DANGEROUS CHRISTIANITY = HUGE REWARDS
For years God has been trying to get me to see the importance of living dangerously for Him. He’s held my feet to the fire on those rare occasions where I wanted to just live the status quo and be a moderate Christian and a comfortable pastor of a nice church. He’s demanded that I raise my faith regarding this church; it’s leadership team and our congregation. God has required that I look for those who want to ride this bus into dangerous territory. He’s also asked me to encourage those who want mere religion instead, to graciously step off at the next stop. I would prefer to loose no present participants but I must be honest with you, to obtain God’s best rewards on this earth, you’ve got to give God your best.
Last week we heard from some young and middle aged people, who lived dangerous, life threatening existences for Satan and it almost killed them. Now they boldly stood and declared they are warriors for Christ in that same world. Evil and temptation still exist but they’ve chosen God’s plan.
This year I’m commissioned by our God to bring you along with me as we are called to invest more, sacrifice more and take more risks as authentic Christ followers. If you were looking for a church that would coddle you or condone meager faith, then please be careful, because we are about to notch it up. God has assured me, if I lead you in this direction, you will experience more reward in life than you can imagine. You will be aware of the battle, but you will taste victory.
To illustrate what I mean, I want you to think of some of the most dangerous lifestyles that people choose to live. How about the fighter pilot or infantry soldier? You see it doesn’t matter what’s going on, they are always inches from explosives, weapons and mortality. Maybe you thought about skydivers, rodeo riders, coal miners, or skyscraper construction workers. Even crab fisherman and loggers have there own series on cable called Dangerous Catch and Extreme Logging.
Most dangerous jobs (most fatalities per participants) in 2006 and their compensation reward
- Fishing related workers - Average salary: $19,104
- Aircraft pilots and flight engineers - Average salary: $129,25
- Logging workers - Average salary: $22,320
- Structural iron and steel workers - Average salary: $39,168
- Garbage collectors - Average salary: $23,770
- Farmers and ranchers - Average salary: $15,603
- Electrical power-line installers and repairers - Average salary: $45,331
- Roofers - Average salary: $28,474
- Truck drivers - Average salary: $30,931
My concern today is that sadly most of you didn’t even think about placing Christianity or the ministry on your list. Likely it’s because you’ve never met anyone who lived dangerously for his or her faith and you yourself have never experienced any danger in choosing Christ over self. The reality of Scripture however, is that all who chose Christ were subjecting themselves and their families to some of the most horrific life experiences with the most extraordinary rewards. Let me read of just one such follower, the Apostle Paul.
2 Corinthians 11:23-30 …Are they servants of Christ? I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
Now let me read to you what Paul thought of the price paid compared to the reward.
Philippians 3:7-9 …But whatever was to my profit (in this world) I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
What an amazing perspective, but Paul was just one example of the cost and reward of faith in Christ. Here is a list of the outcome of those who were closest to Jesus and his followers. They entered heaven in glory and honor. Today we read their names with reverence.
✝ Stephen, Protomartyr, was stoned c. 34 A.D.
✝ James the Great (Son of Zebedee) was beheaded in 44 A.D.
✝ Philip the Apostle was crucified in 54 A.D.
✝ Matthew the Evangelist killed with a halberd (large axe) in 60 A.D.
✝ James the Just, beaten to death with a club after being crucified and stoned.
✝ Matthias was stoned and beheaded.
✝ Andrew, St. Peter's brother, was crucified.
✝ Mark was beaten to death.
✝ Peter, crucified upside-down.
✝ Apostle Paul, beheaded in Rome.
✝ Jude was crucified.
✝ Bartholomew flayed alive and crucified.
✝ Thomas the Apostle was killed with a spear.
✝ Luke the Evangelist was hung.
✝ Simon the Zealot was crucified in 74 A.D.
The cost of true and authentic Christianity is extraordinary and you should consider these truths before you move forward. Now let me read of a more recent follower who lived in a dangerous world and chose to live with a mighty courage because of the reward offered by God.
After they all had been tried, found guilty, and sentenced to die, twenty-six Christians were marched to the place where crudely made crosses stood. Almost three months earlier, they had been arrested in Kyoto, Japan, and charged with following Christ. One of the convicts was named Ibaragi Kun.
Seeing how young Kun was, an official took him aside and urged him to recant his faith to have his life. Looking the official in the eye, Kun said confidently, “Sir, it would be far better if you yourself became a Christian. Then you could go to heaven with me.”
The officer stared, startled by the young man’s faith. Finally, Ibaragi asked, “Sir, which cross is mine?”
The bewildered official pointed to the smallest of the twenty-six crosses. Young Kun ran to the cross, knelt before it, and embraced it. When the soldiers began to nail his hands and feet to the cross, he did not cry out in pain. He courageously accepted the path God had laid out for him.
The crucifixion of the twenty-six Christians on November 23, 1596, was the beginning of a period of intense persecution of Christians in Japan. Over the next seventy years, as many as one million Japanese Christians would be killed for their faith. Many would embrace their own crosses to follow the example of Ibaragi Kun, a very mature twelve-year old boy.
Scripture: Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example of the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 1Timothy 4:12
Excerpt taken from “Extreme Devotion book (Jesus Freaks) “The Voice of the Martyrs”
How is it that these I’ve mentioned are so gutsy and so much a warrior compared to how faith is lived out in many of our circles in America? You might say that they had an oppressive government that forced them to live dangerously. You might say they had to, because they were surrounded by lost people who were far from God. I would ask you today; will we wait until America is more oppressed or lead by more evildoers? Will we wait until more evil people have a voice in our lives? Nothing in Scripture encourages us to wait. We are called to be bold, be courageous and live in strong faith no matter what our environment.
God is waiting for us to stand up in the midst of our world and live and proclaim His good news.
✓ Say no to peers that want to drag you into the pit with them
✓ Give God full access to your treasure chest
✓ In a dispute with your spouse – be the first to seek forgiveness
✓ In your place of employment – give more than is asked of you
✓ In a mutual relationship - seek to serve rather than be served
✓ When pressured by an authority – look for ways to be respectful
This year is about the huge rewards for dangerous living. Today God is telling you that if you chose this path you will obtain a righteousness that comes through faith in Christ.
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