You can become stagnant in your life. The word “press” means “to urge forward with force”. God wants progress in your life. The Christian life has been compared to a race. One of the things that hinder you in a race is weights. Weights are good for keeping fit but not to win the race! We are to take care of our body. There are things we need to deal with that weighs us down. How many of us want to win? We don’t want things to slow us down or stop us from running to win. There are many hindrances we must overcome to win the race. To win the race is to become all that God wants us to be. We need to look at ourselves rather than others. We need to look in the mirror of God’s Word. See James 1:23-25.

1 – The enemy of ignorance

When you do not know, you live at a disadvantage. People will take advantage of you. We don’t realise our full potential. You will stay where you are by accepting less. Knowledge is your greatest friend in life. It is fools who despise knowledge. See Proverbs 1:7. We are to educate ourselves in the Word of God. We have been transformed in Christ and it is an ongoing process. In Christ, we are not trying to do it but we are doing it.

2 – The enemy of unbelief

Why do we call ourselves believers when some don’t appear to believe anything?! It is a system that governs our life – believe! There is a lack of belief in the power of God. Unbelief will not only stop you – it will also stop God. God is all powerful but your unbelief will stop God in your life.

There were times Jesus could not do miracles because of their unbelief. See Matthew 13:58. When the Devil says something about you then become an unbeliever! Refuse to believe – he does not keep his promises! Believe in God! The promises of God are there for you to believe. Unbelief will slow you down. If you believe, then you will be healed. You have got to believe!

3 – The enemy of indifference

With indifference there is a lack of concern. The Church of Laodicea had this problem in the book of Revelation. They were neither hot nor cold. They could not be accused of being cold or complemented for being hot! Jesus did not lie the lukewarm state – it made him feel sick! See Revelation 3:16. In the parable of the wheat and tares it was impossible to tell the difference. How concerned are you about lost souls or to witness to somebody? Indifference means you are not concerned about lost souls or about living right for God. We show our indifference by the way we treat each other. See Matthew 25:34-40. These people are coming into the kingdom because they helped Jesus. We cannot have indifference towards each other. We are to look and treat them like Jesus. Entrance to the kingdom was not due to miracles or gifts. How do you treat your sister or brother? Answer me!! Do you not like some people in the church? Can we God in each other? Or faults? If you look hard enough you will find faults! Look for God in each person. Love each other!

We are to place a high value on each other. The only thing we owe each other is love. It is a debt we must pay each time we meet. We are turned off from each other, too quick. Our attitude to each other is to change. One of the fruits of the Spirit is love. How many times should you forgive a day? 70 x7! It could be 490 times in one day. It cannot expire! If you are indifferent, it will slow you down. Don’t walk with this weight. Check out your attitude! When I see you, I see you. When I don’t, I don’t. Come to church and meet. Don’t miss it!

4 – The enemy of sin

Sin hinders you in the race. Sin means “to miss the mark”. It is like an archer who fires and misses the bull’s-eye. God wants us to reach the mark and with His help we can.

• Sin is violation of God’s law. If you break laws in this world then you will be arrested. When you sin, you are rebelling against God and His laws. Sin is also called “transgression” and “iniquity”. We are to walk a straight and not cross it or leave it. You can’t run if you are in jail.
• Sin like a disease. See Isaiah 1:6. Like disease corrupts the body so sin corrupts the soul. It is hard to run with a disease hampering your progress.
• Sin is a heavy burden. See Psalm 38:4. It is difficult to run if you are overweight or carrying a rucksack on your back.
• Sin is referred to as a debt. See Matthew 6:12. We may try to hide it but we must make up for them and pay them off. This will slow us down.
• Sin is like darkness. It is difficult to run in the dark! It needs to be exposed to the light.

What easily besets you is the thing that controls you. It must be laid aside. If you want to get rid of a habit – it is easy – just drop it! Drop it and run! Drop ignorance, unbelief, indifference and sin. Then you will be able to press forward and win the race. There was a woman who had an issue of blood and had suffered for 12 years. See Luke 8:43-47. When she pressed Jesus she got better. It was her FAITH that made her whole. Don’t be stagnant any longer. Get exercising your faith in the race. Eat and work it out or you can’t run!

Categories: Philippians