Introduction

Today's sermon is about the power of faith. It explores four steps or phases to see that faith realized: believing in God's dream, being willing to take a risk, having great expectations, and refusing to give up.

The power of faith is crucial, especially during this critical time with the new pandemic sweeping across our nation and the world. We need to be people of faith, living our lives by faith instead of in fear.

It's important to understand that when we make right choices and live according to God's word, will, and ways, He gives us power. And when we have faith in God and allow Him to direct our lives, He blesses us with even more power.

Believing in God's Dream

In the Bible, we see a direct correlation between faith and power. Jesus visited His hometown of Nazareth, but He couldn't perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith. This shows us that our faith in God determines the level of power and blessing we experience.

Abraham is known as the father of faith. He believed in God's promise of descendants as numerous as the sand on the seashore or the stars in the sky, even though it took over 25 years for him to have his first child. Abraham never wavered in his belief, even when God tested him by asking him to sacrifice his only son. Abraham's unwavering faith in God's promise is what made him righteous.

Being Willing to Take a Risk

God never intended for us to navigate life alone. He has tremendous power available for us to tap into through faith. When Jesus taught about forgiveness, the disciples realized that forgiving others was impossible in their own strength. So they asked Jesus to increase their faith.

To increase our faith and tap into God's power, we need to follow four steps:

Having Great Expectations

Believe in God's dream: It all starts with having a dream or vision from God. We need to believe in His plans and purposes for our lives and for His kingdom. We should ask God about His dream and vision for us.

Be willing to take risks: Faith involves taking risks. We cannot pursue our dreams without some level of risk. We should not fear failure but be willing to try again and learn from our experiences.

Refusing to Give Up

Live with great expectations: We need to expect God to move in our lives. Our faith should be enthusiastic and rooted in the belief that God can do great things. We should eagerly anticipate God's work in and through us.

Never give up: Faith requires persistence and determination. We should keep believing, even when circumstances are challenging. We must trust that God will work out His will in our lives, no matter the obstacles.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if we want to grow our faith, we need to ask the Lord for help with our unbelief. Just like the father who asked Jesus to heal his sick child, we can ask God to increase our faith. The power of faith leads to God's greater purpose, and we simply need to believe.

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