What are you leaving behind?

(Gen12v1, Heb. 12:1)

Sermon by Bro. Afoke Ben Afenogho

21st February 2016

CHURCH OF CHRIST,

SANGOTEDO

People fail today because they don't want to leave their comfort zone or what they are so used to, they are scared of moving into new places, not letting go of what they term precious or what they are used to hence they fail to venture.

Natural laws has it that for a man to move to a higher level in life something dear has to go. Take for examples: a baby will leave d precious breast milk of the mother to eat sweet cereals, as the baby grows he abandons the sweet cereal for harsh foods with Pepper and bones, and must also leave the parents arms to go to school and one day leave them totally to have his own family. Given the choice most of us would have just loved to stay together with our parents, brothers and sisters,

we would have remained in our peaceful villages where there are no traffics jam, frustrations, high cost of living etc. as in Lagos, but you see for growth to come all these comforts are left behind.

In the scriptures, when God want to bless He ensures you leave that comfort zone of yours meanwhile some failed to achieve their quest by not willing to leave what they are used to: Abraham Gen 12v1-3 The widow in 1Kgs 17v7-16 Nicodemus Matt 19v21 Ananias and Sephira Act 5v1-11 Christians Ephesians 4v31, 1corinthians

15v33.

Successful people are always on the move, always taking new Ventures. Christ has to forsake His heavenly throne to suffer and die b4 going back to His glorious throne sitting at the Father's right hand. The term "God's right hand" in prophecy refers to the Messiah to whom is given the power and authority to subdue His enemies (Psalm 110:1; Psalm 118:16).

We wan go heaven but nobody wan die, even Christ has to die b4 ascending to heaven. Nature is always in the course of adventures e.g. if you pour water on the ground, it doesn't stay stagnant rather it flows into the earth or vaporizes into the atmosphere. A seed in the ground seeks to come to the surface and grow into a tree that blossom and multiply. For some animals such as snail, for growth to come to them, they must shed their skin, even humans must leave the sweet and nourishing milk of the mother's breast and try harsh and strong food.

For men to start a beautiful family, they must leave their own parents that they have known all their lives. The comfort zone is a very lovely zone but nothing grows there we must keep pressing forward as the future belong to those who presses on, pray until something happens.

Phil 3v1-16 Paul tells us to let go of past mistakes, achievements and glory and continue pressing forward. Never consider yourself to have reached the peak learning is forever same way growth and toils. There is too much waiting to be exploited by a daring person, dare to press on, dare to be with Christ and live for Him and with him, surrender to Christ and be baptized today and enjoy the beauty of moving forward into God's glorious Kingdom.

Moral lesson: For us to encounter growth, we must let go of something we hold precious.

Prov 4v23 to be able to decide what to leave behind be careful what goes into your mind.

Conclusion Regardless of your age, sex and

situation there are plenty of successful rooms that are left empty because people failed to push to occupy them both here and in God's Kingdom. Will you allow your own to be empty or will you fight to occupy it? What and who will you let to stand between you and that success? Live for Christ today, seek wisdom and understanding and push till nothing can stand between you and your goal.

Heb 12v1