Daniel 3:16-18(NKJV)
16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
17If 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.
18But 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.”
I this scripture we find three young men who are in a very difficult position. They must choose between honoring God and dying or compromising their faith so they can live. I believe this applies to us in that we face pressure from both culture and the government to keep our faith out of the public discussion. If we go along with political correctness and the humanistic ideal that currently dominates the thinking of those who believe they set the agenda, we are acceptable. If we choose to stand for a faith in God that affects our lives and behavior we are not.
The problem is that we live in a day where we need a dynamic faith more than ever. We cannot afford to compromise. If we are going to have the kind of faith that changes our world we must cultivate the same attitudes that these three men displayed to the king. First, we will not compromise no matter what. We will live like Christians, we will pray for our families and our community, and we will stand for morality in the nation. We will not apologize for this stand and we will not back down no matter how hot the fire may get.
Second we choose to doubt the devil’s ability and believe in Gods. They told the king, “We’re not sure you can throw us into the furnace, but if you do our God is able to deliver us. “ We need to have the attitude that what the devil threatens us with is not set in stone. Whether it’s in the area of health, or finances or family or anything we may need, tell the devil, “I am not convinced you can do this to me.” Then we need to be absolutely convinced that God is able. Able to do what? Anything that needs to be done. Every trial, every problem and every weakness you face, God is able to deliver you from them all. We may not know how, but we must start by knowing He is able.
The next attitude that must become a part of our makeup is this. Not only is my God able, but He will! He will what? He will deliver me from the enemy. God is your Father. Everything fatherhood means in it’s best sense flows from God. He will not leave you comfortless. He will deliver you. You must cultivate this attitude. You must look at every trial with that in the back of your mind. My God is able and He will deliver me from the enemy.
Often that deliverance comes in ways that may not be to our liking but He will deliver us. In the case of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, I am sure they were hoping God’s deliverance would not include the fiery furnace at all. However because they were convinced that God would deliver them, they did not back down even when they felt the heat.
I want to encourage you today to think on this. God will deliver you. When pressure comes don’t back down. Don’t give in to fear. God will deliver you. Don’t let doubt get a foothold in your heart. God will deliver you. Look the devil in the eye in the darkest of times and tell him, “God will deliver me.” You will find that with this attitude in place, boldness will rise and you will not feint in the face of pressure.
“How will He deliver me?” I don’t know. “When will he deliver me?” Before it’s too late. “Will I have to go through the fire?” I can’t guarantee you won’t, but in the end He will deliver you from the hands of the enemy. Settle it now before the pressure comes. Settle it before you face a critical situation. The only real guarantee we have in this life is that God is not only able to deliver, but He will deliver me from the enemy.
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