Faith Under Fire

Chapter 3 of the book of Daniel

This article was shared during a church fellowship.

In this chapter, the Israelites are under the captivity of the Babylonian Empire called today as Iraq. Daniel and his three friends are now residing at the King's palace serving as one of his advisors. From chapter 1 and 2 we have learned Nebuchadnezzar's dream and Daniels interpretation of it.

So as the story continues, Nebuchadnezzar built an enormous statue about 30 meters in height or like a 7 to 8 story building. And he gathered all the people the leaders, captains, judges, princess, governors, treasurers, counselors, sheriffs, rulers, and even ordinary people, they are to attend the dedication of the statue. So, as they hear the sound of the horn, the flute, the lyre, the trigon, the harp, the drum and all kinds of music, they must fall down and they must worship the statue of gold that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up.

The statue was not just to honor one of Nebuchadnezzar’s god but also a symbol of political power during their time. And kneeling before it on that occasion is a symbol of unity among his people, pledging their allegiance to Him. And by the way, the place where the statue was built was the same location where the tower of Babel was built.

All must bow down before this enormous statue, and all bowed down except to the three friends of Daniel who stand up for their faith. As a consequence, they were thrown into the burning furnace. Their faith is so amazing. We burn or not, we will not bow down to anyone or anything except to our God.

In a situation where your faith is tested. How are you going to react? How are going to Deal with it? One Pastor from Gen San was killed and many bullets were found in his body when was returned to his family. But, before the tragedy happened he was warned to stop preaching Christ – he continued to preach Christ, so they cut off his tongue. But still he was not silenced and he was the more challenged to share Christ. They thought to kill him will stop the work of the Lord there but they made a mistake many believers were challenged to commit their life to the ministry.

Considering what we are discussing this morning. The Maute group, the ISIS, faith is always challenged. You know I'm really saddened by these recent Happenings, if we can only do something about it, at least in prayers. With the media, we can immediately be updated of those. If you remember the Killing of the journalist in the same island it’s depressing. We mourn about it and it was the content of the news for how many months. With those data, we applaud their work their dedication, their bravery. But as I study Christian Mission I am astonished and shocked many missionaries were killed, are being killed, for the sake of the Gospel. Many without written biographies or worse we do not know their names had sacrificed themselves for Christ, no news no obituaries of them.

Putting our feet in their shoes, I think we cannot do what they did. If a gun is pointed at your head, even how tough you are you’re going to tremble and call out to God. But, the situation they’re in is not the same with the situation we are into at these moments, the same with the Maute case. The three were asked to bow down to a visible idol, idols that were made to literally worship I mean to bow down kneel at. That may not be the case to us but we have our own idols. A gun pointed to our head is not needed for us to worship an idol. C. S Lewis had said we all worship if not God then others. The idols are in our heart. These are the things that distract us in our relationship, our worship with God. These are the things that get most of your attention, these maybe our work, a thing, food, or even love ones. These can be our idols.

Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego chose not to worship Nebuchadnezzar and were thrown into the fire. The furnace was very hot that the guards who brought them inside were caught by it and were killed. But the three friends survived and cause Nebuchadnezzar to acknowledge the God of Israel. To stand for the truth, in following Christ, will cause even our life. But you see just like what Jesus said, those who will seek life will lose their life, the guards lost their lives even they tried to avoid the hot furnace. But those who are willing to lose their, like the three friends of Daniel had a life. Nebuchadnezzar, was shocked by what happened and ended up recognizing God and introduce Him to the whole nation. The faithfulness of these three is exemplary. Thousands if not millions of Jews bowed down to this statue because of fear to be thrown into a burning furnace, but three remained standing.

Today, how many Christians are willing to stand for Christ. These youth Shadrach Meshach and Abednego, the leading men of their generation stand up for God. Not knowing the consequence but in the end the experience firsthand deliverance from God. God was with them the promised was given to those faithful to Him.

Have you ever trusted God for deliverance but God seems quite and is so far away? Or you prayed but was not answered. Remember there is no such thing as unanswered prayer God answer prayer by yes, no, not yet. And is better to still trust God and submit to his will and mysterious plan. God seems distant! That’s just your feeling God can never be far.

One of the pioneer missionary of the organization we have visited in Mindanao, not the one who was killed, is very bold, His very bright and a graduate of the best school in our country but he chose to serve among the tribes of Kaulo and Maranao and Blaan, he was warned that he will be kidnapped and to be exchanged with guns, his wife told us this but he gave the instruction that whatever may happen no negotiation will ever be made. You see brothers and sisters how God move through the life of Daniel, his three friends, and to these Pastors and Missionaries. The invisible power of God is seen in the lives of His people.

This event which took place shows the power and deliverance of God. The evilness of men and how he is faithful to those faithful to Him. We are to be faithful to Him and this can only be tested with fire. Faithfulness should be our life calling.

But sometimes we are not faithful we fail to do what He commands. The law shows who we are, sinful disobedient sons of God. We want the things around God instead of Him. We focus more to what he can give than the Giver. Prosperity Gospel is like that it is based purely on materialism and selfish ambition. Your business will prosper, you will not have a miscarriage, you will be healthy. You know what pleases God? It is even when you lost everything you’ll say, God, your enough and I’m satisfied with having you. You know none of us is perfect, none of us is qualified, none of us deserved blessings from God, we are sinners, we are failures, if not because of Christ we are all dead. We are blessed because of Him, a God who became a man (fully God, fully man) to become an atonement for our sins, and he died and rose again. Jesus is the answer he is the one who suffered not us, on that cross we saw that both love and the holiness of God meet. Because of Him, our relationship with the Father is restored. And now instead of receiving the full wrath, we received grace upon grace. Now, come to Him come to Christ commit your life to Him. Following Christ doesn't guarantee a wealthy and healthy life. But one thing is for sure He is enough. God bless you all.