Won't Learn Without Risks II

Daniel 3:16-28

Message No. 0650 | Twitter @GodandUs | www.wisdom-speaks.ca

Last week we looked at the risk taken by the children of Israel who, though were suffering under a ruthless regime of slavery in Egypt, no doubt left the home they had known for more than 400 years and headed to an ‘imaginary’ place called the Promised Land. Why? Because a man sent by God, called Moses, made them to believe in this promise. As a result of this trust, Israel followed the movement of the Cloud as the leading compass for their journey towards the land flowing with milk and honey. You must know how difficult it must have been for any analytical person to follow this direction. The result of that risk is the country called Israel today, one of the most powerful countries in the world.

We must be willing to take the required risks to see the power of God at play. Just imagine the risk taken by the three Hebrew boys in the days of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. The king had just manufactured a golden image with very imposing features and had commanded that when the sound of the flute, harp, lyre and psaltery are heard in unison, then everyone in the kingdom must bow down and worship the image. Anyone found disobeying the king’s order would be immediately thrown into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. The three boys were resolute in their decisions: No. Look at what they told the king in Daniel 3:16-18:

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

The Bible says that the king was furious and the expression of his face spelled murder. The king must have thought what an insult? How could mere slaves from a conquered nation come to my kingdom and disobey my commandments even in my presence! To show them his power, he asked that the furnace be heated seven times more than normal so the boys would instantly melt upon landing in the fire, and he could proof to anyone who dared to be so rude that instant annihilation awaited them. To the glory of God, however, the king was shocked that his desire did not happen, because God honored the risk taken by His children and sent His angel into the fire to stop it from harming the boys.

How could any human being disobey the most powerful king of those days? The answer is, it is possible when the disobedient person takes the risk of trusting in the King of kings. There is no authority or power on earth that can stand the power of the Most High God. The boys were willing to risk their lives, peradventure God did not deliver them. This is a very potent way of growing one’s faith.

If a child is not willing to stand in the bus stop after school and wait for their parents to come and fetch them, they may never trust that their parents would keep their words. If a water-fearing person does not take the risk of traveling by boat one day, he or she would never know that they can arrive safely without drowning in the sea. If you don’t take the risk of planting, you may never know that you can reap anything. If you don’t take the risk of talking to someone about Jesus, you may never know that God can use you to win souls. If you don’t take the risk of praying for a sick person, you may never know that God can use you to heal the sick. If you don’t risk it, you may never know that God is there to honor His Word.

I am not soliciting you to take blind risks or do anything without thinking. All I am saying is, after all is said and done, if you do not act on your thoughts, you must never think that anything would happen. God is not a magician, He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Seeking Him means obeying His commandments and acting on His promises. You will never learn anything if you are not willing to risk anything.

I encourage you to cast away the fear that is always keeping you in the same position for decades and take the risk of doing something different. No human being knows the exact end result of everything he or she is doing. We all act on plans after praying and believing that our God cannot fail to keep His Words. If you fail today, it does not mean that you will fail tomorrow also. Go ahead and take the risk of trusting your God. I pray that this will open you up to a world of possibilities, in Jesus’ name. Have a blessed week!

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 Lord I know that I am a sinner and I am unable to save myself. I am sorry for my sins and I pray that you please forgive me. I am aware that Your Son Jesus died for my sins and I accept Him as my Lord and savior. I surrender my life unto you from this moment. Please take control of my entire being and help me to be obedient to your Word, going forward. Thank you, Lord, for hearing me. I have prayed in Jesus’ name. Amen.
 If you prayed the foregoing prayer, you have just been born again. Please find a Bible believing church in your area and ask to see the pastor. Let him or her know that you have just given your life to Christ and s/he will guide you on next steps in your journey as a child of God. The Lord bless you!