July 2010
Blockades to Blessings


A Blockade is an obstruction or hindrance of progress.

Ex: In a war whenever the military wanted to isolate a particular area that was important to the opposing side, they would set up a blockade to keep them from getting to it.

Satan our enemy wants to keep us of from getting blessed. Salvation, righteousness and provisions are all made possible and available through faith in Christ.

Acts 16:31 “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

Rom 3:22 “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe…”

Matt 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Satan has in many ways hindered the faith of many people.  He has kept many from…

•Believing in Christ as their Lord and Savior.
•Living a righteous life, having a form of Godliness but denying the power there of  2 Tim 3:5
•And he has kept many, many from truly experiencing the true blessings of God.

And why?  Because he has used what you have allowed him to use to set up as Blockades to Blessings.

You may ask…“Well what have I allowed him to use?” Well let’s take for instance one thing that we all have been guilty of allowing him a place in, like…

Your Mind

Now in order to fully understand this let’s begin with asking the question, “How does one get faith?”

>Faith Comes By Hearing

Rom 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Now this hearing is the hearing that says you are interested in what you are hearing and you will be attentive to it and because of that faith will come.

Ex: when you are not interested in what certain people have to say to you, you may be hearing but you’re not really being attentive to what is being said.

So when you are interested in what is being said to you, you’ll begin to mind those things that are being heard.

Rom 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Now what we need to understand is that it is Christ who brings transformation.  But before that transformation takes place we have to have a change of mind a change of interest.

When that change takes place we will no longer mind earthly things but rather the things of God and then we can prove that which is good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

So faith comes by hearing and minding the things of God.  You want your faith to develop, to grow stronger? Start taking interest in the Word.

>What Are We Minding?

Phil 3:14-18 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

18(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:”

Now in order to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling we need faith to do this. And if you’re not minding the right things you’re going to be hindered from having your faith grow and develop.

We need to mind…
•Humility Phil 2:5 “Let this mind be in you…”
•Unity Phil 1:27 “…stand fast in one spirit, one mind striving for the faith of the gospel.”
•Honesty Ehp 4:23 “…put away lying and speak truth with his neighbor.

When we begin to mind pride, a spirit of independence or become dishonest with others, that is when our mind becomes a blockade to faith.

The Question is…How Do we Keep Our Minds From Becoming a Blockade?

•We start thinking God’s thoughts.

Isa 55:6-9
6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

•We start thinking God’s thoughts by getting in His Word. 

It is getting into His Word that will have you renewing your mind. Remember God’s way is always and will always be the better way.

-Pastor Edwin Melendez




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New Harvest Christian Fellowship- Chicago
New Harvest
Chicago
Reaching our Communities, Reaching the World.