Ask for the Impossible | Pastor Tim Notz

Devotional

Day 1: The Nature of Healing is Often a Process

Healing is not always an instantaneous event. The Greek word most often used for healing in the New Testament, iaomai, describes a progressive work. This means that when we pray for healing, we can have confidence that God is at work even when we do not see immediate, dramatic results. We can trust that His restorative power is actively moving in a situation, bringing wholeness over time. Our faith is in His ongoing process, not just a single moment. [00:43]

And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
(James 5:15, ESV)

Reflection: Where in your life, or in the life of someone you are praying for, have you been expecting an instantaneous miracle and perhaps missed the signs of God's progressive healing at work?

Day 2: Faith is Rooted in a Growing Relationship with God

Authentic faith is not a transactional formula but is born from a committed, growing relationship with God. It is out of this intimate connection that our understanding of His heart and His will deepens. As we draw near to Him through prayer, worship, and His Word, our desires begin to align with His purposes. This relationship is the fertile soil where genuine, mountain-moving faith takes root and flourishes. [04:42]

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
(James 4:8a, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take this week to intentionally draw closer to God and deepen your relationship with Him?

Day 3: We Must Ask in Faith for the Impossible

A vital component of faith is the act of asking. We are encouraged to bring our needs and even our impossible situations boldly before God. This requires audacious faith that believes God can do what seems unimaginable. Asking is an active step of trust, declaring that we rely not on our own resources or understanding, but on His limitless power and goodness to intervene in our circumstances. [08:55]

You do not have, because you do not ask.
(James 4:2b, ESV)

Reflection: What is one "impossible" situation you have been hesitant to bring to God in prayer, and what would it look like to ask Him for it today in faith?

Day 4: We Ask in the Authority of Jesus’ Name

Praying in the name of Jesus is far more than a closing phrase; it is an exercise of His divine authority. When we pray in His name, we are appealing to all that He is and all the power He possesses. This authority triumphs over every sickness, broken relationship, and desperate need. Our confidence is not in our own ability but in the supreme power and victory of the name above all names. [11:17]

And whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
(John 14:13, ESV)

Reflection: How might your prayers change if you truly believed you were operating with the full authority of Jesus Christ behind every request?

Day 5: Stepping Out in Faith Requires Letting Go of Control

Genuine faith often demands that we step out of our comfort zone and into the unknown, much like Peter stepping out of the boat onto the water. This step requires relinquishing our need for control and perfect circumstances. We must choose to believe God's promise over what our physical senses tell us. The miracle often meets us in the midst of the storm, not after it has calmed. [46:02]

For we walk by faith, not by sight.
(2 Corinthians 5:7, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where God is inviting you to step out in faith, and what does it look like to release control of the outcome to Him?

Sermon Summary

Healing is presented as both miraculous and progressive: a word used often by Jesus that can signal instantaneous restoration or a gradual work of God. The Trinity indwells believers—Father, Son, and Spirit—so faith is born and matures within a committed, growing relationship with God. Knowing God's will reshapes desires so petitions align with heaven's priorities; when the believer’s will converges with God's, asking becomes more than wishful thinking and prayer becomes a conduit for God’s glory. Asking is essential—many receive nothing because they never ask—and asking "in the name of Jesus" invokes His authority, not merely a formula of words.

Several biblical stories illustrate these truths. Hannah's desperation models faithful persistence that births destiny. The feeding of the 5,000 shows that God is primed to multiply small resources when people step forward in faith instead of calculating limitations. Peter walking on the water demonstrates that audacious obedience in the midst of storms activates the miraculous; timing will rarely be comfortable, and faith often asks believers to step while the storm still rages. Faith is defined practically from Hebrews and the Gospels: assurance of things hoped for, conviction of things not seen—faith moves beyond the evidence of the five senses and trusts God's unseen activity.

Practical disciplines undergird supernatural living: daily time with God, small consistent steps in prayer and Scripture, and the spiritual practice of praying in tongues for personal edification. Giving and stewardship are framed as acts of trust that release God’s multiplication; faithful sowing produces surplus and ongoing testimony. The preacher calls for a posture of dependence rather than control—faith or control cannot coexist—so believers are invited to step, to ask big, and to give God the glory when breakthroughs come. Finally, the call to salvation is shepherded plainly: repentance, faith in Christ’s atoning blood, and making Jesus Lord. The invitation is urgent and gracious—eternal life with God is presented as the ultimate change, made available by grace through faith.

Key Takeaways

1. Committed, growing relationship with God A living faith issues from intimacy with the Trinity; knowing God personally reorders motives and clarifies what should be asked for. Relationship primes revelation—what matters to Him begins to matter to the believer—and the Spirit discloses God’s priorities so prayer becomes obedient petition rather than selfish demand. Intimacy with God is the soil where durable conviction and mature requests grow. [04:17]
2. Know and align with God's will Faith without discernment risks misdirected desire; true asking presumes knowledge of God’s will and a willingness for that will to reshape the petitioner. As God’s will becomes one’s own through prayer, Scripture, and worship, requests are no longer merely personal demands but instruments for God’s glory. Alignment protects the heart from wrong motives and opens the door to partnership with heaven. [06:17]
3. Ask audaciously in Jesus' name Invoking Jesus’ name is invoking His authority—prayer is not a magic chant but a declaration of Christ’s lordship over sickness, lack, and circumstance. Bold requests honor God by aiming for the miraculous, not the merely possible, because God delights to display His glory through the impossible. Asking audaciously shifts the burden from human ability to divine authority. [10:55]
4. Walk by faith, not sight Faith is assurance and conviction about realities unseen; it is an active posture that moves before evidence arrives. To live by faith means to act in obedience during storms, trusting God’s prior and present activity rather than depending on circumstances or resources. That posture unlocks supernatural outcomes and preserves God’s glory. [35:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:21] - Greek word for healing explained
[00:43] - Healing: miracle and progression
[02:40] - John 14: The promise to ask
[04:17] - Committed relationship with God
[06:17] - Knowing and aligning with God's will
[08:55] - The necessity of asking
[10:55] - Authority: ask in Jesus' name
[14:02] - Ask for the impossible (theme)
[17:56] - Feeding the 5,000: faith + multiplication
[31:29] - Faith defined (Hebrews 11)
[41:52] - Peter walks on water: audacious obedience
[59:54] - Salvation invitation: grace through faith

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
John 14:13-14 (ESV) - Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV) - for we walk by faith, not by sight.

Observation questions

What four key elements for effective prayer and faith does the speaker draw from John 14:13-14? [04:17]
According to the definition in Hebrews 11:1, what are the two components of faith?
In the story of the feeding of the 5,000, what were the two different responses from the disciples when faced with an impossible situation? [19:56] [21:14]
What did Peter ask Jesus to do before he was willing to step out of the boat in the middle of the storm? [46:23]

Interpretation questions

Why is a committed, growing relationship with God the necessary foundation for prayers offered "in Jesus' name," rather than just saying the words? [05:16]
The feeding of the 5,000 shows that God's will was already in place to perform a miracle ([19:04]). How does knowing God's will ahead of time change our perspective when we face a situation that seems "too big" or where we feel we have "not enough"?
Peter stepped out of the boat while the storm was still raging. Why do you think God often calls us to act in faith before the circumstances have calmed down or become comfortable? [49:00]
The statement was made that "you can have faith or you can have control, but you can't have both" [57:43]. Why are these two concepts mutually exclusive in the life of a believer?

Application questions

A committed, growing relationship with God is the soil where faith matures. What does a daily time with God look like for you right now? What is one small, consistent step you could take this week to draw closer to Him through prayer, Scripture, or worship? [36:26]
Knowing and aligning with God's will reshapes our desires and prayers. Is there an area in your life where what you want and what you believe God wants might be out of alignment? How can you actively seek to know His will more clearly in that situation? [06:17]
We are called to ask audaciously in Jesus' name, which invokes His authority. What is one "impossible" thing you feel prompted to ask God for this week, not as a wish, but as a declaration of faith in His authority over the situation? [14:02]
Walking by faith and not by sight means acting before evidence arrives. What is one practical step of obedience God is asking you to take this week, even though your five senses or current circumstances might be telling you it's not the right time? [35:20]
Giving is framed as an act of trust that releases God’s multiplication. Is there an area where God is challenging you to sow a resource—whether finances, time, or a talent—as a step of faith, trusting Him to multiply it for His purposes? [29:24]
The story of Peter shows that faith often requires stepping out while the storm is still raging. What is the "storm" in your life right now that you are waiting to calm down before you feel you can step out in faith? What would it look like to trust God's command to "come" even in the midst of it? [45:22]
Faith and control cannot coexist. Where in your life are you still trying to maintain control? What would it look like to consciously yield that area to God and adopt a posture of dependence this week? [57:43]

Sermon Clips

The authority that you have is just like a police officer, that I've said this before, that can stand out in the middle of the road and put his hand up and cars will stop. Why is that? Because well, it could be because there's a guy standing in the middle road. Yes. But but but it's because he has a badge on. That badge represents the government's the law backing him up. So now when you pray for somebody as a believer in Jesus, you're you're just like that police officer. You wear a badge, and and you you you you come in the name of the law. You come in the name of Jesus Christ. So it's not you that heals, but it's the power. It's the authority of the name of Jesus when you pray. [00:12:04] (40 seconds) #PrayWithAuthority

When you get close to Jesus through prayer, through worship, through just just coming and and just honoring him, whether you're singing or just just on your knees just going, god, you're worthy. God, you're holy. Thank you for my salvation. Thank you for what you're doing in our church. You know, you just begin to praise his name. All of these things together begin to build your relationship with God. And when you have a relationship with somebody, guess what? They should have a relationship with you. There's no no one-sided thing here. Bible's very clear. When we draw close to God, he draws close to us. [00:07:25] (31 seconds) #DrawNearToJesus

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What distinguishes progressive healing from instantaneous miracles?

How does relationship with God shape effective prayer?

How do we discern God's will for requests?

Ask for the Impossible | Pastor Tim Notz | 2/8/2026