In battle, spiritual warriors are able to speak with utter confidence about God’s ability. In every circumstance, they keep their gaze fixed on God. The story of the three Hebrew exiles in Daniel 3 is a perfect example of this principle. Shadrach, meshack, and abed-nego refused to bow before a large statue of King Nebuchadnezzar. until that moment, they had been loyal, trusted servants.
Enraged by even the rumor that the 3 would not bow, Nebuchadnezzar brought them before his royal court and demanded they bow. If they refused, they would be executed in a fiery furnace. The men didn’t even flinch, as we read in verses 16 – 18 of Daniel;
Oh Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us from your hand, O King. But if not, let it be known to you, O King, that we do not serve your God’s, nor will we worship the golden image which you have set up.
Nebuchadnezzar could not believe his ears. He had demanded obedience, and he was humiliated in front of his own court. The three men knew their fate would be execution. They knew exactly what they were doing, but they had decided to live from a different place. They had given their entire being to the purposes of God, and they would not be swayed.
These spiritual warrior’s stood their ground, even as Nebuchadnezzar ordered the furnace’s temperature to be multiplied 7 times, as we see in verses 20 – 23:
And commanded certain mighty men of valor your who were in his army to bind Shadrach, me shack and a Bendigo, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and or other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, me shack, and of be at the – the goal. And these 3 men, Shadrach, me shack, and Abe be – Neagle. And these 3 men, Shadrach, me shack in a Bendigo, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Simply being near the furnace killed the trio’s guards. Opening the door should have incinerated the 3 Hebrews, just as it did the Babylonians. But the 3 did not die. In fact, they received an incredible revelation of God, when he manifested his very presence in the furnace with them. He manifested his presence to them in such an awesome way that the circumstances were not allowed to touch them. His very fragrance prevented even their clothes from being tainted by smoke. Verses 24 – 25 tells us:
Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; any roles in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, did we not cast 3 men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said to the king, true, okay. Look! He answered, I see 4 men loops, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the 4th is like the son of God.
When we manifest our spirit, we can be put into places where we have no business being. Yet God is there. This courageous faith in him leads us to get out of the boat and walk on water toward him. It leads us into his presence, even in a fiery furnace, without a trace of fear. We have no ability to do these things – but God does.
Nebuchadnezzar was stunned by what he saw. He ordered the three to come out of the furnace, and they didn’t even smell like smoke! The pagan King opened his mouth and praised God. Verses 28 – 30:
Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, me shack, and a Bendigo, who sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any God except their own God! Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything a mess against the God of Shadrach, me shack, in the Bendigo shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made and ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this. Then the king promoted Shadrach, me shack, and a Bendigo in the providence of Babylon.
These three spiritual warriors prospered for their principled stand against idolatry. When they had walked into that throne room, they had no idea what would happen. The consequences did not matter to them because they knew the calling of God.
Manifesting our spirit when we are frightened is the response of a true warrior. There are great days ahead of us, but we must be anchored in God to enter them. We have a journey to walk with him.
God has not called us to be chocolate soldiers that melt in the heat of battle. Nor are we to be merely weekend warriors that do dwell in meetings but not in life. He has called us to be men and women of substance. He wants us to manifest the things he has put inside of us, even in hard times. That to which he has called us will become real as we respond to him.
The tests God sends our way are designed to establish what he has already put inside of us. The ability to pass every test is wired into us; we just need God’s help to access those resources. Every promblem comes with his provision. Every test comes with God’s answer sheet attached.
Every believer has two choices when a test arises. They can choose to grapple with it using their mind and emotions; this will simply drive them further away from what God wants to be for them. Or the believer can take these tests in the spirit. When they rely on God for his provision, they move closer to him. The test is present whether you acknowledge it or not. Passing or failing is mostly a matter of the will being engaged with God’s purpose.
As we submit to God’s purpose we may access what he has put inside of us. We can also experience what he has laid aside for us in this eventuality. Spiritual warrior passes every test with God’s helping hand.
Crucial to the establishing of purpose is our rest and peace in the circumstances. There is no anchoring of purpose without rest and peace. Instead, we become anxious in our thinking and may become subject to wild emotional mood swings. Philippians 4:4 – 7:
Peace guards our heart in the process of change. Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
There is always a process to follow as we learn to become more like Jesus. Rejoicing is at the heart of our life in God. Joy is the eternal disposition of God. Joy is who he is. Rejoicing is our response to who God is (for us)! In days of difficulty, rejoice twice as much. Rejoicing allows gentleness to emerge. We become softer in the presence of God. More gracious, loving, and kind. We view people as he does, and we rejoice in their actual resemblance to Jesus or in their potential to be different. Mercy reigns.
In this loving engagement, worry becomes an alien experience. We are no longer subject to anxiety because prayer is so enjoyable. Peace rules over us. We may not have full revelation yet about our circumstances, but peace comes from his presence – not our understanding of events. Peace guards our heart. Rest covers what we are not and allows us the serenity to become adjusted by God’s nature.
We are made content by God’s graciousness. We can look at our circumstances and bleat I am not made for this. I’m sure that was the concern of Moses and Gideon. Despite knowing the will of God and doing it, Gideon needed a ridiculous amount of reassurance, which God generously accommodated. The fleeces that he put out were not about guidance. the Spirit of God was on him, and he had already acted in response to God’s will – Judges 6:34 – 34. He simply need to be more confident in himself when he met the men that God was sending to him. He knew they would be looking on him critically, expectantly, and with discrimination. He needed confirmation that he was the chosen one in the circumstances. The Lord’s generous backing with the fleeces anchored Gideon in purpose.
When God calls us in weakness, he calls himself to stand in our weakness, that we may experience him in the low place of our self-esteem. He steps into our vulnerability, and we experience an outpouring of who he is.
Peace is about the outcome – Romans 8:28 – which is guaranteed because of God’s sovereignty. Rest is concerned with the process of how we get there. Peace empowers me to believe for the future. Rest enables me to partner with God in the present.
The enemy always overextends himself in persecution. He does not see the bigger picture that occupies God’s perspective. Rest and peace enable us to both see the larger picture and know our place within it.
When we are anchored by purpose, we develop a predetermined response to situations. We do not wait for something to happen before we think about it. The 3 friends in the court of Nebuchadnezzar went into the throne room already decided on their response and in relative peace about it. They knew they would have no place of reflection; the king would require instant obedience. Their language contained no hint of being intimidated by the threats of the King. God can deliver us from the furnace but even if he does not, we will not worship your God’s or your image. They were totally anchored by purpose.
Assignment – what is God’s purpose for you? What is the measure of peace and rest that you need to discover in order to anchor that purpose in your life? What is your predetermined response that will anchor your purpose and faithfulness?
Commission – study Philippians 4:4 – 7. What is the process that you need to generate to move yourself more fully into God’s over – arching purpose for your life.