We all go through things. Whether we go through things within ourselves in our own minds or if it is an outward struggle with individuals or situations. We sometimes wonder, we question our faith, we wonder if we are doing something wrong, we wonder if God is still with us, all of this because, "...if we were doing right then...this stuff wouldn't be happening to us...RIGHT???" 

Many believers say that if you are a true follower of God and if God is with you then you wouldn't be struggling. If you really were "right", then you would have it easy, no worries, you wouldn't be struggling like you are. I know, we like to believe that, too. But...is it scriptural? 

All through the old and new testaments we see that those that believed in the God of Israel did struggle. I want to share about three individuals that especially give us an ensample, a great example for us to use in our everyday lives today. 

We know the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, they went into the firery furnace and weren't burned. Those of us who grew up going to church would have learned this from a very young age. We get so dilluded and bored with these, so-called, children's stories and we forget that these are the keys to us getting through the tough times. Remember the bible teaches us to encourage ourselves, to stir up the gift of God in us. We need to know the word of God and what scriptures apply to which situations. We can sometimes find ourselves quoting the same scriptures all of the time and not utilizing the word of God to fight with our spiritual sword. I find that many times, the people that have been in church most of their lives believe that they are grown, while in reality they have spiritual diapers on or they know the word and don't know how to apply it.  We get caught up with denominational doctrine and non-dominational doctrine, and the, "I'm right and your wrong!" attitude and lives remain unchanged. 

Back to the three men, 

Daniel 3:13-25 (I am not going to quote it all here, but this is where it can be found.)

V. 14

Nebuchadnezzar asks them, "do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?" 

This is a strong statement that the King has made, and you know that the King would back up what he was saying. But, the King had an idea about the men. He knew that they were a little higher than all the councilers that he had. There was something about these men that was different. The men answered back, 

V. 16-18

"...we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up"

Does that mean that they thought that God was not able to deliver them? Was their faith not strong enough??? You would think that, but it is not the case...let me show you!

Go to Hebrews 11:35

...Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:"

The men knew that God was able, but were looking to obtain a better resurrection. 

The men said to the King, "...we are not careful..."

I hear many people tell us,

"You should watch what you say!"

"You don't want to offend people!"

"you can't talk like that and expect to get a following."

I know that people want us to preach about name it, claim it. People want to know that when they tithe to these large television evangelists that they are going to get a big reward. I know that people want to hear good prophecies that tell them about how good they are and how they are doing everything right. People want to hear mystical garbage that does nothing for the growth or well being of the soul. We grab onto this garbage and defend it. We see that these false prophets are after one thing and yet we choose to overlook it, hoping that God may one day change these people who call themselves the ministers of the cross of Christ. 

But what does reality say, by the grace of God. People are following the gods of Nebuchadnezzar and following words of false prophets and condemn any who speak the truth of the gospel. Then we have these zealots that condemn everyone to hell. If you don't follow every "law" then you aren't going to be going to heaven, or get caught up in the rapture or whatever it is that these have to say these days. The thing is that they have created their own lists of what qualifies as 'sin' or 'right and wrong'. We separate ourselves from each other based on these baseless doctines and forget the gospel of Christ. (Phillipians 3:18-19; Galatians 1:6-12)

"Well what do you believe in then, what are you?" you may ask.

I am nothing. I am a child, a joint heir of the cross of Christ and Joint Heir with Christ. You have the same liberation and adoption whereby you too can cry Abba Father. I am not asking you to follow me, who you need to be following is Christ and not these mixed up, half truths, that have no foundation. It is time you get on your own knees and ask the God of Heaven about this. See what he says. And don't go to him with all of the preconceived ideas, or as my husband calls them, denominational goggles, go in expecting Him to answer, He will. 

I know my inheritance with Christ and I know who I am in Christ. I know my God. So did these men that stood before this king. The king knew that he had to do something that was big to destroy these men who believed in a God that was able to do anything. He called the best in to heat that furnace 7times hotter, tie them boys up, get them in there.....then what?

The men that took them there? Dead!

The men that we thrown in? Alive

Not only did these men survive, but as the king and the others that were the onlookers looked into that furnace that day saw that the God of Israel, had indeed delivered these men. The God that burned inside the souls of these men, the all consuming fire of this God could not be overtaken, not only that...there was the son of God in the midst with them. Our God has promised us that he would be with us no matter what the circumstance, no matter what trial or hardship that we face, he is there with us. 

We go through these things and we forget that the fire just refines us. The fire takes those bonds away. We may feel bound before the fire, just as these men did, but it was the fire that set them free. Don't pray your problems away, instead remember these men and remember that your God, the God of Israel will be there with you and you will not be overtaken. No matter how hot that situation may be, no matter if the ones around you don't believe in the same God as you. The whole nation was worshipping the god of Nebuchadnezzar, these three stood against the 'norm' and stood for what they knew was the truth. It is time that the children of God stand for the gospel of Christ and stop watering down the Bible, stop saying that the bible is just a good book, stop telling people that the bible isn't literal, the Bible is the word of God, in the pages you will find him, seek him, he is there.





Leave a Reply.

    Kat n Charles

    What you got to say....we are ready for you...
    Love questions about the bible and we will answer with the bible by the Holy Ghost.

    Archives

    November 2012

    Categories

    All