Resources > Bible Studies Having Fun with Fear : RISK: Facing Fear (part 2) Posted by Rev. Jeff Dixon, Senior Equipping Minister, CCC Ministries on Nov 3, 2007, 07:41

Having Fun with Fear

RISK: Facing Fear

Daniel 3

2 Samuel 23:20-23

Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits.

The fears we share as groups are often anxieties about the direction society is headed. We worry about the next generation, the economy, our hometown or nation and how changes might affect our own lives and those of our friends and family.

Some of these fears grow and become what sociologists call moral panics. The media of the time, political leaders, advocacy groups and old-fashioned word-of-mouth can help spread, and sometimes fan, these collective fears.

Eventually, they can stir a level of concern far out of proportion with the actual threats. Some moral panics have recurred along common theme lines throughout history. They pop up from time to time with a slightly different focus.

In the late 19th century, when practical bicycles were first introduced in America, some people warned that the new mode of transportation would cause bodily harm. Among the allegedly possible ailments was "bicycle face," which antibicyclists claimed was the product of excessive worry over maintaining balance while riding.

In the 1970s, microwaves became common household appliances, and people began to worry about radiation exposure from the ovens. Long-term animal studies have yet to link cancer to exposures that even exceed the radiation leakage levels approved for microwaves in the United States.

Today, the focus has become cell phones and the potential health effects associated with their use. While some safety concerns related to new inventions have been warranted, others have been a lot of hype paired with little actual risk.

Have you quit using your cell phones?

In 1954, publishers created the Comics Code Authority to regulate and approve new comic books. It was, in large part, a reaction to a book called The Seduction of the Innocent, and a panic about the corrupting power of horror comics. Many people felt the extremely popular comics were the cause of juvenile delinquency.

When the rock ‘n' roll craze first swept the United States, many viewed Elvis Presley's swiveling hips and Jerry Lee Lewis' feverish performances as lewd and dangerous. Many adults worried that the new style would entice the younger generation to rebel

Some of you are a part of that generation…you rebels you!

Many times, our fears are heightened by a belief that the objects and situations that scare us are extremely dangerous, or risky.

But if we look at actual risk, the objects of many common fears aren't as threatening as we might think.

Snakes…chance of death from snakebite                1 in 145 million

Lightning…chance of death                            1 in 6 million

Dogs…chance of death                                      1 in 9 million

Airplane crash…chance of death                      1 in 390,000

Local legends to scare you….

Dead Man’s Oak

South of Kissimmee is a place…a tree called Dead Man’s Oak.

Legend has it that a headless horseman will stalk and chase all who come near. The mysterious rider is rumored to be an old horse thief of a bygone era…

Along the Tamiami Trail in South Florida

You might come face to face with the Florida Skunk Ape

The Florida Big Foot…

Seen not only there but in the Ocala National Forest

Or even

The Phantom Horse of Celery Avenue

There comes a time when you have to face your fears and take a stand

That is what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did. They risked their lives when they refused to bow to a 90-foot idol.

It is Fun When Courage Emerges

(v.16-18)

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Honestly, there are some of us that would have been tempted to rationalize compromise in those circumstances.

I will bow on the outside but not on the inside.

I’ll cross my fingers so it doesn’t really count

I’ll just pretend the idol is Jehovah

They could have compromised, but risk takers don’t back down

And for risk takers acts of courage set the stage for God to accomplish some amazing things….

Look again closely at the verse 17

17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

God is able-we know that
But if He does not-we can handle it

In other words, this was not a sure thing

They didn’t know how it would end, but they knew what they HAD to do!

That is courage….

I can think of a thousand ways I would rather die than by fiery furnace

If I had to choose between getting eaten by a lion or a fiery furnace, I don’t know which I would choose

But Shad, Me, and Abed took a stand…and that is what courage is all about!

Courage (defined) doing what is right regardless of circumstances or consequences!

The Bible describes Benaiah as valiant…courageous

Don’t be misguided…in every situation where people display courage doesn’t mean there is going to be a fairy tale ending

(Note the passage…God can…if He does not)

But it is fun and exciting to see courage emerge, because for many…it never does

It Is Fun Watching God Be God

(v.24-25)

Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?"

      They replied, "Certainly, O king."

 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."

Now just before these verses…the boys got tossed in the furnace

They refused to defend themselves and Nebo was so ticked off he had the furnace heated to 7 times hotter than it had ever been heated before

(v.19-20) Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.

It was so hot the soldiers who threw them into the furnace died

(v.22) The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,

But not a single hair on the head of the three was singed.

When you put yourself in positions where you are living by trust alone

God really does show up

That is what happens here

They not only come out of the fire, they don’t even smell like smoke!

And that is fun to watch….

God does some of the most amazing things…in spite of the odds

(We have talked about that previously…one of the reasons that we never really see God do very much, is we do our best to avoid situations where God has to do anything. Our lives are pretty boring and bland, we aren’t actively doing much for Him and as a result, we aren’t paying too much attention to what He is doing in and around us)

It Is Fun When We Impact the World

( v.28-30)

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way."

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

What if?

What is they would have bowed to the idol?

Not exactly sure….

But I do know this, they would not have been promoted

The Jewish people would not have gotten the protected status they got within the Babylonian Kingdom

Idol worship would have run even more rampant in Babylon

And Nebuchadnezzar wouldn’t have had his God moment encounter

One act of courage by three twentysomethings….

Changed the course of a king and an entire kingdom for a period of history

Maybe it is time for you to take your stand

The greatest moments double as the scariest moments at times

If you take a second to reflect on your life, some of your most amazing stories and memorable times have occurred out of the midst of a bit of fear, anxiety, and unknown

That is the way life works at time

That is the way faith often works….

Fear…then fun

Little kids getting tossed into the air and landing with giggles

That is why you pay the bucks at an amusement park

There is something about fear that seems to ignite our lives

It gets our adrenaline pumping

Benaiah must have been scared for a moment when the lion chase began

But the chase into the pit became a great story that he would tell and others would tell (even us today) over and over again

So here is the question:

Are you living your life in a way that is worth telling stories about?

Maybe it is time to stop running and start risking

For many of us pray as if God’s primary job is to keep us from getting scared or facing fear….

But as we said last week….it is pivotal that we face fear…and His love drives the fear away…as the fear is chased we then are free to chase lions and take risks

Practical stuff

I am not suggesting that you jump the fence at the local zoo

Please heed the warning on the cage of the lion

In 2006, the St. Petersburg Times reported the death of a Ukrainian man who was mauled by a lioness at the Kiev Zoo. He encountered the animal on purpose, believing that God would protect him.

A zoo official said the man lowered himself by a rope into a concrete enclosure holding four lions. Shouting, "God will save me, if he exists," the man took off his shoes and strode toward the animals.

One lioness came to meet him. She knocked him down and quickly severed his carotid artery. Zoo officials stated that the incident—which occurred in front of a large crowd—was the first of its kind.

This guy was not listening to God…God didn’t bring this lion into his path

He hadn’t been listening to this series on RISK

He was just ODD…not even odd for God…just ODD!

Notice the quote; If He Exists…this was his own personal test, not a test invited by a relationship with the creator of the universe…

I am more concerned with the fact that the church, the people of God have allowed the church to become a bunker where we hunker down and enjoy the shelter when we have been called to storm the gates of hell!

Does that sound safe to you?

I can’t think of a more dangerous mission

I can’t think of a more exciting mission

And to be honest, it sounds like a great adventure and a lot of fun!

The alternative to fear is boredom….not safety

We tell ourselves it is safety, but that isn’t spiritual

If you are bored I can promise you this…

You are not being the God follower you were created to be

At some point you choose between facing fear and boredom

Risk takers choose to face their fears