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Welcome to Season 11! We're kicking things off by diving into Hebrews 11—what many call the "faith chapter." Throughout this chapter, we see repeated examples of Old Testament figures who demonstrated extraordinary faith, and their stories challenge us to examine our own walk with God.

In This Episode, Pastor Don Explores:

What Faith Really Means
Faith isn't just wishful thinking—it's being "sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Pastor Don unpacks how faith operates in the unseen realm, distinguishing between believing in someone you can see versus believing in God whom you cannot physically point to. Interestingly, even atheists operate by faith—they believe God doesn't exist without being able to prove it.

Faith Requires Hearing
Drawing from Romans 10:14-17, we discover that faith comes through hearing the message of Christ. You can't have faith in someone you've never heard about. Pastor Don emphasizes that faith doesn't require understanding everything—we may never fully comprehend the Trinity or God's eternal nature, but we can still believe.

Two Kinds of Faith
Using James 2, we examine the critical difference between:

• Dead faith—intellectual belief that doesn't change how we live
• Saving faith—belief that produces action and transforms our lives

Genuine faith demands action. As the poem reminds us: "The faith of the head is the faith that is dead; the faith of the heart is better in part. But the faith of the hand is the faith that will stand."

Living by Faith, Not by Sight
Pastor Don shares the powerful illustration of the African impala—a creature capable of jumping over 10 feet high but kept confined by a 3-foot wall because it won't jump where it can't see its feet will fall. How often do we stay trapped because we can't see what's on the other side? Faith means trusting God in advance for what will only make sense in reverse.

Key Takeaways:

• Faith believes in what we cannot see
• Faith comes through hearing God's Word
• Faith must be accompanied by action to be genuine
• Faith frees us from fear and enables us to step into God's plans

Pastor Don closes with Ruth Morgan's beautiful poem about walking by faith, not sight—reminding us that even in our darkest moments, God is guiding our steps.

"Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible." — Martin Luther

Join us next week for Part Two of "It Takes Faith" as we continue exploring the heroes of Hebrews 11!

📖 Key Scriptures: Hebrews 11:1-3, Romans 10:14-17, James 2:14-19, 2 Corinthians 5:7

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We've reached the final gear of our Full Throttle series—Sixth Gear: All Access! And today we're talking about the incredible truth that through Jesus, we have full, unrestricted access to the presence of God.

Too many Christians live like outsiders. We linger in the courtyards, hang out in the neighborhood of God, maybe sit on the front porch—but we never actually enter His presence. Jesus didn't die so we could live in the neighborhood. He was beaten, bruised, and crucified so we could have ALL ACCESS to the Father!

Under the Old Covenant, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies once a year with blood to offer sacrifice for sins. But when Jesus died on the cross and cried, "It is finished," the veil in the temple ripped from top to bottom—signifying that every believer now has direct access to God's presence. No more barriers. No more separation. All Access!

Hebrews 10:19 says, "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus..." We don't approach God like trembling worms begging for scraps. We come with confidence! The blood of Jesus is so powerful that past, present, and future sins are already paid for. When you confess your sin, God remembers it no more (1 John 1:9). He doesn't know what you did!

All Access means:

• We enter without hesitation through the blood of Christ's salvation. No need for documentation—it's our habitation. We have the authentication because we're a blood relation.
• We worship without reservation because we have His affirmation. The Bible is God's love letter to us. If we can celebrate men in tights carrying a ball across a line, we can certainly celebrate the Most High God who saved our souls! Worship is a time to celebrate, to surrender, to demonstrate our love, and to give.
• We receive without limitation our rightful allocation. Everything the Father has is ours. Philippians 4:19 says God will meet all our needs according to His riches in glory. We don't approach with "if it be Thy will" timidity. My kids come to my house and eat my food without asking—because they're sons and daughters, and all I have is theirs!

The Story of the Sinful Woman (Luke 7):

A woman known as a prostitute came to Jesus while He was eating with Pharisees. She brought an alabaster jar of expensive perfume—worth a year's wages—and poured it on His feet, weeping, wiping them with her hair. The very thing that defined her life, the tool of her trade, she gave to Jesus. She risked her life to come to Him because she knew He wouldn't reject her.

Somewhere, somehow, she had encountered Jesus before—maybe when He said to the woman caught in adultery, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." She knew that no matter where she'd been or what she'd done, if she came to Jesus, He would accept her, embrace her, love her, and forgive her.

I don't know what you're facing, but bring it to Jesus. That habit, that thing you don't want to do—bring it to Him and say, "Jesus, I don't want this to interfere between You and me anymore."

ALL ACCESS: We enter without hesitation through the blood of Christ's salvation. No need for documentation—it's our habitation. We have the authentication because we're a blood relation. Don't need a qualification—made holy by His beautification.

Run to the presence of God! Don't shy away. When you're tempted, run to the One who beat temptation. Jesus was tempted in every way, yet He overcame. He empowers you to say "no" too! Come fearlessly, confidently, and boldly to the throne of grace. Rest in the Father's arms. Abide under His wings.

You have All Access. Go FULL THROTTLE into His presence!

Key Scriptures: Hebrews 10:11-22; Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 4:16 (AMP); Luke 7:36-38; Romans 8:16-17; James 4:8; Matthew 11:28-30; Philippians 4:19; 1 John 1:9

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We're staying in Fifth Gear and pushing deeper into the No Limits life! Today we're looking at three more keys to living with no boundaries, no ceilings, and no retreat.

3. Vision is ignited through prayer and God's Word.

How do you get a vision? You get in the Word! Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). As you feed on Scripture, it fills your heart with faith to take action. But prayer is where you see it before it happens. In prayer, God births the vision in your heart. Jonathan had to see himself climbing that cliff and defeating the Philistines before he ever took one step. He saw it in his spirit, and that vision gave him the courage to act.

If you can see it in faith, you can take hold of it in reality.

4. We take bold, daring steps of faith.

Once God births the vision, you have to move. Jonathan heard the Philistines say, "Come up to us!" and he climbed. David stood before Goliath and declared, "This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands... and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel" (1 Samuel 17:46). He was bold! He spoke to the giant.

Some of you need to start speaking to the giants in your life! Declare God's Word over your situation: "I will live and not die. I am an overcomer. I will not be defeated. I will win!"

God's will is not an insurance plan—it's a daring plan. I would rather fall on my face trying to do something big for God than sit on my butt doing nothing. The path of least resistance makes rivers and people crooked. Goals are dreams with targets on them. Put a bullseye on your dreams and go after them!

Stop looking for excuses. Start looking for opportunities. Why not give God a chance? Why not go up and take the land?

5. We charge at what we fear the most!

1 Samuel 17:48 says, "As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him." He ran at his giant! Peter got out of the boat. Jonathan climbed the cliff. David ran at Goliath.

What's the thing you fear most? Run at it!

If you take this path, it's going to be lonely. Most people are content to sit in the shade with King Saul. When you decide to live a No Limits lifestyle, people will call you crazy. I'd rather they call me crazy than call me normal! If you fear man, you'll offend God. If you fear God, you'll offend man. Choose this day whom you will serve!

What do you need to yell "CHARGE!" at?

• Your marriage? Attack your marriage and say, "I'm going to make this better!"
• Your job? Go above and beyond.
• Your future? Run at it!
• Your fear? Charge at it!

We serve a God with NO LIMITS. Let's live like we are His offspring!

Key Scriptures: 1 Samuel 17:45-48; Romans 10:17; 1 Samuel 14:6-15; Matthew 14:29

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