Overcoming Obstacles

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

I do this as a 3 part series.

INTRODUCTION:

A. Every person is one of two things:

1. CONFORMER: you are fashioned by pressure from without

2. TRANSFORMER: you are changed by powers from within...

B. THE WAY WE PRAISE AND WORSHIP GOD CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE WHETHER

WE ARE A CONFORMER OR A TRANSFORMER...

TEXT:

Galatians 5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

C. DEFINE:

1. OBSTACLE: a person or thing the obstructs progress, huddle, to block, to prevent or retard

the progress of...

2. HINDER: to impede, delay, prevent

3. FRUSTRATE: to make ineffective, to prevent a person from achieving a purpose, discontent

because one was unable to achieve a purpose or desire.

WHAT OVERWHELMS AND DISCOURAGES ONE, MIGHT BE A GREAT MOTIVATOR FOR

ANOTHER?

THE DIFFERENCE IS WILL WE ALLOW THIS TO DRAIN US?

WILL WE LEARN TO THRIVE IN THE MIDST OF THESE OBSTACLES AND BECOME STRONGER?

James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts

that war in your members?

[2] Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not,

because ye ask not.

[3] Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

[4] Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

[5] Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

[6] But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the

humble.

[7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

[8] Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify

your hearts, ye double minded.

1. THE FIRST OBSTACLE EVERY BELIEVER MUST OVERCOME IS FEAR/ WORRY.

WORRY AND FEAR CAN BECOME MORE THAN A ATTITUDE, THEY CAN BECOME

SPIRITS THAT WILL IMPEDE AND HINDER SUCCESSFUL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.

A. There is a spirit of fear, fear is not of God.

2 Tim. 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

B. Fear isolates, we lose control, feeling of inadequacy, feeling of rejection, thus fighting the need

to be popular?

C. Fear will always block supportiveness and openness.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.

He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

2. ANOTHER BIG OBSTACLE WE FACE IS A COMPETETION OR COMPARATIVE SPIRIT.

A. We look at others size, salary, home, spouse, education, talents and we WISH TO BE

SOMEONE ELSE.

B. The comparisons do not always work....

How about a chicken and a pig having breakfast? BACON AND EGGS?

2 Cor. 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some

that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing

themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to

men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

C. The rooster was strutting around the chicken pen when he saw a FOOTBALL. He gathered

all the hens around the "BIG EGG" and demanded they start laying eggs that size?

They couldn't?

D. GOD JUDGES BY ABILITY!

3. ONE OF THE BIGGEST OBSTACLES FACED IN THE CHURCH TODAY IS HURT,

BITTERNESS, OFFENDED SPIRITS...

A, JESUS WARNED IN THE LAST DAYS MANY WOULD BE OFFENDED...

Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate

one another.

B. BITTERNESS IS A ROOT, IT IS NOT EASY KILLED...

Often bitterness is hidden deep in darkness.

Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness

springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

C. ARE YOU BITTER? WHY? Bitterness is a type of unforgiveness.

Wear the full armor! Identify who the real enemy is?

D. GOD GIVES A PLAN IN MATTHEW 18, GO TO THE BROTHER ONE ON ONE...

E. BITTERNESS MAY BE HARD TO SELF DIAGNOSE?

4. THERE IS A REAL CLINICAL PROBLEM OF DISCOURAGEMENT THAT IS MEDICAL

AND CHEMICAL IN NATURE. THIS OBSTACLE IS MORE ABOUT SPIRITUAL DEPRESSION.

A. We must learn to overcome discouragement. We see many times in the Bible there was a battle

with discouragement.

B. Often the Father said: Be strong; be courageous, do not be discouraged...