Give Me a Break

This message confronts a truth many of us would rather avoid: our battles aren't just physical or circumstantial—they're deeply spiritual. Drawing from Ephesians 6:10-13, we're reminded that we're not fighting against flesh and blood, but against unseen forces in the spiritual realm. The call isn't just to acknowledge this reality, but to put on every piece of God's armor—not merely knowing about it, but actually wearing it and using it daily. What's particularly challenging is the revelation that breakthroughs don't come the way we expect them to. We often cry out for God to remove our struggles instantly, to change our circumstances without requiring anything from us. But through Joshua's story at Jericho, we discover that real breakthroughs emerge through five critical responses: obedience, faith, quietness, embracing the unfamiliar, and our continued response to God. Joshua didn't just receive a promise—he had to cross the Jordan, march around intimidating walls, and lead people into unknown territory. The breakthrough came, but it required action, courage, and trust. This challenges us to ask ourselves: do we really want a breakthrough, or do we just want comfort? Are we willing to do our part, to be quiet enough to hear God, to step into unfamiliar territory where we can't control the outcome? The most sobering insight is this: when God delivers us from something and we return to the same patterns, He often expects us to fight our way out the second time. Victory is always on the other side of obedience—not before, not during, but after we've walked through it.