Sermon Central
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Strategies To Improve Your Situation
Contributed by Vera Hughes on Feb 20, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: Are you at a time in your life were you want to improve your situation? I think I know your answer. Why did I ask that? You would say that many do. However, some people are so hopeless that they feel their situation can never improve. The important thi
Luke 8:43-48 (King James Version)
We read in the scriptures that there was a woman who had an issue of blood for 12 years. She spent everything she had and didn’t have anywhere else to turn. She heard about Jesus was delivering people and setting them free from afflictions. She wanted to improve her situation.
Are you at a time in your life were you want to improve your situation? I think I know your answer. Why did I ask that? You would say that many do. However, some people are so hopeless that they feel their situation can never improve. The important this you must know is that your situation can improve.
TRANSITIONAL STATEMENT
Definition of Strategy – a careful plan or method; the means or procedure for doing something
There are strategies in the Word of God to improve your situation. Say if people knew better, they would do better. God has a plan to make your situation improve. Today, is a new day in your life. You are getting ready to hear four strategies that can change your life today. You have to know that you situation is not hopeless and it will get better!
FOUR STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE YOUR SITUATION
I HAVE A CORRECT IMAGE OF WHO WE ARE
You can see yourself in your situation so long that the enemy has convinced you of the image that you are unloved, not worthy, or will never be delivered.
The woman with the issue of blood could have seen herself unworthy to get the healing that she deserved. The woman was broke, busted, and disgusted.
However, somewhere in this woman she saw an image of a whole and healthy woman. She got a revelation of who she could be and was.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.
Imaginations – mental reasoning or arguments in the mind to obey God’s Word.
The enemy is tricking many of you with of image that nothing will ever change. You can image living a better life and improving your life.
The correct image of who we are is in Genesis 1:27-29
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Blessed – empowered them
This is the image of who you are:
• I am a child of God
• A joint-heir with Christ Jesus
• A new creation in Christ Jesus
• A citizen of the Kingdom of God
Ephesians 2:6 - And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus
The woman deserved to be healed. Jehovah Rapah the Lord who heals came to her rescue.
She saw herself improving her situation if she could just touch his garment.
When she confessed that she touched the hem of His garment, He said “Daughter”. He confirmed who she was.
II STOP MAKING EXCUSES
Definition: Excuses are the crutch of the uncommitted.
Excuses cause you to:
1. Cover up – it’s human nature ( I can’t – I’m too old)
2. Speed up – keep plowing ahead and never acknowledge you are making excuses (just keep on going on with life and never acknowledging you are making excuses)
3. Give up – 90% of all people who make excuses are not defeated; they quit. (simply quit)
Many have placed labels on you and you use them as excuses not to move forward to improve your situation.
However, the woman with the issue of blood made no excuse. Look how her issue was viewed during the time she lived in:
Among the things considered defiling, disqualifying one for the rituals of religion, was an issue of blood, especially menstruation or hemorrhage. The woman with the issue of blood had been plagued with a flow of blood for 12 years, no one having been able to heal her.
She found the courage in a crowd to force her way up to Jesus, approaching him from behind so as to remain inconspicuous, and simply touching his garment. When she touched Jesus’ garment, the flows of blood stopped. Jesus turned and asked who touched him.
The disciples tried to brush aside the question, protesting that in such a crowd no individual could be singled out. Jesus pressed his inquiry and the noble woman identified herself and declared to the crowd the blessing that had come to her. Jesus treated her not only as having worth but as doing a responsible thing. He did not rebuke her for what the cultic code of holiness would have considered as having defiled him. Rather, he relieved her of any sense of guilt for her seemingly rash act and said, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace!"
