YOU DON T NEED A BREAKTHROUGH, YOU NEED TO BREAK OUT Dr. Kenneth Jones
Introduction There Comes a Time when we are going to experience one or more of these three things Breakdown Breakout Breakthrough
Breakthrough An act or instance of breaking through an obstacle or through the defensive line of the enemy Matthew 16:18 says that the gates of Hell shall not be able to be superior in strength to the church of God. One definition is an obvious and observable change in controlling thoughts, feelings, or behaviors, resulting in dramatic spiritual growth. John 8:32 - And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. The Breakthrough occurs because of a breakthrough in you a change, leading to maturity, not just to blessings Many believers are waiting on a breakthrough when they haven t change their mindset or their behavior
Breakthrough Doesn t happen by accident A commitment to push through until you breakthrough It requires a force It requires an action It may require delayed gratification until what you desire is achieved It requires the proper mindset A Decision that what and where you are right now should not be your final condition Requires Spiritual Discipline Prayer/Supplication Praise Communion with God Faith
Breakthrough How Do I Know When I ve Broken Through When God Breaks You Through!!! Through What? What ever it is that is holding you back, whatever it is that is keeping you from walking in all he has for you or whatever it is that is keeping you from accomplishing that which God desires for you to accomplish. Some of us need to break through our unforgiveness, envy, jealousy, unloving spirits, and generational curses, pattern of poor decisions God desires to Break you through hindrances, strongholds, dangerous mindsets, heart issues, wounds of the past, others people's opinions, a troubled marriage, etc.
Breaking Through the Strongholds In order to experience breakthrough you must first breakout There are strongholds that will keep you from breaking through The weapons you need are not carnal ones Remember the Monkey and the Jar
Monkey and the Jar Trap Native tribes used to catch monkeys by hollowing out a coconut and filling it with rice or other delicacies, then leaving it tethered to a tree for a monkey to find. A monkey would reach in and grab the desired delicacy and be trapped because the hole had been deliberately made just big enough for a flexible hand to enter but not for a closed fist to leave. The hunter would then club the monkey or take it captive. Many Christians experience the same dilemma. They trap themselves by holding on to bad relationships, sins, strongholds, etc. All they have to do is release it and they would be saved.
Breakthrough Romans 8:2 - For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Galatians 5:1 - Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Bondage vs. Captivity We are free from the bondage of sin but find ourselves being captive to sin over and over again.
Breakdown Occurs When We Begin to Give up or Give In; When we are not doing the proper maintenance to our lives and our faith - Malfunction Ever Wonder: What's holding me back? Who s holding you back? What's hindering me? What's stifling me? Rebellion, unbelief, fear, sin can cause dis-ease and breakdown in our spirit, soul, and body
Breakdown Usually occurs when something is malfunctioning or not working properly Not saying every situation has a root cause, but at least do Preventive Maintenance and Maintenance Checks When things arise Don t go looking for a bucket when the flood come Many times you ve already seen the leak before the pipe burst
Breakout Coming out of old mindsets and ways of living that may have created the situation or led to the oppression you are now experiencing It s hard to experience breakthrough if you are unable to break free of things in your life that will lead you back into captivity Healing vs. Wholeness - By faith vs By Obedience Example: God can provide you with a financial blessing, but developing a godly mindset concerning your finances will lead to prosperity
TWO STORIES
1 Samuel 30:1-8 There were 3 Responses to the Calamity presented before David and his men FIRST RESPONSE: You Can Cry About It 1 Samuel 30:4 - Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. Being Depressed or Distressed about your condition usually takes away the energy to do something about it And David was greatly distressed,... Partly for the loss of his two wives, and partly because of the mutiny and murmuring of his men: Good leaders grieve for their people just as the Holy Spirit is grieved when we operate below expectations
1 Samuel 30 SECOND RESPONSE: You can blame others for your failure/loss For the people spoke of stoning him Don t blame the pastor for all your troubles! A lot of mistakes were made that led to the enemy coming in unaware to destroy their city an steal their possessions
David Encouraged Himself THIRD RESPONSE: Seek the Lord but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God; First David focused his faith In the Lord his God He encouraged himself in the power and divine will of God; in the promises of God, and in God s faithfulness in keeping them Then he sought the wisdom of God He got in the proper mindset, breaking free from depression and fear Breakthrough came as he received wisdom on how he would recover all
The Story: 2 Kings 6:24,25: Now it came about after this, that Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered all his army and went up and besieged Samaria. There was a great famine in Samaria; and behold, they besieged it, until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove's dung for five shekels of silver. Samaria was cut off from supplies and assistance being in total distress at the hands of the Syrians The King, Ahab, calls for Elisha who foretells abundant relief to the besieged inhabitants of Samaria by tomorrow
The Story- The Siege of Samaria Have You Ever Been Cut off? Sometimes the enemy may lay siege in our lives (2 nd Chronicles 15:2-6) That means nothing going and nothing going in How broke do you have to be before you will submit to the Lord? What stage of a failing marriage before you seek counseling Resorted to Cannibalism When we find ourselves in dire need whether in the church or in our families, the first thing we do is turn on and devour each other
Careful of Relationships King Ahab is condemned for having spared the life of Ben-hadad and entering into a covenant with him 1 Kings 20:34 - Ben-hadad said to him, "The cities which my father took from your father I will restore, and you shall make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria." Ahab said, "And I will let you go with this covenant." So he made a covenant with him and let him go. Watch or Discern who you enter into covenant with. Many today are in relationship and covenant with the wrong people
Problem: Ungodly Relationships Ben Hadad tried to destroy King Ahab and he rewards him by giving him land and authority Stop giving place to the enemy who seeks to kill, steal, and destroy you Perhaps one lesson is that we should not bind ourselves to that which God has devoted to destruction. When God has given you Victory in one area of your life always be attentive and obedient in response to God s Blessing
Side Note: Don t Blame the Pastor 2 Kings 6:31 - Then he said, "May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on him today." Of the greatest help at this time was the prophet Elisha to whom God revealed all the plans of the enemy. Most of the time your pastor knows why you are going through what you are going through and probably spoke to you about it (2 Cor 10:5 and Ephesians 6:10-12) Many times what we are dealing with the natural is linked to something we done or failed to do in the spiritual For example, Obedience although it requires the will, is still a spiritual thing for it requires faith
Believe His Prophets and Live 2 nd Kings 7:1-2 Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. 2 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. When God provides you with a Word, please don t take it lightly
Four Lepers 2 Kings 7:3,4: And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? 4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die. In order to receive your breakthrough, you have to come to a decision to break out or break free of your current condition
Four Lepers 2 nd Kings 7:8,9: And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.9 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household. Once you breakthrough, consider others who are still bound
You ve Been Called Out 1 Peter 2:9 Jesus Called Lazarus Out Come Forth! You may have hear the call, but you have to make the decision to come out The word, Christian means Called Out Ones
Time to BREAK OUT!
How Need a Rope - Take Hold Today Acknowledge Your Restraints Sin, Fear, Disobedience, Unnatural Connections, Negative Patterns, Generational Curses Are You Wiling to be Released? Renounce and Reject Sin, that Habit, stronghold, bad doctrine Prepare For Rescue Realize that you can t do this alone. Give yourself to your Rescuers! Don t fight the person who is trying to save you from drowning God s wants you Free, Saved, Delivered Release that which is in your hand and remove your hand from the jar (Monkey story)