Lifting The Impossible From Our Lives Series

LIFTING THE IMPOSSIBLE FROM OUR LIVES

Matthew 17:20; Hebrews 13:5; 1 Peter 5:7

INTRODUCTION: This morning I would like to tie three principles together that are applicable for the believer when we have our backs up against the walk, so to speak spiritually. When things look a little to hard to accomplish, a little too hard to understand, a little too hard to get together, a little too hard to keep it together, or a little to hard period!

I THE ROLE OF FAITH IN LIFTING THE IMPOSSIBLE -- Matthew 17:20

Matthew 17:20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ’Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

A The Mountain of Crisis and Faith

1 Jesus had previously come down from the mountain of transfiguration.

2 While there, those disciples with Him had seen Jesus glorified and two others, Moses and Elijah

3 Now down among the people, His disciples questioned him regarding a demon He had cast out that they had been unable to effect.

4 Jesus talks to them about faith and point to a mountain and tells his disciples that if they have faith comparable to a mustard seed they can move this mountain.

a Have to wonder if He was pointing to the mount He had been transfigured on?

B Moses had been transfigured with Jesus

1 Moses had experienced crisis regarding his faith

a On Mount Horeb God called to Moses from the burning bush, Mose’s faith was weak, and he did not want to go.

b On Mount Sinai when Moses came down with the Ten Commandments, his anger was kindled, and later he had a moment of crisis in faith again.

c Horeb and Sinai are the same place!

Exodus 33:12-16 Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, ’Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ’I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people." 14 The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." 15 Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"

C Elijah was transfigured with Jesus

1 On Mount Carmel, Elijah had defeated 850 false prophets and priests, only to be decimated by the declaration of Jezebel; he had a crisis of faith.

2 Where does God take him to bolster his faith -- you guessed it, Horeb/Sinai!

1 Kings 19:1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.

1 Kings 19:4-5 while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." 5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat."

1 Kings 19:10-11 He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." 11 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

1 Kings 19:18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel--all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him."

D We have got to get to the Mountain

1 Moses got his faith secured at the mountain

2 Elijah got his faith secured at the mountain

3 We get our faith secured at the mountain

a Moses and Elijah had to go to the mountain

b Jesus says we have to et rid of the mountain! FAITH MOVES MOUNTAINS