The Fire.

Are you strong enough to stand the fire?

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Are you strong enough to stand the fire? The fire of temptation, the fire of tribulations, the fire to stand up to stand Satan and his evils. Is your faith in God strong enough to handle whatever comes your way? Everyday Satan throws punches at us to see if we will fail. Fall into his temptations. Fall into his traps. You see he loves that. He loves to hurt the ones that are forgiven and that have chosen Christ. Satan knows what it takes to hook us. He is way to smart of a fisherman to go fishing with out any bait.

Are you strong enough to stand the fire of the world? We all live in a sinful world. Sin all around us. At work, school, and even other family members. It is hard being a Christian in a non-perfect world. But that is okay we will live in that perfect world one day.

Satan doesn’t necessarily want to hurt us physically, but mentally and spiritually. He wants to drag us down on the inside. He wants to get in our heads. " He doesn’t love you if he did that wouldn’t happen." He will bring down your marriage to ruins; friendships will end, and even cause hatred in the church. Satan will do whatever it takes to bring the church down to a pile of rubble. That is his main goal to destroy the church. Bring the church down and Hell’s gate will be flooded with lost souls. If Satan destroys the church who will spread the word of God.

Today’s question is are you strong enough to stand the fire? Do you think God will walk through the fire with you? Will God help you with your problems? Dr. Norman Pearle often said, “The only people without problems are those in the cemetery.” Then with a smile he replied” and some of them really have problems.” Are you strong enough to stand the fire?

(Read scripture Daniel 3)

We first meet Meshach, Shadrach, and Abendago in chapter 1 where as colleagues of Daniel they refused to defile themselves with the tainted royal food and wine. Well their commitment to God was about to be tested once again. Every day we are subject to being tempter to deny their Lord whom we love and serve.

King Neb, who was king of Babylon, has captured the children of Israel. He has brought them to his land to serve out their captivity. He had constructed a golden image, 90 ft high and 9 ft wide. The king has made a decree that all will bow to this god. Those who refuse would die in the furnace. That where are heroes come in. They refused to bow down to the image. They were not going to deny their God. Our GOD. They chose to die in the fire than to turn from their God. This is an example that can help us look at our own trials and struggles and hopefully help us remain faithful during the fire.

Faith in God sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible. I am reminded of a story of a preacher who once asked a young boy “Son I’ll give you an apple if you can tell me where God is?” The boy replied, “Preacher I’ll give you a barrel full if you can tell me where he isn’t!” Just because his presence with us doesn’t mean we will not have our furnaces. But it guarantees he will walk with us.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendago had faith in Christ to stand with them in the fire. Here was courage at the highest order. They were prepared to face death than to deny their Lord. Talk about character. It was Spurgeon who once said “ Character is what you are in the dark.” Yes it was easy to compromise on their faithfulness to God. They made no attempt to excuse themselves. Look at what they told King Neb in verse 17. “ The God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and will rescue us from your hand, O King.”

The faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendago was unquestionable. Their God was infinite, powerful, the one true God. The basis of their confidence was their trust in God. The three were not alone in the fire, The Lord was with them. King Neb couldn’t believe his eyes. He expected their bodies to be incinerated upon seconds. But he saw men walking in the middle of the fire unhurt by the blazing flames. He looked again and realized it was four not three. God suspended natural laws and performed a miracle.

The important part to remember is that the Lord was with them. The Lord was with them during their fiery trials. If God is infinite, he must be also the God in the midst of burning fires. C.S. Lewis said “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains.” The Apostle Paul said “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” What a companionship. In fact the last words spoken by Jesus to his disciples were “I am with you.” (Matt28.20)