FIRE Power

This week as I went to Bible Study I found myself so incredibly encouraged by the truths found in the story of Daniel's three friends in Daniel 3:13-27. The three, you know them as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, young men are brought into King Neb. without their leader. He fires up the furnace seven times hotter than normal. He gives them one more chance to denounce their God. They refuse and say, "We do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazig fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if he does not, let it be known to you, on king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship your golden image." You know the story...they are thrown in the fire and no longer are their three - but FOUR...then King Neb calls them out and it says "there was not even the smell of fire upon them." So, there were four...just as there are in the midst of our fires...if you know the Lord then you are in the fire with God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Beth Moore identifies three scenarios for deliverance from the fires in our lives:

1. Delivered FROM the fire - this builds our faith - God intervenes and shows his power to keep us from the fire (trials and tests).
2. Delivered THROUGH the fire - this refines our faith - God walks with us through our fires (trials ands tests).
3. Delivered BY the fire - into His hands for all eternity - this purifies our faith - very seldom will any of us be called to die for the glory of God; however, many of us know those who have died in their fire (accidents, disease, etc).

So, today as you encounter your own form of fire, be encouraged...Your Great God is able and will deliver you From, Through, or By your fire.