Thoughts on breakthrough: Microwave Christianity not the answer

I am hearing how a lot of churches are talking about breakthrough and how each year will be your breakthrough year. ‘Breakthrough’ is now the buzz word. Everybody is talking about enjoying a breakthrough, and there are plenty of sermons delivered on this subject and even books were written. Yet, nowhere in the Bible (NIV, AMP, NKJV, KJV, The Message) do you even find the word ‘breakthrough’ in the context we are teaching it. Yet we are forming all kinds of doctrine on breakthrough, and we are setting up steps and offering keys to enjoy your breakthrough.

The breakthrough theme is popular because it goes to the heart of man’s need for self-exaltation and self-fulfilment. So much of what is being preached these days has got little to do with God and His Kingdom but so much about the needs of man. Thus, God’s truth is even being thrown away at the expense of man’s truth that doesn’t offend or make us uncomfortable or that doesn’t even convict us of our wrong ways.

A breakthrough is defined as a sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development. It is also seen as an instance of achieving success in a particular sphere or activity. So when it comes to this supposed breakthrough, what are we hoping to achieve when it comes to God? For it doesn’t seem the breakthrough we are yearning for is really about a closer and intimate walk with God, but it has to do with earthly wants, needs and desires. How much of it, when we pray for breakthrough, is really about God and His will?

The problem is, you don't just wake up one day and have a breakthrough. A breakthrough is not just destined. You cannot buy it. You cannot bribe God. There are no short cuts. You want a real breakthrough, whatever that may mean, then it is simple - make sure you are in the will of God. Not the will of man, but in the perfect will of God. The closest one truly comes to ‘breakthrough’ in the context of our teachings is in Matthew 6 where we are urged to first seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness and the rest shall be added. Some will say that Matthew 7:7-11 about asking, seeking and knocking applies directly to breakthrough. Yet. Matthew 7 stems from first seeking God’s Kingdom above all else. Ask and seek first His Kingdom, and then truly the rest shall be added for God shall not withhold those who seek God as their first love.

The church is now offering more and more microwave Christianity. Everything is supposed to be quick and easy. We have even come up with microwave breakthrough, and you simply follow certain steps or you give money for your spiritual or financial breakthrough. It is sad how Christianity has become all about quick fixes and solutions. Our spiritual walk has become cheap as we make God cheap. Yet if we truly want to walk in God’s victory, life, and blessings, it is about denying the Self, carrying the cross and following God. It is about walking in the will of God. It is about working out your salvation with fear and trembling. It is about a life of prayer, fellowship with God, obedience, submission and loyalty. There is nothing microwave about it. There is nothing simple or quick about such supposed methods, and it should be noted a lot of these methods are man-made. It is about making sure you are following the truth of God, and not the truth of man. It is about making sure you are abiding by the wisdom of God, and not the wisdom of this world. Do you want a breakthrough? Then get in alignment with God and His ways, and not in alignment with the "truth" or "wisdom" of man.

Here is the harsh reality: we want God to bless us but on our terms. We want to call the shots. We want God to stretch out His hand and let our will be done. Matthew 6, however, ties in directly with the Lord’s Prayer, where the Lord urged us to first seek God’s will and for His Kingdom to come. Not ours. To follow God requires complete and utter obedience. Faith. We need to listen to God. Follow Him and not man. To follow God is not easy and sadly, so often we are rather telling God what He needs to do instead of listening to what God wants to do in our lives. For those who seek God's truth, His knowledge and love, unto them will be given peace and life. Yet it seems our focus is so earthbound we have lost sight of God. We are so busy with our kingdoms that we have lost sight of building the true spiritual Kingdom.

You want to walk in God’s perfect will that brings forth His blessings, hope and prosperity in spirit, soul and body? Then stop playing games with God. Stop playing games with the devil. Stop playing church. Stop sitting on the sidelines. Stop flirting with idolatry. Admit when sin is a sin. Wrong is still wrong in the eyes of God. Walk the walk and talk the talk. No compromise.

This world has plenty of preachers and teachers, but so few disciples who walk, talk and move in the wisdom of the Spirit. Wondering why the Church has become ineffective? Because we are more concerned with ourselves than with God, with gifts than character, with blessings instead of wisdom, and we are more concerned about our reputation and status than dying to the Self. We are man, not gods. We need to stop following our own wisdom and intellect and hear what God says. The time has come for God to speak through the mouths of children because His grown-ups have become blinded by pride, arrogance, and self-glorification. How the Lord cries out for humility among His people and a deep desire again to love Him, love His Kingdom, love others and stop making excuses. He is coming - sooner rather than later.

We love to quote Scriptures such as “1 John 5: 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” And also “2 Corinthians 9:8: And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” Yet all of this flows from seeking God above all else, seeking His will, following His will, being obedient to His ways and truth and walking the path that God had ordained. If we do so, we shall walk in God’s plan, in His victory and in His truth.

Proverbs 3 says “1 My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; 2 For length of days and years of life [worth living] and tranquillity and prosperity [the wholeness of life’s blessings] they will add to you. 3 Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you]; bind them [securely] around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.” There is nothing about microwave Christianity when it comes to finding favour or walking in high esteem, which is what a lot of people in the church these days seems to desire. It calls for obedience, holding onto God’s truth, and truly living the Word of God daily, all the time.

Micah 2 says of Israel’s restoration: “13 The one who breaks open will come up before them; they will break out, pass through the gate, and go out by it; their king will pass before them, with the Lord at their head.” The emphasis of such victory and redemption and restoration is that ‘the king will pass before them” and that the Lord leads the way. Such is the manner of the disciple – always following Jesus, and remaining Jesus-focussed and Jesus –orientated. Moses once cried in Exodus 33 on the way to the Promised Land: “3 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. 15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.” Ur lives should all be about God. He must go before us in all that we do, say and think. Always. All the time. He must be the King of our entire life.

Christianity is not about quick fixes. Let us then listen to God, let us then obey and follow Him as He commands. For then we shall know we are more than conquerors in Christ. Then truly God shall guide our footsteps according to His will, purpose and plan. It is truly about our relationship with God, about abiding in Him for then we shall His greatness and goodness manifest that is eternally settled for us in the heavens.