Go Forward
We must learn to walk by faith and trust in God's Word, even when we don't see a clear path forward, in order to overcome obstacles and achieve our goals.
Charles E. Cowman preaches about the importance of walking by faith and taking God at His Word, using the example of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River. He emphasizes the need to move forward in duty even when faced with obstacles, trusting that the path will be opened. The sermon draws parallels to Columbus's perseverance in sailing into the unknown, highlighting the power of faith that pushes us to keep going despite challenges and uncertainties.
Text
"As soon as the soles of the feet of the priests...shall rest in the waters...the waters shall be cut off" (Joshua 3:13).
The people were not to wait in their camps until the way was opened, they were to walk by faith. They were to break camp, pack up their goods, form in line to march, and move down to the very banks before the river would be opened.
If they had come down to the edge of the river and then had stopped for the stream to divide before they stepped into it, they would have waited in vain. They must take one step into the water before the river would be cut off.
We must learn to take God at His Word, and go straight on in duty, although we see no way in which we can go forward. The reason we are so often balked by difficulties is that we expect to see them removed before we try to pass through them.
If we would move straight on in faith, the path would be opened for us. We stand still, waiting for the obstacle to be removed, when we ought to go forward as if there were no obstacles.
--Evening Thoughts
What a lesson Columbus gave to the world of perseverance in the face of tremendous difficulties!
Behind him lay the gray Azores,
Behind the gates of Hercules;
Before him not the ghost of shores,
Before him only shoreless seas.
The good Mate said: "Now we must pray,
For lo! the very stars are gone.
Brave Admiral, speak, what shall I say?"
"Why, say, 'Sail on! sail on! and on!'"
"My men grow mutinous day by day;
My men grow ghastly wan and weak!"
The stout Mate thought of home; a spray
Of salt wave washed his swarthy cheek.
"What shall I say, brave Admiral, say,
If we sight naught but seas at dawn?"
"Why, you shall say at break of day,
'Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!'"
They sailed. They sailed. Then spake the Mate:
"This mad sea shows its teeth tonight.
He curls his lip, he lies in wait,
With lifted teeth, as if to bite!
Brave Admiral, say but one good word;
What shall we do when hope is gone?"
The words leapt like a leaping sword:
"Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!"
Then, pale and worn, he kept his deck
And peered through darkness. Ah! that night
Of all dark nights! And then a speck--
A light! A light! A light! A light!
It grew, a starlit flag unfurled!
It grew to be Time's burst of dawn.
He gained a world; he gave that world
Its grandest lesson: "On! sail on!"
--Joaquin Miller
Faith that goes forward triumphs.
Sermon Outline
- Walking by Faith
- Learning to Take God at His Word
- The Importance of Perseverance
- Faith that Goes Forward Triumphs
- Faith that goes forward triumphs and the path will be opened for us
- We must keep moving forward even when obstacles seem insurmountable
Key Quotes
“We must learn to take God at His Word, and go straight on in duty, although we see no way in which we can go forward.” — Charles E. Cowman
“Sail on! sail on! and on!” — Charles E. Cowman
“Faith that goes forward triumphs.” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- Trust in God's Word and take action even when you don't see a clear path forward.
- Persevere in the face of obstacles and difficulties.
- Faith that goes forward triumphs and the path will be opened for you.