Breakthrough On Its Way

 

Breakthrough On Its Way

1 Corinthians 2: ⁶ Yet I do proclaim a message of wisdom to those who are spiritually mature. But it is not the wisdom that belongs to this world or to the powers that rule this world—powers that are losing their power. ⁷ The wisdom I proclaim is God's secret wisdom, which is hidden from human beings, but which he had already chosen for our glory even before the world was made. ⁸ None of the rulers of this world knew this wisdom. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ⁹ However, as the scripture says,

 

“What no one ever saw or heard,
    what no one ever thought could happen,
    is the very thing God prepared for those who love him.”

 

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Rain kept falling for hours on end. This was the largest rainfall in years. On the way home, we were trapped by one flooded street after another. When I thought the route was clear, another flooded street seemed to emerge. “If I could just get to the other side of the flood, I would be alright” I thought to myself. Moments after that thought, the water began to recede on the street we were on.

 

• Many times in my life it seemed like I was trapped by life’s barriers.
• Many times in my life it seemed like there was no way out no matter how hard I tried.
• Many times in my life it seemed like life brought on tremendous blockades to the promises I had in store.

 

Paul speaks about the wisdom of GOD. The rulers of this world thought the message of JESUS could be stopped, so they killed HIM. BUT GOD made the impossible happen. JESUS was raised form the dead, releasing anyone who believes, from the bondage of sin.

 

• GOD wants me to know HE has already overcome my circumstance.
• GOD wants me to focus on the choice HE made before the world was made.
• GOD wants me to see the very thing HE prepared for me because I love HIM.

 

Secret wisdom cannot be tapped into without belief in JESUS. I mean, GOD chose us four our glory because HE loves us. JESUS did the impossible and came back to life. Meanwhile, the rulers of this world saw their power diminish steadily.

 

The powers that try to block GOD’s message will recede like flood waters. Nothing and no one can stop GOD’s message from being told from HIS chosen people. I am grateful GOD chose me to proclaim HIS message.

 

• Do you feel trapped?
• Do you think the rulers of this world can stop the message of GOD that HE has in store for you?
• Will you focus on GOD’s wisdom, knowing the barriers you face are temporary and diminishing each day so the very thing GOD prepared will happen today?

Much Needed Strength

Zechariah 10: ⁶ “I will strengthen Judah
    and save the tribes of Joseph.
I will restore them
    because I have compassion on them.
They will be as though
    I had not rejected them,
for I am the Lord their God
    and I will answer them.

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¹² I will strengthen them in the Lord
    and in his name they will live securely,”
declares the Lord.

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“I can’t do this” were the words I said as I threw another gutter. This was my first time bowling and everyone else seemed to get it right. I scored a “twelve” which is very far from the perfect game of three hundred. It got so bad that people stopped laughing because of my struggle.

• There were times in my life when I felt like giving up.
• There were times in my life when I felt like throwing in the towel.
• There were times in my life when I felt like I could not do anything right.

In the next try at this painful game someone came over to not only encourage me, but show me how to make a few minor adjustments. I slowed down a bit and aimed the ball towards the seemingly elusive target and got nine points all at once, that was almost as much as my previous entire game. I rejoiced and was glad I did not give up! GOD says the same.

• GOD says to me “I WILL strengthen you.”
• GOD says to me “I WILL restore you because I have compassion on you.”
• GOD says to me “I WILL answer you, and in MY name, you will live securely.”

I no longer felt weak and inept after a little guidance. In fact, I felt strong enough to join a bowling league and got better and better. Life is the same. Sometimes it feels like I am throwing gutter after gutter and getting nowhere. THEN GOD steps in with HIS promises and gives me strength to keep going.

HE provides me with HIS compassion and it is as if HE never rejected me in the first place. GOD loves me so much that HE volunteered to die for me. HE faced excruciating pain and was accused by those close to HIM. When HE rose from the dead, HE sent HIS HOLY SPIRIT to live in me. HE speaks to me through HIS word daily.

• Do you feel weak right now?
• Are you facing a situation that seems overwhelming?
• Can you slow down for a moment and allow GOD’s greatness overshadow what you are going through?
• Can you seek GOD’s compassion today?

True Strength

2 Corinthians 12: ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

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One hundred thirty pound weakling was the best description of me after college. I joined the local gym in hopes of gaining some muscle. Slightly intimidated, I eased my way into the free weight area and attempted to bench press. Muscle guys stared intently as I struggled to lift the weight. After I finished they asked, “are you done?”

“Yes” I said and they began to add weight and bench ten times what I was lifting. My strength was not adequate to help them if they needed a spot.

• My strength will not get me very far in life.
• My strength comes in short bursts and quickly runs out.
• My strength sometimes feels helpless in situations I cannot control.

Whenever I am facing some difficult situation I think my strength is sufficient. I mean I start working on stuff as fast as I can in hopes that “my strength” can deliver me. There is one flaw to my plan. My strength isn’t strong enough to erase wrong or create right. My strength is laced with holes and powered by fear and weakness. My strength is not adequate.

• GOD says “MY grace is sufficient for you” which means HE does not need “my strength.”
• GOD says “MY power is made perfect in weakness” which means I have to admit I am weak.
• GOD says “MY SON paid the price” which means I don’t have to seek a savior any longer, I found one.

GOD’s strength is infinite. HE handles all situations with extreme precision and wisdom. HE loves when I step back and watch HIM clear up the situation. HE loves when I recognize HIM as being GOD.

• Are you trying to do things under your own strength?
• Are you attempting to fix your own situation with sin?
• Will you try GOD’s power for a change?
• Won’t you step back and watch HIM work in your life?

I have an arsenal available to me

2 Corinthians 10: ⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.5 

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“Woe is me” I thought to myself many times. I mean “that” person didn’t treat me right or I didn’t win the contest or I was broke again or someone including myself felt sick. “Can’t I ever get ‘my’ way?

• I fight against GOD when what I want isn’t what I need.
• I struggle with GOD when HE delays my deliverance.
• I wrestle with GOD when I lose my faith in HIM and try to go my own way.

There is something inside me that says “this GOD stuff is too hard, give up and go your own way.” The problem with that crazy statement is “which way can I go outside of GOD?” The very thought that I can do better without GOD puts me on the wrong path. Soon my thoughts attack HIS intentions and even still they attack HIS existence. How do I combat this?

• GOD gave me HIS Bible to keep my mind focused on HIS wonderful promises for me.
• GOD gave me five senses to see, smell, hear, taste and touch HIM daily.
• GOD gave me HIS HOLY SPIRIT to live inside me and comfort me when things go wrong.
• GOD gave me HIS SON who died in my place giving me free access to the FATHER whom I can ask for anything.

This little situation or that one cannot match the weapons GOD has given me. In fact, once I assess the situation I notice my faith is really being attacked and I am tempted not to use my weapons. GOD says “try ME out and watch the outcome.” HE changes me to be stronger to handle the situation while bringing others along.

The power is with GOD and while I may not get “my” way I will get the best way!

• Are you battling something?
• Is there something in your life making you doubt GOD?
• Can you look at the weapons GOD has given you to protect you?
• Will you help someone realize GOD’s power today?

Talk is cheap

1 Corinthians 4: ²⁰ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

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“Thief” was the only word I could think when it came to the sneaky boss who poked around my desk. “I bet I could be a better boss than that” I said to myself. “Slow” was the word that came to my mind when I watched the marathon runner cross the finish line over an hour after the last runner had come in. “I could probably beat that guy” I said to myself.

“Crazy” was the word I had labeled my parents as I snuck around or lied to them.  “I bet I would be better parents than them” I said to myself. Now that I have tried all of these, I take my words back!

• It’s easy to criticize others when I don’t have to walk in their shoes.
• It’s easy to complain about what others are doing when I don’t have to be responsible for what they do.
• It’s easy to point a finger at someone else when there is no consequence to my accusation.

“Talk is cheap” is an expression that means “prove that you can do it.” In many instances I thought my wits were enough to accomplish anything, but when I tried I realized the thing was a lot harder than I thought. Even living for GOD seems to prove more difficult than I mentioned to other people. I criticized others for what they were doing and hid what I was doing.

• GOD doesn’t want me to just talk about HIS kingdom HE wants me to live it.
• GOD doesn’t want me to just talk about HIS kingdom HE wants me to point my life to HIM so others will follow.
• GOD doesn’t want me to just talk about HIS kingdom HE wants me to actively pursue it.

Faith without works is dead. If I say I have faith and hide when the going gets tough then my “talk is cheap.” If I claim to follow CHRIST but treat others with disdain then maybe I’m not quite living as GOD would intend. GOD’s kingdom is powerful! Nothing can stop it, no power can come up against it.

• Are you criticizing what someone else is doing wrong yet you have not examined yourself?
• Have you said you will do something and have not done it yet?
• Do you procrastinate and put off “that” project?
• Won’t you stop talking and start doing things for CHRIST?

Nothing can stop me!

Romans 8: ³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

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 ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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All odds seemed to be against my past.  Growing up where I grew up, when I grew up, how I grew up, one would never say “he would be the leader of technology for a large corporation.  Home computers where only a concept and the exposure to technology in my neighborhood was exempt.

My education in technology was limited in high school and during college my GPA was barely above average. I had no connections, no map laid out and no understanding of how things worked. GOD put all the right people in my life to grow me.

• When all odds are against me I feel like giving up.
• When trouble faces me I feel like throwing up my hands.
• When difficulty confronts me I ask “why me again?”

Faith in GOD means knowing HE is there for me no matter what the circumstance looks like. Things could look thoroughly bleak yet HE is right there protecting, leading and guiding me to a better place.

• Can anyone ruin HIS plan for me? NO!
• Can I ruin HIS plan for me? NO! 
• Can any circumstance ruin HIS plan for me? No!

GOD is way too powerful to have HIS plans ruined by anyone’s sin, including my own.  HE truly has a wonderful plan for me and by being connected to HIM, nothing can stop me especially by following HIS will!

• What is holding you back from doing what GOD wants you to do?
• Do you have fear, doubt and worries?
• Can you put your trust in the LORD to lead you to a better place?
• Won’t you stare adversity in its face and tell it to fight with GOD instead of you?

How to gain “power”

Romans 5: ⁶You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

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Twelve forty five had arrived and my next class was quickly approaching. The card game was getting good and I was definitely winning. I decided to blow off the class. I mean what could they be talking about that I couldn’t pick up later? Well I found out they talked about a lot after failing the class.

My Dean had a discussion with me and told me he was developing my schedule for the next semester. I felt powerless.

• I feel powerless when I sin.
• I feel powerless when I am not following GOD.
• I feel powerless when I have not followed GOD and I am in trouble.

When I have gone on my own path and things are messed up I feel powerless to the point that I can’t even ask GOD for help. I mean HE can’t be that forgiving right? Wrong!!

• GOD saw every one of my sins and died for me anyway.
• GOD saw my entire life and knew I would not choose HIM so HE chose me.
• GOD saw the sin I’m going to commit next month and decided HE would take the punishment.

GOD demonstrates HIS love for me this way, in the middle of my sinful habits JESUS died for me. HE longs for me to stop my sinful habits but knows my limitations. HE had to do something for me because I wouldn’t give HIM a second look. I would go through life powerless.

Power is what GOD wants me to have, not like a superhero where it is internal but as a utensil that gets plugged into HIS omnipotence. HE has all the power I need and HIS grace is truly sufficient to clean my sin. HE is the judge and has determined me righteous even though I don’t deserve it. With GOD I can have unimaginable power to be used for HIS purpose alone.

• Do you feel powerless about some situation?
• Do you feel powerless about your sin?
• Do you know GOD took care of all of your sins from birth to death?
• Knowing what GOD has done for you, what do you want to do for HIM?