Ask and Ask Again

As we step into a new year, it is easy to focus on resolutions, fresh starts, and personal goals. But this message reminds us that a truly meaningful year begins when our focus shifts outward. The heart of a Christian life is not just personal growth, but faithful intercession. The simple yet powerful invitation is this: ask God for one name and carry that person to Him in prayer.

Emmanuel Changes the Question
Throughout Scripture, we are reminded that Emmanuel means God with us. The question is no longer whether God is present, but what we do now that He is. Jesus connects this promise directly to the Great Commission, assuring us that as we go and make disciples, He will be with us always. This truth shapes the mission of the church and fuels our calling to love, reach, and equip others.

The Power of Persistent Prayer
Genesis 18 shows us the first recorded intercession. Abraham boldly asks God to spare a broken city, and each time he asks, God responds with mercy. God never says no. Abraham simply stops asking. This moment challenges us to believe that prayer changes lives, even when the outcome is not immediate. God never wastes intercession, and He sees redemption where we may only see brokenness.
The story reminds us that some of the most powerful transformations in Scripture came generations later. From one of the darkest family lines came Ruth, whose faith placed her in the lineage of Jesus. This is why we keep praying. This is why we ask and ask again.

One Name Can Change Everything
Many of us are here today because someone once carried our name to Jesus. Someone prayed when we could not. Someone believed when we were far from God. The call is simple and deeply personal. Ask God for one name. Write it down. Pray faithfully. Not with pressure or performance, but with love, hope, and trust in what God can do.
This kind of prayer reshapes our year. It shifts our focus from self to mission. It turns routines into purpose and faith into action. It is how the Christian faith moves beyond attendance and becomes transformation.

Living This Out Together
You do not have to carry this alone. Community matters. Small groups, serving teams, and prayer partners are places where faith is strengthened and perseverance grows. When we walk together, we learn to hold tight, carry on, and keep believing for the people God has placed on our hearts.

As a church in Orlando, we believe God is still writing stories of redemption. This year is about praying deeper, trusting longer, and believing that God can save, restore, and heal through faithful intercession.

So ask God for one name. Carry it with courage. And do not stop asking.

PASTOR BRIAN'S SERMON NOTES
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