HARRISBURG FIRST CHURCH OF GOD

www.harrisburgfirstchurch.org

March/April Newsletter Article

40 DAYS OF PRAYER

During the Lenten season, we are asking every person in our congregation to be in prayer regarding the future of the Harrisburg First Church of God.  On February 14, our Eastern Regional Director, Dr. Kevin Richardson, spoke at our service and challenged us with the scripture Exodus 14:10-22.  This particular passage of scripture talks about God telling Moses to move his people FORWARD.  We need to apply that scripture to our church as well.  The church has been struggling for some time now financially and God is asking us to pray, pray, and pray, so that we can MOVE FORWARD.

The apostle Paul understood this principle when he said in Philippines 3:13 (TLB) ¹³ No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.  Paul knew that the only way to progress in his walk with the Lord was by moving forward!

In Joshua 3, the children of Israel came to another obstacle in their lives when they found themselves at the brink of the water on the Jordan River.  What did God tell them to do?  GO FORWARD!  God again split the waters.

The Lord continuously allowed obstacle after obstacle to come before Israel and yet demanded they MOVE FORWARD.

We will never accomplish some things naturally.  It will always take God to bring about the victory.  But God demands obedience from us.  Obedience to “MOVE FORWARD!”  WE MUST expect obstacles and resistance but we cannot turn back.  So God’s Word for us is simple "MOVE FORWARD."

The victory may come in 1 day, 1 phone call, 1 letter, 1 month, maybe even in 1 year.  But if we give up, we won’t get it.  We have to continue to “MOVE FORWARD!”

Sometimes God delays His answers to test us.  The time between when the promise is given and when the promise is fulfilled seems like a wilderness experience.  And there is only one way to survive the wilderness – MOVE FORWARD!  There is only one way to move in the Kingdom and that is to MOVE FORWARD!  When we MOVE FORWARD the Lord will open the door!

Friends, keep walking in the last word God gave you until you receive another word.  And remember that your success depends upon your desire to MOVE FORWARD!

We must MOVE FORWARD!  As a church we must MOVE FORWARD!  As individuals we must MOVE FORWARD!

Folks, WE ARE NOT THROUGH!  Listen to God’s direction for the will of our church…His church…and let us MOVE FORWARD!

I have prepared a devotional for you to use titled Walking with Jesus which are located in the back of the sanctuary.  Use this to help you with your prayer time.  As a church, after Easter we will be holding a “What Has God Been Saying?” meeting and making a decision about the future of Harrisburg First Church of God.  Pray that God’s will is revealed.

There can NEVER be a time or place in our lives that we stop MOVING FORWARD!

If you have any questions, feel free to call me at 717-236-8562 or email me at pastorwayne@harrisburgfirstchurch.org

Pastor Wayne

Harrisburg First Church of God, 15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg, PA 17101 - 717-236-8562