How is your Faith leading you to RISK more?

I recently read  a brief article about John Wimber's life and ministry. You can check it out here. The article describes Wimber as "God's Risk-Taking Santa Claus"! John had quite an impact upon my early life as a Christ-follower and always remember him using this oft-repeated quote, 'faith is spelled R.I.S.K.' 

I have been pondering the subject of faith a lot recently, and shared some of this at the council meeting we had this week. By the way, we are blessed as a community to have a council of such faithful and dedicated people who put in a lot of time and effort, often behind the scenes, but who genuinely care for the welfare of this community and who love the Lord deeply. It is a joy to serve with them and there is a real sense of unity and togetherness in our meetings. Please pray for them as they deliberate some significant issues that relate to us all.Anyway, back to "Faith" and what it is the Lord Jesus is calling us to a a missional people.

In Luke 17:33 Jesus says, "Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it." This verse challenges us to contemplate our response to God's gracious offer of eternal life. Yes, we receive the gift through faith, but it's a faith that is willing to put everything on the line ... our reputation, our health, our possessions, our time, perhaps even our very life ... for the sake of the Kingdom of God, that Jesus suggests will obtain the true gift of life.

Kingdom living calls for us to take such bold, Spirit-empowered risks for the sake of the King. It means being willing to trade at times our need for comfort, for security, for control and the myriad of other things that cry out for our attention, and to pursue the adventure of faith.Many people in Port Alberni are blinded to the truth of the Gospel, held captive by an often unseen enemy. But we have been entrusted with a message that has the power to unlock and remove the chains that bind them. We have been richly blessed by the Father, who has poured his Spirit and His love into our hearts and lives. With the Spirit comes an anointing for risky, faith-filled ministry and service where we get to proclaim and demonstrate the good news of the Kingdom of God. To testify about Jesus, his life, crucifixion and resurrection from the dead and how our lives have been touched and changed by the very power of God that can save them too.

We are invited along the risky faith journey that many have taken before us, choosing to love deeply a few and allow ourselves to be loved in return as a testimony to the life of Jesus within us. So how is the Lord leading you? Is faith rising in your heart or is fear causing you to shrink back? Who are you choosing to walk alongside and pray with and pray for until the breakthrough comes? Ask the Lord Jesus himself to align your heart with one or two other faithful followers of His and see where the journey takes you.

I am with you always is His promise .. we are in this together!

With love and prayers,

Pastor Mike.