Breaking Barriers

Matthew 15: ²¹ Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

²³ Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

²⁵ The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

²⁶ He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

²⁷ “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

²⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

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Fear of another race came quite naturally for me. My neighborhood was full of people who looked like me and acted like me. Then high school came. I travelled out of my neighborhood to attend a school where the students were multi ethnic. All of my assumptions about “those” people were challenged.

• Fear of others who did not look like me was a barrier.
• Assumptions of others who did not look like me was a barrier.
• Wanting others to act like me was a barrier.

If I wanted “friends” I needed to change my thinking, quickly! How?

• GOD said to me “I came to save those who are lost.”
• GOD said to me “I came for all mankind.”
• GOD said to me “I came to show you how to love the world.”

JESUS could read the racial and gender barrier easily. HE could see into the hearts of those around the Canaanite woman and leveraged the situation to break down barriers with HIS words and actions. HE wants me to do the same. HE wants me to humbly serve those who do not look or act like me and serve those who do.

GOD wants me to take down barriers to HIM to enable many to follow HIS ways.

• Are you racially blind?
• Do you feel inferior or superior to another gender?
• Can you remove barriers to people coming to CHRIST today?

The ONE WHO Breaks Through Walls

Micah 2: ¹¹ If a liar and deceiver comes and says,
    ‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’
    that would be just the prophet for this people!

Deliverance Promised

¹² “I will surely gather all of you, Jacob;
    I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel.
I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,
    like a flock in its pasture;
    the place will throng with people.
¹³ The One who breaks open the way will go up before them;
    they will break through the gate and go out.
Their King will pass through before them,
    the Lord at their head.”

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“Drinks are on me” was a statement I thought was cool! One of the partner’s at the firm I worked at would say this on occasion and everyone would get a treat. He made plans that seemed like they would work but they were based on “half-truths”. In six months he died and we could not land the account he was working on. “Aw man!” I was hoping he would help me with my career!

• There were times I placed my trust in those who told little white lies.
• There were times I placed my trust in those who would twist words into a plausibly deniable truth.
• There were times I placed my trust in those who did not mind covering up huge blunders in order to make themselves shine.

Polished and gruff was the demeanor of this person. I thought I needed to become like him but something was wrong with the approach in my spirit. I would need to learn how to believe in a twisted direction and say what people wanted to hear. BUT GOD says something different.

• GOD says to me “Speak the truth in love.”
• GOD says to me “I AM the deliverer.”
• GOD says to me “Put your trust only in GOD, your LORD and SAVIOR.”

When I placed my trust in HIM, mighty things happened. I was thrust into new heights I could not imagine. GOD was the ONE who broke through barriers and enabled me to be lifted up. HE did not do this without purpose. HE wants me to speak about HIS SON so that many will turn to HIM.  Instead of selfishly thinking about a career, HE wants me to have compassion for those around me. GOD is the head of my life.

• Are you stuck?
• Do you think there is no way out of your situation?
• Can you stop placing your trust in “that” human and put your trust in GOD today?