WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:22.960 Hi, I'm Alyssa. 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:24.640 Some of you may know me as Ali. 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:32.320 I have been serving on the production team, meaning I'm usually hiding in the back, panicking about slides or lights. 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:39.679 But during these nine months, God has really been taking me on a journey, addressing my fears. 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:45.119 And I want to take you with me in case that is you here today, because we all have fears. 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:50.560 God has really been teaching me to exchange my fears for rootedness. 00:00:51.439 --> 00:01:19.200 My fears have been, some of them are like fears of the unknown, fears of public speaking, fears of disappointing people, fears of having to give up on my dreams, fears of losing the chance to create a future for my family here in the US, fears of having to go back home to South Africa, failing in my dreams. 00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:23.040 And these fears really had a chokehold on me for sure. 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:28.480 Our last topic that we did in Protege was theology. 00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:33.680 And one of our assignments was to do an exegesis on a verse. 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:44.719 And for those of you who don't know, an exegesis is a technical process of studying the text systematically to discuss the original intended meaning. 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:47.760 And Nassim told us we could pick any verse. 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:54.319 I immediately started panicking because there are 31,102 choices to choose from. 00:01:55.840 --> 00:02:02.079 I knew I had to narrow it down a little bit, so I thought, okay, let's relate it to Protege somehow. 00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:03.920 That did not do much. 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:07.599 So I decided to do what I thought anybody would do. 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:16.560 I compiled a list of every verse we discussed, taught on, referenced, and systematically worked through that list. 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:19.120 Still nothing jumped out at me. 00:02:20.080 --> 00:02:26.800 I then decided to reread every single one of my protege notes, every discussion we ever had. 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:30.960 And I landed on the verse from our very first protege night. 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:33.120 We were all in Nassim's backyard. 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:37.520 We had these little name tags, and I was being socially awkward like I always am. 00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:40.159 And we were just getting to know each other. 00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:53.439 And Nassim was reading this verse over us as a warning and an encouragement for when spiritual warfare comes as we lean into God during these next nine months. 00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:57.039 The verse is Jeremiah 17, verse 7 to 8. 00:02:57.280 --> 00:03:11.840 Now, to give you some context on the book of Jeremiah, Jeremiah was a prophet to Israel, and they were a nation severely backsliding into destruction, once again. 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:18.159 And he was writing this book to them to warn them about what would happen if they continue down this path. 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:23.599 But not only that, he was giving them tools to get off of this path of destruction. 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:28.080 And Jeremiah 17, 7 to 8 is one of those tools. 00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:29.840 So let me read it for you. 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:35.120 But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:40.879 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. 00:03:41.120 --> 00:03:43.439 It does not fear when he comes. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:45.919 The leaves are always green. 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:51.039 It has no worries in a year of drought, and never fails to bear fruit. 00:03:51.360 --> 00:03:55.680 Now, when I was reading this and doing my exegesis, I had two main thoughts. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:04:03.520 Specifically in verse 8, when he Jeremiah talks about the tree sending out its roots, it led me to my first thought. 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:05.360 Roots take time to grow. 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:08.479 Now, I don't know about you, but I know nothing about plants. 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:11.120 They don't last very long, they're always dying. 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:17.360 But I know that roots don't just magically appear overnight, right? 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:18.879 They take time to grow. 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:21.920 And it's the same with our relationship with God. 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:28.079 And as our relationships with each other here on earth takes time to build trust. 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:30.879 And so it takes time to build trust with God. 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:42.240 Now, during my younger Christian life, um when it came to the topic of trusting God, it was something that people always talked about. 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:43.759 It just dawns on you. 00:04:43.839 --> 00:04:51.279 You know, like you make the decision and it just like descends on you from the heavens when you rise through the waters of baptism, you know? 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:58.240 And I always struggled with trusting him so easily, and it made me feel inadequate. 00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:01.600 Um and then I realized that it takes time to grow. 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:06.000 Just like roots take time to grow, it takes time to build trust with God. 00:05:06.399 --> 00:05:08.639 And Jeremiah says that it's worth it. 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:11.519 It says, blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:16.639 Now, blessed is not blessed as in, I'm gonna get everything I prayed for. 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:22.639 It's blessed as in, I will be happy and content in regardless of the situation I'm in. 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:25.600 Um roots take time to grow. 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:27.439 Trusting God takes time. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:30.319 It is a daily decision we make. 00:05:30.560 --> 00:05:35.920 For me, honestly, it's more like an hourly decision, but it's still a decision we make all the time. 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:38.560 But the good news is that it's never too late. 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:45.839 God always gives us an opportunity after opportunity to trust him first and invite him into our situations. 00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:53.839 The second part of that same line, it says that the tree sends out its roots by the stream. 00:05:54.319 --> 00:06:02.000 Now, my second fact about plants is probably the only one I know, is that water is a source of nourishment for the tree, right? 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:07.199 So it led me to my second point, which is the direction of your roots matter. 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:12.560 And it got me thinking, where do I get my nourishment from? 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:16.879 What are you doing to refill your soul? 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:19.920 Are you throwing yourself into work? 00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:25.120 Maybe you're a thrill seeker like me, always looking for the next adrenaline rush. 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:28.319 Maybe it's spending time with friends or family. 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:33.439 There's nothing wrong with these things, but they're finite sources of water. 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:37.360 They will grow, dry up in drought seasons. 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:42.879 Luckily for us, the Bible refers to God as our living water. 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:51.759 In verses like Psalm 36, verse 9, or Jeremiah 2, 13, it says, God is our living water. 00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:56.560 He is our nourishment and our infinite source of nourishment. 00:06:56.800 --> 00:07:00.160 Therefore, we can lean into him and send our roots out to him. 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:05.279 Just like a tree, our roots keep us grounded and stable in a storm. 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:09.519 I mentioned one of my fears was losing my visa and having to go back to South Africa. 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:12.720 For a short period of time, that was a reality for me. 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:20.959 I got to a point where I was going to have to go home if I could not make another plan. 00:07:21.120 --> 00:07:25.920 But my roots were strong enough, and I decided in that moment to trust God first. 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:28.959 Doesn't happen often, but I did. 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:36.480 And I came out on the other side stronger, happier, and content with the situation I found myself in. 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:42.240 It might not have been the outcome I wanted or thought it would look like, but it's what I needed. 00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:44.480 And it's still hard. 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:48.240 I still struggle to exchange my fears, to be rooted in God. 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:55.439 But knowing He is there when I do stumble helps it be a little easier for me. 00:07:55.680 --> 00:08:01.279 And I come out on the other side more content and happy than I usually would be. 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:20.720 And so can you do it? 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:51.600 And my wife, Amy, our daughter Lily, and I have been coming to Awakening for a little over a year now. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:55.600 And it's an honor to be able to share a piece of my story with you all this morning. 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:59.519 So just to set expectations, this is definitely more of like an eight-minute talk. 00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:08.159 If there's one thing that I've learned through the process of preparing this, it's a lot of empathy for pastors who are always whining about the time they get to speak their message. 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:18.399 So to start things off, uh my question for you all is if you look back over the course of your life, what are some of the activities or things that have been around in your life for the longest period of time? 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:24.720 So I was born and raised in Minnesota, so true to stereotypes, I've been ice skating since I was three years old. 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:31.840 And I'm sure for most of you, if something immediately came to mind, you're probably thinking of something similarly fun and lighthearted. 00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:42.720 But I'm wondering, if we look past some of these light-hearted examples, are there other things in your life that have been around for a while that you're less proud of, such as a long-standing pattern of sin in your life? 00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:58.159 To give another personal example, from the time I was 14 until a little over three years ago, so almost 20 years, I had another activity that loomed pretty large in my life, and that was my addiction to pornography, which admittedly is a lot less fun to talk about than three-year-old me learning how to ice skate. 00:09:58.639 --> 00:10:08.000 Now I think for those of us who are caught in these long-standing patterns of sin, there's probably a whole sermon series worth of reasons why we stay stuck in those patterns even when we're desperately trying to break free. 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:11.679 But the one I'd like to focus specifically on today is shame. 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:20.399 And I want to be clear that when I talk about shame, I'm not talking about the conviction that we may feel from time to time that what we're doing is wrong and we want to change. 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:25.600 I think that's a healthy part of our Christian walk as we seek to become more and more like Jesus. 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:27.519 Now I think shame is different. 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:33.279 It's this lie from the enemy that because of your sins specifically, God's grace somehow isn't enough for you. 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:42.320 Where it makes you feel so small and degraded that your only instinct is to run and hide, like Adam and Eve in the garden, so no one knows how broken you truly are. 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:51.039 And I think if we don't address our shame, if we just let it sit and fester, what we're really doing is allowing our sin to maintain its hold over us. 00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:55.120 So then the question becomes, how do we deal with and confront our shame? 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:59.200 I think as usual, the Bible has some pretty interesting things to say about this. 00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:04.480 So the main scripture that I want to look at today is in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:08.639 Now, the city of Corinth was the largest city in the Roman province of Greece. 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:18.799 It was a large trading hub, and because of this, it attracted a ton of people from all over the empire, so it's this big melting pot of different nationalities, cultures, and religions all living side by side. 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:22.960 And because of this, it was very cosmopolitan, but also pretty morally decadent. 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:38.799 So a big theme of Paul's letters to the Corinthians are how we as Christians should live when we're in a decidedly non-Christian context, surrounded on all sides by temptation and alternate ways of living, which I think should probably sound a little familiar to those of us living in present-day Silicon Valley. 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:46.639 So in 2 Corinthians 4 2, Paul writes, Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:50.480 We do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God. 00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:57.360 On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly, we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:05.600 I also really like how the message translation writes this, which says, We refuse to wear masks and play games. 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:15.600 Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God. 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:22.559 I think in both of these translations I see a big theme of stepping out of the darkness of shame into the light of truth. 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:35.679 I really like the message's concept of hiding behind a mask, because I think so often when we're not living as we should, we often wear these masks to try to project this image that we're living this good Christian life, fully living out God's call on our lives. 00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:42.320 But I think there's no way we can be fully walking with God if there are things in our lives that we feel the need to keep hidden from Him. 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:49.039 And it's only by throwing away the mask and stepping into the light of truth that we can fully live out God's will. 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:56.080 So now the question is: if shame wants us to dwell in darkness, but we're called to live in the light, how do we do that? 00:12:56.240 --> 00:13:03.120 And one tool that I found to be particularly powerful in my own life is exchanging shame for confession in community. 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:08.080 Now I know some of you probably recoiled a little bit when I said the word confession for a couple reasons. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:12.000 I think in the Protestant tradition, it's not something we talk about nearly as much as we should. 00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:15.600 It's sort of this thing that Catholics do that we don't really fully understand. 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:21.919 And I think also when you're living in shame, the last thing you can imagine doing is admitting your sin and shortcomings to anyone. 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:26.000 But, and apologies uh to those of you who expect your sermons to have three points. 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:30.799 Um, I just have two reasons why I think uh confession uh can be such a powerful tool. 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:38.399 So the first uh point is that I think confession gives us support and accountability in bearing the burden of our sin. 00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:42.720 So there's a couple more uh verses that I think do a really good job of illustrating this point. 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:48.720 Um in another of Paul's letters, this time to the Galatians, he had this to say in Galatians 6, 1 and 2. 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:56.480 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. 00:13:56.720 --> 00:13:59.440 But watch yourselves, or you may also be tempted. 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:04.159 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:14.399 Additionally, James, the brother of Jesus, writes in James 5 16, therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:21.759 I think oftentimes, despite what our pride might tell us, our own strength isn't sufficient to overcome the power of sin in our lives. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:28.320 We really need to lean on the strength of God, and I think that can be expressed often through our ties in Christian community. 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:34.320 In some addiction literature, there's a saying that the opposite of addiction isn't sobriety, it's connection. 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:37.120 And I found that to be very true in my own life. 00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:45.279 But our community can't help us if they don't know what's actually going on in our lives, which I think is why there's such an important need for truthful confession. 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:51.519 And the second reason I think confession is so powerful is that confessing our sin breaks the power of shame. 00:14:51.759 --> 00:15:00.320 I think there's something incredibly powerful about naming our sin, speaking it aloud, and setting forth the truth plainly, as Paul writes to the Galatians. 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:13.840 When I was finally forced to fully confront my addiction to pornography, I ended up confessing to my wife, some close friends, our pastor at the time, and I got involved with the Christian accountability group with other men who were facing similar issues. 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:17.759 And in the beginning, it was frankly one of the harder things I've ever had to do. 00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:25.919 I had to come face to face with the fact that I was not the man that I wanted to be, the man that I had been projecting to all these people around me for so many years. 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:33.759 I also had to confront the fear that all these people around me whom I loved would either look down on me or abandon me when they found out who I really was. 00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:40.480 But what I actually found was an incredible amount of love and support in bearing the burdens of my sin. 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:56.320 And I also found that the more I talked about it and the more open and truthful I was in my confession, that the easier it became to talk about, the less shame that I felt, and probably most importantly, the less desire that I actually had to return to that pattern of behavior. 00:15:56.559 --> 00:16:06.159 After literal decades of trying to do it on my own strength, it was only when I truly confessed my sin and leaned on the strength of my community that I was able to find freedom. 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:14.480 When I started this process, telling even one person about this was a mortifying prospect for me. 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:28.799 Um and now I'm up here in front of you all talking about it, which while I can't say it's enjoyable to admit to a couple hundred people that um you had a pornography addiction, I no longer feel the depth of shame that would have uh prevented me from sharing my story with you all. 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:33.919 So just to wrap up, I really just want to leave you with this image. 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:48.080 Jesus, after a mob drags a woman who they caught in adultery in front of him, expecting him to pass judgment, instead disperses the mob with this famous line Let him without sin cast the first stone. 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:52.320 And when they're gone, turns to the woman and says, Neither do I condemn you. 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:54.159 Go and sin no more. 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:56.480 Your Savior does not condemn you. 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:06.559 Lean on his strength and on the strength of this wonderful community that he's built. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:43.119 How's everyone doing? 00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:50.640 Oh my gosh. 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:52.079 Alright, here we go. 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:03.039 Alright, for those of you who don't know me, uh, my name is Elliot. 00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:08.160 Uh, you'll find me normally in my natural habitat back there behind the drums. 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:11.839 Um, but it really is an honor to be here before you today. 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:17.599 Um, not just me, but for the rest of us here to be able to share our heart and what we've received from the Lord. 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:20.960 Um so it's it's really a privilege to be here today. 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:26.480 Since coming to awakening, I've grappled with a lot of theologically challenging questions. 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:33.279 And yet I feel like I've had the space and the freedom to unravel some of these conversations with our spiritual leaders. 00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:37.440 For me, unanswered prayer is one topic that comes to mind. 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:52.160 I've had a lot of discussions, uh, long-winded conversations with my wife and in our small group, um, but it brought to mind a concept called shameless audacity, and which is the title of this sermonate. 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:58.400 This phrase is actually seen in Luke 11:8, after Jesus taught the disciples the Lord's Prayer. 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:03.039 But let me read to you verses 5 through 8 just to provide you the proper context. 00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:12.240 Then Jesus said to them, Suppose you have a friend and you go to him at midnight and say, Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:16.640 A friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him. 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:20.160 And suppose the one inside answers, Don't bother me. 00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:23.680 The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:25.920 I can't get up and give you anything. 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:36.400 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity, he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:38.640 And this is the NIV translation. 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:48.960 But when we look at ESV, the phrase shameless audacity is translated as impotence, and an NLT is translated as shameless persistence. 00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:56.000 The Greek equivalent of this word is called an idea, which means lack of sensitivity to what is proper. 00:19:56.240 --> 00:20:00.000 It describes being without respect or modesty. 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:07.039 Now Jesus is calling us to go boldly before the Father, for he is more gracious than any friend or neighbor. 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:21.759 Friends, my hope with this sermonette is to provide you with two applications that can help us exchange our hesitation for with persistence and prayer, and hopefully encourage you all to go deeper in your dialogue with the Lord. 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:26.240 Alright, the first point is to pray for the impossible. 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:31.279 Oftentimes you might hear people saying that God only puts us in situations that we can handle. 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:36.559 But on the contrary, I believe that God puts us in situations we cannot handle by ourselves. 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:43.039 What might prompt you is the passage from 1 Corinthians 10 13, which says this. 00:20:55.119 --> 00:21:00.079 But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:09.759 God is saying that we will never be tempted beyond what we can bear, but it doesn't mean that we're immune to suffering, because he will be the only one to provide a way out. 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:17.440 I'm sure a lot of us think it's offensive to God when we ask for the impossible, but I believe that God is offended by anything less. 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:23.279 I think that maybe perhaps he's offended when we ask him for things that we can do ourselves. 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:28.160 It's a silly story, but when I was at San Jose State, I had to take a physics EM class. 00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:32.319 I'm sure all you STEM majors know the pain and turmoil of those classes. 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:39.839 But I bombed my first midterm and I had to take the second one and pass that if I want to make it through to my next aberratives. 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:42.400 And so I was studying, preparing all night. 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:45.440 I was doing my best to just be as prepared as I could. 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:54.799 And so the day of, as I was walking uh to the classroom to take my exam, I was praying real hard and just hoping that God would just do something. 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:58.960 And I felt like God was prompting me and asking, Do you trust me? 00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:01.519 And hesitantly I said yes. 00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:04.880 Um, but as we all know, God is good and God is gracious. 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:10.319 Um, not only did I pass that exam, but I was able to walk out of there with a 95. 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:13.440 And it exceeded my expectations. 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:18.559 And honestly, I could have gotten 100, but the only reason why I didn't is because I didn't put units down. 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:26.000 So for all you college students, pro tip, all you college students and people still in academia, don't forget to put units. 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:29.599 Doesn't matter if they're wrong, just put something down and you'll get credit. 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:31.599 But I digress. 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:40.400 My point is this our impossible prayers honor God because they reveal our faith and allow God to reveal his glory. 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:45.200 Second point is ask, seek, and knock. 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:47.519 We must be persistent in prayer. 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:55.119 Prayer is what moves the heart of God, but counterintuitively, our prayers aren't answered based on our continued persistence. 00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:59.119 If that were the case, then it would be by works and not by faith. 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:03.039 God answers prayers to bring glory to his name. 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:13.599 About a month ago, my wife and I were in New York for a wedding and we had a very engaging conversation with a friend, and he brought up this very interesting point regarding prayer. 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:24.400 He said, Are we only praying for the end result, for our own gain, for what we want, or is prayer more about the change that happens during the process? 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:31.839 Every prayer is a calculated risk, but God calls up to calls us to rise up to the occasion in faith. 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:44.799 And 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. 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:46.880 Hebrews 11, 6. 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:54.559 My mom and I prayed for my dad for about 10 years before we saw him come to Christ. 00:23:54.720 --> 00:24:08.400 And um that being said, I don't know if there's some, I don't believe there's a secret formula or some magical, I don't know, certain cookie-cutter method for answer prayers, but I know that God knows our heart and our intent. 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:16.240 My brothers and sisters, whatever you're going through right now, whatever you're currently facing, do not lose hope, do not despair. 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:21.119 God hears our deepest cries and he honors those who seek him earnestly. 00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:26.319 Let us continue asking him in faith and pray the impossible into reality. 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:27.440 Thank you. 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:35.200 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:39.839 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:42.079 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:48.160 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.