This is the manuscript of the sermon preached at Christ Church Los Angeles on July 20, 2025.
Scripture
Luke 18:1-8 NIV [1] Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. [2] He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. [3] And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ [4] “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, [5] yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ” [6] And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. [7] And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? [8] I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the aearth?”
Text
Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV) Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Sermon
As we've been saying all year, maintaining a strong foundation in faith and aligning our priorities with God's will is not a one-time event, but a continuous, lifelong process that requires regular self-reflection, an openness to God's guidance, and a consistent effort to nurture our relationship with Him. The lifeblood of this continuous process is prayer.
Our sermon text this morning, Matthew 7:7-8, gives us a powerful invitation and a profound promise: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
This isn't merely a recommendation; it's a divine mandate, a direct instruction from Jesus, promising God's ready response to our earnest seeking.
Think about any deep, meaningful relationship in your life. Whether it’s with a child, a parent, or a close friend, what is the cornerstone of that relationship? It’s communication, isn't it?
Consistent, honest, vulnerable, and heartfelt communication.
Without it, even the strongest bonds begin to come apart. Our relationship with God is no different. Prayer is our direct line to the Creator of the universe, our intimate conversation with the One who knows us better than we know ourselves, the One who loves us with an everlasting love.
Yet, how often do we treat prayer as an afterthought? A quick whisper when trouble comes, a hurried list of requests before bed, or perhaps just going through the motions. The truth is, prayer is infinitely more than just asking for things. It is a dynamic, transformative discipline that strengthens our faith, aligns our hearts with God's divine purpose, and allows us to experience His presence in ways that transcend human understanding.
That’s why when we say the Lord’s prayer together every Sunday we should not treat it as just something we do each week. We should treat it as a serious, active declaration of our faith, a direct conversation with God, and a reaffirmation of our commitment to His will.
Today, let’s explore three deep ways prayer strengthens our faith. 1 Prayer Deepens Our Trust in God, 2 Prayer Helps Us Align Our Will with God's Will, and 3 Prayer Cultivates a Deeper Intimacy with God
1. First Prayer Deepens Our Trust in God
The very act of prayer is an act of humility and dependence. When we pray, we are actively acknowledging that we are not self-sufficient. We are admitting our need for power, wisdom, and a love far greater than our own. This admission, this surrender, is the first step towards deeper trust.
Consider the anxieties of the world today: economic uncertainties, health concerns, racial and religious issues, relational struggles, global conflicts. Our natural inclination is to worry, to strategize, to try and control every outcome. But the Bible offers a different path.
Listen to the comforting words of one of my favorite and one of my go-to promises of God when I am in a tight place;
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
When we bring our anxieties, our fears, our deepest concerns before God in prayer, something miraculous happens. We lay down our burdens at the foot of the cross, and in return, we receive a peace that the world cannot give.
This isn't just a fleeting emotion; it's tangible evidence of God's faithfulness.
Unlike worldly peace, which often relies on the absence of problems or favorable conditions, this divine peace can exist in the midst of turmoil, hardship, loss, or anxiety. It's not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God's tranquility within it.
Our natural human minds often struggle to grasp how someone can be calm, hopeful, or even joyful when facing immense difficulties. This peace defies logical explanation or psychological reasoning. It's something that can only truly be understood by those who have experienced it.
This peace "will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." This implies that this peace acts as a shield, safeguarding our emotions and thoughts from being overwhelmed by worry, fear, and despair. It keeps our focus on God and His sovereignty, rather than on our problems.
This peace isn't something we can conjure up on our own. It's a gift that flows from a deep trust in God, prayer, and an active relationship with Him. When we surrender our anxieties to Him through prayer and thanksgiving, He promises to fill us with this peace.
Jesus himself spoke of a peace different from what the world offers.
John 14:27 NIV [27] Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
The peace that passes all understanding is often seen as a reflection of Jesus’ own perfect peace, which remained even in the face of all that He went through which culminated in His crucifixion and resurrection.
The bottom line is that this peace is a divine tranquility that comes from knowing God is in control, even when everything around us feels out of control.
Each time we pray and experience His peace, or see His provision, or witness His guidance, our trust in His sovereignty and His goodness grows. It's like building a spiritual muscle – the more you exercise it, the stronger it becomes.
Think of the countless times God has answered prayers in your life, perhaps in ways you didn't expect, or at times you thought all hope was lost. Each answered prayer, whether big or small, becomes a testimony to His active presence and care. It builds a track record of His faithfulness in our hearts, solidifying our confidence in Him.
As Hebrews 11:1 reminds us, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
Prayer is the vehicle through which we exercise and experience this confidence, turning unseen hope into tangible assurance.
2. Prayer Helps Us Align Our Will with God's Will
It is so easy for us, as human beings, to get caught up in our own desires, our own plans, our own timelines. We often come to God with a fixed agenda, expecting Him to rubber-stamp our wishes. Our prayers can sometimes sound more like demands than humble petitions.
Sometimes when people pray under stress or duress, they will attempt to make a bargain with God: “If you do this Lord, then I will do this.” Making promises to God in order to gain His favor isn't the thing to do. The blessings we receive are through God's grace, because He loves us, not because we talked Him into it by promising to do those things we should have done in the first place.
Genuine prayer is not about bending God's will to ours; it is about allowing Him to mold our will to His perfect, good, and pleasing plan.
And what did we say last week about God’s plan for us?
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
So what we need to do is just surrender to God’s plan for us.
This kind of prayer requires not just talking, but also listening. It requires quiet contemplation, a willingness to set aside our own preconceived notions, and an openness to God's guidance. As we spend time in His presence, seeking His perspective, our hearts begin to shift. Our desires begin to conform to His.
Romans 12:2 powerfully states: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Prayer and reading and studying the Bible are the primary means by which our minds are renewed and transformed.
Philippians 4:8 NIV [8] Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
It's in the quiet moments of communion that we gain clarity, discernment, and the wisdom to understand and embrace God's will for our lives. The more we seek His will in prayer, the clearer His path becomes for us, and our faith is strengthened by the confidence that we are walking in His divine purpose, even when that path is challenging.
Romans 8:28 NIV And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
3. Prayer Cultivates a Deeper Intimacy with God
Imagine trying to maintain a deep, meaningful relationship with someone you rarely speak to. It would quickly wither, wouldn't it? The same principle applies to our spiritual lives. Prayer is the lifeline of our relationship with God. It is in those consistent, intentional moments of communion that we truly get to know Him.
The prophet Jeremiah offers a beautiful promise in Jeremiah 29:12-13: "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
This isn't just a promise of being heard; it’s an invitation to intimacy. An invitation to draw near, to share our deepest thoughts, our hidden struggles, our most profound gratitude, and to hear His gentle whisper in return.
Through prayer, we move beyond simply knowing about God to truly knowing God. We begin to understand His character, His faithfulness, His boundless love, not just intellectually, but experientially.
Jesus said in John 15:7: "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."
The key here is "remaining in Him." Prayer is how we remain in Him, how His words remain in us, and how our desires become so intertwined with His that we can ask with confidence, knowing our prayers are aligned with His will. This intimacy, this sense of being truly known, loved, and connected to the living God, is the ultimate strengthener of our faith. It transforms our belief from a mere intellectual assent into a vibrant, dynamic, and life-giving relationship.
Conclusion
"Strengthening Faith Through Prayer" is not just a catchy sermon title; it is a deep truth and a practical necessity for every believer. Prayer is not a magic formula for instant solutions, nor is it a chore to be endured. It is the indispensable discipline for a robust, resilient, and enduring faith. It is how we continue to build that strong foundation, how we continuously align ourselves with God's will, and how we experience the profound joy and peace of His intimate presence.
So:
Make prayerpriority, not an option. Be honest and authentic. God already knows your heart. Come to Him as you are, with all your doubts, fears, and hopes.
Listen more than you speak. Create space for silence, for reflection, for sensing God's gentle guidance.
Be persistent. As our scripture reading from Matthew 7 reminds us, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Don’t give up. Keep knocking, keep seeking, keep asking.
Let us commit today, and every day, to strengthening our faith, one prayer at a time. Let us cultivate a deeper trust, a truer alignment, and a more profound intimacy with our Heavenly Father. When we do that we will discover the boundless strength and unwavering peace that only He can provide.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your incredible love and for the privilege of prayer. We're so grateful that You've given us a direct line to You, a way to deepen our faith and align our lives with Your perfect will.
Lord, we ask now that You would take the truths we've heard today and plant them deeply in our hearts. Help us to truly grasp the power that comes from consistent, heartfelt communication with You.
Holy Spirit, strengthen our resolve to make prayer a true priority, not just an obligation. Help us to be open to Your guidance, even when it challenges us, and to trust Your timing in all things. Remind us daily that You are always listening, always present, and always working for our good.
We pray all this in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.
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