A Dangerous Faith

Welcome to this initiative, PowerPoint with rain later in the program will tell you how you can get a copy of Dr. Graham moments with first here's the message dangerous faith – your question to start out and that would simply be are you a risk taker or are you a security seeker. The entire Bible is the story of adventuring and expanding on and developing and growing in it in the exercise of faith. For me, whether you're talking about Abraham.

He was called by God, the leader of the Chaldees, a comfortable setting an urban city is in that day and into go out following the will of God, not even knowing exactly where he was going and whether your Moses out in the desert leaving and living a comfortable life, having fled for his for his own skin out of Egypt is now living on the backside of the desert amusement a new life out there and one day just an ordinary guy like every other day and Moses life is. He was taking care of the sheep. There was a a bush that burned and continue to burn, and then he realized that God was in that bush and the great I am spoke to him and called him to go back and and cry out to Pharaoh. Let my people go. And Moses argue that first he made excuses he say look I stammer. I stutter, I don't talk very well since somebody else but God ultimately said did not make your tongue. Moses did not make you go and tell Pharaoh to let my people go in. So Moses left the comfort zone of the desert and went back on a great adventure for God thing about David. David was a shepherd boy enjoying the pastoral scenes and views. He would he was a mystic of sorts, writing songs and ultimately these songs became solvency. He was enjoying life in the pasture until one day on a trip to visit his brothers at the battlefield. He heard a giant. The giant of gas Goliath crying out in defiance of the Lord God, and he said, is there not a cause and David left the comfort zone and was willing to risk his life with a few stones slingshot in order to win a great victory for the kingdom of God.

Or what about Esther Esther who was willing to give up her life for the sake of her people her own identity to identify with the people of God in knowing that she was taking a huge risk at chance of death. She said if I Perry I. I think you get the point I could I could go on and on throughout the pages of Scripture talking about people who took faith risk to practice a dangerous faith. Of course what is happened in the Scripture is happened also in history. I enjoy reading history and the anecdotes and the experiences of those in history who made a difference to change the world because you see the gospel not only changes hearts, but it changes history Sir Edmund Hillary was, not always for Edmund Hillary, the great explorer. He is known as the man who first conquered the tallest mountain peak on the earth. Mount Everest by 15 or 20 people had died trying to scale this magnificent mall and yet Edmund Hillary determine along with a few others to scale, that great mountain to get to the top of the world literally the top of the world and and there were a number of failed efforts in the midst of those failed efforts. It was said that that Edmund Hillary one day shook his fist at that mountain and shouted we will conquer you ever because we can grow you cannot back in the 1950s, an African-American lady by the name of Rosa Parks minding our own business sitting in a bus one day. Was told to move to the back of the bus and Rosa Parks refused to move interactive defiance and civil disobedience ignited a cultural revolution in America that helped in segregation willing to take a risk willing to step out of balance. Too many of us are playing it safe, enjoying the comfortable life are security our stability. Our safety what I want to challenge you to do this message today from acts chapter 50 is to live a dangerous faith in verse 26, of acts, chapter 50. There is a commendation regarding two men who gave their lives and risk everything for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ so matter-of-fact as these men are commanded to us. We learn how to live this dangerous life right 15 says Paul and Barnabas. Two men who risked their lives for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ risking their lives for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ. I call Paul and Barnabas. God's gamblers because they gambled their very lives in the word there risk has the idea of dangling on the gospel banning on the advancing of the kingdom of God by giving their very lives now in the economic world. We talk about risk and reward.

And that really the two points. The two prongs upon which to build this message today. The risk and the reward of a dangerous faith. First the risks when you read that little phrase there men who hazarded or risked their lives for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ. Two ideas emerge. One is the idea of the word risk there means the handing over of something is the same word used in the New Testament when Judas handed over Jesus to the Roman authorities and so in that sense, it is an act of surrender. It is that handing over of life to the Lord Jesus Christ, and of course as followers of our Savior. When we say we are going to become followers of Jesus.

That means that we so there to the Lordship of Jesus in our lives.

We surrender our lives to him. We hand our lives we say Lord I am yours my body my soul my spirit, my life is yours. But not only is there the idea of the handing over of life in the surrender that same word risk has the idea of hazarding the life. In fact, it is it is translated in some versions men who hazarded their lives for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ and obviously that means risk. That means be willing to pay the price. Even the ultimate price. It is the cost of the sacrifice following Jesus. So two ideas surrender and sacrifice for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ. I like the way the paraphrase message gives it. Men that have looked death in the face time and again, for the sake of our master Jesus. This report of Paul and Barnabas is given by the church at the end of the first missionary journey of these two men as the gospel is advancing around the world as they were moving beyond the safety and the security of their own lives and moving into the world of the gospel in that's what you know about the apostle Paul, of course, I'm certain that every time he saw a ship leaving port he wanted to be on it taking the gospel of Jesus.

Somewhere his life was spent carrying that message at personal risk and sacrifice because he surrendered his life to Christ and so the idea of risk is strong and powerful in the Christian faith as a matter of fact, Jesus said, unless you're willing to take up your cross last.

That's a risk to take up the cross and follow after me you cannot be my disciple and and so risk-taking is cross bearing it is is say Lord I will follow you and Jesus is the ultimate risk taker, Redeemer, because he gave his life. He left heaven in the glory and the and the beauty and the and the security and the and the strength of heaven and he came to earth and when they cried out Jesus come down off of the cross, save yourself. He refused to save himself because he died on the cross for us is so human for us to give up when we face difficulty when we face danger when we are dealing with with cost and sacrifice and price it is. It is so easy and so human to give up, but it is so divine like Jesus to say strong even in the wrist of failure is a dangerous thing to say well okay, I get the point you're making pastor. We are to risk and sacrifice for the sake of the gospel.

But what exactly does that mean how do you take risks for Jesus sake in our generation to be in a number of ways they could simply mean praying a bold prayer asking God to do something so wonderful so powerful so glorious in your life that you know is a risky prayer. You know, unless God comes through and answers that prayer is never going to have their prey like that. We often pray safe prayers Beltway Lord bless the world Lord save the country, Lord. Those kinds of prayers.

We don't know whether God answers them or not, but will you take a rinse and start only praying dangerous daring prayer. Take a risk and walk across the street in your own neighborhood and get to know your neighbor not talking about maybe just the weather or sports or whatever your yard, but for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ building a friendship and relationship with the people who lived nearest to you with the prospect of sharing your faith in the love of Jesus Christ with your neighbor that's taking a rinse, take a risk by taking a stand and the politically correct generation for the sanctity of life to risk your reputation of being called a fool and finance for the sake of righteousness for the sake of truth, or take a risk and volunteer in the ministry that that moves you out of your comfort zone that requires more than just showing up at church every now and then that requires some risk-taking on your part. Some surrender and sacrifice about taking the risk of sacrificing your time and sacrificing your resources and your money for the cause of Christ. Students what about taking a risks to risk your popularity in your standing among your friend by saying no when it seems that so many of your friends some of your church friends even are saying yes saying no to drugs and no alcohol and no DM or immorality. That's a risk that you would obey God and trust God rather than listening to the voices of this culture. I I could talk again and again. But I out of risk that we could take. But the fact is this is time for churches to take risks. This is not a time for weak pulpits and comfortable Christians. Dante said the hottest place in hell is reserved for those who in time of crisis preserved their neutrality.

May we never seek security preserving our neutrality at the expense of the Lord Jesus Christ said it would be to face eternity to face God knowing that we didn't say strong that we didn't stand up for the gospel and for truth you're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham in the message and dangerous fate. We set aside daily time to connect with God to give me the ability to live a godly life and fulfill his plans for you in the coming year and we'd like to help me walk even more closely with the Lord in your head by sending you pastor grams 180 day devotional moments in the word our way to thank you for your gift today to help proclaim the gospel to more people around the world to PowerPoint so call now to get your copy of moments in the word. When you get: 800-7954 six T7 that's one 800-7954 six T7 can also text the word PowerPoint 312-1316 PowerPoint 231-3131.

And don't forget to visit Jack Graham.org shop E store online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email our website again is Jack Graham.Lorch. Now let's get back to today's message dangerous face the gospel not only changes, heart.

But the gospel changes his story wherever the gospel has been applied.

History has been changed and we can change his story, if we will proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. But if we don't do it, we will lose. I was reading recently a book regarding Billy Graham is called the preacher in the president's.

It is a description of the relationship. Billy Graham, the great evangelist is had went to the president's one of the most interesting sections of this book describes his relationship with Pres. Reagan and their involvement together in bringing down communism in the Soviet Union and the ending the Cold War and the impact of Billy Graham in the Christian faith had on that telegram was invited to go and preach in the Soviet Union and he was advised not to do it our own government and the State Department was encouraging him not to go and conservative Christians even were say you shouldn't go in and that's a compromise, and so on. The Billy Graham prayed about any talk to Pres. Reagan advised President Bush about it and and I he determined that it was the right thing to go when he ended up going because he said I thought it was worth the risk. Because my goal was to preach the gospel behind the Iron Curtain. My goal was to take the message of Christ into the Soviet Union and into the Eastern Bloc countries of that time. You know what happened. Billy Graham, when in. He was accused of pandering to the Soviets. A lot of other things that ultimately that Iron Curtain came down that wall fell, it was all because men like Billy Graham were willing to take a risk for the sake of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is that I believe is worth the risk path that I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

For it is the power of God and the salvation to the Jew first, and to everyone who believes is that I'm not ashamed because literally he was saying. I am confident in the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to change hearts and change history.

So what about us. Are we willing to take these kinds of risks. Don't waste your opportunity. God is calling you to the adventure of your life to the opportunity of your life to live a dangerous uncomfortable faith God may not be calling you to grow across the world, but I know he's calling all of us to go across the comfort zones and the security systems of our life for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ.

They got helpless to do it. You are what you are today because of what you've done with your opportunities will say that again you might want to write it down. You are what you are today because of what you've done with the opportunities you've been given a life and may God help us to seize the opportunities and therefore to shape our lives. All risks is voluntary. You may not be asked to die for your faith but I do know this God expects us to die daily for selfish interest in purposes and ambitions in our life for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ. So that brings me to the second part of what I want to talk about and that is the reward. There is certainly risk, but there is great reward slogan in the investment world goes like this way, the risk versus reward waive the risk versus the reward so let's take just a few moments to do that last lesson way the wrist. But let's look at the reward. Jesus said when you take a chance on me and my kingdom and you invest in the work of my kingdom. You are laying measures in heaven and Barnabas is mentioned along with Paul is one of these risktakers in acts chapter 15 verse 26.

This wasn't the first time he took risks earlier in the book of acts when we first meet Barnabas. He was a man who apparently was of some means and had some property and sold the property, took the proceeds of that property and gave it to the mission of Christ and his church.

It was an act of of obedience and sacrifice on his part and he became known as the son of encouragement he he was such an encouraging to to Peter and the apostles and others to that entire church, and ultimately, the encourager encouraged Paul himself and they travel together as missionaries see sometimes we start by taking small risks that lead to greater risk and then the reward comes some of us need to take a small step in really a simple risk of tying thing. Our incomes, the biblical principle of giving is to take what belongs to God and give it back to him. Starting with the first hit. That's time and God actually says in the book of Malachi. Don't rob me. But risk on me take a chance. Test me in this, that if you will bring your ties and your offerings to me see if I will not reward you that I will not pour out a blessing upon you that you won't even be able to contain. Take a risk and expect the reward that I know to talk about tithing make some people uncomfortable and some of you even to hear the idea tithing you think Manny would be so risky for me to start typing right because I got bills to pay.

I have responsibilities. So when I can see my way clear when I when I can get the bills taken care of when the salary increases just a little bit more when we have a little bit more money then I'll take a risk when there's money in the bank will there's no risk and that God says bring it to me in obedience and faith, take a risk and trust me in this test me in this fact is there many people today who don't trust God with their money. So let me ask you what sacrifices would you be willing to take and make if you knew you could change your heart if you knew you could change the world. What would you do for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ. If if you that you couldn't fail that if by faith he would follow him. I'm not talking about being reckless. But I'm talking about taking risk to say, Lord. Here's my life.

I will do your will. Wherever, what ever. Whenever I promise you there's an incredible reward in doing that he will hold you, even in the tough times back when I was faster than West Palm Beach. I got to know a Hollywood stunt. He was a daredevil of sorts and and and he would he would jump out of anything they they were actually filming a movie in our area and were using our church facility. They were jumping across our buildings. We gave them permission to do that and I was watching them fall in open 34 stories onto the onto the map below. In fact, this guy got close to him. The he encouraged me to stand up on our buildings and actually all all three stories into that map. I didn't do it. I chickened out at the last minute. I just couldn't do it. I wanted to do it but I couldn't do it.

This guy says that to me. I'll never forget. He said Jack I'll jump off anything if I got a good catcher you got a good catcher you're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham in the message. Dangerous faith. Looking ahead to a new year can fill you with expectation. They can also fill you with desperation. What if things get worse. But if the world gets crazier. But if you don't have the strength to face what comes your way. It's their spending daily time in God's word that we find the strength, peace and hope. We need and we want to help you do that by sending you pastor grants 180 day devotional moments in the way moments and the word is our special thanks for your gift this month so called to request a copy today: 800-795-4627 that's 1-800-795-4627. You can also text the word PowerPoint to 313-1316 PowerPoint 313131. And don't forget to visit Jack Graham.org Shawn Marie store online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email our website again is Jack Graham.Ward pastor. What is your PowerPoint. The Christian life is absolutely a high risk life. The Scripture gives us evidence that our faith is never dull or boring instead is exciting, energetic and full of abundance in the early church believers risk their lives for the glory of God and in the same way. We should die to ourselves every day and put our lives on the line for the cause of Christ in the name of Jesus be a risk taker. Don't wait until tomorrow or next week or next month to muster up the courage to step out of your comfort zone and share Christ with your neighbor or your family member or coworker take a risk and do something radical for Jesus today. Now if today you don't know Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. You're taking a risk that is not worth taking your risking your eternal destiny and Christ is asking you today to eliminate that risk from your life by accepting his free gift of forgiveness of grace that will change your life now and forever. If you would receive Christ in your life today then pray a prayer, faith like this, Lord Jesus, I turn from my sin and I trust in you. I believe you died on the cross for my sins that you rose again and right now I receive you as my Lord, my Savior, my master and friend come into my life, Lord Jesus, and I will live for you and the power of your Holy Spirit to come from today. You pray that prayer with Dr. Graham and accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior would let so life 1-800-795-1879 Joyce again next time Graham brings a message about how to seize the opportunity God's given to make each day is next on PowerPoint with Jack PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint ministries