"a dangerous place of vulnerable compassion"
When we dare to do what we could never do without Christ. We have been called to adventure. Think of Abraham, Jonah, Ruth, Moses and the Disciples. We have also been called to adventure. You can watch but unless you get off the couch you aren't living it. Be a doer.
You have been called!
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
God tells us to Go! And we aren't to stop until the end of the age.
We were made for this!
"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10
God has a job for you to do.
"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:12
Fight! Take hold!
Ready
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Matthew 6:33
Set
"So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." Galatians 3:26-27
Go!
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Matthew 16:24
"Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." John 12:26
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2
You gotta push through the resistance or you won't get stronger.
Don't be surprised by challenges
How you deal with challenges is the point.
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." 1 Peter 4:12-13
Our race will be challenged. The world and the devil don't like us following Jesus. Don't be surprised by troubles.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4
When you have resistance push through it. This is the way you grow. To get better you have to do something hard -- grow.
Challenges
"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,"
2 Timothy 3:12-14
"That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10
If you aren't feeling resistance, you aren't pushing hard enough. Be a threat to satan and the world system. If I don't feel push back I need to push harder.
Strength
"I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
"You have been a refuge for the poor,
a refuge for the needy in their distress,
a shelter from the storm
and a shade from the heat.
For the breath of the ruthless
is like a storm driving against a wall" Isaiah 25:4
"Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”"
Matthew 19:26
Jesus has already broke open the path for us. We just need to follow Him.
Fear not!
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”" Joshua 1:9
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Stand firm...
"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:57-58
Commit!
Don't hesitate. We will not be effective if we aren't committed. We must be all in.
Never separated, always conquerors!
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[a]
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39
Why not Go when God says go?
"Trail magic" God has some for you!