Audacious Faith
Audacious Faith • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Today we are starting a series called Audacious Faith. Audacious Faith is the theme for 2024 for our AG churches here in Hawaii. The dictionary defines audacious as extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave; fearless; extremely original; without restriction to prior ideas; highly inventive; recklessly bold in defiance of convention or the like; lively; unrestrained; or uninhibited. Merriam-Webster’s definition of audacious includes intrepidly daring, adventurous, recklessly bold, and marked by originality and verve (the spirit and enthusiasm animating artistic composition or performance; vivacity, energy, or vitality). Wow the word audacious is a strong word. So we are looking today at what the Bible says.
5 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; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 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.
9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Audacious People Don’t Give Up!
Audacious People Don’t Give Up!
Jesus taught His disciples that GOD WILL ANSWER THE PRAYERS OF BOLD, FEARLESS, DARING, DESPERATE, AND SHAMELESS PEOPLE WHO TRUST IN HIM. He taught that a key ingredient to prayer being answered is “shameless audacity”
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
Audacious Faith Believes the Impossible!
Audacious Faith Believes the Impossible!
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Audacious Faith Believes Now!
Audacious Faith Believes Now!
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Audacious Faith
Doesn’t Only Believe What Was Said But Believes In Who Said It!
Audacious Faith
Doesn’t Only Believe What Was Said But Believes In Who Said It!
All of the heroes of faith listed in this eleventh chapter of Hebrews believed not just what was said but more than that believed in God Who said it. Look at this list:
*By faith Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying because God took him.
*By faith Noah warned about things to come and built an ark to save his family.
*By faith Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children.
* By faith Abraham, when tested by God, offered Isaac as a sacrifice, believing that God could raise Isaac from the dead.
* By faith Moses’ parents hid him after he was born, and they did not fear the Pharaoh’s edict.
* By faith Moses kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
* By faith the Israelites passed through the Red Sea on dry land, while the Egyptians drowned.
* By faith the Israelites marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.
* By faith Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.
* By faith women received their loved ones back from death. Others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free; they placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.
* By faith some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing the skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated; by faith they were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
Audacious Faith Believes God’s Word and Character are Incontestable!
Audacious Faith Believes God’s Word and Character are Incontestable!
It does not know fear, moves in courage, and endures with unchanging confidence in God. It is not discouraged but grows stronger when challenged and under siege by demonic attacks. It does not give up but presses forward in hope when there seems to be no hope. Audacious faith will always see the end that God intends! It’s time the Church moves with Audacious Faith