Examples Of Faith

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Thursday March 19, 2009

In Old Testament times, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made all his officials worship an image he had set up, and commanded that anyone who did not worship the image should be cast into a blazing hot furnace. Of course none of the officials wanted to be thrown into the blazing furnace, so they worshipped the image; all except some devout God-fearing jews who refused to worship anyone besides The Lord:

Daniel 3:8-10,12 (NIV)
8. At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. 9. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! 10. You have issued a decree, O king...
12. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon-- Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego-- who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up."

Of course Nebuchadnezzar went into a rage and had these men brought before him:

Daniel 3:13,14,15b (NIV)
13. Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14. and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15. ... if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"

But it is the reply of these men that is an example of faith to us:

Daniel 3:16,17 (NIV)
16. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.

There's an example of words of faith; they said very confidently that their God "WILL RESCUE US!" Not maybe, not if He feels like it, they said He WILL rescue them!

Some misinterpret the next verse because they don't believe that the confession of faith is powerful. The NIV version does make it sound like these men doubted that God would save them:

Daniel 3:18 (NIV)
But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

But here is the more literal translation of verses 17 and 18 from the King James Version:

Daniel 3:17,18 (KJV)
17. If it be so (if you throw us into the fiery furnace), our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and HE WILL deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18. But if not (if you DON'T throw us into the fiery furnace), be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

The only issue these men were bringing up to the king was whether or not they would be thrown into the fiery furnace! They stated in no uncertain terms that if the king threw them in, God would deliver them. That's what made the king so furious that he had the furnace heated up seven times hotter than usual!

The three men did not doubt for a minute that God would save them from death in the fiery furnace; if they HAD doubted, they would have burned up in the furnace! Remember: salvation and deliverance require the confession of faith:

Mark 11:22,23 (NIV)
22. "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23. "I tell you the truth, if anyone SAYS to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he SAYS will happen, it will be done for him.

Romans 10:10 (NIV)
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

So the results tell us the correct translation of Daniel 3:17,18:

Daniel 3:19-27 (NIV)
19. Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20. and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
21. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22. The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23. and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24. Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king." 25. He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." 26. Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!"
So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27. and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

Our words of faith in God and His Word will bring about salvation and deliverance for us if we will hold fast our confession of faith!

PRAYER
Thank You Father for Your Word. Help me by faith and confession to see the supernatural move of Your Spirit in my life. Help me remember to always trust Your Word and keep my words in line with what You say even when circumstances don't seem to agree with You.
In Jesus' Name, Amen

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