Risky Business- part 2
Veterans Video!
Thesis: The church needs to understand that sharing the Gospel is a risky business.
Main Texts:
Matthew 25:14-30 ---Read from the Message
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Mat 25:13 NIV)
"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. (Mat 25:14 NIV)
To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. (Mat 25:15 NIV)
The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. (Mat 25:16 NIV)
So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. (Mat 25:17 NIV)
But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. (Mat 25:18 NIV)
"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. (Mat 25:19 NIV)
The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ’Master,’ he said, ’you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ (Mat 25:20 NIV)
"His master replied, ’Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Mat 25:21 NIV)
"The man with the two talents also came. ’Master,’ he said, ’you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’ (Mat 25:22 NIV)
"His master replied, ’Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Mat 25:23 NIV)
"Then the man who had received the one talent came. ’Master,’ he said, ’I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. (Mat 25:24 NIV)
So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ (Mat 25:25 NIV)
"His master replied, ’You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? (Mat 25:26 NIV)
Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. (Mat 25:27 NIV)
"’Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. (Mat 25:28 NIV)
For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. (Mat 25:29 NIV)
And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Mat 25:30 NIV)
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (Duet. 31:6 NIV)
I Corinthians 16:13
13Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong (NIV).
I Corinthians 16:13,14 (The Message)
Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping.
Acts 23:11
11The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome” (NIV).
Acts 23:11 (The Message)
That night the Master appeared to Paul: “It’s going to be all right. Everything is going to turn out for the best. You’ve been a good witness for me here in Jerusalem. Now you’re going to be my witness in Rome!”
Illustration- Risks
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach out for another is to risk involvement
To expose feelings is to risk exposing, your true self
To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss
To love is to risk not being loved in return
To live is to risk dying
To hope is to risk despair
To try is to risk failure
But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing and is nothing
They may avoid suffering and sorrow but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love or live
Charmed by their attitudes they are a slave, they have forfeited their freedom
Only a person who risks is free
**I will add to this and say that only a person with the courage to take risks for Jesus Christ is really free.
* II Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
Introduction:
Courage is really what our topic is tonight. Courage is the act of facing a dangerous situation for the benefit of others. It’s the ability to confront a difficult situation head on without turning to run away from the fear or perceived danger. Courage is what we need in our lives if we desire to stand firm for Jesus Christ.
Courage with its point of action risk taking should be an indispensable part of the Christian walk. When we look back over church history we see Christians who risked all to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. These individuals had courage to begin something or take a stand for God in the midst of difficult circumstances. For some it meant ridicule, slanderous remarks, becoming laughing stocks in their community, it meant being condemned by their community, it meant imprisonment, it meant personal loss of family, friends, and finances. It meant facing a dangerous situation. For some it cost them their lives. But all these risk takers made an eternal impact for the Kingdom of God. Today there are many that don’t preach that following Christ is a risky business. They believe God and Jesus is there to meet their every whim and wham. They believe that they don’t have to take risks for Jesus. Jesus is suppose to serve them and risk for them.
On the other side off the coin there are one’s who where Christians but refused or where to afraid to take a risk for God. They waited for a better time, a safer situation, or a guarantee of assured results. Of course these never ever came. These people we have never heard about their names are not known in the Kingdom of God archives. It’s a sad fact that throughout history there have been many opportunities to make a difference but individuals refused to step forward. They lacked the courage to step out for God or to stand for God. They were also the ones who refused to take the risk for God. No names - nobody knows about - names lost in history forever! Why because they failed to realize that the Christian walk is a risky business requiring us to take steps of faith in our lives. The Christian walk is a walk of courage.
I. Men and women of courage who where risk takers for the Lord during the last 4 millenniums.
A. Lets all reflect back on church history and think about the some-bodies who took risks. There lives showed that this faith walk is risky business - you have heard some of their names but lets recall some of them:
1. Abraham 2,161-1986BC - The patriarch who was the father of the people of God, Abraham the risk taker who left the security and comfort of Ur because of the call of God. He took a risk and became the "father of the multitude " he is the spiritual ancestor of all Jews and the father of the nation of Israel.
2. Isaac- He went to Mount Moriah with his father where Abraham was going to offer up a living sacrifice- Abraham was directed to sacrifice his son- but Abraham knew deep within God would provide a living sacrifice- but Isaac went with and it was risky but God came through with a ram to sacrifice
3. Moses 1527-1405BC- This man of God gave up the best Egypt could offer to a prince to serve God. He risked his life and reputation in Egypt to serve God. His reward for taking a risk is that nearly every book in the bible references Moses or his writings.
4. Joshua ruled 1406- 1382 BC - The risk taker is still considered one of the best military minds of history. His dedication to risking all to take the promised land is noted by all. His strategy and tactics are still classics in military science. He after taking the land devoted himself to strengthening the worship of the Lord even when many others were falling away from God. The last appearance of him in the Bible is one which shows a man challenging the people of Israel to covenant themselves back to God. Once again taking a risk to call people back to God when it was not popular.
5. Deborah- Deborah demonstrated the quality of courage when she rallied the tribes of Israel to attack Sisera and the Canaanites, who had been raiding Israel for years. Barak assisted Deborah as they defeated them at Kishon with help of a violent storm (Judges 4,5).
6. Ruth- Was willing to stay with Naomi no matter what. She took a risk and ended up being the great, great grandmother to King David. It was risky business to leave your homeland and your gods of childhood to follow and serve your mother-in-law and the God of Israel.
7. David 1050- 1,000 BC- a risk taker who challenged a Goliath. He took a risk for God and slew a giant everyone else was afraid of. This risk taker became Israel’s most famous king and the nation fondly remembered his reign as it’s golden age.
8. Jeremiah 625-585 BC- The priest who took the risk to speak for God during the heartbreaking final days of Judah. His risk caused himself to be called a traitor, to be arrested, to be hounded, and threatened throughout his ministry. Yet he took the risk for God and as he predicted, Jerusalem was captured and the nation deported because of their unwillingness to repent to God for their sins.
9. Esther was an orphan who became queen of Persia. Mordecai raised her and helped her to become queen. She was placed in her position by the Lord to be the solution to the problem created by Haman. She needed to risk her life to save the extermination of the Jewish people by Haman’s evil plan.
a. Esther 4:14 “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
b. This was risky business but listen to her response: Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 4:16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
10. Daniel 606- 530 BC- a prophet who took the risk of serving God in a heathen nation under captivity and refused to change and conform to their ways. Daniel the prophet who took the risk to refuse to bow to the emperor and acknowledge him as divine. He became known as one of the most famous prophets during the captivity of Israel and he also became on of the top leaders in Babylonian empire, and Persian empire. His risk taking caused a King Nebuchadnezzar to accept the Lord.
11. Ezra 516 - 458BC - a priest/scribe who was a risk taker who returned to Jerusalem to restore the temple insist on obedience to the Law of God and purity among the Israelites. His risk caused many to repent and the restoration of the temple.
12. Nehemiah 516- 433 BC -He took the risk to return to Israel and give up the posh life in the Babylonian court to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and support Ezra’s revival of the Jewish community.
13. Mary the mother of Jesus. She risked her reputation and life to give birth to Jesus.
14. Joseph was engaged to Mary when she was found with child he was going to put her away but an angel changed his mind. He risked everything to marry Mary and raise Jesus. He put his life in danger and spent his helping to raise Jesus.
15. Jesus 0-33 AD- He was willing to risk all to follow God’s plan even risk his own life on the cross to see to it that God’s plan was fulfilled and the world given redemption through his sacrifice.
* He is the ultimate risk taker of all time!
1. He risked all and worked through his fears- He worked through his fear in the Garden and he faced them and defeated them with the courage to risk all for God.
2. Jesus knew that to defeat fear you had to risk comfort and safety and face it head on in God.
3. Jesus was a risk taker - Jones states, "Jesus was not exactly what people had in mind for a leader." Jesus took risks consistently confronting the Pharisee’s and the sinner and speaking the truth.
4. Jesus had the attitude of a risk taker because he said "Why not Me?" The key here to understand is that maturity in Christianity says "Why not me?" We come to understanding that we are in a walk that will have points of taking risks for Christ. We should have the motto " I will serve and risk", not "Why don’t they do it!" One has a risk taker attitude the other has an excuse maker attitude.
* Jones states, " ... The willingness to enter into whatever God wants is one of the hallmarks of spiritual leadership."
16. John the Baptist 1BC- 30AD-John the Baptist was a risk taker. He was beheaded by Antipas, but his influence survived for years. Some of his followers joined Jesus; others continued to revere him. He was the last of the prophets and the forerunner of the Savior, and, according to Jesus, the greatest man born to woman.
17. Peter ? -65AD- risked all to come to Jesus on the water. He risked all to follow Jesus his risk taking sometimes got him into trouble when he risked seeing what happened to Jesus and became afraid when confronted on who he was. He off course denied Jesus three times. It crushed him but Jesus appeared to him and forgave him. Barker notes, Peter the fickle loudmouth, was, however, transformed by the resurrection. He took charge of the frightened, faltering group of believers and fearlessly preached the news of the resurrection on the streets of Jerusalem"(281). He risked his life for Christ and gave it up on a cross upside down stating he did not deserve to die like Christ.
18. Stephen- The first disciple killed for preaching the Gospel.
19. Andrew (?-69AD) was a follower of John The Baptist. Then became the follower of Jesus Christ. He was killed in Patras preaching the salvation message of Jesus. He carried the message to modern day Russia and Georgia, and Istanbul. He was known for raising up leaders and then moving on to another area. He was stoned to death.
20. James ?-44 AD- James was murdered by King Agrippa I, and his death is noted in Acts 12:1,2.
21. John ?-90-100 AD - Risked all to serve Jesus and follow him and became one of Jesus’ best friends. His risk taking for him gave him the privilege of writing the book of Revelation and revealing the great Revelation of Jesus Christ. He was a major influencer on Christian thinking and living.
22. Philip – He took the message to France and was murdered in Hierapolis by being pierced through his thighs and hung upside down.
23. Bartholomew – He brought the message to India and was martyred in Albanus. He was flayed alive by the order of King Astyages and then beheaded.
24. Thomas – Thomas founded the church in India. He was martyred on Mount Thomas in Mylopur by being run through with a lance.
25. Matthew – He took the Gospel to Persia and wrote the book of Matthew. He was believed to be martyred by the Jewish Sanhedrin.
26. Paul 1-65 AD- Risked all after his encounter with Jesus to reach the Gentiles for Christ. He endured persecution beyond what we can understand and considered it an honor to risk all for Christ. Paul’s risk for Him blessed him with the honor of writing a major part of the New Testament.
27. Perpetua-In A.D. 202, Emperor Septimius Severus disallowed conversions to Christianity. In the wake of that act, severe persecution broke out against Christians, particularly in North Africa. Living in carthage at the time was a young woman of nobility named Perpetua age 22. She had been arrested for converting to Christianity and going to be water baptized. When she was arrested and placed into prison she was still nursing her infant son. In March of 203 A.D. she was lead into the amphitheater. Upon entrance in the arena she started to sing some of the Psalms. Her and the others where stripped naked and placed in nets. The crowd wanted them clothed so they where given tunics to place over their bodies. The Egyptians unleashed a mad heifer on her that charged her and up ended her. Later a gladiator was sent to kill her. He struck her on the shoulder she screamed in pain then she took the gladiators hand and signaled for him to slice her throat. He did. In the writings about her they tell of a vision she had upon her arrest. …She saw a ladder going toward Heaven. On it before her she saw her pastor ahead of her. (He had been killed by a leopard prior to her killing) She said in the vision he said, ‘Perpetua, I am waiting for you. But take care; do not let the dragon bite you.’ “he will not harm me” She said,” in the name of Jesus.” Slowly, as though he were afraid of me, the dragon stuck his head out from underneath the ladder. Then, using it as my first step, I trod on his head and went up” (Christian History, Issue 27 page12-14)
28. Polycarp- born AD 70 -155 - A risk taker who stood against Rome’s persecution of Christians. He was Bishop of Smyrna. When he was brought into the arena the procounsel encouraged him to denounce Christianity and bow to Caesar. His response to the them was "Eighty and six years have I served him, and he hath done me no wrong; how then can I Blaspheme my king who saved me?" They tied burning him but it is reported that the fire would not consume him so the executioner ran into the fire and stabbed him. When he started bleeding they claim that his blood put out the fire and a dove shaped cloud ascended up into the sky.
29. Justin Martyr - Risked all to defend the Christian Faith before the Emperor himself. Justin was brought to trial with six other believers in AD165. His answer to his executioners to denounce Christianity was "And you, you can kill us, but not hurt us." His risk taking for Him got him the title "Defender of the Faith." because he published works on the authenticity of Christianity as the true faith.
30. Tertullian - 150-212 AD - He was a risk taker for Him and wrote over thirty books dealing with Christian living, church life, and doctrine.
31. Origen - 185-254 AD - A risk taker who was considered to be the best scholar in the Christian church in the first half of the century. During his six decades of his life he defended the faith against heretics and Roman authorities, he was active as a Christian educator, a witness to the Jewish community, and a spiritual leader in the Christian church.
32. Jerome 331 AD-420 AD - He was a risk taker that translated the Bible into Latin known as the Vulgate he became known as a successful Bible translator.
33. John Chrysostom 350-407 AD- A risk taker who became known as an anointed eloquent preacher - he became known as "goldenmouth." He excelled in moral and spiritual teaching. He birthed the preachers of today who emphasized spiritual teaching than doctrinal exposition.
34. Patrick - 389-461 AD - A risk taker who took the gospel to Ireland after he escaped from Ireland as a slave from 405-411 AD. He took a risk to go back to his captors and share Christ with them. He saw converts converted in all social classes during his ministry.
35. John Wycliff - 1330-1384 AD- He is a risk taker known as the Morning Star of the Reformation. He risked taking on the Catholic church for Christ to cause reform and influenced his followers to translate the Bible into English so the common man could read it.
36. Martin Luther 1483-1546 AD- He is the father of the Protestant Reformation. He was a catholic monk and priest that challenged the church’s heresy. He promoted justification by grace alone through faith, that the Bible was the ultimate authority for Christian belief and practice even though the church of the day disagreed with him. AS a result of his risk taking Evangelical Christianity preserves and continues today.
37. William Tyndale - 1490-1536 AD- He is the risk taker who is the father of the English Bible. Before him there was the Wycliff Bible but this never widely circulated in English and was a translation from the Vulgate. Tyndale translated an English version of the Bible from the Greek and Hebrew and had it printed in mass and circulated. He was branded by the Catholic church as an outlaw. He later became known as "God’s Outlaw".He was martyred at Brussels for his actions.
38. John Calvin - 1509-1564 AD - The risk taker who was exiled from France and became chief pastor in Geneva. He is known as the Reformations supreme Bible teacher. He some of the first commentaries on Scripture. His writing helped fire such great pastoral evangelists such as John Bunyan, George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Haddon Spurgeon and William Carey.
39. John Knox 1514-1572 - Brought the reformation to Scotland. He was a risk taker who went against the church to preach the truth.
40. John Bunyan 1628-1688 - he was a risk taker who spent years in prison in England for his stance on truth. He is the author of "Pilgrims Progress" and 59 other books. Many of his allegorical writings point to salvation by grace and a distinct salvation experience.
41. Jonathan Edwards 1703-1758 - He was converted at 17 and became a missionary to America. He risked stressing practical piety. His pastoral insight and personal saintliness granted him the honor of being considered balanced in "The heart" and "The head" of Christian doctrine and lifestyle.
42. John Wesley 1703-1791 AD - A risk taker along with his brother Charles who started a society in the Church of England called "Under God" later the "Holy Club at Oxford" and later after deaths birthed the Methodist Church. John tirelessly spent his life as a gospel outrider. He is reported to have covered 250,000 miles on horse back in all weathers. He said "I offered them Christ" was his own repeated summary of what he did for the kingdom of God.
43. Charles Wesley 1707-1788 AD - A preacher and traveler until 1750’s when he took the risk to write more. He became a songwriter and a famous author of many hymns. He dictated his last hymn on his deathbed. Charles famous quote is "God buries his workmen, but carries on his work." Some of his more famous hymns are "Jesus, Lover Of My Soul", "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today", O for A Thousand Tongues to Sing", and many more to be exact he wrote 8,989 hymns.
44. George Whitefield 1714-1770 AD- A risk taker who was considered the greatest evangelist since the apostle Paul. He preached four to three times a day outdoors. He preached in Great Britain but spent time also preaching in the colonies. He built two large churches in England and many in the colonies and a Orphan house in Georgia. He was the chief figure in the Great Awakening in America. His essential message is "Ye must be born again!" This risk brought on the wrath of many but he countered it with kindness.
45. William Carey 1761-1834 - This risk taker became known as the "Father of Modern Missions". He started the modern missionary movement which has had global impact in the world. His forty year veteran missionary stay in India set a powerful example of sacrifice for foreign missionaries of the future.
46. Charles Finney 1792-1875 AD - The risk taker who is most often remembered as a revivalist. He organized and worked at motivating people to get revived. He is noted as being considered one of America’s greatest revivalist preachers. Many noted that the first half of the 19th century in the U.S. is often called the Age of Jackson but many have commented it was also the age of Finney’s Revivals. His fundamental concern was to get sinners converted.
47. C.H. Spurgeon 1834-1892 AD- A risk taker who impacted 1,000 daily. In 1865 his sermons sold 25,000 copies weekly around world and England. He was considered "The Prince of Preachers."
48. D.L. Moody 1837-1899 AD- He birthed mass evangelism and the Sunday school movement. He is known for his three R Theology: A. Ruined by the fall B. Redeemed by the Blood C. Regenerated by the Spirit. When he was asked about his theology he replied, "My theology!" "I didn’t know that I had any." He is also known for reaching people across Many interdenominational lines.
49. Dietrich Bonhoeffer 1906-1945 - He risked all to openly criticize Hitler and the Nazi anti-Jewish policy which cost him his life on April 9 in a Flossenburg concentration camp. He preached for Christian ethics and the What it meant to be a disciple for Christ. His famous book the "Cost of Discipleship" has left a massive imprint on the minds of many Christians.
a. Diethrich was one of a few clergy man who stood and denounced a National Socialism. He said it was a , “A brutal attempt to make history without God and to found it on the strength of man alone (16).
b. Leibholtz noted, “Therefore in 1933, when Hitler came to power, he abandoned his academic career…As late as February 1933 he denounced on the wireless a political system which corrupted and grossly misled a nation and made the Fuhrer its idol and god (16).
c. His courage is best seen reflected from a poem he wrote in prison at the end of his life:
Who am I?
Who am I? They often tell me
I stepped from my cell’s confinement
calmly, cheerfully, firmly,
like a Squire from his country house.
Who am I? They often tell me
I used to speak to my warders
freely and friendly and clearly,
as though it were mine to command.
Who am I? They also tell me
I bore the days of misfortune
equably, smiling, proudly,
like one accustomed to win.
Am I then really that which other men tell of?
Or am I only what I myself know of myself?
Restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage, struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing my throat, yearning for colours, for flowers, for the voice of birds, thirsting for words of kindness, for neighbourliness, tossing in expectation of great events, powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance, weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making, faint, and ready to say farewell to it all.
Who am I? This or the other?
Am I one person to-day and to-morrow another?
Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,
And before myself a contemptible woebegone weakling?
Or is something within me still like a beaten army
fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?
Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.
Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am thine!
(19,20)
d. ‘The guiding force in Bonhoeffer’s life, underlying all he did, worked and suffered for, was his faith and love of God, in whom he found peace and happiness” (22)
i. This is what gave him courage to take on the evil of his day!
50. C.S. Lewis 1898-1963 - The best Christian author of all time. He risked much to write what he wrote he was often called a heretic for his writings.
51. Billy Graham 1918 - He risked all to serve Christ in the mid-twentieth Century, theological liberalism dominated the mainstream churches. The authority of the Bible was discounted, and a belief in the upward march of humanity was still in fashion. Yet along came Billy who has impacted our society beyond belief. Liberal theology was challenged and is on the decline, The Bible is coming back, humanism is slipping and Billy keeps on preaching.
Conclusion:
ALL these individuals portray individuals who took risks for Him and that is why we know who they are in Christ. Risk takers get noticed when it’s done for Him- they change society, churches, lives and facilitate growth in the Kingdom of God.
These risk takers had a drive to step out for Him. There risky steps made an impact on the Kingdom of God. These individuals will go down in history for all eternity as God’s risk takers.
But what about the millions who have not taken risks for God?
Sheila states, "What good would big thinking be if it stopped short of taking risks that turn dreams (and visions) into reality"(129).
The truth is -- when risks are taken for god things happen visions from God become realities. Lives are changed and miracles happen. The leaders spoken of earlier all where risk takers who left impressions on our minds and spirits as inspiring examples of fearlessness in the face of ridicule, harassment, deprivation, and even death for the spread of the Kingdom of God.
These risk takers changed their future and our life for the better. How about you? Do you want to take a risk for Him? I dare you! Take a risk for Him in the millennium!
QUESTION: What qualities do these "Risk takers" possess? Think About it! They had courage for God! They understood that being a Christian is “risky business.”
