By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
THURSDAY
THEME: FAITH THAT RECEIVES THE APPLAUSE OF GOD: PART II“
SCRIPTURE: Daniel 3:28-29
“[28]Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, 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! [29]Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”
REFLECTIONS
God will be vindicated in every situation if His people will trust Him through their struggles. Bold and true faith cannot be intimidated by threats of death, loss of jobs, opportunities, etc. Faith recognizes that our God is a living God and has the power to do what He desires. Faith also conveys a clear message that no one can match God. No one can fight God and win. It does not and will never happen. Those who reported the three men were enemies who desired the Jews’ destruction (Daniel 3:8-12), but God turned their plans into a victory for His people and a revelation of who the true God is. Nebuchadnezzar declared openly, “There is no other God who can deliver like this.”
When they stood their ground (verses 16-18), it took only three men to change the corrupted mindset of the people about God in Babylon. Remember, the king made them heat the furnace seven times more to receive the “defiant” men (verse 19). But their faith rendered Nebuchadnezzar and his people’s worship useless, meaningless, and untenable. The manifestation of God’s power to deliver the three men from the burning furnace was evident that a god created by human imagination cannot be a god for humans (verses 20-30). You must be superior to what you create. But for an image made by humans to become a god and be attributed with the power it does not have and cannot possess is a complete lack of wisdom. Faith without boldness is a deflated and fake faith.
The defiant king praised God and decreed that no one should speak against Him (verses 28-29). But beyond the fire, the three were promoted (verse 30)—Amen. Promotion comes only from God when you have gone through the crucibles. These three reveal that faith is not theory but practice. It is not an idea but a conviction and a lifestyle. God wields power and authority, and faith will make it visible and experiential. Faith always seeks to obey God rather than succumb to pressure, intimidation, fear, or deny His glory. The Christian faith is based on “thus says the Lord,” not what I think or someone else thinks. Faith seeks the fulfillment of God’s word first in every situation. Faith never dies; it is disabled when it is not practiced. If you venture with bold faith, you will win great victories in God.
Before God won the day for them by rewarding their faith, they had tasted, known, and declared the goodness of God. The judgment that the Holy Spirit continues to convict you of (John 16:8) will be a verdict on who you knew when you lived on earth – Christ or Satan. Of the two, whom do you know intimately (John 17:3)? Can you stand for the name of Christ? Would you feel shy about proclaiming His goodness? A winning faith is steadfast and focused solely on Jesus Christ. It does not doubt, question, flicker, or waiver. Our faith in Christ gives us the power to endure, persevere, and overcome the hurdles on our paths. God will never disappoint you if your faith is nourished by practice, active, growing, trusting, and patient. Your faith will receive the applause of God.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 645 – “God of Our Fathers” – Mormon Tabernacle Choir
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for your life; thank God for specific blessings He has bestowed on you; pray for faith that does not despair;
– Pray for your family, church members, and well-wishers to have growing faith in Christ;
– Offer a prayer of faith for families, friends, and acquaintances who are challenged with marital problems, health issues, childbirth delays, unemployment, addiction, wayward children, etc.
– Pray for the nation and its citizens to trust God, seek righteousness and justice, and pray for economic improvement and the comfort of God’s word in these difficult times.
