Audacity in Faith: Embracing Worship and Action

Today, we gathered in the presence of God, lifting up worship and praise, not just as a ritual, but as a vital act that opens the door for God to move among us. Worship is not passive; it is the atmosphere where miracles happen, where the Spirit is poured out, and where lives are changed—even for those watching from afar. We celebrated testimonies of God’s power, like Brennan receiving the Holy Ghost at home, reminding us that God is not limited by location or circumstance.

We reflected on the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19, a man who, after a great victory, found himself running in fear, isolated, and overwhelmed. Yet, even in his lowest moment, God met him—not in the dramatic wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a still, small voice. This encounter was a call to move beyond despair and to have the audacity to try again, to take bold risks in faith, hope, and obedience.

The willingness to take a bold risk—audacity—is essential in our walk with God. Whether we are naturally cautious or adventurous, God calls each of us to step out, to refuse to sit in defeat, and to seek after Him. Like the lepers who asked, “Why sit we here until we die?” we are challenged to rise up, to move, and to believe that God can do the impossible when we act in faith.

Faith is not just a feeling; it is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Even a mustard seed of faith can move mountains. But faith must be coupled with hope—the expectation that God will act, even when we don’t understand His timing or methods. Sometimes, God’s answer is not what we expect, but our hope must remain anchored in His goodness and power.

Prayer is the engine of revival. The stories of elders who wore holes in their knees from prayer remind us that persistent, audacious prayer brings breakthrough and revival. We are called to rebuild the altar, to return to prayer, and to reach for the lost with renewed passion. Every believer is commissioned to reach others, not just preachers or leaders. God’s Spirit in us compels us to reach, to teach, to invite, and to love.

No matter how far we’ve wandered, God never stops reaching for us. The audacity to try again, to come back, to believe, to hope, and to trust—this is what positions us for God’s miraculous work. Let us have the courage to seek Him, to believe for revival, and to reach for souls, knowing that God is not finished with us yet.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Worship Creates an Atmosphere for Miracles Worship is not just a prelude to the main event; it is the environment where God’s presence is made manifest and where miracles can happen. When we engage in heartfelt worship, we open ourselves and others to the touch of God, whether in the sanctuary or at home. Our praise is a conduit for God’s Spirit to move, heal, and fill. Never underestimate the power of your worship to change lives—even those you cannot see. [01:42]
• 2. The Audacity to Try: Refusing to Remain Stagnant God calls us to have the audacity to try, to take bold steps of faith even when circumstances seem hopeless. Like the lepers who refused to sit and die, we must resist the temptation to wallow in defeat or complacency. Taking a risk for God, even when the outcome is uncertain, is often the very thing that triggers His miraculous intervention. The willingness to move, to act, and to try again is a mark of spiritual courage. [15:36]
• 3. Faith and Hope: Anchors in Uncertainty Faith is the foundation that pleases God, and hope is the expectation that He will act on our behalf. Even when we don’t understand why God answers some prayers and not others, we are called to maintain hope and continue believing. The smallest measure of faith, like a mustard seed, can move mountains, but it must be nurtured by hope that God is still working, still calling, and still able to redeem and restore. [23:10]
• 4. Persistent Prayer Fuels Revival Revival is birthed and sustained through persistent, audacious prayer. The stories of elders who wore out their knees in prayer are a testament to the power of intercession. Rebuilding the altar—returning to deep, consistent prayer—prepares the ground for God to move in our lives, our families, and our communities. If we will pray, God will answer, and revival will come. [31:16]
• 5. Reaching the Lost is Every Believer’s Mandate The call to reach the lost is not reserved for a select few; it is the responsibility and privilege of every child of God. Whether through teaching, friendship, or simple invitation, each of us is equipped by the Spirit to make a difference in someone’s eternity. We may not know the impact of our reach—today’s invitation could lead to tomorrow’s missionary or faithful saint. The audacity to reach, to invite, and to love is at the heart of God’s mission. [39:49]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:42] - The Power of Worship
• [02:31] - Church Growth and Vision
• [03:54] - Upcoming Revivals and Events
• [11:28] - The Audacity to Try: Defining Bold Faith
• [12:12] - Personal Stories of Risk and Caution
• [14:05] - Spiritual Application: Taking Risks for God
• [15:36] - The Lepers’ Decision: Why Sit Here Until We Die?
• [17:10] - Overcoming Excuses with Audacity
• [19:43] - The Universal Hunger for God
• [23:10] - The Audacity to Believe: Faith and Hope
• [31:16] - The Power of Persistent Prayer
• [36:02] - Reaching the Lost: Testimonies and Burden
• [39:49] - Every Believer’s Call to Reach
• [41:57] - Divine Appointments and Everyday Evangelism
• [43:31] - God’s Relentless Pursuit of the Backslider
• [45:44] - The Audacity to Return and Trust
• [48:59] - God’s Sustaining Provision and Final Challenge

Bible Reading

1 Kings 19:1-18 (ESV) — > Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Hebrews 11:1,6 (ESV) — > Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen... And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

2 Kings 7:3-8 (ESV) — > Now there were four men who were lepers at the entrance to the gate. And they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? If we say, ‘Let us enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die.” So they arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. But when they came to the edge of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no one there. For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians hear the sound of chariots and of horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to come against us.” So they fled away in the twilight and abandoned their tents, their horses, and their donkeys, leaving the camp as it was, and fled for their lives. And when these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent and ate and drank, and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and went and hid them.

Observation Questions

1. In 1 Kings 19, how did God choose to speak to Elijah after his time of fear and discouragement? What was significant about the way God communicated?
2. According to the story of the four lepers in 2 Kings 7, what question did they ask themselves, and what action did it lead them to take?
3. The sermon described worship as more than a ritual. What are some specific things that can happen when people truly worship, according to the pastor’s examples? [[01:42]]
4. What does Hebrews 11:1 say about the relationship between faith and hope?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God chose to speak to Elijah in a “still, small voice” instead of through dramatic signs like wind, earthquake, or fire? What does this say about how God often meets us in our lowest moments? [[19:43]]
2. The lepers in 2 Kings 7 decided not to remain where they were. What does their decision teach us about taking risks in faith, especially when circumstances seem hopeless? [[15:36]]
3. The pastor said, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” How does this definition challenge the idea that faith is just a feeling or wishful thinking? [[23:10]]
4. The sermon emphasized that persistent prayer is the “engine of revival.” Why might consistent, audacious prayer be necessary for breakthrough, both personally and in the church? [[31:16]]

Application Questions

1. The pastor shared that worship creates an atmosphere for miracles, even for those watching from home. How can you make your personal or family worship more intentional this week, whether at church or at home? [[01:42]]
2. Think about a situation in your life where you have felt stuck or defeated. What would it look like for you to have the “audacity to try” again, as the lepers did? Is there a specific step of faith you feel God is prompting you to take? [[15:36]]
3. The sermon talked about faith and hope working together. Is there an area where you have faith but have lost hope, or vice versa? What would it look like to nurture both in that area? [[23:10]]
4. The pastor described elders who “wore holes in their knees” from prayer. What is one practical way you can rebuild your own “altar” of prayer this week? Is there a specific time or place you can commit to pray persistently? [[31:16]]
5. Reaching the lost was described as every believer’s responsibility, not just the pastor’s. Who is one person in your life you can reach out to, invite, or show God’s love to this week? What is one step you can take to do that? [[39:49]]
6. The sermon reminded us that God never stops reaching for us, no matter how far we’ve wandered. If you have felt distant from God, what would it look like to have the audacity to return and trust Him again? [[45:44]]
7. The pastor shared a story about a divine appointment at the laundromat. Are you open to God using everyday moments for spiritual conversations? Can you think of a recent “divine appointment” or a place where you might be more attentive to God’s leading? [[41:57]]