Breakthrough Series

Opening video: Exodus – Bondage to Freedom

Series: Mens Seminar Watershed!

Thesis: We are in a cosmic war and for the most part that war is within – in our minds – with our spirit and with our flesh (the soulish realm). The truth is our spirit, or our fleshly appetites and mindsets dictate how we respond to life, to stress, to unexpected situations and to people. We need to have a renewed mind to win the war against the enemy of our spirit, soul and body and we must have a mind like Jesus to live by the spirit for a Breakthrough in our life.

Here are some main Scriptures making the battlefield clear to each of us today:

Philippians 2:1-5: 1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like–minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Romans 12:1-2: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

2 Corinthians 10:3-5: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 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.”

Every one of these Scriptures describes a battlefield in our life! We need to understand this so we Can be free and experience a breakthrough!

Sermon: Breakthrough to Freedom – and "THE GREAT DIVIDE!"

Text: Hebrews 4:12, 13 "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing of soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

Thesis: Christians who want a breakthrough – who desire freedom need to realize whether they are being led around by their soul (their fleshly desires) or by their spirit (Jesus desires). They need to realize which way the water of life is flowing in their life! The truth is God knows exactly where you are at and were you are currently flowing!

Introduction:

I use the phrase “The Great Divide” from Hebrews to illustrate that there is a line drawn by the Word of God on living by the Spirit and living by the soulish or fleshly realm of life. This line signifies a great divide and signifies which way your life flows.

It reveals your priorities in life, your focus, it impacts your decisions, it determines your value system, it determines your worldview, and it reveals your attitude toward sin and holiness.

For example, the Continental Divide of the Americas, or the Great Divide of America, runs through much of North and South America. It separates the water that runs toward the Pacific Ocean from the water that runs toward the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and the Gulf of Mexico. This divide runs from Cape Prince of Wales in western Alaska, through the Rocky Mountains of western Canada and the continental United States, then through the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains in Mexico, through Central America and along the Andes Mountains of South America. Note: The Rocky Mountains are part of the continental divide.

A divide is the elevated boundary separating areas that are drained by different river systems. For this reason, the feature is often called a drainage divide. Water flowing on one side of a divide empties into one body of water, while water flowing on the other side empties into another.

The above is from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/divide/?utm_source=BibblioRCM_Row

Point: I use the phrase “The Great Divide” to illustrate that there is a line drawn by the Word of God on living by the Spirit and living by the soulish or fleshly realm. The line signifies a great divide and signifies which way your life flows.