Perry Noble » God Mission Wisdom Church Planting Calling

What would you be willing to attempt for God if you knew you could not fail? 

We all have them: life-changing moments, you know, the ones where the world seems to stand still and you come face to face with something that just about engulfs you.

It happened to me in August of 1999. I was having lunch with a friend/mentor of mine at Red Lobster (love their garlic cheese biscuits!) I had been restless for about six months and I knew God was pushing me towards something . . . but I wasn’t sure what. Also, I didn’t want my restlessness to turn into rebellion by me trying to force something, so I began processing with him out loud.

And then he asked me this question:

“What would you be willing to attempt for God if you knew you could not fail?”

I knew the answer—I didn’t even have to think about it—it literally just flew out of my mouth: “I would plant a church.”

He looked at me dead in the eye and said, “Then you are a coward if you don’t!”

So literally at that moment I said “yes” to the call I knew God had placed on my life. I didn’t know the answers (still don’t), I didn’t know anything about strategy or structure, didn’t know how technology would play a part of the church, didn’t know how we were going to establish leadership . . . I didn’t know a lot.

But, what I did know is that God had placed a dream inside of me to plant a church, and when Dale asked me the question I mentioned earlier it shook me and drove me to take a dive of faith.

God didn’t put us on this planet to screw around.

So. What about you? What would you be willing to attempt for God if you knew you could not fail?

If the answer isn’t, “What I am doing right now,” then I would say you need to do some serious praying and rearranging.

You see, life is short, our days are numbered, and God didn’t put us on this planet to screw around—but rather to make a difference by using what he has given us to advance his kingdom and make him famous!

Too many of us are held captive by fear—remember, he is the Most High God!!! Never let fear trump the potential God has placed in you!

Too many of us are held captive by the unknown—remember, he knows! Of course, a clear call doesn’t always guarantee our idea of success. Some plant, some water, but God is the one who gives increase, and we can trust him with every outcome, whether it looks like success or not. In the meantime, he’s called us to faithfulness.

Besides, if we have every answer to every question, then what he is commanding us to do would not require faith on our part—and where would the fun be in that?!

Never let fear trump the potential God has placed in you!

Too many of us are held captive by people who say “it” can’t be done, but if you will look at who is saying that “it,” you will discover that they aren’t actually doing anything except for trying to hold back the people God is letting loose to do ministry.

Too many of us are held captive by critics. But if you’ll notice, Jesus was criticized, and, if you haven’t ever experienced some sort of opposition throughout the history of your ministry, it could mean the enemy is pleased with you—not exactly the calling our lives should fulfill!

What would you be willing to attempt for God if you knew you could not fail?

You’ve got to beg him for revelation on this . . . and when he gives you the Word, you’ve got to act. God doesn’t reveal himself to us so that we can just “consider” it, but rather, so that we will be consumed by it and obey his voice!

By the way, if the thing that you would attempt scares you to death, if you have had sleepless nights thinking about it, if you know that failure is a sure thing unless he gets involved, then you should probably make a move—soon! (Like, maybe even right now!!!)

He’s waiting on you. Do you need to make a move?

When Dale asked me that question, I told myself, “I’ve got nothing to lose—I am going to give this a shot. I don’t want to waste my life and then look back 20 years from now and begin asking ‘what if’ questions!” (And you don’t want that for yourself either!)

What would you be willing to attempt for God if you knew you could not fail?

You’re not waiting on him—he’s waiting on you. Do you need to make a move? Share Christ with someone? Plant a church? Change careers? What is it that burns your heart and draw you to desperate dependence on him?

What would you be willing to attempt for God if you knew you could not fail? Can you imagine what the world would be like if all of us allowed that question to drive the vision for our lives?

So . . . what about it?

 

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