Transcending Limitations

By Pastor Sedrick Fluker 

Ephesians 3:20

^“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us “

As we anticipate entering into the “next level” of God’s promises, we must contend with any limitations that threaten to hinder or slow down our progress towards reaching that next level. Limitations are things that restrict or confine us inside certain boundaries.  They can come through our family history, the enemy, or self-induced. In either case, we must transcend every limitation in this season to lay hold of the next level blessings promised to us.  To transcend means to excel, breakthrough, surpass, or go beyond. As we celebrate Jesus’ coming this time of year, we must not forget the fact that he transcended every limitation known to man, and through the power of the Holy Spirit we too can transcend the limitations we face in life.

What are the main limitations we must transcend in this season?

I. Our __people__________

Our People can limit us if they aren’t in agreement with or properly “aligned with” the path of divine destiny we are on as believers. Amos 3:3 (KJV) “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”  Proverbs 13:20 “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”  This passage reveals a powerful truth in that we often become most like the people we hang out with. 

II. Our __perception______

Number 13:33 (KJV) “And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” Perception is defined as a mental impression.  We must not allow our limited perceptions of situations cause us to miss our next level promise from the Lord.

III. Our __Past_______________

Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

IV. Our __Practices__________

Philippians 4:9 (ESV) What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me - practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

how do we transcend our limitations in this season?

A.   ___Look_____________  to Jesus.                                                                   Hebrews 12:2 (KJV) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

B.    ___Listen______________ to Jesus.                                                                           John 2:5 (KJV) “His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.”  There is a distinct difference between hearing God and listening to Him. Hearing and obeying translates into listening. God will always exceed our limitations with “miracle overflow” when we respond by listening to Him.

C.   ___Live_____________  in Jesus.                                                                         John 15:4 (NIV) “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

Where our limitations end, the Lord’s unlimited potential begins!     

What is Planning?

“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” Alan Lakein

Planning gives you the certainty of what you should be doing. It helps you avoid the pitfalls of allowing yourself to get sidetracked by events and circumstances.

We have to know what we want (our goals), why we want them and take action to move towards them.

I.                   WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT PLANNING

1.     Right planning leads to increase

Prov. 21:5

⁵ The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.

2.     Planning is Wise

Prov. 6:6-8

⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, ⁷ Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, ⁸ Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest.

3.     Planning can save you from embarrassment

Luke 14:28-32

²⁸ For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—²⁹ lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ ³¹ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.

4.     God Plans

Isaiah 46:9-10

⁹ Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, ¹⁰ Declaring the end from the beginning…”

II.                PLANNING IS ESSENTIAL FOR A PREFFERED FUTURE

1.      Without plans and clear-cut goals our dreams are doomed.

Gen 8:22

²² “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.”

2.      Goals are powerful, but without a process to follow that can lead you to their completion, they are almost worthless.

Every year more than 70 percent of people make New Year’s resolutions Forbes magazine reported in 2013 that only eight percent of people who make New Year resolutions keep them.  In fact, 35 percent of people who make New Year’s resolutions break them by the end of January.

3.     Plans and Goals must be written

Habakkuk 2:2-3

² Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. ³ For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, It will not tarry

In 1979, the graduates of a class of Harvard were asked, “Have you set clear, written goals for your future and made plans to accomplish them?” The results of this survey showed that only three percent of the graduates had written their goals down and created a plan. Of the remaining graduates, 13 percent had goals, but they were not in writing, the remaining 84 percent had no specific goals at all. Ten years later, in 1989, the researchers interviewed the members of that class once again. They found that the 13 percent who had set goals that were not in writing were earning, on average, twice as much as the 84 percent of students who had no goals at all. However, the three percent of graduates who had clear, written goals and a plan when they left Harvard were earning, on average, ten times as much as the other 97 percent of graduates all.

III.             STEP BY STEP PROCESS FOR PLANNING THE MOST PRODUCTIVE YEAR OF YOUR LIFE

1.     Review the Past

Do an overview of your life. Look back over your last 365 days and recall both the good and bad events. Capture all your memories of the events, and results you have achieved. Record everything you remember.

2.     Rate Your Life as it is Now

Look at your life as it is right now. Dig deep and find out how you are doing in the 8 key areas of your life (Finances, Social Life, Career, Professional Life, Possessions, Health, Passion, Purpose and Relationships, Mind & Personal Growth. Rate yourself in each area from 1 to 10. Be honest.

3.     Determine Things You want to Improve

Having examined your life and scored yourself for these eight key areas, you now need to determine the things you want to change or improve. Look over each of the key areas and ask yourself what one change will bring about the biggest improvement in my life for each of the eight areas. Write as many answers as come to your mind. Then choose the four that you feel are the most important.

IV.              ENVISION YOUR FUTURE

Now you will daydream and see how life has worked out, what you are doing, who you are with, picture everything you can about this life. See yourself waking up in the morning and see a perfect day play out. Look ahead somewhere between three in five years into your future. The key here is not what you decide but what you see

  

V.                 MORE CLARITY ON YOUR FUTURE

Go through your perfect vision see all the things you want to “be”, “do” and “have” and write them down. Check over your list of things you want to improve, to find anything else you may want to add to your “be”, “do” and “have” list.

VI.              DETERMINE YOUR BREAKTHROUGH GOAL

Look at your preferred life vision, your “be”, “do” and “have” list and the things you want to change and determine one big goal that, if you achieve it in the next 365 days, would result in the four improvements you want to make, and bring you closer to your preferred life vision.

VII.           BREAK DOWN YOUR BREAKTHROUGH GOAL

Break down your Breakthrough Goal into four specific goals, the achievement of which will bring about your Breakthrough Goal. Write these goals down.

VIII.        WRITE DOWN YOUR WHY

You now need to give yourself powerful reasons for why your goals are must-dos. Go through your four 365-day goals and think of all the reasons these goals are truly important to you. Write these reasons down.

IX.               DETERMINE HOW

Determine the actions you need to take to bring about your 365-day goals. Be specific, decide exactly what task need to be done to achieve these goals. Work out every action you need to take to attain each goal and then categorize them into four high valued activities.  Write these down.

X.                  LIST YOUR LONG-TERM PRIORITIES

You must never lose sight of your long-term future, always keep the long term goals before you.

"Holy Spirit" 

John 14:16-17

¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

I.                   THE PROBLEM

1.       Many are neglecting Holy Spirit

Galatians 3:3

³ Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

           

2.      It’s impossible to successfully live the Christian life in our own strength

3.      Jesus depended on the Father for everything

·         John 8:28   “…I do nothing of myself…”

·         John 5:19 “...The Son can do nothing of himself but what he sees the Father do…”

4.      We are helpless without Holy Spirit

Ezekiel 36:25-17

²⁵ Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. ²⁶ A new heart also will I give you, and ^fa new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. ²⁷ And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to ⁱwalk in my statutes, and ye shall ^jkeep my judgments, and do them.

II.                8 WAYS TO FOCUS MORE ON HOLY SPIRIT

1.      Refocus on our Identity

1 Corinthians 3:16

¹⁶ Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

                       

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

¹⁹ Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? ²⁰ For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

                       

                       

2.      Focus of the Spirit’s Ability

Ephesians  3:20

²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

1 John 4:4

“…greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

3.      Focus on Spiritual Capacity

Ephesians 5:18

¹⁸ And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; ¹⁹ Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

4.      Make a demand on the Spirit’s Emotions

Galatians 5:22-23

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentlenesses, self-control.

5.      Stir up Spiritual Ability

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ⁸ for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, ¹⁰ to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

2 Timothy 1:6

⁶ Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands?

6.      Tap into the Spirit’s information

1 Corinthians 2:16

¹⁶ For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

7.      Take Advantage of the Spirit’s Prayer language

a.     It Helps our Weaknesses

Romans 8:26-27

²⁶ Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

b.     It Builds our Faith

Jude 1:20

²⁰ But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:4

⁴ He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself….

           

c.      It Provides spirit to Spirit communication with God.

1 Corinthians 14:2

² For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit, he speaks mysteries.

d.     It’s Spiritual Refreshment

John 7:37-39

³⁷ On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. ³⁸ He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” ³⁹ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

e.      It’s Healthy

1 Corinthians 14:4

⁴ He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself….

Dr. Carl Peterson, M.D. conducted a study at ORU in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Being a brain specialist, he was doing research on the relationship between the brain and praying or speaking in tongues. He found that as we pray in the Spirit or worship in the Spirit (our heavenly language), the brain releases 2 chemical secretions that are directed to our immune systems giving a 35 to 40 percent boost to the immune system. This promotes healing within our bodies. Amazingly, this secretion is triggered from a part of the brain that has no other apparent activity in humans and is only activated by our Spirit-led prayer and worship!

8.      Practice cooperation with Holy Spirit

1.      Don’t grieve Him

Ephesians 4:30

³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

2.      Don’t quench Him

1 Thessalonians 5:19

¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit.

III.             WRAPPING IT UP!

1.      Receive the Baptism of Holy Spirit

a.     Trust God

Luke 11:11-13

¹¹ If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

b.     Realize it’s for You

Mark 16:15-18

¹⁵ And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶ He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; ¹⁸ they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover”

Joel 2:28-29

²⁸ “And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. ²⁹ And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

c.      Differentiate between the Gift of Tongues requiring Interpretation and your Personal Prayer Language

1 Corinthians  14:18-19

¹⁸ I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; ¹⁹ yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

1 Corinthians 14:27-28

²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. ²⁸ But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.

d.     Realize it’s a free gift you can NEVER earn it

Luke 11:13

¹³ If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

e.      Recognize the Holy Spirit has Already Come and is Already in you

Ephesians 1:13

¹³ In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

f.       Cooperate with God. He will give utterance but you MUST speak

Acts 2:4

⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

TIPS:

1.      Relax

2.       Receive

3.       Speak but not in English

4.       Trust God and Let Go

2.      Pray regularly to be filled with Holy Spirit

Ephesians 5:18

¹⁸ And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; ¹⁹ Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

3.      Do life with Holy Spirit

“THE ENFORCERS”
Matthew 16:13-19 13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon BarJonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church (ekklesia), and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
I.  DOMINION LOST AND RESTORED
Genesis 1:26 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 1. Transfer to Satan.  
Luke 4:5-7 5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give you, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”
The
Bishop Kyle C. Searcy The answers key can be found at:  www.anointedchurch.org or on the church app
2. Jesus Victory on the Cross
Matthew 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Colossians 2:15 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
3. Saints Authorized a. We sit in Heavenly Places with Christ.  Ephesians 1:20; 2:6 “According to the working of His mighty power…20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places… 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
b. We have been given His name.  Mark 16:17 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name, they will cast out demons
c. We have been given authority.  Luke 10:19 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
d. The greater one lives on the inside of us.  1 John 4:4 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
II. TRESPASSING ENEMIES
1. We can encounter attacks from Satan even though he has been bound Luke 22:31
Bishop Kyle C. Searcy The answers key can be found at:  www.anointedchurch.org or on the church app
31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked to you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to me, strengthen your brethren.
III. 5 KEYS TO ENFORCING JESUS’ VICTORY IN OUR LIVES 1. Faith Ephesians 6:16 16 and above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
  Luke 18:1-8
Then He spoke a parable to them that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ” 6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Cast not away Your Confidence which has great recompense of reward
2. The Word Ephesians 6:11, 17 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil… 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand…17and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
3.  Praise Psalm 149  1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints. 2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 3Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. 4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. 5 Let the saints are joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. 6 Let the high
Bishop Kyle C. Searcy The answers key can be found at:  www.anointedchurch.org or on the church app
praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, 7 To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; 8 To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute on them the written judgment—This honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD!
4. Verbal Commands Matthew 8:28-32 28 When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him, two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. 29 And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. 31 So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.” 32 And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea and perished in the water.
5. Humility James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil and he shall flee.
James 4:6 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:” God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”