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Empowered by Faith in Jesus
- Adam Watson
- Aug 25
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 26
Stepping Into the Unknown Again
London is a city like no other. On any given day you can hear dozens of languages on the Tube, eat food from every continent, and find yourself shoulder to shoulder with people from every nation. It is diverse, global, and deeply spiritual — yet often searching in all the wrong places.
So how does the church live faithfully to Jesus in a city like this?
The past two years have been marked by steps of faith, risk, sacrifice, and yes, suffering. But like Paul in Romans 8:18, I can say with confidence: “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” The journey has been worth it because Jesus is worth it. And in all of this, one truth has carried me forward: we walk not by sight, but by faith.
Hebrews 11:1 reminds us: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is not wishful thinking. It is confidence in the promises of God, even when we don’t see them yet. And that kind of faith is sustained through prayer — daily dependence on the One who writes our story.
At Story Church, we’re convinced God has called us to three things:
Empowered by the Spirit for London
Jesus promised in Acts 1:1–8 (ESV):
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The disciples stepped into the Great Commission with both certainty and uncertainty.
Here’s what they knew:
They knew Jesus was alive — risen from the dead.
They knew the Father had promised the Holy Spirit.
They knew they were chosen and sent by Jesus.
They knew they were called to be His witnesses.
But there was much they did not know:
They did not know how or when God would expand His kingdom.
They did not know the cost they would face as witnesses.
They did not know where exactly the Spirit would lead them.
They did not know how the gospel would reach every tribe, tongue, and nation.
What they did know was enough — because they knew Jesus, and they knew the Spirit would empower them. And that was all they needed to step forward in faith.
Like the disciples, we too are called to be witnesses — in our Jerusalem (Paddington), in our Judea (Central London), in our Samaria (United Kingdom), and to the ends of the earth (All Nations). And just like them, we must walk by faith, trusting the Spirit to go before us.
In Acts 2:42, the early believers devoted themselves to Scripture, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. Church was not an event but a way of life together. That is our heart for Story Church: to form gospel-centered communities embedded across London. Communities where discipleship happens in the everyday, where neighbors see and experience the love of Jesus not only in words but in action.
A Church that Multiplies Disciples
Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2: “What you have heard from me… entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others also.” That is multiplication, not just addition. In a post-Christian city, programs will not reach people — disciples will. Multiplication is slow, often unseen, and requires faith. But as we pray and invest in others, we trust God to bring growth.
What We Do Know
We don’t know every detail of the journey ahead. We don’t know how every prayer will be answered. We don’t know every challenge we’ll face in London. But here is what we do know:
Jesus is alive, risen, and reigning as King.
The Spirit fills us, empowers us, and goes before us.
The Father loves us and desires that none should perish.
Jesus hears our prayers, even when words fail us.
God is building His church, and the gates of hell will not prevail.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Our labor in the Lord is never in vain.
And we know, because He knows us — He calls us by name, and we are His.
So what do we do with what we know? We take the next step — by faith in Christ.
Our faith is not in ourselves, not in our strategies, not even in our ability to hold it together. Our faith is in Christ Jesus.
By faith in Jesus, the Spirit empowers us.By faith in Jesus, communities are formed.By faith in Jesus, disciples multiply.By faith in Jesus, the nations in London will hear the gospel.
It is who we know that is most important. It is who we proclaim. His name is Jesus.
Let’s rise in prayer, let’s rise in faith — not because we see it all clearly, but because we know the One who does.
By faith in Jesus, let’s step into the story He is writing.
A Challenge to Us All
Many of us have already taken steps of faith — leaving behind comfort, saying yes to God when it cost us something, trusting Him in the unknown. But the call of Jesus is not a one-time leap. It is a daily walk. And so tonight, the challenge is this:
Will you take the next step of faith again?
For some, that next step may be sharing your faith with a neighbor. For others, it may be starting a missional community, committing to prayer, or even surrendering an area of life you’ve been holding back from God. For some, it might mean saying “yes” to Jesus for the very first time.
And if you are reading this right now, it is not by accident. God may be inviting you to take your next step into the unknown by faith in Him. You may not know what tomorrow holds — but you can trust the One who holds tomorrow.
Whatever it looks like, the invitation is the same: step into the unknown, not with fear, but with faith in Christ.
Because our faith is not in what we see, not in what we can control — our faith is in Christ Jesus, the One who knows, the One who goes before us, and the One who will never fail.
So, Story Church — and you, if you are reading this — choose faith again. Choose faith in Jesus.
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