Force Multiplier – Faith vs. Fear

Force Multiplier: Something that dramatically increases one’s impact

Ephesians 3:20 (LB)  //  Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.
Hebrews 11:6  //  Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Romans 1:17  //  For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Faith
Faith is Seeing From God’s Point of View

Faith is not:

Desire
Pretending that something is true
A Feeling
Bargaining with God

Hebrews 11:1  //  Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Faith is a way of seeing.

Ephesians 1:18 (NLT)  //  I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
2 Kings 6:15-17  //  When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. 16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Fear or Faith
Shammua
Shaphat
Igal
Palti
Gaddiel
Gaddi
Ammiel
Sethur
Nahbi
Geuel
Joshua
Caleb

When see through the eyes of fear:

1. We exaggerate our difficulties.

Numbers 13:27-28, 31
27  //  They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”

2. We underestimate our abilities.



Numbers 13:33
 //  “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

Projection

3. We get discouraged.



Numbers 14:1  //  That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud.
4. We complain
Number 14:2 
//  All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness!

5. We blame God


Numbers 14:3
 //  Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?”

When I see through the eyes of faith, it:
1. Shrinks my problems

Luke 1:37  //  For nothing will be impossible with God.
2. Opens the door for a miracle

Matthew 13:58  //  And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
3. Moves God to act on my behalf
Matthew 9:29  //  Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”
4. Unlocks the promises of God
2 Corinthians 1:20  //  For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.
5. Faith turns God-given dreams into reality
Ephesians 3:20 (LB)  //  Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.