Wholehearted

Walking through Fire

Isaiah 43:2 NKJV

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.

The Image of Gold

Daniel 3:1–2 NKJV

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

The Image was a reflection of the King.

Images are false… they portray a false idea or an empty pursuit! They are unable to deliver the promise they make!

Why? because they only reveal the exterior. Images reflect appearance and the exterior of something.

Images demand! you must have! you must worship! they require our attention and time

Exodus 20:4–5 NKJV

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

There is only ONE God of the Promise who delivers every time!

Ideas, Ideologies that seem good and sound great but are in vain.

We are called to live a life for eternity. Not for this present life. We are pilgrims… this is not our home!

He called all his rulers… people under him to come to the dedication and to bow and worship the image.

Daniel 3:4–6 NKJV

Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”

Three young men Shadrach Meshach and Abed-Nego didn’t bow!

Daniel 3:13–18 NKJV

Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

They didn’t bow

Daniel 3:24–25 NKJV

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

do not seek what you want or what will please others.. seek first what God wants… become obedient to HIS will

It means to humbly accept God’s ways in our lives!

How do you know its God’s ways?

I don’t benefit and neither do others. God gets the Glory! It accomplishes the impossible and reaches in ways we could never.

Daniel 3:27 NKJV

And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

Today God invites us to live for Him above everything else.

We need His help!

We need Him in our fires and funaces...

Let’s seek God’s way first in all things!