The Fiery Furnace

Daniel 3:25 ESV “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

The three Hebrew young men refused to bow to the idol set up by King Nebuchadnezzar, knowing that it may cost them their lives.  They loved not their lives even unto death. 

Revelation 12:11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

When they were brought before the king for refusing and he threatened them with being thrown into the fiery furnace they did not flinch they confidently declared, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17, 18)

 I remember someone saying, “You can’t threaten me with going to heaven. What kind of threat is that?” In many parts of the world that threat is faced daily.  The reports of Christian martyrs doubled in 2013 from what it was in 2012.  There is a possibility that we will eventually face it here in the USA. How will we respond?

http://www.persecution.org/2014/01/08/reported-christian-martyr-deaths-double-in-2013/

At their response the king became quite angry and ordered the furnace to be stoked up to burn seven times hotter.  The men who threw the Hebrews into the fire were instantly killed by just being that close to it.  Once they were in the fire whatever they were bound with was burned off of them and they were not harmed by the fire.  A fourth person walked with them in the fire. They were not alone.  When they were brought forth from the fire they did not even smell of smoke. (Daniel 3:19-27)

I know this story is familiar, but a reminder once in a while of the victory they had in the fire is always good.  The fire that was supposed to kill them set them free of the enemy bonds and killed the enemy forces that put them in the fire. They were not alone in the fire, Jesus walked with them through the fire. 

Isaiah 43:1-2 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. ² When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

 As a result the Babylonian king blessed their God, acknowledged that no other God could deliver like that, and made a decree in favor of their God in the land.  In addition Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were promoted. (Daniel 3:28-30)

Name Change

In the Bible on many occasions we see God change the name of a person.  This indicates a change in identity.  It often indicated a change in character.  Names are important.  The Babylonians understood that.  So when they took in captives, such as the Hebrews, they often changed their names to try to change their identity.  If you call someone a name long enough they will begin to take on that identity.

Three Hebrew friends of Daniel were Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. We know them better as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  When taken into captivity their names were changed. Daniel’s was changed too.  But for some reason we refer to Daniel by his Hebrew name but not his friends.  Maybe it is because they are referred to by their Babylonian names in the account of them being thrown into the furnace, which we look at next time. 

Recently I decided to do my best to only use their Hebrew names instead of their Babylonian names.  I do not want to give honor to the Babylonian gods any more.

Here are the meanings of their Hebrew and Babylonian names:

Hananiah-beloved of the Lord

Shadrach-illumined by the sun god

Mishael-who is as God

Meshach-who is like the moon god

Azariah-the Lord is my help

Abednego-servant of nego or nebo (nebo/nego was a Babylonian god)

Daniel 1:6-7 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: ⁷ Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

( As a little aside…. I like the irony of Nebuchadnezzar’s name which means “may Nebo protect the crown or Nebo is the protector against misfortune.”  Nebo was a well known Babylonian deity..  Chapter 4 of Daniel is record of how Nebuchadnezzar was humbled by the Lord God Jehovah by a time of insanity. He was not protected very well by his god. He came forth from that experience acknowledging Jehovah as God.)

REFINED IN THE FIRE

Do you feel like you are going through the fire? That is not a bad thing.  Job realized that the fiery trial he was in would cause him to come forth as gold.  Jesus admonished the Laodicean church to buy of Him, “gold tried in the fire.”  In his first letter, Peter admonished the people not to think of the fiery trial as something strange, but something to rejoice about.  So rejoice, as you are refined, you shall come forth as fine gold manifesting the glory of God.  (I know it is easy for me to say rejoice, I am not going through your trial.  But try it anyway, I think you will feel better. J)

Job 23.10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. ¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: ¹³ But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy

SUSTAINED BY LOVE

I believe we are heading into a season when things are going to get much more difficult.  On Sunday our pastor quoted Dickens, “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.”  For those walking with the Lord it will be the best of times and those not walking with the Lord it will be the worst of times. 

It will not be a time to lose heart.  It will not be a time to lose focus.  It will not be a time to let our love grow cold.  It will be a time to burn hot with the love for God and the love of God for our neighbor.

Matthew 24:12-13 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. ¹³ But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Jude 17-21 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; ¹⁸ How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. ¹⁹ These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. ²⁰ But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, ²¹ Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

As things unfold there will be ungodly people that could be distractions for us, even amongst those who call themselves “Christians,” but are Christians in name only.  We must continue to build ourselves up, praying in the Holy Ghost and keeping ourselves in the love of God.

The fierce love I shared about in my blog titled Banner of Love in October 2013, is going to be necessary in the days ahead.  Our fierce love for God and each other will sustain us in the days ahead. 

MISSING INGREDIENT

Revelation 2:1-3 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; ² I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: ³ And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

 After reading the above passage about the church at Ephesus, you would think they were doing really good.  They were doing good, except there was one missing ingredient…..

Revelation 2:4-5 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

The following passage from Paul’s letter the Corinthians has a very similar message.

1Corinthians 13:1-3  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. ² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. ³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

We can do all the right things, but if love is missing, the most important ingredient is missing.

LITTLE THINGS

At the beginning of 2013, God gave me one instruction for the year: “Be faithful in the little things.”  Yesterday as I sat before the Lord reflecting on 2013, I was reminded of times when I was faithful to His Word to me and times when I was not.  It is truly “the little foxes that spoil the vine.” (Song of Songs 2:15) It is often the little things that no one sees but me and God that make the difference.  Sometimes it is not even what was done, but it is the heart attitude in which it was done.  It is the heart of the matter that matters.  (1 Samuel 16:7 …..for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.)

I feel like my grade on this for the year was a “C”.  So there is much room for improvement in the coming year.  At least I did not fail for the year.  J

I am thankful that God is a loving, merciful, and longsuffering Father. So I can start with a fresh clean slate for 2014.  Each day I can start with a clean slate as I come to Him for a fresh cleansing.  Great is His faithfulness!!!!

Psalm 130:3-4 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? ⁴ But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

Lamentations 3:21-25 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. ²² It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. ²³ They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. ²⁴ The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. ²⁵ The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

The Promise of the Father

Acts 1:3-5 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: ⁴ And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. ⁵ For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

John 16:7, 13 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you…… Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

 After His resurrection, Jesus spent forty days with His disciples sharing more with them concerning the kingdom of God. Jesus had told them before the crucifixion that He must go away so that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth that would teach of Him, would come. In  His final instructions to His disciples Jesus told them to go back to Jerusalem to “wait for the promise of the Father.”  Many of them were obedient to wait until the promise came.  Most likely there were more than that initially, but they got tired of waiting and went home. 

When they waited they worshiped, prayed, and brought petitions before the Father.  They even found a replacement for Judas Iscariot to fill the empty spot amongst the twelve. 

I do not think they really knew what it was that they were waiting for or how long it would be until the promise would come.  I do not think they knew what it was going to be like.  But when the Promise came, they recognized Him, and began to flow with what He was doing.  It was probably a pretty wild time. There had never seen anything like it before. 

In much the same way, we are waiting for a promise from the Father.  Many have felt a great expectancy of something from the Father coming in their lives or region.  We do not know exactly what it is going to be like, nor how soon we will see it.  But we faithfully wait and pray and position ourselves to partake of that which our Father is about to pour out.  We wait and pray and position ourselves to flow with Him in what He is about to do.  Today is a day of preparation.  It is a day of letting God strip off the things that can get in the way or obscure our view or distort our perception of things as they unfold. 

Just as on the Day of Pentecost they had to think outside the box, we are in a day when it is not going to be church as usual and we need to think outside our traditional religious boxes.  Even amongst Pentecostals/Charismatics, we have traditional religious boxes that we have developed over the years.  They must go to make room for the new thing, whatever that looks like.  Lord Jesus help us.

Banner of Love

Song of Songs 2:4  He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

According to Nelson’s Bible Dictionary “A banner is a flag, ensign, streamer, or emblem attached to the end of a standard. Banners served as rallying points for military, national, or religious purposes……The most common use of banners was for military campaigns. A large signal flag usually was erected on a hill or other high place.”

 

God is raising up a warrior bride/army. The banner over God’s warrior bride/army is a banner of love.  This warrior bride will have a fierce love for God and for each other.    

Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

You may wonder about my choice of the word “fierce.”  That is the word I heard from the Lord.  I looked up the word in the dictionary.   Here are some definitions of “fierce” from Webster’s Dictionary:   “marked by unrestrained zeal or vehemence, furiously active or determined, having or showing a lot of strong emotion : very strong or intense.”

I think that could describe the love that will characterize the bride of Christ in these last days.  It will be necessary to have that kind of love.  That kind of love comes from God.  It is not something we can find within ourselves.  God is love.  His love shines forth to us.  Then through us back to Him and to each other.

Song of Songs 8:6-7 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. ⁷ Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

 

Becoming Unfruitful

Matthew 13:22 KJV He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Matthew 13:22 AMP As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the Word, but the cares of the world and the pleasure and delight and glamour and deceitfulness of riches choke and suffocate the Word, and it yields no fruit.

In the parable of the sower, we see that the seed that is received into thorny ground is choked and becomes unfruitful. Plants become unfruitful if they are attempting to grow in a garden where the weeds are not removed.  In the same way in the life of a Christian unless we have the thorns/weeds removed from our lives we can hear the Word of God over and over and it will not bear fruit in our lives. 

The care of this world is one of the thorns/weeds that will choke the Word and lead to unfruitfulness.  Care can involve being concerned and anxious. It can be the many distractions that can take our focus away from the Lord. 

This parable also mentions the deceitfulness of riches.  A person may think, that cannot possibly apply to them, because they do not have much money.  But the deceitfulness of riches can be a snare to anyone no matter how little or how much money a person has. Our culture, in particular advertising, tells us that we have all these “things” in order to be somebody or be valued in this life. That is a lie and many buy into it.  It is a deception that is constantly put before us.  Our true value is found in Christ not in whether we have the latest greatest whatever. This type of thinking can choke out the Word of God and keep us from the true riches that are in Christ. I am not saying having things chokes the Word, but how we think about the things, what value we place on them is what can choke out the Word.

We may even bear good fruit for a time, but then these thorns/weeds may begin to grow in our lives.  Like in a garden the weeds continue to seek to grow and hinder our fruit bearing.  We must be vigilant to stay free from these things so we can bear much fruit.

John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

God Knows My Frame

Psalm 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

I serve a God that is so vast and perfect and powerful.  My God is the creator of all things, and yet, He cares about me and my every need.  He knows everything about me.  He knows my every weakness and still loves me. He is always seeking to draw me on into a place of greater maturity in Him. He sees the greatness in me that I do not see.  He will meet me where I am at and encourage me to step into what He has for me. 

Gideon found this to be true.  God came to him while he was hiding from the enemy and called him a “mighty man of valor.” (Judges 6:12)  When God told Gideon about the victory he was to have to save Israel from their enemy, Gideon went on to explain to God the reasons he knew that wasn’t possible. But God knew differently and did not pay attention to Gideon’s reasons why he could not accomplish the task God had for him.  God showed him signs along the way to help him, such as, having fire come out of the rock and consume the meat and bread that Gideon had prepared. There was also the commonly talked about sign with the fleece being wet and the fleece being dry that was yet another confirmation from God. 

So Gideon proceeded to gather an army.  Then God told him that was too many men.  After God had taken to army down to 300 men, he told Gideon it was now time to go down against the enemy, because God had delivered them into his hand. 

Here is the part that I find especially comforting and encouraging----Judges 7:10-11 But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host: ¹¹ And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host.

God did not condemn Gideon for still being afraid, He just made a way for him to be encouraged to go forth into the victory that was promised. After taking his servant to the enemy camp, hearing about a dream one of the men had and the interpretation of it, Gideon was able to lead the men forth into battle.  They went forth and God gave them the victory.

 God knows my frame.  He knows my weakness and provides what I need to move on into victory.