Encouragement

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Bound, Loosed, COME FORTH!
Daniel 3:20-23 and he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 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 flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counselors, 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. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

Ok, I’m going to get straight to the heart of this message! We have heard the story of the three Hebrew children, thrown into the fiery furnace. We know that they were put there because they refused to bow down and worship King Nebuchadnezzar. We know that he ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter. We also know what the outcome was! They threw in three men bound into the fire but when the king looked in he saw four men! And the king said, “come forth, and come hither.” And they came out of the fire untouched! No one had to go in and drag them out!

So, let me ask you today:
· Have you ever felt as if you have been thrown into the fiery furnace?
· Have you ever felt like you were bound and thrown into the fire?
· Have you ever felt like standing on truth creates more problems?
· Have you ever felt like you are in the fiery furnace alone?

In the last days I believe the furnace has been turned up! The enemy that walks about seeking, who he can devour, knows his time is running out. Thus, when we stand up for TRUTH, unwavering, we will experience the heat of the furnace. I don’t believe there is anyway around it! That is if you want to be on the side of TRUTH.

Truth is not a popular message today. If you do not worship the gods of this world you are looked upon as an outcast, weirdo, freak, and any other name you can think of. Friends and family may even turn their back, but I want you to know something! You are not in the fiery furnace alone!

In the passage we see that there was a fourth person. This is what the story has always been focused on! The king says, 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. (vs. 25) While this is the heart and core of the message, I believe there is something else!

Shadrach was not in the furnace by himself!

Meshach was not in the furnace by himself!

Abednego was not in the furnace by himself!

Although they were all in the fire they were in the PRESENCE of GOD!

But they also had each other and God was with three young men in the furnace!

Here is what I want to remind you of today!

You may feel like you are in the furnace alone! YOU ARE NOT!

You may feel like the fire is burning all around and you are the only one experiencing it! YOU ARE NOT!

You may have been bound and thrown into the fire, but you were not thrown in there ALONE!

Saints, get a hold on this!

God is in the midst of the fire, along with you and countless other sold-out brothers and sisters in Christ! He has placed you in the midst of the fire for a purpose! You have taken a stand for TRUTH and TRUTH will prevail!

There may be moments when it seems you are the only one willing to go through the fire, but look around you! There are others who have fallen on their knees, just like the three Hebrew children did! They were willing to be bound, and carried to the fire! They heard the order, they knew the fire was going to be turned up, and they still didn’t concede, they stood on TRUTH!

Daniel 3:17 if it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver is 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.

They were not afraid! They did not waver! They stood on Truth! Have you done that lately? Are you afraid if you do you will end up in the fire alone? Rest assured you will not be alone! You will be with other believers such as yourself, and all of you will be in the awesome presence of GOD!

Then, when you hear “come forth, and come hither,” you will be untouched. Not a hair on your head will be singed, your clothes will be in one piece, and you won’t smell like smoke. Fear not, the fire has no power over you and your brothers and sisters in Christ!

And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. (vs 27)
You went into the fire bound and will come forth loosed!

The enemy attempted to scorch the truth from your lips, but you will not be touched!

The enemy wants to destroy us in the fire; but the LORD SAYS COME FORTH, I AM READY TO PROMOTE!

Daniel 3:27-30 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

The enemy of this world cannot destroy those who stand for the TRUTH of God’s WORD!

Let it sink deep into your spirit. Let it settle like a fire shut up in your bones. You are not alone!

The PRESENCE OF THE LORD is in the midst of the fire!

You may have been bound, but you will be loosed!

Listen closely for the Lord to say, COME FORTH YOU HAVE BEEN PROMOTED!

And I challenge you, while in the midst of the fire, look around; not only will you realize you are in the presence of the Lord God Almighty, but you just may see a Shadrach, Meshach or an Abednego.

Isaiah 43:1-2 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.

© August 11, 2005 Jounda LaMance

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