Forward
A study on moving forward in faith to inherit God's promises, using Israel's crossing of the Red Sea and Jordan River to show that faith requires decisive action, obedience, and the courage to step out when God commands us to advance.
GIFT Scripture Studies
November 26, 2025 / 7:30-9:00 PM
Forward
Scripture: Exodus 14:13-14 / Joshua 1:2-9 (KJV)
Moving Into Unprecedented Revival
God has blessed us in a greater measure than ever before. The momentum is building. We are reaching a critical mass for explosive revival. Because of that, it is time to move forward, not cautiously, but with the expectancy that comes from knowing what God has promised.
In recent years, the UPCI achieved new records in total constituents, ministers, churches, and finances. We have experienced greater things. We should be genuinely thankful for these blessings. But thankfulness alone is not the posture God is calling us to right now. Instead of maintenance mode or survival mode, we need to be in revival mode. There is a Divine Shift available to this generation. Sometimes we make plans and they do not develop as we intend. Then God steps in with a better plan and shifts us into a new dimension.
The Red Sea: Moving Forward in Faith
To inherit the promise and to fulfill the vision, we must move forward. When God delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt, He promised to give them a new land. To inherit the Promised Land, they first had to depart from Egypt. As they left, the Egyptian army pursued them to the edge of the Red Sea.
Their situation looked completely impossible. If they did not move forward, they would be captured and killed. If they did move forward, they would drown. At that crucial moment, Moses spoke the word of God:
“Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD… The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:13-14 (KJV)
When they called upon the Lord, He told Moses, “Tell the children of Israel to go forward.” At God’s command, Moses stretched forth his rod, the waters parted, and the Israelites crossed on dry ground. When the Egyptians pursued them, God rolled the waters back, destroying the enemy and delivering His people.
Notice what was required. Prayer and belief were not enough on their own. At the right moment, they had to move forward in faith to receive deliverance and victory. Faith acted.
The Jordan River: Crossing Into the Promise
After crossing the wilderness, the Israelites came to the Jordan River, which was at flood stage. To enter the Promised Land, they had to cross it. God told Joshua plainly:
“Arise, go over this Jordan, thou and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them.” Joshua 1:2 (KJV)
With that command came three promises and three commands.
Three Promises from God
- Possession of the land: every place they stepped would be given to them
- Power to defeat the enemy: no one would be able to stand against them
- Presence of God: He would be with them wherever they went
Three Commands for Success
Then God gave Joshua three commands in order to prosper and succeed (Joshua 1:3-9):
- Be strong and courageous: not timid, not hesitant, but resolute
- Obey God’s Word without deviation: do not turn from it to the right or the left
- Meditate on God’s Word: keep it in your mouth and in your heart
Sanctification and Action
In obedience to God’s command, Joshua instructed Israel:
“Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:5)
After the people prepared and consecrated themselves, Joshua commanded the priests to take up the ark of the covenant and cross over before the people. When the priests moved forward, the people followed. As the priests’ feet entered the water, God rolled it back, and once again the people crossed on dry ground.
To receive their inheritance, they had to move forward. The miracle did not come before the step. It came when the step was taken.
Faith Requires Action
Faith requires us to act. It propels us forward into the will of God. Jesus called His disciples by saying, “Follow Me.” To become His disciples, they had to leave their location, leave their occupation, and move forward at His command (Matthew 4:19-20; 9:9). They had to make a decision and take decisive action to go forward.
And they could not look back. They could not delay, compromise, or renege on their commitment (Luke 9:57-62).
Pressing Forward
Paul described his own posture with clarity:
“One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14
One thing. Not many things. Not a divided focus. One thing: pressing forward toward what God has called him to.
To receive what God has promised us, both individually and collectively as a church, we must move forward in His will. Not later. Not when it feels safe. Now, in the direction He is pointing, trusting that the same God who parted the Red Sea and stopped the Jordan River is still the God who makes a way.
Forward.