Maintaining Momentum


By Aubrey L. Jayroe



Everyone knows that when you are playing in a game, the momentum is very important. You may be the underdog, but if the momentum is in your favor, there can be enough emotion and energy displayed to overcome any opponent.

Momentum is defined as "the impetus of or as of a moving object". It is the continual movement of something in motion. In our walk with God we need to understand there is a spiritual momentum that needs detection by the Christian. There are times when God moves, and too often we enjoy that particular time, then slow down or become at ease. The fact is we need to carry on! We need to push harder! We need to try with greater anticipation!

As the presence of God moves for us in the Church, we need to capitalize on it. Abraham was a man just like we are. He felt, worried, worked, and lived as any other individual of his day did. Even though he was known as the Father of Faith, there were times when he had the same difficulty of touching
God as we do.	However, one day, it all changed. The word was out that God was about to destroy the city where his nephew, Lot, lived. In fact, the angel of the Lord brought message to Abraham. This greatly disturbed Abraham.

Abraham did what any concerned Christian would do. He prayed about it.	This  particular time he had God listening. Everyone knows the story of how Abraham began to seek God for the city of Sodom. When the time was right in the prayer, Abraham asked God to spare the city if fifty righteous people could be found. It probably amazed Abraham when God said yes! (Genesis 18:24)

So Abraham continued in his prayer. Many of us would quit there, but not Abraham. He wanted the city spared for 45, or 40, or 30, and eventually 10. The momentum was in Abraham's favor, and he used it to his advantage. Even with God, the momentum Abraham had, worked. He had God going his way.
When the presence of God is moving, we need to take advantage of it. Instead of expecting it to fall at a later date, we need to capitalize on the fact that we can get God moving in our direction. We do not need to hesitate or become at ease when God is moving. We must do everything possible to continue allowing Him to move. This is what God means when the scriptures state we grow in grace and knowledge. (2 Peter 3:18)	Growing is a continual process. A person does not grow one inch and then shrink. A tree does not grow up and down but continually grows upward and outward. Spiritually we need to continue in growth! Christians do not need to parallel a roller coaster with their life. We are not to be up one day and down the next, but we should live a life of consistency. This may seem difficult to some, but it is not impossible.
 
According to Paul's letter to the Philippian Church in chapter two, there are some things we can do in order to assure ourselves of this type lifestyle (Phil. 2:12-16).	First of all, there should be a sign of effective action in the Christian life.	A Christian must give continual evidence in his daily life that he is indeed working to make his salvation complete. It is a day by day activity. The great tragedy of so many is we never really progress in our walk with God. If there are not adverse circumstances happening, then we are content to just exist and get by. We continue to be victims of the same habits, slaves of the same temptations, and guilty of the same failures.	
True Christians recognize that life must be made of continual progress, since this is a journey toward God. Standing still and not moving forward is stagnation. We need not be at a stand still, but we should move forward to know more about God and his Grace.
The Bible states that we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12) This does not means I have a right to determine for myself how I live for God. I cannot decide for myself what kind of salvation suits my needs. God's plan of salvation is already in existence and no one has the right to change it or alter it in anyway. Neither does it imply that I must fear and tremble as a slave cringing before his master, nor the fear and trembling at the prospect of punishment. We should come realizing who God is and that we are powerless deal with life triumphantly by ourselves.
 
That is to say, it is not the fear and trembling which drives us to hide from God, but rather the fear and trembling which drives us to seek God in the certainty that without his help we cannot effectively face life. It also comes from the fact that we don't want to grieve God. When we love a person, we are not afraid what he might do to us, but we are afraid of what we might do to him. And that type fear and reverence wants to please God more than anything.

There should be signs in our lives that indicate we can live for Him without murmurings and questionings. In order to grow and keep the momentum going, we must not have the attitude of murmuring or complaining. It is so easy to complain today. In the most affluent society known in the history of the world, we still think we have things so hard. However, Paul mentioned that he was content with whatever state he was in. (Philippians 4:11) He said if he was hungry or full, he was content; with or without he was content. Regardless of the circumstances he kept on, and so must we. By complaining, we lose the momentum. We back up. Complaining implies that you are doubting God. You can't doubt and be a person of faith.	A complaining person is not content. They aren't satisfied with themselves and with life. We need to pray that God will remove the feeling of murmuring from our lives. We don't want to lose our momentum.

Another factor is that the Christian should be living a life of purity. According to the Revised Standard Version of the Bible the Word of God states in Philippians Chapter 2 we should live a life that is to he blameless and innocent and without blemish.
Blameless expresses what the Christian is to the world. His life is of such purity none can find anything in it with which to find fault. It is often said in courts of law that the proceedings must not only be just but must also be seen to be just. The Christian must not only be pure, but the purity of his life must be seen by all. You may be guilty of saying, "you don't care what anyone thinks about you", but to be blameless you must care.
Innocent expresses what the Christian is to himself. It literally means to be unmixed, and unadulterated. It is used, for instance, of wine or milk which is not mixed with water, and of metal which has no alloy in it. When used of people, it implies motives which are unmixed.	Christian purity must be with a complete sincerity of thought and character. You must be certain for yourself that you are pure. You can put on a front around everyone in the Church, but you can't hide from yourself. You have to convince yourself that you are pure according to the Word of God.
The word which is translated without blemish  describes what the Christian is in the sight of God. This word is especially used in connection with sacrifices that are fit to be offered on the altar of God. The Christian life must be such that it can be offered like an unblemished sacrifice to God. Enoch pleased God, and in doing so must have been without blemish. God was pleased with every phase of Enoch's life. We must be concerned with what God thinks about us. Paul told the Romans to "present yourselves a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God". (Rom.
12:1)	What we offer God must be pure and holy. Our worship, our time, and our efforts must be offered with the correct motive and right attitude. Otherwise God does not have to accept it.
Christian purity is blameless in the sight of the world, sincere within itself, and fit to stand the scrutiny of God.
Finally, in order to maintain momentum, the Christian will have a strong desire to reach the lost. He or she must be missionary minded. The Christian offers to all the 'word of life'. A Christian cannot be happy nor maintain complete spiritual growth unless he or she is reaching out to those who do not know the truth.
Christians should proclaim the gospel in words which are clear and unmistakable. It is the witness of a life that is absolute straight in a world which is warped and twisted. It is the offer of light to a world which is dark. Christians are to be lights in the world. It is truly impossible to maintain a consistent walk with God unless we are touching the lives of those around us. God gives to us so that we might give others. Freely we have received should give. And the more we give God will give to us. This will keep the momentum of His Spirit flowing in our lives.

Momentum! It is important and will many times be the determining factor in winning or losing. You and I do not have the ease of resting in this mixed up world. We do not need to wait for the next move of the Spirit. We must use what we have and keep the momentum going until it just keeps getting better and better.

There is an enemy out there who will destroy everything we do. He will attempt to drag us down until the momentum is going his way however, we have a higher power within us. We must us this power, because "greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world". (I John 4:4)

Keep the momentum going. You and I can't afford to quit because of the surroundings. You'll win if you keep trying.
Two frogs fell into a deep cream bowl;The one was wise, and a cheery soul.
The other one took a gloomy view And bade his friend a sad adieu.
Said the other frog with a grin, I can't get out, but I won't give in;
I'll swim around till my strength is spent, Then I will die the more content."
And as he swam, though ever it seemed, His struggling began to churn the cream
 
Until on top of pure butter he stopped, And out of the bowl he quickly hopped. The moral, you ask? Oh, it's easily found! If you can't get out, keep swimming around!
Don't quit, don't even slow down. Keep the momentum going.


The above article, “Maintaining Momentum” was written by Aubrey L. Jayroe. The article was excerpted from chapter 19 of the book Etiquette in the Sanctuary. 

The material is copyrighted and should not be reprinted under any other name or author. However, this material may be freely used for personal study or research purposes.