Be Extraordinary – Faith Over Doubt

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36 NLT

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.  Isaiah 40:8 KJV

And the water covered the earth 150 days.  Genesis 7:24 TLB

God didn’t forget about Noah and all the animals in the boat!  Genesis 8:1 TLB

God didn’t forget about Noah and all the animals in the boat! He sent a wind to blow across the waters, and the floods began to disappear.  Genesis 8:1 TLB

8 It was by faith Abraham obeyed God’s call to go to another place God promised to give him. He left his own country, not knowing where he was to go. 9 It was by faith that he lived like a foreigner in the country God promised to give him. He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who had received that same promise from God. 10 Abraham was waiting for the city that has real foundations—the city planned and built by God. 11 He was too old to have children, and Sarah could not have children. It was by faith that Abraham was made able to become a father, because he trusted God to do what he had promised. 12 This man was so old he was almost dead, but from him came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. Like the sand on the seashore, they could not be counted.  Hebrews 11:8-12 NCV

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:2-3 NIV

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.  Genesis 12:1 NIV

8 It was by faith Abraham obeyed God’s call to go to another place God promised to give him. He left his own country, not knowing where he was to go. Hebrews 11:8 NCV

11 He was too old to have children, and Sarah could not have children. It was by faith that Abraham was made able to become a father, because he trusted God to do what he had promised. Hebrews 11:11 NCV

12 This man was so old he was almost dead, but from him came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. Like the sand on the seashore, they could not be counted.  Hebrews 11:12 NCV

11 Now Abraham and Sarah were both very old, and Sarah was long since past the time when she could have a baby. 12 So Sarah laughed silently. “A woman my age have a baby?” she scoffed to herself. “And with a husband as old as mine?” 13 Then God said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ 14 Is anything too hard for God? Next year, just as I told you, I will certainly see to it that Sarah has a son.”  Genesis 18:11-14 GNT

DOUBT:

• to be uncertain about (something)
• to believe that (something) may not be true or is unlikely
• to have no confidence in (someone or something)

I can guarantee this truth: This is what will be done for someone who doesn’t doubt but believes what he says will happen: He can say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will be done for him. Mark 11:23 GWT

I.  Confront Your Doubts

10 The Lord said, “I promise I’ll come back to you next year at this time, and your wife Sarah will have a son.”  Sarah happened to be listening at the entrance of the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were old. Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 And so Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, “Now that I’ve become old, will I enjoy myself again? What’s more, my husband is old!”  13 The Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really have a child now that I’m old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will come back to you next year at this time, and Sarah will have a son.”  15 Because she was afraid, Sarah denied that she had laughed.  But the Lord said, “Yes, you did laugh.”  Genesis 18:10-15 GWT

24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:24 NIV 

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 2:10 NIV

2.  Believe More In God’s Ability Than Your Capability

10 The Lord said, “I promise I’ll come back to you next year at this time, and your wife Sarah will have a son.”  Sarah happened to be listening at the entrance of the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were old. Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 And so Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, “Now that I’ve become old, will I enjoy myself again? What’s more, my husband is old!”  13 The Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really have a child now that I’m old?’ Genesis 18:10-13 GWT

27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 1 Corinthians 1:27-28 NLT

3.  Don’t Let The Delay Deter You

13 The Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really have a child now that I’m old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will come back to you next year at this time, and Sarah will have a son.”  Genesis 18:10-14 GWT

21 The Lord came to help Sarah and did for her what he had promised. 2 So she became pregnant, and at the exact time God had promised, she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. 3 Abraham named his newborn son Isaac. 4 When Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded. 5 Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born.  6 Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.  Genesis 21:1-6 GWT

13 I am expecting the Lord to rescue me again, so that once again I will see his goodness to me here in the land of the living.  14 Don’t be impatient. Wait for the Lord, and he will come and save you! Be brave, stouthearted, and courageous. Yes, wait and he will help you.  Psalm 27:13-14 TLB