Where The Daring Begins Series

Where the Daring Begins

2 Timothy 1:7

Series: Daring Discipleship Revisited

April 11. 2010

Morning Service

Introduction

I want to tell you about a young woman whom I found to be absolutely inspiring when I started to study her life. She was born in 1880 and had more than her fair share of setbacks and hardships. In spite of all of her trials, she refused to quit and refused to let any limitation hold her back.

She was accepted into Radcliffe College at the age of sixteen and graduated cum laude. Her single determination was to improve the lives of others and became an advocate for the blind. Her assistance helped the American Association for the blind become an institution. Her speaking skills and gentle spirit won her the admiration of audiences around the globe.

Through sheer determination she wrote four books, two of which become international bestsellers. One is still published today and is in more than fifty languages. There were lesser known works that are now out of print. One such volume was on the issue of faith.

This woman has been honored in a number of significant ways:

* Streets have been named after her in the United States, Spain and Israel

* Hospitals and schools bear her name

* She is one of a few women depicted in the United States capital. He bronze statue graces statuary hall

* Her picture graced the state quarter for Alabama

Her name – Helen Keller

Helen Keller let nothing stand in her way. We need to remember that Helen was born normally but suffered from Scarlet Fever at 19 months. The illness robbed Helen of both her sight and her hearing. Helen excelled at public speaking and became an international celebrity for her intellectual prowess and strong wit. Helen Keller accomplished more than most people who possess their hearing and eyesight.

One question that I have always asked about this remarkable woman: what made her excel? What made her achieve at such a high level?

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all – Helen Keller

The word daring means to have an adventurous spirit, to live with a fearlessness and a sense of extreme boldness. Daring means to be audacious and stubbornly courageous.

One of the greatest problems in the church today is that Christians have lost their sense of adventure. Christians have settled for a boring life when they are supposed to be living an absolute adventure. We have forgotten that the moment we accepted Christ we started an amazing adventure that leads to Heaven.

Somewhere along the way we traded excitement for monotony. Somewhere along the way we exchanged daring for dullness. Somehow we gave up courage for complacency. Somewhere along the way we gave up the dream. At some point, we stopped living and started existing.

Jesus is looking for those who would be daring on his behalf in this life. He is looking for a few brave hearts who, will stand for God. He is searching for people like you and me who will be daring enough to follow Him

Jesus is searching for people who will take up the call come follow me. Jesus is looking for people who will follow Him with a reckless abandon. He wants people who will throw caution to the wind and embark on the journey called discipleship. Jesus is searching for a few daring hearts who will fully devote themselves to Him.

If you have your Bibles with you this morning, please open them with me to 2 Timothy 1:7

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

Throughout the Bible we see characters who lived a life of incredible adventure. These people never lost the sense of daring.

* Moses led people of God through the Wilderness

* Joshua conquered the Promise Land

* John the Baptist proclaimed the way of the Lord

* Paul spent his life planting new churches

The need for daring

Timothy was facing opposition both inside and outside of the church. Timothy was young and lacked experience. He desperately needed a fresh infusion of power and courage. The term that is translated timidity literally means cowardice. This is a fundamental and complete lack of confidence in God. The reason for fear is a failure to believe that God can and will use you and empower you to do His work.

Why do we lose our daring? What drains us of our daring?

1. Fear – loss of courage

Fear is the direct opposite of faith and there is no possible way that the two can mix. The things that create fear in us will always drain faith from us. There are a number of things that Christians are afraid of and we tend to avoid these areas of fear.