Break Out of the Box
Pastor Jamie Wright * Maranatha Fellowship Church
Lamentations 3:7 (AMP)
“He walled me in so that I could not get out…”
There are things in our lives that Satan will try to use to box us in. Perhaps all of us feel that way at times. Boxed in. Trapped. Inadequate. Struggling for freedom from our faults and weaknesses; for the freedom to live successfully in our callings, walking with God. Once we get boxed in a few things start happening in our lives.
1. We can’t walk properly.
2. We can’t worship freely.
3. We can’t work efficiently.
4. We can’t witness effectively.
When we get boxed in it will begin to affect every area of our lives. It will even influence those around us. When we pull other people into our box they too are hindered. As we would be hindered from the accomplishments God has for us if we get pulled into other people’s boxes.
There are three ways to get boxed in. One, you can be boxed in by Satan. He will try to trap us and ensnare us. Kind of like a rabbit being trapped and boxed in. Illustration Two, we can box ourselves in.
Playing in the box. Illustration Three, others can box us in. They can pull us away, right into their box, by their words and actions. Illustration
Today I want us to look together at some boxes that we can get trapped in. I want to challenge you to break out of the box and go for God 100%. The number one reason Satan tries to box us in is to slow us down from going all out for God. He would love to eventually smother us inside that box and destroy us, keeping us from God’s will in our lives. So, today get stirred to the point you want to break out of the box that is holding you back. GET Out of the BOX!
Box # 1 TROUBLES or hardships
Psalm 138:7 (NLT)
“…I am surrounded by troubles…”
Psalm 40:12 (NCV)
“Troubles have surrounded me; there are too many to count.”
Lam. 3:5 (NIV) Hardships (NLT) Anguish and distress (NCV) sadness and grief
Break out of the box of troubles
Psalm 34:17 (KJV)
“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles”
Box # 2 TERROR or fear
Psalm 33:13 (NLT)
“…I am surrounded by terror (fear)…”
Job 22:10 (NLT)
“…You are surrounded by sudden fears…”
Fears: future, failure, sickness, war, death
Break out of the box of terror/fear
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline”
Psalm 56:3 (KJV)
“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
Box # 3 TRADITION or religion
Colossians 2:8 (NIV)
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
Matthew 15:6 (NLT)
“by your own tradition, you nullify the direct commandment of God.”.
Tradition limits our worship. Tradition says you have to worship here, God says you can worship anywhere. Tradition says we must sing these songs, God’s word says sing a new song unto the Lord. Tradition says you must be quite inside that box, God’s word says break out of the box and make a joyful noise. Tradition says you must sit still inside of the box, God’s word says break out of that box and dance before me like David danced before the ark of my presence. Religion says you must have form and fashion, God’s word says FIRE! Religion pushes programs, if you will get out of the box God will give you POWER! The box of religion will ruin you, break out of that box because it is beginning to RAIN. Inside the box you will never feel His Wind blow or see His river flow. GET OUT OF THE BOX!
Other boxes
Things in the Past
The tongue
Teasers (mockers)
Trials and temptations
Break out of the box today. Don’t be trapped by it anymore. There is no reason to feel inadequate. Don’t let the box cover you up and keep you from walking properly with the Lord. Don’t let the box trap you to the point that you can’t worship freely. Don’t get caught in the box allowing it to stop the efficient work God has planned for you. Please don’t stay in the box, never able to effectively convey your testimony to others. This is what Satan wants for our lives, for us to be boxed in, cornered, trapped, pressed in. Break out of the box today. No longer will the troubles of life, the terror of this world, or the tradition of man box me in. I am breaking out today.
