1. Kemmons Wilson
Kemmons Wilson has always been an initiator. He started working when he was seven selling magazines, newspapers and popcorn.
In 1930 at the age of seventeen he started working for a Cotton broker in his first salaried job, for $12 a week writing figures on the price board.
When a bookkeeper's job paying $35 a week came open he applied for it and got it, but when he got his first check it was still $12, and when he asked why, he was told that they weren't going to pay a 17 year old kid that kind of money. So, he resigned, and that was the last salaried job he ever had.
Wilson made money at different jobs after that in pinball and vending machines, and saved enough money to build his mother a house.
That's when he realized that there was a lot of money in building, so he started a building business, and made a fortune in the post-World War II building boom.
Wilson's initiative made him a lot of money, but he didn't have much of an impact on the world, that is until 1951. Wilson took his family on a vacation to Washington D.C., and learned about the sorry state of motels that were available to traveling families.
Wilson said, "some places were too squalid for words. And they all charged for children." Wilson had five children and that tripled his bill. So he decided to do something about it.
He told his wife "Let's go home and start a chain of family motels." His goal was to build four hundred motels, and his wife just laughed.
When he got back to Memphis, he hired a draftsman to help him design his first motel, and by 1959 he had 100 motels built, which didn't meet his goal.
Then Wilson decided to franchise his motels and that boosted the openings, and by 1964 there were 500 Holiday Inns in America, by 1968 there were 1000, and in 1972 a Holiday Inn opened somewhere in the world every 72 hours, and the company was still growing in 1979 when Wilson stepped down from his position as leader after a heart attack.
Wilson said" I was so hungry when I was young, I just had to do something to make a living. When I retired after my heart attack, I went home to smell the roses. That lasted about a month."
You see it is hard for an initiator to stop making things happen.
2. Three types of people in the world: Those who do not know what is happening; Those who watch what is happening; and Those who make things happen.
3. Action always accompanies faith -- James 2.17, 24, etc.
4. God often rewards initiative
a. Pinchas (Numbers 25)
b. 5 Daughters (Numbers 27.1-4)
I. God is the Great Initiator
A. Creation -- Deliverance -- etc. -- Exodus 19.3-6
3 And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my own possession among all peoples; for all the earth is mine, 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."
B. In Yeshua (Jesus)
1. PURSUING A PRINCESS
The great Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard illustrates the pursuit of God with a story about a prince in search for a future queen. One day while the prince was running an errand in the local village for his father he passed through a poor section of the city. As he was passing through, he happened to see a beautiful young maiden. She was poor and lower class, but she was absolutely beautiful. After passing through the village several times, he found he was falling in love with her.
But he had a problem. How would he go about winning her hand in marriage? He could simply order her to marry him, but he wasn't just seeking a queen. He was seeking a soul mate. If he coerced her to love him, he would never know if she really loved him for who he was or just because of the splendor of his position and wealth.
So the prince came up with another solution. He took off his kingly robe and put on the garb of a peasant. He moved into the village and began to live among the people. He shared their interests and their concerns, and he talked their language. This was no mere disguise; it was a new identity. Over time, he was able to see the young girl. It wasn't instant, but in time the young woman grew to love the prince. She loved him because he first loved her.
And so, Jesus, who being in very nature God, made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant and being found in appearance as a man, humbled himself. Why? So that you -- YOU -- might know him. So that you might love him because he has loved you.
2. In Yeshua (Jesus) -- Philippians 2.5-8
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
1. Initiative for the cross
2. Initiative with moneychangers
3. Initiative with corrupt leadership
4. Initiative with Sabbath
5. Initiative with his talmidim (disciples)
II. God Blesses Bold Initiative
A. It Begins by Asking -- Heart-felt Prayer
1. Some things are already stated -- no need to ask (Pinchas)
[U-Turn Sign; No U-Turn Sign; No Sign
2. Some things are not clear
a. The five women -- no Torah
b. Moses -- no Torah for the situation
c. God gave new Torah -- origin of kinsman redeemer??
3. A tension
a. Wait on the LORD
b. Act on the LORD -- what he has said
1) Too hasty -- Abraham and Ishmael
2) Ignore -- Saul and sacrificing
B. It Continues in Action -- Works of Faith
1. God rewards action -- Matthew 25; Psalm 56.9
Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.
2. God Honors Boldness
a. Issue of blood -- Mark 5 (woman to man; unclean to clean; creature to Creator)
b. Prayer of Chutzpah -- Luke 11.5-13 (mark and read)
c. Presence of God -- Hebrews 10.19 (CJB)
19 So, brothers, we have confidence to use the way into the Holiest Place opened by the blood of Yeshua.
III. Places for Bold Initiative
A. Declaring Yeshua (Jesus) -- Acts 4.13
[Military Chaplains are no longer allowed to pray in the name of Jesus; no longer allowed to leave a bible on their desks -- offensive
B. Building Relationships -- Romans 12.18 (CJB)
If possible, and to the extent that it depends on you, live in peace with all people.
1. As much as possible -- tenacity; effort; boldness
2. As depends on you -- can't control others, only self -- act like Yeshua (Jesus)
3. Power of relationship seen in Ruth and Naomi -- where you go; your God
C. In Hard Work in a lazy, entitled world -- Colossians 3.23
Whatever work you do, put yourself into it, as those who are serving not merely other people, but the Lord.
1. Reflection of the character of God
2. Six days of work; one day of rest
D. In Handling Finances
1. Stewards -- all is his
2. Put to the test -- Luke 16.10-12
10 "He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?
IV. Our Resistance to Bold Initiative
Theodore Roosevelt was one of the greatest initiating leaders in the twentieth century. He said, "There is nothing brilliant or outstanding about my record, except perhaps this one thing: I do the things that I believe ought to be done...And when I make up my mind to do a thing, I act!
What Keeps Us from Acting Boldly before God?
A. No Intense Longing
1. Hebrews longed to leave Egypt (reason for persecution?)
2. Take or leave attitude does not cut it
3. Must be everything -- Hunger and thirst (Matthew 5.6)
B. Improper Perception of God
1. Fright or Reverence -- Ecclesiastes 12.13
2. Parable of Talents' ONE Talent Man -- Matthew 25.24-30
24 "Now the one who had received one talent came forward and said, 'I knew you were a hard man. You harvest where you didn't plant and gather where you didn't sow seed. 25 I was afraid, so I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here! Take what belongs to you!' 26 'You wicked, lazy servant!' said his master, 'So you knew, did you, that I harvest where I haven't planted? and that I gather where I didn't sow seed? 27 Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, so that when I returned, I would at least have gotten back interest with my capital! 28 Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten. 29 For everyone who has something will be given more, so that he will have more than enough; but from anyone who has nothing, even what he does have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless servant, throw him out in the dark, where people will wail and grind their teeth!'
3. Power of Love -- 1 John 4.17-19
17 In this is love perfected with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love. 19 We love, because he first loved us.
C. Improper Perception of the Adversary
1. Some revere
2. Some fear (1 John 4.4 -- 4 Little children, you are of God, and have overcome them; for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.)
3. Fear Not -- 365 times
D. Misguided Zeal -- Romans 10.1-2 (CJB)
Brothers, my heart's deepest desire and my prayer to God for Isra'el is for their salvation; 2 for I can testify to their zeal for God. But it is not based on correct understanding;
1. Selfish Zeal
2. Selfless Zeal (Elijah; Yeshua) -- Titus 2.14
who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
1. Parents and Kids
a. With the child
b. Lead the child
c. Send the child
d. Expectations for the child
2. God's Relationship with People
a. God was with -- Adam; Enoch
b. God Led the children of Israel
c. God sent -- Abraham (Genesis 12.1-3); Israel (into Land); us (into the world)
d. Expectations for -- Moshe to step up; Paul -- Missionary opportunities (synagogues; key cities; Jews and Gentiles)
3. Some years back as you traveled along I-10 in Louisiana there was a large billboard which would catch your eye. It stood high above the city just as you started up the Mississippi River Bridge. On it was a picture of Jesus hanging on the cross of Calvary, head bowed. The caption underneath said in bold letters, "IT'S YOUR MOVE!" What a powerful thought. God has already taken the initiative in salvation. Christ died for you. Now--it's your move!
