Break Off The Limits
Ephesians 3:20 (MSG) God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us.
A. Remember God’s plan isn’t supposed to be elusive.
B. Pay close attention to your desires.
Psalm 37:4 (NIV) Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
God has a plan for our lives, and that plan is bigger than we think.
Even though God has an incredible plan for our lives, that plan requires our participation.
Is it possible to limit God?
Psalm 78:41 (NKJV) Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited {restrained} the Holy One of Israel.
1 Corinthians 16:9 (NKJV) For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
Ways we can limit God…
traditions fear
doubt focused on the natural
wrong beliefs disappointments
willful sin past mistakes
bitterness wounded soul
complaining disobedience
insecurities lack of prayer
small thinking distracted & busy
control lack of growth
Proverbs 14:1 (AMP) The wise woman builds her house [on a foundation of godly precepts, and her household thrives], but the foolish one [who lacks spiritual insight] tears it down with her own hands [by ignoring godly principles].
1. We limit God’s plan when we willfully sin
Colossians 3:1-10 (NLT) Since you have been raised to new life with Christ… 5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so you can endure.
When God points out a sinful pattern in our lives, let’s repent and ask for grace to overcome it.
2. We limit God’s plan when we hold onto our past mistakes
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Philippians 3:13 (NLT) No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
What God has saved us FOR is greater than what He has saved us FROM.
3. We limit God’s plan when we live from our insecurities
“There’s only one thing greater than being underestimated by others, and that’s being underestimated by yourself.”
1 Corinthians 1:26-28 (NLT) Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.
“It is not great men who change the world, but weak men in the hands of a great God.” —Brother Yun
4. We limit God’s plan when we choose comfort instead of growth
5. We limit God’s plan when we lack expectation
“If your vision doesn’t scare you, then both your vision and your God are too small.” —Andrew van der Bijl
We need to learn how to walk by faith and not by sight.