What Will It Take To Make You Move
Scripture Reference: Daniel 3: 23-25 (KJV)
Daniel 3: 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
The first thing that I want to do today is shed light on the fact that when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego went into the furnace they were men and not boys. (Daniel 3:12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.)
These were not little boys that did not have the capability of making responsible decisions by any means. They were men appointed to prestigious positions in the kingdom.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that when they first came to the kingdom that they were not boys (Daniel 1: 6 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.)
What I am saying however is that the time had passed and they had matured and were fully aware of what they were getting themselves into. They were not some unlearned children just doing what they were taught and acting mechanically to the traps set by Satan.
The reason that I want to clear that up is because if we continue to call them “the three Hebrew boys that went into the fire”, we lose some of the real value of this lesson.
Actually it should be quit obvious that these were men and not boys because it says so right in the scripture. {Read the scripture again}
The fact that they were men means a great deal to this lesson. The fact that they were men shows that they were responsible adults making decisions based on what they had learned to be true. They were fully aware that they had a choice and were intelligent and successful enough to make sound decisions.
Another reason that this is so important is that some of us have become really too intelligent for our own good. For instance, we often have conversations with new converts that we should never have.
I truly enjoy gathering with some of my well versed and well read friends and we talk about all of the things that challenge us about the bible.
However we should always understand that some conversations are not meant to be had until our understanding and steadfastness in the Lord has reached a certain level
On the other hand I love to talk to my 6 year old about the bible and honestly I think I learn more from her because she is truly sincere with her heart.
However if I were to be really challenged by the enemy and I asked my 6 year old what to do she would give me an answer based on her heart with really no experience and doctrine and all of the other things that go with it.
On the other hand if I were to ask one of my bishop friends how to handle the same situation I would get a completely different view but the bottom line is that they would both end up telling me to trust God.
These Hebrews knew the value of trusting God well
Many of us miss this very valuable lesson all too often, we are led to believe that we are ready to challenge the enemy even though we are only new converts and we really have no understanding of the word.
Others of us are fully matured in the word of God (or at least we should be) and God has given us everything that we need to be ready for battle but we don’t feel the need to stand up for what we know to be true about the word of God. (Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.)
I am persuaded to believe that although some of us are in some tight, awkward, seemingly hopeless situations your situation can in no way compare to being bound up and cast into a fire
I came by to let you know today that the same God that went into the fire with these men is here with us today.
God is in the midst of your situation with you and he has loosed the binds of the devil that made you feel that you had no hope.
My question for today though is, “What will it take to make you move?”
See, by the king witnessing the men of God walking in the fire, the king had no doubt that the Hebrew men had total victory in the situation in which they found themselves when he saw them
They weren’t running around as if they were suffering or in pain
I believe that if God had shown the men to the king running, hoping, dancing or anything else the king could have mistaken the victory of God as if the men were in pain or at least felt some type of discomfort
By walking he showed the king that even at his worse he had no effect on the Lord of lord and King of kings
God wants to do the same thing in our situations of today
He wants to see us walking through the fire test thrown our way by evil doers
He is willing to walk with us. Jesus declares and I believe that he will be with us always even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I AM WITH YOU alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.)
However for some unapparent reason we have allowed the enemy to vex us from the very thing that God has for us to do.
We have the power and not the will to rebuke him. (Numbers 33:55 But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall VEX you in the land wherein ye dwell)
Vex - Disturb the peace of mind of; afflict with mental agitation or distress.
Some of us have the ability but lack the confidence to walk into or out of the thing that has us bound.
This passage of scripture shows the Hebrew men walking in the midst of their situation.
When I say walk I am not talking about putting one foot in front of the other but I am talking about setting a standard of living.
The word web definition of what I am talking about reads: walk - Live or behave in a specified manner
We have to always be ready to walk the walk after we talk the talk just as these three Hebrews demonstrated to us
I hear you talking saints. You are saying, “But Minister Lane you don’t know my situation I just can’t walk the walk right now. It’s too hard.”
Have you really ever paid attention to the book of Psalms chapter 23 verse 4. The writer is really walking through a tough situation.
Look at your situation again and compare it to the valley of the shadow of death.
Don’t be vexed saint.
Believe God when He says that you can walk, even while you are in the fire. You can walk. He has loosed the binds.
Now Walk!
Word web defines move as: The act of deciding to do something
What will it take to make you move
CONCLUSION
Some of us are talking and I hear you loud and clear but the walk is what is confusing me. I hear you talking about walking but you are not moving anywhere
Even if we make mistakes when we walk (Just Walk!)
Even if we fall (Just Walk!)
Even if our physical condition prohibits us from ever being able to physically walk (Just Walk!)
At least we should be willing even if we are not able to walk
What will it take to make you move
Let’s Pray
Dear God thank you. I am now more aware and alert to the many subtle yet dangerous traps set before us by our enemy. I am thankful that you have allowed me to have the opportunity to walk this walk that I have begun. Though this walk is difficult and challenging at times I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. Lord teach me to walk again. Lord use me to help others with their ability to walk. Above all Lord God I am thankful for everything that you are in the midst of doing for me even now. Amen
Thank You. May God continue to bless you and keep you. Amen
Your Friend
Minister Juan D. Lane
