Where Do We Go From Here?

 

Psalm 42:7 (KJV)

7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

 

 

The world’s greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes, and his faithful companion, Dr. Watson, were on a camping trip.
They were in their sleeping bags looking up at the sky. Holmes said, “Watson, look up. What do you see?”
Watson answered, “Well, I see thousands of stars.”
“And what does that mean to you?” Holmes inquired.
“Well,” said Watson, “I guess it means that there is a great Creator out there that we can never comprehend. It means that His ways are so far past ours, for he created every star, hung it in the universe, and called it by name!”
Watson paused for a moment and then asked, “What does it mean to you, Holmes?”
“To me,” said Holmes somberly, “it means someone has stolen our tent.”

 

• It’s often been said that there are times that we can’t see the forest for the trees!

 

 

In January and February 1967, Martin Luther King wrote the first draft of his final book Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?

 

• Where Do We Go from Here was King’s analysis of the state of American race relations and the movement after a decade of U.S. civil rights struggles.

 

Each one of us here today is going somewhere in our life.

• On our jobs
• In our homes
• In our families
• Some of us are in college
• Some of us are in the middle of our careers
• Some of us are looking for jobs

 

• We are all pointing in some direction in our lives.

 

• We are all at some point, not only in our lives and careers, but also and more importantly in our spiritual walk with God.

 

 

To answer the question, “Where do we go from here?” we must first honestly recognize where we are now.

 

• Each one of us must honestly look deep into our hearts and answer the question, “Where am I in God right now?”

 

• For some of us, the answer we are going to give is, “Not where I need to be.”
• Or, “Not where I should be.”
• Or, “Not where I want to be.”
• Someone else might say, “I’m satisfied.”
• “I’m ok with my current walk with God.”

 

• It’s not the best, but it’s better than I’ve had in the past and that’s ok for right now.

 

And to you I would say, “Good, I’m glad to hear that you have grown.

• But, can I suggest to all of us here that none of us are where God ultimately wants to take us.

 

I’m convinced that when it comes to the Kingdom of God, we are each capable of more than we ever imagined possible.

 

 

 

 

 

Psalm 42:7 (KJV)

7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

 

Having answered the question “Where are we right now”, we now have a bearing or a fixed position if you will that we can now gauge our new direction on.

 

 

My Question to each of us here today is “Where do we go from here?”

 

As a church, we have arrived somewhere.

• Look at what the Lord has done!

 

In July 1969, Apollo 11 landed on the Moon, they said, “The Eagle has landed.”

• I would say, “This church has Landed!”

 

But this is not where we are staying!

• We are moving on.
• We’ve got other things to do!
• We’ve got other people to reach!
• We’ve got another place that God would want to take us!

 

So the question before us is “Where do we go from here?”

• Or more precisely, where do you go from here?

 

And so, I would like to ask us all today, “Where are we heading spiritually?”

 

• Have we reached a place of completion in our Spiritual walk with God?
• Have we arrived at some destination that we are satisfied with?
• Some stalemate or plateau with God that says, “I’ve come this far and this is far enough?”

 

I am always asking myself, “Where do I go from here?”

• God, today is a new day.
• What would you have me to understand about you today?

 

Last week we baptized 10 people here, and I congratulate them on their decision to be baptized, but I want them all to know that although baptism is a marvelous thing, but it is not the end of the line if you will.

 

• There is something else to reach for beyond water baptism, and that is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

 

• God filled one with the Holy Spirit last week at this altar and she is already saying, “I want to get baptized!”

 

I say it all the time; “God is not in the business of leaving people where he found them.”

 

• And neither is He in the business of leaving them where he left them.

 

The saddest thing in the world to me is a Christian who thinks they have somehow reached some plateau where God would have them to stay.

 

• Let us be dissatisfied with the Spiritual Status Quo.
• Let us be dissatisfied with our walk with God as it is.
• Let us be dissatisfied with what we think at this moment to be the will of God for our lives.
• Let us find out what it is that He is leading us to.
• Let us reach and stretch and extend ourselves to always find that next level and that new plain that He would bring us to.

 

Where are we going from here?

 

If this church is going to accomplish all that God has called it to accomplish in the community and the communities around it, it is going to be because some people have moved beyond where they are at right now.

• It’s going to be because we have corporately and individually entered into a realm of the Spirit that few churches ever enter into.
• It’s going to be because we have a deeper prayer life.
• It’s going to be because of a greater knowledge of His Word.
• Our worship is going to need to get deeper and richer.
• Our relationship with others here and in this community is going to need to.

 

Where do we go from here?

• To me it’s as obvious as Dr. Homes’ dilemma.
• It’s right in front of us.
• It’s like what the Jews asked Jesus on the Day of Pentecost…

 

• “What Shall We Do?”

 

“Repent and be baptized Every One Of You in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost.”

 

Have you repented of your sins yet?

• Then God is waiting on you to be baptized.

 

Have you been baptized yet?

• Then God wants to fill you with His Holy Spirit.

 

Have you already received the Holy Spirit?

• Then God wants to use you for some pretty amazing things.

 

We can’t stay where we are.

• We’ve got to be growing and reaching for that next place where God would want to take us.