Awesome.
So good Are you possum at high? Why don't you think the amazing
worship band up here?
So good These guys have been doing this all day so that were
here early this morning and continuing so we are so
appreciative. If this is your first time tonight. Or maybe you
haven't been for awhile and we haven't met my names and now I
have the enormous privilege of being able to share the word
tonight, but I just want to say just right off the Top
congratulations to all the Kiwis because you know last week. I
was a little bit. I did get a little bit, arrogant about the
fact that the world beyond
wallaby supporter. That that we got up on the Kiwis but humble
pie doesn't taste so good but so I congratulations. If you are. I
actually declared last week that it was kisser. Kiwi day just to
consolan comfort any of the Kiwis. But yeah, I've got no
words for what happened last night and some of you think
sitting there, thinking.
I don't care about rugby. I don't care about sport. We're
going to have an altar call at the end, so feel free to come up
and but you know rugby is for People that are intelligent
enough to understand it and dumb enough to think that matters so.
So I do love rugby, though, but I passer been is away,
ministering tonight, but passer. Trish is in the house, so
welcome back fresh from Singapore. All the way back good
to have you back in the house and if you haven't been with us
for the last few Sunday nights. We've actually been doing a
series called tough texts of the Bible and I don't know about
you. Have you ever opened up the Bible and just started reading
something randomly and just
thought? What is that you know it doesn't matter what kind of
translation you've read it in you may have read it in one of
the contemporary ones, the message. It just does not make
sense to you and if you get stuck halfway in the Old
Testament. You're in trouble because some of those books are
just Jeannie allergies and they're unpronounceable name
after unpronounceable name and you think? Why is this even in
the Bible but we've been looking at some really difficult Texan?
I've got an absolute doozy for us to look at tonight, but let's
just let's just go to first. Timothy sorry second. Timothy
just to set up what the Bible says about the Bible so this is
second. Timothy chapter 3 verse 16. It says all scripture is
given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for
reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness, so
that's all scripture.
Even the bits, we don't understand and just to add to
that Romans 15 verse four. It says for whatever things were
written before were written for our learning that we threw the
patients and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
So everything that was written before was actually 4 hour
learning 4 hour instruction. We could get something out of
anything that has been written before so without further ado.
Let's go to our tough text for tonight and this is in some 137
just to give some context. I'm going to read all of the
scripture is 9 verses. But the tough text is really the one
right at the end. I'm going to read from the new living
translation. It just kind of
gives. More of a clear
understanding. But this is some 137 reading from verse one says
this. Beside the rivers of Babylon. We sat and wept as we
thought of Jerusalem. We put away. Our hearts hanging them on
the on the.
On the branches of popular trees for our captors demanded a song
from us out tormented insisted on a joyful hymn sing us, one of
those songs of Jerusalem, but how can we sing the songs of the
Lord while in a Pagan land if I forget you are Jerusalem let my
right hand forget how to play the harp may my tongue stick to
the roof of my mouth. If I fail to remember you if I don't make
Jerusalem my greatest joy.
Oh, Lord remember what the Eremites did on the day, the
armies of Babylon captured Jerusalem destroyed it. They
yelled level, it to the ground. Oh Babylon, you will be
destroyed. Happy is the one who pays you back for what you have
done to us now here it is. This is our focus for tonight. This
is our tough text for tonight versus 9 happy is the one who
takes your babies and smashes
them. Against the rocks.
Some of you are thinking, I am a meaning that? How did that get
into the Bible? The title for tonight is bash the baby.
Bash the baby let's pray father. We just thank you. That every
scripture. Lord God is profitable for instruction for
our learning and I just pray Lord that you would just breathe
life on everything that we're about to hear tonight give us
ears to hear an hearts that are receptive. Lord God and I just
declare from the outset. Lord God that change will be broken
tonight. This is more than a song that we're going to sing.
But this is a reality that we're going to know tonight in Jesus
name. In Jesus name.
A man now.
Let me give you the context the origin story OK, so this
scripture is written from the perspective of Israelites that
have been held captive in Babylon. Now, if you know a
little bit about the background. This is at a time when Israel
and Judah have separated the Kingdom of Judah has now been
invaded and sacked by the empire by the Babylonians and not only
have they come in and destroyed the city they have burnt?
They beloved temple, they have killed family members. They had
basically taken the best of the People so young men good looking
intelligent. All of this sort of stuff. They've taken them back
as slaves and they have basically left the poorest of
the poor in the city and so it is in this context that the
captives. The People from Israel that have been now taken to a
foreign land into a foreign
culture. Foreign terrain, they announced sitting by the rivers
and they're lamenting becaus their captors. Not only have
they sacked the city destroyed everything that is precious to
them, but now they're mocking them. They're saying God sing
us, one of those songs that you guys sing back in Jerusalem and
there saying how can we sing the Lord Song in a foreign land? How
can we do this?
And so they begin to start to say, These things and these are
not just our prophecies. They are proclamations. So what
they're actually saying here is what you guys did to us. We're
praying that that happens to you and years later, the next
empire. The Persians actually did to Babylon what the
Babylonian Stater, Israel. They took over and but but it is this
focus that this last verse that I really want to focus on.
What is this about becaus it is quite explicit it is quite
violent you know the Bible doesn't leave anything to the
imagination. You know how can that be in the scripture? How
can you? How can you sort of get to a point where you're saying
OK? I'm praying that these babylonians that whoever takes
their babies and smashes them against the rocks that they
would be blessed that they would be happy and so apart from the
fact that they are at this point where they are in such distress
that they're proclaiming this. I want to look at something that
is even deeper you know, there is a deeper level that there is
a deeper meaning behind this scripture and in order for us to
understand that we first got to understand the origin of the
Babylonians. Now all the way back in Genesis Chapter 10,
there is a story about the Tower of Babel. The Tower of Babel.
Now the Tower of Babel was actually started by a man name
Nimrod Nimrod is the grandson of Noah so this is the time after
the Ark and what's interesting is that 4 generations before
Noah Noah's great grand father. There was a man called Enoch?
Who walked with the Lord, but now for generations. After this
is Noah's great grandson.
There is a man that emerges. He is a great leader, but his name.
Nimrod literally means rebellion and so he basically leads a
rebellion against God. God says to Noah spread out be fruitful
and multiply fill the Earth. But Nimrod says no no. No, we're
going to congregate. We're going to stay here, and we're going to
build the tower that goes all the way up to the Sky.
And this tower is going to keep us together, but also the
historian Josephus said the one of the reasons behind the tower
was that if God ever sought to flood the world again, they
would be safe.
They would be able to get to higher ground so this was in
total defiance of what God had actually commanded them so
Babel. And this is the root word for Babylon Babel means
confusion. Confusion now in this scripture there is another city
that's mentioned and that is Jerusalem, so watch this
Jerusalem literally means teaching of peace.
Teaching of peace, so I look at the contrast, we have Babylon or
Babel confusion and we have
Jerusalem. Which is pace or the teaching a piece I used to work
for a government Department?
Where are we worked with a lot of People from a lot of
different regions. But in particular in the Middle East
and it was interesting because you know one of the things I
learned is that it didn't matter what part of the country they
were from what part of the region in the Middle East. They
all had a similar word. It sounded the same. the Jews in
Hebrew, they would say shall on the Persians would say Salaam
Saab are here and the Arabic's would say hustle Salama Lake and
so there is this.
Phrase all the way through and it is slim and it is basically
imparting piece to the other person and this is where it
comes from this entire region. They understand the power of
peace. That's why Jerusalem is such a point here. It's not just
a place of peace. But it is the possession of peace. So now have
a look at it again. The captive the captives. The People that
are in captivity. They are in a place of confusion.
And they are longing for a place of peace. They are captive in a
place of confusion. But they're longing for a place of peace.
And so the basically the gist of Tonight's message is that?
For some of us, sometimes we get caught up in destruct if cycles.
There are cycles that basically keep us bound they keep us
captive. They restrict their movement. They keep us from
being free and being able to move forward and it's this thing
where just like these Israelites. They become bound in
a place called Babylon bound in a place called confusion.
There's no clarity. There is constant condemnation. There is
constant shame and there is
constant. Guilt but I want to tell you that tonight on
believing that God is going to bring you into a place of Sally
and a place of Peace, a place of peace because Jesus wasn't just
the son of God. He wasn't just the Messiah. He wasn't just the
game changer. He was the cycle breaker. He was the one that was
able to stand in between, destructive cycles. And he was
able to cause the end of destructive cycle as well as the
beginning of a productive cycle.
So there is this story in uh in the gospels that illustrates
this perfectly and Jesus is is on the way to heal. This young
girl who's 12 years of age and choose literally died. She's
sick and she's dying at the same time, a woman with an issue of
blood comes behind him and reaches out and touches him so
watch this one woman was hemorrhaging her cycle would not
stop. Another woman young girl, she was dying, her cycle was yet
to start in between. Both was Jesus Christ and he was able to
stop one and start the other and I want to say to you, that it
doesn't matter where you might be doesn't matter how long the
destructive cycle has been going in your life that Jesus is able
to stand in the midst of it and he is able to cause the
destructive cycles to stop and a new cycle of blessing to begin.
He is able to do both.
That's why he's the son of God and the son of man that's why
that he's called the Lily of the Valley down here, but also the
bright and morning star.
That's why he is the tragedy of Good Friday but he's also the
triumph of resurrection Sunday. He is Marys. Little bitty baby.
But he's also Marys Lord and savior and you know when he
blesses you that he can do. Both is not just limited to one thing
that's why he comes to Abraham and he says your descendants are
going to be as numerous as a stars above you orisa numerous
as the grains of Sands below you so it doesn't matter whether
you're tracking through the desert in the middle of the day
or whether you are.
Lying asleep at night, staring up at the Sky in the middle of
the night. You will be constantly reminded that I am a
promise keeper and I am able to start new cycles and old ones.
So God is able to do that for all of our same in so I want to
just talk from this perspective.
About breaking destructive cycles, breaking destructive
cycles, you see, there is a bit of a word play in Bash. The baby
because I believe that when you bash the baby you're actually
breaking baby lawn.
You are breaking Babylon you are breaking the confusion and the
whole if over to summarize this sermon in a sentence it would be
this. If you don't take captive if you don't take things captive
during its infancy.
It can take you captive at its
maturity. The reason why we have to bash the Baby Bash lies
destructive things that creep
up. Is because if you let it grow and it becomes full grown
just like the Israelites it can take you to a place of
confusion. It can take you away and lead you into a place where
you are restricted and you have no freedom, so, based on this. I
just want to look at some keys to breaking destructive cycles.
Keys did breaking destructive cycles, and it doesn't really
matter what kind of cycle. It is it could be an addiction to
substance abuse it could be an addiction to digital abuse.
It could be you know, some sort of issue with fear, anxiety
panic attacks depression. It does not matter. But you know
yourself. When you get that sense, and you go through that
pattern that recurring pattern. You know that it's a destructive
cycle and I just want to tell you that God is here. The
presence of God is here to break every chain. He is able to do
it. He is able to break every chain if you will respond you
know in revelations. Chapter 3, there is this powerful verse.
That we often use out of place.
And it says it says Behold I stand at the door and I knock
and if anyone would here and open the door. I will come in
and have fellowship with them.
We often use scripture talking about Salvation People that
don't know who the Lord is and we say look. You know you might
be feeling that, prompting you know open your heart Jesus wants
to come in. The problem is that's actually not the context.
The context is that Jesus is talking to a church. It's The
Church of layer descends, he's talking to a church and he's
talking to this church in saying if you will. Let me in if you
will respond and open up the door of your heart, I will come
in and have fellowship with you now that's the end of
revelations. Chapter 3 get this when you open that door the
beginning of revelations chapter for the words of John the
Apostle. He says Behold.
I saw a door open in heaven. So here's a principle. When you
respond tonight and open up the door down here. God is able to
respond and open up the door up there. So it's all about us
being receptive and willing and
ready to respond. So I want to go through some keys to breaking
destructive cycles, and the first key I believe is
awareness. Awareness. Second Corinthians Chapter 2 verse
1011, says anyone you forgive. I also forgive and what I have
forgiven and what I have forgiven if there was anything
to forgive I have forgiven in the site of Christ for your sake
in order that Satan might not out with us for we are not
unaware of his schemes.
You need to be aware that you have an enemy. We have an enemy.
You need to be aware of that that this is a very, very real
enemy. The bad news is we have an enemy. The good news is we
are not unaware of his schemes. We are not unaware of his
tactics. One of the obvious things if you read scripture
about the enemy is he does things in certain patterns. He
is an opportunist. He is an opportunist and one of the
things I would say is being
aware. Of your proximity to things that bring you into those
destructive cycles, proximity because you know the fall of
Adam and Eve happened at a
certain time. Because they were right next to a certain tree.
It just so happened that when they were bost beside that tree
that's when the enemy came and said did God really say not to
eat from every tree.
And it just so happened that they were right there, so he
didn't speak to them. He didn't approach them when they were
elsewhere. He waited until they were in a certain spot and
sometimes we need to be aware of our proximity to things that
start those destructive cycles. The other things that we need to
be aware of is our vulnerability, so watch this
Jesus is being baptized in the
Jordan. The clouds part, the Holy Spirit descends the voice
of the father says. This is my beloved son in whom I am well
pleased and then after that, the Bible says that he is LED into
the wilderness, and it is, after he's been fasting and it is,
after he is in a place of isolation that when the enemy
comes and he says if you are the son of God do this so the enemy
doesn't come to him when he's at the Jordan with the voice of God
overhead and People all around,
he comes. When he is in a place of vulnerability when he is in a
place of isolation. The voice of God is a distant memory. And now
the enemy approaches. You have got to be aware that the enemy
has certain patents and schemes when he will approach you. He
won't approach you when things are going great and yours on a
spiritual high, but he may approach you when things are low
when you stressed when you're frustrated when you're tired all
of these areas and it is.
Up to us to be aware.
Of all of these things.
The next thing I would say next key to understanding how to
break these destructive cycles is authority authority Luke
Chapter 10 verse 1719. Nineteen says then the 70 returned with
joy, saying Lord even the demons are subject to us in your name
and he said to them. I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Behold I give you the authority to trample on serpents and
scorpions and over.
All the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt
you. So Jesus has just sent out a group of 70 believers 70
disciples and they've gone out and he is empowered them with
the authority to cast out demons to heal the sick and they come
back and they are absolutely pumped and Jesus says. I saw
Satan fall like lightning. Satan has fallen that's why he's under
our feet BIH cause. He is in a place of Fallenness and it says
that on Top of that every everything that has followed
Satan serpents and scorpions.
He says I've given you power to trample on them to trample on
them. So we actually have authority to trample on things.
The problem is that we often will pick up things that we
meant to actually trample on.
Instead of instead of terminating things often we
tolerate them. We tolerate them. When God has actually said no no
no. I've given you the authority to trample on these things and
why does Jesus say that he's given us authority to trample on
them? It's because of the prophecy in Genesis, the
prophecy in Genesis says the seed of the woman will crush the
head of the serpent will crush the head of the serpent so Jesus
knows that the Serpent. The enemy is already under his feet
and now he's saying to all of us believers actually not just the
Serpent. But all of his followers. All of his minions.
Serpents and scorpions. They all under your feet. So you have
authority the problem is, we
often forget. What our authority is because we forget what our
identity is? Now Scotty Scotty Unbelievable Preacher
Phenominal, he preached the message, a few weeks ago and
he used a.
I believe it was a heretical
statement. It took everything for me to stand up, and say
that's heresy Scotty. I love you, bro, but that's heretical.
And he said that one of the greatest moments in film came
from the Lord of the Rings movie The Fellowship of the Rings and
that was that is just.
That was just outrageous that was just outrageous.
Becaus, it's a complete lie the most epic scene in cinema
history came. From the 3rd installment of the Lord of
the Rings return of the King and let me explain this. I'm
sorry, Scotty I'm sorry.
OK, so it is the Eve of the final battle between good versus
evil and leading good is a guy called Eragon now. Aragon is
actually he's actually meant to be a King, but he's not living
like a King. He's used to live in like a Ranger. He's used to
live in like a soldier and anyway. They outnumbered the
armies of darkness have got so many more. And they're running
outta Mindy armies of God, they are totally running out a min.
And so he gets a visitor from this other leader Lord Elron is
a leader from the elves. If you haven't seen it. Get the movie
out. It'll take you 3 days to watch the whole thing, but it's
worth it. And he he comes to him and he says. This powerful
statement. He says become who you are meant to be become who
you are meant to be an at that very moment. He pulls out this
sword and this sword is actually a sword that had been previously
broken. And this sort was actually broken and it was in
pieces and it was laying up in like this, museum on display.
But he knew that the only chance they had is if the rightful.
King was wielding this sword, so he forges it in the fires of
Nasle and he brings it back and this sword is not just any sort.
It is the sort of a King, but it is a sword that can summon the
armies of the dead so this unstoppable army and he takes
this sword and he leads.
The armies into victory now here's the thing.
The Bible actually says that this is our sword.
The Bible actually calls this the sword of the spirit.
And in Ephesians, 6 it says finally my brethren's be strong
in the Lord in the power of your might of his might and it says
take up. And you've got to ask yourself. What is its I take
out? What is this? I take up the sword it's because too many of
us have it laying down too many of us have it laying in a in a
museum on display when the reality is the sort of the
spirit is meant to come out of your mouth. It's meant to come
out of your mouth because you have the authority as Kings and
Queens. We are Kings as more than a hashtag. It's actually
our identity. It's who we are in Christ, Jesus is I've given you
authority over. All the powers of the enemy and the whole point
is that we have got to take up this. This undefeatable
indestructible weapon and we're meant to wield it and it comes
out of our mouth. But the problem is that often we have
forgotten who we are. Simba remember who you are. You
remember Simba. He goes off to the land of.
Hakuna Matata. It means no worries for the rest of your
days. It's our problem free philosophy and that's awesome.
But we don't live in a problem free reality. So symbol forgets
who he is, and so he comes back his friend brings him back and
he says, I can see. I've seen where more faster is his father
and he goes, and he goes, and he looks in the water and then all
of a sudden, he sees his reflection and then the clouds
overhead and here's this voice.
Remember Remember who you are so I don't. I don't know where
Disney got that from the sun is standing in water. The clouds
part and the sound of the father overhead. I don't know where
they got that from but.
But it was at that moment that symbol remembers who he is, he's
not meant to be living in the land of Hakuna Matata. He's
meant to be leading the pride land. He's meant to be back in
his place of authority. And so many of us, we live in these
places that we have no business living in because God is
actually already given us. The authority and he's saying take
it up. We'll the authority that he's actually given you and so
the next one is this it's.
Act now act now case to breaking destructive cycles. First, one,
is awareness second. One is authority. The Next One is act.
Now Romans 13 verse 11 to 14 and do this knowing that I'm that
now someone say now. Now it is high time to awake out of sleep.
For now, our Salvation is nearer than when we first believe the
night is far spent the days at hand. Therefore let us cast off
the works of darkness.
And let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as
in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness. Not in lieu Edness
and last not in strife in envy, but put on the Lord Jesus Christ
and make no provision for the
flesh. Act now.
This is such an important key.
Act before. Act with urgency before the emergency.
Act with urgency.
Now that's random.
That's that all my couldn't that's a baby Oh.
That's This is a barrier here is
that? That's a baby.
Isn't he cute?
Now here's the thing about babies.
He's a thing about babies.
After a while, they actually get hungry.
And so they need to be fed.
I didn't plan this well.
And they need to be fed.
And the problem is when you keep feeding babies, not only do they
make a mess, but they actually
eventually grow? They eventually
grow. And sometimes our destructive cycles, they
actually come looking very, very
cute. That don't look like an
epic fail. They don't look like an addictive behavior, they come
looking really, really good they come looking like this really,
really cute. But the problem is if you keep if you keep feeding
this baby. You keep feeding this thing it actually grows into a
babylonian. A little bit of like something like this.
If you keep.
Same here do. Same here do.
And this is the problem.
When you keep feeding this thing in its infancy. Eventually it's
going to grow into maturity.
And it doesn't come alone. It comes wielding some dangerous
weapons and it comes with some chains because everything.
Everything that we didn't address at this stage we now
have to address at this stage because as the cycles
continue. It doesn't get easier. It doesn't get
easier. It actually gets harder and harder and harder.
And the issue is that every time you get into a position where
you can feel sometimes you can just feel that pattern of
behavior that pattern of addictive behavior comes you can
feel it right from the outset.
And that's when I'm not going to do it 'cause it's a little bit,
too, graphic that's when the
Bible is saying. Take your
babies. And smash them against the rock now, what's the rock.
I'm glad you asked.
Here's a rock right here.
The Bible actually says.
And this is King David. He says lead me to the rock that is
higher than I lead me to the rock of my Salvation.
So here's some practical keys that whenever you're in a
position where you can feel that destructive habitual addictive
cycle begin right from the outset right from the get go in
seeds in seed form whether it's just a thought that's when you
take this. And you bring it over
here. And you smash it against the word of God, you bring it
into submission against the word of God. You bring it into a
place where it has to submit to the obedience of God. Whatever
gods word says is it will Trump. Whatever whatever is happening
here. So it has got to submit it has got to bow down because when
we don't treat it in its infancy. It grows and we have to
deal with it in its maturity.
And here's the final thing the final key.
After awareness. After understanding our authority and
after we act now.
The final thing is.
There's gotta be authenticity.
Authenticity.
Genesis 32 verse 24 to 29.
Then Jacob was left alone, Anna man wrestled with him until the
breaking of day now when he saw that he did not prevail against
him. He touched the socket of his hip and the socket of Jacobs
hip was out of joint and he wrestled with him and he said.
Let me go for the day breaks. But he said. I will not let you
go unless you bless me so he
said to him. What is your
name? He said Jacob.
And he said your name shall no longer be called Jacob but
Israel for you have struggled with God, and with mennan have
prevailed, then Jacob are saying. Tell me your name. I
pray and he said. Why is it that you ask about my name?
And he blessed him there.
If we're going to break addictive habitual, destructive
patterns and cycles.
We've got to be authentic.
We have got to be authentic.
Jacob is in a moment where he's about to confront his brother
Esau, who wanted to kill him and he meets with a man and they
wrestle until daylight.
And we found out later that this is actually the Preincarnate
Christ. This is actually Jesus in the form of a man before he
came in the New Testament.
And Jacob is so tenacious that he refuses to let him go until
he causes a blessing to come to him and now remember this is
God? Who knows everything and God Arsema question he says what
is your name?
Now, why would the one who knows
everything. Need to ask anyone
anything. But there is a deeper
meaning. Because you see this is his heavenly father and he asked
him what is your name becaus over 20 years earlier Jacob
dressed up like his older brother and went to his earthly
father and when his earthly father said, who are you, he
said, I'm esau.
And he he lied and he stole a blessing that was in his and now
this is like Round 2 and it's no longer his earthly father. Now
it is heavenly father and he asked him a question? What is
your name who are you?
Now Jacob can lie again, but he comes clean total authenticity,
he says, I am.
Jacob.
The shady one the Deceiver.
I'm Jacob. And now watch this.
God changes his identity there not only does he change his
identity, but the Bible says he blesses him right there.
His place of struggle.
His place of shame and guilt that's the place that God
blesses him. God doesn't bless him in a place where he's gotten
everything together and he's done all the right non owner, He
played, he blesses him in his place of struggle.
And so tonight.
The invitation is.
If you have a place of struggle if you have a place of struggle.
This is that this is the place. I believe that God is going to
bless you. This is a very place, the place that you might be
ashamed of the place that you feel condemnation and guilt.
This is the very place that God
will bless you. And so I'm going to invite you to come and it
doesn't matter what cycle it is, and it doesn't matter how long
you have been struggling with that addiction with that,
destructive habit. But I believe that just like Jacob God can
turn around your circumstance. He can give you a new identity.
You will no longer be known by that addiction by that issue.
And God will bless you in the place where you struggle.
When I was. I'm just going to come down here for this when I
was 11 years old. I went to a friends place after school and
we were hanging out.
And my friend had an older
brother. And. He actually found he actually found
this adult magazine.
And obvious obvious older brother and he brought it over,
he said check this out.
And so I didn't I was 11 years old. I didn't know what it was,
I've never seen anything like
that. And I remember even to this day looking at that
and thinking.
It doesn't feel right, but I couldn't help be drawn to the
images that he was showing me.
And you know years later, I was going through high school and I
got caught up with the wrong crowd. In some of these guys
would go and they'd hire out videos and movies that were
totally inappropriate. You know pornographic stuff and and all
was right there in the middle of
it. And anyway, I had no idea the impact that what that have
happened at a young age. What that had on Main and so as I
finish school, and my family went to church but I wasn't
walking with the Lord and so I started getting into some really
promiscuous lifestyle choices and then finally a lot saved in
2001 and laid everything down.
But despite the fact that I had come to Christ. I still had this
struggle because of what happened when I was 11 years
old. And the turning point for Maine wasn't when I became a
Christian, the turning point for Maine was when God literally
came into my space and said that's going to destroy you.
And so as much as it was probably the hardest thing that
I had to do was. I went to a trusted experience. Senior
minister and I confessed this issue that I had with this
thing. And so.
When I shed light on that thing that's when everything changed
and it was. When that stronghold was able to be broken off of my
life, you see the enemies, not stupid. He knew that in my
family line. There are issues with infidelity with kids being
born out of wedlock with divorce and the enemy was setting me up
from a young age to follow that
same cycle. But praise be to God that he stepped in and said no
no no, I've got another plan for
you. And I'm not I'm not telling you this, you know, saying I've
got it all together on Superman. But I'm telling you that the
thing that kept me bound for years, no longer keeps me bound
today and it's all becaus. I was able to shed some light in it,
because you know the enemy would have you keep your secrets in
the dark but? How many of you know that our secrets make us
sick? Because the enemy signed on and I don't go forward don't
respond 'cause of what People are going to think about you.
But you know the first step in all of this, I've kept it for
the last point and that is authenticity, Godass Jacob. What
is your name and he's asking you? What is your issue?
Because I believe he's wanted to give you a new identity and he
is going to break the curse of that destructive cycle and
pattern on your life and he is going to give you a new identity
and bless you right here in your
place of struggle. So I want to ask you whatever it
is and you know.
I'm not just talking about the big stuff. You know alcohol
substance abuse porn. You know, some of us. There are areas of
une forgiveness. There are areas. There are toxic areas
where we allow offense to be harbored and we go through this
pattern of this cycle where we get hurt. We get offended. We
have a bitterness and it continues and we never get to
move on. We never let that go well. Today I'm giving you the
opportunity. This is a moment.
Where God can deal with that he can break that off of your life
as well. So with every head bowed and every I closed.
Let me just start by saying if you are not a believer.
I'm sorry, but there is only so much. I can do for you, you see
this message is basically for People that have the spirit of
God living on the inside of you. That's when you can start
operating in these keys, but if
you don't. Then you basically gotta rely on your own
strength, so I want to give you 1st and foremost the
opportunity. If you have never, ever made a decision to
follow Jesus to give your life to him.
And to have his spirit dwelling
side you. I want you to put your hand up 'cause That's the
starting point. Wherever you are also thank you. Put your hand
down. Maybe you've made a decision once but you've moved
away. Gods calling you back home.
It's actually put your hand up.
Love to pray for you, awesome, see that hand so good.
Great.
I we did something is going to pray a prayer and someone is
just going to help you with some information. After this, but why
don't we all pray this prayer as well OK just repeat these words
after me dear Lord Jesus?
I thank you that you bore my
sins. On the cross.
I repent. I ask that you forgive Maine.
And now I receive.
You're abundant life and your
Holy Spirit. Thank you that
right now. I am a child of God and I receive everything.
That you have promised for
Maine. In Jesus name father, I just thank you for those People
that responded to that and I believe that right now. Lord God
that chains of Sin and bondage have been broken off of their
life keep your heads bowed in your eyes closed.