Daniel #8

 (Daniel 3:16-25 KJV) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 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. 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. ¶ Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellers, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He 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.

This is the image of the born-again children of God. The born-again children of God do not fear death. This is a great testimony. They spoke with an authoritative voice, confident, unexcited, calm, yet fearless. This is because God is with them. Christians must bear this witness. Not a testimony of “I worked hard and God gave me a lot of money,” but rather a testimony of God’s power before people. When Nebuchadnezzar asked, “Who is the God that will save you?” These guys were bold before the king! Nebuchadnezzar was a mighty king of his time. How dare they speak like this in front of him? God allowed the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, but he was too proud and arrogant, which later caused his great downfall. They didn’t hesitate but responded immediately but boldly proclaimed, “Even if you throws us in the furnace, God can save us. Regardless O king, we will not serve your gods.” We Christians, whether you live or die, just have to obey the word of God. Even when we pray for the sick, we just have to pray and leave it to God to heal them. There’s nothing to be disappointed because of God did not heal them, and there’s nothing to be proud of God’s healing powers. It is all up to God. People tend to believe God doesn’t have the ability when their prayers aren’t answered immediately. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego did not doubt God’s ability, whether God could deliver them or not. This is the attitude of those who rejoice in God. That is why people lose their faith and become afraid when something doesn’t go the way thought of after the prayer. It may seem the world is ridiculing them. But it doesn’t matter. God will take care of everything if you simply obey His words. If we pray according to God’s will, it doesn’t matter whether it comes true or not. It doesn’t matter if it happens right away, a month, or 10 years later. Pastor Song has been trying to lead people with the Word of God during his ministry, and some words took 20 years to be fulfilled. Therefore, if you hold on to the Word and pray, it will surely come true. Likewise, praying for salvation of our non-believing family members will definitely come true. It’s not because God doesn’t have the ability. When we pray, God does it in God’s time and in God’s way, never in our own way or our methods. Just as (Acts 16:31 KJV) says: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. It will definitely come true, so we just have to pray for it. We must always pray according to the scripture, not of my own will.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego did not doubt the power of God. But if not doesn’t mean God can save even if He has no ability. God has this ability. The question is, will God send them to heaven at that time, or will He save them from the furnace? It depends on God’s will. He told us to pray according to God’s will and not to doubt. Getting these men out of the furnace is not a matter of God’s ability, but of God’s will. If there is a problem for us Christians, it has nothing to do with God’s power. It’s not that God can’t solve our problems because He doesn’t have the ability to do so. But Satan tempts us. I prayed like this, but God didn’t hear me. Satan whispers deception into us. Just like in the Garden of Eden, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (Genesis 3:1 KJV) Didn’t God say He answers all prayers? Satan always deceives and discourages those who pray according to the Word. This is why Christians today are tempted and led astray. There is nothing wrong with God’s abilities. However all we need to remember is if that is God’s will, then that’s all we need to know. And even if it’s not a good outcome, even if our prayers are not answered, if it’s God’s will, then we just have to obey. In every thing give thanks: (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV) We don’t have to worry about the results when we pray. That’s all up to God to decide. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego decided not to commit the sin of bowing down to the golden image. Holding onto God’s word not to worship idols, they simply obeyed, believing God will take care of the rest. After all, people are appointed to die once. What is important is the judgment afterwards. The judgment is more important than death. That’s why people with this kind of faith have nothing to fear. There shouldn’t even be a discussion of about whether or not to visit the Shinto shrine during the Japanese colonial period in Korea. Every pastors and minister did it, as there were only a few, including Pastor Joo Ki-cheol, who was against it and did not visit the shrine or bow down. It’s the same today. Tolerance. It’s okay to bow your heads as long as we don’t acknowledge with our hearts. Even with the Japanese police threats and torture, Pastor Joo resisted. Since that didn’t work they tried to convince him not to bow down but simply meditate in the car as they passed by the shrine. This is how Satan deceives. Pastor Joo Ki-cheol did not do that either. If you are deceived like that once, you won’t realize it right then, but you will experience great agony later down the road. Here, the young prisoners speak boldly in front of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of kings of that time. They didn’t beg for mercy. Rather said bluntly, We won’t. Even if you throw us into the fiery furnace. This caused Nebuchadnezzar to become furious, and the form of his visage changed. His facial expression changed by someone insignificant defying his orders. The fiery furnace was so hot, the people who threw these guys were killed by the flames. Usually when people were thrown into the furnace, they were stripped off of their clothes and hats. But the king was so angry, he threw them into the furnace fully clothed. Anyone tossed into that furnace burned up instantly. Even iron ore melted instantaneously. Human flesh and bones are no big deal.

            Normally, people would raise all sorts of ruckus before execution, but these guys just went in quietly. Historically speaking, many Christian martyrs were set on fire alive on pyre during the Middle Ages. Realizing their martyrdom was for the Lord, these folks just laughed even they were turning into a pile of ash. Unfortunately, many people who go to church in our modern times are unlike Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego or Daniel. But if you have the Holy Spirit, you can do it. We can never do it on our own. But because the Holy Spirit gives power at the right time, the apostle Paul said, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13 KJV) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10 KJV) Real born again Christians normally look weak. But when the time comes, with persecution they become stronger. Like the underground church members hidden in North Korea. Imagine how surprised Nebuchadnezzar must have been. Three people were bound inside the furnace, but they were all freely roaming around with another person with them. 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. Many Revised Bibles say, like a son of a god or son of the gods. Jesus walked there with them. In the eyes of the theologians, He was the son of the gods, but Nebuchadnezzar said He was the Son of God. Theologians just could not fathom that the Son of God go in there. So they corrected the Bible to the son of the gods with lower case s and g. Unbelievable. They altered the words of the Bible. It is written as the Son of God in the King James Bible with the definite article with capital S and G. The is definite article referring to something specific. A is an indefinite article. Like one of the gods. A son of God. Bible like the NIV al