1 Samuel 14:8-15 – 8 “All right then,” Jonathan told him. “We will cross over and let them see us. 9 If they say to us, ‘Stay where you are or we’ll kill you,’ then we will stop and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come on up and fight,’ then we will go up. That will be the Lord’s sign that he will help us defeat them.” 11 When the Philistines saw them coming, they shouted, “Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of their holes!” 12 Then the men from the outpost shouted to Jonathan, “Come on up here, and we’ll teach you a lesson!” “Come on, climb right behind me,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “for the Lord will help us defeat them!” 13 So they climbed up using both hands and feet, and the Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer killed those who came behind them. 14 They killed some twenty men in all, and their bodies were scattered over about half an acre. 15 Suddenly, panic broke out in the Philistine army, both in the camp and in the field, including even the outposts and raiding parties. And just then an earthquake struck, and everyone was terrified. (New Living Translation)

What a Risk-Taker Does

1. A risk-taker removes the cloak of ________________

Many of us choose the cloak of invisibility to avoid:

➢ _________________________________

➢ _________________________________

2. A risk-taker knows there’s no such thing as “_______ – ____________”

The ‘fail-safe’ paradigm says

➢ There’s no chance of ___________________________

➢ At the same time, we are guaranteed ________________

3. A risk-taker ___________________ between “once upon a time” and “happily ever after”

In between “once upon a time” and “happily ever after” is called “_____________”

2 Corinthians 11:23-28 – 23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. 28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. (New Living Translation)

Risk-takers living in the ‘now’–

➢ Have a passion for God’s ______________________

➢ Have a willingness to subjugate themselves to God’s _________________________

4. What risks are you and I willing to take right now?