Ezekiel 47:8 Then he said to me, “This river flows east through the desert into the valley of the Dead Sea. The waters of this stream will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure. 9 There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows.
11 But the marshes and swamps will not be purified; they will still be salty.
- Timing boundary – God allows seasons of challenge and trial before the breakthrough, we can see this when we look at the life of Job. God’s servant Job went through much trial and challenge but in the end God allowed him to experience the season of breakthrough.
Job 42:12 So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning.
- Positioning Boundary – Many times we can see God’s blessing and God’s breakthrough in connection to a persons positioning in Christ, our obedience to God and His will for our lives.
John 15:5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers
The marshes and swamps were out of position, therefore could not experience the breakthrough of the river.
- Spiritual Boundary – we must always be reminded that we are in a spiritual battle, and the enemy of our souls would love to keep us disconnected from God’s breakthrough.
- The enemy has no power except for deception
Col 2:15 In this way, he (Jesus) disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
- The enemy still has the weapon of deception
John 8:44 He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
2, We are not always under spiritual attack
Luke 4:Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where he was tempted by the devil for forty days.
Jesus was tempted for a period of time, Jesus resisted and eventually the enemy had to flee.
3. Just because we have had the victory doesn’t mean we are victorious.
Luke 4:13 When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.
Now what are some of the things that keep us from being victorious during times of battle.
I. Unaware of the battle
Many believers struggle in the battle because they continue to walk in ignorance when it comes to the spiritual realm.
Hosea 4:6 6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
- Be aware we have an enemy (Rev 7:7-9)
- Be aware that the enemy’s mission is to deceive God’s people (Gen 3 Serpent deceives Eve)
II. Undisciplined in the battle
The next reason many are held back by this spiritual barrier is that they live their Christian life with an undisciplined mind, and undisciplined flesh.
- Mind
a. Carnal mind (I Cor 2:13)
b. Loose mind (I Peter 1:13)
2. Flesh (Gal 5:16-17)
If we can walk in the spirit through consistent prayer and the word, and discipline our thought life we leave no room for the enemy to manipulate an deceive us.
III. Carry to much in the battle
Matt 13: 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
- Know the truth (Matt 11:28-30)
- Practice daily Casting our cares through prayer and time with God (I Peter 5:6-7)