GAINING GROUND SERIES: THE SECRET TO UNLOCKING YOUR NEXT LEVEL (#1) (PRAYER CONSECRATION)

Gaining Ground • Sermon • Submitted 4 months ago • Presented 4 months ago

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Genesis 13:14-16 “And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.”

Introduction - Prelude + Abraham and Lot Background

Abraham in our text finds himself at a crossroad where he is forced to make one decision that will position him to receive all that God has for his life and his Seed for Genarations to come. And here it is that we find in our text a crucial separation between two individuals, Lot and Abraham.

Lot was the grandson of Terah, son of Haran, and nephew of Abram (Abraham). Lot’s father Haran died unexpectedly, and so Lot was taken in by the rest of his family. At some point, after Haran’s death, Lot’s grandfather Terah decided to relocate his entire family to Canaan. They ended up settling in Harran instead. After Terah’s death the Lord spoke to Abram and told him to resume the journey to Canaan, promising to make him into a great nation (Genesis 12:1–3). Abram set out on this journey, and Lot went with him. But, When they came to Bethel, Abram’s and Lot’s sheepherders began to quarrel because there was not enough land to support the amount of livestock each man owned. So Abram presented an offer to Lot: that they would part company,

Lot’s Choice

Lot could have first pick of the land he would occupy (Genesis 13:8–9).

So Lot chose the land near the Jordan River, because it was rich and lush.

The Bible says And Lot Pitched his tent towards Sodom

It didn't matter to lot that The land he chose to settle his family was near the sinful city of Sodom (Verse 12)

And next, We find Lot in Sodom- a wicked and evil place. Where God ultimately executed his wrath and judgement by causing fire and destruction.

Lot knew God, but he chose to live among people who would lead his family into sin and complacency.

Much of Lot’s life is a picture of the consequences of greed and the negative influence of a sinful environment.

Abram took other land.

Abraham’s choice seemed like a loss

At this point in the story, it would seen that Abram in our text had lost very much, in parting ways with Lot:

Lot his nephew

and some prime real estate in Canaan

But Abram did not lose anything that God did not multiply in return for his obedience -

Abram did not lose family. No, God was giving him offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then could his offspring be counted.

God was giving him the entire land of Canaan. The land north and south, east and west, including that little circle of well-watered pasture in the plain.

Separation

Separation can be a painful thing, because everyone of us like to feel a sense of belonging especially to the people we love.

However, some folks are placed in your life for a season. And you need to understand that, because of the unique plan of God for your life and where God is taking you, not everyone will be able to go with you.

God called Abraham, not Lot- Lot would have been a distraction Baggage .

And here is the key there are certain levels of advancements in Gods plan for our life’s that can only be achieved after we decide to disconnect from from people places and things that become a weights, burdens and excess

The reason why there is so much drama in your relationships is because some folks were not designed to be covenant partners to your calling.

You have to be careful who you walk with.

You see, God knew Lot’s intentions and inclinations long before he ended up in Sodom.

Let it go, let him Go, let her go, let it go.

Feeling of emotional attachment-

Need for validation

Moses

Jesus

Paul

Application- Break free from the spirt of Lot

But, There is a spirit that is hindering this generation from being who God purposed them to be.

But the Spirit of the Lord is on a mission to BREAK YOU FREE FROM THE SPIRIT OF LOT!

Tonight is the night for your breakthrough.

Hebrews 12:1–2“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The author of Hebrews distinguishes between “weight” and “sin” in the original Greek language. While sin violates God's law (and without a doubt should not be a part of our run), weights might be considered impediments or hindrances.

The distinction which the writer draws is a very important one.

Sin is that which, by its very nature, in all circumstances, by whomsoever done, without regard to consequences, is a transgression of God's law.

A 'weight' is that which, allowable in itself, legitimate, perhaps a blessing, the exercise of a power which God has given us — is, for some reason, a hindrance and impediment in our running the heavenly race.

Sin is sin, whosoever does it; but weights may be weights to me, and not weights to you.

Sin is sin in whatever degree it is done; but weights may be weights when they are in excess, not hindrances, when they are in moderation.

The one is a legitimate thing turned to a false use; the other is always, and everywhere, and by whomsoever performed, a transgression of God's law.

Philippians 3:13–14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

And here is where the next live comes in

This is not the first time God spoke to Abraham about the promise of a Land and blessings to his offspring. Abraham was on his way, in obedience to the voice of God in Chapters 11 and 12 of Genesis, when The Lord first called him.

But here it is, Abraham journeys as far s he could go with the weights. Then the weights became an obvious indication that he could not go any further in pursuit of the promise that had been given to him.

Abraham is already in the land, But the Bible is specific that eh Canaanite’s occupied the land. Which Means that Abraham was in the land but not on the level that God fully intended.

There are some struggles that your are going through presenly and God is waiting on you to make a decision to separate from some weights in your

Propositional statement

In our text God does three things after Abraham’s decision to separate from Lot. There are three reasons why you need to separate from the Lot in your life.

1. There is something that The Lord Desires to Say to you- so Tune In

2. There is something that The Lord Desires to Show you - so Focus

3. There is something that The Lord Desires to Give you - so Receive

#1 Listen- God Wants to Say Something- Separate from Secular Culture (Detach From The Distractions) Present- Samuel speak

Look at the text:

Genesis 13:14-16 “And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him,

I am convinced that the Lord has a plan that he has carefully crafted for each and everyone of us. And it’s Good.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

But if there is anyting that we desparately need to be delivered from the the 21st century so we can tune in to the voice of God. Is that we need to be decode to disconnect from tthe constant noise ofdistractions.

Distractions can come in the form of many things in our lives:

1. Media- Is a channel of distraction and temptation, social media, reels, tick Tock, snap chat. We spend more time scrolling than we spend praying.

Let me just also add that the Music we listen has power to create mood and channel spirits. You could be opening doors to oppression, depression, anxiety, anger. Your mood changes based on what you listen to. Hindering our ability to hear the voice of God.

2. Soul Ties, -Whether its Friends, parents, siblings, spouses, girl/boy friends, children, co-workers, bosses, etc. We can allow any of these relationships to distract us from God.

It is our relationships that are our connection with the world, and it is our human nature to have them, but when we allow any one of these relationships to become more important to us than our relationship with God…well, they become a distraction.

relationships are extremely important, but our relationship with God is of the utmost importance. Remember that!

The Spirit of Oppression - It is on an assignment to hold back, hold under and restrict you through attacking your weaknesses through temptation.

The Spirt of Lot is a Spirit of Oppression :

The spirit of Lot is not a demonic possession, but it is a spirit of oppression.

There is a difference - Demonic possession controls a person from within, The spirit of oppression controls the person from without.

The Spirit of Oppression - It is on an assignment to hold back, hold under and restrict you through attacking your weaknesses through temptation.

“God said to Abraham, After he was separated from Lot.”

Nowhere in the story do we hear God telling Abraham to separate from Lot

Genesis 13:5–9 “And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”

In the midst of the noise and distraction God is Trying to Say Something. God will not compete with the distractions in your life.

But as soon as we decide to separate from Lot, God will speak.

OT Illiustration-Uzziah

Isaiah 6:1–8 (KJV 1900)

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said,

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts:

The whole earth is full of his glory.

And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Application: Lord, Here am I send Me

We must be tuned in to what God is saying so we go and do what God wants us to do.

When the Lord Speaks-

When God speaks- He sends his word to heal, He sends His word to bless, He sends his word to restore your broken places. His word will never return void but it will accomplish.

I need a word - Preach the Power of the Word

SPEAK LORD!!! - Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Here is the word!

#2 Look - God Wants to Show You Something

Look at the text:

God Showed him the Land

Before God revealed His Plan He will require that you release some people from your life

Major revelation is preceded by a decision to separate from Lot.

Lot had to go so God could reveal to Abram what he had in store for Him in the next dimension of his destiny

Vision: without a vision the people perish

What keeps me going hard after God is vision. If we are going to accomplish anything for God we must have clear vision.

Before God gives him the land He shows him.

From where though art-

Spiritual myopia

But the carnitas were in the Land

There is no limit! It all depends on your spiritual perception or your vision

Myopia is a defect in your eyes that keeps you from seeing objects far off. You can see objects up close, but you cannot see objects that are far away.

Myopia is an abnormal eye condition in which light rays from distant objects, passing through the lens, focus in front of the retina instead of on it. This causes blurry vision. The more common term for this problem is nearsightedness, a malady that affects millions of people. Philosophically, we often see myopia in people who lack foresight or an ability to see something as clearly they could or should.

Anyone who has nearsighted vision (as the author of this article does) realizes that most objects beyond just a few feet are fuzzy and out of focus. Thankfully, we have the knowledge and technology today to overcome this obstacle, so the physical problem is usually corrected by eyeglasses, contact lenses, and sometimes even surgery. Left untreated, however, it can evolve into bigger problems, such as eyestrain and severe headaches.

Myopia's obvious parallel to a Christian's life can be seen in an inability to see the future as God reveals it to us in His Word. If it is allowed to continue, a person may be unable or have no desire to see the consequences of man's failures and the biblical ramifications of events as they unfold. Such people live in a fog, totally unaware of the urgency of the times.

Another facet of spiritual myopia concerns a person's efforts to see himself as God and others see him. This dilemma of blindness can result in a disregard for overcoming problems as they affect others and himself. When this happens, a person's spiritual growth stagnates and eventually backslides until, as Peter says, he returns to "wallowing in the mire" (II Peter 2:22).

Myopia occurs especially in our limited capacity to see God as He really is versus the fuzzy "God" the world embraces. Each person's upbringing and experience affect and sometimes dictate our views of what God is like. A myopic Christian's indistinct view of God will keep him from understanding what God is doing and what God expects of him.

In God's revelation to John, particularly in his message to the seven churches of Asia, one church had a problem with vision, the church of the Laodiceans. As we know, Jesus warns this church of God about a number of spiritual matters. Lukewarmness, materialism, and spiritual pride are just a few of His indictments of them. He recommends steps for their spiritual improvement in Revelation 3:18-19:

I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

Laodicea was an actual first-century church, and its recorded spiritual condition exposes characteristics—broadly termed "Laodiceanism"—that affect God's church today. In a way, it has affected nearly every person to varying degrees. It has influenced beliefs and views, causing many of God's people to lose their godly sight, and crippling many in making and keeping God's way as their way.

This man went to have his eyes checked and told the doctor that he was having problems seeing objects that were 20 feet away from him.

The optometrist after checking his eyes, told this man: Sir, the problem is not in your eyes, the problem is that you are spending most of your time in front of your computer and your eyes have adjusted themselves to see up close. So what I want you do, is go to the highest point in the city, and for 20 minutes, fix your eyes on the farthest point that you can see. If you will do this exercise for 20 minutes every day your eyesight is going to improve.

Applying this principle to our spiritual life, the truth of the matter is, that we have been looking up close for too long.

The Lord told us: "Say not ye, There are yet four months , and [then] cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." (John 4: 35).

This is the hour to see beyond ourselves, beyond our culture, beyond our communities, beyond the color of our skin, beyond our language, beyond the material things. . . and look to the fields. . .that are ready to be harvested. We've got to look at everybody as one soul that needs to be saved.

The church is pregnant right now with the greatest revival ever!!

Isaiah 37:3 "Day of trouble, and of rebuke and of blasphemy, because the children have come to the point of birth, but the one that is giving birth doesn't have any strength."

The church of the Name is pregnant with the greatest revival of souls ever, and what we need to do is pray that the Lord gives the passion, the power, the anointing, the unity to give birth this new generation of apostolic believers.

Genesis 13:

Illustration- Joseph dream showing

God wants to Show you something

God separates Joseph from his brothers so he could be prepared for the throne.

In the Last days Saith God, i will our out of my spirit on all flesh, your sons and daughters shall prophecy, young men’s ```shall see visions and old men shall dreams.

God is creating a situation for your revelation.

#3 Receive -God Wants to Give You Something (Praise!)

Genesis 12:1 “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:”

God says I will show thee.

But after you separate- God say I will give it to you.

How Bad do you want it?

Wont he do it!

DAVID DANCED WITH ABANDON

Israel brought the ark of the covenant home to the tabernacle in Jerusalem, and King David’s heart overflowed. The Bible says he “danced before the LORD with all his might” (2 Samuel 6:14). This mighty warrior, public figure and chosen king was so consumed by God’s glory he celebrated by dancing. His wife criticized him for his display of worship. She tried to make him feel embarrassed, but David told her it wasn’t about what people thought. His worship–in this case dancing for the Lord–was an act of worship.

O Lord, thou art my God;

I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name;

for thou hast done wonderful things;

thy counsels of old

are faithfulness and truth.

Isaiah 25:1reliabilityGodworship

Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord.

Praise ye the Lord.

Psalm 150:6worship

Bless the Lord, O my soul:

and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Psalm 103:1holinessworshipsoul

CLAP/SHOUT

“O CLAP your hands all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the Lord most high is terrible (awesome); He is a great king over all the earth” (Psalm 47:1-2)

DANCING IS ALLOWED

Psalms 149:3 - Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 - A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

Psalms 150:4 - Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

Psalms 30:11 - Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

Bible Verses About Shouting

Psalms 98:4 - Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Revelation 5:12-14 - Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. (Read More...)

Psalms 47:1 - (To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.) O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

Isaiah 12:6 - Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

Zephaniah 3:14-15 - Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. (Read More...)

Psalms 150:1 - 127:6 - Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. (Read More...)

Psalms 100:1-5 - (A Psalm of praise.) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. (Read More...)

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