Encouragement

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GOD IS ABLE TO DELIVER!

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 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. Daniel 3:16-17;

The Christian life is not an escape route from oppositions, difficulties and challenges, but a life of continuous triumph over them. How can the world know what your God is capable of doing? If there are no occasions through which what you claim to believe or trust is challenged or contested, there may not be opportunity to prove the validity of your belief. If God’s children do not come face to face with difficulties, oppositions and fierce challenges, there’s no way to demonstrate the greatness and power of God in their lives. Any time you come face to face with challenges as a child of God, then comes an opportunity for God to prove Himself.

The account of how God delivered the three Hebrew boys from the blazing furnace is a testimony of what the Almighty God can do, and how He can deliver those who totally trust Him. While we’re here on earth, it’s certain that at one point or the other in our lives, we will go through some experiences which can be described as ‘fire’, ‘rivers’ or ‘deep seas’ - these are situations which threaten to swallow us or terminate our lives, but God had already given a firm assurance for our deliverance when we find ourselves in those circumstances in any category. The book of Isaiah 43:1-2 says ‘But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee’.

That God will be faithful to His word is never in doubt - His word are Yea and Amen! However, what is required on your part is ‘FEAR NOT’ when going through situations which can be described as ‘hell’. What are those things you would attempt to do if it were impossible to fail? What are those mountains you would face headlong if you had the assurance that God would lead the way? If your life is dominated by fear, you can never experience the greatness and power of God because fear will make you to always bow and give in to threats of the enemies. Another danger of fear is that it will rob you of living to your full potentials; with fear in your life, you cannot become the man or the woman God has created you to be, because you will be too afraid to take your stand. If you’re afraid to declare your stand in the face of the enemies or oppositions, and compromise your faith to win favour of man that does not last, it’s because you’re deficient in your trust in God.

When passing through ‘fire’ and ‘rivers’, you can have assurance that God will be there with you as He promised, only if you are in right standing with Him. If your relationship with God is shaking or you’re living in sin, it may be difficult for you to have this assurance. God is usually excited to manifest His greatness, so when people or situations challenge your God, it’s an opportunity for Him to declare His greatness. If you stand in righteousness you can always have that firm assurance that God will stand with you, but if you compromise your faith to seek ungodly routes or alternatives when going through difficulties, God cannot be your ally. It’s unfortunate that majority, including those who profess to be God’s children, are bowing to idols of unrighteousness, they are not like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who stood firm for God.

If you bow to oppositions or seek ungodly alternatives in times of difficulties or challenges, it’s a great disservice to God. Just think about it, if Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had bowed down like every other person did, to the idol of gold set up by Nebuchadnezzar, God’s greatness and power to deliver from fiery furnace would never have been known by the world! The three Hebrew boys stood firm in the face of adversities and persecutions; their loyalty to God was so great that they were determined to stand for God even if He decided to let them down! Heaven obviously noticed this, and the Lord God did not disappoint them. God will always be on the side of those who refuse to bow. God is able to deliver!

Ezekiel Olukolajo
Contact: [email protected]

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