicated, but the Committed ones are here, because they’ve FORSAKEN the reasons to stay home.  That’s Progressive Faith!   Dedication to what you believe is Sincerity.   Commitment to what you believe is Doing It.

Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will ACCOMPANY (FOLLOW NEAR), those who BELIEVE (i.e. are progressing): in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will LAY THEIR HANDS on the sick, and they will recover.”  Jesus didn’t say, “Those who believe in healing will…”

Not everything that Progressive Faith requires us to FORSAKE is sinful or wrong.  Sometimes we must FORSAKE good things in order to Commit to GOD’s special things.

You have to FORSAKE the boat before you can walk on water!