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...
John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
C. DAVID IS COMING HOME FROM A GREAT VICTORY. He see smoke going heavenward?
Great discouragement comes, the men spake of stoning him. David learned a great lesson.
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.
1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the
soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged
himself in the Lord his God.
D. HAVE YOU LEARNED TO ENCOURAGE YOURSELF?
5. THE IS A LEVEL OF TIREDNESS MUCH DEEPER THAN LOOSING ONE NIGHT'S SLEEP.
THERE IS A SPIRIT OF TIREDNESS THAT WILL DRAIN A CHRISTIAN COMPLETELY.
Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he
also reap.
[8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit
shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
[9] And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with
wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
6. FRUSTRATION CAN BE A STEPPING STONE OR A TERRIBLE STUMBLING BLOCK...
AGAIN FRUSTRATION IS NEUTRAL, IT IS HOW WE HANDLE THE FRUSTRATION THAT
KILLS US OR GROWS US...
A. FRUSTRATE: to make ineffective, to prevent a person from achieving a purpose, discontent
because one was unable to achieve a purpose or desire.
B. FRUSTRATION CAN COME FROM FRIENDS, ENEMIES, OTHERS, BUT THE REAL BATTLE
WITH FRUSTRATION COMES FROM WITHIN...
Ezra 4:5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king
of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
C. We must learn SUFFERING is the GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE CROSS.
6. A MARTYR SPIRIT, I AM THE ONLY ONE...
1 Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under
a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord,
take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
1 Kings 19:10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel
have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I,
even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
1 Kings 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto
Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but
the flesh is weak.
7. A GREAT OBSTACLE THAT IS HARD TO OVERCOME IS BEING ANEMIC IN THE WORD
OF GOD... ANEMIC PEOPLE GROW FROM AMEMIA...
A. Anemia is having a deficiency of red cells...
One is often pale, lacking in energy and strength, weak, no vitality.
Are we deficient in strength, power, vigor?
B. Sickly oaks from sickly acorns grow... feeble, fragile...
C. We are often A MILE WIDE AND 1/4 OF AN INCH DEEP?
Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the
power of God.
POWER OF REPEATING...
Mark 12:24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not
the scriptures, neither the power of God?
MILK NOT MEAT?
1 Cor. 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it,
neither yet now are ye able.
8. WE OFTEN FACE THE OBSTACLE OF AN UNHEALTHY PRAYER LIFE...
James 4:2 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.
A. We find many prayers are unanswered because they WERE NOT PRAYED.
B. Others prayers were prayed with the WRONG MOTIVE.
C. SELFISH PRAYERS HINDER GOD'S PEOPLE...
9. THERE IS THIS TERRIBLE OBSTACLE THAT BECOMES A DEATH TRAP...
HUMANS ARE THE ONLY VARMITS THAT BAIT AND SET THEIR OWN TRAPS...
A. DO WE BELIEVE GOD'S PROMISES? YES OR NO?
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things
as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
B. When we went to Grandmaw Sumners, my older brother and I loved to tell her we were hungry
and Mom did not feed us. When we left Grandmaw's house she would load us up with food.
Mom always wondered why?
One day Grandmaw jumped on to Mom for not feeding us.
When we got home, MOM CRIED AND CRIED, I can not believe you told my Mom I did
not feed you boys?
WE DID IT TO GET ATTENTION...
John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
NIV
John 14:18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
MESSAGE
John 14:18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.
Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that
sticketh closer than a brother.
10. DO WE FACE THE GIANT OBSTACLE OF DOING GOD'S WORK WITH LITTLE
TO NO JOY? Neh. 8:10 --- for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
A. A RACE CAR IS DESIGNED TO RUN ON HIGH OCTANE FUEL,
IMAGINE RACING ON WATER?
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that
your joy might be full.
B. YOU HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO BE FULL OF JOY...
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your
joy may be full.
1 John 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
2 John 1:12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but
I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
11. WE CAN TEND TO GROW A TERRITORIAL SPIRIT, I HAVE EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS,
IT IS ALL ABOUT ME...
A. JESUS IS THE VINE, WE ARE BUT THE BRANCHES...
B. As a CANDLE gives itself to the LIGHT...
C. WE MUST COME UNDER THE GOLDEN RULE:
Not do unto others as they do to you...
BUT DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WANT THEM TO DO TO YOU....
12. NEVER FORGET THE OBSTACLE OF SEEDS, SOWINNG AND REAPING...
2 Cor. 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth
bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he
also reap.
[8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit
shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Conclusion: We need the Holy Spirit to help us and expose the obstacles.
OBSTACLES AND PROBLEMS ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW AND TRUUST GOD.
ARE YOU GROWING? ARE WE OVERCOMING?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Pass my work to another?
