Jesus loved the reckless!

The David Alliance [email protected] Garth Heckman What if when conquered does not follow a natural growth pattern.The pattern isn't linear, it's exponential — the breakthrough FROM WHAT IF is slow and doubted and mocked, but once it actually happens, everything after it moves faster than anyone predicted. The years of ridicule aren't proof it won't work — they're often the price of admission for something that changes everything once it finally lifts off. YOUR FAITH WALK IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF “WHAT IFS” XNY is supposed to be hard. That causes us to be dependent on God! "A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." -- Christopher Reeve **A faith walking power filled Christian is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming WHAT IF’S. What if - is always asked in a negative lens. But what if… (see what I did there) what if we looked at it in a Godly mindset. What if God has something better for me, What if God is preparing me for something better, What if God wants me to fully realize how in control he is, What if God is keeping me from harm or pain. Scripture is full of people who had every reason to quit right before their breakthrough. ***the obstacle MAY HAVE came from Jesus/God directly, from other people, or from circumstances. The Syrophoenician/Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:21-28) — you already have this one. Told her miracle wasn't for "dogs," but she reframed her request instead of walking away, and Jesus called her faith “great.” She does not allow her standing or her reputation keep her from pushing in. Jairus (Mark 5:21-43) — while he was leading Jesus to his dying daughter, messengers arrived saying she was already dead: "Why troublest thou the Master any further?" Jesus told him not to fear, only believe — Jairus could have stopped right there, assuming it was too late. He does not let reality of the situation keep him from pushing in. The nobleman whose son was dying (John 4:46-53) — Jesus initially responds almost dismissively ("Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe"), before the man presses his request again — and his son is healed at that exact hour. He did not let second guessed motives keep him from pushing in. People discouraged by the crowd Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52) — the crowd told him to be quiet; he cried out louder. You've got this one too, but worth noting there's a parallel account of two blind men in Matthew 20:29-34 with the same "crowd rebuked them, they cried out more" pattern. They did not let the crowd deter them from pushing in The paralytic and his four friends (Mark 2:1-12) — the house was so packed they couldn't get through the door. They could have gone home; instead they tore open the roof. Great picture of persistence on someone else's behalf. These four friends have a “what if” moment. In the greek this is specifically speaking of the friends and not the paralytic. So it was completely up to the friends to push through the what if moment. Having friends who do not give up pushing through… doing whatever it takes. Literally pushing through the roof. AND - The friend letting them - not worried about being disappointed~ Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10) — too short to see over the crowd. Could have given up and gone home; instead he climbed a tree, and Jesus called him down by name. He did not let his own physical limitations keep him from pushing through. People discouraged by their own circumstances The woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25-34) — twelve years of bleeding, spent everything on physicians, and "grew worse" instead of better. Statistically, faith should have run out. She pressed through a crowd anyway to touch His hem. A lack of results did not keep her from pushing through. Having to break the law Embarrassment did not stop her