The God That I Serve Is Still Able

Now in Biblical numerology, 7 is a special number. There is something special about the number seven.

• God doesn’t have to take you out of the situation; he can keep you IN the situation and make your test a testimony for what the Lord is able to do.

He’s there in your pain/sickness/despair/disappointment/trial/affliction.

I. You need to remember the 3 c’s

1. Remember your CONNECTION

Take special notice of the words in verse 17 "our God." These men knew that they were in a special relationship with the Father. These men were the sons of God by faith and that is a good relationship to be in when the fire comes near your life.

2. Remember Whose in CONTROL

Two words used by the Hebrew 3 make all the difference. Those words are "is able." These are the words of faith! These men knew that the fire was hot. They knew that the fire was able to destroy them. They knew that there was no escape, at least from a human standpoint. As they faced the fire, they knew what it could do to them. However, as they faced the fire, they were also able to "faith" the fire! They knew that even if they were thrown into the fire, their Heavenly Father had the necessary power to bring them through the fire.

(Ill. God hasn’t changed! He is still "able" to do anything that needs to be done in your life or mine! He is still God and He is still able, Eph. 3:20! Even if you go into the fire, God is still in control. He has His hand on the thermostat and He is in control of the situation. In fact, if the fire comes about in your life, it had to pass through the filter of God’s perfect plan for you before it ever came your way. Remember Rom. 8:28 when the fire is belching in your life. Hey folks, God is in control!)

3. Remember your COMMITMENT

Way back in Daniel 1:8-21, when these men were younger and new to Babylon, they took their stand for God and committed themselves to living for Him and for Him alone. This is a commitment that they took seriously. Here they are faced with their own deaths and still they are determined to serve the Lord. They stood in the day of testing!

(Ill. When the fire comes to your life and mine, often it will be accompanied by the temptation to quit on God. However, God has promised us help for our times of testing and trials. When you are tempted to quit, remember 3 things if you will.

1. God has promised not to allow you to be tempted above your ability to bear it - 1 Cor. 10:13.

2. During the worst trial Jesus ever faced, He didn’t quit, Luke 22:42. He endured and kept His commitment because He loved you.

3. The hour of temptation and trial is when the truth of your profession is proven. It is easy to vow things to God when you get saved and it looks like the world is going to be perfect. However, when the tough times come, and they will, it is then that you get to honor the commitments you have made to the Lord. Commitments, may I add, that are binding and that you will be accountable to keep.

II. You need to know that when you step in the faith dimension, you are an overcomer!