Michael Youssef

Mar 6, 2022 • 1h 31m

Dr. Michael Youssef — The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987. Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector. Visit us online at http://apostles.org Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: http://facebook.com/churchoftheapostles Twitter: http://twitter.com/apostlesatl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostlesatl

Feb 27, 2022 • 1h 30m

Dr. Michael Youssef — The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987. Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector. Visit us online at http://apostles.org Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: http://facebook.com/churchoftheapostles Twitter: http://twitter.com/apostlesatl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostlesatl

Feb 21, 2022 • 50 min

Whenever a believer gets a great victory from the hand of the Lord, Satan immediately works to steal away the joy of the victory. In Elijah’s case, his fear of Jezebel drove him into isolation, and a deep depression. This episode in his ministry provides four lessons for believers facing similar circumstances. Elijah Made a Great Decision Without a Word from The Lord Throughout Elijah’s ministry, he only made a move or took action when he was prompted by the Lord. In verse 3, we do not see him receiving a prompting from the Lord, but instead allowing fear to guide him. Elijah Isolated Himself When He Least Needed to Be Alone There are times when we should be alone with God in prayer, but in moments of sudden defeat, we need brothers and sisters in Christ around us to remind us of God’s blessings, past actions, and promises for the future. Elijah Lost Perspective Despite fleeing from Jezebel’s threats to kill him, Elijah found himself wishing for death at God’s hands, and falling into self-pity. Elijah Was Exhausted in Every Way There is nothing more exhausting emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically than spiritual warfare, and Elijah had just fought a great battle in the name of Yahweh. God’s Response Despite Elijah’s lowly state, God meets Elijah and provides for his every need: Elijah Did Not Wait for a Word From the Lord The Lord Gave Him a Word Elijah Refused to Have Human Companionship God Gave Him an Angel to Accompany Him Elijah Needed Food and Drink God Provided Both Supernaturally We can trust God to deal with us similarly when we are blindsided after a great victory. — The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987. Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector. Visit us online at http://apostles.org Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: http://facebook.com/churchoftheapostles Twitter: http://twitter.com/apostlesatl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostlesatl

Feb 20, 2022 • 1h 38m

Dr. Michael Youssef — The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987. Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector. Visit us online at http://apostles.org Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: http://facebook.com/churchoftheapostles Twitter: http://twitter.com/apostlesatl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostlesatl

Feb 14, 2022 • 50 min

Because people tend not to keep their promises, it is easy to think that God will not keep His promises. This is a tragedy—God always keeps His promises, even if they aren’t filled in the way that we want. When God makes a promise, faith believes it, hope anticipates it, and patience quietly waits for it. In 1 Kings 18:41-46, Elijah witnesses the fulfillment of God’s personal promise to him and responds in humility. Conditional and Unconditional Promises In Scripture, there are two types of promises: conditional promises dependent on meeting certain conditions, and unconditional promises for all of God’s children. In Elijah’s case, God had made a conditional promise to send rain if God went and showed himself to King Ahab, who had threatened to murder him. After meeting that condition and the display of God’s power on Mount Carmel, Elijah prays specifically for the drought to end as revealed in James 5:17. Elijah’s prayer illustrate biblical prayer, and how believers are to respond when they are answered: Elijah Prayed Specifically and Obediently God is specific and detailed, down to counting every single one of our hairs. If God is specific and detailed with us, we must be specific and detailed with Him in prayer, and pray in a way that is consistent with the Word of God. Elijah Persisted in Watching and Praying God is not impressed by the length of prayer, the eloquence of prayer, or the posture of prayer, but in its persistence and perseverance. Elijah prayed persistently, clinging to God’s promise to send rain. As he prayed, he sent his servant to looks for clouds seven different times. Elijah did not doubt that God would fulfill His promise, but prayed expectantly until a cloud finally showed up. Elijah Remained Humble Before God When the Promise Was Fulfilled When Elijah’s prayer was finally answered, he tucked his cloak and ran before King Ahab, showing humility before both God and the king. He was adamant that God and God alone received all the credit and glory for the rain. As believers, we should appropriate the conditional promises of God by fulfilling their conditions. This requires self-examination, and asking God to help us meet those conditions. — The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987. Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector. Visit us online at http://apostles.org Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: http://facebook.com/churchoftheapostles Twitter: http://twitter.com/apostlesatl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostlesatl

Feb 13, 2022 • 1h 34m

Dr. Michael Youssef — The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987. Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector. Visit us online at http://apostles.org Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: http://facebook.com/churchoftheapostles Twitter: http://twitter.com/apostlesatl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostlesatl

Feb 7, 2022 • 48 min

The recipe for disaster in any church or nation is godless and arrogant leadership, and confused followers. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah is confronted by both. When leadership compromises their conviction, the public becomes confused. Ahab allowed for Baal worship to desecrate Israel, and the Israelites followed, worshipping both God and Baal. On top of Mount Carmel, Elijah confronted the confused populace to realize that they could not serve both, and make a final decision between the two. Likewise, believers in Christ must make a decision to follow God in the face of a godless culture, and not be of two minds. Despite being outnumbered by Baal worshippers, Elijah remembered God’s provision at the Kerith Brook and Zarephath and trusted fully in God. He repaired the altar of God, saturated the altar with water, and waited until sundown to ensure that everyone understood the power of God. The Israelites response to God was to bow down and worship Him. It was a decisive moment in the history of God’s people, but a greater moment was yet to come. Through Jesus Christ we can receive salvation and be consumed with zeal to proclaim that He is Lord. His spirit burns off the dross of compromise, indecision, and half-hearted commitment so that we can have zeal in witnessing to the lost. — The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987. Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector. Visit us online at http://apostles.org Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: http://facebook.com/churchoftheapostles Twitter: http://twitter.com/apostlesatl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostlesatl

Feb 6, 2022 • 1h 35m

Dr. Michael Youssef — The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987. Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector. Visit us online at http://apostles.org Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: http://facebook.com/churchoftheapostles Twitter: http://twitter.com/apostlesatl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostlesatl

Feb 3, 2022 • 1h 24m

Throughout the eighties and nineties, Strawberry faced many challenges off the field, including tax evasion, drug abuse, solicitation, suspensions, stints in rehab, cancer, and time in prison. Today, as a redeemed sinner, Darryl’s purpose and passion is serving the Lord Jesus Christ by speaking a message of hope and helping others transform their lives through the power of the gospel. — The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987. Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector. Visit us online at http://apostles.org Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: http://facebook.com/churchoftheapostles Twitter: http://twitter.com/apostlesatl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostlesatl

Jan 31, 2022 • 52 min

Often the storms of life and the blessings of God go hand-in-hand. God specializes in restoring the fragments of a broken life in order to make something more beautiful. During Elijah’s time in Zarephath and following God’s miracle of providing for the widow and her son, a tragedy strikes: 17 Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. 18 She said to Elijah, "What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?" 19 "Give me your son," Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. 20 Then he cried out to the Lord , "O Lord my God, have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?" 21 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried to the Lord, "O Lord my God, let this boy's life return to him!" 22 The Lord heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived. 23 Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, "Look, your son is alive!" 24 Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth." “WHY?” It is natural to ask God “why?” during the storms of life. Sometimes God answers the question, and sometimes He doesn’t. Regardless, God does not fall off of His throne because of our questions, and He will receive glory despite the calamity. In response to the widow’s attack on him, Elijah provides an example for every believer to follow in the face of calamity: Elijah did not defend himself or try to correct her faulty theology. Elijah knew that her pain was causing her to lash out. 19 "Give me your son," Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. Elijah saved his questioning of God until he was alone with God. Elijah did not allow for the widow, a doubting new believer, to hear his own doubting prayer: 20 Then he cried out to the Lord , "O Lord my God, have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” Intense, persistent praying according to the will of God will make a difference. God responds to believers who pray according to the will of God. Elijah went to the place where he communed with God daily. Elijah offered the calamity on the same altar as he offered his praise to God. All believers ought to have such a place to daily meet God in a special way. In response to Elijah’s intense prayers, God performs the first resurrection recorded in Scripture. The widow declares her faith in God, and the chapter closes as Elijah is fully prepared to face the prophets of Baal. — The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987. Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector. Visit us online at http://apostles.org Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: http://facebook.com/churchoftheapostles Twitter: http://twitter.com/apostlesatl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostlesatl

Jan 30, 2022 • 1h 33m

Dr. Michael Youssef — The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987. Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector. Visit us online at http://apostles.org Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: http://facebook.com/churchoftheapostles Twitter: http://twitter.com/apostlesatl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostlesatl

Jan 24, 2022 • 54 min

Obedient faith that takes risks for God is honored by God. The prophet Elijah has such faith. Shortly after the brook that Elijah relied on dried up, God called him to the village of Zarephath, a village that was 100 miles away, stricken with famine, a center of Baal worship, and very close to Queen Jezebel’s hometown. This calling is irrational to human minds, but God was at work behind the scenes. The call to Zarephath ensured that Elijah would not starve, but also that God’s mercy and grace would be preached to Baal worshippers as Elijah lived among them for two years. FIRST IMPRESSION BLUES Obedience is always accompanied by a test, as illustrated by Elijah meeting a starving widow on the verge of death. Elijah responded to this test by challenging the widow to bake bread for him—and by extension God—first. She answered this challenge and was provided for. GOD’S WORK ON ALL FRONTS Elijah was willing to risk everything for God, believing that God would be at work on the other side. Throughout Scripture, we see God working in similar situations: God sent Joseph ahead of his brothers to Egypt, Joshua’s spies to the house of Rahab, Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch, and Peter to Cornelius. Remembering that God is already at work behind the scenes allows us to take risks in our faith. — The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987. Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector. Visit us online at http://apostles.org Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: http://facebook.com/churchoftheapostles Twitter: http://twitter.com/apostlesatl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostlesatl

Jan 23, 2022 • 1h 35m

Dr. Michael Youssef — The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987. Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector. Visit us online at http://apostles.org Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: http://facebook.com/churchoftheapostles Twitter: http://twitter.com/apostlesatl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostlesatl

Jan 17, 2022 • 50 min

God invites His sons and daughters to call on Him in prayer, and intervenes in their lives. This is an example of the visible hand of God. Such intervention in response to prayer is visible in the life of Elijah, an ordinary man with no credentials who became a prophet. 1 Kings 17 HERE I AM, SEND ME Elijah appears from nowhere. He had no credentials, and throughout his ministry he experienced suffering, fear, and depression to the point of being suicidal. He was an ordinary man that God used because Elijah was available and willing to serve. AHAB AND JEZEBEL Israel had been creeping towards Baal worship and idolatry for generations, and the wickedness of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel plunged the nation further into immorality. Elijah was sent to confront their immorality by confronting their leadership. HIDDEN BY GOD Immediately after confronting the King and Queen, Elijah was hidden by God in the wilderness. When God hides a believer, He hides them in plain view, growing them inwardly, for the sake of greater service and ministry. During this time, God provides for the believer. When the provision runs out, it means that God is planning to take the believer to a higher level of faith, and greater things. — The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987. Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector. Visit us online at http://apostles.org Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: http://facebook.com/churchoftheapostles Twitter: http://twitter.com/apostlesatl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostlesatl

Jan 16, 2022 • 1h 35m

Dr. Michael Youssef — The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987. Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector. Visit us online at http://apostles.org Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: http://facebook.com/churchoftheapostles Twitter: http://twitter.com/apostlesatl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostlesatl

Jan 9, 2022 • 1h 38m

Dr. Michael Youssef — The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987. Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector. Visit us online at http://apostles.org Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: http://facebook.com/churchoftheapostles Twitter: http://twitter.com/apostlesatl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostlesatl

Jan 2, 2022 • 1h 12m

Dr. Michael Youssef — The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987. Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector. Visit us online at http://apostles.org Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: http://facebook.com/churchoftheapostles Twitter: http://twitter.com/apostlesatl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostlesatl

Dec 26, 2021 • 1h 1m

Dr. Michael Youssef — The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987. Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector. Visit us online at http://apostles.org Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: http://facebook.com/churchoftheapostles Twitter: http://twitter.com/apostlesatl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostlesatl

Dec 24, 2021 • 1h 43m

Dr. Michael Youssef — The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987. Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector. Visit us online at http://apostles.org Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: http://facebook.com/churchoftheapostles Twitter: http://twitter.com/apostlesatl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostlesatl

Dec 24, 2021 • 1h 41m

Dr. Michael Youssef — The Church of the Apostles - Reaching the lost and equipping the saints since 1987. Dr Michael Youssef, Founding Rector. Visit us online at http://apostles.org Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: http://facebook.com/churchoftheapostles Twitter: http://twitter.com/apostlesatl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostlesatl