I now understand the expression "out of the frying pan and into the fire". There are times when you feel the heat and you think it is very hot until you fall directly into the fire. When you fall into the fire, you understand that you did not fully understand what hot was. You never fully realized what happens when the heat is turned up in your life.
Mishael, Azariah and Hananiah quickly come to mind. We normally refer to them as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The young men who were friends of Daniel. They were Jewish captives taken by King Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon. It was not enough that they had become slaves taken from their family and other friends. But, they thought there was joy in the midst of their pain when they are chosen to be servants of King Nebuchadnezzar. They were soon thrust into the second major trial of their lives because in order to work for the king, they would be required to defile themselves through food. God would show favor to them and Daniel through the king's eunuch. They are allowed to eat vegetables, grains, beans and water. We commonly refer to this as a Daniel fast. They passed the test and are able to work for the king. The king becomes angry because his current staff cannot interpret his dream. Not only does he become angry with his staff but he decrees that ALL wise men, magicians and etc. will be killed because they cannot tell him what he dreamt and then provide an interpretation. Daniel and his friends did not even know anything about the king and his dream. But, they were told quickly once soldiers came to take them captive. Imagine, captives being held captive while still being held for another reason. Have you ever inherited someone else's mess? Mishael, Azariah, Hananiah and Daniel seek the heart of the Lord and are provided the dream and the interpretation. They are promoted and the king declares there is no god like their god.
Just when they thought they were safe and starting to come out of this season of darkness, it gets darker. Nebuchadnezzar has a pride and self righteousness problem. He builds a statute 90 feet tall and puts music to it. He declares everyone must bow and worship his statute when the music plays or risk being thrown into a blazing hot furnace. Mishael, Azariah and Hananiah are spotted not bowing and the king is quickly told. The same king who had sang praises earlier is now angry that they will not bow to his statute. He already knew they served a different god. Remember the dream interpretation? Now, he is so beside himself that he decides to throw them into a fiery furnace that he heats seven times hotter than normal. It is already hell, now he wants it hotter than hell. It is so hot that the guards who throw them in are instantly killed. Notice, they are not delivered before being thrown into the fire. While they have stood for righteousness, deliverance does not come before the fire. They are throw in with all clothes, shoes, hats and etc. While in the midst of the fire, Jesus joins them and protects them from the flames. Nebuchadnezzar cannot believe that they are not burning and tells them to come out. He now declares that there is no other God and death to anyone who would deny that their God is the one true God.
"Our Father" by Bethel Church is such a special worship song. We are calling for the Kingdom of God to come to earth. The anointing upon this song is simply amazing. But, there is a cost to declare the Kingdom of God to come and be housed in us. It requires a house fit for the presence of God to dwell. How do you prepare for the glory of God to emanate from you? You are thrown into the fiery furnace with all your clothes on. Your clothes are unemployment, strife at home, relationships breaking down and ending, health problems, child problems and even questioning your spirituality. Am I really hearing from God. People you have trusted no longer trust your judgment; therefore, you begin to second guess yourself. Am I as mature as I thought? The decisions I have made and continue to make, are they godly and did I really hear God? Heat, heat and more heat. Where are you God? He is in the fire with you. Your bands of bondage will burn away and though every part of your clothing is thrown in with you, it will not burn. When Mishael, Hananiah and Azariah came out of the fire, not one hair, not one piece of clothing or anything about their person was burned or even smelled like fire. Deliverance comes IN the fire. When you step out of your furnace, only the aroma of the anointing of the Father is upon you. Allow the furnace to burn up the things that hold you captive. Allow depression, poverty, doubt, unbelief, rejection, sickness, shame, guilt, death and all the things you are struggling with be consumed by the fire. Come out with joy, love, peace, kindness, gentleness and compassion and true deliverance.
Many are struggling. What you thought you could trust is on shaky ground. Your cry has been that you want to be used of God. You feel dry and so far away from Him. You are isolated and alone. There is no one nor nothing to trust. Your tears have become your pillow. No one understands you or can provide answers for you. Yet, there is this yearning in your heart for more and more of God. You push although you don't know how. Although there is chaos all around, there is still a small spark in your belly. You experience inner pain on a level you have not felt before. It is almost too much to bear. You are in your furnace. But, Yeshua is with you. For there is deliverance in the fire. Stay in the fire. Do not be afraid. Only your bands of bondage will be burned. The Kingdom of God has come to earth. It is in you, and works through you and it sets the captives free. It is painful, but stay in the fire. When you feel overwhelmed, stay in the fire, but remember He is there with you. Worship in the fire. Jesus is using the fire. Jesus is in the fire. Stay in the fire.
You keep track of all my sorrows.* You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side! I praise God for what he has promised; yes, I praise the LORD for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help. For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.
Psalm 56:8 -13NLT
Mishael, Azariah and Hananiah quickly come to mind. We normally refer to them as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The young men who were friends of Daniel. They were Jewish captives taken by King Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon. It was not enough that they had become slaves taken from their family and other friends. But, they thought there was joy in the midst of their pain when they are chosen to be servants of King Nebuchadnezzar. They were soon thrust into the second major trial of their lives because in order to work for the king, they would be required to defile themselves through food. God would show favor to them and Daniel through the king's eunuch. They are allowed to eat vegetables, grains, beans and water. We commonly refer to this as a Daniel fast. They passed the test and are able to work for the king. The king becomes angry because his current staff cannot interpret his dream. Not only does he become angry with his staff but he decrees that ALL wise men, magicians and etc. will be killed because they cannot tell him what he dreamt and then provide an interpretation. Daniel and his friends did not even know anything about the king and his dream. But, they were told quickly once soldiers came to take them captive. Imagine, captives being held captive while still being held for another reason. Have you ever inherited someone else's mess? Mishael, Azariah, Hananiah and Daniel seek the heart of the Lord and are provided the dream and the interpretation. They are promoted and the king declares there is no god like their god.
Just when they thought they were safe and starting to come out of this season of darkness, it gets darker. Nebuchadnezzar has a pride and self righteousness problem. He builds a statute 90 feet tall and puts music to it. He declares everyone must bow and worship his statute when the music plays or risk being thrown into a blazing hot furnace. Mishael, Azariah and Hananiah are spotted not bowing and the king is quickly told. The same king who had sang praises earlier is now angry that they will not bow to his statute. He already knew they served a different god. Remember the dream interpretation? Now, he is so beside himself that he decides to throw them into a fiery furnace that he heats seven times hotter than normal. It is already hell, now he wants it hotter than hell. It is so hot that the guards who throw them in are instantly killed. Notice, they are not delivered before being thrown into the fire. While they have stood for righteousness, deliverance does not come before the fire. They are throw in with all clothes, shoes, hats and etc. While in the midst of the fire, Jesus joins them and protects them from the flames. Nebuchadnezzar cannot believe that they are not burning and tells them to come out. He now declares that there is no other God and death to anyone who would deny that their God is the one true God.
"Our Father" by Bethel Church is such a special worship song. We are calling for the Kingdom of God to come to earth. The anointing upon this song is simply amazing. But, there is a cost to declare the Kingdom of God to come and be housed in us. It requires a house fit for the presence of God to dwell. How do you prepare for the glory of God to emanate from you? You are thrown into the fiery furnace with all your clothes on. Your clothes are unemployment, strife at home, relationships breaking down and ending, health problems, child problems and even questioning your spirituality. Am I really hearing from God. People you have trusted no longer trust your judgment; therefore, you begin to second guess yourself. Am I as mature as I thought? The decisions I have made and continue to make, are they godly and did I really hear God? Heat, heat and more heat. Where are you God? He is in the fire with you. Your bands of bondage will burn away and though every part of your clothing is thrown in with you, it will not burn. When Mishael, Hananiah and Azariah came out of the fire, not one hair, not one piece of clothing or anything about their person was burned or even smelled like fire. Deliverance comes IN the fire. When you step out of your furnace, only the aroma of the anointing of the Father is upon you. Allow the furnace to burn up the things that hold you captive. Allow depression, poverty, doubt, unbelief, rejection, sickness, shame, guilt, death and all the things you are struggling with be consumed by the fire. Come out with joy, love, peace, kindness, gentleness and compassion and true deliverance.
Many are struggling. What you thought you could trust is on shaky ground. Your cry has been that you want to be used of God. You feel dry and so far away from Him. You are isolated and alone. There is no one nor nothing to trust. Your tears have become your pillow. No one understands you or can provide answers for you. Yet, there is this yearning in your heart for more and more of God. You push although you don't know how. Although there is chaos all around, there is still a small spark in your belly. You experience inner pain on a level you have not felt before. It is almost too much to bear. You are in your furnace. But, Yeshua is with you. For there is deliverance in the fire. Stay in the fire. Do not be afraid. Only your bands of bondage will be burned. The Kingdom of God has come to earth. It is in you, and works through you and it sets the captives free. It is painful, but stay in the fire. When you feel overwhelmed, stay in the fire, but remember He is there with you. Worship in the fire. Jesus is using the fire. Jesus is in the fire. Stay in the fire.
You keep track of all my sorrows.* You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side! I praise God for what he has promised; yes, I praise the LORD for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help. For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.
Psalm 56:8 -13NLT
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