Leading The Way - Week of May 31, Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef

Leading The Way - Week of May 31

May 31, 2021

You Have a Battle to Fight

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

These days no one wants to lose. It doesn’t feel good, and some people inevitably get upset. So what do we do? We get rid of winning and losing. We give everyone a trophy. We pretend the competition doesn’t matter. We pretend everyone has already won.

There are even some people who pretend they’ve already won their spiritual battles. They pretend they don’t really need to fight. They pretend that the war between the Spirit and their flesh doesn’t really exist. But spiritual battles are real, and if we don’t fight them, we lose.

As those who have been made new in Christ, the way we fight is different than you might think. We do not achieve victory by doing, but by surrendering. We must surrender to the Holy Spirit, who calls us to walk in the way everlasting. And only total surrender will win the fight.

We see a picture of this in the Israelites’ battle with the Amalekites. God gave His people the edge as long as Moses’ hands were lifted high with his staff over his head. Whenever his hands fell, the Amalekites began to overpower them. Victory required total surrender to God’s ways.

In your spiritual battles, don’t give up the fight. Whatever you do, don’t settle for partial obedience. Keep surrendering to Jesus, no matter what comes. Only unconditional obedience will bring you the victory.

Prayer: Lord, I want to surrender to You. Forgive me for trying to fight in my own strength. Help me to trust You to win my battles as I walk in Your ways. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning” (Exodus 17:11).

Learn more in Dr. Michael Youssef’s sermon Treasure That Lasts: Giving Up Gold for Glory, Part 11: LISTEN NOW

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About Leading The Way

Along with partners committed to changing the world, Dr. Michael Youssef is leading the way for people living in spiritual darkness to discover the light of Christ. By passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth through print, web, television, and radio, this international team of experts is uniquely providing hope that is revolutionizing lives at home — and around the world.

What began as a small local radio ministry in 1988 has grown into an international ministry reaching millions for Christ — including a vast audience in the Muslim world seeking Truth in closed countries. Leading The Way's television and radio programs are broadcast in more than 28 languages to audiences across six continents. Leading The Way also produces DVDs, CDs, books, a monthly devotional magazine, solar-powered Navigators, and daily e-devotionals to spread the light of Christ. In 2009, the ministry launched its own 24/7 satellite TV channel, reaching the Muslim world with Gospel programming in English, Arabic, French, and Indonesian. Leading The Way utilizes field teams to evangelize and disciple viewers in closed countries and help persecuted Christians on the ground.

Dr. Youssef and the Leading The Way staff are committed to sharing the Gospel with the lost and equipping believers to grow into a deeper walk with Christ. Learn how you can partner with this unique ministry today.

About Dr. Michael Youssef

Michael Youssef, Ph.D., is the Founder and President of Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef, a worldwide ministry that leads the way for people living in spiritual darkness to discover the light of Christ through the creative use of media and field ministry teams. His weekly television programs and daily radio programs are broadcast more than 13,000 times per week in multiple languages throughout the world. He is also the founding pastor of The Church of The Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Youssef was born in Egypt and lived in Lebanon and Australia before coming to the United States. In 1984, he fulfilled a childhood dream of becoming an American citizen. Dr. Youssef holds degrees from Moore College in Sydney, Australia; Fuller Theological Seminary in California; and a Ph.D. in social anthropology from Emory University. He has authored more than 50 books, including popular titles Saving Christianity?, Hope for This Present Crisis, Life-Changing Prayers, and Never Give Up. He and his wife reside in Atlanta and have four grown children and 11 grandchildren.