"TAKE A STEP TODAY":
BREAKING THROUGH BARRIERS:
7 Keys to Freedom
(7-2023) by Carol Scheitlin
Powerful Scripture keys to break through barriers..
This is Carol Scheitlin of New Life Expressions. I’d like to take a look this month at a few common barriers that may be obstacles in your life, preventing real spiritual growth, barriers to finding true peace, and barriers to knowing real freedom. Let’s get right to it…
BARRIER #1: DOUBTING THAT THE CREATOR GOD LOVED YOU SO MUCH THAT HE DIED TO PAY THE PENALTY FOR YOUR SINS
Look around the world. Sin and evil exist. We see it every day. Humans sin and we all fall short of perfection. Sin separates us from the perfect and Holy God.
KEY SCRIPTURE to MEMORIZE & BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16, nkjv)
Have you embraced God’s love and do you know that He’s given Himself for you?
BELIEVE THE TRUTH that God loves you and gave Himself for you.
BARRIER #2: NOT TRUSTING IN THE MESSIAH’S FINISHED WORK
There is no work or good deed that any human can ever do that will earn our way to real peace and fellowship forever in the presence of a Holy Perfect God.
Salvation is not achieved by man, it’s received from God.
It’s not a task achieved, or an accomplishment you’ve attained, it’s a relationship received.
You don’t have to strive to attain it through many lifetimes of striving, evolving and attempting. Jesus already did the work on the cross – for you. It is HIS finished work that is a gift to be received.
KEY SCRIPTURE to MEMORIZE & BELIEVE:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, nkjv)
Have you received His Gift of salvation given for you?
BELIEVE THE TRUTH that by God’s GRACE, there is salvation for us through HIS finished work on the cross. He’s given you all you need for LIFE.
BARRIER #3: RELYING ON “THINGS” MORE THAN GOD
Your breakthrough isn’t going to come through a THING, it comes through a WHO – Breakthrough comes through trusting the Living God.
You won’t find freedom by achieving nirvana, through mind-altering substances, or in material items, things you buy, or in statues or objects.
Your victory comes by accepting a loving and personal relationship with the only Creator of the universe - the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – the Living God of the Bible.
How would you describe your relationship with God?
KEY SCRIPTURE to MEMORIZE & BELIEVE:
“Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed;
Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame;
For you will forget the shame of your youth,
And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore.
5 For your Maker is your husband,
The Lord of hosts is His name;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel;
He is called the God of the whole earth.
6 For the Lord has called you Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit,
Like a youthful wife when you were refused,”
Says your God.” (Isaiah 54:4-6, nkjv)
In what ways might God be calling YOU to grow deeper in a personal and closer relationship with Him today?
BELIEVE THE TRUTH that God calls you to not rely on “things” or objects, but to trust in a personal and loving relationship with Him
BARRIER #4: BEING STUCK IN A MUDDY PAST OF MESSES, DEFEATS, FAULTS & FAILURES
If your time is being consumed by thoughts of past messes, condemnation, defeat, and failures (your own or the failures of others), then how can you move forward in freedom?
If your past has been muddy and you are tired of being stuck in the rut of it all, ask the Lord to free you, to establish your steps so you can move forward, and rise above it all – no longer a captive to the mess.
Are you willing to reach out to God right now and pray for His help and victory over past messes?
KEY SCRIPTURE to MEMORIZE & BELIEVE:
“I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.” (Psalm 40:1-2)
BELIEVE THE TRUTH that no matter what failures and messes are in your past, God can lift you up out of any muddy pit.
BARRIER #5: NOT REALIZING YOU CAN BRING ALL YOUR HURTS & BROKENNESS TO GOD WHO CARES DEEPLY FOR YOU
God will receive you and care for you as His beloved child when you come to Him. Bring your broken heart, wounded spirit, broken life to the ONLY One who can TRULY heal, repair, and restore you. Do you need healing of any brokenness today?
KEY SCRIPTURE to MEMORIZE & BELIEVE:
“He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3)
BELIEVE THE TRUTH that God can heal your broken heart, and bind up any wounds.
BARRIER #6: LOOKING IN THE WRONG PLACES, OPENING YOURSELF UP TO DARK SPIRITS
There is a spiritual world that we cannot see with our human eyes. There are principalities, powers, angels, and demons – realms and dimensions that we don’t understand.
But there is One Who is over all, in control over all things that are seen, and things that are unseen by us.
There is One Who doesn’t want us to perish without Him.
He is Light and in Him there is no darkness at all. He is ruler over all principalities and powers.
He is Creator and Elohim (A Hebrew name for God, used in Genesis 1:1).
He IS Truth and He has declared Truth. Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6). Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, we can have victory over all powers of darkness.
The God of the Bible offers you the Way to freedom, and victory over darkness – now.
All other ways, channels, modes and methods open you up to a world of those spirits whose purpose is draw you away from God and Truth, and will put you on a very dangerous and destructive path.
It is my prayer that your eyes are opened to discern any type of spiritual deception that opposes God’s Word in any way, any mystical and counterfeit methods, any dark paths that may exist in your life, and I pray that you, dear reader, will instead choose God’s good and pure path for spiritual LIFE & BLESSING!
KEY SCRIPTURE to MEMORIZE & BELIEVE:
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:10-13)
Are you on God’s good path, and putting on His full armor today? (ref: Ephesians 6, which speaks of the armor of God’s righteousness, the Gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and prayer)
BELIEVE THE TRUTH that God can set you free from all powers of darkness and from the dangerous spiritual realms that we don’t see or understand.
BARRIER #7: NOT EMBRACING THE GOD WHO FORGIVES
You may have sorrow over wrong choices that you’ve made. Today could be the day that your real breakthrough occurs - as you embrace God’s gift of love for you, His salvation, forgiveness, and redemption.
Repentance is freeing. God’s love and forgiveness will break heavy bondages and strongholds that have held you captive.
KEY SCRIPTURE to MEMORIZE & BELIEVE:
“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14, nkjv)
BELIEVE THE TRUTH that He bore our iniquities on the cross. He will forgive our transgressions when we seek Him, turn from any sin, and receive His gift of Salvation.
IN SUMMARY, HERE ARE 7 LIFE-GIVING TRUTHS:
- God loves you and gave Himself for you.
- By God’s GRACE, there is salvation for us through HIS finished work on the cross. He’s given you all you need for LIFE.
- God calls you to not rely on “things” or objects, but to trust in a personal and loving relationship with Him.
- No matter what failures and messes are in your past, God can lift you up out of any muddy pit.
- God can heal your broken heart, and bind up any wounds.
- God can set you free from all powers of darkness and from the dangerous spiritual realms that we don’t see or understand.
- Jesus (Yeshua “salvation” is His Hebrew given name) bore our iniquities on the cross. He will forgive our transgressions when we seek Him. Turn to Jesus, your Messiah and Savior. Turn from any sin. Receive God's precious and powerful Gift today.
TWO IMPORTANT SUMMARY SCRIPTURES ABOUT GOD’S POWER
TO BREAK CHAINS:
“Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5, nkjv)
Today, fully trust in the love of the Living God, your Risen Savior, embrace the salvation through Messiah Jesus’ finished work on the cross, and learn from the Holy Scriptures of HIS Way.
“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
And broke their chains in pieces.
15 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For He has broken the gates of bronze,
And cut the bars of iron in two.” (Psalm 107:13-16, nkjv)
What barriers and “bars of iron” has God wonderfully broken in your life? Do you have a brief testimony you can share, to encourage others in your life? Perhaps you can share it, and give glory to God.
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“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32, nkjv)
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Visit this website next time for a message entitled: "Using Your Time Wisely: 37 Scriptures".
Looking for a deeper spiritual walk? Want to know more about a relationship with God?
If your identity is not found in Jesus - If you don’t know Jesus, you can know Him! A few quick things to help you get started:
- Pick up the Holy Bible and start reading! (The Gospel of John in the New Testament is a great place to start!).
- Click HERE to find out about God’s FREE Gift of Salvation.
- Get connected to a solid church where the Bible is taught. Book by book, verse by verse teaching, is a great way to gain rich understanding!
- Turn from darkness and the bondage of sin, and trust Messiah Jesus to give you life and make you NEW in Him!
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 esv
Do you want to know more about being saved and set free? If you want to understand more about God’s GIFT of salvation found in the Bible, BE SURE to check out “THE GIFT OF SALVATION” on this website. Click HERE for the link.
Burdened by weights in life that may be keeping you from moving forward? This can help - quick click here for: "CARRYING TOO MANY WEIGHTS FOR LIFE'S RACE? Here's Your Answer..."
Carol Scheitlin is director of New Life Expressions, writer, author, and blogger. She has served short term on various missions around the world, long term in engineering and manufacturing businesses, and for many years directed a worldwide outreach. She loves encouraging people to see Messiah Jesus throughout the Scriptures – and to know God’s awesome, perfect and sacrificial love. Only through HIM can we know this deep love, and have real hope, victory - and New Life!
Carol has written 12 books, being published over time. The first two books, "Let the House of Aaron Say", and "I Will Bless Those Who Bless You" are currently available on Amazon. Book #3 will soon be available in the upcoming months.
For more info, quick links to order books, check news, the latest resources and updates, click HERE for News & Updates.
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