You're Not Being Blessed Because You're Still Attached To The Wrong Things

when a baby is born one of the very first things you have to do is cut the umbilical cord in order to separate it from its mother it's abrupt it's permanent but it is necessary and that mental imagery is echoed in a multitude of different situations in sports some athletes have to be cut from the team so that only the best remain in gardening some branches have to be cut so that the rest of the plant can grow and in every season of life there comes a time when you have to cut certain things out of your life maybe it's a relationship that is tempting you to sin [Music] maybe it's a habit that's turning into an addiction maybe it's a hobby that's becoming an obsession there comes a time when you have to cut out certain things it could be anything anything that starts off innocent but gradually starts to become an idol anything that keeps you from pursuing jesus and enjoying life to the fullest in him is a risk of becoming toxic and at that point it's up to you to decide you've had enough it's up to you to decide to cut ties and oftentimes we have to do these risk assessments we need to begin assessing is this worthy of my time is this even worthy of my effort is this worth my attention so if you recognize that something just isn't right don't be afraid to cut that ungodly friendship don't be afraid to cut that dangerous career path don't be afraid to cut that hobby proverbs 13 verse 20 says whoever walks with the wise becomes wise but the companion of fools will suffer harm we can't always avoid temptation but we can avoid intentionally putting ourselves in tempting situations and there are certain people and conditions that bring out the worst in us ultimately we must value our relationship with god over our comfort we must value our spiritual health over our earthly satisfaction the longer we remain connected to something the more dependent on it we become we should never rely completely on one person or activity to make us happy people change circumstances change but the bible says that jesus christ is the same yesterday today and forever if he is calling you to cut ties with something or someone you value then do it nothing and no one should be placed above jesus christ in your life maybe he's showing you that your heart isn't in the right place losing those relationships isn't god's punishment it's his mercy it's his way of showing you that he is sufficient for you cutting ties doesn't mean you're giving up it doesn't mean you don't care it simply means that you are choosing wisely to walk away before you get hurt even more and if you're waiting for the right time you'll be waiting forever it's often easier to get it over with so that you can begin to heal cutting ties will likely be difficult it might cause some growing pains as you get acclimated to living without that person or that thing in your life you might feel helpless and afraid at first it might hurt to lose something or to lose that friendship but in time you can trust that god will help you to breathe on your own in time god will show you that it was all working for your good new levels new devils let me give you this word when your season comes when that blessing comes when your gift begins to make room for you and that fresh anointing touches your life be sober be vigilant and be warned the enemy will not take it sitting down there is a hierarchy in the kingdom of darkness and when the lord lifts you up to a new level understand that your level of opposition will change but don't let that scare you don't let that discourage you because when the enemy comes in like a flood the spirit of the lord shall lift up a standard against him so when you reach your new level your opposition might be greater but your measure of grace is greater your favor is bigger and your anointing is at a higher level so my message to you is that your level of prayer must match your level of opposition don't let your blessing become your weakness don't let your blessing become the cause of complacency in your life keep chasing god keep seeking for his presence whether you are being blessed you've been blessed or you're waiting for a blessing keep god first new levels new devils when god starts working in you and through you you become a threat to the enemy and your place of safety your refuge before during and after the breakthrough and the blessings should always be right under the blood of jesus not even the devil himself can touch you no principalities no rulers of wickedness can stand before an almighty god but the key for us is to stand under the protection of the blood at all times at all times dare to believe and this season in your life and this place where you find yourself right now i may not be able to speak directly to your circumstances i certainly do not have the power to change those circumstances you find yourself in but here's what i can do i can encourage you to dare to believe dare to believe god for the impossible dare to believe him from the innermost depths of your heart don't be defeated by what you face dry your weeping eyes get up plant your feet firmly on the ground dust yourself off and dare to believe that jesus christ can move mountains [Music] dare to believe that this situation you're in this tough place has to work out in your favor things have to turn around for your good it must be well so dare to believe don't push that panic button because it shall be well in your house don't push that panic button because there is hope there is a way out in the midst of devastation the devil may come in like a flood the storm may rise and the winds may blow but the spirit of the lord will raise up a standard against him so your test may be trying but i want you to know that your test did not come to break you it did not come to take away anything from you but it came to make you stronger your tests came to make you stronger dare to believe once god has taken you to a new level you become a higher threat to the enemy new levels new devils you see this is what happens when god begins to bless you he lifts you up for his glory and when the people around you begin to see the hand of god over your life you become a living testimony your life begins to be a ministry all by itself because of god those who saw you and thought you weren't qualified enough those who saw you and made the decision that you weren't good enough those who doubted you and said there was nothing to you all of them will witness your turn around when god starts moving all of them will be watching when god prepares a table for you in their presence you see there's no denying our god those who once plotted against you they will see you reach new heights despite their plans and they'll know they will know that you serve a living god a miracle-working god the king of kings but don't take it for granted remember to be sober to be vigilant do you think the devil will sit back and watch that if he can't stop you from being blessed he will try and get you to lose your blessing so your intensity must match that of your enemy your prayer life must match or be greater than the evil the devil throws your way when god lifts you up to a new level understand that the devil will raise his level of opposition against you new levels new devils and if you didn't know your opposition prowls to and fro looking for whom he may devour your opposition throws fiery darts in the middle of the night he comes to steal kill and destroy so you can't be praying on a level down here when your opposition is fighting you on a level up here you need to raise your game pray at a higher level praise and worship god at a deeper level search and chase god in a way like never before and when it comes to growth as a christian we all have room to grow as children of god we can never achieve perfection but we can grow we can improve there is a higher level to be sought after a higher level of faith a higher level of obedience a deeper relationship with the holy spirit a burning prayer life a more intense outreach to the lost there's always a new level a higher level to be reached in our walk with christ as for me i am desperate to have a deeper closer relationship with god i want to get to the level where i can have a burning bush experience i desire to get to the level where i can enter the lion's den of life's problems and know that i will not be moved i will not be shaken i will not be afraid i desire to be a servant in god's kingdom to live a life of purpose so that i may hear the words well done o good and faithful servant that's my desire and my brothers and sisters i'm not naive to the enemy's ways he will not simply step aside and let me get to a higher level of faith or an improved prayer life i am fully aware that he will devise schemes schemes that are designed to discourage and distract me schemes designed to make me doubt schemes that come to tempt me into falling out of god's will for my life but even then i am not afraid i am not living in fear nor am i anxious because greater is he that is in me than he who is in the world so god may lift me up to a new level and the devil might raise his opposition but i have victory through jesus i will put on the full armor of god at all times i will take it day by day and be confident that he who has begun a good work in me will complete it until the day of jesus christ consider this for a moment the bible says as a man thinks so is he the thoughts and inclinations of the heart shape the reality of who you are they shape your thinking which will ultimately shape your actions what you think is what you become you could even say that the quality of your thoughts determines the quality of your life and so the question becomes how do i filter my thoughts so that they are constructed instead of being destructive how do i eliminate the sinful thoughts the ungodly thoughts the lustful thoughts because we need to realize that we are bombarded by the things of the world each and every day our thoughts are invaded by what we see what we hear the people we spend time with but my brothers and sisters instead of being polluted in your mind by this world i urge you to take a minute and think just think what are god's thoughts towards me in those moments when my own thoughts tell me that you can't do this god's word says yes you can you can do all things through christ who strengthens you when i hear that's impossible or that'll never happen i tell myself luke 18 verse 27 all things are possible with god when you feel lost when you feel alone and isolated tell yourself hebrews 13 verse 5 where god says i will never leave you or forsake you when you're overwhelmed with your problems meditate on first peter 5 verse 7 cast all your burdens on god for he cares for you when you find yourself thinking that your situation or struggle is too much you're too tired god says come to me all you who are weary and burdened and i will give you rest when you start thinking thoughts like i can't figure this life out i don't know what my purpose is psalms 37 verse 23 tells you that the steps of a good man are ordered by the lord so make a conscious decision to win the battle of your mind today don't let negative thoughts or negative words contaminate you the scripture tells us to guard our minds because the mind is a doorway and you are the only one who can determine what goes in and what stays so immerse yourself in god's word so that you can realize who you are in christ you are well able and strong in the lord you are a winner you are the head and not the tale you are more than a conqueror so from today speak with boldness pray with authority be anxious for nothing but in all things make your request be made known to god peace victory and faith this should be your portion in the lord if your thinking is limited your life will be limited if you're going to reach your highest potential you have to you simply must hold on to what god says about you not man so let me ask you this what is playing over and over in your mind what is feeding your self-esteem what is impacting your confidence what are you dwelling on those thoughts are you paying attention to them because in one way or another it shapes you so i encourage you to renew your mind get your mind right there is nothing more powerful there is nothing more empowering than a transformed mind a renewed mind a mind fixed on the author and perfecter of our faith jesus christ i once asked someone what does the cross stand for they answered saying it stands for jesus christ his death burial and resurrection it stands for salvation it stands for eternal life then i ask so what do you stand for do you stand for the love of christ do you stand to represent the life of jesus christ you see we need to truly examine ourselves what do you stand for do you stand for forgiveness for love for righteousness when people see you do they see the love of jesus christ in you do they look at you and think i want the peace on this person's life i want the joy that you have your life should be characterized by what you stand for so what kind of fruit are you producing instead of love are you showing hatred or bitterness in your life instead of joy is there constant gloom instead of peace is there fear and turmoil instead of gentleness is there a short temper what do you stand for people should be able to see the fruit of christ in your life instead of endless worry stand for faith in jesus instead of pride or arrogance stand for humility stand for meekness instead of being controlled by impulses passions or lust stand for self-control your life will represent who you stand for who is your master you'll never find anyone saying they see light and darkness in a person you stand for one or the other jesus christ made it so clear about what you should stand for when he gave us the beatitudes in the book of matthew chapter 5. they described a set of standards to live by a set of values and attitudes that go way beyond how you act on a sunday or what you just say they become what you stand for what you are committed to and yes this is hard to live out it's hard to be the peacemaker when as people test you and emotions run high it's hard to hunger for righteousness when the world offers so many glittering distractions but that's where commitment to christ comes from the kind of commitment that says not my will lord but thy will be done the kind of commitment that will crucify the flesh with his passions and desires the kind of commitment that galatians 5 20 talks about when it says put away with the deeds of the flesh such as idol tree sorcery jealousy outburst of anger envy drunkenness and at the end of the verse god says i warn you as i did before that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of god and while it sounds like harsh judgment it is true god does not stand for any of those things his kingdom stands for love joy peace long-suffering kindness a life of pursuing god and seeking him so i will ask you once again what do you stand for [Music] there is a misconception among many believers many of us in the church have the expectation that since we are children of god we are entitled to a life of bliss and i'll give you an example a lot of us think that just because we can claim and declare philippians 4 13 and say that i can do all things through christ who strengthens me we think that that should allow for an easy blissful life yes of course we can claim psalm 23 verse 6 and say that surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life but that does not mean that you will never face adversity there's this notion among believers that there will be an endless supply of blessings with no opposition if we simply claim and declare scripture but scripture doesn't say that john 15 verse 20 says remember the word that i said to you a servant is not greater than his master if they persecuted me they will also persecute you if they kept my word they will also keep yours if our lord if the son of god was persecuted while here on earth if he faced incredibly fearsome opposition from the very people he came to save then what makes you think that you are entitled to a life of bliss the bible says in this world you will have trouble but take heart i have overcome the world the reality is we are told that there will be challenges we're told that there will be obstacles that we'll face but these should not nor can they defeat you a lot of us forget what the bible says in psalm 23 verse 4. even though i walk through the darkest valley i will fear no evil for you are with me your rod and your staff they comfort me that means we will have to walk through the darkest valley that's not a comfortable place to go through that's not a blissful place to walk through but our hope as children of god should rest in part b of this verse i will fear no evil because god is with me and he will give me comfort so you remember this remember this in your darkest day trouble may come tough situations can come but fear no evil because god is with you now i can tell you from my own experience that the problems of life can sometimes come upon us with no warning and have you ever noticed that hardships never come when you're prepared the problems of life never seem to arise at a time when you are prepared however in those seasons i encourage you not to be disheartened but instead be encouraged because troubles can be a blessing for a believer god will never allow anything to happen without a purpose behind it he is not a god of confusion or coincidence your steps are ordered your life is in his hands your trials and your problems are all seen by the lord so you see god can use our troubles to remind us that he is a savior he can allow trouble to come into your life so that you can see that mayhem chapter 1 verse 7 is true the lord is good and a stronghold in the day of trouble he is our rescue and our hope our deliverer our provider our redeemer all that we could ever need and oftentimes it takes a storm it takes problems for you to come to the realization that scripture is indeed true god is a stronghold in the day of trouble god will allow a thousand to fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand but nothing will come near you and if you've walked with christ for long enough at times you will find that the lord will even allow troubles in our life simply so that he can activate the potential that is within you and even though you may feel like before you can put one problem to rest you find yourself facing another i encourage you to keep an eternal perspective second corinthians chapter 4 verse 17 says for this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison and a different translation reads for our momentary like distress this passing trouble is producing for us an eternal weight of glory a fullness beyond all measure surpassing all comparisons a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness [Music] so i encourage you to remain bold and firm in your faith this burden that you carry today will not last forever the problem you face today will not last forever troubles can be a blessing to us as believers because through the trouble you often find that god is faithful to empower you to stand strong and victorious he is faithful to not allow you to be defeated he is faithful to give you the grace to remain standing even when the dust has settled and there are three things that we need to consistently be doing when we find ourselves in trouble we need to be consistently meditating on god's word because his word acts almost like a life vest you will not drown in your distress you will not drown in your worry or in your anxieties when the word of the lord is wrapped around you secondly as well as reading the word of god we are to be praying praying without seizing this is because prayer keeps us connected to the lord and if you are connected to jesus christ then what can come and destroy you death hell and the grave have no power over jesus christ and if that's whom you're connected to then what can harm you there is no devil or demon in hell that will be able to come near anyone who is connected to the true vine and finally i encourage you to always have the faith that this too shall pass have faith that joy comes in the morning have faith that the lord will restore all that the enemy has stolen from you have faith that god will not only provide but he will protect and he will preserve and he will uplift you if only we can understand this then we will have the victory when troubles come we will be able to overcome because jesus was victorious over satan you too can walk in victory you can have faith to stand against satan's attack and win you don't have to be defeated you don't have to be oppressed so how do we live a victorious life how can we battle against the raging current and realize the peace that god wants us to have as christians we have to come to the point of realization that there is a battle going on for our soul but god has already provided the path to our ultimate victory through his grace and mercy we are overcomers the first principle to receiving a victory from god is to understand that he's already won the battle has already been fought and he has already won [Music] you

Channel: Grace For Purpose

Views: 208,575

Keywords: Christian, Motivation

Id: 8SKBGoF4olA

Length: 32min 56sec (1976 seconds)

Published: Fri Mar 05 2021