Waiting for a breakthrough passage text: Gen.40,41, 1 Sam.1:1-18, PS.66:8-12
Ps 66:8-12 “8 Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard, 9 Who keeps our soul among the living, And does not allow our feet to be moved. 10 For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. 11 You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. 12 You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.”
Introduction
These two characters are well-favored people:
Joseph was the son of Jacob’s old age and he was well loved by his father.
To prove his love, Jacob made him a coat of many colours. This further made the brother envious, apart from the dreams he had. So they plotted and sold him to the Midianites traders for 20shekels. The trader sold him in Egypt to a man named Potipher – A captain in Pharaoh’s army.
As a slave, the bible says in Gen.39:2-5 “The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man…” while God blessed him, he still ran into some problems with the owner’s wife – Mrs. Potipher- She had a ‘fatal attraction’ for Joseph – His refusal to lie with her landed him in prison. Now how will the breakthrough come?
Hannah on the other hand – the wife of Elkanah – Extra biblical records say she was the first wife, but she was barren – God shut her womb – That was not enough, her mate Peninnah provoked her sore
· Both of them, were going through a situation that was no fault of theirs.
It is a blessing to know that no matter how bad your situation may get, God is with you… He will never leave you nor forsake you.
For these 2, certain things happened to them:
Joseph
· Butler and Baker were thrown in prison and both had a dream in one right.
· Joseph interpreted their dreams and it came to pass as he had interpreted Gen.10:14-15 –Remember me when it is well with you…”
· One would expect that Joseph’s release would come immediately. YES! NO!
HANNAH
· She was married to a godly man
· They went to Shiloh every year
· Serving God continually and going to Shiloh one would expect that her miracle would come.
So what do you do when your breakthroughs do not come through?
· You have prayed and prayed and even fasted.
· You have done your best for God
· You have sown seeds and giving.
Five Things To Do When waiting for a breakthrough from god
1. Wait on God – Ps.27:14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!
2. Walk with God -1Jn.1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
3. Work for God – Matt.5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
4. Worship God – Ps.95:6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
5. Pursue God.
These we see exhibited in their lives.
Some factors that helped them:
They were convinced of God’s faithfulness
– Both of them understood that the fact that their breakthrough has not come does not mean it will never come –Ps.30:5
– Just because you suffered a setback does not mean you will not have a comeback. Micah 7:8
– Because you have not been disappointed does not mean you will never be appointed.
– That I am down today does not mean I will not get up tomorrow.
Why did their breakthrough not come before?
i. The timing was not right before then. –Gen.41:1 “And it came to pass at the end of 2yrs”
It is important to know that what God has for you may not come when you want it, but it will come.
ii. Certain things had to take place (either in your life or the lives of others)
Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret.
1Sam.1:9 – “Once when they had finished eating, Hannah stood up”
Hannah stood up and wept in the bitterness of her soul, she pursued God with all her heart.
NOTE
– She was determined in her spirit to see a manifestation of her heart’s desire.
– She was tired of Peninnah’s provoking
– She was fed up with barrenness.
– She made a choice to continue in the pursuit of God and His purpose for her life.
– Her desire for a male child made her persevere in prayers and faith.
QUESTIONS:
Has the enemy been lying to you that your situation is hopeless and that you cannot amount to anything good in life?
Stop listening to the lies of the devil and get on with your life.
All you need to do is to position yourself before God so that you can receive his blessing.
– Eli thought Hannah was drunk have you been wrongly accused? Don’t allow the wrong accusation of men get you down. Set your face like a flint and pursue God.
– Eli probably felt like a fool at Hannah’s response.
“Go in peace and the God of heaven grant you your petition” This was all Hannah needed and she went away, ate, and celebrated she eventually had a son and named him Samuel.
· It is amazing how God can silence our accusers. When we praise God, all our desires will be granted.
Be Able= dunamai= This word forms the English word “dynamite.” It means “to be powerful.” We are to be powerful in order to stand for the Lord.
To Stand= histemi= It means “to stand firm.” When this word was used in a military sense, it had the idea of holding a critical position while under attack. We are to endure for a lifetime.
The Wiles of the Devil= methodia= It means “the schemes or methods of the Devil.” It carries the idea of craftiness, cunning, and deception. It is a term used for a wild animal who cunningly stalked and then unexpectedly pounced upon its prey.
Satan’s schemes are built around stealth and deception.
1. He opposes God’s Work… Zechariah 3:1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.
2. He perverts God’s Word… Matthew 4:6 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands, they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’
3. He hinders God’s Workers… 1 Thessalonians 2:18 Therefore we wanted to come to you — even I, Paul, time and again — but Satan hindered us.
4. He appears as a Wonder, an angel of light… 2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
5. He snares the wicked… 1 Timothy 3:7 Moreover, he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Fifty-two times, he is called Satan, which means “adversary.” Thirty-five times he is referred to as the Devil which means “slanderer or deceiver.” He is a deceiver!
Ephesians 6:12—… For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
We are not spectators in the battle, we are involved whether we like it or not…. we wrestle. The word “wrestle” was a word used to describe hand-to-hand combat. In some sporting events, it was a matter of life for the winner and death for the loser.
In some games, the Greeks would gouge out the eyes of the loser. The battle we face is an everyday affair against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places.
Mattoon’s Treasures – Treasures from Exodus, Volume 2.
What To Do While Waiting For Breakthrough Quiz
- What To Do While Waiting For Breakthrough - September 26, 2010
- Breakthrough By The Holy Spirit Sermon - September 19, 2010
- Work – Made Productivity - September 12, 2010