Don’t Look Back, There is nothing There for You Pastor Bobby Gourley
Scroll to read a recap of Pastor Bobby Gourley’s sermon from June 22, 2025
Let’s Break it Down
Jesus teaches that the kingdom of God is both present through the Holy Spirit and coming in fullness. Many Christians fear the end times, viewing Christ's return as an interruption rather than the beginning of true celebration. Using the story of Lot's wife, Jesus warns against looking back at what we're leaving behind. When we focus on the past, we miss God's new seasons and blessings. Instead, we should press forward with hope, trusting that God's future for us is better than anything we're leaving behind.
Key Takeaways
Jesus's return should be anticipated with hope, not fear
Compromise with culture starts with small steps and leads to bigger compromises
Looking back prevents us from fully embracing what God has for us ahead
God's future for us is always better than our past
The greatest threat to a new season is dwelling on an old season
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Day 1:The Kingdom is Here
Devotional Often we think of God's kingdom as something far off in the future - a distant reality we'll experience only after Jesus returns. But what if I told you the kingdom of God is already here? It's not just a future hope, but a present reality through the Holy Spirit living in believers. We can experience God's power, presence, and purposes right now. Yet sometimes we're so focused on what's ahead that we miss what God is doing in our midst today. Like someone so busy planning a vacation that they miss the beauty of their own backyard, we can become blind to the kingdom moments happening all around us. God wants us to live with kingdom awareness - recognizing His work in our daily lives while maintaining hope for His ultimate return.
Bible Verse
"Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, 'The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is in your midst.'" - Luke 17:20
Reflection Question
What evidence of God's kingdom do you see working in your life right now that you might be taking for granted?
Quote Jesus, listen, the kingdom of God is in your midst and you're missing it because you're so caught up on the past and traditions and Moses and the tabernacle and the law, and you're so caught up in things behind you, you're missing, the kingdom is right here.
Prayer
Father, open my eyes to see Your kingdom at work around me today. Help me live with an awareness of Your presence and power in my daily life. Thank you that I don't have to wait to experience Your reality. Amen.
Day 2:From Fear to Hope
Devotional Many Christians view Jesus' return with anxiety rather than anticipation. We might secretly worry that His coming will interrupt our plans or expose our shortcomings. But this perspective misses the heart of God entirely. Jesus' return isn't meant to strike fear but to inspire hope. Think of a child whose father has been away on a long trip - the anticipation of daddy coming home brings excitement, not dread. That's how we should view Christ's return. He's coming to make everything right, to wipe away every tear, to bring healing and restoration. His return isn't the end of the party - it's when the real celebration begins!
Bible Verse
"The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it." - Luke 17:22
Reflection Question
What would change in your life if you viewed Jesus' return with hopeful anticipation rather than fear?
Quote When Jesus returns, he's not going to be the cop that comes to crash your little party. He's gonna be Daddy coming home, who's been away for a while. And the response is not fear, it's hope that he'll lift you up out of your pain, your suffering, your shame, your guilt.
Prayer
Lord, transform my fear into hope. Help me to long for Your return with the excitement of a child waiting for their father to come home. Thank You that Your coming means the end of all suffering and the beginning of true joy. Amen.
Day 3:The Danger of Compromise
Devotional Cultural compromise rarely happens in dramatic leaps - it occurs in subtle steps. Like water slowly eroding a shoreline, small compromises can gradually reshape our values until we hardly recognize the change. We might justify these little concessions as being relevant or avoiding conflict, but each step takes us further from God's truth. The culture around us won't compromise its beliefs to accommodate our values, so why should we compromise ours? When we allow worldly values to infiltrate our lives, we risk losing our distinct identity as followers of Christ. Standing firm doesn't mean being unkind or isolated, but it does mean maintaining clear boundaries rooted in God's unchanging truth.
Bible Verse
"But flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!" - Genesis 19:17
Reflection Question
In what areas of your life might you be making small compromises that could lead to bigger spiritual drift?
Quote Compromise is these small little steps of appeasing culture, in displeasing God in order to have comfort in the cultures that you live in.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, give me wisdom to recognize subtle compromises and courage to stand firm in Your truth. Help me maintain clear boundaries while showing Your love to others. Strengthen my resolve to live distinctly for You. Amen.
Day 4:Breaking Free from the Past
Devotional It's natural to look back at the past, especially when facing uncertainty ahead. We might reminisce about 'the good old days' or hold onto familiar patterns even when they no longer serve us well. But like Lot's wife, looking back can freeze us in place, preventing us from moving forward into God's new seasons. The past can become a comfortable prison that keeps us from God's future promises. Whether it's past successes that we're trying to replicate or past failures that still shame us, we need to learn to release our grip on what's behind us. God is always moving forward, and He invites us to do the same.
Bible Verse
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past." - Isaiah 43:18
Reflection Question
What past experiences or seasons are you holding onto that might be preventing you from fully embracing what God has for you now?
Quote When looking back no longer tempts you, you're finally going the right direction.
Prayer
God, help me release my grip on the past - both the good and the bad. Give me courage to move forward into the new things You have for me. Thank You that my best days are still ahead. Amen.
Day 5:Embracing New Seasons
Devotional God is always doing something new. Even when it feels like one door is closing, He's opening another. The end of a season isn't a dead end - it's a transition into something fresh. Sometimes we resist change because we can't see what's ahead, but God never calls us out of something without calling us into something better. Like Paul, we're called to press forward, knowing that our glory days aren't behind us - they're still ahead! When God brings an end to something in our lives, it's not punishment; it's preparation. He's making room for new growth, new opportunities, and new expressions of His grace.
Bible Verse
"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13-14
Reflection Question
What new thing might God be preparing you for through current changes or endings in your life?
Quote If God is calling you out of something, he's calling you into something. If God is ending a season, he's beginning a new season. If God is destroying something, he's creating a new something.
Prayer
Lord, give me faith to trust You in seasons of change. Help me to see endings as new beginnings and to embrace the fresh things You're doing in my life. Thank You that You're always working for my good. Amen.