Video Transition: This Year I mean it – Skit Guys
Our Theme this year - Breakthrough 2020
Sermon 2: Keys to Spiritual Breakthrough pt. 2
Thesis: In 2020 we are looking for spiritual breakthroughs in our lives, our souls, our families, our church, our school, and our community – But to get the desired breakthrough in our lives we need to have 20 – 20 vision from the Lord to see into the spiritual realm and how to use His weapons which will bring the breakthrough.
To help us remember that Breakthroughs are possible - Ashley did a song called “Breakthrough” By red Rock Worship - written by Jay Stocker, Korey Miller, and Jake Epsy - highlight the words.
Breakthrough:
I am weary from the waves
Crashing over every day
God of mercy, please come rescue me
I am longing for Your voice
Gentle whisper in the noise
Father, tell me everything's all right, yeah
Your power and Your presence
Breaks strongholds, King of Heaven
When You speak, mountains move
I believe there will be breakthrough, yeah
You alone can take my scars
And piece by piece restore my heart
Take what's broken, make it whole again, oh-oh
'Cause Your power and Your presence
Breaks strongholds, King of Heaven
When You speak, mountains move
I believe there will be breakthrough, oh-oh
There will be breakthrough, oh
Shake the mountains, break the walls apart
Open the Heavens, Almighty God, You are
Overcomer, Defender of my heart
It's who You are, God
By Your power, the oceans open wide
Your fire falls down, Heaven and Earth collide
King Jesus, forever by my side
Shake the mountains, yes
Shake the mountains, break the walls apart
Open the Heavens, Almighty God, You are
Overcomer, Defender of my heart, oh-oh, yeah
And by Your power, the oceans open wide
Your fire falls down, Heaven and Earth collide
King Jesus, forever by my side, yeah
'Cause Your power and Your presence
Breaks strongholds, King of Heaven
When You speak, mountains move
I believe there will be breakthrough
And Your power and Your presence
Breaks strongholds, King of Heaven
When You speak, mountains move
I believe there will be breakthrough
There will be breakthrough
There will be breakthrough
I know, I know, I know
There will be breakthrough
I know You are moving now, God
I know You are healing now, God
You are moving, You are healing, You are speaking
There will be, there will be victory
I know, I know, I know
There will be, there will be victory here
There will be, there will be victory here
There will be, there will be victory, oh-oh
There will be, there will be victory here
There will be, there will be victory here
There will be, there will be victory here
I know, I know, yeah
There will be, come on, there will be victory here
There will be, there will be victory here
There will be, there will be victory here, oh-oh, yeah
There will be, there will be victory here
There will be, there will be victory here
There will be, there will be victory here
We believe, shake the mountains
Shake the mountains, you sing, break the walls apart
Open the Heavens, Almighty God, You are
Overcomer, Defender of my heart
And by Your power, the oceans open wide
Your fire falls down, Heaven and Earth collide
King Jesus, forever by my side
Shake the mountains, shake the mountains
Shake the mountains, break the walls apart
Open the Heavens, Almighty God, You are
Overcomer, Defender of my heart
By Your power, by Your power
And by Your power, the oceans open wide
Your fire falls down, Heaven and Earth collide
King Jesus, forever by my side
'Cause Your power and Your presence
Breaks strongholds, King of Heaven
When You speak, mountains move
I believe there will be breakthrough, yeah
There will be breakthrough
We know, we know, we know
That there will be breakthrough
There will be breakthrough
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Jay Stocker / KOREY MILLER / JAKE EPSY
Breakthrough lyrics © All Essential Music, Be Essential Songs
Scripture Texts:
Philippians 4:13: “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-4: “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.”
Introduction:
This morning, I want us to talk about breakthroughs. But more importantly about having a spiritual breakthrough. We need to push forward in 2020 with the foresight that a breakthrough is possible – that a miracle is possible – that the stronghold can be broken - we need to choose to see things through the eyes of faith and not fear - I believe we need change our negative thoughts, attitudes and mindsets about having a spiritual breakthrough - I believe negative – fear filled thoughts lead many to spiritual breakdowns and not into spiritual breakthroughs.
Highlight last weeks - Illustration:
I want to demonstrate how we get spiritual breakthroughs this morning – I am going to drive my fist through these blocks to show how we can make spiritual breakthroughs by our own power – pause – just kidding I do have wisdom and I know I do not have the strength or skill to break these blocks with my hand – if I tried I most likely would break my hand.
So, I know I cannot break these blocks with my hand but – wisdom tells me I don’t have to use my hand - I can use a tool designed to break these blocks apart. It’s called a Sledge Hammer – break block!
In breaking these blocks they could represent pride, greed, lust, envy, porn, addiction, arrogance, doubt, anger, hypocrisy, fear, apathy, sin, shame, rejection, depression, financial bondage, broken marriage, toxic relationships, just to name a few.
But I broke these blocks with the sledge hammer – made by someone else who designed them to break blocks – makes it easy and safe – Jesus has designed spiritual tools for us to break spiritual strongholds and we need to pick them up and use them to get our breakthrough this year.
Back to our Scripture texts that I read this morning:
Philippians 4:13: “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Prayer: Lord you give us a spiritual sledge hammer help us use it this year to get a spiritual breakthrough).
2 Corinthians 10:3-4: “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.”
T.S. – So you may be thinking “I get it Pastor Mike but what spiritual tools are you telling me I need to pick up from the Lord?” – good thought - let’s look a few spiritual tools we can use to bring the spiritual breakthroughs:
Summarize Point 1 from last week!
I. David’s spiritual breakthrough came from seeking direction from the Lord (It’s called prayer – connection with the Lord) even after he had some spiritual break downs.
a. Note: Spiritual breakdowns can lead to spiritual breakthroughs!
i. David is our example of this in Scripture!
ii. You could also add Job, Joseph, Moses, Elijah, the Apostle Peter and Paul.
iii. You could add John Newton author of Amazing Grace!
1. Share his story briefly!
iv. You could add 100,000 of other people through Biblical and church history!
b. But last week we explored 1 Samuel 27 - David Escapes to Philistine Territory running from King Saul because he is having a spiritual breakdown!
i. 1 David told himself, “One of these days I’ll perish by Saul’s hand. There is nothing better for me to do than to escape to Philistine territory. Saul will give up searching for me anymore within the borders of Israel, so I’ll escape from him.” 2 So David got up, and he and the 600 men who were with him went to Maoch’s son Achish, the king of Gath. 3 David stayed with Achish in Gath along with his men, each of whom was with his household. David had his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, who had been the wife of Nabal of Carmel. 4 Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, and he did not continue to search for him.
1. In our scenario David had a spiritual break down – his weary heart and soul caves to pressure and fear which overruns his faith. So, he runs to his enemy for protection – for safety – not God – the truth is many people get overwhelmed and they run to their bondages and to the enemies of the Spirit of God for comfort – They do this rather than run to God – by the way this was not the first time David had a spiritual break down and did something like this.
a. Did you hear me this was not the first spiritual breakdown for our hero of the faith – who was called a Man after God’s Own Heart!
b. Look at 1 Samuel 21:11b-15: And at that, David shot out of there, running for his life from Saul. He went to Achish, king of Gath. When the servants of Achish saw him, they said, “Can this be David, the famous David? Is this the one they sing of at their dances? Saul kills by the thousand, David by the ten thousand!” When David realized that he had been recognized, he panicked, fearing the worst from Achish, king of Gath. So right there, while they were looking at him, he pretended to go crazy, pounding his head on the city gate and foaming at the mouth, spit dripping from his beard. Achish took one look at him and said to his servants, “Can’t you see he’s crazy? Why did you let him in here? Don’t you think I have enough crazy people to put up with as it is without adding another? Get him out of here!”
i. David has a spiritual breakdown – pretending to be crazy – have you ever done that? Fear has overrun his faith! The stress has broken down his trust factor in God.
c. Breakdowns happen to the best of Gods people – Did you hear me? - remember David was a man after Gods own heart and at times he had spiritual breakdowns – but each time he returned to the Lord – you could say he had to come to his spiritual senses again.
i. Truth spiritual breakdowns do not mean you cannot have a spiritual breakthrough!
ii. Usually spiritual breakdowns lead to spiritual breakthroughs!
1. Because when we come to end of ourselves and cry out to God he rushes in and renew our strength – our vision – our faith – our spiritual senses – we just have to cry out to Him!
2. Are you willing to do that this year for a spiritual breakthrough? Cry out to God for Help – ask for help?
2. ??2 Samuel? ?5:17-25? ?NIV?????? ????????????????????????????????????????
a. From David’s victory after becoming King as God promised and defeating the Philistines David describes God as Baal-Perazim – which means God of Breakthroughs.
i. This Story of David and his breakdown to breakthrough against fear and his enemies-shows how he overcame his breakdowns – He did this by reconnecting or connecting with the Lord.
b. Illustration: The Battle of The Bulge – It was a breakthrough in the American lines but it lead to Germany’s eventual breakdown as a military power- they had a breakthrough with their might and armor but without God it lead to their destruction.
c. How to get a breakthrough in 2020 – let’s learn from David!
i. First don’t run to your enemies for protection – don’t run to your bondages for comfort – or addictions for comfort – run to God. Cry out to God for help!
ii. We need God for a breakthrough – so instead of running to your problems, your bondage, to your fear – seek the Lord for a breakthrough – seek wisdom on how to attack your enemy to breakout. Ask Jesus to help you stand firm in the faith, so the spiritual breakthrough comes.
1. David asked God for wisdom – for instruction on how to get the breakthrough – then he listened to the Lords direction and followed it – notice different instructions for each battle but the same outcome - breakthrough.
a. This morning,
i. I believe that God is the God of breakthroughs.
ii. I believe we will see many spiritual breakthroughs this year.
1. Do you believe this?
T.S. – Let’s look at another Biblical story of a man who got a breakthrough both spiritually and physically from the New Testament!
Video Illustration: Jesus heals the paralyzed man! Follow along in Mark 2:1-12:
II. Another story of the lame man’s breakthrough and how he received it from Jesus.
a. The Following from Virtual Preacher.com:
i. “The news was out: help was available for the sick! But a certain paralytic had no way to get to it. Physically disabled people like him were not only immobile but usually poor. Useless to society and lacking help from the government, they invariably lived as social outcasts. But some men knew of this man’s dilemma and came to his need. They helped him get to a house where Jesus was teaching. Yet enormous crowds made access impossible. Fortunately, the men were determined and resourceful: they literally tore the roof off in order to connect their friend with the helper.”
1. Did you see and hear this – they went all out for a breakthrough for their friend or family member – they were determined to get a breakthrough for this man!
a. What would you have done? Give up because of the crowd?
b. Mark 2:1-12: “A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So, he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”” https://www.bible.com/111/mrk.2.1-12.niv
i. When I read this text - I see a man who was desperate for a breakthrough – both physically and spiritually – Jesus gave him both.
1. Why because they did what ever it took to get into His presence and ask for help!
ii. It’s important to know that in those days a person who was paralyzed or blind we’re said to be so because of sin – in essence they were being judged by God for sin – either their sin or their parents sin – this is why Jesus addressed his spiritual need first saying “Your sins are forgiven.” It started the healing process for this man and many others.
1. Jesus used these words about forgiveness during other healings as well in Scripture.
a. To the woman at the well, Jesus said, “My daughter, your sins are forgiven.”
b. To Peter’s mother-in-law when he healed her, “Woman, your sins are forgiven.”
c. To the centurion’s servant, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”
i. These words of truth are the key to the story.
1. Jesus has the power to forgive sins, and when sins are forgiven, there is healing in one’s life – both spiritually and in some cases physically.
2. I know this year we can have a spiritual breakthrough of our own but first we need to be desperate for it.
a. How desperate are you for a spiritual breakthrough – for revival – for healing? Are you desperate like this man was and his friends?
i. Would you breakthrough a roof to get to Jesus?
iii. The second thing I notice today is he recruited his friends and or family members to help him get the breakthrough.
1. The Scripture says When Jesus saw their faith – notice – the ones carrying the lame man – the paralyzed man – the other 4 - he was amazed and he addressed the lame man first about his spiritual condition – He said “Your sins are forgiven!”
a. Jesus saw their faith – does He see your faith in action?
b. Hear this point it is very important - When Jesus saw their faith, underline the words, “their faith.”
i. One writer said, “This is one of the many stories where Jesus emphasized the power of faith. It wasn’t just the healed man who had faith but so did his four friends. When Jesus saw THEIR faith.”
2. One preacher from Seattle said: “Friends are important to our faith. It was not only the paralyzed man who believed but his four friends also believed. The four friends had faith. Jesus saw their faith. Often our friends encourage and enlarge the faith that we have. (That is what the story of Daniel is about, the four friends who helped each other be loyal to their faith and religious practices.) Friends are friends when we are sick. Friends are present to help us when we are sick, and these particular friends proved to be very good supporters.”
a. http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_b_the_paralytic_and_his_four_friends.htm
iv. Question would your friends or family do something like this for you? Would you do something like this for your family or friends?
1. Do you have this kind of faith – this kind of trust in Jesus?
c. This morning, we have been given another key to a spiritual breakthrough from Scripture:
i. We must go to Jesus for a spiritual breakthrough!
ii. If need be we need to recruit our friends and family to help us get where Jesus is – so we experience a spiritual breakthrough.
1. Please hear this - We don’t have to stand and stare at the insurmountable barrier that separates us from God and a breakthrough.
a. We can be so desperate that we go after closing the gap between us and the presence of The Lord!
i. In His presence is breakthrough – asking Him brings breakthrough!
2. When we will do anything to get into the presence of Jesus – He will reward us for our desperate faith – it will amaze Him!
a. Especially when our friend's and family join us.
iii. We have been given a kind of spiritual sledgehammer; a spiritual wrecking ball that will smash through those barriers in our lives and others lives and bring a spiritual breakthrough – we don’t have to make it happen – Jesus will do it if we go desperately to Him and ask for help.
1. The tools are there for you already so pick this one up and use it!
2. Do what ever it takes to get into God’s presence – cry out to Him for help!
3. Recruit others to help you get there!
4. Be willing to help someone else get their spiritual breakthrough.
d. The big question: “How desperate are you for a breakthrough?”
i. Cambridge Dictionary defines it this way – 1. the feeling of being in such a bad situation that you will take any risk to change it:
1. Example - In desperation, they jumped out of the window to escape the fire.
2. Definition 2- the feeling of needing or wanting something very much:
a. Example: his desperation to survive helped him to live.
e. Leonard Ravenhill – “As long as we are content to live without revival, we will.”
i. Michael Brown says in the book, “The Fire that Never Sleeps” this about a desperation for a spiritual breakthrough:
1. “Revival must become our desperate cry if we are going to see God move among us in authentic New Testament power” (Page 106).
a. He adds in his book this thought: “I am convinced, now more than ever, that revival is the only hope for our nation. It’s really revival or else. Our survival as a society is dependent on a revived Church. After all, as the Church goes, so goes the world. We need to seize the moment we have been given. In these days of deep darkness and moral compromise, the body of Christ cannot afford to remain a sleeping giant. While society as a whole, and even pockets of Christianity, are embracing sin as acceptable, the Church is abandoning the power of Pentecost.”
b. He added this warning to us today, “God is the one who alone initiates spiritual hunger, it is up to us to respond to it.”
i. Will you respond to this word today?
ii. Will you see the need to become desperate for spiritual breakthrough and go after it?
iii. Will you cry out to God for it!
iv. Will you go after it and do what you have to do to get it?
ii. Virtual Preacher stated, “The Bible says faith without actions is dead, (James 2:14-26). Anyone can believe in the power of God. Anyone can claim to have faith. However, it remains dead as long as we fail to take an initiative.”
1. What is the Holy Spirit telling you to do to get your spiritual breakthrough?
a. Pray?
b. Fast?
c. Extended times of Praise and Worship?
d. Recruit others to help you get there?
e. Go after the presence of Jesus?
f. Go on a spiritual retreat to meet with Jesus?
g. Get involved in a life group?
h. Something else?
T.S. – We need to be desperate for a spiritual breakthrough and let nothing stop us and I believe we also need to recruit others to help us get the breakthrough. But there is another key or tool to spiritual breakthrough it’s called fasting – lets learn from a man named Job.
III. Job’s story – “I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12).
a. We have a choice to make like Job, either we are going to believe God is for us or He is against us!
i. One brings a breakdown the other a breakthrough.
1. See Job 1:1-22:
a. Specifically verse 20: “At this Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head, then fell to the ground in worship…”
i. Some call this chapter “Blessed be your name oh Lord!”
b. Job in tragedy – seeking a breakthrough in the midst of a breakdown looks to Prayer, Praise and Fasting - spiritual disciplines – spiritual tools to get a breakthrough from a breakdown.
i. Note: One author stated, “Just as godly parents train and discipline their children in the ways of the Lord, so too, our heavenly Father loves us and knows what we have need of. He understands what is best for us, and by activating these spiritual weapons, we also gain two important attributes of the Lord: obedience and discipline. Prayer and fasting are beneficial for us.”
1. Job picked up these spiritual tools in the midst of his trauma and tragedies in life to get a breakthrough.
a. Remember - He lost his business, his kids, his security and health. But instead of giving up and dying like his wife told him to do - he wielded the spiritual tools to break out of the grief and despair to a spiritual breakthrough!
c. Fasting is spoken of throughout Scripture.
i. Jesus placed fasting on the same level as financial stewardship and prayer!
1. What would happen to our church and school if we cut out our financial giving to it?
a. It would close – we would unable to pay the bills!
2. What would happen if we did not pray?
a. The church and school would become a worthless organization with no God and no spiritual power.
ii. The truth is every major character fasted for spiritual breakthroughs in the Scriptures:
1. Job
2. Moses
3. Samuel
4. David
5. Isaiah
6. Jeremiah
7. Many of the Prophets
8. Jesus
9. Paul
10. James
11. John
a. Jesus said in Matthew 9:15 “There is a time for fasting”
i. God wants us to do this and Jesus was our model for doing it.
ii. If Jesus did it how much more should we do it!
d. Spiritual Benefits of prayer, praise and fasting:
i. Protection from our enemies who are after our hearts and souls.
ii. Freedom from the bondage of sin
iii. Victory over temptations
iv. Manifestation of physical, emotional or spiritual healing
v. Deliverance from evil spirits
vi. Repentance and revival
vii. Restoration
viii. Release into ministry and service for the Kingdom of Heaven
e. Physical Benefits of fasting
i. Detoxes your body from impurities.
ii. Resets your hormones.
iii. Lowers weight.
1. It has other physical benefits as well, such as lowering cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and other physical ailments.
f. Prayer, praise and fasting have both physical and spiritual benefits for us, but even more importantly, they are heavenly weapons that when used together cause spiritual breakthrough for us.
i. From https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/54446-your-secret-weapon-for-a-breakthrough
Conclusion:
We get spiritual breakthroughs by:
1. Inquiring of the Lord and seeking His direction, wisdom, insight and then listening to His instructions!
a. This is all about prayer - which is connecting or reconnecting with Jesus.
b. We must seek the audience of GOD alone not run to our bondages for protection.
c. We need to recruit friends and family that will help us get into the presence of Jesus! Not keep us from Him!
2. The second dimension to spiritual breakthrough is we need to get desperate for a spiritual breakthrough – now spiritual breakdowns can motivate us to go after a spiritual breakthrough with the help of the Lord.
a. Breakdowns can lead to spiritual breakthroughs when we see that we need the Lord to bring the breakthrough – we cannot do it with our fleshly talents or will – we need his intervention!
b. We need to be desperate for a change in our life!
c. We need to pray, seek the presence of Jesus for help.
3. The third weapon for a spiritual breakthrough is fasting combined with prayer and praise.
a. We are challenging you this month to do a 21 day, 7 day, 3 day fast for the purpose of a spiritual breakthrough in your life.
i. You could fast:
1. Social media
2. Food
3. Coffee
4. Video games
5. TV – like movies, or favorite series
6. Sports
7. Negative self-talk fast
8. Anger fast
9. Self-centered fast – deny yourself for 21 days – others first!
ii. You could add during this time:
1. Listening to praise music
2. Praying
3. Bible reading
4. Reading Christian book related to your desired breakthrough!
5. Listening to podcasts
6. Watch Christian movies
How desperate are you for a spiritual breakthrough?
