GOD CAN DELIVER ... but WHAT IF ...?
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· 17 viewsGod CAN deliver - but what if He doesn't (at least, not to our liking)? Will we keep the faith when circumstances are anything but favourable?
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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.
Great word recently from Pastor Shelley Gray
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.
Daniel 3:
Absolutely be convinced that God is well able to deliver; change circumstances; provide miraculous way out; change opponents’ hearts - or at least, change their plans!
Absolutely be convinced that God is well able to deliver; change circumstances; provide miraculous way out; change opponents’ hearts
But what’s the rest of their confession?
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.”
What would they have done if God DIDN’T deliver? If they knew death WAS certain because they’d already refused to bow? Serving the true God - for them, not conditional on escape. Even if it meant death.
- lions’ den. Not even given opportunity to change his mind.
“But God IS able...”
So why wouldn’t He deliver? What if God DIDN’T? Yes He IS able to rescue - but does He HAVE to? According to OUR understanding?
Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.
2 Cor 1:9-10
Paul knows what he’s talking about - many examples of how he was almost killed, but delivered. Shipwrecked; bitten by venomous snake; subject of a plot to murder; stoned and thought to be dead, but regained strength - but why didn’t God stop all that BEFORE he was beaten, half-drowned, starving? Don’t forget imprisonment because of jealousy, or simply because he helped someone - both times unlawfully.
Why didn’t God intervene? Was He really able to?
At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Even though circumstances were bad, Paul confident of deliverance. (Had already been potentially on death row and set free). BUT ...
Even though circumstances were bad, Paul confident of deliverance. Already had been potentially on death row and set free. BUT ...
Even though circumstances were bad, Paul confident of deliverance. BUT ...
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Tim 4
Knew death was imminent - How could he say God would deliver?
What do WE do if suffer <— faith? Maybe not death, but that might be easier to face.
What is OUR danger? OUR lion? Something WE might bow down to, worship, give more importance to that could at least damage our faith, if not destroy it? Or perhaps weaken our witness, our declaration of who Jesus really is.
Things like bitterness, anger, pride, self-seeking spirit
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Four: Last Words (2 Timothy 4)
But for a Christian, there are things even more dangerous than suffering and death. Sin, for example. This is what Paul had in mind (2 Tim. 4:18). He was confident that the Lord would deliver him from “every evil work” and take him to the heavenly kingdom. Paul’s greatest fear was not of death; it was that he might deny his Lord or do something else that would disgrace God’s name.
Paul expected to die in prison - suffer to greatest degree for love of Jesus - but anticipated deliverance! Not from physical death, but from anything that would have meant he’d run in vain - that all he believed, all he loved about the Lord, would be destroyed because he surrendered to thoughts of giving up on God;or because something he’d say or do would bring dishonour to his Lord.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
1 Peter 5:8-9
NB - devil is LIKE a lion - only PRETENDING to be someone we should fear. But sometimes it looks as if we WILL be devoured, or at least, worse off. Health, work, society, family
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
1 peter 5:
If God really cares - why does He sometimes hold back on what we need when we need it most? Promised never to fail, desert, leave us - so why does it seem to happen?
More we learn of God, more we realise HE JUST CAN’T DO THAT. But - if He CAN deliver and DOESN’T - or seems not to - what purpose?
Question - do we want to live for God, serve Him based on experience? Jesus would have dropped out.
Do we want our children to love us based on THEIR experience?
Paul - ref to “lion”. Common illustration of danger. Daniel saved from literal lion, but the REAL danger was the jealous men, envious rivals.
What is OUR danger? OUR lion? Something WE might bow down to, worship, give more importance to that could at least damage our faith, if not destroy it? Or perhaps weaken our witness, our declaration of who Jesus really is? Restrict or distort work of the Spirit in our lives?
Things like bitterness, anger, pride, self-seeking spirit, jealousy, greed
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Four: Last Words (2 Timothy 4)
But for a Christian, there are things even more dangerous than suffering and death. Sin, for example. This is what Paul had in mind (2 Tim. 4:18). He was confident that the Lord would deliver him from “every evil work” and take him to the heavenly kingdom. Paul’s greatest fear was not of death; it was that he might deny his Lord or do something else that would disgrace God’s name.
Paul expected to die in prison - suffer to greatest degree for love of Jesus - but anticipated deliverance! Not from physical death, but from anything that would have meant he’d run in vain - that all he believed, all he loved about the Lord, would be destroyed because he surrendered to thoughts of giving up on God;or because something he’d say or do would bring dishonour to his Lord.
God - almighty, all-loving, all-knowing, all-wise - has question for us. “Do we want our needs met, dangers eliminated, pathway made smooth (or what we THINK are needs and dangers) - <— we WANT it? Or do we want to be found standing forever in presence of Father in likeness of the Son?
“At the PROPER time He will exalt you....”
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
Romans 8:28
What is our BEST GOOD? That God wants for us, not what we THINK …? “Jesus revealed fully in us”
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
Romans 8:
Paul doesn’t say we’ll never get these - or that we’ll be delivered from them - but if they try to separate us from God, THAT can’t happen! CAN’T stop us being made like Jesus, being found in Him
Paul doesn’t say we’ll never get these - or that we’ll be delivered from them - but if they try to separate us from God, that CAN’T happen!
My Utmost for His Highest May 19th—"out of the Wreck I Rise"
I am sorry for the Christian who has not something in his circumstances he wishes was not there.
Everything smooth, no problems —> nothing changes in us. Gold stays impure unless it’s melted. Steel not strong until intense heat applied. Coal stays coal until tremendous pressure —> diamond.
My Utmost for His Highest May 19th—"out of the Wreck I Rise"
some extraordinary thing happens to a man who holds on to the love of God when the odds are all against God’s character.
Do we want to stay comfortable, or be made infinitely better? Stay a lump of coal, or be made into a diamond?