Pray through to your break through

If we want to get through, then we've got to pray through.

  

We need a relationship with Jesus.

  

The only power that we have is the power of our God through prayer.

We have a Holy God with open arms, so we've got to pray. 

We must pray first!

If we don't get this right, we'll spend all our time thinking about our trials. 

In Isaiah chapter 40 starts encouraging.  

If we change the way we think,  

we can change the way we feel.

  

Isaiah 40:27 New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

27 Family of Jacob, why do you complain,
    “The Lord doesn’t notice our condition”?

People of Israel, why do you say,
    “Our God doesn’t pay any attention to our rightful claims”?

Don't we hate it when someone downplays our problem?  

1. The struggle is real.  

Don't we hate it when others don't identify with our struggle?

We're going to go through trials and tough times!

It's a big deal.

We need to get into groups who won't downplay our trials who'll walk through it with us.

We would rather talk about our trial instead of our trophy.  

We can't preach a gospel that is going to be easy.  

We've got to get our eyes off the trial, and we've got to get through it.

  

Isaiah 40:28-31 New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

28 Don’t you know who made everything?

    Haven’t you heard about him?

The Lord is the God who lives forever.

    He created everything on earth.

He won’t become worn out or get tired.

    No one will ever know how great his understanding is. 

29 He gives strength to those who are tired.

    He gives power to those who are weak.

30 Even young people become worn out and get tired.

    Even the best of them trip and fall.

31 But those who trust in the Lord
    will receive new strength.

They will fly as high as eagles.

    They will run and not get tired.

    They will walk and not grow weak.

We're so focused on our pain.  We can't see our trophy.  

The Chinese government is raiding churches, and they are putting cameras in all the churches.

Perspective is everything.  

If we focus on our pain, we can't see our promise.

Don't always talk about your pain.  

We're so used to whining. 

We don't know how to worship. 

We have to have our eyes on something bigger than our problem.  

We have to have something outside of us to give us purpose.

Herod Agrippa had already killed the Apostle James, and had Peter locked up in prison with 12 soldiers.  

Tomorrow Peter was going to die. 

Peter was asleep (Acts 12).

  

Peter had a word from God that He was going to die as an old man, and He was still young.  

Peter had a promise to rest on, so He was sound asleep. 

John 21:18 B -19 A New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

18 What I’m about to tell you (Peter) is true. 

When you were younger, you dressed yourself.

You went wherever you wanted to go. 

But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands. 

Someone else will dress you. 

Someone else will lead you where you do not want to go.” 

19 Jesus said this to point out how Peter would die.   

2. Don't forget what God said.

Hebrews 13:5B New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

“I will never leave you.

    I will never desert you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Life is hard.  

We aren't a people without hope. 

The joy of the Lord is our strength.  (Nehemiah 8:10)

Some of you run businesses.  

It involves risk. 

Risk says I'm willing to lose it.  

Faith says I can't lose.  

I live. 

I win.  

I die.  

I win.  

Even if it looks like we've lost in life.

When we pray, God's voice is louder than the enemy who is trying to destroy our purpose.

We get God's attention and Satan's both.

  

2 Corinthians 2:11 New King James Version (NKJV)

 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

We want to study the Bible to show our selves approved.  

Go to www.youversion.com. 

I don't like big churches.  

God does.

As long as people are on their way to hell, we've got a job to do.  

We've got a calling on our lives.

Nothing on the test is something we haven't seen.  

We have a study guide. 

It's called the Bible.

It contains mock tests.  

We will be tested.  

Our trial isn't something we haven't already seen.  

We can't go to the next level until we pass.

God is not trying to kill us.  

He's trying to inspire us.  

If God wanted us dead, we'd be dead. 

We must be careful of the voices that we allow in our head. 

Whoever's voice we listen to will dictate our destiny.  

Let's be careful of who we listen to and watch.  

Who has our ear the majority of the time? 

Let's just listen to worship music to fully understand the magnitude of our God.  

Our task is too big to do otherwise.  

Let's quit fighting other Christians in other churches.  

We're on the same team.

Our eyes must not be focused on the wrong things. 

We are connected to the trial whether we want to be or not.  

The power of God is like an iceberg.  

It's bigger beneath the surface.  

Our God is so much bigger than our problem.

He could show us more, but we couldn't handle it. 

It's not about our effort or works.  

We've got to release our pain.  

It begins with our worship. 

We want zero credit for God's work. 

Let's stop trying to do it on our own.  

We are always greater than me. 

Matthew 7:11 New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Jesus speaking...

11 Even though you are evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. 

How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Jesus, I draw a line in the sand, and I trust my pain and my purpose to you.  

Jesus you are the Messiah.  

I believe that you died and rose for me.  

I'm trusting my life to you.  

I worship you as my Lord and Savior.  

Notes taken from Jeremy Foster, Hope City Church, Metro Houston    https://hopecity.com/sermons/trials-trophies-part-2/