Power to Breakthrough

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit empowers us to do what we cannot do on our own. This is what we established two weeks ago… and I want to continue down this path as we get ready to pray and to worship this evening.

We know that the purpose in giving the church the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is to empower the witness of the church - that we might tell the world that Jesus saves.

But… what happens when life get’s in the way? What happens when obstacles creep up that would keep a person from testifying about Christ in the first place?

What I am talking about is bondage. What I am talking about are chains. HEAVY chains. Chains that we often try to hide… and cannot overcome. These chains may be products of our past, or even our present. These chains will greatly impact our future if left unchecked.

If we can’t break them on our own… then what hope do we have for true deliverance? WE FIND AND HAVE THIS HOPE IN JESUS!

The first step in breaking the chains is to call on the name of the Lord.

First, the blood of Christ has the POWER… say that word with me… POWER… to break through ANY chain.

He can redeem any past. He can heal any wound. He can help bring forgiveness, peace, assurance, etc. Christ has the power to break through your circumstance.

Secondly, the power of the Spirit is able to assist further in that breakthrough.

He does this through the indwelling ministry He offers to every believer.

He does this through the outpouring and overflow of His presence in those who would receive the baptism in the Spirit.

Christ Jesus aims to empower our witness tonight… our testimony… and He desires to help us breakthrough any personal situation that might be causing us not to be the witnesses He has called us to be.

I want you to think about something… have you ever been caught up in a habit, a way of thinking, a way of life… that had such a strong grip on you that you felt powerless do do anything about it?

Maybe in that moment you simply gave up and gave in.

Maybe you still wrestle and struggle with what that might be.

Maybe you have tried to sweep it under the rug and pretend it doesn’t exist.

God doesn’t want you giving in. God doesn’t want you struggling. God doesn’t want you hiding from the truth. GOD WANTS TO SET YOU FREE.

Jesus sets us free from sin and it’s consequences the moment we give our lives to Him. The empowerment of the Spirit helps to keep us in the freedom Jesus has given us. This spirit guides us to life… not death. This Spirit aligns our lives with God’s plan and Word.

If you are in a struggle, if you are in a battle, if you are desperately trying to overcome… the first step is to BE OVERCOME by the power of the Spirit.

Open the door to your heart to receive what God and God alone desires to pour into you!

The second step is… STOP inviting the struggle back in. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, close the door to what it is that is trying to bind you.

Ephesians 5:15-20 reads,

Ephesians 5:15–20 NIV

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I want to focus in on verse 18 for a moment.

Paul Specifically hits on the topic of drinking and drunkenness. He makes clear that this struggle leads to debauchery… which is extreme indulgence in bodily pleasures and especially sexual pleasures : behavior involving sex outside of marriage, drugs, alcohol, etc. that is often considered immoral.

Drunkenness can certainly lead to a world of trouble and personal discord in one’s life. And in this case, there must have been something going on in Ephesus that moved the Spirit to inspire Paul to write about this.

But drunkenness is not the only habit that can lead to destruction. There are so many worldly things out there that culture would encourage people to do. They are “harmless” in the eyes of the world but God warns us of the destruction they truly bring.

When “drunk” a person is now under the influence of the alcohol that is overwhelming their system. The alcohol is now in control.

But is intoxication the only situation where a person can fall under a dark or worldly influence?

Bitterness, hurt, reckless spending, immorality, relationships, pornography, “graphic” novels, cultural norms, etc. are all things that can influence us on a daily basis.

God does NOT want us FULL OF THE WORLD. He wants us OVERFLOWING WITH HIS SPIRIT.

This means stop living as the unwise live… and be filled with the Spirit of God!

And we get to this point by complaining and posting our struggles all over social media! No… we get to that point by burying our heads in the sand and and wishing it would all just go away! No… we get to that point by removing ourselves from church and trying to do things on our own! No… no and no.

The text gives us insight as to how we get to this point.

Step three… is WORSHIP! Look at what is said.

“Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. SING AND MAKE MUSIC FROM YOUR HEART TO THE LORD.”

What does worship do?

Worship places the focus off of us… and back on God where it belongs. Worship moves us beyond the seen into the unseen. It reminds us of who God is and what He is able to do.

Worship takes us away from the “spirit” of this world and back into His presence. It doesn’t focus on what we cannot do… it focuses in on what He already has done.

Worship truly is a game changer… that opens our heart to receive from the Lord.

I cannot think of a single story of testimony that speaks of God filling someone to overflowing while they were focused on themselves or on a struggle.

When we focus on the struggle… we tend to drown in that struggle. Much like how Peter began to sink when He took his eyes off Jesus.

But so long as our focus in on the Lord, He will help us make it through any storm.

Listen, when the Holy Spirit fills out lives, habits break. Temptations are overcome. Hurts are healed. Pain no longer dominates. BREAKTHROUGHS HAPPEN.

Why? Because the Spirit is not a natural resource of this earth. He is SUPERNATURAL. He is above and beyond anything this world could offer. He is without limitation meaning He can walk into your circumstance and radically turn it around right now!

God knows where you are and what you need. Again, He isn’t looking for you to give up or to pretend like the struggle isn’t real. He simply wants you to

Open the door to your heart for what He wants to pour in.

Close the door to your heart regarding the evils of this world.

WORSHIP HIM.

Closing

And we are going to start in reverse order tonight. I want us to begin with worship this evening.

And it starts before we place any words on the screen or play any music. Can we stand across this room, maybe come to the altar, and just begin to love on Jesus?

We are going to pray for needs in a moment, but let’s press in tonight and give the Lord our highest praise.

SING TWO SONGS

Secondly, I want us to pray in three different ways.

One - God, I open my heart to You and desire to receive ALL that You have for me.

This means giving ALL to Jesus.

This means being open to ALL He has for you.

Two - God, help me close the door to ALL unwise and evil forms of living.

This means less of the world and more of God.

This means, we repent of any and all darkness that might be harbored in our hearts.

Three - God, as I worship, fill me with the power of Your Holy Spirit!

Empower our witness!

Help us breakthrough!