BREAKING BARRIERS part 1

Hebrews 12: 1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the
sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the
pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the
right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow
weary and lose heart.

Let us pray…

It’s nice to back here. Share a little bit of your vacation in Iligan.

Looking back in 2017, I bet we all have experienced victories and blessings like promotions at work, decent proposals,
family reconciliation, you got a new job, salary increase (no more tax for those 20k and below).

But how we long that life is just about blessings and victories, however, it’s not the case. Many of us here, if not all, have
experienced defeats, problems and in challenges emotionally, socially, financially and more likely spiritually. Amen!

In Job 17:11, Job said,

“My days have passed, my plans are shattered. Yet the desires of my heart”
Ever had a day like that? Especially when you keep on failing and gets to repeat your plans over and over again.

IT’S REALLY CHALLENGING WHEN YOU FACE THE FACT THAT SOME OR MOST OF YOUR PLANS BEFORE THE BEGINNING
OF THE YEAR DIDN’T SEEM TO MATERIALIZE.

So anong ang TENDENCY? AYAW MO NANG MAGSULAT! Kakanta ka na lang ng QUE SERA SERA, WHATEVER WILL BE
WILL BE.

I have to be honest with you all. 2017 was one of the toughest years in my life, my family, in our marriage, finances,
ministry and with my relationship with God.

Kahapon, the youth had their connection party wherein they kick-off about FRESH START.

Yung tipong hindi sapat na magsimula. Dapat magkaroon ng SARIWANG SIMULA!

And we hope that LIFE COMES WITH A RESET BUTTON. That in case something goes wrong, JUST PRESS THE RESET
BUTTON.

Sadly, only gadgets have. This morning, the HOTSPOT feature of my phone is acting up. I did some basic troubleshooting
but no avail. So what I’m planning is DO A FACTORY RESET.

But life doesn’t work that way. However, God has given us an opportunity to make things right.

Someone said, “YOU CAN’T CHANGE YOUR PAST, BUT YOU CAN RESHAPE YOUR FUTURE.” Amen?

How many of us here wants a fresh start?

Let’s take a look at the story in Luke 5:1-11 NIV

1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,[a] the people were crowding around him and listening to
the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3
He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down
and taught the people from the boat.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will
let down the nets.”

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.

7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full
that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,

10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from
now on you will fish for people.”

11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Actually there are other stories in the Bible scholars are thinking that could be similar to this, but this one is a lot in
detail because by nature, Luke writes in details. In fact, if we turn our Bible in Luke 1, we can read the writing of Luke to
Theophilus:

“Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled[a] among us, 2 just as they were
handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I
myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning,”

Today, I’ll be taking about BREAKING BARRIERS!

During our time in the province, I had this opportunity to spend time with God, asking Him of His direction for my life,
my family and ministry. Surprisingly, He led me to this book written by Michael Lukaszweski entitled BREAKING
BARRIERS.

While this book talks more about GROWING THE CHURCH, the points he shared is applicable as well in our personal
lives.

While is true that if you want a FRESH START, you first need to BREAK THE BARRIERS IN YOUR LIFE.

And one of the barriers he mentioned there was the SPIRITUAL BARRIERS.

There is nothing more spiritual people in the world that of the Israelites. How God commanded the people to value the
commandments of the Lord as this will ensure that they will live in victory and will do away every form of BARRIERS IN
THEIR LIVES.. They have the Sabbath, they have the different feast and they also have this PHYLACTERIES - a small
leather box containing Hebrew texts on vellum, worn by Jewish men at morning prayer as a reminder to keep the law.

One of the struggles of Christians is not going to church, engaging in the ministry but instead GROWING IN THE LORD.

That’s the reason why our battle cry for this year is found in Deuteronomy 1:7 NIV - “BREAK CAMP AND ADVANCE…”

In 1 Corinthians 3:6 NIV “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.”

You can’t push a button to control the Holy Spirit. You can’t orchestrate the blessings of God.
HOW TO BREAK THIS SPIRITUAL BARRIERS

1. PRAYER and FASTING

Matthew 17:20-21
So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief;[d] for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard
seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible
for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

The story here is about a boy whom the disciples weren’t able to heal. It was believe that this boy has a severe
epileptic, but Jesus saw beyond the sickness. There was a demon behind.

We have 21 days prayer and fasting which will commence tomorrow until Feb 4. We also have leaflets
concerning the prayer and fasting in the registration area. I would encourage you to join us as we seek God
during these times.

2. REPENTANCE
Rick Warren said, “The path to a fresh start and a clear conscience begins with repentance. First, you review
every area of your life, and then you repent of every sin.”

What does it mean to repent? It means three things: First, you take responsibility for your sin. Second, you turn
away from those things. And third, you turn toward God and his grace.

Repentance does not mean rationalizing your sin. You don’t say, “It was no big deal.” It was a big deal, or you
wouldn’t have remembered it. You don’t say, “It happened so long ago” or “It was just a stage I went through”
or “Everybody does it.” It doesn’t matter! You cannot rationalize sin, minimize it, excuse it, or blame others. That
is not true repentance.

“Regretting will keep you in the past—repentance will move you forward”

3. Forget the past—Focus on the future

Divorce whether you were the problem or someone else--

"Forgetting those things that are behind me"

Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV

18 “Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!

Don’t let your defeats defeat you---

Firefly’s have a head light---on the wrong end---

Let’s get ours on the right end---Make a FRESH START