Breakthrough

OPENING

New Year

New Beginnings

New Opportunities

We Will Continue to Focus On

Knowing Jesus and Making Jesus Known

Being a Place Where the Presence of God is Present

Come As You Are, Leave Better Than You Came

Small Church - Big Heart

Breakthrough and Increase (2023 Theme)

Breakthrough

Any significant or sudden advancement, achievement, or increase that overcomes or removes a barrier to progress.

When the hard work begins to pay off.

Increase

Knowledge of Jesus

Knowledge of His Word

Influence

Effectiveness

Harvest

Outreach

Anointing (Power of the Holy Spirit)

SCRIPTURE

2 Samuel 5:17–25 NKJV

17 Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.” 20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 21 And they left their images there, and David and his men carried them away. 22 Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 Therefore David inquired of the Lord, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. 24 And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the Lord will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 25 And David did so, as the Lord commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.

MESSAGE

David Encountered Adversity

The Philistines heard about David’s promotion as King over Israel and came up to fight against him.

David went down to the stronghold and prepared for battle.

The Philistines camped in the Valley of Rephaim.

Valley of Rephaim = Valley of Giants.

David had more giants to slay.

ADVANCEMENT BRINGS ADVERSITY

Anytime you try to advance or increase in your relationship with God, the devil is going to show up.

Anytime God starts to move in your life, the devil is going to try to stop it.

We must advance in the face of adversity.

David Inquired of the Lord

David asked God for help to know what to do.

Notice David asked God for specifically what he needed to know.

Notice David gave God the glory.

Notice David didn’t move until he had heard from God.

ADVERSITY SHOULD LEAD US TO PRAYER

Prayer is our weapon against the enemy.

The only way we’ll ever stand, is on our knees with lifted hands.

We must devote ourselves to prayer and fasting.

David Named the Place of Victory Baal-Perazim

Baal-Perazim = The Lord of Breakthroughs.

Notice Perazim is plural.

Notice David said it was like a breakthrough of water.

When God said to move, David was ready and obedient.

We have to be ready for the move of God.

Once God begins to move, all we must do is obey.

Because of his readiness and obedience, David won the victory over his enemy.

PRAYER LEADS TO BREAKTHROUGH

David went to the Lord in prayer, and God responded by giving David the breakthrough that he needed.

David didn’t just ask God what to do, he was also willing to obey.

We must keep our faith in the Lord of the Breakthroughs and be willing to obey when He speaks.

David Faced the Same Enemy Again

The enemy did not give up.

David inquired of the Lord again.

God answered David again.

But God answered in a different way this time.

GET READY FOR DIFFERENT

God doesn’t always answer in the same way everytime.

Just because God moved a certain way in the past, does not mean that He is obligated to move in the same way again now.

God might be wanting to do a new thing.

David Obeyed the Lord Again

God told David, “when you hear the sound of marching (a going) in the tops of the mulberry trees, advance quickly (breakthrough), because the Lord will go out before you and will take care of the enemy.”

The sound of marching was the sound of heaven’s angelic armies going forward into battle ahead of David and Israel.

David obeyed the Lord again and the Lord defeated David’s enemy again.

David didn’t just need one breakthrough, he needed multiple breakthroughs.

I’m thankful today that we serve the Lord of the Breakthroughs.

I can hear the prophetic sound of the Holy Spirit moving in our midst.

Like Elijah who said, “I hear the sound of the abundance of rain.”

He who has an ear to hear, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.

And I believe what God is saying to us today is:

GET READY FOR THE INCREASE

This is the season of breakthroughs.

2023 is going to be a year of Breakthrough and Increase.

Walls are coming down.

Giants are going to fall.

Hinderances to progress are going to be removed.

I feel like the Lord is saying to our church:

“Listen to My voice.”

“And get ready to advance quickly”

We’ve just got to keep trusting in the Lord of the Breakthroughs.

CLOSING

Five Keys to Breakthrough

Be Willing to Advance in the Face of Adversity

Devote Yourself to Prayer and Fasting

Keep Your Faith in the Lord of the Breakthroughs

Get Ready for Different

Get Ready for Increase

ALTAR CALL