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After His Crucifixion, Christ hung on the Cross for three hours. An angel’s rolling away of the tombstone anchored the disciples into the reality that Jesus truly conquered death and was alive!! He WAS the Messiah spoken of by the prophets, and He and Yahweh were One. Christ’s final words IMPACTED them with such die-hard faith that despite the hardship they would face, they would not rescind or deny their Lord. We need the same! Is it possible?

Matthew 28:16-20
But the eleven disciples went into Galilee to the mountain which Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they did homage to him: but some doubted (Thomas). And Jesus coming up, spoke to them, saying, All power (dunamis, potential, power) has been given me in heaven and upon earth. Go [therefore] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have enjoined you. And behold, *I* am with you all the days, until the completion of the age.

Mark adds more of Christ’s Words. 

Mark 16:15-18
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (this is our potential, in unity with Christ we have the power to perform all that He has called us to. Do we believe this?).

I not only believe it is possible (for it is Christ in us, it is not of ourselves) but it must be demonstrated in our day. Pray for open doors where Christ can be honored. It takes courage to live contrary to society’s standards. But there are many examples of such, Meshach, Shadrach, and Abed-nego being one of many. They were devout believers in the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament).

Daniel 3:10-12
Thou, O king, hast made a decree that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music shall fall down and worship the golden image:
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
There are certain Jews whom thou hast set — over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Let’s reinterpret what we just read according to our society’s values, and let’s define an idol knowing that the Holiness of God has not changed, nor will it ever. Just because society has become more accepting or tolerant of an action, a thought, or a belief (an idol) doesn’t mean God has. His view on sin from the beginning of man’s existence to his end will not change. Therefore His Holy Scriptures are as relevant and binding now as when written. Idols are to be cast down and refused; non-living identities which we give life via our allegiance to them (e.g., money) or an action, habit, or a person (something or someone we can’t live without) or even our work can become an idol. Even our family can take on an importance that blinds us to our need for Christ. Whatever we derive our self-esteem from, our sense of worth and importance, if it is not the Lord, it has become our idol. How do things become idols; by failing to develop a real relationship with Christ. We need to recognize His right and call on our life.  

We would rather trust in an idol than believe that God will fulfill us. Actions motivated by self to fulfill self are sins. What most of us strive for is to feel good about who we are, that we are good and caring people. However, this is a pitfall; for now, we have become the judge of what is good and bad. It’s like in school, grading on a curve made it easier for each student to get a better grade rather than holding to the acceptable understanding of a grade (90% and above an A, 80% and above a B, etc.), so then this mindset of good works and deeds miss the mark of God’s calling to repentance and Holiness because we have become the judge of our actions. 

Regardless of how much society approves of our actions, we still fall short of God’s righteousness, which is God’s only standard. So all lifestyles outside of faith in Christ are an offense to a Holy God and need to be repented of. Do you know why? For they stand in the way, as an affair stands in the way of true love. God does not want to be second best. He wants first place in our life. He didn’t just say He loved us. He proved it. When He gave His life for us on the Cross, He was “playing for keeps.” 

Galatians 5:19
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, and lasciviousness. 

Romans 1:22-25
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves (the gay lifestyle):

Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshiped and served the creature (the definition of an idol) more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen (the rest of Romans 1 list out specific sins).

Because of society’s tolerance of these actions, people have become confused about many things, their purpose, calling in life, their role between sexes, and what it means to be a Christian. This is especially true with young people. We believers should not bow down to worldly values beyond Shadrach, Abend-ego, and Meshach to Nebuchadnezzar’s statue. The Lord is clear, just as He is on a host of other “so-called acceptable sins” in our culture. (Gal. 5:16 to end). Amassing things and or possessions can be idols. Self-worship via selfies has exploded with the advent of smartphones. Self-worship is on par with any other sin; it’s not harmless fun. The Bible puts anything that rebels or refuses to submit to the Lord’s authority in our life on par with witchcraft. This is strong language, I know, but from God’s perspective, it has the same end.

1 Samuel 15:22-23
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams( Saul went to war but saved the best livestock though he was commanded to destroy all. He rebelled against God’s command).

For rebellion is the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected — the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king ( so even stubbornness can be an idol). 

I know that’s a shocking statement, but anything that we put above God and His revealed will, becoming a bigger god than God Himself, is rebellion or witchcraft that wars against God. Even stubbornness God considers idolatry. We see this with King Nebuchadnezzar. However, the Hebrew men had an incredible fear of God and were unmoved by the king’s anger or command. 

We become courageous when our fear or Holy Reverence of God exceeds the threat. We need this. We need to become unshakable. Remember, this was Old Testament, pre-Holy Spirit, pre-accepting Christ, so if they could confront their culture and an all-powerful king based on just having the first five books of the Old Testament, can we have the complete Bible and the Holy Spirit? We are to resist boldly but kindly because we understand that our culture does not see or know our God, and save for the Grace of God, we would be no different.

Daniel 3:14-15
Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

Therefore the culture of the time was to worship idols, but principally the king’s statue took dominance over all of them. It was Nebuchadnezzar’s way to solidify his multi-cultural kingdom. Therefore anyone who would not bow was a direct threat to him. Therefore the penalty for such disobedience was death. 

Daniel 3:16-18
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Their words were a confrontation between the king and his command, and the king knew it. He had not only been disobeyed but told directly that they would not obey him. They were willing to suffer the consequences, fully knowing that God could but might not deliver them but knowing that God would deliver them from Nebuchadnezzar. 

Daniel 3:19-20
Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated (full of fury – he became insane with anger)
And he commanded the most mighty men in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

At this point, the King felt that he was proving his might, that those who disobeyed him would suffer the most severe punishment, the loss of their lives. So he thought….

Daniel 3:21-25
Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew — those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.
And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished,(amazed, not believable except if witnessed) and rose up in haste( to hurry with fear), and spoke, and said unto his counselors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

The king had met his match. Not only was he not the most powerful ruler, but there was another King much more powerful than him that could easily defeat him. He now had great reason to fear, for he “messed” with the servants of this mightier King. From seeming defeat, Meshach and his friends went triumphant and victorious. They saw God. Talk about testimony and a story to share with their children and grandchildren. A victory so beyond any victory Nebuchadnezzar had ever experienced. He had only one correct response to escape possible judgment. 

Daniel 3:26-29
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spoke, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came forth of the midst of the fire.
And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was a hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

Then Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God( are we willing to do this?)
Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort (what a statement from a pagan king).

**Until we are willing to live sacrificially for the Lord, great things from the Lord will most likely not be seen. 
We must become the sacrifice that ignites a change, be it in our home, our marriage, at work, or with our friends. In union with Christ, we become the light that illuminates the night. It doesn’t mean they will necessarily change or commit their lives to Christ, but they will know that God is “alive and well in and through us.”**

Before Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego had yielded their bodies; they had already yielded their lives to God. The yielding of their bodies to the fire was only an outward manifestation of what had already occurred inside. They were already sold out to the Lord. Where do you and I stand, do we know?

What do you think happened afterward? The Nebuchadnezzar Kingdom was huge. Do you think Judaism spread? I think so. Judaism spread because three young men were unwilling to compromise their faith. They changed a kingdom. I have often wondered how almost everywhere they went during the apostle’s ministry, there was a temple and practicing Jews. Only one place did Paul go where there was no Temple; instead, he met a group of women along the lakeside for the Sabbath. Even the Ethiopian eunuch was reading a scroll from the book of Isaiah when Andrew came up to him. How did those scriptures get into his hands if there was not the spread of Judaism earlier? God used Nebuchadnezzar’s Kingdom to spread His Gospel. I believe a revival broke out with the king leading the charge. It’s an amazing story, but there are countless such stories in the scriptures. Do we know them, and are we willing to take the truth they teach us and make it our own?

Do we have such a conviction, or do we go along just to get along? Jesus confronted the religious leaders so much that they wanted to kill him. They were comfortable with their religious piety. They were not interested in the Truth. Their own scriptures and prophets pointed them to Christ, but they were unwilling to humble themselves. Could this be true of us? Do we have all our ducks in the row? Our life is predictable and comfortable, but is it at the expense of our passion and commitment to Jesus? Is our time in the scriptures hit and miss? Do we think after all we go to church, what more could God want from us? Jesus told Peter that unless I wash your feet ….

John 13:6-8
Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? (only the lowest servant in the household washed the feet of the master’s guest).
Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 

Is there a part of us that Jesus wants to wash, but we do not let Him? Jewish culture put a lot of emphasis on ritualistic cleansing but ignored the cleansing of the heart. If you recall, the Pharisees asked Jesus why his disciples ate the grains of wheat with unwashed hands. Jesus’ replied, “why do you break the commandments of God and allow a son to dishonor his parents, hypocrites.” With Peter, Jesus was dealing with Peter’s pride. Jesus breaks cultural norms to teach all His disciples the evil of pride and the necessity of humility. Jesus’ Kingdom runs in direct contrast to man’s. Sometimes pride disguises itself in false humility, and for Peter to allow Jesus to wash his feet, he had to swallow his pride. Jesus explains a little later…

John 13:14-15
If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

This action of washing the disciple’s feet was a foreshadowing of the Cross, which represents the ultimate cleansing and humiliation of Christ. This is strong medicine for us. Are we in need of forgiveness, a cure for sin? There is no greater medicine than The Cross and our faith. This and this alone brings salvation and forgiveness, a new life. My confidence is in the Cross and God’s promise in John 3:16…

John 3:15-17
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (there is no clearer definition or teaching of the necessity of the born again experience than these scriptures, will we not heed them? And if we are saved, then the necessity of sharing the truth with others is upon us).

There is a saying that I like. We are to witness at all times and sometimes use words. Nothing is more embarrassing to The Lord and us than to say something of Christ, and our lives do not support our words. We are living in days now that, as a believer, there is no option to be lukewarm or compromise with the world. That is such a miserable guilt-ridden existence, I did that as a teenager, and on my best days, I felt divided. The time to stand is now. I know some of us, by nature, are timid. Timothy was timid and young, and Paul had to admonish him to stir up his gifts, to get out there and be an example, even to older believers. Pray, read verses on courage (Josh 1:1-9), but beyond that, just grow in Christ, and courage will come. 

Now to make sure no sins are robbing us of our joy and union with Christ, let’s review a brief list of don’ts that have made it into the church as becoming “less sinful,” but there is no such thing in Christ. These actions quench the Spirit in us.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-20
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything, give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings.

As believers, there is no divorce unless adultery has been found. Still, even then, God would prefer forgiveness and reconciliation provided that there is genuine repentance followed by accountability, man with man, woman with woman.

Matthew 5:31-32
Divorce (Matt. 19:9; Mark 10:11,12; Luke 16:18; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Cor. 7:10-15)
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

That there is no verbal, physical, or emotional abuse of any kind, that the love of Christ rules in our houses and hearts. No porn, or womanizing, and the same with women, “no manizing,” or debauchery (drunkenness), or “going out with the boys” (or girls) unless it is for ministry. No withholding of affection or care to get what you want is wrong.

1 Corinthians 7:3-5
Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it, be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together — again, that Satan tempts you not for your incontinency.

Ephesians 5:25-26
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it;
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.

Hebrews 10:23-24
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

The scriptures call us to repentance, a call to be real, and a time of much compassion for those of us that struggle to find our way, being trapped by various sins. The desire to be right with Christ is there, but the how-to is not seen. A wonderful man of God for help with this is Derek Prince (many sermons under his name). He is now with the Lord, but his teaching touches greatly on restoring believers trapped in and by various sins, helping them find their way back to Christ. Also, pastoral counseling would be advised, again, men with men and women with women.

Galatians 6:1-2
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

We act on our beliefs, so getting the right beliefs in us is critical. If we believe as David that Goliath must go down, then the Goliaths in our lives will go down. However, if we believe, like the spies that walked through the promised land, that there are “giants in the land and we are like grasshoppers in our own eyes,” then we will lose. What fuels our beliefs? Surely, there will be times when we will feel overwhelmed. That we are beginning to be toppled, and maybe from a worldly point of view, we are. It could be our business is failing or failed, or we were let go from our job as I was before forming Executive Care in 1989, or we are struggling in our marriage or with one of our kids, etc.; there are multiple things. HOWEVER, from God’s point of view, just like taking the Promise Land, some battles must be fought to be won, but because He has promised victory, we fight expecting Victory, knowing that we will win. We are being trained to be more than conquerors.

Romans 8:37-39
Nay, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Without these hardships, we will never be made righteous, nor know the strength of the Lord or the truth of scripture and its power, nor His love. It will only be on our lips, but not in our lives. These battles are necessary; they brand us as His as a hot iron brands cattle to a specific ranch. We must be “marked as His,” which happens as we go through trials and conquer them, developing a Joshua attitude….

Joshua 24:15
And if it seem evil unto you to serve — the LORD, choose you this day — whom ye will serve; whether — the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or — the gods of the Amorites, in whose land — ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve — the LORD.

1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world ( this truth at times may not feel real because it is not ascertained by feeling but by faith, just like the Red Sea did not part until the priest stepped into it with the Ark, which represented faith. Faith comes from believing the Word of God. The power is in consuming it, in digesting it and having it become a part of us which occurs through memorization and meditation then we will live it out). 

Do you believe this? Show me one challenge in the Bible that God’s intent was not for victory. Take Gideon’s victory, 300 men to a whole army of Midianites, Amalekites, and others. They won as long as God’s people believed and fought, trusting God.

“Now the Midianites, the Amalekites, and all the [l]people of the east were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as numerous as the sand on the seashore ( Judges 7:14).”

***We are being trained that the absolute ridiculous becomes possible with God and faith. Do you believe this? The same God that gave Israel its victories is the same God that gave His life for you and me and is the same God who wants to lead us into the promised land of faith and by it slay our worries, fears, lusts, insecurities, the giants in our heart that without Him seek to master us.

There are many stories of God taking something insignificant and using it for His Glory. The story of the widow and Elijah having only a little oil and a meal, but they had food for a couple of years because she obeyed. Or the time Jesus told the disciples to go catch a fish, take the money out of its mouth, and pay the taxes. What did the disciples think? Let’s take Jesus out of the sun or Elisha hitting the water with his robe and making an ax head float. Crazy, crazy stuff, but it all happened. So, where do we draw the line on what God can and can’t do? 

**Father and Lord Jesus,
You paid a high price to redeem us; let our lives honor You and the sacrifice You made for us. Let your power flow through us to meet whatever the need may be, from preaching and teaching to words of knowledge and encouragement, to healings and prophecy. All power has been given to You, and You have commanded us to go forth to make sons and daughters, but first, we must become your son and daughter.

This devotional may sound super radical, but so were Mesach, Abendego, and Shadrach’s actions. 

In Your name.

Your sons and daughters by Grace, Amen

If you’ve come this far, please consider my book on Amazon:
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Arthur Navarrette