Principles of Spiritual Breakthrough

Principles for Spiritual Breakthrough                          Hebrews 12:1-3 

“All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Heb 12:11                                                     

Listen to the analogy that Apostle Paul uses in running the race and running to win. 1 Cor 9:24-27. 

I. Rules of the _______________ 1 Cor 9:24-25                                                                 To compete in game of Greece you had to be a citizen.

Second, This race has the potential for every believer to win because we aren’t competing against one another but ________________________                                                                We are being individually judged by God to answer the question: What did we do with what God gave you? 

II. Rules for Spiritual ______________________

1. ___________________ Hebrews 12:1-2                                                               “Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things.” 1 Cor 9:25 Compete.                                                       

We fail at our Christian life all because we do not ____________ our life to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness.  Paul said, “but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” 1 Cor 9:27 

We must approach our walk with God with the same ________________determination.  Paul told the church of Philippi, “This one thing I do, not these 40 things I dabble in.”  To begin:

·        Spend 20 minutes in prayer and Bible reading –meditation every morning before 9 AM.

·        Read a chapter in good Christian book each day.

·        Join a small group of believers for Bible Study, fellowship and accountability.

·        Learn to share your faith and seize the opportunities God brings across your path.

Rather, the purpose of disciplines is that we might learn to draw our strength from Christ.

2. _______________________ Hebrew 12:1                                                                  Hebrews tells us how to run the race.  The cloud of witnesses is a reference to those who have gone before us.  It is clear that the witnesses are the heroes of Hebrews 11, and we are motivated, not because they see us, but because we see them.   

God did not cover up their _______________ but revealed them that they had to deal with their failures and endure knowing where we are headed.  I must say that our glance is on these heroes but our __________ is fixed on Jesus. 

a. We must keep our ________________. “lay aside every weight”. 

b. We must keep our ________________.  We must be free from the sin that so easily entangles us.  Sin tangles our feet, makes us stumble and will cause us to lose the race. 

Those who are in race have an obligation to help those who have _____________ so they too can cross the finish line. Gal 6:1.               

Heb 12:12-13. 

c. We must Focus on the ___________________                  To win today, we need to recognize the same sins beset us today.  Our only hope of winning is to repent, our lives should be lived with an attitude of repentance.                                                 

A business man had a sign on his desk: IN twenty years what will you wish you had done today?  __________________