Genesis 12 1-9Everything in life has an element of risk: food, drinks, clothes, transportation, relationship, job etc—at every moment, its either we take the risk and expect results or don’t and expect nothing—–no venture, no success.What is Risk? An activity, course that involves uncertain danger. The possibility of suffering harm or loss. Risks are often dangerous, unpleasant, daring and likely to result in suffering.Where then is the dignity? But first, what is dignity? Esteemed, respectful, honorable, importance, majesty etcThe dignity of risk is in the truth that God is always very interested in people who are willing to take risks.Brethren, people who take risk, become an instrument for God’s use. God use those who get out of their comfort zone, reminds me of prophet Isaiah, “whom shall I send,”Our text is a classical example of one who took a risk,— journey to the unknown,=== my return trip to the USA. ELABORATEWhat risk are you taking today or willing to take brother, sister—-in every aspect of your life.It is also called radical faith, like those exhibited again, by Abraham in Gen 22, look at the reward of the risk in v.15-18.There is an inseparable relationship between risk/faith.—substance of things HOPED FOR, evidence of things NOT SEEN. I hoped for better things in the US, that I can with God on my side have my children school here, and better future for us all.Then what did I do, I put my faith into action, James 2:20, trusting God took the risk of still coming over—it was dangerous, unpleasant and we suffered for a while, but today.Risk taking is putting your faith to action, knowing that the Lord is with you, believing God’s word, I will not leave you or forsake you. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Caveat: Don’t go to steal, dupe, tell lies, commit immorality, stand in front of a moving train in the name of risk, 1 Peter 4:15-16.Christ calls us to take risk for kingdom purposes, not for your selfish ambition, Mathew 16:25.Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations, when we don’t take risk we miss out on what God can do for us—waiting for God, while God is actually waiting for you to take a step of faith.God will not reveal the second step, until you take the first step.Lessons from the Shunamite woman 2 Kings 4Let Him In: Like Elisha, Jesus is always passing by, all you need to do is like the Shunamite woman did, open the door of your heart and let Him in. Rev 3:20.Just as Peter also did, when you let Jesus into your heart, remember He is the light, He will destroy every work of darkness in your life, if you are sick Jesus will heal you like He healed the many. When you allow Jesus into your life, He will bring to live every seemingly dead situation like He did to Jarius daughter—when you let Him in, it doesn’t matter how long you have been in that situation, he will lift you out as He did to blind Barthemus. Tell you’re the person by you—LET HIM IN.Our Confession Matters: She was sorrowful, but refused to confess negatively. Was bereaved, but refused to confess death—–so what is your confession? Know that the confession from your mouth can change your situation, that of your spouse, child, parent, ministry, finance, health, relationship etc. Phip 2:9-10, Mark 5:39.What you believe is what you confess, so believe that God can do it, will do it, believe that your career is not dead, that you have not lost that job, that child, that opportunity IJN.Faith must go with Work: James 2:20—it is well is a confession of faith. It is faith-talk—-but she didn’t go to sleep, weep, form a pity party for sympathizers to gather.Rather, scriptures say, she got up, saddle her donkey and put her faith to work. We must put our faith to work everyday of our lives.Prayer is key: Elisha, 2 Kings 4: 32-33. The man of God didn’t go into any gymnastics, instead, he decreed, prayed and the child was revived.As you pray and decree this year, I see your breakthrough, I see your miracle baby, I see your seemingly dead situation coming back to life. Job 22:27-28.Today, you must decree a quit notice to satan, to failure, to sickness, to backwardness, to bad habits. Rise to your feet!SONG—–prayer is the key!!!!

Habakuk 2: 2-3 God bless you specially for taking time out to go through this message. I hope we all know that today is the future we talked about yesterday and that our future depends on what we see and do today, If you see a glorious future today, you can have it if you work towards it, Gen 13:14-15. Brethren, God has put so much power in our vision that it attracts whatever it is focused on. For example: Pastor Adeboye once said that “ when we acquired the Redemption City in Texas, God told me ‘as far as you can see, it is yours’. I walked as far as I could that day and today everything I saw has become ours, I wish I had walked farther.” Now, if that sounds distant, how about our own experience here as a parish; though we do not currently own this church space, but you would remember the specification we have now is all we have been talking about since we started Building Fund, Hallelujah! CHARACTERISTICS OF A VISION Brethren, our text instructs that you must have a vision, write it down, remember the popular saying that, if it is not written, it did not happen. There is usually no vacuum in life,  if you don’t have a vision/plan, you end up running  someone’s vision/plan. Lack of vision kills. Note that your vision can look crazy, ridiculous, laughable to others, but the fact is that God did not give it to them, God gave it to you. For example—-when David had the vision of going after Goliath, others around him thought he was crazy. His eldest brother, in particular, rebuked him very strongly, call him names, see 2 Sam 17:25-28. Just as people thought Pastor Adeboye  was crazy when he resigned as a professor to lead a small church and then moved from the heart of the city to a forest—just like growing up,  I insisted I want to go to the university, based on our family income, my mom thought I want to expose our poverty as they would not be able to afford the cost involved. That brings us to another characteristic of a vision: the God-factor must be there, Col 3:2, now God factor doesn’t mean it must be related to the church, (why not if so), but it actually means, how does your vision help humanity, the people around you, community, nation, mankind. It means laying  up your treasure towards God, not just yourself. So, your vision this year must be glued to things above!!—–Pastor, what about those who plan to  steal, plan to kill to prosper? Well, Ps 73: 12-20 has the answer, check it out. Another characteristic of vision is that it is usually starts very little, almost insignificant, then it blossoms, Heb 11:8-10 says Abraham was living in tents because he saw a city whose maker and builder is God. Zach 4: 10 warns against despising the days of little beginnings. Yet another characteristic of a vision is that it is for an appointed time, not necessarily when you want, but at due time,  Hab 2:3, so wait for it? So, how do you wait for it? 1 Corinth 9:24-27, strict training, focus, temperate, etc, remember that the world is competitive, Paul said he had an end-goal, kept his body under control. Now, in this new year, what is your plan, what is your vision, what are you seeing? How are you living your life today, so that you can achieve your dreams tomorrow? Does your lifestyle reflect or show that you have a great vision for your life? Remember that lack of vision kills, in Luke 12:15-21, the rich fool died because he told his soul to rest and pursue nothing. In this New Year, your vision should drive you to be awake while others are sleeping, keep going while others are giving up. NEVER lose sight of your vision, keep your focus on God for God is the author and finisher of our faith, our vision, the one that creates something out of nothing. Get up and go for it, you can do, make it, you can get there and accomplish that goal, go for it in Jesus Christ name. NEXT SUNDAY, WHAT DO YOU DO AFTER HAVING THE VISION?