As I’ve been receiving these words for breakthrough and the double I’ve also sensed the need for some practical keys or steps to bring it home. This is somewhat of a review of things that help enable us to breakthrough and experience His overflow in our lives. The key for these keys is that it all flows out of a relationship with God from the heart with a sincerity that pursues Him knowing He is the Source. He is the great grace-giver that makes us overcome.
Fasting and Prayer
Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil.
Luke 4:1-2
Jesus was no stranger to fasting and prayer. As our ultimate example He showed us how to live a victorious life with impact on our surroundings. There is something about a person who is filled with the Holy Spirit, then engaging in worship and prayer that causes a chain reaction in the spirit realm. Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted, not only to be tempted but to overcome. In simplest terms the enemy wanted Jesus to question God, act presumptuous and to bow down to worship him instead of God. Of course Jesus passed the test with flying colors. Part of the reason He did was because of what He did, not only because of Who He was. He emptied Himself of His divine abilities as God taking on the form of a man to be tempted and to overcome just like we would have to.
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”
John 4:34
Fasting and prayer is something we need to see as a weapon that disarms the enemy of our souls and that sets our hearts in an extraordinary place spiritually enabling us to overcome the most difficult of tests.
The Blood of Jesus & the Word of Our Testimony
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Revelation 12:11
This passage in Revelation makes it abundantly clear that we overcome the devil by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. When the enemy comes against us with accusation of how much we fall short, showing us all of our mistakes and weaknesses we need to realize that it is ONLY by the blood of Jesus that we are worthy. Because of the perfect work of Jesus Christ on the cross we are clothed in His righteousness, not leaning on our own good works. Essentially, we point to the cross where He died in our place proclaiming His resurrection victory in our lives. In response we lay down our lives for Him just as He laid down His life for us. Our testimony is what Jesus has done for us. It completely disarms the enemy, moving us from a place of self-consciousness to God-consciousness. There is nothing worthy within ourselves, but rather in Christ we are made complete.
Believing the Prophetic Word
So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, king of Persia.
Ezra 6:14
In the Book of Ezra the people of God prospered through the prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah. They believed the prophetic words that they were being encouraged with in their prophecies of God’s intent and plan. When God gives you a word it is there for you to believe it. Receive it, believe it and then stand on it. Make that word flesh in your life, make it part of who you are. All things are possible to him who believes. Our faith is the victory and it brings God much pleasure. Act on your prophetic promises. Find a step to take, then take it! Our faith is made complete by our actions. Faith without actions is not activated. It is dead. Make faith alive through making choices that activate your faith. God has given every one of us the measure of faith. To the measure that we sow, in the same measure we will reap. Take that measure of faith and do something with it. Don’t sit, soak and sour. Move God on His throne through your faith activity.
Hold to Your Confession
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23
Another important thing is to remove the double-mindedness, the double tongue. The tongue is a world of iniquity, but it also has the potential to be a world of glory. Everything that Jesus spoke was glory because He spoke from the very heart of God. Nothing came out of His mouth that was inferior to the Fathers heart and desires. Jesus set the standard, a very high one. We can only live in this place by the grace of His Spirit dwelling inside of us. There is much grace, but we also need to speak wisdom, life and blessing in every way because this is most importantly pleasing to God. Secondly, it is a big deal because our mouths guide the ship of our lives. If we want to be overcome, our tongue has to be dealt with by yielding to the Holy Spirit, the only One Who can tame the tongue. As we speak words of life, words of faith and words after the Fathers heart we will see things shift in our lives causing us to overcome more and more – taking back ground that has even been stolen from us.
Giving God Praise
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Hebrews 13:15
Thanksgiving and praise are part of the same family. They complement one another, encourage one another and feed off one another. When we have a thankful heart it causes us to praise God. When we praise God we feel better and are thankful. This is the true dynamic duo!That is why David proclaimed that His praise shall continually be in my mouth (Psalm 34:1). David knew this was foundational for victory. He knew the power of praise and thanksgiving to God was what enabled him to take out the bear, the lion and enabled him to slay Goliath. He magnified the Lord, making Him huge is his own eyes. Because God was so big, Goliath was very small. David took him out with ease! Practice magnifying the Lord. Make Him the biggest Person in your life, not on paper, but in your heart.
Proclaim the Promises
You will also declare a thing,
Job 22:28
And it will be established for you;
So light will shine on your ways.
Decree a thing and it shall be established and light will shine on your ways. Take time to proclaim the promises loudly. Decree it with your spirit, soul and body in the mix. With all of your being declare the goodness of God, the promises of God and the truth of God knowing that if He is for you then who can be against you. He gave His best, so expect His best!
Use these points as weapons to disarm the enemy in your life while also drawing you closer to the Lord in a more tangible and intimate way. His victory is your victory. He died for us and He was raised for us because He loves us. He has seated us in the heavenly realms with Him far above all darkness. He wants that spiritual reality to be manifested in our lives through unending grace and our stubborn faith. His strength is made perfect in our weakness so ask Him to fill you up with His strength for the victory!