26-Sep-2021: Ps Natasha
We go through trials and persecution. This has been happening right from the beginning.
Abel in Genesis > Jesus in the Gospels > the Apostles & the disciples – Persecution for no fault of theirs.
Dan 3:8-18
8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews.
9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever!
10 You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image;
11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?
15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.
18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
Context: 3 exiled God’s people are ordered to bow down to the golden image. When they don’t, a compliant goes to the King and the King summons them. When ordered, they did not obey.
- Radical Faith:
Look at the boldness with which they speak – O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
Given a situation, first we use our brain –
- If I get thrown into the fire, I’ll die.
- If we don’t obey, the King will not tolerate & there is no escape.
- I know God is miraculous but, what are the facts? What can I do to escape this?
They knew the consequences of their choices.
- We know God is able and he will rescue us.
- Even if He doesn’t, we will now bow down to your gods.
This is a great faith to believe that God is able to rescue. Even if He doesn’t, God is still faithful.
Question: Will I believe in Gods character even in extreme odds? Even if God will not show up, will I still stand to believe?
Yes, God heals. Yes, God will take us through the trials. Yes, God will give us a job. Yes, God will give a breakthrough.
But, do you have a faith, even when there is no miracle, to stand believing?
This kind of faith develops only when we encounter trials & tribulations. God shows his faithfulness only when we are in a state of chaos or at the edge of the cliff.
The next time you see yourself at the edge of the cliff – it’s time to stand believing irrespective of the outcome.
Dan 3:19-25
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.
20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22 Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”
They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
The soldiers who took Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego to the furnace died.
What happened to the faith that they had? – God came to their rescue & protected them.
How? – Because if their faith.
When praying for someone, we see in our natural eyes. But, do we have the faith to believe when praying?
Do you have radical faith?
Understand that only when you go through a journey of trial, tribulations, God will build faith in us to take us to another level.
- Radical Joy
Acts 16:16-24
16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling.
17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”
18 And this she did for many days.
But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.
19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.
20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city;
21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.”
22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.
23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.
24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Paul cast out a demon with a command using the name of Jesus – I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.
Because she could earn for their masters, they were flogged and put in prison.
Acts 16:25
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. The prisoners were listening to them.
We say – Hang in there. Hold on. Put your chin up. Walk it off.
Question: Where is the joy when we encounter trials? Are we joyful in an adverse situation?
Remember – Nothing can happen without God knowing about it.
Instead, we ask – Where is God? Why isn’t He doing anything?
Paul and Silas had their eyes on the Spiritual or in the heavenly realms. But, the way we live – we try build castles as if we are going to live forever.
Are we willing to trust God and be joyful even when you lose everything?
We know from Daniel 3, that the King praised the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.
Acts 16:26-34
26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.
28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
Paul and Silas did not run when they got a chance of escape. Because of this the Jailer and his family, were saved and baptized.
What would I do when the earthquake shook the doors open and the loosed the chain?
Remember – Because of your joy and praise, other people meet God.
Therefore, joyfully take up suffering so that God can display His power.
- Radical Hope
Romans 5:3-5
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Hope is one of the most powerful substance we have.
You may have noticed – when doctors try their best and when they are unable to cure, they say “there is no hope. It’s now in God’s hands”
Hope stirs up passion: When all hope is lost, it would seem that’s the time – God stirs up a passion and fills us with hope.
Hope energizes: It would seem that when everything’s gone and lost, Hope lights a fire in our hearts to trust God.
Hope sustains life: In despair life seems a waste and suicide seem to be the only solution. But this is when we speak hope, God brings light and love into the darkness and stimulate life.
The devil works very hard to use every circumstance to keep you in darkness and death. But it’s the radical hope (despite all odds) that God works miracles through.
Understand – By the Holy Spirit, we have Radical Hope! With this Hope, we can stand against the plans and wiles of the devil.
Give your WHOLE life to God and trust Him. Let God develop Radical Faith, Radical Joy and Radical Hope in you!