Risk - has simple definition . . .
Exposure to possible loss, injury or danger . . . Risk is all about stretching outside our usual limits to reach a goal . . .
For three weeks I've been telling this story from I Samuel 14. Amazing story about choices and initiative and influence and risk . . . Let me tell you the story once more . . .
This story has a high level of Risk, listen to how Jonathan describes to his armour bearer what they would do . . . "come, then . . . we will cross over toward the men and let them see us . . ." Now - I've never been in the army . . . (I wasn't' even a boy scout) but . . . that strategy doesn't sound really to well thought through . . . lets just let them see us . . not - lets wear camouflage or lets sneak up to them in the dark . . or lets move in quietly - no - lets just let them see us. . . why would he do that?
Well - I think it's because - Jonathan knew that this battle wasn't gonna rely on human strength or military strategy ®He know it was God's battle . . so . . . - What he did was - he put his life in such a place where God had to come through for him or his life and the moment of greatness would be lost . . . Jonathan didn't see the risk as an opportunity for himself (personally) to succeed, with a little bit of God's help . . . he saw the risk as an opportunity for God to bring the victory . . . 100% of it . . . and so it says . . . "both of them showed themselves to the philistine outpost." and in that moment they passed from invisible to visible - but they also passed from just talking about their faith . . . to walking it . . . and from simply talking about what it might be like if God were to act powerfully on their behalf . . . to really experiencing the power of God lived out in an incredible adventure . . . and the final piece of the puzzle . . .the thing that made it go - the ignition - the starter was risk.
Jonathan took a great risk - by becoming visible . . . but as he did so . . God (who had been invisible and his power unseen) . . . in that moment - God became visible as well and his power seen . . .
Risking visibility - is all about stepping up - and stepping out and making your life count . . . for good and for God . . . Now this is great stuff to preach about . . .
Sounds great but it's hard to do . . . because life seems to call us in another direction . . . life seems to call us to a place of invisibility . . . of making sure we're not seen and if we're honest, we want to remain in that anonymous place . . .and if we're honest we choose to remain safe and uninvolved . . . especially in North America during these days - we have the ability and the means and money to cocoon into our private - indifferent isolated spaces (gated communities). . . and the voice that calls us to life and faith and risk and adventure . . . the voice that calls us to destiny and to be a difference maker - that voice gets dimmer and dimmer and dimmer . . . the more isolated and invisible we get . . Folks - God is asking the question . . . who will go - who will become visible on my behalf? . . . and He's calling desperately for someone to move from the back of the crowd to the fore front . . . from invisible to visible . .
1. Choosing our Colors
On the farm my mom and dad had some bird feeders . . . not little ones - really big ones - where dozens and dozens of birds could come and eat. (Dad would buy bird feed in 50 lb bags - big feeders) and these feeders sat right on the back porch, right in front of a whole wall of windows . . . so you could sit and drink coffee and watch these birds - pretty cool . . .
Anyway - the thing that struck me funny was the difference in the colors of birds . . . not in the different kinds of birds but the difference in colors in the same species between male and female . . .
The males were bright - reds - yellows - blues - vibrant - beautiful - strong - visible. The females - were all kinda dull brown and beige . . .
Now there are reasons for this . . . The male is colored up to be visible to intimidate predators . . . and to attract females . . . they're supposed to be highly visible - the females are colored for camouflage . . . they're colored to blend in so she doesn't attract any danger to her nest and young ones . . .
As human beings - it seems God has allowed us the ability to choose our colors.
We can choose to become invisible - to blend in - to be normal - predictable - and safe . . . and color ourselves that way to avoid any potential danger in life . . . or we can choose to take on colors . . . becoming more attractive to those around us . . . and causing any enemies that might stand in our way - to have a few second thoughts . . .
Today I'm here to challenge you to step out and show your colors . . . to allow yourself to be visible - so God can become visible through you . . .
McManus puts it like this . . . "The most important decisions of our lives will require us to forsake invisibility and risk becoming visible"
The summer of 1995 was a summer of stepping out for me . . . for 7 years I had been the Youth Pastor at Lakeview Church - Awesome - so much fun ® so many amazing stories - life changing relationship - events - incredible . . .
But in the winter and spring of '95 Lakeview Church went through a significant transition . . . there were 4 pastors here, and 3 of them left . . . vacuum in leadership . . . church was in a bit of trouble - direction was hard to clarify . . .
Anyways . . . I was on a 2 week vacation with Pam and one child - Waskesui . . and I really felt God was prompting me to step up and make myself available . . . to the church . . . (and Lee Barbour said he thought I could do it!)
I remember it clearly - driving down by the beach at Waskesui . . . and I said . . . honey I think I'm supposed to lead in the adult church - my wife did the only thing she could - laughed - giggled, and said . . . sure Dean - let's go for some ice cream . . .
Now here was the challenge/ risk/ the decision . . .
Everything within me said stay being a youth pastor - (expand this more) (what did I give up?) it's safe - it's something you know - it's been successful - it's really a nice place to lead . . . stay there . . . you're only 29 - all that can happen later and after all - I was giving up the one thing I knew how to do well . . . in order to chase the unknown - I could never go back not at Lakeview at least - and it created a lot of anxious days that summer. . . but another voice was calling me - the voice of adventure and I think destiny . . . the voice that said - go into the unknown - so what if you fail - trust God - trust people - maybe it will be o.k. - that was the voice that said, what if . . . God is in this . . . what if He shows up - what if . . .
And so based on what if and - with great confidence I made a decision to put everything I knew that was safe - on the line and I called a board meeting - (They must have thought it strange - because I never went to board meetings . . . ) And I said . . . you don't have anybody to preach or lead - none of you have time . . . and I've preached a few times (10) - maybe I could do that for awhile and we'll see where it goes . . . And they all said sure . . . and after 8 more months or so . . . I had the job. . and as they say - the rest is history . . .
What an incredible adventure it has been leading this church over the past 7 years . . .
Folks, You can look back on that and say - wow - lots of coincidences . . . lots of people connected to make that happen - lots of success that church has had . . .
I look back from only my angle, God called me to risk what I was safe in and step out . . . so I did. . . believing that with His power we could do great things for his Kingdom - here is Saskatoon and He has not disappointed - It has been incredible to see 100's of lives changed by His power within this community.
And on a personal note I can only say this - nothing I could have planned would have been even close to what God has done . . .
Here's the principle though - It's in the Risk where God shows up. It's in the giving up of safety and stepping away from normal that the power of God is displayed and the adventure begins - The moment in which we have the most to gain is also the moment we have the most to lose.
To receive the life that Jesus offers us, we must be willing to die to ourselves . . . it cannot be both
That's the risk - that's the calling . . . that's the question . . . How much am I willing to give up in order to receive the life God has for me? There's only one answer - Everything
So how to apply ? Ask yourself a few Questions?
What colors am I choosing to wear?
How could I step up and out with God in some small way this week?
When is the last time I told God that He could have it all?
When is the last time I asked God to use my life to make a difference?
2. Losing the Battle and Winning the War
One last thought about Risk
Failure and suffering are sometimes attached to Risk . . .
In North America in 2003 we have a belief that we hold very dear to us . . . It says this . . . that whenever God is in something - there is no chance of failure . . .when God is with us we are guaranteed safety . . . we like to believe that if we follow God . . . failure or suffering will never be in the equation . . .Hear this - nothing is further from the truth . . . here's where I think this God is safe theology comes from
Now when we read the Bible . . . We get to see the ending - you can read it and clearly there is good news. God wins - don't ever doubt that - Evil and darkness will be wiped away - death and destruction will pass, and God will reign forever and ever with his people in heaven - that's the truth - but it's also the end of the story . . . and folks we do not live in the end of the story - we are living somewhere in chapter 12 and there's at least 20 chapters . . . and sometimes, we get thinking because the story ends with a victory . . . that every chapter should be filled with victories as well, and that's not always true.
Failure and suffering are part of life . . . and even in the battles that are counted as victories . . . the winning side has many soldiers who died in the battle and so the nation may win the war . . .but the individual may suffer . . .
Quote - "It is only because his life is interconnected to the broader story that his death gains both meaning and victory".
Here's what I'm saying . . . when you and I step out and risk we may fail . . . and those moments my bring great pain with them. . . but . . . it is in that pain and suffering where the bigger and broader picture becomes a reality and what we do in that moment has a direct relationship to the moments we know as our future.
Maybe the question we should ask instead of why is there suffering? Is what is the suffering creating with in me - what is this suffering going to develop in me . .
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:2-3, 12 (NIV)
Folks - I can honestly say . . . that after 15 years of leading in this church I've learned much more about myself during failure than during success - Lakeview has always been a church that risked . . . and not all of those have been successful
-We have planned events where nobody showed up
-We've had hours go into an idea that simply bombed
-We've spent months on developing processes that have not succeed as well
I remember - I think it was '99 - planned this big thanksgiving deal (1000's of people) - Incredible amount of energy went into it - Sat. night - great crowd - during the night snowed a foot - city was at a stand still . . . 11 people at 9:39 - 60 - 70 at 11:11
I remember laughing and thinking - when I get to heaven - I'm gonna ask God . . . why?
But let me tell you - it is in those moments of loss and failure - where character is strengthened and resolve is clarified and your team pulls together and where you must believe that God has bigger things coming - that this failure is only a little chapter of a book that has already been written . . .
And you know what? I hope we keep on risking as a church - we have to . . . my biggest fear is that we will become this great big, very nice wonderfully safe place . . . where we don't risk enough to have a failure . . . and where we trust in ourselves more that we trust in God . . .
We've got to risk - we've got to step out
The calling is strong - and the need is great . . . and God's power is only displayed as we step forward . . . become visible . . .
You know we're gonna take communion together today . . .
Great time to clarify your position with God . . . But we thought it would also fit correctly with what we're just talking about . . . Risk and failure and the bigger picture . . . I want you to hear one verse that will help us understand clearer the chapters of the book - us the whole . . .
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
Folks - most people in Jesus day when they saw what happened to Jesus - assumed that he had failed in his mission . . . and that this horrible ending was what he got for the life of risk He lived . . .
But history has proved otherwise . . . history has proved that Jesus' death was clearly a needful thing for the end of the book to be written - that through His death - we all have a second and third and 10th chance to clean up our failures that through his death our sins, our wrong choices. . could be forgiven . . . |
