Last post, we talked about Jesus in the garden, and how the spirit and the flesh are at war. Our spirits are always willing, but the flesh is always pushing back. The flesh wants the easy way, when our spirit wants the right way.
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41
Our spirit wants to push through the difficulty and our flesh wants to give in and quit when things get tough.
Jesus was our great example, although He prayed, “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me,” He didn’t stop there. He continued and said, “Not my will, but thine be done.”
Our willingness to push through every struggle, every battle, not giving into the flesh, will allow us to see the purpose of God in our lives.
Joshua and Caleb were the only Israelite adults that didn’t die in the wilderness but saw the Promised Land because they REFUSED to believe the evil report.
Their willingness to believe God’s promise in the midst of everyone else’s unbelief allowed them to see the purpose of God in their lives.
I want to encourage you today. Don’t allow the crowd to discourage you from seeing the promises of God in your life.
Be willing to stand even if you are alone.
God will never let you down.
In Daniel 3, there are three Hebrew boys that were willing to put their lives on the line to see the purpose of God fulfilled in their lives.
King Nebuchadnezzar ordered everyone to bow down and worship a golden image. Whoever did not obey this decree would be tossed into the fiery furnace.
But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in,
Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
Daniel 3:12-18 NLT
In the midst of difficulty, these three Hebrew boys were willing to put it all on the line for the God they served.
They were willing to go through the fire.
They were willing to go through the pain.
They were willing to go through the suffering.
They believed and trusted that God would deliver them…. But even if He didn’t, their willingness wasn’t going to change.
I wonder how many times we think we are willing, until the heat gets turned up?
How many times have we told God that we will do anything for Him, until that anything becomes our everything…and then the flesh wins.
Remember, the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
The king got so mad at these three Hebrew boys, that he turned up the furnace seven times hotter.
If you think the enemy is going to give up on you just because you make one decision for Christ – you thought wrong.
Maybe you would think that the fiery furnace wouldn’t bother you. You’d still be willing to follow Christ.
But what would you think if it were 2 times, 3 times, 4 times, or even 7 times hotter?
These three Hebrew boys saw the miraculous, because when the heat was turned up, they didn’t give in and worship the false image that was set up. As a matter of fact, not one single hair on their head was burned and not even the smell of smoke was on them. While they were in the midst the fire, the king saw a fourth person like the image of the son of God.
Let me say it again, their “willingness” allowed the purpose of God to be played out in their lives and they were able to see the miraculous.
We all want the miracle, but how willing are we to walk through the fire?
Look at the king’s response when they came through the fire….
“Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.” Daniel 3:28 NLT
Serving God was the most important thing to them. Being willing to put it all on the line for Him, was not even a question in their minds. Because they were eager and willing to please God and not man, they won and NOT THEIR FLESH
Don’t allow your flesh to win. Push through the heat to see God’s purpose.
