A Place to Grow

When you accepted Christ, you were made into a new creation that enabled you to leave your old habits and addictions behind. You have a choice to live holy or return to your past.

There are seven barriers that block your favor from God and we'll begin discussing those today. When you follow God, he showers you with blessing and favor. But disobedience can inhibit these.

The Bible tells us that Israel could not ascend to the Promise Land because of fear. The spirit of fear is a major hindrance to fulfilling God's destiny for us.

Hindrances can be a person or thing that makes a situation difficult or a barrier that gets in the way of progress. These can be supernatural, as the Apostle Paul experienced during his ministry.

We have to start taking inventory of our relationships. Even past relationships can result in present-day temptations. We must fully leave the past behind.

Today we will continue to talk about soul ties, what they are, and how the knitting together of two people in a relationship can either motivate us to obey God or disobey him.

Our blessings come through obedience to the Word of God. We must avoid living by our emotions or the opinions of others but if we do, we can face serious negative outcomes.

Relationships are very influential in our lives. We must base our relationships on the Word of God to build healthy soul ties and avoid those that will hinder our purpose.

People who attach receiving money with giving out miracles are on shaky ground. We should never use the power of the Holy Spirit as a means to benefit monetarily. Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, thought he could get wealthy as a byproduct of God using his master to operate in the supernatural.

The church teaches a gospel predominantly about the Father and the Son but there are fewer messages about the Holy Spirit. However, Jesus placed much importance on the Holy Spirit as a catalyst for helping understand God’s destiny for our lives.

You have got to understand that your life was given to you by God to accomplish specific goals from before you were born. We are to ask for his direction in all that we do and he will clearly guide us in the path we should go.

At the outset of new seasons, like a new year, God challenges us. We can have our best year of blessing ever if we dare to submit ourselves totally and completely to God’s will.

God can heal your emotional wounds if you allow him to. You can hide your feelings and shut people out of your emotions, suffering in silence, but God can bring you healing if you ask him to and seek wholeness from him.

We are living in a time that it is estimated that hundreds of millions of people are daily affected by mental and emotional health issues. It is vital for us to share the good news of salvation and healing with those around us regardless of the sickness that is troubling them. Jeremiah 30:17 says, “I will restore health to you and bring healing to your bones.”

Don’t be deceived about obedience: you can’t earn your salvation but obedience to God is the result of becoming His child. 1 John 3:7 says that obedience is not work, obedience shows that you are child of God.

Don’t be deceived about the devil. In Revelation 20:10, we read that the devil will be cast into the lake of fire. There will be an end to Satan someday but while we’re waiting for that time, we need to remember that God is greater than the enemy and that we are more than conquerors through Christ.

Statistics say 99% of deaths are caused by sickness and disease. There’s even research indicating that God created the body to sustain itself. Based on this, no one should die but because sin entered the world, people perish physically. Sin introduced disease and death into the world.

There are different religious opinions about whether God still heals. We must decide what we believe individually about this topic since those who don’t believe in healing can heavily influence those who are believing for divine intervention in their lives.

The Bible says that the devil is seeking to destroy you. But our own flesh is actually trying to get you to alter your destiny. By the flesh, I’m referring to your carnal desires. While our spirits are born again, our physical bodies can still be tempted to sin.

The most important event in history was the coming of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 9:6 promises the coming of the Savior and tells us who he is: Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. He is also the architect of your destiny as a child of God.

The Bible says that prayer gives us the power to change a situation, not only in our lives but in the lives of others. Mark 11:23 says whoever asks and doesn’t doubt, believing they have already received it will receive it. However, our responsibility, according to Jesus, is to forgive those who have hurt or offended us.

God wants to bless you but you must ask for what you want through prayer. James says “you have not because you ask not.” When we don’t pray, we can get more frustrated over time as our desires go unheard by God.

Fear will inhibit your ability to carry out your divine design. If you become paralyzed with fear in your circumstances, you can miss God reaching out to you with deliverance. God will answer our prayers in many ways: sometimes it’s through something that’s already in our possession.

The deepest craving in the human spirit is to find a sense of significance and relevance. One of the greatest tragedies is not death but a life without meaning or purpose. There is a master plan for your life and a purpose for every life from God.

Your life is not about you. That’s why you might be having such a hard time figuring out what to do with your life. You will never gain greater satisfaction in life than to serve your true purpose because is the architect of your life assignment.

So many believers are seeking God’s direction for their lives but oftentimes we struggle because what we wish for is not in line with his will for our lives. Our mind and emotions can talk us into just about anything we want but that might not be the best direction for us.

God wants us to live our lives without apology and without excuses. One day we are going to all stand before God and give account for the lives he has given to us. Romans 14:10 says, “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ,” where we answer for how we spent our time here on earth.

It doesn’t matter how long you have been bound or oppressed by a situation—God can deliver you because he is the author of the divine plan he has outlined for your life.

To be blessed, to be healed, to have your life changed and reach your fullest potential in life, you have to agree to submit to God’s plan. Just because God knows his plan for you doesn’t mean it has been revealed to you. You have to ask him to show you his plan.

Memories of betrayal, rejection, and self-condemnation will remain attached to your life unless you release them. If you don’t, they will keep you a prisoner of anger, distrust, and despair. You need to fully forgive those who hurt and wounded you.

Those who are already in heaven are consumed with worship. They recognize the glory, wisdom, power, and love of God for all humanity. We must not lose sight of the wonderful plan God has for us so that we can enjoy his presence for eternity.

It is God’s plan and desire for you to live and serve him for all eternity. The enemy wants to disrupt that destiny with specific temptations meant to knock you off course.

When it comes to changing a person’s heart, only God can do that. When you are dealing with those who have hurt you or offended you in the past, it’s okay to express how you feel. However, you must not criticize them because that judgment will come back on you because you will do the same thing to others.

It’s important for us to realize that to be wise includes moving past your past. Isaiah 43:18 says, “Forget what happened in the past, do not dwelt on offense from long ago. I am going to do something new.” This is an aspect of the wisdom God gives us to fulfill our divine destiny.

According to God’s word, Jesus’ crucifixion on behalf of humanity was established to occur before the world was created. This means that even our Savior had a divine destiny from the Father.

Each of us has a prophetic destiny to serve a divine purpose. Your decision to follow God’s plan will influence more lives than you could ever imagine. Your purpose fits like a piece in his divine puzzle.

When Christ was resurrected, he was seated at the right hand of the Father and was given all power and authority, according to Paul in Ephesians 1. We are the body of Christ which means we have delegated authority through his name to defeat opposition in our lives.

The devil is all about intimidation to stop us from receiving all that God has planned for our lives. We cannot let the passing of time convince us that unanswered prayer is not God’s will.

In Mark 11, Jesus said speak to the mount of difficulty in your life and it will move. If you believe what you speak, it will come to pass. But the devil can take advantage of a mind that is emptied of God’s word. Filling our minds with God’s word will enable us to walk in power and authority.

Your thoughts and words can determine your divine destiny. The Scriptures tell us to guard our hearts because our life flows from it. Our heart is our mind, will, and emotions and what we think and say has power to give us life or to bring death.

The gift you have not only represents you but represents God as well. My gift came from God therefore it represents God. He didn’t give you a gift for you to not use it. You have been anointed to accomplish great things for the kingdom.

1 Peter 4:10 says, “God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts.” The Holy Spirit is the giver of spiritual gifts and each of us has been given a spiritual gift to carry out our specific mission in life.

1 Corinthians 13:3 says that I can give away all my earthly possessions but if I don’t have love for the object of my giving, it doesn’t amount to much. If I give an offering or tithe to God, it should be because I love him.

God has a serious expectation that you love him more than anyone or anything else. We expect that from our covenant partner and God expects that from us. God will not enter into a real relationship with us unless we give him our entire heart.

Jeremiah 31:3 says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore, with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” Let there be no question in your mind that God loves you and wants the very best for your life.

We serve a supernatural God and if wea re his children, then we are to walk experiencing his supernatural power. Isaiah 43:18 says, “The Lord says, ‘Forget what happened before and do not think about the past. Look at the new things I am about to do.’”

Regardless of your circumstances, God made us promises if we obey and love him. No one knows your future except God but we can rest in the fact that he has a plan for each of his children.

The Bible says that if we are followers of Jesus Christ, we are blessed, highly favored, and protected by God. We can be grateful for God’s blessing and for surrounding us with his presence.

In the realm of the spirit, evil spirits are subject to us when we operate in the name of Jesus Christ. They are subject to us. Receiving healing also includes persistently asking, seeking, and knocking on God’s door.

Matthew 8:5-7 relates the story of Jesus’ encounter with a Roman centurion who was concerned about his sick servant. Throughout the Bible we see God’s willingness to heal and help us. The Godhead is committed to the spiritual, physical, and emotional healing of every person on earth.