Faith Before Sight: Overcoming Life's Mountains

 

Summary

Believing before seeing is a fundamental principle of faith that many struggle to grasp. In Matthew 17, Jesus expresses frustration with those who fail to understand and exercise faith. He challenges us to take Him at His word and act accordingly, promising that doing so will lead to remarkable experiences. Faith is not about waiting to see before believing; it's about believing first, which then opens the door to seeing God's work in our lives. Jesus assures us that with faith, we can speak to the mountains in our lives—those seemingly insurmountable challenges—and they will respond. This is a call to align our belief with our actions, trusting that our faith will manifest in tangible ways.

Faith requires us to trust in God's promises and act on them, even when the outcome is not immediately visible. This proactive faith is what allows us to witness the extraordinary. Jesus' statement about speaking to mountains is a metaphor for overcoming obstacles through faith. By believing first, we position ourselves to experience God's power and presence in ways that defy human understanding. This approach to faith transforms our perspective, enabling us to see beyond our current circumstances and into the realm of divine possibilities.

Key Takeaways:

- Faith Precedes Sight: True faith involves believing in God's promises before seeing them fulfilled. This proactive belief is essential for experiencing the fullness of God's work in our lives. By trusting in His word and acting on it, we open ourselves to witnessing His power in action. [00:47]

- Overcoming Mountains: The mountains in our lives represent challenges that seem insurmountable. Jesus teaches that with faith, we can speak to these obstacles, and they will respond. This metaphor highlights the transformative power of faith to overcome difficulties that appear too great to handle. [01:23]

- Aligning Belief and Action: Faith is not passive; it requires us to act in accordance with our beliefs. When we align our actions with our faith, we create a pathway for God's promises to manifest in our lives. This alignment is crucial for experiencing the miraculous. [00:47]

- Experiencing the Extraordinary: By believing before seeing, we position ourselves to experience extraordinary things. Faith opens the door to divine possibilities that go beyond human understanding, allowing us to witness God's work in profound ways. [01:23]

- Trusting in God's Word: Taking God at His word is a fundamental aspect of faith. This trust is the foundation for seeing His promises come to fruition. When we trust in His word, we demonstrate a faith that is active and alive, ready to receive His blessings. [00:47]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:47] - The Nature of Faith
- [01:23] - Speaking to Mountains
- [01:50] - Aligning Belief with Action
- [02:15] - Experiencing the Extraordinary
- [02:40] - Trusting in God's Word

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Matthew 17:14-20

Observation Questions:
1. In Matthew 17, why does Jesus express frustration with the people regarding their faith? [00:47]
2. What does Jesus mean when He says we can "speak to the mountain"? How is this concept introduced in the sermon? [01:23]
3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between belief and sight? [00:47]

Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to "take God at His word" in the context of this sermon? How does this relate to the concept of faith? [00:47]
2. How might the metaphor of speaking to mountains apply to personal challenges in one's life? What does this suggest about the power of faith? [01:23]
3. How does aligning belief with action create a pathway for experiencing God's promises, according to the sermon? [01:50]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a situation in your life where you are waiting to see before you believe. How can you shift your perspective to believe first, as encouraged in the sermon? [00:47]
2. Identify a "mountain" or challenge in your life. What steps can you take to speak to this mountain with faith, trusting in God's power to overcome it? [01:23]
3. Consider a promise from God that you find difficult to trust. What actions can you take this week to demonstrate your faith in that promise? [00:47]
4. How can you actively align your daily actions with your beliefs to open yourself to witnessing God's work in your life? [01:50]
5. Think of a time when you experienced something extraordinary because of your faith. How can you use that experience to encourage others in their faith journey? [02:15]
6. What practical steps can you take to deepen your trust in God's word, especially when the outcome is not immediately visible? [02:40]
7. How can you cultivate a proactive faith that positions you to experience divine possibilities beyond human understanding? [02:15]

Devotional

Day 1: Faith Opens the Door to God's Work
Faith is the key that unlocks the door to experiencing God's work in our lives. It requires us to believe in God's promises before we see them fulfilled. This proactive belief is essential for experiencing the fullness of God's work. By trusting in His word and acting on it, we open ourselves to witnessing His power in action. Faith is not about waiting for evidence; it's about trusting in the unseen and stepping forward with confidence that God will fulfill His promises. [00:47]

Hebrews 11:1-2 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation."

Reflection: What is one promise from God that you find difficult to believe without seeing? How can you take a step of faith today to trust in that promise?


Day 2: Speaking to the Mountains in Your Life
The mountains in our lives represent challenges that seem insurmountable. Jesus teaches that with faith, we can speak to these obstacles, and they will respond. This metaphor highlights the transformative power of faith to overcome difficulties that appear too great to handle. By believing first, we position ourselves to experience God's power and presence in ways that defy human understanding. Faith transforms our perspective, enabling us to see beyond our current circumstances and into the realm of divine possibilities. [01:23]

Mark 11:23 (ESV): "Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him."

Reflection: Identify a "mountain" in your life that seems too big to overcome. How can you speak to this challenge with faith today, trusting in God's power to move it?


Day 3: Aligning Belief with Action
Faith is not passive; it requires us to act in accordance with our beliefs. When we align our actions with our faith, we create a pathway for God's promises to manifest in our lives. This alignment is crucial for experiencing the miraculous. By taking God at His word and acting on it, we demonstrate a faith that is active and alive, ready to receive His blessings. This proactive faith is what allows us to witness the extraordinary. [00:47]

James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

Reflection: In what area of your life do your actions not align with your beliefs? What specific step can you take today to bring your actions in line with your faith?


Day 4: Experiencing the Extraordinary Through Faith
By believing before seeing, we position ourselves to experience extraordinary things. Faith opens the door to divine possibilities that go beyond human understanding, allowing us to witness God's work in profound ways. This approach to faith transforms our perspective, enabling us to see beyond our current circumstances and into the realm of divine possibilities. When we trust in God's word, we demonstrate a faith that is active and alive, ready to receive His blessings. [01:23]

Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV): "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Reflection: What is one extraordinary thing you are believing God for? How can you actively position yourself to experience this by faith today?


Day 5: Trusting in God's Word
Taking God at His word is a fundamental aspect of faith. This trust is the foundation for seeing His promises come to fruition. When we trust in His word, we demonstrate a faith that is active and alive, ready to receive His blessings. By believing first, we position ourselves to experience God's power and presence in ways that defy human understanding. This approach to faith transforms our perspective, enabling us to see beyond our current circumstances and into the realm of divine possibilities. [00:47]

Isaiah 55:10-11 (ESV): "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."

Reflection: What is one promise from God's word that you need to trust more deeply? How can you remind yourself of this promise daily to strengthen your faith?

Quotes

"A lot of people are confused about faith. Believing comes before seeing. In order to see what God wills to do, wants to do, and will accomplish in your life, you must believe before you can see. In Matthew 17, Jesus makes the complaint that people do not understand and refuse to exercise faith." [00:00:16]

"In fact, if you will exercise biblical faith, if you will take God at His word and act in light of what He says, you will see more. If you're waiting to see it before you believe it, you may be waiting a long time. But if you will believe it and act in light of it, then you will get to see some things that will blow your mind." [00:00:54]

"In fact, Jesus makes the statement, 'You'll be able to speak to the mountain.' The mountain is whatever in your life is seemingly un-overcomable—too big for you to get around. You'll be able to speak to the problem, the situation, and it will have to respond. So let's start putting our belief before our sight so that our sight will reflect our belief." [00:01:23]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?