Risk Takers

1775 the middle of it-- there was a stir in the waters off seaport in Boston ships Europe were just up the shore and we're closing in on the town a silversmith who resided near the water saw the clamoring of sails and heard the noises that came from the sailing vessels that were positioned in the harbor the man prepared his horse and rode into the hide down on the streets of the city with a strong declaration of an alert the British are coming the British are coming Paul Revere we have come to know was his as he rode with a fearless ride warning to his name friends that were living in the area the sound of this warning shout gave the people extra time that was needed so they could prepare themselves for the imminent attack that was coming to them of course you and I owe this to be a very important story in the history of the United States of America Paul's midnight ride is etched in history it count gives us an insight into the life of this particular risk-taker someone who ignores the oncoming pressure but takes action 18:08 on Windy Beach of the state of North Carolina a group of men stood in utter amazement a couple of brothers had labored and tinkered for many years with ideas of air movements in gusts wind these two young men were dangerously unaware of the possibilities in likelihood of a mishap they tried and they tried attempts after attempts they failed but on this particular day it would be different with the right amount of wind with the correct position and attitude the winged contraption began to lift as it made its way down the beaches of Kitty Hawk Orville and Wilbur Wright would be known as inventors who made the first flight on an airplane on US soil they too were risk takers they looked into the face of the uncertain and they charged ahead anyway stay with me it was the late 1400s there was much speculation as to trade routes from one part of the world to another Europe was in this position in search of a better way to get from point A to point B with goods so a good seat and even at times and irresponsible adventurer came up with a plan Asia was beginning to become great business and opportunities were there if you could simply get from point A to point B trade routes were the key to the business success the ability to get merchandise from here to there was imperative a ship owner made a deal with the powers that be at a time that he would set sail with a crew and he would find a route that was quicker and easier to get from there into Asia painting the ships made their way into the dark waters they had heard stories of it discoverers of the trips that had been taken only to find their fate to be sealed at the bottom of the oceans the desire was to find a better way this hunger calls the young Christopher Columbus to attempt this trip so after weeks and weeks of sailing and near-death experiences the men landed on an island then they continued West to discover a land that was not talked about yet because it was new and it was a new world this risk-taker Christopher Columbus was one who discovered as you and I know a new way of life we could go up and we could go on about all of the history and how the books unfolded in your history classes without consideration of their health or well-being many times without good common sense risk takers they were the ones who established where you and I stand even today a risk it's something that we understand to expose oneself to hazard or injury to put oneself in danger or exposure a risk something that some of us look for and we hunger for how many I like to take risks I mean he don't care now many of us we shy away from him the unknown for some of us is very difficult to embrace that possibility though of the unknown drives some folk to embrace it and to look for it and run for it history is riddled with those who sat in a seat of comfort and let the world go by day in and stay out no real discomfort no big choices to make about what they would do or where they would be but there are others out there who took it beyond the walls here what I'm saying today they searched out what was not concrete or established they said to themselves they're an opportunity waiting for me and I'm gonna go follow after him for the most of us the simple day today routine is very basic you get up in the morning you get your cup Joe you're off to work with a list of things to do after work you will comp accomplish the task of the day while you're on the clock then you head home and you keep tabs on everything as you till you get home it's called life look at your neighbors say life it works it feels good to have the stability of the same old same old it's hard to beat a system that brings the same result no thought no chance of messing it up but risk takers say it differently they say it by its very Road out there that is less traveled that's the one I'm taken they embrace the strange tasting cup of coffee they seek out the foods that nobody else wants to eat and they look for them they're risk takers they look past the possible food poisoning and they eat a meal anyway they're risk takers they give up the normal life of the same-old same-old and it brings excitement to them - no there's another adventure out there beyond these walls up the risk-takers not all of us are built that way but please keep in mind that what you enjoy today in your slow paced world is all because somebody took a risk think of it paint the first fried egg hey see that thing right there fell out from under that bird go pick it up crack it throw in the pan flip it over then eat it in the runny yellow stuff inside and the solid white stuff outside and beside that grab some toast and solve it up come on somebody had to take a risk think of God drank the first glass of milk see that white stuff that little cows drinking up under that big cow go over there and pull on that thing gather a pet liquid put it in the glass set it in the fridge let it chill for a while get it out and drink it better yet grab a cookie dip it in there somebody took a risk now I know it many times just being normal is okay but there are times somebody hear the preacher right now that there's something out there that's unheard of that something that has yet to be chartered somebody in this room under the sound of my voice there's something inspired of you that saying this books are gonna write about this guy Wow because in history is where the risk takers are talked about it's so wanna was the mountain climber it's the one that was the first bull runner it's long Tanna there's a risk involved count me in now there's a whole lot of us that love to read the stories about risk takers I'm standing here on this Memorial Day weekend and I salute every veteran I salute those who never made it home they paid a price so that you and I today could lift hands in a room full of people of like precious faith many have taken the risk in the past and because of them but I can stand here today and worship history books talk of Audie Murphy history book talk of others sergeant York if you will Alvin York talks of the others that I spoke about just a moment ago but I stand here today to talk about others who were risk takers Joel and Melba Austin risk takers came to Chattanooga to started church no thought for the unknown only a desire to move past the comforts of a retired life and poured themselves into planning a church you and I friend are results of risk takers that came into this community and started a church risk-takers their old sister Frances a dear Saint who used to use flannelgraph to teach the bible lessons in her little sunday school class she bring them to life with paper with crayon a risk taker who took time to invest in little towheaded boy i stand here today because she was a risk taker she didn't have to tolerate the banter and the questions of a child but she did a risk taker said I'm willing to pull something in this boy I don't even know if he'll make anything of himself but I stand here today because of risk takers somebody understand the reason you're in the presence of holy God is because somebody look past the fear each of you in your past you have a risk-taker look at your neighbors say somebody prayed for you somebody invested in you unsure of the outcome endure the difficulties but today you are who you are because somebody took risk allow me a moment if you will to go to the book of Hebrews it's in your New Testament chapter number 11 I know all of you have heard or have had acquaintance with portions or maybe all of this particular book of faith I stand here today to tell you Abel was a risk taker Enoch was a risk taker Noah was a risk taker here me somebody Abraham was a risk taker let me stop for a moment there ain't no way in God's green earth that a man could stand up and say me and the boy are going to worship and we'll come back there ain't no way he could have stood there and said I'm going through a mountain and I'm gonna make a sacrifice it's gonna be my boy but it's gonna be all right there is no way that a human being can do it but he was a risk taker he was willing to take if I get up on this mountain with my boy it's a knife and with the fire I believe God himself why because something family faith Sarah was a risk-taker by faith Isaac was a risk-taker we're in Hebrews chapter 11 by faith make up what the risk taker by faith Joseph was a risk taker by faith Moses stop this is a man who understood what it was like to live in the big house then to choose to suffer with this people to know and understand there's over that God had called him for a purpose he was a risk taker by faith the children of Israel they were risk takers my Phaedra have she was a risk taker by faith giddy and my faith Bharath my faith Samson by David Samuel Hebrews chapter 12 verse number one wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross the shame in a set down at the right hand of the throne of God risk-takers there's a cloud of witnesses folk that will say because somebody had faith in God this happened to me they believed that something great could happen even in the uncomfortable they took a risk and they laid it all on the line they believed that God somehow someway but give thee out that would bring honor and glory there is no way friend that a true risk-taker knows what he or she is getting into you do realize that some risk takers die you do realize that some who climb mountains taking a risk they never come off of the mountain you do realize that some when they risk opening a business or when they look at doing something with a company and it fails and it flops on the ground but there is no way to know the outcome unless they take the risk here this preacher for just a moment this afternoon if you're here today and your life was full of sorrow and strife if you are watching online right now and you've got voids and you've got things in your life that is causing you to weep at night and wonder where is the future where is the sense in all of this I look to you right now and I reach for you and I say come on take a chance on Jesus Christ it might be that it's gonna be difficult for you for a moment here with I'm saying but if you'll look to Jesus Christ he is the answer he is the way he's the truth and he's the life I won't take a chance on him come on I'm telling somebody in the name of Jesus Charlie he can satisfy your soul only he is the one that can change your life I know that his love will make away know that he can look past you and forgive you of I know that he can wash you and make you new again I know that if you'll take a chance on G he preacher this is strange what you're telling me this is it like all the other places that I've experienced I tell you it's because the love of Jesus is worth taking a chance on the old-timers sing a song of the night they walk the aisle the night that they decided it was no longer worth trying to do what they could do but instead they would submit their lives to Jesus come on your old country music songs are full other talking about the house of God walking down the aisle and spending time with the Lord but I know the new stuff don't some of y'all young folk don't get it but they used to talk about that there's something going on you know there's things happening you know the old timers used to sing just a lot of talk with Jesus make it right anybody remember that also the reason thing that is because they realize conversing with the Lord sometimes is a risk but beats going out of your mind any day mmm come on you need to know something right now then it might not see normal to you but your hurt and your confusion that you are living in right now hear what I'm saying can turn good boy in the knowledge of the love of Jesus Christ hear what I'm saying heaven can be in your future make your call and election secure you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt that if you hiding or sleep tonight your name can be written in the Lamb's gilad and you can hear him say risk-takers right history the unknown become the known the uncertain become the secure listen to me carefully John chapter number 14 one of the Gospels in verse number two it says this my father's house are many mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there you may be also Jesus has come to bring us life here what I'm saying right now brothers wrong would you come but Jesus is coming back they take us to a new home called heaven he has gone to prepare a place for those who make themselves ready I want admonish somebody today would trust his plan you don't need to reinvent the plan of salvation it's already been established in the word you don't need to read look or reconsider at possibilities of of maybe somehow making it into heaven if you could just do it this way or arm-wrestle that way no for him Jesus paid the price on Calvary for every single one of us the blood that He shed is more than enough to wash away and cover your sins I don't know if anybody remembers the day that you walk the aisle I don't know if anybody in here can in that back in your mind where you can say I once was lost in sin Jesus and then a little light from heaven filled my soul baby anybody know it my heart in loving he wrote my name above come on you know the old song and just a little talk with Jesus I ask you today if you're on line if you're sitting here in person when's the last time you had that conversation with the master or there's a whole lot going on and I got a whole bunch of questions and I'm tired and weary of the confusion and all the murmuring and all the gibberish in our world listen to me every website you click on every news channel you look at every Hollywood prepared video or movie or whatever it is it's pointing to something that's not going to serve you for eternity do you realize that in heaven there is order there are gates there are streets there are mansions anybody like order but when it talks about Hell and believe it or not the Bible talks more about Hell what does it say it's a pit in fact the only description that the translators could come up with was what it's bottomless weeping wailing gnashing of teeth feign sorrow discomfort doesn't sound at all like a place I want to go but see I'm a risk taker brother Lorenzo I'm a risk taker I'm a risk to success on this world for my heavenly home I'm a risk what what what I can't get I'm honest how you know what lordy I don't matter anyway you know I ain't have to guess the best the greatest the fastest whatever but you know what Lord I'm on time you know what I'm gonna throw it down anyway in everything and anything that I might be blessed with when I get into heaven I'm gonna throw it at your feet Lord because I'm a risk-taker I believed in the old rugged cross and it made the difference in my life I believed in the power of a risen Savior and it raised me up when I was dead in my sin somebody I believed in the healing miracle of the name of Jesus and when I should have been dead healing came to me you know I'm talking about somebody come on I should have been in a wheelchair somebody pushing me around but the healing virtue of the Holy Ghost came in the I a believer in that I'm thankful for parents that were risk takers that said you know what I want them to be successful on planet Earth but I want their neck to be in the book of life up there I want to teach him to go to the church house I want to instruct them how to pray and fast I want my kids to know they're either get it look and if you can do that I wanted my kids to know I still want them to know jesus loves you Jesus not for you Almond dad the greatest gift you could give your children is their ability to take a risk Lord everything on earth has no value if I don't value you first I want you to stand all over the place if you're watching online I want you to bow your head right now come on let's pray church together in the name of Jesus come on church let's pray together in the name of Jesus come on lift your voice to the Lord right now Lord I believe in you I trust in here there's a whole lot Lord that I may or may not understand but one thing Lord that I choose to do today is believe in your word come on the altars up and right oh it's prep your time some of you need to be risk-takers today come on your friends might say one thing your family might be pointing the finger at you come on the one standing next you might be giggled laughing hey that's funny yeah that won't be laughing when they're uploaded a head over heels inhale with me and you're standing there standing in the presence of a holy God come up be a risk-taker Lord I'm willing to give everything to you today I'm willing to taste it in your care Lord I'm willing like Moses did I'm willing like Abraham did I'm willing Lord like Sarah did I'm willing like basic 10 I'm whipping Lord Jesus like Gideon did I'm willing like Abel and Enoch and Noah and Abraham I'm willing like Joseph and Jacob I'm willing with God to do in the name of Jesus come on it's prayer time come on somebody you come to the altar in you pray lift BOTS lift your hands to the kidney Jesus I believe in you Jesus I believe in you do havior I believe in you I trust in you come on Frank boys to it live true to him literacy studies us I believe that you have the answers or savior of my soul light trust you I believe in you right now come on that tried if you're watching a line pray you can feel down right there your living room on your job wherever you are you can pray the name of Jesus I trap I give it all the ugh I wanna believe I'm laying down I'm gonna take you up on your offense loose whenever with them Lord I'm coming to you Lord I'm coming to you Lord I'm coming to you Jesus I'm coming Oh College yeah Lord bless my bro but the Word of God will move in there come on in the name of Jesus the Holy Ghost is written Lord Jesus we are thankful today for the power of the Spirit of God for your power your anointing in your unction we still believe in the word heaven is near or today than it's ever been you're coming Lord is sooner than it's ever been I pray God that your drawing hand the hearts of men and women more closer to you of young people of children closer to me we stand on your word Lord if you're lifted up you'll draw me in your name Lord I plead your blood right now over this church over this church family our online family community god I pray for them I believe Lord that Angels have charged over your people and Lord you can lead and guide us every step that we take blessed be the rock of our salvation blessed be the strong tower blessed be the Prince of Peace blessed be Jehovah Rapha blessed be Jehovah Jesus is there a risk-taker in the house right now that'll step a little closer to him come on little closer to it Jesus oh Jesus I need you I love you Jesus I believe in you can we give the Lord a hand clap a phrase together we love you Jesus come on clap your hands too and we love you Lord we applaud you Jesus because you are great and greatly to be praised