I’m To Focused to Fail
Matthew 16:23 NKJV But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are [a]an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
I. INTRODUCTION
II. WHAT IS A HINDRANCE?
III. WHAT HINDERS A CHILD OF GOD?
A. Ignorance
Hosea 4:6 NKJV My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children
B. Partial Submission
C. Distractions
1 John 1:6 NKJV If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
1 Corinthians 15:33 NKJV Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
D. Fear Of Growth
Philippians 2:13 NKJV for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
IV. PAUL REMINDS US NOT TO BE A HINDRANCE
Romans 14:13 NKJV Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
1 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
1 Corinthians 9:12 NKJV If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.
V. FOUR ACCOUNTS OF HINDRANCES IN THE BIBLE
A. Jonathan
1 Samuel 14:6 NKJV So Jonathan said to {his armor bearer}, “Come, let us go over to the garrisons of these uncircumcised; perhaps Yahweh will act for us, for there is no hindrance for Yahweh to save by many or by few
B. Joel
Joel 2:12 NKJV “Even now,” says the Lord, “Turn and come to Me with all your heart [in genuine repentance],With fasting and weeping and mourning [until every barrier is removed and the broken fellowship is restored];
C. Jesus
Matthew 16:23 NKJV But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on things of God, but on things of man.”
D. Daniel
Daniel 10:12-14 Then said the angel unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I have come for thy words. 13. but the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty- one days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief angels, came to help me and I remained there with the king of Persia.
VI. HOW TO GET PAST HINDRANCES
A. Focus On God’s Power
Jeremiah 32:27 NKJV “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?
B. Trust In God’s Plan
Ecclesiastes 3:9-14 NKJV What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. 12 I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God. 14 I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.
Isaiah 41:10 NKJV Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
C. Know Your God-Given Authority
Matthew 18:18-20 NKJV “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”