Seeking the Lord for Breakthrough - Ryan McAdams
Session 3 - Breaking Free
1/17/2015
Matthew 7:14 "The way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
Introduction - The goal of personal transformation does not happen in a vacuum or without real effort and change. It is
not easy, but we must see the goal of complete sanctification and conformity to Christ, believe that we are able to attain
real growth with the help of the Holy Spirit, and intentionally give ourselves to the Lord in a focused way.
I. Are you ready to change?
John 5:6 "When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition,
He said to him, 'Do you wish to get well?'"
1. God gives growth to those who are ready to receive it. He doesn't force us. He is ready to give, when we are
ready to receive. We all hear the same message, but profit differently depending on you are ready to hear
(parable of the soils). Change is easier said than done. Why is it that few find the narrow way that leads to life?
2. In any field or endeavor determination brings excellence (more than natural talent). Many don't reach
maturity in Christ because of the "worries/cares, riches and pleasures of this life" (Luke 8:14).
Luke 8:15 "But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest/sincere and
good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance."
3. The world is suffocating and we have to get free from being smothered by its things and pursuits.
1 John 2:15 "Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the
Father is not in him."
4. Personal transformation is a love matter, and only the free can love, and only the completely free can love
completely. We must get free from everything that hinders love for God and others.
II. Harmful Attachments
1. God has created us to have strong feelings of pleasure, delight and attraction...and it is good. Pleasures are
created to lead us to God, in that, the thing we find pleasure in moves us to direct our thanks, prayers and
devotion back toward God. But we are attached in an ungodly way when we seek finite things in and for
themselves apart from God or when they become and end in themselves and not a means to lead us to God (its
source and purpose).
2. An attachment is a selfish clinging and refers to the act of desiring or centering on something finite for its
own sake. We get immersed in pleasure outside of God. We are to find delight in everything (godly), but we
are to cling to nothing.
"Since the things of the world cannot enter (physically) the soul, they are not in themselves an encumbrance
or harm to it, rather it is the will and appetite dwelling within that causes the damage." St. John of the Cross
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Seeking the Lord for Breakthrough - Ryan McAdams
III. How do we know we are attached?
1. Diversion from God's purpose - An activity or thing is being used in a way that diverts it from the purpose
God intended. Example - sex outside of marriage.
2. Excess in use - When we go too far, the activity/thing becomes a cause of chaos and disorder in our life.
Example - if you overeat, you are clinging selfishly to food.
3. Means become an end - Everything should be meant to bring us closer to God and each other in love. When
we "fix on", "feed on", "have satisfaction in" anything for its own sake, it is self-centered and amiss.
IV. Harms of Attachments
1. Dims our vision - When we focus on finite things our supernatural sight is obscured. Sin clouds the mind.
Selfish clingings are like a cataract over the eyes and the worldly person cannot grasp the things of the Spirit.
Psalm 40:12 "My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see."
Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
2. Sin begets sin - Unrest accompanies earthly pursuits, for nothing worldly fully satisfies. The feeling of inner
emptiness leads to the next thing. Thus, selfish desires beget selfish desires...and one leads into others.
3. Joy is dried up - Attachments are a killjoy. Boredom, hangovers, buyer's remorse, and emptiness all make it
clear that selfish clingings only produce disillusionment. The world is deceived.
4. Keeps us from God - Selfish clingings rob us and take our energy and focus away from prayer and Godcentered pursuits that will give us lasting fruit and fulfillment.
5. Diminishes the person - Attachments diminish us, because we become like the object we love. "Love places
us on the level of that which we love." Only loving and clinging to God elevates us.
V. Detachment - To get free from all that does not lead to God. Detachment is inner freedom from selfish clingings.
We are purified and transformed into the likeness of Christ by enjoying progressive freedom in our soul, emptying
ourselves of worldly lusts and filling those spaces with the love of God. Theresa of Avila says, "Everything we gain
comes from what we give." Union of likeness with God is obtained as we cast out everything unlike God in us.
1. God responds to our self giving in love to Him. In addition to the increased joy and freedom we experience,
the Lord responds to the uncluttered and pure heart with heightened sensitivity to His presence, revelation in
His Word, the hearing of His voice, and movements and promptings of the Holy Spirit.
"When the Beloved sees his beloved (us) empty of all else, He cannot long stay away. So much does God love
us that when He finds us open and ready, He cannot refrain from filling us to the extent that we are emptied."
Thomas Dubay, Fire Within
2. Again, we are talking about a love matter. God is not jealous for us to deprive ourselves, He is passionate
about our hearts being totally His in love, so He can share Himself fully with us to form a holy and loving union.
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Seeking the Lord for Breakthrough - Ryan McAdams
VI. How to move forward and start getting free?
1. Don't add anything new - Be sensitive to not add new selfish clingings and nip things in the bud quickly. Don't
pay attention to what doesn't lead you closer to God.
Titus 2:11-12 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny
ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the
blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus."
1 Corinthians 10:31 "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
2. Start with detaching from something - Seek God in prayer and ask for revelation as to what to root out.
What is God saying needs to go? Limit your focus and give your attention to that one area, even if it might seem
a small matter. When we gain victory in one area it builds strength and confidence to get victory in other areas.
Things are connected and mutually strengthened or weakened. When you deny the flesh in one area the flesh is
weakened over all areas.
a. Identify the area to detach from and develop a strategy to achieve your goal, then go after it until you
get success. Fight and think like it is a war, because it actually is. God will help you. Don't give up until
you get your breakthrough.
b. See it (visualize what you look like free from the attachment), believe it (you are able to do it through
Christ who strengthens you), make it happen(take action). Much momentum is gained through a small
victory and keep the momentum going by picking up another area to target and give to God.
c. Occasional and sporadic efforts get you nowhere. "A little here and a little there won't get you
anywhere." You need consistent and determined action and follow through.
"True love sees nothing as little. Everything which can please or displease God always seems great to it."
Fenelon, Christian Perfection
3. Pray, pray and then pray some more. We are weak, but He is strong. Watch and pray and seek His face.
4. Focus on Eternity - Do not believe the lie that somehow you are missing out, you are gaining far more than
you are giving up. Keep your thoughts on the vanity of worldly pleasure and fix your eyes on the freedom and
pleasure to be gained in God for now and eternity.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 "For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond
all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the
things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
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