Going Out On A Limb

Going Out On A Limb

 SCRIPTURE: "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth." Jeremiah 23:5; "And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.” Luke 19:2-4

When was the last time you stepped out on faith ?

Were you afraid or fearful about the outcome?

If so, then you know what it's like to be "out on a limb."

The expression, "Out on a limb", is used to convey the idea of a leap of faith. It refers to people who are willing to risk it all on what they believe to be right in their spirit.

Risk-taking is not easy but it is a part of our faith journey. As we follow God’s lead we always take a risk, but we find comfort in knowing that God first took a risk on us.

Before the Children of Israel stepped into the Red Sea God parted the waters. However it was at the liability of Moses' Rod. Nothing happened until God asked him, "What is that in your HAND?"and he "stretched out his rod" it is a perfect picture of what happens when Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God.

Because they took a risk in believing God, He faithfully took care of them in their wilderness journey.

I can imagine that it wasn’t often comfortable. I can imagine that it wasn’t free from difficulty. I can imagine that it did not always turn out like expected. But, it was worth it.

Yes, it brought them blessings even in the midst of their challenging circumstances. Yet, God was glorified and exalted through it.

Living a life of faith requires taking risks, at least from our perspective, because even when we can’t physically see what lies ahead, or hear God sometimes because He's quiet.We just have to trust Him.

Walking by faith and not by sight requires you to go to a place you do not know, one that God will reveal as you walk in obedience like He did with Abraham when He told him to “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3

This morning God is looking for someone who will act in Faith someone who is willing to go out on a limb. Someone who won’t question what, where or how God is leading you all you need to do is obey.

Story has it that there was a little boy whose home caught fire in the middle of the night. As the stairways leading to the ground collapsed, he soon found that there was no exit, except to climb out of his window. Afraid, the boy could not move and stood motionless in the window as people below screamed. An unknown man climbed up a drain pipe to reach the boy's room, but the pipe fell under his weight just as he reached the top. The man spotted a limb hanging close to the window and recognized it as the only way down. He told the boy to hold onto him as he made a desperate leap for that limb. As the man's hands held onto the limb, the boy realized he had burned them severely, but the man said nothing. Once on the ground the man disappeared. No one knew who he was or where he came from. He appeared and simply disappeared into the night.

 Weeks later, the town's people gathered in a meeting to decide who would care for the little boy since his parents had died in the fire. A wealthy man, a farmer, and a businessman came forward to offer to raise the boy as their own. The little boy simply gazed at the floor as each of them talked.

Then a man entered the room and stood in the crowd. When he removed his hands from his pockets the boy who had never seen his face, recognized those hands as the hands of the man who saved him. The little boy ran to the man and hugged him with great compassion. The others competing for the child sat as the town leader spoke to the little boy. "Son," why do you want this man to raise you? The little boy answered: "All I know sir, is that when I was in trouble, he went out on a limb for me." Custody of the child was given to the man, without comment.