Learning from The Confidence of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego

Daniel 3:16-18
(16)  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [are] not careful to answer thee in this matter.
(17)  If it be [so], 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, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Thank you for going through the story of the trio with me.

Trust that you are well familiar with the story from which we can draw lessons (Rom 15:4, 1Cor 10:11).

But this is where most people and even translations misinterpret this story.

They say, the trio said, "if you throw us into the fire, our God is able to deliver us". Correct up to this point. But they add "but if our God doesn't deliver us, we will…" Wrong!

Let's read the story again.

The king said,
Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear… all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; [well]: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who [is] that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

The response:
"If it be [so]",… if it be so that what?

that "ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace" because the king added that "who [is] that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?"

Is this clear at this juncture?

If it be so, [if that's the case], that we shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace [thinking no God is able to deliver out of your hands], our God is able to deliver…

But if not…

if not what? If it be not so… if it be not so;

the exact opposite of the previous statement:

if that's not the case, that you shall not cast us into the 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 [because only a person who has not been burnt by fire can choose whether to bow or not to bow]

So, those men never said, "even if our God does not deliver us", rather, they were saying, "if you do what you promise to do because we did not bow, our God is able to deliver us, but if you do not throw us into the furnace, we will still not bow"
because if God never delivered them, they will already be in ashes, roasted. So they couldn't have been saying, we will not bow. They would have said, "and if our God does not deliver us, well, so be it that we die a good death, not denying our faith".

There was no doubt in their speech. They are Hebrews. It's not their first time of seeing miraculous interventions. Remember they've practically seen the miraculous knowing and interpretation of the king's dream before amongst several wonders Jehovah has demonstrated in their lives. They were used to things like that, and never counted it a risk to utter such a word before the great Nebuchadnezzar and amidst threat of seven-time-heated furnace. And so, the author of Hebrews will say they were men "who through FAITH (not fear, not doubt)… quenched the violence of fire (Hebrews 11:33-34)

The lesson we draw here is that our confidence in such times our faith is tested can be strengthened when we "get used to the miraculous".

Jesus has NEVER gave it a thought that "what if this miraculous things fail?" The day Jesus walked on water, it never came to His mind that "hey! this is water! Who do you think you are? This is too much and you may be going beyond your boundaries". He simply stepped on the water and walked. Elijah was so bold to challenge the prophets of Baal to a "the god that answers by fire be God" contest and even asked that more waters be poured on the sacrifice. Experiential confidence can be helpful for you in times of storm. Give your ears daily to hearing testimonies of how God is setting men free everyday; healing the sick through men; unstopping deaf ears; cleansing lepers through men that are not clergy. Take steps too. Pray over situations and try to observe how your prayer of faith change the situation. You can do it because Jesus says so. So go ahead! And when you're tried, it is that God may be magnified.
Blessed!

that the works of God might be made manifest

The Works of God
John 9:1-4
(1)  And as [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man which was blind from [his] birth.
(2)  And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
(3)  Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
(4) I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
This seems to look like Jesus is saying
“God made him blind, so Jesus can have some miracles to perform on earth that people might believe him”
Or that
“This is not the kind of problem caused by sin, it is a SPECIAL kind of problem that God put there so He can be showing Himself, otherwise people won’t serve Him.”
But that’s far from the message!
Please notice what Jesus did not say. He didn’t say
“He was CREATED blind”, or “He was made blind”
So Jesus cannot be talking about God as the reason for that situation. But the fact Jesus admitted was that “he was blind, but… the works of God shall be manifest”. It therefore means that hitherto, the works of God has not been manifest in his life.

Jesus simply said, ‘Hey! what you people are about to see now is “the work of God”’,
“I must work the works of him that sent me”, and we saw what?
…a healing
Therefore, his blindness is not “the work of God” is the simple message: his healing is the work of God.
It is only one person Jesus told us does nothing but is come to steal, to kill, and to destroy – the thief (John 10:10) and God is not a thief.
Therefore, don’t make a false doctrine out of this: that God maketh sick and then healeth. Don’t say “God has made me sick so He can heal me again that I can know that He is powerful”.
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: James 1:13
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
(1 John 1:5)
Peace to you.

If you Don't Know Who You are in Christ...

O ma she o! (What a pity)

Believers of today, being IGNORANT of whom they are in Christ before God have reduced themselves to all manner of trash. This is evidenced by stupid songs we sing and prayer points we raise. Songs like "pass me not o gentle savior", "aanu Re Baba wa orun lawa n toro...". Ask him to explain the scripturality of the songs, he'll say in John 5, Jesus "by mercy" healed only the lame man at Bethesda and ignored others (which is not true according to Jn6:2): that Jesus passed others by.
Hmm! "Gentle savior" indeed.

Q2.
Besides, Is the believer now at the same level with an unsaved sick who is looking for healing? When the believer is THE ONLY carrier of God's healing power on earth? (Romans 16:18 Act 3:6-8; Act 3:12; Act 3:16; Act 4:10; Act 4:22; Act 4:30; Act 5:15; Act 5:16; Act 9:17; Act 9:18; Act 9:34; Act 9:40-42; Act 19:12)

Jesus said to the woman of Canaan in Matthew 15:26, that healing is ALREADY children's bread and dogs do not qualify for it. That is, it is the right of every child, but today many believers prayers and "prayer songs" come in the manner of the dogs. No authority at all. Instead it is "shout till you lose your voice: Jesus son of David, have mercy on me", "je ki n raanu gba", "roughen your cloth, tear yourself, beg for mercy" etc.

You even have people who believe only a vow can "bribe" God to give them answers. That is not childly, nor fatherly. Imagine your son having to make a vow to you as a father before you give him his daily bread (remember Jesus calls healing children's bread). If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matt 7:11)

Children today beg for the crumbs that fall from the table when the table was prepared for them. That is what ignorance will do. #GodPunishIgnorance

Saved by Grace Alone

If you say it this way,..
"It is BY GRACE we are saved in Christ, it is NOT OF WORKS" (Eph 2:8-9)

Almost everyone will give a nodding in agreement with your statement as biblical.

But if you say the same thing this way

"your working or not working after your salvation cannot UNSAVE you"
I bet you'll get hard knocks, serious criticism and even have to face a panel (sahendrin council) in disapproval. Read what I wrote again:

"your working or not working after your salvation cannot UNSAVE you"

Please what's the difference? We are saved by grace alone and not of works. "not of works" already mean, "not by works". That is, whatever your works mean (whether good or bad), yes, will surely affect some other important things (such as people's opinion of you, your opinion of yourself, your shining as light, your relationship with fellow men, your freedom to win your neighbours to Christ, your conscience condemning or approving you, personal trust etc) but NOT SALVATION since salvation is NOT OF WORKS: otherwise it is of works: and a thing cannot be of works and also be of grace at the same time says the scripture.

[Rom 11:6]And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

[Tit 3:5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us...

My hope is built on nothing else
but Jesus blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
but only lean on Jesus name

Only One Believing is Needed

REPENTANCE may be daily..

FORSAKING OF ONE SIN OR THE OTHER may be time after time..

"Lord, I'm sorry", "brother I'm sorry I acted like that" may be needed always...

But SALVATION through Christ is ONCE AND FOR ALL TIMES

How?

how do you get saved?

Believe in Jesus (Acts 16:30,31), believe in your heart and confess (Romans 10:9-10)

How many "believe" and reject, and rebelieve and rereject, and go and come back home do you need for salvation?
O-N-E. Just Once and by that ONCE, you pass the baton to Christ who finishes it.

*[[Eph 1:13]] KJV* In whom ye also trusted, AFTER that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also AFTER that ye BELIEVED (past tense), ye were SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise,

Why do kings SEAL things?

Dan 6:17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king SEALED it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; THAT THE PURPOSE MIGHT NOT BE CHANGED concerning Daniel.

The King of kings will not take chances, so He seals you with the Holy Ghost till the day of redemption THAT THE PURPOSE MIGHT NOT BE CHANGED; that "they which are called might receive the promise of ETERNAL inheritance" (Hebrews 9:15);

Redemption and Restitution

They say salvation/forgiveness is INCOMPLETE without RESTITUTION.
VERY TRUE

But listen,..

What did the man/woman that got you converted tell you? What did you believed to be saved?

"Jesus PAID for ALL your sins"

Do you really believe this in your heart and your acts? Or it's just memory verse and another religious recitation?

"Jesus paid for all your sins". What does it mean to PAY for sins? Not SOME sins, ALL your sins.

Have you been at an institution where you're asked to pay for "damages" before? Perhaps some items were damaged or missing in your place and you're charged justly or unjustly for damages. After paying damages or someone pays the damages on your behalf, do you go to the place again because you remembered you truly did some damages to do "restitution"? In the eye of the law, can you be charged again for damages? So why do you say salvation/forgiveness is incomplete without one "restitution".

I'm sinless and COMPLETELY forgiven. Jesus paid it ALL. If any man be in Christ, he's a new creature (homos novos). He's a new born babe (1Peter2:2). He has never wronged any man. He has never sinned before (2Cor 7:2). He doesn't even have a recognized past because ALL things have become NEW. Please don't do foolish things in the name of restitution o.

Does God love the Backslider Still?

People have preacher that,
"you have God's love only as long as you have not backslidden. Once you backslide, forget God's love"

Hmmmm...

Have you read this before?

*[[Mat 26:31]] KJV* Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

Another version will say

NET. Then Jesus said to them, "This night you will all fall away because of me

ISV Then Jesus told them, "All of you will turn against me this very night,

Jesus is literally saying, these people will all BACKSLIDE from Him.

What do you think this knowledge should have put on Jesus?
I think Jesus should just lose confidence in His disciples and just begin to speak harshly in disappointment to them. "Hey! all ye disciples, despite all that I have been teaching you; despite the way I have always shown you love; you'll do this to me? Even this Peter that I think will be better off, he'll even deny me. Peter! You're a great disappointment! You, of all people"

Rather, Jesus was telling them
But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee

Ah! I thought these people who have left/denied the faith in the trials ought to do something to get back the love of Jesus, but no. Jesus was telling them this to assure them He will never leave them despite their "backsliding".

And you have thought and taught that the backslider cannot be loved of God? You never read this

*[[Rom 8:35-36]] EasyEnglish* Nothing can make us separate from Christ, who loves us. We may have troubles. Things may happen to us that cause us to be very sad or afraid. Enemies may do bad things to us and hurt us. We may have no food or no clothes. There may be danger, or people may try to kill us. But none of these things can stop Christ from loving us. As it says in the Old Testament: 'Because we are your people, (God), other people try to kill us all the time. They think that we are worth no more than sheep. Sheep that should go to the butcher so that he can kill them.'

*[[Rom 8:38-39]] EasyEnglish* Nothing can make us separate from God, who loves us. I am completely sure about that. Whether we are alive or dead, it does not matter. Neither angels nor bad spirits nor any other powerful spirits can stop God from loving us. Neither things that are now, nor future things, can stop him loving us. Neither anything that is above the world, nor anything below the world, can stop him. There is nothing else in the whole world that can stop God from loving us. Christ Jesus, our Lord, causes us to know how much God loves us.