to you by the friends of
the Amazing Facts Ministry.
00:00:03.60\00:00:05.90
¤¤¤
00:00:05.93\00:00:14.31
Doug Batchelor: There's a power
of faith that God has wired
00:00:14.34\00:00:17.25
in every human.
00:00:17.28\00:00:18.78
You know, Jesus never said,
"My faith has made you whole."
00:00:18.81\00:00:21.58
He always said, "Your
faith has made you whole."
00:00:21.62\00:00:28.52
Doug Batchelor: You know,
we're gonna be talking about
00:00:28.56\00:00:29.86
"Mountain-Moving Faith"
tonight and that Jesus--
00:00:29.89\00:00:33.09
I'll tell you why.
00:00:33.13\00:00:34.56
Jesus made a
statement in Mark 11, verse 22,
00:00:34.60\00:00:37.97
"Have faith in God.
00:00:38.00\00:00:39.33
For assuredly, I say to you,
whoever says to this mountain,
00:00:39.37\00:00:42.94
'Be removed and be cast into the
sea,' and does not doubt in his
00:00:42.97\00:00:46.84
heart, but believes those things
that he says will be done,
00:00:46.88\00:00:50.75
he will have whatever he says.
00:00:50.78\00:00:52.98
Therefore I say to you, whatever
things you ask when you pray,
00:00:53.01\00:00:57.25
believe that you receive
them, and you will have them."
00:00:57.29\00:01:01.16
Now that's a big promise.
00:01:01.19\00:01:02.99
But what is Jesus talking about?
00:01:03.02\00:01:04.46
Say to a mountain, "Be plucked
up and moved into the sea."
00:01:04.49\00:01:07.40
You can read in Micah 7:19,
"He will again have compassion
00:01:07.40\00:01:11.70
on us, and will
subdue our iniquities.
00:01:11.73\00:01:14.40
You will cast all of our sins
into the depths of the sea."
00:01:14.44\00:01:19.11
So what is it that
we moved-- need moved?
00:01:19.14\00:01:21.31
We don't need a mountain
of dirt, we need to have God
00:01:21.34\00:01:23.75
remove a mountain of sin.
00:01:23.78\00:01:26.18
And some of us have
bigger mountains than others,
00:01:26.21\00:01:29.25
but God is in the
business of moving mountains.
00:01:29.28\00:01:31.19
And through faith in Christ,
that mountain can be moved
00:01:31.22\00:01:35.32
and cast into the sea.
00:01:35.36\00:01:37.16
And I remind you again that the
deepest ocean in the world, the
00:01:37.19\00:01:39.76
Marianas Trench, is 36,000 feet
deep and the tallest mountain,
00:01:39.79\00:01:44.63
Mount Everest, is just under
29,000 feet, meaning you could
00:01:44.67\00:01:48.34
submerge Mount Everest in the
deepest ocean and it would be
00:01:48.37\00:01:51.84
completely covered.
00:01:51.87\00:01:53.21
You can submerge all
of our sins in God's mercy
00:01:53.24\00:01:57.75
and it'll be completely
removed from God's sight.
00:01:57.78\00:01:59.81
He casts our sins into the
depths of the sea and he sets up
00:01:59.85\00:02:03.75
a "no fishing" sign.
00:02:03.79\00:02:05.55
Faith, mountain-moving faith.
00:02:05.59\00:02:09.02
So we're gonna be talking about
this subject of faith because it
00:02:09.06\00:02:13.19
is crucial in our salvation, but
I want to begin by previewing a
00:02:13.23\00:02:17.60
story about the Promised Land,
talking about these 12 spies.
00:02:17.63\00:02:21.34
So in your Bibles, the
story we're going to use
00:02:21.37\00:02:23.74
as a springboard
is Numbers chapter 13.
00:02:23.77\00:02:27.58
Before they
entered the Promised Land,
00:02:27.61\00:02:30.25
people had not been
there their whole lives.
00:02:30.28\00:02:33.15
They hadn't been
there in generations.
00:02:33.18\00:02:34.62
They wondered
what it looked like.
00:02:34.65\00:02:36.42
And they persuaded Moses to let
them send some spies to sorta
00:02:36.45\00:02:40.16
preview things, see
what the state of things was,
00:02:40.19\00:02:44.13
and he agreed.
00:02:44.16\00:02:45.46
And then it tells us
the names of these 12 spies.
00:02:45.49\00:02:48.56
Most of them have evaporated
into history, but we remember
00:02:48.60\00:02:51.83
two of them: Joshua,
the son of Nun, and Caleb,
00:02:51.87\00:02:55.57
the son of Jephunneh.
00:02:55.60\00:02:56.94
And he sends them out and it
says that now Moses--verse 17.
00:02:56.97\00:03:00.98
Numbers 13, verse 17, "Then
Moses sent them to spy out the
00:03:01.01\00:03:05.01
land of Canaan, and he said to
them, 'Go up this way into the
00:03:05.05\00:03:09.05
South, and go up into the
mountains, and see what the land
00:03:09.08\00:03:11.92
is like: whether the people who
dwell there are strong or weak,
00:03:11.95\00:03:15.22
few or many; whether the land
they dwell in is good or bad;
00:03:15.26\00:03:19.19
whether the cities they inhabit
are like camps or strongholds;
00:03:19.23\00:03:22.90
whether the land is rich or
poor; whether they are forests
00:03:22.93\00:03:26.03
or not.
00:03:26.07\00:03:27.37
Be of good courage.'"
00:03:27.40\00:03:28.74
He's saying, "'Be courageous,
have faith, and bring some
00:03:28.77\00:03:31.21
of the fruit of the land.'
00:03:31.24\00:03:32.97
Now the time was the
season of first ripe grapes.
00:03:33.01\00:03:36.61
So they went and they spied out
the land from the Wilderness of
00:03:36.64\00:03:39.41
Zin as far as Rehob,
near the entrance of Hamath.
00:03:39.45\00:03:42.95
And they went up through
the South and came to Hebron."
00:03:42.98\00:03:45.12
These are the
mountains of Hebron.
00:03:45.15\00:03:46.99
"And Ahiman, Sheshai, and
Talmai, the descendants of Anak,
00:03:47.02\00:03:50.63
were there.
00:03:50.66\00:03:51.99
And they came to the valley of
Eshcol, and there they cut down
00:03:52.03\00:03:54.83
a branch with one cluster
of grapes; and carried it
00:03:54.86\00:03:57.90
between two of them on a pole.
00:03:57.93\00:03:59.93
And they brought some of
the pomegranates and the figs."
00:04:00.04\00:04:03.37
And it says, "They returned,"
in verse 25, "from spying out
00:04:03.41\00:04:06.01
the land after forty days."
00:04:06.04\00:04:08.04
So they departed
and they come back.
00:04:08.08\00:04:09.41
Now, right away you find out
when they return there's a big
00:04:09.44\00:04:12.41
difference between ten of
the spies and two of the spies.
00:04:12.45\00:04:17.92
Two of the spies get
there first, Joshua and Caleb
00:04:17.95\00:04:20.86
I suspect.
00:04:20.89\00:04:22.19
I think they're probably
the ones carrying this enormous
00:04:22.22\00:04:23.99
cluster of grapes.
00:04:24.03\00:04:25.86
And they said, "The land through
which you send us is a land that
00:04:25.89\00:04:29.63
truly flows with milk and honey,
and here's the fruit of it."
00:04:29.66\00:04:32.93
And they began to toss
big old grapes to everybody.
00:04:32.97\00:04:35.60
You got grapes as big.
00:04:35.64\00:04:36.97
I was in Australia and I
really saw grapes that big.
00:04:37.01\00:04:40.31
And so they're giving all these
grapes to everybody and they're
00:04:40.34\00:04:42.44
tossing them figs, and pomelos,
and there's probably fruit flies
00:04:42.48\00:04:45.38
everywhere 'cause they've been
carrying all this sticky fruit
00:04:45.41\00:04:47.32
for days.
00:04:47.35\00:04:48.65
And the people are rejoicing,
but then the other ten guys who
00:04:48.68\00:04:51.32
had been dragging along, Joshua
and Caleb knew this wasn't going
00:04:51.35\00:04:55.09
to go well.
00:04:55.12\00:04:56.46
They brought back
a negative report.
00:04:56.49\00:04:58.59
You see, as they first began
to go through the Promised Land,
00:04:58.63\00:05:02.23
they looked at the walls
of Jericho and they thought,
00:05:02.26\00:05:04.93
"Wow, those walls are massive.
00:05:04.97\00:05:06.33
How are we ever gonna conquer a
city with a fortress like that?
00:05:06.37\00:05:09.14
Impossible.
00:05:09.17\00:05:10.94
Look at the size
of their armies."
00:05:10.97\00:05:13.61
They came to the mountains
of Hebron, "Look at the size
00:05:13.64\00:05:15.98
of the Anakim.
00:05:16.01\00:05:17.35
They're giants.
00:05:17.38\00:05:18.71
We feel like grasshoppers.
00:05:18.75\00:05:20.05
How can we conquer
a nation like this?"
00:05:20.08\00:05:21.32
And everywhere they went, they
just saw all the problems and
00:05:21.35\00:05:25.32
they forgot the promises of God.
00:05:25.35\00:05:27.62
The reason it was called
the Promised Land is because God
00:05:27.66\00:05:30.76
promised to give it to 'em
and they forgot how far God had
00:05:30.79\00:05:34.00
brought them out of Egypt.
00:05:34.03\00:05:35.90
Have you ever made that mistake?
00:05:35.93\00:05:37.23
You forget all the miracles
that God performs for you and
00:05:37.27\00:05:39.90
you wonder if he can finish
what he started in your life.
00:05:39.93\00:05:43.04
Well, those ten spies
show up and they say, "Oh no,
00:05:43.07\00:05:46.54
we're never gonna make it."
00:05:46.57\00:05:47.91
You can listen.
00:05:47.94\00:05:49.34
And it tells us, after
they say it's a beautiful land
00:05:49.38\00:05:52.75
in verse 28, then the ten
spies begin the majority report.
00:05:52.78\00:05:56.82
"Oh, the people who dwell in the
land are strong; and the cities
00:05:56.85\00:06:00.42
are fortified and
very large; moreover we saw
00:06:00.46\00:06:03.76
the descendants of Anak there.
00:06:03.79\00:06:05.56
The Amalekites dwell in the
south; the Hittites, and the
00:06:05.59\00:06:08.43
Jebusites, and the Amorites
dwell in the mountains."
00:06:08.46\00:06:10.77
How can we
conquer these mountains?
00:06:10.80\00:06:12.77
"And the Canaanites dwell
by the sea and along the banks
00:06:12.80\00:06:15.47
of the Jordan."
00:06:15.50\00:06:16.84
And all the people began to
moan, I suspect, 'cause it says,
00:06:16.87\00:06:19.44
"Caleb quieted the people."
00:06:19.47\00:06:21.64
Why would it say that except
they were starting to moan
00:06:21.68\00:06:23.55
and complain?
00:06:23.58\00:06:25.25
"He quieted them before
Moses, and said, 'Let us go up
00:06:25.28\00:06:27.95
at once.'"
00:06:27.98\00:06:29.32
Now, he had just come back
from wandering through this land
00:06:29.35\00:06:31.99
for 40 days.
00:06:32.02\00:06:33.36
He's ready to go
take it right now.
00:06:33.39\00:06:35.02
It says, "'Let us go up at once
and take possession, for we are
00:06:35.06\00:06:38.33
well able to overcome it.'
00:06:38.36\00:06:40.40
But the men who had gone up with
him said, 'We are not able to go
00:06:40.43\00:06:43.70
up against the people, for
they are stronger than we are.'
00:06:43.73\00:06:47.04
And they gave the children of
Israel a bad report of the land
00:06:47.07\00:06:50.14
that they spied out."
00:06:50.17\00:06:51.51
Alright, friends.
00:06:51.54\00:06:52.84
Right there I've summed up just
if you wanna know who's gonna
00:06:52.87\00:06:54.71
make it and who's
not gonna make it.
00:06:54.74\00:06:57.15
If you don't think you'll
make it, you won't make it.
00:06:57.18\00:06:59.88
If you believe that God can
lead you in, you can make it.
00:06:59.91\00:07:03.79
All things are
possible to those that believe.
00:07:03.82\00:07:06.86
Caleb said, "We are able."
00:07:06.89\00:07:09.46
The other group
said, "We are not able."
00:07:09.49\00:07:12.39
And what's really sad is
they were all church members.
00:07:12.43\00:07:16.36
Now, when we talk about taking
the Promised Land and conquering
00:07:16.40\00:07:19.97
the mountains, having
mountain-moving faith, you know,
00:07:20.00\00:07:23.41
there are people in the church
today that says Jesus just came
00:07:23.44\00:07:27.44
to give you grace
to cover your sin.
00:07:27.48\00:07:30.45
Don't really expect any change
in your life or victory over
00:07:30.48\00:07:34.25
sin, just accept his grace and
just enjoy that, and don't worry
00:07:34.28\00:07:39.95
about striving, or fighting,
or wrestling against temptation,
00:07:39.99\00:07:45.36
or running the race of life.
00:07:45.39\00:07:47.76
They act like if there's
any effort involved in being a
00:07:47.83\00:07:50.23
Christian, it's a lack of faith.
00:07:50.27\00:07:51.73
That is categorically not true.
00:07:51.77\00:07:53.70
The Bible is very clear that
faith means that you might need
00:07:53.74\00:07:57.44
to fight a good fight of faith.
00:07:57.47\00:07:59.24
Caleb believed they could take
the Promised Land and Caleb was
00:07:59.27\00:08:02.64
also willing to fight for it.
00:08:02.68\00:08:04.51
David believed he could conquer
Goliath and he said even when he
00:08:04.55\00:08:08.18
went against Goliath, "You
come against me with a sword,
00:08:08.22\00:08:11.39
and a spear, and a shield.
00:08:11.42\00:08:12.95
I come against
you with the Lord."
00:08:12.99\00:08:14.76
His faith was in God, but he
had a sling, and he had a stone,
00:08:14.79\00:08:18.86
and he had a staff.
00:08:18.89\00:08:20.60
And so the Christian life is
using all of the ability that
00:08:20.63\00:08:25.57
God has given you, trusting God,
moving forward, trusting God.
00:08:25.60\00:08:30.51
But you must surrender all of
your human ability to the Lord.
00:08:30.54\00:08:34.84
You do need to engage your will.
00:08:34.88\00:08:37.11
You must
surrender your heart to him.
00:08:37.15\00:08:39.18
And there is effort involved.
00:08:39.21\00:08:40.52
Why does the Bible
say, "Resist the devil.
00:08:40.55\00:08:43.18
Flee from temptation"?
00:08:43.22\00:08:45.15
And sometimes
there's a struggle involved.
00:08:45.19\00:08:47.22
I think people need
to be reminded that part
00:08:47.26\00:08:49.56
of the conversion is fighting
the good fight of faith,
00:08:49.59\00:08:52.83
but it takes courage to do that.
00:08:52.86\00:08:54.20
What happened to
these other ten spies?
00:08:54.20\00:08:55.93
Moses said,
"Don't be discouraged.
00:08:55.96\00:08:58.30
Have courage.
00:08:58.33\00:09:00.24
Believe."
00:09:00.27\00:09:01.60
Well, they get discouraged.
00:09:01.64\00:09:02.97
They looked at the
problems instead of the promise.
00:09:03.00\00:09:05.44
They lost faith because they
kept focusing on the negative.
00:09:05.47\00:09:08.91
And we still have
the same issue today.
00:09:08.94\00:09:10.58
Here we are now, we are on the
borders of the Promised Land.
00:09:10.61\00:09:14.12
The question is, do God's people
believe that he is still a God
00:09:14.15\00:09:18.22
that can move mountains?
00:09:18.25\00:09:19.79
So I'm going to go through some
points that I hope will help
00:09:19.82\00:09:21.99
illustrate this truth,
so let's begin talking about
00:09:22.02\00:09:25.03
the prerequisite of faith.
00:09:25.06\00:09:27.03
Why is faith so important?
00:09:27.10\00:09:28.70
You cannot be
saved without faith.
00:09:28.73\00:09:31.63
Now, God wouldn't say that
unless it was possible for you
00:09:31.67\00:09:33.80
to have faith.
00:09:33.84\00:09:35.37
Hebrews 11, verse 6, "Without
faith it is impossible to please
00:09:35.40\00:09:39.71
him, for he that comes to
God must believe that he is,
00:09:39.74\00:09:44.71
and he is the rewarder of
those that diligently seek him."
00:09:44.75\00:09:49.02
Faith is possibly the
single most important element
00:09:49.05\00:09:52.85
in the Christian life.
00:09:52.89\00:09:54.22
Anything a person does in
attempting to be a Christian
00:09:54.26\00:09:56.46
means absolutely
nothing if he lacks faith.
00:09:56.49\00:10:00.46
The Bible says, "Whosoever
believeth in him," John 3:16.
00:10:00.50\00:10:04.17
It all boils down
to believing in God.
00:10:04.20\00:10:07.37
The words of Christ, Matthew 6,
verse 30, "Now if God so clothes
00:10:07.40\00:10:12.31
the grass of the field, which
is today, and tomorrow thrown in
00:10:12.34\00:10:15.18
the oven, will he not
much more clothe you, O ye of
00:10:15.21\00:10:18.45
little faith?"
00:10:18.48\00:10:19.81
How often Jesus made a big
issue out of a little faith.
00:10:19.85\00:10:23.39
Matthew 8:26, he said to the
disciples, "Why are you fearful,
00:10:23.42\00:10:27.99
O you of little faith?"
00:10:28.02\00:10:30.59
And then Luke 18, verse 8, Jesus
said, "Nevertheless, when the
00:10:30.63\00:10:33.76
Son of Man comes, will he
really find faith on the earth?"
00:10:33.80\00:10:37.33
What was Jesus looking for?
00:10:37.37\00:10:39.10
He wanted to see faith.
00:10:39.13\00:10:41.40
A weak faith his weakened by
predicaments and catastrophes,
00:10:41.44\00:10:44.24
whereas a great faith
is strengthened by them.
00:10:44.27\00:10:48.01
The reason that Job is mentioned
in the Bible is because he was
00:10:48.04\00:10:51.25
a man who had developed
faith before he ever got
00:10:51.28\00:10:53.95
to his trials.
00:10:53.98\00:10:56.02
One man came to Jesus with his
son and said, "Lord, if you can
00:10:56.05\00:10:59.95
do anything."
00:11:00.06\00:11:01.86
And Jesus said, "If you believe,
all things are possible to him
00:11:01.89\00:11:05.56
that believes."
00:11:05.59\00:11:06.93
That "statement, All things
are possible with God," is found
00:11:06.96\00:11:08.73
about four times
in the New Testament.
00:11:08.76\00:11:11.03
The angel said to Mary,
and several times with God,
00:11:11.07\00:11:14.54
"All things are possible."
00:11:14.57\00:11:16.14
All things
is--really means all things.
00:11:16.17\00:11:20.58
Mark--I'm sorry, Ephesians
2, verse 8, "For by grace you've
00:11:20.61\00:11:24.31
been saved through faith."
00:11:24.35\00:11:26.58
Habakkuk 2, verse 4, "The
just will live by his faith."
00:11:26.61\00:11:31.62
Galatians, "For you are
all sons of God through faith
00:11:31.65\00:11:35.59
in Christ Jesus."
00:11:35.62\00:11:36.96
Romans 5:1, "Therefore,
having been justified by faith,
00:11:36.99\00:11:41.03
we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ."
00:11:41.06\00:11:43.63
So I hope I've made my case,
friends, that a prerequisite
00:11:43.67\00:11:47.24
for anyone to be
saved is believing in God.
00:11:47.27\00:11:51.51
We must believe in God.
00:11:51.54\00:11:53.84
Well, that leads us to the next
important point and I'm going to
00:11:53.88\00:11:56.85
spend a little time on this, and
that's the prevalence of faith.
00:11:56.88\00:12:00.92
You might be thinking, "The
Lord is making it so impossible
00:12:00.95\00:12:04.39
by asking me to have this
supernatural, extraordinary
00:12:04.42\00:12:06.96
faith, and I just--I'm
not a person of faith."
00:12:06.99\00:12:09.36
I don't believe that.
00:12:09.39\00:12:10.73
I believe that
everybody has faith.
00:12:10.76\00:12:13.36
The question is,
where is your faith?
00:12:13.40\00:12:15.73
Now, the Bible tells us this.
00:12:15.76\00:12:17.13
Romans chapter 12, verse
3, "God has dealt to every man
00:12:17.17\00:12:22.77
the measure of faith."
00:12:22.80\00:12:24.14
And keep in mind, salvation
doesn't just come by faith,
00:12:24.17\00:12:26.84
it comes by faith in the Lord.
00:12:26.88\00:12:28.81
Every time someone was
healed by Jesus, you know,
00:12:28.84\00:12:31.58
Jesus never said, "My
faith has made you whole."
00:12:31.61\00:12:34.42
He always said, "Your
faith has made you whole."
00:12:34.45\00:12:36.95
Doug Batchelor:
Don't go anywhere, friends.
00:12:38.39\00:12:39.72
We'll be back in just
a moment for the rest of
00:12:39.75\00:12:41.66
today's presentation.
00:12:41.69\00:12:43.73
You probably already know
that the United States is one
00:12:43.76\00:12:47.40
of the most powerful economic
and military nations in history,
00:12:47.40\00:12:51.93
but have you ever wondered
if the Bible has anything
00:12:51.97\00:12:54.74
to say about the
US in Bible prophecy?
00:12:54.77\00:12:58.14
What if I told you that it does?
00:12:58.17\00:12:59.87
Would it surprise you?
00:12:59.91\00:13:01.58
Well, it's true.
00:13:01.61\00:13:02.94
Using vivid symbolic imagery,
the book of Revelation details
00:13:02.98\00:13:07.38
the rise of America and the
prominent role that it will play
00:13:07.42\00:13:10.99
in the last days
of human history.
00:13:11.02\00:13:13.42
If you'd like to know more
about this important subject,
00:13:13.46\00:13:16.26
Amazing Facts wants to
send you a special gift called,
00:13:16.29\00:13:20.60
"The USA in Bible Prophecy."
00:13:20.63\00:13:22.76
This short but insightful study
guide will astound you as you
00:13:22.80\00:13:26.63
see for yourself how the
book of Revelation pinpoints
00:13:26.67\00:13:30.24
the United States as a major
player in these end time events
00:13:30.27\00:13:34.54
and what you can
do to be ready for it.
00:13:34.58\00:13:36.24
To get your free copy,
call the number on your screen
00:13:36.28\00:13:39.75
and ask for offer 181,
or visit the web address.
00:13:39.78\00:13:43.52
And after you read
this incredible resource,
00:13:43.55\00:13:46.25
make sure and
share it with a friend.
00:13:46.29\00:13:47.79
Well, let's get back to the
rest of today's presentation
00:13:47.82\00:13:50.76
and learn some more amazing
facts from the Word of God.
00:13:50.79\00:13:53.29
Doug Batchelor: You know, the
two people that Jesus especially
00:13:54.83\00:13:56.80
complemented in the Bible
were Pagans that demonstrated
00:13:56.83\00:14:01.10
their faith in him.
00:14:01.14\00:14:02.64
You remember, there was
this woman that she persisted
00:14:02.67\00:14:06.44
in asking Jesus
to heal her daughter.
00:14:06.47\00:14:09.11
And even though Christ
was trying to send her away,
00:14:09.14\00:14:12.05
he said, you know, "Can't take
the children's food and give it
00:14:12.08\00:14:14.75
to the dogs."
00:14:14.78\00:14:16.08
He was testing her faith.
00:14:16.12\00:14:17.42
She said, "Yes, but even
the puppies get the crumbs."
00:14:17.45\00:14:19.52
He said, "Woman,
great is your faith.
00:14:19.55\00:14:21.66
Your daughter is healed."
00:14:21.69\00:14:23.26
He just did that to illustrate
something for the apostles.
00:14:23.29\00:14:25.86
Then there's
the Roman centurion.
00:14:25.89\00:14:27.23
He said, "You don't even
need to come to my house."
00:14:27.23\00:14:29.93
And Jesus turned around in
amazement and said, "I've not
00:14:29.96\00:14:32.10
seen this kind of
faith in all of Israel."
00:14:32.13\00:14:34.50
Two blind men come to
Jesus and said, "Lord!"
00:14:34.54\00:14:36.81
He said, "What do you want?"
00:14:36.84\00:14:38.17
"That our eyes might be opened."
00:14:38.21\00:14:39.84
He said, "Be it unto you
according to your faith."
00:14:39.87\00:14:43.61
Now, that seems
like a pretty tall order.
00:14:43.65\00:14:46.21
Jesus is telling us that if
we have faith in him, all things
00:14:46.25\00:14:50.12
are possible to
him that believes.
00:14:50.15\00:14:51.82
I'm not suggesting you go buy
a lottery ticket and then have
00:14:51.85\00:14:54.62
faith you've got
the winning number.
00:14:54.66\00:14:56.32
It's not that kind of faith.
00:14:56.36\00:14:57.96
The principle thing that Jesus
wants to have us learn about the
00:14:57.99\00:15:02.23
power of faith is that through
faith in him, we can have the
00:15:02.26\00:15:06.97
mountain moved, that we can get
victory over our sins, that we
00:15:07.00\00:15:10.84
can be transformed, that
we can become like Christ.
00:15:10.87\00:15:13.71
The purpose of the plan
of salvation, the angel said,
00:15:13.74\00:15:16.98
"You'll call his name Jesus
for he will save his people
00:15:17.01\00:15:19.75
from," what?
00:15:19.78\00:15:21.12
"From their sins."
00:15:21.15\00:15:22.45
God wants us to have faith that
we can be saved, that he can
00:15:22.48\00:15:25.42
transform us.
00:15:25.45\00:15:26.79
You know, so often the battles
in the Bible, you see when they
00:15:26.82\00:15:29.26
went into battle
trusting the Lord, they won.
00:15:29.29\00:15:31.53
Old Testament's full of battles.
00:15:31.56\00:15:33.33
People say, "Pastor Doug, why is
the Old Testament full of war?"
00:15:33.36\00:15:36.36
All of those battles
are illustrating our battle
00:15:36.40\00:15:39.37
with the devil.
00:15:39.40\00:15:40.74
Doesn't matter if there were
20,000 enemy soldiers and they
00:15:40.77\00:15:43.57
only had ten, when they went
into battle--Samson killed a
00:15:43.61\00:15:48.34
thousand with a jawbone
with the Spirit of the Lord.
00:15:48.38\00:15:50.75
When you go into battle with the
Lord, someone once said you and
00:15:50.78\00:15:54.32
God are always a majority.
00:15:54.35\00:15:56.79
And when Jonathan and his
armorbearer went against the
00:15:56.82\00:15:59.32
Philistine garrison, he said,
"There's no restraint for the
00:15:59.35\00:16:02.36
Lord to deliver by few or many."
00:16:02.39\00:16:04.33
They went it faith and
they got the victory over this
00:16:04.36\00:16:07.23
whole contingent of soldiers.
00:16:07.30\00:16:08.73
Two men because they had faith.
00:16:08.76\00:16:10.97
So there's this prevalence
of faith that we see all through
00:16:11.00\00:16:13.90
the Bible and the Lord
wants us to demonstrate that.
00:16:13.94\00:16:16.97
Then you've got the
production of faith.
00:16:17.01\00:16:20.18
All right, so there's faith out
there and I've got a little bit
00:16:20.21\00:16:23.41
of faith.
00:16:23.45\00:16:24.78
How do I grow my faith?
00:16:24.81\00:16:27.05
Well, the answer's in the Bible.
00:16:27.08\00:16:29.22
The disciples came to Jesus.
00:16:29.25\00:16:31.52
They said, "Lord,
increase our faith."
00:16:31.55\00:16:35.39
And Jesus said, "Impossible,
you only get so much at birth
00:16:35.42\00:16:38.46
and that's your quota."
00:16:38.49\00:16:39.83
That's not what he said.
00:16:39.86\00:16:41.53
The reason they said, "Increase
our faith," and Jesus responded
00:16:41.56\00:16:45.43
is because it is
possible for you to have
00:16:45.47\00:16:48.17
your faith increased.
00:16:48.20\00:16:50.51
How does that happen?
00:16:50.54\00:16:51.91
"So then faith comes by hearing,
and hearing by the Word of God."
00:16:51.94\00:16:57.61
As you read the
Bible, your faith will grow.
00:16:57.65\00:17:01.25
Which leads me to another
important element in how you can
00:17:01.28\00:17:04.92
have more
production of your faith.
00:17:04.95\00:17:09.99
Look at the story of
David, David and Goliath.
00:17:10.03\00:17:14.20
So when David says to King Saul,
"I believe that I could whip
00:17:14.20\00:17:17.90
that giant," the king said,
"He is a soldier from his youth
00:17:17.93\00:17:22.14
and you are just a youth.
00:17:22.17\00:17:23.51
What makes you
think you can beat him?
00:17:23.54\00:17:24.84
He's twice your size."
00:17:24.87\00:17:26.78
David said, "Well,
I've just got blind faith."
00:17:26.81\00:17:28.54
That's not what he said.
00:17:28.58\00:17:30.18
David said, "I've got
evidence for my confidence.
00:17:30.21\00:17:34.58
When I was taking care of my
father's sheep, a bear showed up
00:17:34.62\00:17:38.95
and God gave me the strength
and the spirit to kill the bear.
00:17:38.99\00:17:42.46
And then later a lion came to
get the sheep and God delivered
00:17:42.49\00:17:47.13
the lion into my hand.
00:17:47.13\00:17:48.43
And through God's faith working
through me, I killed a bear,
00:17:48.46\00:17:52.23
I killed a lion.
00:17:52.27\00:17:53.64
True, they're smaller than the
giant, but I've got evidence,
00:17:53.67\00:17:56.40
and based on the evidence
of what God did for me with the
00:17:56.44\00:17:58.57
lion and the bear, I
believe that he can help me
00:17:58.61\00:18:01.24
kill the giant."
00:18:01.28\00:18:02.61
When the Lord brought
the children of Israel to the
00:18:02.64\00:18:04.95
shores, the borders of the
Promised Land, hadn't the Lord
00:18:04.98\00:18:08.82
given them evidence to believe?
00:18:08.85\00:18:11.39
Look at all those incredible
plagues that came on the
00:18:11.42\00:18:13.76
Egyptians, and how God provided
water out of a rock, and bread
00:18:13.79\00:18:17.59
for heaven, and
victory over the Amalekites.
00:18:17.63\00:18:20.36
He had given them evidence for
their faith and that's why they
00:18:20.40\00:18:22.90
were without excuse when he said
to that generation, "You can't
00:18:22.93\00:18:27.30
go into the Promised Land
because you just don't believe."
00:18:27.34\00:18:30.37
And friends, that's something--
it's kind of a sobering thought,
00:18:30.41\00:18:34.18
but I don't
want to rush past it.
00:18:34.21\00:18:36.98
Those that did not believe
that God could bring them
00:18:37.01\00:18:40.25
into the Promised Land and give
them victory did not make it
00:18:40.28\00:18:43.25
into the Promised Land.
00:18:43.28\00:18:44.59
You must believe that your
Jesus is bigger than your devil.
00:18:44.62\00:18:49.39
Nobody has a problem
having faith in the devil.
00:18:49.42\00:18:52.39
Everybody glorifies the devil
all the time, saying, "Oh yeah,
00:18:52.43\00:18:54.96
the devil got me to do this and
the devil got me to do that."
00:18:55.00\00:18:57.93
And you know, they just take
it for granted that the devil is
00:18:57.97\00:19:00.37
gonna have his
way in their life.
00:19:00.40\00:19:02.57
But when you say, "Well,
don't you think that Jesus
00:19:02.60\00:19:05.14
is bigger than the devil?
00:19:05.17\00:19:06.91
Doesn't the Bible say, 'Greater
is he that is in you than
00:19:06.94\00:19:10.88
he that is in the world'?"
00:19:10.91\00:19:12.45
And so through Christ, we
are able to get the victory and
00:19:12.48\00:19:16.62
conquer and
overcome these mountains.
00:19:16.65\00:19:19.69
So you can have more faith.
00:19:19.72\00:19:22.12
Matthew 17, verse 20,
"Assuredly, I say to you,
00:19:22.16\00:19:25.53
if you've got faith as a
mustard seed, you'll say to this
00:19:25.56\00:19:28.43
mountain, 'Move from here
to there,' and it will move;
00:19:28.46\00:19:33.40
and nothing will
be impossible for you.
00:19:33.44\00:19:36.04
However, this kind does
not go forth except by prayer
00:19:36.07\00:19:38.71
and fasting."
00:19:38.74\00:19:40.08
So read the Bible, you get
faith, look at the evidence
00:19:40.11\00:19:43.78
of God's leading in your
past and it'll grow your faith,
00:19:43.81\00:19:47.28
and prayer will grow your faith.
00:19:47.32\00:19:49.82
So when you pray and you
get answers to your prayer,
00:19:49.85\00:19:54.29
your faith gets bigger.
00:19:54.32\00:19:55.72
Have you ever prayed before for
something that was just really
00:19:55.76\00:19:57.99
extraordinary, and then God
answered your prayer and you go,
00:19:58.03\00:20:00.60
"Wow, why would I doubt God?
00:20:00.63\00:20:02.96
He's so powerful.
00:20:03.00\00:20:04.33
He's answered so
many prayers before."
00:20:04.37\00:20:07.04
Faith sees the invisible,
believes the incredible,
00:20:07.07\00:20:10.97
and receives the impossible.
00:20:11.01\00:20:13.14
All right, well, at this point I
want to talk a little bit about
00:20:13.17\00:20:15.94
the poison of pessimism.
00:20:15.98\00:20:18.21
You can read here where it says
in Matthew chapter 4, verse 3,
00:20:18.25\00:20:21.42
"When the tempter came to
Jesus, he said, 'If you're
00:20:21.45\00:20:24.59
the Son of God, command that
these stones become bread.'"
00:20:24.62\00:20:28.79
Now, what did he say?
00:20:28.82\00:20:30.46
"If."
00:20:30.49\00:20:32.06
For the devil,
everything is about an "if."
00:20:32.09\00:20:35.23
You know, when Christ was
hanging on the cross, there was
00:20:35.26\00:20:37.20
that thief on the left and he
said, "If you're the Son of God,
00:20:37.23\00:20:41.57
save yourself and us."
00:20:41.60\00:20:44.17
And the high priest, when
Christ was being tried, he said,
00:20:44.21\00:20:49.74
"If you're the Son of God."
00:20:49.78\00:20:51.61
So the word "if," it
obviously denotes some doubt.
00:20:51.65\00:20:56.55
And so God is not
wanting us to have doubt,
00:20:56.58\00:20:58.75
he's wanting us to have faith.
00:20:58.79\00:21:00.52
James chapter 1, verse 6, When
someone comes to the Lord and
00:21:00.56\00:21:04.73
they're wanting deliverance, he
said, "But when a person prays,
00:21:04.76\00:21:08.13
let him ask in faith, with no
doubting, for he who doubts is
00:21:08.16\00:21:12.70
like a wave of the sea
driven and tossed by the wind.
00:21:12.73\00:21:16.24
For let not that man suppose
he'll receive anything from the
00:21:16.27\00:21:19.57
Lord; a double-minded man is
unstable in all of his ways."
00:21:19.61\00:21:23.71
Some of us need to pray and say,
"Lord, forgive my unbelief."
00:21:23.75\00:21:30.12
Start believing that God can.
00:21:30.15\00:21:33.36
And you know, I think
it's important for us to speak
00:21:33.39\00:21:37.13
positively to
those that are around us.
00:21:37.16\00:21:38.96
So many Christians are
negative to each other.
00:21:38.99\00:21:41.53
We need to encourage each
other that we can do all things
00:21:41.56\00:21:44.20
through Christ.
00:21:44.23\00:21:45.77
Abraham Lincoln said, "We
complain because roses have
00:21:45.80\00:21:49.40
thorns, but we ought to
rejoice that the thorn bushes
00:21:49.44\00:21:52.31
have roses."
00:21:52.34\00:21:53.91
And that's--several variations
of that have been quoted.
00:21:53.94\00:21:57.51
So not only do we have the
production of faith to avoid the
00:21:57.55\00:22:01.32
poison of pessimism, so don't be
constantly rehearsing disbelief,
00:22:01.35\00:22:07.59
then there's the
perseverance of faith.
00:22:07.62\00:22:10.23
Faith is not something
that just happens in a moment.
00:22:10.26\00:22:13.56
Faith represents a persistence.
00:22:13.60\00:22:16.97
They were 40 days exploring the
Promised Land even though they
00:22:17.00\00:22:20.24
saw--they saw that
the giants were bigger.
00:22:20.27\00:22:24.34
They saw the walls
of Jericho were bigger.
00:22:24.37\00:22:27.01
They saw that they had, you
know, better weapons, the people
00:22:27.04\00:22:31.01
in the Promised Land.
00:22:31.05\00:22:32.61
Caleb and Joshua, they saw that,
but they persisted in believing
00:22:32.65\00:22:36.58
in God.
00:22:36.62\00:22:37.95
They hung on. Faith persists.
00:22:37.99\00:22:40.66
You know how
you move a mountain?
00:22:40.69\00:22:41.99
An ant can move a mountain
one grain of sand at a time.
00:22:42.02\00:22:45.96
You've just got to persist.
00:22:45.99\00:22:48.70
1 Timothy 6:12, "Fight
the good fight of faith."
00:22:48.73\00:22:52.83
It is a fight.
00:22:52.87\00:22:54.20
It's a battle.
00:22:54.24\00:22:55.57
"Lay hold on eternal life."
00:22:55.60\00:22:56.91
Now, the language that Paul
is using there, he's kind of
00:22:56.94\00:22:59.01
talking about, like, when
Jacob got ahold of the angel
00:22:59.04\00:23:02.41
and he said, "I will not
let you go unless you bless me."
00:23:02.44\00:23:06.11
Take ahold of
the promises of God.
00:23:06.15\00:23:07.92
Lay hold of them, and reach
out for the horns of the altar,
00:23:07.95\00:23:11.75
and just plead for mercy.
00:23:11.79\00:23:13.52
Sometimes we give up so easy.
00:23:13.56\00:23:15.62
Pray persistently.
00:23:15.66\00:23:17.19
1 John 4, verse 4 and 5,
"For whatever is born of God
00:23:17.23\00:23:21.23
overcomes the world.
00:23:21.26\00:23:22.96
And this is the victory
that has overcome the world."
00:23:23.00\00:23:25.17
What is it?
00:23:25.20\00:23:26.53
"Our faith.
00:23:26.57\00:23:27.90
Who is he that overcomes
the world, but he that believes
00:23:27.94\00:23:31.17
that Jesus is the Son of God?"
00:23:31.21\00:23:33.94
Spurgeon said, "A little faith
will bring your soul to heaven.
00:23:33.98\00:23:37.98
A great faith will
bring heaven to your soul."
00:23:38.01\00:23:41.72
Faith does not--George Mueller,
who's a great man of faith,
00:23:41.75\00:23:44.19
he said, "Faith does not operate
in the realm of possibility.
00:23:44.22\00:23:47.96
There's no glory for God in
that which is humanly possible.
00:23:47.99\00:23:50.86
Faith begins
where man's power ends."
00:23:50.89\00:23:54.23
You might say,
"Lord, I'm helpless.
00:23:54.30\00:23:56.16
I can't do it."
00:23:56.20\00:23:57.53
That's when you really
give God permission to roll up
00:23:57.57\00:24:00.17
his sleeves.
00:24:00.20\00:24:02.34
Our greatest
weakness lies in giving up.
00:24:02.37\00:24:05.51
The most certain way to succeed
is always to try one more time.
00:24:05.54\00:24:10.58
You've heard the expression,
and that, by the way,
00:24:10.61\00:24:13.08
is Thomas Edison, who
wasn't a Christian but he made
00:24:13.11\00:24:15.15
some good statements.
00:24:15.18\00:24:16.52
Someone said, "Triumph is the
combination of try and oomph."
00:24:16.55\00:24:19.55
Sometimes Christians
forget about the oomph.
00:24:19.59\00:24:21.86
There is some effort
involved in being a Christian.
00:24:21.89\00:24:24.16
You gotta wrestle
sometimes in prayer.
00:24:24.19\00:24:27.30
And this is a great
quote by Bernard of Clairvaux,
00:24:27.36\00:24:32.63
"Only by desertion
can we be defeated.
00:24:32.67\00:24:34.77
With Christ and for
Christ, victory is certain.
00:24:34.80\00:24:37.94
We can lose the victory
by flight, but not by death.
00:24:37.97\00:24:41.98
Happy you are if you die in
battle, for after death you'll
00:24:42.01\00:24:44.58
be crowned.
00:24:44.61\00:24:45.95
But woe to you if by forsaking
the battle you forfeit both
00:24:45.98\00:24:49.65
at one time the
victory and the crown."
00:24:49.68\00:24:53.22
So many people give up, and
for little temporary relief,
00:24:53.25\00:24:57.83
they sacrifice to the devil.
00:24:57.86\00:24:59.79
Friends, and then there is
power in faith when you believe
00:24:59.83\00:25:03.73
all things are possible.
00:25:03.77\00:25:05.43
You know, I didn't give
you the rest of the story.
00:25:05.47\00:25:08.50
You can look in the book
of Joshua, in chapter 14.
00:25:08.54\00:25:11.94
Caleb is 85 years old
and he comes to Joshua.
00:25:11.97\00:25:15.64
They'd conquered a
bunch of other nations.
00:25:15.68\00:25:17.91
And Caleb says to Joshua, "You
know that 40 years ago, when we
00:25:17.95\00:25:21.05
were spies, I believe
that God could lead us in.
00:25:21.08\00:25:24.82
And I saw these mountains where
these beautiful, fertile soil,
00:25:24.85\00:25:27.79
the southern exposure, and the
springs," in what we now call
00:25:27.82\00:25:30.76
Judea, the area of Hebron,
better known as the mountains of
00:25:30.79\00:25:34.76
the Anakim where
the giants lived.
00:25:34.83\00:25:37.73
Caleb said, "I'm 85 years old
now, but I am as strong now for
00:25:37.77\00:25:41.17
going out to
battle, for coming in."
00:25:41.20\00:25:43.34
And then he makes
these famous words.
00:25:43.37\00:25:44.77
He says, "Give
me this mountain."
00:25:44.81\00:25:47.94
He believed that with faith
he could overcome a mountain.
00:25:47.98\00:25:51.98
Joshua blessed him.
00:25:52.01\00:25:53.38
Caleb led the children of Judah.
00:25:53.42\00:25:55.65
They conquered the giants.
00:25:55.68\00:25:57.32
And the reason the Jews
settled in where are we now say
00:25:57.35\00:26:00.56
Jerusalem is is because that
old man had faith that he could
00:26:00.59\00:26:04.36
overcome mountains and giants
because all things are possible
00:26:04.39\00:26:07.40
with God.
00:26:07.46\00:26:08.76
Friends, don't
underestimate what you can do.
00:26:08.80\00:26:10.33
Don't give the devil the glory.
00:26:10.37\00:26:12.33
Jesus said that
he can set you free.
00:26:12.37\00:26:14.54
He can save you from your
sins and cast that mountain
00:26:14.57\00:26:17.91
into the depths of the sea.
00:26:17.94\00:26:19.24
Do you believe
what Jesus promises?
00:26:19.27\00:26:21.78
male announcer: Don't forget to
request today's life-changing,
00:26:26.35\00:26:28.65
free resource.
00:26:28.68\00:26:29.92
Not only can you receive this
free gift in the mail, you can
00:26:29.95\00:26:32.32
download a digital copy
straight to your computer
00:26:32.35\00:26:34.86
or mobile device.
00:26:34.89\00:26:36.22
To get your digital copy of
today's free gift, simply text
00:26:36.26\00:26:39.43
the keyword on your screen to
40544 or visit the web address
00:26:39.46\00:26:44.13
shown on your screen.
00:26:44.17\00:26:45.53
And be sure to select
the digital download option
00:26:45.57\00:26:48.17
on the request page.
00:26:48.20\00:26:49.54
It's now easier than ever
for you to study God's Word
00:26:49.57\00:26:52.64
with Amazing Facts
wherever and whenever you want,
00:26:52.67\00:26:56.24
and most important,
to share it with others.
00:26:56.28\00:26:58.45
male announcer: The
statistics are grim.
00:26:59.95\00:27:01.75
Millions have been
infected by coronavirus.
00:27:01.78\00:27:04.39
Thousands have died.
00:27:04.42\00:27:05.82
Race riots have
broken out on streets.
00:27:05.85\00:27:08.02
Political tensions
are at an all-time high.
00:27:08.06\00:27:11.03
Does the Bible have
anything to say about the times
00:27:11.06\00:27:13.93
in which we are living?
00:27:13.96\00:27:15.26
Doug Batchelor: Hi, friends.
00:27:15.60\00:27:16.90
This is Pastor Doug Batchelor.
00:27:16.93\00:27:18.37
Many people are wondering if
the world's about to implode.
00:27:18.40\00:27:21.84
Some are fearful that global
events point to a coming crisis
00:27:21.87\00:27:25.37
unlike anything
we've ever witnessed.
00:27:25.41\00:27:28.18
Did you know the Bible book of
Revelation actually speaks about
00:27:28.21\00:27:31.55
the days in
which we're living now?
00:27:31.58\00:27:33.65
And it contains a message of
hope, if we would only listen.
00:27:33.68\00:27:38.15
That's why I'd like to
invite you to "Revelation Now:
00:27:38.19\00:27:42.06
Decoding the Bible's
Greatest Prophecies."
00:27:42.09\00:27:44.26
In this multi-part series,
I'll be sharing relevant truths
00:27:44.29\00:27:47.76
for our time from the
last book in the Bible.
00:27:47.76\00:27:50.27
male announcer:
Coming October 23.
00:27:50.67\00:27:52.73
To learn more,
visit revelationnow.com.
00:27:52.77\00:27:55.77
male announcer: Don't forget
to request today's free offer.
00:28:05.45\00:28:07.45
It's sure to be a blessing.
00:28:07.48\00:28:09.22
And thank you for your
continued support as we take
00:28:09.25\00:28:11.92
the Gospel of Jesus
Christ to the world.
00:28:11.95\00:28:14.59
We hope you'll join us
next week as we delve deep
00:28:14.62\00:28:17.59
into the Word of God to
explore more amazing facts.
00:28:17.63\00:28:21.10
male announcer: This
presentation was brought
00:28:24.93\00:28:26.23
to you by the friends of
the Amazing Facts Ministry.
00:28:26.27\00:28:29.27