Breaking Free: Discernment and Divine Calling

 

Summary

In today's sermon, I explored the theme of discernment and the importance of being in the right place spiritually to hear God's voice clearly. I began by addressing the battle of containment that the enemy wages against us, attempting to constrain us with distractions, hide resources, and blind us to God's purpose for our lives. I emphasized that while the enemy may attack the promise of God in our lives, he cannot stop it. We must recognize that we are called by God and that this calling opens the door to the impossible ([01:19]).

I then spoke about internal security, highlighting that Jesus came to do the will of His Father, not to seek the approval of men. This internal security is crucial because it allows us to be secure in who God says we are, rather than being contained by the enemy's lies about our identity ([10:05]). I shared that we all have a calling from God, and by answering that call, we step into the realm of impossibilities made possible through faith ([12:10]).

The sermon continued with the story of Peter walking on water, illustrating the importance of responding to Jesus' call, which enables us to do what we could never do on our own. This act of faith by Peter was a demonstration of not being contained by fear or doubt but stepping out in obedience to God's voice ([14:47]).

I then discussed the critical difference between condemnation and conviction. The enemy condemns to trap us in despair, while the Holy Spirit convicts to lead us to salvation and abundant life. This distinction is vital in discerning the voices we hear and ensuring we are in the right place with God ([28:02]).

I also addressed the current events and the need to hear from God amidst chaos. I urged the congregation to focus on God's voice, not to be swayed by fear or speculation about end times, but to be ready for the rapture, should it come ([17:37]).

In the latter part of the sermon, I called for worship that goes beyond praise, entering into a deep reverence for God's holiness. Worship is an acknowledgment of God's otherness, His majesty, and His glory, which leads us into His presence ([30:39]).

Finally, I concluded with a call to holiness, emphasizing that as we see God as holy and separate, we too are made holy and separate. This separation allows us to discern God's voice from the enemy's and to step out of any boxes that have been constraining us ([40:48]).

Key Takeaways:

1. The enemy's strategy is to contain us, but by recognizing our calling from God, we can overcome these constraints and step into the realm of impossibilities. Our security in God's calling enables us to defy the enemy's attempts to limit us. ([01:19])

2. Internal security in Christ is foundational for our spiritual journey. Jesus' focus on doing the will of His Father, regardless of human opinion, is a model for us to follow. We must find our identity and security in who God says we are, not in the affirmation of others. ([10:05])

3. Answering God's call, like Peter did when he stepped out of the boat, opens the door to the impossible. Our faith in God's calling empowers us to do what we could never do on our own, breaking free from the containment of fear and doubt. ([14:47])

4. Discerning the voice of God is crucial in our walk with Him. Understanding the difference between condemnation and conviction helps us to recognize the Holy Spirit's guidance, leading us to repentance and life, rather than the enemy's lies that lead to despair. ([28:02])

5. True worship transcends praise; it is a profound recognition of God's holiness and otherness. As we worship, we enter into God's presence, and in His holiness, we find the strength to discern His voice and break free from any constraints the enemy has placed upon us. ([40:48])

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 14:28-29 (NIV)
> "Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus."

2. 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
> "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'"

3. Romans 8:1 (NIV)
> "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

#### Observation Questions
1. What did Peter ask Jesus before stepping out of the boat, and what was Jesus' response? (Matthew 14:28-29)
2. According to 1 Samuel 16:7, what does the Lord look at when choosing someone?
3. What is the difference between condemnation and conviction as discussed in the sermon? ([28:02])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Peter's act of stepping out of the boat illustrate the importance of faith in responding to God's call? ([14:47])
2. In what ways does internal security in Christ help us to overcome the enemy's attempts to contain us? ([10:05])
3. How can understanding the difference between condemnation and conviction help us in our spiritual journey? ([28:02])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt contained by fear or doubt. How did you respond, and what can you learn from Peter's example of stepping out in faith? ([14:47])
2. How can you cultivate internal security in Christ in your daily life, especially when facing criticism or seeking approval from others? ([10:05])
3. Think about a recent situation where you felt condemned. How can you shift your perspective to see it as an opportunity for conviction and growth instead? ([28:02])
4. Are there any distractions in your life that are preventing you from hearing God's voice clearly? What steps can you take to minimize these distractions this week? ([01:19])
5. How can you deepen your worship experience to move beyond praise and into a profound recognition of God's holiness? ([30:39])
6. In what ways can you prepare yourself spiritually to discern God's voice amidst the chaos of current events? ([17:37])
7. Identify one area in your life where you feel constrained. What practical steps can you take to break free from this constraint and step into the realm of impossibilities through faith? ([01:19])

Devotional

Day 1: Overcoming Spiritual Containment
Discerning one's calling from God is a transformative realization that can shift the trajectory of a person's life. The enemy seeks to contain individuals through distractions and lies, obscuring the divine purpose intended for them. However, by recognizing and embracing the calling God has placed on one's life, a person can break free from these constraints. This calling is not just a path to follow but a gateway to the realm of impossibilities, where faith becomes the key to unlocking miracles and defying the limitations set by the enemy. It is in this space that one can truly experience the fullness of God's promise, uncontained and unrestrained by the adversary's tactics [01:19].

Ephesians 3:16-19 (ESV): "That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Reflection: What distractions or lies is the enemy using to contain you, and how can you actively seek God's calling to overcome these barriers?

Day 2: Embracing Internal Security in Christ
Internal security in Christ is the bedrock upon which believers can stand firm amidst the shifting sands of human opinion and approval. It is the understanding that one's identity is not determined by the world but by the Creator. This security allows individuals to live out their divine purpose without the need for external validation. It is a reflection of Jesus' own journey, as He lived to fulfill the will of His Father, not to seek the approval of men. When believers find their identity in who God says they are, they become impervious to the enemy's lies about their worth and purpose [10:05].

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper sense of internal security in Christ this week, and what practical steps can you take to affirm your identity in God rather than in the approval of others?

Day 3: Stepping into the Impossible with Faith
Answering God's call, as exemplified by Peter when he stepped out onto the water, is an act of faith that propels believers into the realm of the impossible. It is a conscious decision to trust in God's power and provision, even when circumstances seem daunting. This step of faith is not a one-time event but a continuous journey of obedience and reliance on God. It is in these moments of surrender that individuals can break free from the containment of fear and doubt, walking in the supernatural possibilities that faith in God's calling enables [14:47].

Hebrews 11:8 (ESV): "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going."

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you feel called to step out in faith, and what is the first step you can take today to move towards that calling?

Day 4: Discerning the Voice of God
Understanding the difference between condemnation and conviction is essential for discerning the voice of God. The enemy uses condemnation to ensnare believers in a web of despair, while the Holy Spirit convicts to lead them towards repentance, salvation, and an abundant life. This discernment is critical for maintaining a right relationship with God and for following His guidance. By recognizing the nature of the voices that speak into one's life, believers can align themselves with the truth of the Holy Spirit and reject the lies of the enemy [28:02].

Galatians 5:1 (ESV): "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

Reflection: Can you identify a time when you felt condemned and a time when you felt convicted? How did each experience affect your relationship with God, and how can you better discern His voice going forward?

Day 5: Worship as a Path to God's Presence
True worship is more than just singing praises; it is a profound act of reverence and acknowledgment of God's holiness and otherness. Worship is the vehicle that transports believers into the very presence of God, where they can experience His majesty and glory. In this sacred space, individuals are transformed and made holy, equipped to discern God's voice and break free from any constraints placed upon them by the enemy. Worship is an intimate encounter with the Divine, where the heart is aligned with the heart of God [40:48].

Isaiah 29:23 (ESV): "For when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and will stand in awe of the God of Israel."

Reflection: How does your current practice of worship reflect a deep reverence for God's holiness, and what changes can you make to enter more fully into His presence during worship?

Quotes

"The word of God in my heart today was containment, containment, and sometimes we find ourselves in a battle of containment, and that's what the enemy tries to do, he tries to contain us, and it's a battle to try to stop it, and if the enemy can do anything to us, he will try to contain us, he will try to hold us back, he will try to keep us in a box." [01:19]( | | )

"See, understand this, the enemy doesn't attack you on the level of who you say you are, he attacks you on the level of who God says you are. And as long as you're being distracted, as long as you're not being, as long as you're allowed the resources he has for you to be, and as long as you've got blinders on, I'll be honest with you, he's pretty much going to leave you alone, but once you realize, and once you begin to say, you know what, as for me and my house, we're going after God with everything we have, you better get ready, he's going to come after you." [02:17]( | | )

"Jesus didn't come to do the will of men. Jesus come to do the will of his Father. Whether people like it or not, he says, I've come to do what God's called me to do. Because if the Father has called me to do it, then he'll give me everything I need to do what it is I need to do." [10:05]( | | )

"And if you don't do it. You can't do it. Thank God for the iron dome that was over Israel last night. Thank God for the warnings that they'd be able to say. Get into your shelters. We don't live a life like that over here in America. But Israel has to live that way. Not in the physical. But in the spiritual. Make sure you're living a life. That there's an iron dome over you at all times." [26:24]( | | )

"Allow me. Command me to come to you on the water. And then we know what the verse. Verse 29 says. Verse 29. Go to verse 29. And he said. Come. And when Peter had come down out of the boat. He walked on the water to Jesus. Why did Peter. This drives us crazy. Why did Peter walk on the water? Because Jesus called him." [14:47]( | | )

"But to worship him. Is because. I am completely enamored. who he And nothing else. I'm satisfied. I'm at all. Of who he is. And I worship him. Because. There's nothing like him. You put him on a level with everything else. And so you praise him. Because it makes you happy. It makes you joyful. There's nothing wrong with praise. Praise brings you to worship. But we stop at the gate of worship." [30:39]( | | )

"Because to be holy is to be separate. And the reason why you can't separate the voices is because you yourself are not separated. But when you see, him as holy, he makes you holy, then you're separate. And whatever box he's trying to put you in, it doesn't fit. Get ready for the box that he's been keeping you in all during the last week because today's the first day of this week. It won't fit anymore." [40:48]( | | )

"The enemy always comes to condemn. The Lord always comes to convict. And when you're in the right place. You better watch it. Two are very close. Conviction comes from the Holy Spirit. Condemnation comes from the enemy. Condemnation says. Oh my. Oh my word. This is the beginning of the end. You're going down. You have no way out. I got you in a box." [28:41]( | | )

"Whenever we see David, whenever David come against the enemy, and when he come against the enemy, and you've heard me speak this a lot, that he'll take the stone, and the stone represented knocking out Goliath. He knocked out Goliath, he took that stone, bam, he hit him between the eyes and down he went. And that's what happens whenever we decide, because maybe it's the season, it's the time in our life, or whatever God's been calling us, and we decide, you know what, this is the time to go after God." [04:16]( | | )

"And you are completely different in this place. You're the God who heals us, Lord. You're the God who saves us, God. You're the God who takes us away, Lord. God, you're the God who fills every hole, Lord. You're the God who fills every space, Jesus. You're completely holy, Lord. You're completely holy, Lord. And now you find yourself in the inner room." [36:00]( | | )

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Transcript
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