fiery furnace – Praying Pint

33.g. “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:28 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Romans 4:18-20 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,

James 1:6-8 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Faith is not based on wishful thinking; it is an assured expectation. Faith is confidence, trust, and firm steadfast reliance. True unwavering faith can only be put in and on God alone who is able to do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine. Yet, faith can be misplaced. We can put faith in family, friends, governments, people of authority, teachers, bosses, and things of this world like money and possessions. This type of faith is misplaced and is based on people and things. People can make a promise and for all practical purposes intend to keep and fulfill that promise but may not have the power and wherewithal to fulfill it. A parent might promise to always be there for their child and to protect them from harm. The child finds strength and comfort in this promise, and yet, it is a promise the parent can not always keep. Sickness, accidents, and other things of life can circumvent the parent’s promise. A boss may promise you a job for as long as you live, only to have that promise broken when the company is sol and under new management. A teacher, professor, or other instructors may promise you purpose, contentment, fulfillment, and satisfaction through what they teach or instruct you towards, but in the end, anything apart from God’s purpose first in our lives will always leave us wanting and empty no matter how much faith we put in that which we are doing.

Abraham was given a promise of a son and though he was old when the promise was given, he believed it. He waited 15 years for it to be fulfilled.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew God could save them but even He He chose not to they were not going to bow down before a false god.

Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on water, howbeit he took his eyes (faith) off of Jesus and was overcome by the wind and waves and started to sink.

We might think we have strong and steadfast faith but faith untested is just words truly until it is tested. There are many things and situations that can test our faith. Satan can fire thousands of “doubt” arrows at our faith hoping one will strike us and cause us to take our eyes off of Jesus Christ. Anyone of these “doubt” arrows can be shot at us at any time of our lives and when we least expect it.

Paul was firm in his instruction on how to be dressed for this battle: Ephesians 6:10-17 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Keep your eyes focused on Jesus Christ and stand firm in your faith, trust, and reliance in Him alone. Give no thought or fear to the doubt arrows being shot into your life – just know they are there and He who has all power and authority will guide you through all of them to eternity. Though our life in this world may end our faith, trust, and reliance on Jesus Christ are not misplaced. It is placed on and in the one who can do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine, both on earth and in heaven.

33.a. “In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”

Matthew 13:47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:30   Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

Matthew 13:40     Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.

Matthew 3:12     His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Revelation 14:10-11     he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

Luke 13:27-28    But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’  In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.

Scripture is full of truth concerning heaven and hell. In heaven, there is everlasting holiness, peace, joy, worship, and praise, in the presence of the Creator of all things, our Heavenly Father, God, forever and ever – (Eternity). In Hell, there is everlasting torment, darkness, weeping, and gnashing of teeth. They are not fictional places. Heaven and Hell are as certain and real as the air you breathe, just as the coming day of judgment is surely coming. To deny that Heaven and hell exist is denying and rejecting God and the Word of God. “For God so loved the world that He sent his only Son, so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” Rejecting the gospel of Jesus Christ is rejecting God and denying His redemption, salvation, and forgiveness.

Apart from Adam and Eve, all of mankind was born into sin and have a sinful nature that opposes God. It is this sinful nature that promotes self over things of God. It can be intentionally selfish, self-centered, self-reliant, self-worthy, greedy, unkind, unholy, angry, hateful, jealous, prideful, boastful, arrogant, lustful, cruel, and ever choosing to reject and deny God, the Word of God, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. All of mankind is lost and apart from God and on a path that leads straight to Hell. Satan is always tempting the minds and souls of people to yield to these sinful nature’s attributes and a person willingly chooses to grab hold of these temptations and do what should not be done. God knows the thoughts and intents of every person. There is nothing hidden from His sight in all of creation. There are no excuses. Every single person is given a foundational knowledge of God. He has placed it in the hearts of all people. Rejecting this foundational knowledge denies God, the Creator of all there is and will yield a wasted, unfruitful, unsatisfied, and non-purposed life, ending in judgment and eternity in Hell.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”

Heaven is reserved for those who acknowledge their sin (and sinful nature) and believe, repent, humbly surrender, follow, obey, trust, and rely on Jesus Christ for forgiveness, redemption, and salvation. This is an intentional choice to believe and rely on Jesus Christ. Their lives are no longer under the influence of Satan for they have been given and filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Daily they intentionally choose to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all they think, say, and do. Eternal Heaven is promised and assured to these, just as eternal Hell is promised and assured to those who reject Him.

27.l. “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?”

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.

Jeremiah 32:17   ‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.

Daniel 3:17   If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

Jeremiah 32:27   “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?

Isaiah 55:7   let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

John 10:29-30   My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

John 10:10   The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

“Exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” “Great power”, “Nothing is too hard for You”, “Greater than all”, “Is anything too hard for Me” – Our God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and always present everywhere. He created all there is. He is steadfast in His love for us. He has given us great and precious promises. He gave His Son as a ransom for our sins. He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within each and everyone who believes in, trusts in, relies upon, and clings to Jesus Christ. He has reached out to His creation through what can be seen in creation, His written Word, Jesus Christ, and has written it on our heart. He is all truth and in Him is no falseness. Heaven awaits those who answer His voice and are saved. Hell awaits those who reject His calling.

Have you ever just thought about what is stated in “He can do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think.” The toughest problem with the most confusing issues, the worst situation without any hope, the worst hateful person, the unfathomable, the spiritual dimension in human life, the depths of the whole universe, and His grace, mercy, and love, are hard to understand yet alone influence, and God knows more than we can think and more than we can ask. He is limitless. This is our Heavenly Father, redeemer, refuge, fortress, and our place of rest. Why is there worry or fear in our hearts and minds about certain things? What is impossible for man is not with God. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think! Don’t let your hearts be troubled – trust God! Don’t worry – trust God! Don’t fear – trust God! He is more than able to handle whatever relationship, job, health, or other pressing issue or problem we have and see no way out of.

2.v. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,

2 Chronicles 25:9 ” And Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?” The man of God answered, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this.”

Ephesians 3:20  Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,

1 Corinthians 2:9    But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

Ephesians 1:19    and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might

Psalms 36:8-9    They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.  For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

Daniel 3:17    If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

God has no limits and there is nothing He doesn’t understand. He created the galaxies, universe, planets, stars, air, light, water, plants, animals, and mankind. By His wisdom, He spoke all of this into creation. All physics, quantum physics, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, gravity, gravitational wave, electromagnetic attraction, and a host of other sciences are all our attempts at explaining what He has created or have been knowledge glimpses given by Him to point us toward His awesome knowledge, understanding, power, might, and wisdom.

Before we got “so smart” there were very few on earth that did not think there was/is a god, gods, or God. They could see the mysteries of the skies and the wonders of the earth in everything that God created. They knew it came from someone greater than themselves. The problem is that they distorted this into false gods, false teachings, and false obedience. Over time we have grown so smart that we have those who clearly state that there is no God and everything started from a big bang and evolved into what we are now. Millions of people have chosen to believe these lies. Others have had their desire and seeking of the Creator limited. They no longer seek Him with an earnest desire. Their eyes are blind and their mind made dull to the Creator and all things created by Him.

No matter how smart we think we have become. No matter how much knowledge and understanding of the sciences we can explain. No matter what the human explanation is, God is still God and creator. He has reached out to mankind;

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

The verses today are but a few of hundreds that all speak of the love of God and “the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might”

There are many who will try to explain away God. There are many who teach false gods. There are those who teach the truth about God. And yet, it all comes down to me/you and our intentional choice to honor, serve, follow, trust, obey, believe in and rely on the true Creator. It all comes down to our desire and commitment to Him for He alone is God and worthy of all praise, honor, service, trust, obedience, and glory.

Draw near to God

“When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.”

“ Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

“ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Psalms 69:10 When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me. But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.

Psalms 55:16 But I call to God, and the LORD will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.

Matthew 26:38 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”

Daniel 3:15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever

Isaiah 12:2 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

Acts 20:24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

These scriptures capture the heart of man who trusts in God. Note these specifically: “At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me” – “If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden” – “nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” – ” your will be done.” Waiting for and trusting in God fully gives us courage and confidence for whatever is before us. Having a heart desire to be close and walk close to God has an effect on what we think say and do. He gave us scriptures to teach us, lead us, build us up, give us hope, reminding us of His promises, power, might and love. Desire to be near Him and from this foundation all else finds stability and we can face whatever comes our way today.