BreakthroughHow do I receive my breakthrough?

February 16, 2018

Rita Acquaah

Introduction:

• I have a strong sense that this year (2018) God has big plans for His people. Not that He never has big plans but there’re stages in our lives and I believe God wants to begin a new thing in our lives.

• But how do we receive that and not allow the year to be the “usual”?

Significance of 2018 AD / 5778 Hebrew calendar• Amongst others, it marks entering into a major shift or season which

brings huge harvest to God’s people.

The desire to advance

• I read something which says: “Wherever people find themselves in life, they usually possess the natural desire to move up. They want greater recognition. They want to make more money. They want to live in a better home. They want to advance and improve.”

Discussion

• Is this true about you? Why do you think this is so?• God didn’t create us to be stagnant

Discussion

• What do you most desire this year in terms of advancing and not remaining the same?

• Personal spiritual

The barriers

Face it, despite the promises there’ll be barriers to break. Each and everyone of us is guaranteed of that.

• What are some barriers you face in trying to advance? OR

• What kind of setbacks do you expect to experience in working towards such a desire this year? Cos, they’re bound to happen. (failures, roadblocks etc) which test our commitment to keep working towards that go and break the status quo/breakthrough

Breaking the status quo

Discussion

• How can we break the status quo and partake of this harvest?

Breakthrough

• What is a breakthrough in the biblical sense?

The Word of God

• I Chronicles 14:8-17

• The Philistines Defeated

• 8 Now when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went out against them. 9 Then the Philistines went and made a raid on the Valley of Rephaim. 10 And David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”

The Word of God

• The LORD said to him, “Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand.”

• 11 So they went up to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there. Then David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore they called the name of that place Baal Perazim.[a] 12 And when they left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.

The Word of God

• 13 Then the Philistines once again made a raid on the valley. 14 Therefore David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. 15 And it shall be, when you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 16 So David did as God commanded him, and they drove back the army of the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer. 17 Then the fame of David went out into all lands, and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.

Breakthrough – according to David

• Verse 11

• “…then David said, ‘God has broken through my enemies by my hand like a breakthrough of water’.”

• Imagery:

• Dr. Charles Ryrie says:

• “The image is of flooding waters breaking through a dam, as David’s troops broke through the Philistine assault.”

Example: Using water as used by David

• If you surf:

• Think about this: Can you make a wave?

• You can’t. All you can do is wait for the wave from the sea then you can ride on it. Or

wait for the snow to be able to ski.

• Similar to breakthroughs – You can’t by yourself fully generate a breakthrough. You may

try, but you need something more than your own effort to receive that breakthrough.

• Ask for examples: have you tried to do that by yourself and what was the outcome?

(short-lived/u-turn etc.)

How do you receive the breakthrough?

• Like a wave, only when God sends one your way.

• Once He does, you can then ride on it onto where you desire to go.

• And for our discussion higher ground not the usual.

• Is God willing to send us that breakthrough? Yes, yes, yes.

What it does

• Picture this, if God gives you that momentum, what/how does it propel you?

• Have you had any experiences of this before? (Use FATE as an example)

• Gives you momentum

• Go the right direction

• Propel you

• May start small but gets bigger

Back to 2018

• This is what God wants for us this year.

• Grant us what we desire through

• Giving us a wave of momentum to help us move in the right direction.

What can you do?

• Prepare yourself and be ready

• How do we prepare ourselves ?

• Admit and accept the fact that you need that breakthrough this year. You may say

you’re happy with the status quo – but is that all God wants to give you? Why limit

God?

• So I’d like you to ask yourself:

ResistanceDiscussion

• Are you experiencing any resistance in your bid to advance?

• Read verse 8 again

• “Now when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all

Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it

and went out against them.”

• When did this happen? When he was anointed king over all Israel.

Resistance

• When things seemed to be going well. Just then …. Same applies to us

• Where/when do we usually experience that resistance?

• What happens when we get that strong resistance?

• Through resistance we become quite reluctant to do things which

results in:

• Fear

• Nervous

• Accept the status quo – “let me not muddy the waters”

Fight vrs flight

• Big decision to make

• David – should he go after them or not?

• At the crossroads – but crossroads for a reason – Just where God

wants you.

• Be determined to go for it.

• Is anyone at the crossroads now? Discuss

Dealing with resistance

• 1. Who could help you?

• 2. Who/what’s the enemy?

• 3. What result are you expecting?

• David knew exactly what He wanted. So should you.

• Reach out to God first, through prayer

• Identify your motivation (good/bad – bottom line to glorify God).

The ability to discern

• How do you discern the right gate?

• Again through prayer, sticking with the desire so long as the motivation is right.

• “It’s not over until God says it’s over”.

• How do you know it’s over?

Reference

• Kellum, B – Get ready for your breakthrough, August 11, 2009

• https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/get-ready-for-your-breakthrough-bradley-kellum-sermon-on-change-137971?page=1