!Fire Alarm!

Daniel 3:20 (King James Version)
20And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

The story of the three Hebrew boys being thrown into the fiery furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar is familiar to most of us. As I was reading over it again today, I found a gold nugget. These young men did not simply walk in the furnace they were thrown in bound more than likely at their hands and feet. During our trials, our modern day fiery furnaces, we go in bound with dread, fear, doubt, and unbelief. We all know that God can not work in when these are present.

Mark 6:5-6 (King James Version)
5And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
6And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

In the midst of the fire there was a miracle.

Daniel 3:25 (King James Version)
25He 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.

During our trials and fiery tests, we too can be loosed from dread, fear, doubt, and unbelief. How can this be done? By allowing Jesus' presence into our heart, mind, and soul. Jesus is Peace that surpassed ALL understanding. He is our Joy in the time of sorrow. We must look to Him and seek Him at all times. While we are going through we must stay focused on our redeemer. If we don't allow Him in during our trials and tribulations we will be consumed by our fears and doubts which will ultimately lead to defeat.

Daniel 3:26-27 (King James Version)
26Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
27And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

To come out of our fiery trials unscathed we must:

2 Timothy 2:3 (King James Version)
3Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

You cannot let your circumstances pierce through to your spirit. Jesus can super cede your situations! Look to Jesus the author and finisher of our Faith! He is able to sustain us through the storms and fires of life! Look up and live!

Have FAITH in God!

Who will Love the Most?

³⁷And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

³⁸And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

³⁹Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

⁴⁰And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

⁴¹There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

⁴²And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

⁴³Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

⁴⁴And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

⁴⁵Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

⁴⁶My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

⁴⁷Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. (Luke 7:37-47, King James Version)

This passage of scripture really speaks to my heart. It shows the love of Christ and His enduring mercy. Simon, a Pharisee, welcomed Jesus into his home with a heart of stone. The woman, a sinner, welcomed Jesus with a heart of flesh or a tender heart.

The Blood of Jesus redeemed us all from the sin and shame that we put on in this world. When God cancels our debt with the Blood of Jesus we should begin to worship Him with our whole heart. Some will worship more than others like this woman. When you know that you know that nothing but the Blood of Jesus cleansed you from past lifestyles and habits you will trust Him faithfully. How soon do those that have been saved for a long period of time forget what they were cleansed from and become judgmental. Simon did not even welcome Jesus into his home. Yes, he invited Him but he did not welcome him. How many of us are really welcoming Jesus into our heart today. You go to church faithfully but you are yet so spiritually stale. Well it's high time for a revival! A revival is simply falling in love with Jesus all over again. Let Him break up the fallow ground of your heart. It is time to lay it ALL on the altar of sacrifice. It is time for a FRESH anointing! This refreshing needs to happen individually and in the entire body of Christ.

I pray that reading this passage of scripture will bring an urgency to seek a new and pure worship of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to your life. Take inventory of your life and admit where you are in your spiritual journey.

¹⁹Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:19, King James Version)

Have FAITH in God!

Worthy is the Lamb

Revelation 5:12 (King James Version)
12Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

When Jesus died on the cross all of the attributes listed in the passage of above was given to him. When we call up on the name of Jesus or have a life hidden in Christ we also will be recipients of then! How great it is to worship a Savior that has so much to offer!

Have FAITH in God!

Church Zombies

⁵ Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:


“ Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
⁶ In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
(Hebrews 10:5-6, New King James Version)

In churches today, you probably will not see many burnt offerings or sacrifices being offered to God like the ones we read about in Old Testament scripture. We can compare those "burnt offerings and sacrifices" to "routines and traditions" that we have incorporated into our worship services today. Some of us get in the church "routine" we go every Sunday and Tuesday or Wednesday night for Bible study but leave the same. It has simply become a thoughtless part of our life like brushing our teeth everyday. We cannot treat God this way.

God is looking for people He can use for is purpose and His Will, not Church Zombies. It is time to get out of routine and get into relationship! An intimate relationship with the Saviour, Jesus Christ!!! God wants a body that His Spirit can dwell in. He wants a Life that will be a testimony to His mercy, goodness, and POWER! Today make an effort to break free of mindless Church routines and traditions and totally surrender your entire being to God and let Him use you in a RADICAL way! You must cultivate this relationship by reading His Word, praying, and fasting daily. You may not be led to fast daily but praying and reading the Word of God is not optional. A relationship with Jesus is going to take more than a Sunday morning, Tuesday night, or special program to thrive.

I do feel like I need to give a disclaimer with this post. By no means am I saying that we should forsake church worship.

²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25, New King James Version)

Starting today (this very moment) give God more of your time!

Nobody's Fault

!Panic Attacks!

1 Samuel 13:8-11 (King James Version) 8And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

Ref[Samuel 10:8 (King James Version) 8And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do. ]

9And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. 10And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. 11And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;

consequence

1 Samuel 13:14 (King James Version) 14But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

Panic will make you err. This is what happened with King Saul (coupled with disobedience). The Philistines has gathered to attack and King Saul’s men had begun to scatter which in turn made King Saul panic and lose patience to wait on Samuel. God always shows up on time. Samuel came at the exact time King Saul was ending his unauthorized sacrifice. King Saul’s lack of patience made him lose his kingdom.

In our go, go, go society, we sometimes find it hard to wait on anything, even God. Sometimes when we pray about a situation we “get up” trying to fix it. Most of the time, we don’t even give God a chance to speak. When we have “messed up” we find ourselves back in prayer with the patience to wait because there is nothing humanly possible that we can do to fix it now. The Holy Ghost will give us the patience we need to wait on God.

Romans 5:3-5 (King James Version) 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Most of our trials and tribulations come to make us stronger and not ashamed. We must be determined to wait on God no matter the delay, the pressure, or the cost. A Godly response is better than one conceived in panic because the end of thereof is peace. Never compromise the Will of God to please others holdfast to God and wait patiently on Him.

Have FAITH in God….

Have Faith in God...

"A Faith that can be destroyed by suffering is not faith."
-Richard Wurmbrand