Good day everyone! It's my pleasure to share with you another edition of a life transforming message.
And I hope it would be of great benefit to you.
Remain blessed as you read carefully to the end.

TITLE: PRESSING FORWARD TOWARDS ZION.

TEXT: PSALMS 84:7
[AMP:They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]; each of them appears before God in Zion]

INTRODUCTION.

From the above Bible passage we discovered that Persistence in life pays the greatest dividend. As a Christian it is very expedient for us to always press forward in our spiritual walk of faith with God. Though at times life threatening challenges will surface but we most hold unto what we have believed until we finish our course. In psalm 84:4, we were meant to understand that those pilgrims arrived safely in Zion because of their persistence and never giving up spirit amidst also the tribulations and vicissitudes they encountered in life in the course of their journey to Zion. If those people were able to endure the sufferings in the course of their pilgrimage without giving up, why should we?
The Bible says he that put his hands to the plough and looks back is not fit for the service in the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62). So as believers we must endure the race to the very end without counting the cost. Remember only those that endure to the end would be saved. (Matthew 24:12)
I pray that the Lord will enlighten the eyes of our understandings even as we continue in this study in Jesus name.. Amen!

We shall be considering this message under the following outlines in series.

1.What does it mean to be pressing
forward towards Zion?

1. Why should we press forward towards
   Zion?

2. Who can press forward towards Zion?

3. How can we press forward towards
   Zion?

4. Some benefits of pressing forward
   towards Zion.

PART 1.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE PRESSING FORWARD TOWARDS ZION?

1. It means not allowing the things of this world to shift our focus away from the cross. 1john 2:15-16
   [AMP: 15. Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.
   16.For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]

Every believer aspiring to reign with Christ in Zion ( New Jerusalem), must deems it fit to rid himself/ herself of every worldly attractions such as lust, pride, selfish inclinations and desires. Because pressing f requires a sincere focus and commitment to our life course and journey into the land of everlastingness.

1. It also means not giving up on our
   chase for the ultimate prize of salvation. Philippians 3:13-14
   [AMP:I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
   14.I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.]

Every believer desiring to appear before God in Zion to obtain the ultimate prize of Salvation must determine not to look back or compromise his/her faith because of life's challenges. A believer must not see a challenge as a threat; but must see it as a stepping stone to fulfilling his dreams in life. Jesus admonished us in John 16:33 not to give up on life or quit in our walk with him when facing tribulations; but we should take heart because he has overcome the world.. Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.

We must continue to press forward in our walk of faith until we arrive at Zion.
Zion is the city of supermen and women who endured to the end.
It's a place where there Is no more tears nor sorrow. It's a place where we would live forever and never die again.
If the all the great cloud of witnesses watching us now in heaven didn't give up the chase, why should you?
Determine not to listen to the deceits of the devil to compromise your faith.

To be continued tomorrow!
Thanks for your time.

God bless you!