10 Keys to a Spiritual Breakthrough

February 9, 2016 Matt Brown

Are you praying for a spiritual breakthrough in your life? Maybe you're praying for something to change
in your life, or maybe you're praying for God to help you change from the inside out?

The Bible has powerful instructions on encountering God and experiencing spiritual breakthrough in
your life. Here are 10 biblical keys to spiritual breakthrough:

1. Call on the name of Jesus

No spiritual breakthrough is greater or more important than receiving salvation by faith in Christ and
what He did on the cross for us. It is through His blood we are reconciled to God. Without the shedding
of His blood, there is no remission of our sins. (Hebrews 9:22) God didn't give everything for us in His
Son because there are other ways. We cannot experience the other breakthroughs God has for us until
we first receive and believe in Jesus. We do this by calling on His Name to save us. (Romans 10:13)

2. Prayer

Ephesians 6:12 clarifies something, "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,
against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in
the heavenly realms."

Often the spiritual breakthroughs we need are brought about through prayer, not by asking favors of
people, or pushing for our own way. Stop looking to people for your breakthrough, and start storming
the gates of heaven through prayer.

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3. Persistent prayer

Jesus shared a story about prayer about an elderly lady who banged on a judge's door until he brought
justice. Jesus taught in the same way, we should be persistent in our prayers, and our Father in heaven
"will see that we get justice, and quickly." (See Luke 18:1-8)

4. Fasting

Jesus taught that some spiritual breakthroughs will not happen without prayer and fasting. (See Mark
9:14-29)
Mark Batterson writes in his new book "If," "When you abstain through fasting, it shows God you're
serious. And God takes that seriously, if the cause honors Him. The reality is some spiritual
breakthroughs are only possible with the combination of prayer and fasting. It's amazing how many
defining moments in my life and ministry trace back to seasons of fasting."

5. Faith

Faith is one of the most essential ingredients of healthy daily Christianity. Hebrews 11:6 says, "He who
comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Jesus also taught us to pray in faith believing and we will receive what we ask for (Mark 11:24), and that
even the smallest amount of faith will do powerful things. (Matthew 17:20)

It's not enough to just pray about something. We need to pray with faith and confidence in our gracious
and good Father who rewards us when we diligently seek Him.

We should pray with faith, not just that God will give us what we want, but that He is a good Father (See
Matthew 7:7-11), and He will give us what we need the most. God always gives us what we would pray
for, if we knew everything He knows.

6. Alignment with God's will

We shouldn't just pray for anything we want, rather it should be our goal to pray for everything God
wants for us. We need God to give us new and better desires that are pleasing to Him.

1 John 5:14 says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according
to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what
we asked of him."

But how do we know God's will? By spending time in His Word. There few things more powerful than
praying the Word, because it is the express will of God on the earth.

7. Patience
This may sound surprising, but faith is not enough to receive what you ask for in prayer. Hebrews 6:12
elaborates, "Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised."

Faith, and ... patience. Often we do not receive what we are praying for right away. We must keep on
praying with persistence and patience. We should patiently pray, trust and await God's gracious help.

8. Forgive

Jesus didn't mess around - He said, if you are holding on to offense, hatred, or grudges, the devil will
have a foothold in your life (Ephesians 4:26-27), and you won't be able to experience the forgiveness
and peace of God in your life. (See Matthew 6:14-15)

Forgiveness is not an emotion, it is a choice. Sometimes a choice you need to make on a daily basis, to
forgive as Christ commanded you.

God will strengthen you to be able to forgive, when you don't feel you can. When you forgive people
who have hurt you and sinned against you, you will feel a powerful sense of God's presence break
through immediately.

9. Repent

God didn't save our soul so we can wallow in sinfulness. He saved us to do good works. He doesn't just
ask us to pray a prayer of salvation while we run the other way - He calls us to follow Him. (See
Colossians 2:6-7)

If you have put your faith in Jesus, but are experiencing spiritual dissonance, maybe there is something
you need to repent of, and turn away from? (See Hebrews 12:1) Surrendering your whole life to Christ in
repentance, and giving Him access to be Lord over all of your life will assuredly bring about a powerful
personal breakthrough.

10. stand still & watch God Work

2 Chronicles 20:17 contains a powerful promise that has encouraged many believers over the years,
"But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD's victory.
He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them
tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!"
When you have done all of the above steps to spiritual breakthrough, this final promise is surely for you
- you will not need to fight, stand still and watch God work mightily on your behalf