Tag:

risk-taking

Time To Take A Risk

by Christian Learning November 14, 2022

written by Christian Learning

I wanna talk to you today about risk taking. This is something that people frequently shy away from, especially when it comes to sharing their faith. But I remember this story from when I was really young. It was the first time I’d ever shared the gospel with anybody. I was about eight years old and I was in the childcare section at my mom’s gym. My mom was going to a workout class, and I felt the Lord prompt me to tell the nursery worker that Jesus loved her so much, and that He was gonna figure out the problem that she was facing.

And so, being an eight year old, I didn’t really have context for, you know, what that really could mean for somebody. So I just felt, you know what? I’m gonna jump out there and I’m gonna take that risk. Okay? So I jumped out there, took that risk. My mom actually came to the nursery to pick us up, and the lady broke down in tears and my mom led her to the Lord in that moment. And that was the first marking moment that I ever remember in my life thinking, “You know what? Not everybody knows Jesus.” It marked me deeply.

So fast forward 20 years, I remember that I was on an outreach and I was really nervous because the Lord was telling me to tell this lady that He loved her. But I felt really nervous. And I’m like almost 30 years old here. I should be able to share the love of Jesus with someone, right? And let me tell you, when I took that risk, that woman was so touched that day. And when she gave her life to the Lord in the middle of this strip mall in the middle of my tiny little town in New Bern, North Carolina. When she connected with Jesus for the first time and felt His love, I can’t even express to you how good the feeling felt that I had stepped out in faith. I had stepped out and taken a risk where I did not feel comfortable, but the Lord made up the difference. And I began to realize that risk taking has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with the person, or the mission on the other side of that fear of the risk that I’m taking.

So if you are feeling the Lord’s prompting to take a risk to do something big, wild or crazy, let me just encourage you. You have the ability to say, “yes,” and your “yes” is powerful. And God loves it when we take risks because He likes to make up the difference.

So Jesus, I just thank you right now for this time together that we’ve had. I thank you for the word that you’ve spoken to us about taking risks and that you are going to be our safety net. So we choose today to say, “yes” to the risk. We choose today to say, “yes” to your promises and your plans. And we choose today to say, “no” to fear. We don’t partner with fear, we partner with you, Holy Spirit, and you mount us up as wings on eagles, Lord. And we partner with that. We believe that today. And we say thank you, God, that even if we’ve said “yes” to a risk situation and we’re in the middle of that and we’re feeling the turbulence, I say peace in the name of Jesus. And I say, breakthrough in the name of Jesus. Thank you, Father, that you are moving us into greater glory on glory, on glory, on glory, and that we can trust you to always make up the difference. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Prophetic Word: “It’s FINAL JEOPARDY! Will We Seize the Supernatural Opportunity?”

by Robert Henderson May 25, 2018

written by Robert Henderson

Most people in America would be familiar with the long running television game show JEOPARDY with host Alex Trebek. The show’s concept is that an “answer” is stated and the contestants then respond with the “question”. For instance, the “answer” might be: “This man was the first President of the United States.” The correct response would be, “Who is George Washington?”

Each correct response allows the contestants to increase in money and earnings. Each incorrect response causes players to lose the money. The person with the most money wins the game. The game is broken up into three rounds, Jeopardy, Double Jeopardy and Final Jeopardy. Each round increases in money value so that as the game progresses hopefully more and more money is accumulated. The ‘Final Jeopardy’ round is where the players can risk up to all of their money to try and win the game.

A Prophetic Dream—It’s Time to Stretch and Risk!

In a very prophetic dream I had I was watching as three players were in the Final Jeopardy. I watched as each player made their wager and gave their answers. Each player got the answer correct. The last player who gave their response however, risked the most money and therefore won the game.

As I awoke I was aware that the Lord was speaking. He said to me, “In the Church and the world we have entered a season of Final Jeopardy. (I am not speaking of some “End Time” theology but rather a season and period in the Spirit where clear decisions must be made.) In Final Jeopardy it is the stage of the game where not only is it important to get the right answer, but the risk taken must be sufficient to win. Whoever takes the biggest risk wins. The Lord is challenging us and stretching us to move in faith in these seasons. Even in the face of danger, we are willing to believe Him and His word.

Crisis OR Opportunity?

I was aware that the word crisis from the Latin can mean dangerous opportunity. In these times of dangerous opportunities we must not shrink back. Hebrews chapter 10 and verses 37 and 38 tells us that God has no pleasure in those who draw back. “For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

We cannot allow the danger of the moment to cause us to miss the opportunity before us. The Lord is presenting opportunities to many. However, there is a risk attached to these opportunities. It could even be said to be dangerous. If we allow the danger to override the opportunity before us, we can miss the very purpose we were created for. This is what happened to the children of Israel as they came to the border of Canaan to cross over. (Numbers 14: 26-33) After the spies returned because of the walled cities, iron chariots and giants the people refused to go in and possess the land. Even though it was a land “flowing with milk and honey” they allowed the danger to cause them to miss the opportunity. The result was a wandering in the wilderness for another generation.

“The Decisions Made in This Time Will Determine the Future for a Long Time!”

I believe we are in a similar time. We are being presented opportunities of a lifetime that will have generational impact! Should we allow the danger to persuade us that the risk is too big, God may have to wait for another generation to arise and step up to the assignment. We are in FINAL JEOPARDY. I was aware in the dream that the decisions made in this time will determine the future for a long time. The decision of the 10 spies and their influence upon the nation caused a nation to wander for 40 years. We are in a dangerous moment of opportunity. We must make decisions born out of faith and not doubt. We must have “another spirit” like Caleb and Joshua had in this moment. (Numbers 14:24) Otherwise we can miss this time.

In my dream everyone had the right answers. I believe as a church we have the right answers. I believe the issue is one of faith that will allow us to believe God and take the necessary risks. The issue was would there be a big enough risk taken to win.

Three strategies to “play to win” in this Final Jeopardy we are in.

1 – We must realize the season we are in. I was aware in this dream that perhaps we had been faced with similar decisions in times past. However, because it was Final Jeopardy this time and the outcome would be different.

It is very similar to Peter fishing all night and catching nothing. (Luke 5: 4-11) When Jesus however tells him to launch out into the deep and let down his net a great catch was secured. The difference was the season of the spirit he was in. The word of the Lord changed the season. This is what Song of Solomon 2: 10-13 declares. “My beloved spoke, and said to me: ‘Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grapes. Give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away!'”

The voice of the Bridegroom changed the season. Winter was past and the rain was gone. Once the Bridegroom spoke everything shifted. When Jesus spoke the previous season of the night before—the time of barrenness and unfruitfulness—ended. The new season of extravagant fruit through this new catch began. We are in Final Jeopardy. What didn’t work before will work now. This only occurs if we can see past the danger and see into the moment God is granting us.

2- Ask the right, Kingdom questions. In the game of Jeopardy the correct answers must be phrased in a question. I believe one of the keys to winning in this time is to ask the right questions. So often we are asking the wrong things. Pastors ask how they can see their church grow. The right question is “How can we expand the Kingdom influence into our culture?” Business people ask, “How can we make money?” The right question is “How can we serve our community and meet a necessary need.” We must ask the right questions as it relates to the purposes of God. Our questions reveal the motive of our hearts, which is very important to the Lord.

3- Exercise Faith, Take Risk, Believe God. Finally, we must be willing to exercise a realm of faith to take a risk and believe God. Real faith always causes us to lay our lives down and trust the Lord. Real faith is willing to declare that even if it doesn’t work, it’s a joy to believe and place my entire hope in Him. This is not to say we do unwise or silly things. We however are willing to believe the word of God and know He cannot fail. We are willing to step out onto the water, because we have heard Him say, “Come”. (Matthew 14: 28-29)

We are in Final Jeopardy. May the Lord help us in our weakness to hear Him clearly and move in faith to take the necessary risks. Our future, the church’s future and the future of nations can hang in the balance. Is there a people who will believe God and see past the danger to the potential of this time? Lord help me, I want to be one!

Robert Henderson is the Apostolic Leader of Global Reformers, a worldwide apostolic family of over 100,000 Kingdom leaders and 7 Mountains influencers. He is also author of the best-selling Operating in the Courts of Heaven series. Learn more about his ministry at roberthenderson.org

You can watch Robert Henderson’s interview with GOD TV CEO, Ward Simpson on Today With Ward.

May 25, 2018 0 comments

Faith

Stretch Out. 5 Ways You Can Reach Further This Year

by Jermaine Francis February 2, 2018

written by Jermaine Francis

Stretch Out

The enemy has been circling in and trying to cause us to shrink back and narrow our territory and impact. Isaiah 54:2 is a key verse in 2018 as God breaks through the boundaries in our lives:

“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.”

It’s a season to stretch our faith out for more. Expand our tent pegs beyond our limitations. We must not settle but push forward for the greater. God is calling us to grow. It’s time to enlarge our territory and sphere of influence.

Reach farther than where you have reached before. Grab your tent peg and rip it out of the ground of comfort. Plant it in the place that seems impossible. Put your tent peg in a spot that makes you uncomfortable and uncertain. God will meet you in the area of uncertainty in this season. Go for the big. Reach beyond your comfort zone.

Canon Andrew White, The Vicar of Baghdad, was given this advice: “Don’t take care, take risk.” God is calling us not to take care, but take a risk. We all are comfortable to operate at a certain level. It’s usually at a place that doesn’t require us to take a risk. God wants us to take a risk in 2018.

If you have desired to start a business, create a ministry, or run for political office, this is your time to leap. The thing that God has put in your heart, go after it. It’s not coming to you. It’s your time to press and reach for it.

Appointed time for Breakthrough
In Luke 8:40-56 we see the story of the woman with the issue of blood.

In verse 42 we see that Jairus’ daughter was 12 years old and in verse 43 we see that this woman had her issue for 12 years. The moment that this lady’s problem started, God had her solution in mind. The thing that would position her for breakthrough and a miracle was born. She had to wait until her appointed time to reach out to Jesus and to receive her breakthrough and miracle. It was her faith that she had to stretch out to receive it.

God has a breakthrough this year for you that He has pre-ordained. In this season God is waiting for you to step out and experience what He was set up for this moment in your life. God has called us to partner and work with Him, not just for Him. He wants to share His power with us in a greater way, but we have to meet Him in faith.

5 Areas to Stretch Out in 2018

1 Reach out in Surrender
This is a time to give up more of ourselves to receive more of Him.
God is multiplying our surrender. To the degree we reach, He is reaching back with double. Give him what He is asking for and He will give you what you are asking twice as much.

2 Reach out for the Presence
We have been conditioned for the presence of God at a certain level. God wants to take us deeper into His presence and cause us to experience Him. God is expanding the capacity to experience Him. Don’t look back to the glory days, look ahead and reach for the glory that is coming.

3 Reach out in the Word
God wants to bring forth fresh insight and revelation as you read His Word. God is releasing new life to your as you read the scriptures this year.

4 Reach out in New Opportunities
God is bringing new opportunities to your reach. Stretch out and grab them when they come by. New jobs, new business ideas, new levels of promotion.

5 Reach out in Faith
God is growing your faith this year. Dormant faith will not grow, but active faith will grow leaps and bounds.

The greater reaching you do in this season, the greater level of reward you will receive. There is an invitation to step into the unknown. Run to the risk God is drawing you to, it will produce miracles for you.

February 2, 2018 0 comments