OPENING STATEMENT: Breakthrough happens when we change positions. From our position to God’s position.

OPENING SCRIPTURE: I am the Lord, and I do not change. (Malachi 3:6 NLT)

• God cannot change. God is never wrong.
• If anyone must change, it is us. Not God’s position but ours.

“Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. (Malachi 3:1 NLT)

• Our position must change because Jesus is coming soon and suddenly.

1^st story: Joshua 5:13-15

And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?”

So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”

And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” (Joshua 5:13-14 NKJ)

• Joshua asked Him the question: “Are you for us or for our adversaries?”
• What Joshua is asking God here: “What’s your position God? Are you on my side or on the enemy’s side?
• God: “NO!” Neither! ” My position is my position and I do not change my position.”

What’s the moral here: There are only 2 positions: Your position and God’s position.

Why fight for God to be on your position…just get on His position!

Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:15 NKJ)

• Changing positions is an act of surrender

 

2^nd Story: John 5:1-15

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” (John 5:1-6 NKJ)

• “Do you want to be made well?” What a strange question to ask someone?
• Bethesda from the Hebrew means House of Mercy. The pool was a common place where the sick, the lame, the paralyzed would go get receive their healing.
• The man was in the right place to receive his healing.
• Jesus was not questioning his location, but his position for 38 years.

“Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” (John 5:7 NKJ)

• He is trying desperately to get Jesus to see his position.
• Here’s the reality, the opportunity for breakthrough has come and gone; we have failed to seize that opportunity.
• From a defeated position, we don’t see the move of God.
• That man sat in that defeated position for 38 years.

Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” ⁹ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. (John 1:8 NKJ)

Here’s the moral of this story: Breakthrough happens when we change our position to His position.

Why stay in a defeated position when God has called you to be in a position of victory!

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, ⁵ that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. ⁶ For he RAISED US FROM THE DEAD ALONG WITH CHRIST and SEATED US WITH HIM in the heavenly realms because we are UNITED WITH CHRIST JESUS. (Ephesians 2:4-6 NLT)

• Our position as a believer: Seated with Him in the heavenly realms. United with Christ Jesus!

CLOSING STATEMENT: Breakthrough happens when we change positions. From our position to God’s position.

CONCLUSION:

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?