Lecture Notes: Navigating the Realm of Risk

Introduction

• Speaker: Jason Stedman
• Theme: Navigating the Realm of Risk
• Purpose: Encouragement to risk more for the kingdom of God.

Key Concepts

Understanding Risk in Faith

• Faith as Risk: Without faith (risk), it's impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
• Routine vs. Risk: Routine is predictable; risk requires stepping out.

Steps to Navigating Risk

1. Leaving the Routine

• Routine is the enemy of taking risks.
• Challenge: Move beyond comfort zones for the kingdom.

2. Recognize Revelation

• Revelation Tools:
  • Primary: The Bible
  • Secondary: Holy Spirit through dreams, visions, prophecy.

3. God Uses Regular People

• Biblical Reference: Ananias in Acts 9.
• God chooses ordinary people like Ananias to accomplish His purposes.

4. Readiness to Hear

• God often calls unexpected individuals.
• Repetition is God's method to capture attention (Ananias vs. Saul).

5. Human Reason and Divine Call

• Initial human response is often resistance.
• Ananias hesitated due to fear but was reassured by God.

6. Repetition as Confirmation

• God's repeated calls confirm His will.
• Necessary for building confidence to take risks.

7. Release and Action

• Action follows assurance; Ananias took a risk.
• Faith requires tangible steps.

8. Receiving the Reward

• Eternal acknowledgment in God's kingdom for faith acts.

Personal Illustration

• Story of Jan: Demonstrates personal risk-taking and obedience to God's repeated call.
• Illustrates the power of faith and reward through obedience.

Conclusion

• Faith in Action: Encouragement to step out and take risks.
• God speaks through repetition and uses ordinary individuals for extraordinary purposes.
• Challenge: To influence the world by leaving routine and embracing risk for God's kingdom.

Application

• Open yourself up to the Holy Spirit.
• Be willing to act on God’s call, even when it stretches beyond comfort.
• Seek God’s vision and pursue His purpose relentlessly.