I heard an excellent sermon yesterday from Michael Youssef on the crucial subject of faith, entitled, “Mountain Moving Faith.”
It inspired, challenged, and encouraged me, so I wanted to share it with you.
He defines the gift of faith as the “Holy Spirit-given ability to see something that God wants to be done for His glory before it happens.”
It is…
*the ability to sustain unwavering confidence in the promises of God in the face of impossibility
*the ability to discern the will of God and stand firm regardless of insurmountable obstacles
*the ability to believe God for something that is honoring and glorifying to Him when everybody else has given up
*the ability to hold on to the promises of God when everybody else has moved on
Dr. Youssef qualifies that “this is NOT blind faith, but confident faith.”
We cannot live the Christian life without faith. Hebrews 11:6 tells us clearly and unequivocally: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”
When we are NOT walking by faith, we are “focused on the problems of life, the difficulties, disappointments and adversities…it is a narrow focus.“
By contrast, when we ARE walking by faith, we will:
*live above the challenges
* have hope in the midst of hopelessness
*see potential in the midst of the problem
*look up to the One who is more powerful than our troubles.
Dr. Youssef gives a picture of someone who is operating in faith:
*when all odds are stacked against them, they live like they have no problems
*operate as seeing the will of God as having already been accomplished.
*rejoice about what will happen while everyone else is singing the blues.
*specialize in the impossible, sail through raging waters, and climb mountains
He reminded his listeners that Jesus saw the resurrection even while hanging on the cross.
Lastly, Dr. Youssef encouraged us to “Think big because your trust is in a BIG God.”
Amen to that!
“Let your sights bring you reports as discouraging as possible, but pay no attention to them. Our heavenly Father lives and even the delays of answers to our prayers are part of His goodness.” — Arthur Tappan Pierson
Power Of A Moment 