Sermon Notes: Obstacles vs Opposition and Kingdom Expansion
Notes from PMJ Sermon: Obstacles, Opposition, and Kingdom Expansion
Purpose of the session
- Build spiritual intelligence to navigate obstacles vs. opposition and move differently in life and leadership.
- Develop IQ, EQ, and SQ to think clearly, manage people wisely, and move in God’s plan.
Key concepts introduced
- The enemy fights anointed people differently; don’t compare your path to others (the “cancer of comparison”).
- Distinguish obstacles from opposition:
- Obstacles: test and challenge that develop persistence and growth.
- Opposition: attacks aimed at derailing you.
- Spiritual intelligence (SQ) is essential to discern the source and purpose of trials.
- If something is developing you and comes from God, label it an obstacle; if it’s meant to derail you, label it opposition.
Obstacles vs Opposition (the chart)
- Obstacles
- Purpose: develop you, test your character, require persistence.
- Opposition
- Purpose: derail you, derail your purpose, attack your forward movement.
- If it’s developing you and from God, it’s an Obstacle.
- If it’s trying to derail you and from the devil, it’s Opposition.
- When in opposition, you should seek God for strategy and strength.
The label exercise: obstacle equals obstacle course; opposition equals prison
- Obstacle course is tough but has an exit; it’s designed to build your critical thinking to escape.
- Opposition aims to trap you in a prison-like pattern; it’s designed to stop progress.
- Practical takeaway: don’t pray to be delivered from every obstacle; ask for development and strategy to overcome opposition.
Spiritual intelligence (SQ) + the three intelligences
- IQ: knowledge and logic; helps you think clearly.
- EQ: emotional intelligence; helps you handle people wisely.
- SQ: spiritual intelligence; helps you move according to God’s plan.
- The three together enable you to move differently and avoid being stuck in your feelings or in inefficient patterns.
Real-life example: the idea of being fired or detoured
- Personal anecdote about losing a job (Allstate) and choosing to step out in faith.
- The point: sometimes detours are the doorway to your purpose; God uses disruption to push you toward your mountain.
No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper
- Verse reference: ext{Isaiah 54:17}
- The phrase means: weapons can form and hurt, but they will not prosper in their intended outcome.
- Critical thinking example: if you jump off a balcony and break legs, that doesn’t mean the weapon prospered; hurting doesn’t prove success of the attack—survival signals the attack’s threat, not its success.
- The enemy’s threat is evidenced by the attacks against your life, not by the immediate hurt you feel.
- The speaker emphasizes you are a threat when you move with purpose, power, and faith.
Defining “threat” in spiritual terms
- A threat is someone who lives with purpose, power, and faith in a way that makes hell notice every movement.
- Three defining traits of a threat:
1) Knows their identity in Christ (cannot be manipulated).
2) Walks in divine authority (not easily defeated).
3) Disrupts darkness wherever they go (influences others and environments). - The enemy fears informed believers more than mere church attendance; knowledge of identity and authority changes the game.
The three-part definition of threat (in notes)
- Identity in Christ → cannot be manipulated.
- Authority → confident, bold, and capable of enforcing God’s will.
- Disruption of darkness → influence that shifts environments and peoples
The point about obedience and rapid advancement
- Obedience unlocks rapid advancement and open doors.
- Three outcomes of obedience tied to Malachi 3:10:
- Opens unexpected doors.
- Promotes and accelerates opportunities.
- Creates divine connections.
- Volitional obedience is key; delayed or partial obedience is still disobedience.
- An example: Peter’s miraculous catch after casting his net when Jesus instructed him to, after initial hesitation.
- The broader takeaway: obedience is a lever for breakthroughs in your life and ministry.
“Fighting from victory” instead of “fighting for victory”
- God has already given authority and victory through Christ; the task is to operate from a position of victory.
- A defeated devil is a key theological anchor: the enemy is defeated, and believers fight from a place of victory, not to achieve victory.
- Reality check: ignorance of this authority is costly; the enemy profits from believers who don’t know their authority.
- Luke 10:19 (reference) is presented as a legal document, not a hype quote: believers have authority to trample snakes and overcome all power of the enemy; yet believers should rejoice that their names are written in heaven (security and identity in Christ).
- Important nuance: the power to act is real, but the source of confidence is having your name written in heaven, not the spectacle of power.
- The idea that power without purpose or proper understanding is dangerous; the emphasis is informed power, not dramatic display.
Luke 10:19 as a legal document
- The passage is framed as a legal grant of authority: ext{Luke 10:19} indicates power over the devil, but the surrounding verses warn not to boast in the power itself; rejoice in salvation and identity.
- The concept of “Power unused is power forfeited” is clarified as nuanced: gifts require wise use; the emphasis is on responsible stewardship rather than reckless display.
The danger of deception and counterfeit battles
- The enemy thrives on deception: make people think they must fight for something already theirs.
- The shift proposed: move from fighting for victory to fighting from victory.
- John 19:30 emphasizes Jesus’ completed work (the ultimate victory) and the believer’s security in that victory.
- Romans 8:37 reinforces that believers are more than conquerors through Christ.
Kingdom expansion and practical application
- The aim is not merely personal victory but expansion of God’s kingdom through influence in family, industry, and city.
- Three practical shifts to move from surviving to taking territory:
- Mindset shift: wilderness (defense) vs. promised land (offense).
- Ambassador mindset: from tourist to representative with authority.
- Stop defending only; start expanding and taking ground; don’t just exist, dominate space.
- The difference between a survivor and a territory taker:
- Survivors focus on making it through the week; territory takers seek to make the kingdom visible now.
- Vision shift from defense to offense and influence.
- The importance of boldness and real influence over mere numbers or social media following; the real influence is impacting your world and the people around you, not just big follower counts.
- The three-part framework of a threat’s behavior when acting in obedience and kingdom expansion:
- Knowing identity in Christ.
- Walking in authority.
- Disrupting darkness wherever they go.
Practical steps for personal growth and application
- Practice daily prayers that center on discernment and strength:
- Example prayer: "Lord, give me the wisdom to discern the difference between obstacles and opposition. Give me the strength to endure obstacles and the strategy to overcome opposition."
- Begin shifting from a “survive” mentality to a “territory taker” mindset:
- Stop waiting for others to move; initiate and expand influence in your sphere.
- Build triple intelligence: IQ, EQ, SQ
- IQ: clarity of thought and knowledge; logical reasoning.
- EQ: emotional regulation and wise interactions.
- SQ: alignment with God’s plan and spiritual discernment.
- Embrace obedience as a catalyst for rapid advancement:
- Fully obey, not half-measure; obedience leads to breakthroughs and sometimes sudden, transformative changes.
- Understand that your influence is tied to your obedience and willingness to take risk for the Kingdom’s sake.
Final exhortation and invitation
- If you don’t know Jesus, you can invite Him into your life now and be saved.
- Prayer for empowerment and expansion: declare over your life that you are an industry shifter, generational curse breaker, culture re-definer, and kingdom advancer.
Scripture references cited in the talk (for quick reference)
- ext{Isaiah 54:17} – No weapon formed against you shall prosper.
- ext{Luke 10:19} – Authority given to tread on snakes and overcome the power of the enemy.
- ext{John 19:30} – Jesus’ finished work and the resulting victory.
- ext{Colossians 2:15} – Christ’s triumph over principalities and powers.
- ext{Malachi 3:10} – Blessings tied to obedience (tithing opens doors).
Quick summary takeaways
- Distinguish obstacles (develop) from opposition (derail).
- Grow IQ, EQ, SQ to lead, love, and live according to God’s plan.
- No weapon formed against you prospers; pain may come, but victory has already been secured.
- A true threat moves with identity, authority, and disruptive purpose.
- Shift from surviving to territory-taking; become ambassadors who expand God’s Kingdom, not tourists who visit.
- Obedience accelerates advancement and unlocks divine opportunities.
Quick quotes to remember
- "If it's trying to develop you, it's God. If it's trying to derail you, it's the devil."
- "Ignorance is expensive; the enemy profits from believers who don’t know their authority."
- "The moment you start obeying fully, you start advancing rapidly."
- "A threat doesn’t just survive; a threat takes territory."
Final reflection prompts
- Am I labeling my current trials correctly as obstacles or opposition?
- Do I rely on spiritual intelligence (SQ) as much as IQ and EQ?
- Am I acting as an ambassador or a tourist in my daily life and work?
- What concrete steps can I take this week to move from survival to territory-taking?