NJ - Press On (KEEP MOVING FORWARD)

WELCOME:

Good morning and welcome to Oasis Church, Happy New Year! I am so glad you have made it here today, to expirience the amazing presance of God in the place. Welcome to our brothers and sisters from our Oasis Church Moura and our online family, it is great to have you join with us today. If you are visiting with us, we welcome you and look forward to chatting with you after our service.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

As of next week we will be back to our normal service times with morning tea (I ecourage you to catch up for a coffee with someone)

Thank you to all those who have served on team last year, We look forward to serving with you this year 2023.

We will be having communion together as part of our service next week.

Over the past weeks we have heard from a number of our pastors and leaders on the theme: Jesus The Way, The Truth and the Life

Rachel - Follow Jesus, He is the way

Wellington - I AM

Nathan - WE ARE A HOSPITAL, WE ARE A FAMILY AND WE ARE IN AN ARMY - Not on a PLAN B

Nathan - KNOW THE TRUTH - IT WILL SET YOU FREE

Derrin - JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE

Josh - SURRENDER YOUR WILL

Rachel - UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN

If you have not heard one or some of these messages you can go to our Youtube chennel via our web page and watch them there.

I have titled my message: Press On (KEEP MOVING FORWARD)

LETS PRAY:

Father we love you and thank you for who you are, we ask that you speak to us day through your word, we open our hearts and lives, praying that you have your way in us. Bless your people today in Jesus name Amen.

Will you open your bibles with me this morning?

Philippians 3:12–16 NLT

12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. 15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. 16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.

The apostle Paul challenged himself and all Christians to keep moving forward in the Christian walk of faith:

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead

I encourage you press on, don’t look back

It is a NEW YEAR (FOCUS FORWARD)(GET INVOLVED, GET CONNECTED)

There is something about being in a family and doing life together

we encourage each other hold each other up

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 NKJV

9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

When Paul stated that he was "forgetting those things which are behind," he meant that he was not thinking about old friendships, memories, mistakes, temptations, or anything else that would divert his attention from "the upward call of God in Christ."

To inspire his audience, Paul drew on the image of an athlete running a race with uncompromising determination to reach the finish line and win the prize.

The New Living Translation renders the passage like this: “I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

This gives us a clear visual, that we should keep moving forward.

“Forgetting what is behind” is Paul’s way of saying,

“Don’t look back!

Stop dwelling on the past.

Don’t let anything behind you interfere with your present progress or future efforts.”

Personal growth as a believer was a constant priority in Paul’s life. He strained with every fiber of his being to keep moving forward to win the prize for which God had called him.

Question: Do you prioritise personal growth in your life? (I encourage you to do so)

Psalm 18:32–36 NKJV

32 It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect. 33 He makes my feet like the feet of deer, And sets me on my high places. 34 He teaches my hands to make war, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great. 36 You enlarged my path under me, So my feet did not slip.

God helps us and gives us the strength we need to keep moving forward in Christ Jesus

(WORSHIP TEAM)

Proverbs 16:9 NKJV

9 A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

In spending time and talking with God, seeking His plan for us as a church moving forward, this is what I see:

I SEE THAT WE ARE:

A church that is thriving in Gods love and call

A church that is healthy and growing

A church that is a family where everyone belongs

A church that sees people saved, healed and whole

A church that is a praying church

A church that is reaching its community

A church where people can and are walking in the fullness of Gods call on their life

A church where people encounter the Spirit of God, encounter the presence of God and encounter the power of God (You shall receive power)

A church that has room for more peopel to come and meet Jesus

A church where people are being discipled and are maturing in Jesus

A church where there is unity and Gods blessing is being poured out on all

Can you see it?