Bible Study - May 13, 2015 - The Formula for Overcoming Obstacles

Date: May 13, 2015

Scriptures: John 1:1, Proverbs 16:12, Jeremiah 32:17, Hebrews 13:5, Ephesians 3:6, Psalm 118:6-7, Psalm 107:20, Philippians 4:13, Psalm 73:26, 1 Kings 8:56, Jeremiah 1:12, Jeremiah 17:7-8, 2 Corinthians 10:5, 2 Corinthians 4:15, Psalm 34:10, John 10:10, Proverbs 12:25

Sermon Topic: The Formula for Overcoming Obstacles

Sermon Notes:

We are victorious even before the problem arises. In Christ you are always more than conquerors, because you are always in Christ.

When God said lets go to the other side, it was pre-determined in advance that they would safely make it to the other side.

Everything that has, will or have happened, God already knows. He knows our end from our beginning. We must take the word of God to everything in life. Jeremiah 32:17 – Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee. There is nothing too hard for God. We can see how this applies to us. There is nothing too hard for God.

There is a requirement for us to approach things from a Godly perspective. Proverbs 16:12 – God made everything for himself. John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by God. That’s the God we serve.

We need a disciplined mind. When we look at the circumstance, it distracts us from believing in God’s word. The Bible tells us to look at what is not seen.

This tells us that we can see things that are not seen. What’s not seen is subject to change.

We need to have confidence in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit abides in us. The power that is in us is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.

None of our situations are bigger or more powerful than what’s in us.

Some things we see are fact, but not the truth.

I can have $0 in my bank account and not be broke. When this happens I don’t panic and say what doesn’t line up with the word of God, nor do I do something that God wouldn’t be pleased with in order to get stuff.

We need assistance – there are words that will cause you to not walk in faith.

·         Doubt

·         Disbelief

·         Stress

·         Depression

You can’t walk by faith and worry. We have to be mindful, during the storm so we don’t forget what Jesus said.

Hebrews 13:5 – Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Apply the word continually to your situation. This verse eliminates lust and greed. I’m content with what I have.

Don’t say that God is not here. Boldly say the Lord is my helper. When you get to the point where the situation intensifies and from all outward appearances, doesn’t look good, I can boldly say that the Lord is my helper.

Fear counteracts faith. Ephesians 3:6 – That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel. The enemy has methods not power. He uses methods to plant thoughts in your mind and move you away from the truth and from your place in God.

Discipline your thoughts to only receive what lines up with God. Some information you can’t allow yourself to receive from well-meaning people.

Don’t let them take what’s in your spirit. They’re looking at what’s seen. They can see what’s not seen. If you agree with them, you take what they say over the word of God.

Psalm 118:6-7 – ⁶ The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? ⁷ The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.

The Lord is on my side, I will not fear. Whatever it is and you receive a report it can be factual, but not the whole truth. I’m not putting my confidence in man, over what God says.

All problems are already solved.

Psalm 107:20 – He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. He sent his word in the beginning. He healed and delivered them by his word. When you verbalize, Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. There is nothing through Christ that I can’t do. If I can do all things through Christ, our strength comes from God.

Psalm 73:26 – My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. We have the assurance in times of trouble that God is the strength of our heart. When you’re dealing with something, never let the problem prophesize to you.

It will try to talk you out of your position in faith. It’s trying to get you to the place of saying, “I can’t”. No one will help me. Stop blaming others for your situation/circumstances.

If there is lack it’s a lack of faith. I need a revelation to walk in truth.

That’s why the bible is so important.

·         We need a role-model

·         We need to see the truth lived out

·         We need a regiment of faith.

How you think determines your beliefs. When we get anxious, ask God to increase our faith, because all problems have been solved.

Be assured in the promises of God. You need that kind of assurance.

1 Kings 8:56 – Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. When you get the word, meditate on it, until it becomes a fabric of your being and you speak faith-filled words to your situation. Everything God said will come to pass.

Jeremiah 1:12 – Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. We have the assurance in adversity. Whatever God said, he will bring to pass.

Be God-centered. Don’t allow your mind to run after craziness, be God-centered. What did the Lord say?

Block out negativity and dis-jointed thinking. Information constantly being fed to your spirit. Discipline yourself to only hear the word of God.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 – ⁷ Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. ⁸ For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

You will always have more than enough. You will always prosper.

Don’t go around saying what you don’t have. Be careful what you say. 2 Corinthians 10:5 – Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Cast down those contrary thoughts. What I see and hear, cast it down. No matter how intense the situation gets, never speak doubt.

Never get to a place of “Oh what will I do?” Then you become like the disciples in the boat.

Guard your tongue.

He’s already told us what to do.

You have the victory, now. Be led by the spirit. When you accept Christ as your Lord and savior you are sealed and saved.

Be God-centered.

2 Corinthians 4:15 – For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. The unmerited favor from God for victorious living.

Do you know what highly favored really means? You don’t deserve it, but he loves us so much.

We also have spiritual abundance, Psalm 34:10 - The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. We shall not want any good thing.

John 10:10 – The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

You are victorious in circumstances if you walk by faith. Go back and look at what God did in the past.

Have confidence in him. He is not a man that he will lie.

We need a disciplined lifestyle. Don’t seek God only when you’re in a crisis. Early will I seek thee.

God knew about the trouble before it occurred. He gives us free will. Sometimes we get ourselves into situations, but he’s there for us.

Don’t be afraid to fail. That’s what grace is all about.

You grow from failure. Guard against the flesh.

Since failure is common, change the way you respond to it.

It’s just a stepping stone.

Have confidence in what God has done and have confidence in the word of God. Isaiah 55:10 – the rain that comes from heaven comes with a purpose.

So does God’s word. It comes to do what God has already ordained.

Never focus on those things or emotions that lead you from God’s word.

Stress, anxiety, fear and doubt. Whatever you say, you will have. That’s the power of speech. You must discipline your mind.

Proverbs 12:25 – Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. We must trust God without full understanding. God doesn't need to explain everything to you.

Faith acts like it is so, when it is not so, so it will be so.