Breakthrough - Courage - The Catalyst to Breakthrough, Part 2

Where you need courage today.

You encouraged to have a hard talk with 20 or children encouraged to say, today's the day I quit alcohol or drugs, you need courage to tell your spouse that you have a porn addiction. I mean, honestly, where do you need courage today today to learn how God can develop courage in your heart to help you take a step in the thanks for joining us for this Edition of Living on the Edge with shipping Living on the Edge features the Bible to open Christians live like respect were in our series called breakthrough publishing God's power into Jewish tips already given us the first steps to how to make any of those messages are available online. LivingontheEdge.org or on the trip. In this program ships talking about overcoming barriers that get in the way of breakthrough.

Let's try to know for part two of his message as he picks it up.

Our own blindness. The fifth is blindness after he gives a little reproof to the Pharisees and to the disciples come back and touch that in verses 811 through 20 1P easily healed a blind person that came to Bethesda and some people brought a blind man in are you getting a pattern here begged Jesus to touch him and he took them off to the side and he put his hands on the man's eyes he says do you see the man says I see people who look like trees walking around the words he prays and he gets a partial site and he sees things. What is blurry and that he prays for him again and then he sees everything clearly. You have to understand the literary genius and why Jesus does what he does, not only for the disciples, but for us because just like there was an actual death man. The disciples can hear God mean that the disciples see the miracles but they don't understand. And so, sandwiched in between these barriers. Jesus can have a little talk with his disciples to say I've shown you miraculously hearing and seeing, and you can trust me. And yet they don't get it. In fact, notice the two groups that don't get skipped back up now to verse 11.

The Pharisees came and begin to question him all these miracles are happen right I mean traditions are blown out of the water. This unworthy woman comes this death, man can hear in a 4000 people, and I mean there's a bus so that the Pharisees come in their thinking. This is really getting out of hand all over losing control is getting way too famous and so they come not to hear not to learn not to grow what to say came to test him and ask him for a sign from heaven and he sighed deeply.

What is this generation asked for miraculous signs.

Okay, the truth, no sign will be given and then he left them and got into the boat seat hears people that really think they got it wired and this is how we do with God.

Sometimes you know what I'm coming here and the stuff God when you restore my marriage get me a good job.

I get my house back in my kids life turns around and by the way have had this chronic pain take care that to when you do all that. I think I'll believe me tell you, Jesus response, he sighs deeply and says you know faith is you seeing all the things and then faith is choosing to step out of the boat. When you feel afraid and believing what I said say they weren't sincere.

They were trying to manipulate the came to testing and then notice the disciples as these are the people I think I identify with and you know by now, I mean isn't there part of you that thinking if you were walking around with Jesus hi thousand people, 4000 people. A deaf guy lineman I meet at some point when you think I believe in the sky. I mean if he says it. Let's do it.

And yet we pick up the disciples response picking up verse 14.

Chapter 8 the disciples had forgotten so you know they leave the Pharisees or in the boat they forgotten to bring any bread except for just one loaf and Jesus is was teaching like were supposed to teach our kids and help one another there in the boat and he says not be be careful of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod. A little lesson as you seeing all these miracles, I want you to trust me when to be courageous. I want you to step out, but you need understand there's a GC's to some the start small and you know infiltrates in the use of the Pharisees is hypocrisy got you got a guard it's easy to go there. The yeast of Herod's power and you get intoxicated with that. I mean in some because we make these Bible stories. Can you imagine what it would be like to be a part of the entourage. I mean, you know this. Just picture you near him. So you guys of Jesus. Yeah has gone, we had 45,000 of the last one yeah yeah you and I was at. We see a few people healed up a raise from the dead is pretty good week. So do you like talk to them like up close all yeah I could fish yeah Jesus me tight you and Jesus is saying go there. Don't get intoxicated with the power and the people in the public and is trying to guard their heart from what can happen then aware of their discussion. Look in your text with the Bible verse 17 Jesus asked him why are you talking about having no bread, do you still not see or understand are your hearts hardened the answers yes in the Bible hard heart is unbelief. Do you have highs, but failed to see and ears could fail to hear and don't you remember when I broke the five loaves are the 5000, how many basket fools and pieces did you pick up and I think in unison. They all said 12 and when I broke the seven loaves for the 4000 comedy baskets or pieces did you cut pick up the said seven. He said do you still not understand the most encouraging part about this is you can have that much experience and be that close to Jesus and see those many miracles and still have your heart hardened there still not willing to step out there still not courageous and they still don't believe they don't have enough bread for a little trip from point A to point B, but how many times do we do that is a barrier. There are some of us I've been there. I have begged God in ICU for the life of one of my sons. I begged God over God. Don't let my boy, I don't let my boy died and God answered, I have begged God and my wife got cancer. I have got. I've been at times, where the bills were this big and the resources were this big, and I was on my face before God with my closest friends, all God in Washington and yet I can turn around two weeks later and have a financial need, or relational need or a big health issue and find myself paralyzed by fear. When will God, oh God, it is like you Ingram when you can, like, like I get a spiritual lobotomy I forget about you but your track record. God wants you to step out. He was with was the last time you said okay forget. None of his benefits a new start listing. He did this he did this he did this he did this he did this he did this he did this may go back as far as you need to can that God take care of this problem. If the answers yes courageously step out and trusting.

It's the catalyst it's the catalyst breakthrough.

The final barrier were going to uncover when the disciples get close and now it's sort of exam time. The barrier of self-interest and I do pray that you will begin and spend some time reading slowly from chapter 6 all the way through chapter 9 but the self-interest goes something like this. He gets the disciples along which is his pattern miracles teaching small group disciples explanation. Checking small group disciples explanation specific questions to see what their learning and so as we flow through the text at the end of chapter 8 Jesus says so, who do men say that I am well something John the Baptist others, Elijah others, the prophet that's to come. Now the author has just told you that the disciples are blind. They see but they don't understand. And so Jesus heal someone who sees partially, and then the next question helps them see fully and so he's picturing for us the process and so you're pretty close. The prophet Elijah John the Baptist.

But who do you say that I and again this is Peter steps up inspired by the spirit of that you are the Messiah, you are the son of the living God, Peter, a plus and you didn't get that yourself. God gave it to you.

The father revealed that to you about a way that's how this works. We take steps, but the spirit of God will powerfully and supernaturally confirm and reveal inside your heart. The reality of who he is and so as you take steps of faith to let you know I'll support all show up, but then something happens because as God begins to work in our life, then Jesus begins a little bit of the truth and the truth is, men all prophesied to the Old Testament is yes. The Messiah will come and reign, but before he rains his can be a suffering servant in the text says he began to explain to them plainly, that he would die and rise on the third day that you betrayed by the Pharisees and the teachers of the law and it was kind of prepare them and asses preparing them. Does anybody remember what our great hero Peter does Peter takes Messiah a Lord on what you think and what you need to cut back on that is that is not the right message. Look, we got thousands of people. The money's role in in these miracles, I mean I mean you are the man roams going down Pharisees going out you the big dude and were with you so that was their view and after being the hero who heard from God. You're the Messiah what's Jesus. Satan says the harshest words in any human being I think is ever heard, get behind me.

It's not Peter, Satan see Satan as a father of lies. But then what's the what's exhalation for you do not have on your mind and heart the things of God but the things of men. In other words, you want to use me you don't want me to fulfill the father's will. You don't care about anyone else.

Peter you want to use me you don't want the price all you want is the product you're not willing to follow me, and to suffer and realize this is God's plan.

You really want Jesus to be sort your little self-help genie to make your life work out your way.

Anybody else other than the struggle with that. It's a barrier to barrier. I mean, you think this passage who experience breakthroughs mean if you went down to who experience the miraculous the breakthrough unlikely people right unworthy women deaf guys blind people didn't experience breakthrough religious people disciples. What did they do what of the Pharisees to criticize, feel threatened, trying to figure out a way to manipulate the situation. What what the disciples do worry uptight concerned about them. The people that got breakthroughs where they do passionately came to Jesus and said literally, I beg you, I beg you, I beg you, I beg you five times they come and say just need help. I'll do anything you are the answer.

I don't care what people think I'm not unworthy, I'm trusting you. I don't see clearly. I know I don't completely hear. I know I got self-interest, but I will what happens to them God's power, courage is the catalyst for breakthrough. What lessons did he want to learn if you went through each one of these.

He wants him to learn God's word not tradition is what you go by God's love, no respecter of persons. God's power available in impossible situations even when you're doing deaf might be demand deaf God's provision is always available and that God's demands.

Here's the hard part for your good, see Peter unconsciously thought he knew what was best for his future. His life and his relationships and again he forgot about God's goodness there are things God will ask you and me to do in following him that are hard, that are unpleasant and that are scary and what we have to remember he's a son in his shield. He gives grace and glory, and there's nothing good that he withholds. In fact, look at chapter 9 because there is a question that everyone of us will have to answer.

There's a path that we must take in a vision to acquire and what he does here is he he helps weak people get courage mean that the whole goal of what's happening right here is he wants these followers to be infused with courage and so when he asked them. Here's the question he asked them, but he asked who do you think Jesus is if you like a good moral character is a biblical worldview. Try hard to be a nice person or has the living God died for you, risen from the dead, the King of Kings, the Lord of lords. The one to whom all people of all time.

For every knee will bow and every tongue confess and he's invited you to a personal relationship to follow him. That's a lot different than my believing God.

Jesus paid for my sin and I can live my life in I squeeze and then when I can in the path what's the path with verse 34. He says that if any man if any woman would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me saying how are his resurrection power, but the only way you experience resurrection power is when there's a death and what you have to die to and this is the hard part is your agenda and take your future in your relationships and your finances in your kids and your uncertainty in your work in your dreams and you offer them to God and say I'm all in, I'll follow you.

And when we say that what the enemy whispers. This will then it'll be hard to be terrible.

You never get married, you never have any money is can be really rough and all that is like. Also, God is willing to die for you and loves you that much, but he really wants life on earth to be just a real pain in the rear.

That's how we act and so what is he say afterwards he tries to help his disciples with his arm around think I don't you understand this is the path I will follow I will die and I will rise from the dead, and in a blaze the trail because unless a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die it remains by itself alone.

But if it dies, it bears forth much fruit for what will it profit a man or woman.

If you gain the whole world that you forfeit your soul. He said I've got your best interest. There are some things that are hard.

You want deep relationships you want my blessing in your life you have a connection with your kids you want get my hand of power and blessing upon your work, take up your cross and follow me because what will it profit you if you cut corners and neglect me and when your kids get in Stanford and another in Columbia and they have a high high SAT scores in your company finally goes public and then you get that really good raising you not only get this have to get to remodel your kitchen and the needle piece in the mountains or maybe to the beach and you work work work for report report and then you're this lonely person alienated from God and you have all these toys and all this stuff and you realize it empty. Now they may be blessings that God would use. He's not saying those things are wrong. What he saying is there bad, bad, and in a might be a blessing that could be used and enjoyed. But as you follow the trail. How does this all work how to how we move from this vision that Jesus is who he said he is that he is the Lord is a son of God is a good Shepherd is Messiah is a savior you believe him and and you get to where when you're afraid you can take a step of courage and begin to see and work so undertake everything we talked about and I want to walk through and give you a very linear specific path and game plan to apply it because if you'll take a step of courage. You will see God show up in you and through you like never before. Here's the path the analysis. Fear keeps us from stepping out to unleash God's power into impossible situations. Fair were all afraid, but keeps us from stepping out. I know I should. I know I ought, but we don't to stepping out requires courage. Courage is the power to act. Despite our fears, courage is birth announcement, we see God for who he is and therefore the size of our God becomes greater the size of the obstacles are problems in her courage is birth. When our circumstances are so impossible and were so desperate that we step out and see God's help, because were exhausted all other options if you ever notice that the biggest times in your life where God showed up with when you didn't bring anything to the party you were desperate. Can I just tell you and me were as desperate today. If your circumstances are good as you were when your kid was in ICU or someone you love has cancer but boy no one had to teach me how to pray my wife to cancer. Note no boxes to check, I was begging God when the last time you came before God with urgency and passion and begged him to intervene in something in your life for something about your character for something a habit that you have poor relationship that you knows got a turnaround instead of hope it works to try this in a reading of the book on that and maybe if I talk to her talk to him and then she'll get this turned around and you know maybe try some different medicine. I'm all for all the doctors all the wisdom all the Council God does the impossible courage then demands faith God will do what is promised on the I don't step out. I'm not Peter, and I believe if he said, I can come. So do you have faith, we were to get faith.

Faith is a result of seeing Jesus up close for who he is and so did you notice in chapter 9 verse two he has them on this journey. He wants them to have courage in his courage comes their faith wasn't a step out how they can get faith he takes is three key guys, James, John and Peter up on a mountain and member what he say you see, but you don't understand you here and you don't get it. And so he takes him up with his mom transfiguration and it wasn't a light from heaven. Contrary to movies. The light came out of Jesus. He pulled back and they saw the glory of the son of God, and I mean it was bright and then all of a sudden two people show up at these guys trust Moses, what was Moses. Moses was the greatest revealer of God's truth in the Old Testament. Elijah is the greatest revealer of God's power and these three guys with all their doubts.

All of a sudden this is who Jesus is and I see it and here's the testimony and the cloud comes in the actually here. They're not deaf anymore.

This is my dearly loved son listen to him and those three guys will believe and know be courageous because they believe in Jesus took them up so they could see him for who he is and notice we can in our day and here's how prayer is God's invitation to see Jesus up close. Believe he will do what is impossible for you.

You need you need to totally revamp how you think about praying okay five minutes eight minutes 10 minutes 12 minutes okay I think I'm supposed to do. Okay thank you God thank you God help me, I'll see you later. You know I'll catch in the car. Once a relationship. What you really want what you really want intentional, passionate, focused cod I want you to restore my marriage. God, I would like husband or wife got. I want you to turn when my kids around got I think this kid has this opportunity would you do something side.

I want you to open this Avenue Lord, I want to build a great business and I'm telling you on the front and you can do with it whatever you want, but this is what I'm asking are you are you praying like that. God I'm mad God, I'm ticked off God I can't take this anymore. I don't understand the role of real you. Before the living God is what God honors his truth that these plastic little blessed here and now I lay me down to sleep and you know help us do this and help us do that you don't really want help God I'm scared to death, and you spoke to me about taking a step in if you don't show up on all sink like Peter and for some of you if you're like me you feel like you don't have time. So our final point is. Fasting is choosing to remove whatever distracts us from seeing and experiencing God for who he is about a way for some of you food is the last thing the world you need to fast from it's a good start.

You need a fast from your phone you need to fast from Facebook need a fast from your hobby need to fast from every moment of every time of how much football you can watch or how many fantasy leagues or how much time you shop what ever it is. Some of you need to fast from a relationship.

This person is no good for your spiritual, emotional and intellectual health.

You need to fast for them and get away from them for two or three weeks after marriage partner. That's not what I'm recommending but did but you understand. Do you realize how many of us you have traditions and habits and you want God to really work and you you do this and do that for a couple hours and you sit afterwards because you're exhausted. Here's also because you need very well. You don't work out as you have time enough time, could you send for the TV for two or three hours at the end of every day to do it and do it and do it and do it do it and you can like hearing it all fired up and undulate that work create space and that if you do you'll know your last two or three days. You can never sustain any kind of discipline apart from people in your corner thing when you help me get there. No one does. The journey alone. No one can keep the right's application for today. Just a quick reminder this message. Courage catalyst to break through his from his series right through publishing God's power into impossible situations.

Maybe your impossible situation is a relationship an addiction or a painful event in your past will.

Here's the truth breakthrough isn't something we sit around and wait for it happens when we trust God for the impossible and start cooperating with them to make it a reality in the series strip helps us take the first steps toward breakthrough in our relationships, our habits and our attitudes. Breakthrough resources are available in both audio and video formats including online streaming with the study guide for previews and ordering details, check out breakthrough@livingontheedge.org special offers on the chipping remap or give us a call at triple late. 333-6003, which if I can tell you want to jump in here as were talking about breakthrough before we continue today. Here's what I want to tell you honesty at the heart of breakthrough real connection God showing up is honesty. Psalm one 4518 says this, the Lord is near to those who call upon him.

Then here's the condition. Those who call upon him in truth. All I want to say is this very very clearly it's really really hard to be honest with ourselves when we have unresolved anger when we have bitterness we have fear and have overwhelming anxiety.

One of the things it is help me the most because some of the things that I have thought or struggle with or fear. I don't even want to say to Teresa my wife.

I mean it just it's so ugly or it's words like I can't get my arms around it. What I do is I open my journal and I pray no one will ever read them ever and I write out as raw as I can. This is what I'm dealing.

This is what I fear this is what I'm anxious about this is what I'm ticked off about.

I get honest I mean raw I read it and here's the deal it gets out and I can see it in the enemy can't play with that in my mind and now I know those are my real feelings and the tool. To be honest for me is a journal that's private. That's clear and it lets me take that step of honesty. If you have never tried journaling. Let me encourage you give it a try. And Dave, I think we have a brand-new resource that might be a real help could to tell him about it. Happy to. Thanks. Well, it's easy to be excited about our new prayer journals because there's so well done. Your beautifully bound in a couple of different colors with embossed gold or silver trimmings and inside it's even better chips given you a few of his journaling tips. There's a dedication page. If you want to send it as a gift and there's tons of room for you to do your own personal journaling for limited time, our brand-new prayer journals are discounted so you hope you'll check about today, you'll find all the details@livingontheedge.org app listeners will find them when you tap special offers and for more information just give us a call. Electrical 83336003 will know your strip with a final thought as we close today's program of the last section of the teaching time answered the question how do weak people get courage and I walk through how Jesus taught his disciples and then I did a little analysis, and I give you six very specific things that talk about fear and stepping out in courage and faith in prayer and even fasting.

I can't develop all of those can I encourage you, those are really powerful. They come right out of Scripture go to the website LivingontheEdge.org download the notes for free. Ponder those pray over them, and then act and Gotto give you courage as we rub up today's program.

Just a quick but important dog Living on the Edge depends on listeners like you to help us continue programming right here in your area. Would you consider partnering with us on a monthly basis so people around you will continue to benefit from the ministry of Chip Avenue Living on the Edge of a set up a recurring donation, call us at triple late. 333-6003. The donate button or go to LivingontheEdge.org and thanks in advance for doing whatever God leads you to do will be with us again next time. When she continues a series breakthrough fill them for everyone here. This is Dave Drewry saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge