"NUMBERED, WEIGHED AND DIVIDED"

"Pride goes before a fall." You cannot be proud and escape the wrath and judgment of God. "Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished" (Prov 16:5). The judgment that came on King Belshazzar proves this.

"Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand... Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone." (Dan 5:1-4).

THE DANGER IN SHOWING OFF

That very night, while they were drinking, the judgment came on the king and the others. This is a warning to all God's people who live a show-off life. The king had thousands of lords and he was trying to show off his dignity before them; but how did it end? It ended in disgrace. It brought disaster to him. We may buy a house, a car and various other things. There is nothing wrong in spending money on essential things; but money should not be spent to show off. God will not be pleased with it.

We read about Herod in Acts 12:21-23. Wearing his royal apparel he made a great oration. What happened then? The people shouted, "This is not man's voice. This is God's voice!" Immediately the angel of God smote him and he was eaten up by worms. We need to be careful about the way we live. Our money, clothes, possessions, talents and God-given gifts should never be used to show off our wealth or status.

HOLY UNTO THE LORD

As they were drinking, the king ordered them to bring the holy vessels which is father had brought from Jerusalem. Obviously they started drinking in these vessels. We are the temple of God. The Word of God says that God will destroy him who defiles the temple of God (I Cor 3:16,17). We are holy vessels meet fo the Master's use (II Tim 2:21). We are vessels to be used for holy purposes. The members of our body need to be dedicated to do the will of God - we are not to defile the temple in which God dwells. "Yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness" (Rom 6:19). "Every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; for God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness" (I Thess 4:4,7).

"They drank wine." The Word of God very clearly says that even looking at wine is sin (Prov 23:29-31). If merely looking at wine is sin, how much more drinking it! It is not the quantity we drink that is in question - it is a matter of defying the Word of God. Habakkuk 2:15 clearly tells us that giving someone wine to drink is also sin. Judgment is certain if we, knowing the truth, deliberately go against the Word of God. There are two ways in which God looks at sin. We can receive forgiveness for sins committed ignorantly, but it is not easy to receive forgiveness for sins we commit knowingly.

May God help us to keep ourselves pure so that we may be sanctified vessels meet for the Master's use.

[Next Topic: HANDWRITING OF GOD'S JUDGMENT ON THE WALL OF OUR HEART]

THE HUMBLE RECEIVE MERCY...:

If we humble ourselves and repent and turn to God, He will have mercy on us. Ahab, the king of Israel, was a most wicked man - he had 'sold himself to do evil'. But when he humbled himself the Lord promised not to bring the evil in his days (I Kgs 21:29). Of King Manasseh we read that he 'did worse than the heathen' but he too received mercy when he 'humbled himself greatly before God' (II Chron 33:12).

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up" (Jas 4:10).

"Excellent majesty was added unto me." When Nebuchadnezzar humbled himself, he received more than what he had formerly. Dear reader, have you lost your spiritual and material blessings because of your pride? Humble yourself. You can get back all those blessings and additional blessings too! "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life" (Prov 22:4).

- TPM Publication No: 29

[Next Topic: CHAPTER: 7 - "NUMBERED, WEIGHED AND DIVIDED"]

THE CONSEQUENCES OF PRIDE..:

"The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dweling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will" (Dan 4:31,32)

"The kingdom is departed from thee." We are kings and priests before God. We are to exercise authority over ourselves and over all evil powers. We have been anointed for this. Instead, if pride overtakes us and we try to rule over others, we will lose our anointing, our power and dominion over evil forces. The church of God can be regarded as the kingdom in which servants of God have been anointed and placed, as kings and priests. They should be careful not to acts as 'lords over God's heritage' (I Pet 5:3). If pride dominates their life, they shall be driven out of the house of God. "The proud he knoweth afar off' (Psa 138:6). When Nebuchadnezzar repented of his pride, he was able to come back to the palace after seven years. But once a servant of God is driven away from the house of God, he can never come back as a servant of God. "How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of God," exclaimed Jacob (Gen 28:17). Yes, one has to live in the house of God with fear and trembling. "Serve the Lord with fear" (Psa 2:11).

"They shall make thee to eat grass as oxen." If we give room to pride, our glory departs from us. They took his glory from him,' we read in Daniel 5:20. Our character becomes beastly. 'His heart was made like the beasts' (Dan 5:21). Pride makes us like a beast. We can become like beasts if we are not careful about our lives. We will scream, shout, quarrel, fight, etc. We may even become mad. Literally, mental illnesses can be the result of pride. Nebuchadnezzar's heart was changed and a beast's heart was given to him, we read (Dan 4:16).

How do we know we are proud? We read in Daniel 5:20, that Nebuchadnezzar's mind was hardened in pride.

Pride hardens our mind. We do not feel like praying, we do not feel like reading the Word of God, we do not feel the presence of God. Spiritually we become like lepers who have no feeling at all.

Pride hardens our heart. And once our heart is hardened, we will not listen to good advice, we will not like to be corrected. One man of God says that one sure sign of pride is getting hurt when corrected. We say, "I am hurt," but it is our pride that is really hurt. We need to examine our hearts. Do we get upset with people? Do we get into moods? Do we have self-pity?

May Nebuchadnezzar's fall be a warning to us. "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov 16:18). So let us not be high-minded, but fear (Rom 11:20). God cannot tolerate pride. All other sins are connected with fleshly weakness. But pride originated in heaven, with the angels. Angels do not have flesh. Pride is therefore connected with a wrong spirit.

How long was Nebuchadnezzar in this state? Till he realized that God in on the throne (vs 25). We must realize that it is God's grace that is keeping us. We should be thankful for the goodness of God. Humility softens a man's heart. God dwells with those who are of a broken and contrite spirit. "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" (Isa 57:15). Do you have a broken and a contrite heart, a repentant heart?

- TPM Publication No: 29

[Next Topic: THE HUMBLE RECEIVE MERCY]

HEED THE VOICE OF WARNING...!

"Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility" (Dan 4:27).

HEED THE VOICE OF WARNING

The meaning of the dream was that, if he did not humble himself, repent and break off from his sins, he was going to go mad and become like a beast. This was the warning Daniel gave the king through his interpretation. This is a warning for us too. God does not judge, punish or condemn us as soon as we do something wrong. He warns us and gives us time to repent. But "he that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy" (Prov 29:1). So give up your proud ways and return to the Lord before the door of grace is shut. The Lord waited twelve months for Nebuchadnezzar to repent - we do not know how much more grace time we have been given. God may have already given us more than twelve months to change our lives, our proud spirit, our lifestyle, our character. He is gracious and longsuffering. He gives us a very long rope. He does not want any to perish in sin, in pride. Daniel's words were not only for the king, but for us too. Let us repent today. We do not know what will happen to us tomorrow.

[Next Topic: THE CONSEQUENCES OF PRIDE]

DON'T GET SWOLLEN-HEADED !

The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

"Beware... lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage," Moses warned the Israelites (Deut 8:11-14). There is always the great danger of our becoming proud and forgetting the Lord when things go well with us. "Feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full and deny Thee," prayed Agur (Prov 30:8,9). Uzziah, king of Judah, did what was right and sought the Lord, but when he prospered and was strong, 'his heart was lifted up' (II Chron 26:16). He became so haughty and proud that he dared to resist the priests of the Lord.

How careful we must be to stay humble before the Lord all the days of our life! When Jacob increased and became 'two bands', he confessed, "Lord, I'm not worthy of the least of Your mercies." When Solomon built a magnificent house for the Lord, he humbly said, "The heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee; how much less this house that I have builded!" David prepared for the house of God with 'all his might' and after having gathered an abundance of riches to build it, he said, "But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee" (I Chron 29:14).

"... grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven." Some people are proud of their spiritual achievements, spiritual strengths. "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall," warns St.Paul (I Cor 10:12). "If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Gal 6:1).

"...whose leaves were fair." Physical beauty can sometimes be a snare. " Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness" (Ezek 28:17). "Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain" (Prov 31:30).

"... the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation." Child of God, has the Lord blessed you and made you a blessing to others? Has the Lord made all grace abound toward you, so that, having all sufficiently in all things, you are abounding in all good works? Thou standest by faith; be not high-minded but fear!

God had given Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, majesty, mighty power and great honour. But he did not give the glory of God. We have been crowned with glory and honour. All that the king had was only temporal, but all that God has given is lasting and eternal. We need to be clothed with humility.

- [Next Topic: HEED THE VOICE OF WARNING]

TAKE THE LAST PLACE....:

"But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazaar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream" (Dan 4:8).

Daniel knew he was better than all the magicians and astrologers; he knew he would certainly be able to interpret the king's dream. But when the call was given, he waited till all the other wise men had had their chance. A saint always takes the last place. Abraham was Lot's uncle. When a problem arose between them, and they had to separate, he could have chosen the best land for himself. But he gave up his right of choice to Lot. In the same way, Prophet Elijah told the prophets of Baal to have the first try in bringing fire down from heaven.

When Daniel saw that all the wise men had failed and that Nebuchadnezzar was in real need of help, he appeared on the scene. Jesus does not force Himself into our lives. He waits till we have tried all other sources. He waits till we come to our wits' end. He waits till we see our need for Him.

"O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof" (Dan 4:9).

NOT AT ALL TROUBLED

What a blessed testimony the king gives of Daniel! "No secret troubleth thee." The king was very troubled, but Daniel was not. Why? Because the spirit of the holy God was in Daniel. This is the secret of our life too. If we really walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh, if the spirit of holiness is reigning in us, no secret will trouble us. Some people are always troubled about their future. 'What is going to happen to me, to my children, to my husband/wife?' The wicked are like the troubled sea. They cannot rest at all (Isa 57:20). Those who harbour secret sins in them are bound to be troubled by any little thing. If you have the spirit of holiness, you will not be troubled by anything. Do we have the real peace of God in our heart? The reason why we do not have the peace of God is because we do not have the Spirit of the holy God in us.

"I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee," says the heathen king. Can others see holiness in us - in our walk, talk, habits, behaviour? The Shunamite whose house Elisha visited often was able to say that he was a holy man of God. Did Elisha perform any miracle in her house? No. Did he preach? No. The way he walked, talked, ate, drank, slept, etc all displayed holiness. "Be ye holy in all manner of conversation" (I Pet 1:15).

[ Next Topic: DON'T GET SWOLLEN-HEADED! ]

GOD'S KINGDOM...:

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and His dominion is from generation to generation." Nebuchadnezzar now realizes that his own kingdom is only a transient one and that God's kingdom alone is a lasting one. He is greatly humbled. He no longer prides himself in his kingdom's greatness."

"I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof" (Dan 4:4-7)

LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES

There are some people who never learn from their mistakes. They keep making the same mistake over and over again. What was the mistake Nebuchadnezzar made? He did not call Daniel who was a wonderful man of God. Not only had Daniel interpreted the first dream but had been able to tell the dream as well. God had also revealed to him the thoughts the king had had while going to bed. The king appeared to be a wise man but how foolish he was! Any sensible person would have called Daniel first. We too keep repeating our mistakes. We know the areas of our weaknesses but in the face of trials we miserably fail again and again. We make decisions but when problems arise we forget them.

THE SURE WORD OF GOD

The king called all the magicians, astrologers and Chaldeans and told them the dream but they could not interpret it. In the second chapter we saw that they said they could give him the interpretation if the king told them the dream. Now the king tells them his dream but they are not able to give him the interpretation. Here we see the truth about magicians. Sometimes even Christians read horoscopes or seek the help of astrologers. These are all tricks to destroy us. The word of God is the sure word, the truth, not that of fortune-tellers. "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away," said Jesus (Matt 24:35). As children of God, if we trust in the true living God, if we trust in the mercy of God, God will certainly work for us.

- TPM Publication No: 29

THE LORD, HE IS GOD..!

"I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought towards me." What signs and wonders had Nebuchadnezzar seen? The wonders and signs were nothing but God's dealings with him, through which he had come to know the living god. Earlier he had been saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built... by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?" (vs 30). But when God dealt with his pride and humbled him, he came to understand that 'the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men' and that 'God's kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.'

Man, by nature, is arrogant and proud, and does not accept God's sovereignty in his life or in the world. As in Nebuchadnezzar's case, God has to sometimes show 'His signs and wonders' in our life and humble us into an acknowledgement of His power and greatness. This is what the Lord did in Pharaoh's life too. After God had 'multiplied His signs and wonders in the land', he who had once haughtily asked, "Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice?" was humbled into acknowledging, "The Lord is righteous. I have sinned against the Lord."

"He is Lord, He is Lord;

He is risen from the dead and He is Lord.

Every knee shall bow

Every tongue confess

That Jesus Christ is Lord."

Nebuchadnezzar now had a revelation of the kingdom of God - of the way the Lord orders His affairs, of how He goes about His work. "All His works are truth, and His ways judgment, "he declares (vs 37). He has seen the infallibility of God's word and His righteous judgments; he is now at peace. He has tasted of His power, of His goodness, of His mercies. We can never know the Lord and His ways better than when we actually experience them in our lives.

'I thought it good to show' - when we show to others, not just tell them of the power and goodness of God, it is a source of great encouragement and inspiration to them - it imparts peace to them. God has called us to be peace-givers.

[Next Topic: GOD'S KINGDOM]

- TPM Publication No: 29

CHAPTER - VI - BE NOT HIGH-MINDED!

In Chapter 4 of the Book of Daniel, we read of the Lord's work in the life of the heathen king of Babylon. As Job said - "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but, now mine eye seeth Thee" - Nebuchadnezzar, who came to know of the living God through Daniel, now tells of His working in his personal life.

"Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. How great are His signs! and how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation" (Dan 4:1-3).

PEACE THROUGH KNOWING GOD

Nebuchadnezzar had been a troubled man. Now he says, "Let peace be multiplied unto you." What made the king say this now? - he had been such an arrogant, stubborn man - asking his ministers to tell him the dram he had had! He has changed because he now has an understanding of the true living God. He has now experienced the living God in his life and has peace. "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord" (II Pet 1:2). The only way we can have peace is by knowing the living Jesus. He is the Prince of Peace. At His birth the angels proclaimed peace to the earth. And all His lifetime He went about ministering peace to all saying, "Peace be unto you. Go in peace. etc." Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace" (Job 22:21).

[Next Topic: THE LORD, HE IS GOD!]

- TPM Publication No: 29

THE LIVING GOD PUBLICIZED

The three youths could not preach to all the nations but they did what they could - they stood for the truth and were willing to die for it. Then the heathen king published all over the country that God of the three Hebrew children was the true God. He ordered that those who do not worship their God should be killed and their houses be made a dunghill. God used them in such a way that through a heathen king, the name of the true and living God was published all over the country. It was not over just one province, but over a 120 provinces. What the three could not have done even if they had preached all their lifetime with all their efforts and money, God was able to do, when they remained faithful to the truth. When we are ready to die for the truth, God will do what we cannot. He will be manifested gloriously in us and thus wonderfully publish the truth far beyond we can. We are called to be witness unto Him unto the uttermost parts of the earth!

What is interesting here is that Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego did not preach to Nebuchadnezzar, either. The arrogant king would not have listened to ex-slaves from another country. There are some places where we may not have the freedom to testify of our God, but our lives can speak to the people. The way we live, the way we handle times of crisis and sorrow speaks volumes about the God you follow.

Dear child of God, you may be going through a fiery furnace or dark times - a financial problem, a family crisis, a material or spiritual lack. If you remain faithful to God, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you will come through victoriously, with not a hair singed. And, the name of God will be glorified through you. But if, instead, you murmur and complain, you will lose your reward life. It would be just as if the fire has consumed you. That will not bring any glory to God.

Anything may happen to us. There may be unexpected tragedies, losses, deaths, etc. How are we going to handle the situation? Are we strong in the Lord? If we are happy Christians only when everything is going fine, then our happiness will be short-lived. One day a storm will strike our boat and only then will we know how weak we are spiritually. If we faint in the time of adversity our strength is small.

"Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon" (Dan.3:30).

PROMOTION AFTER TRIAL

Along with every trial is victory and deliverance. Then, along with deliverance is promotion. If we have a trial, the reason is that, God has planned some promotion for us. Trials are like the tests that are set for students. How they fare in them determines their promotion. God allows a trial and watches to see how we go through it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would have failed if they had found fault with the king or murmured.

The greater your trial, the greater the deliverance and greater the promotion. It has been said that if we have an extraordinary calling in life, we will have extraordinary trials and extraordinary deliverance from them. Also, we will be able to glorify God in an extraordinary way. "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego..." announced the heathen king who had only minutes earlier, challenged, "who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?"

[Next Topic: Chapter 6: BE NOT HIGH-MINDED]

GOD CAN PERFECTLY PRESERVE US

"And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them" (Dan 3:27).

When a person is thrown into the fire it is the hair which catches fire easily. It is particularly mentioned here that not a hair of their head was singed. The Word of God says that the hairs of our head are all numbered (Lk 12:7). "Ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish" (Lk 21:17,18). It shows that God can absolutely, completely and perfectly preserve us in our trials when we trust Him. "The Lord shall preserve us in our trials when we trust Him. "The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in" (Psa 121:7,8).

"When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee" (Isa 43:2). The only way to be in a fiery furnace and not be consumed is to be a flame of fire yourself. If you are on fire for God no fire can harm you. Be aflame with the fire of first love (which hath a most vehement flame), and you can say, in the face of fiery trials of distress or persecution, "None of these things move me; I am in all these things more than a conqueror!" In particular, servants of God and ministers are flames of fire (Psa 104:4). No weapon that is formed against them shall prosper; every tongue that rises against them in judgment, they shall condemn (Isa 54:17).

"Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who hath sent His angel, and delivered His servants that trusteth 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" (Dan 3:28).

They 'yielded their bodies,' we read. The fire had no power at all over their bodies. Even the smell of fire had not passed on their bodies. If fire had no power over their bodies, how can anything else have power over them? No devil has power over our bodies. Our bodies are the redeemed property of God. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. The devil has no right to touch it or torment it. We are the ones whom God has appointed to torment the devil. If that is so, we should take up arms and stand against the devil. If our body is a consecrated body, if it is consecrated to God, there is in it a challenge against the enemy. Present your body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, to do the will of God. God will honour your consecration. If fire cannot affect our body, neither can cold; we can carry on our work for God in any place, in any climatic conditions. If we live, we should live for God. If we die, we should die for God. All the pleasures of the world are only for a while. Those who do the will of God alone will abide forever.

[Next Topic: THE LIVING GOD PUBLICIZED]

OUR TRIALS SHOW OUR GOOD TO OTHERS

God was with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego all along but it was only when they were thrown into the furnace that Nebuchadnezzar was able to say it. When others see us walking loose in the fire, when they see our perseverance, our patience, our faith, our hope and our confidence as we go through fiery trials, they see the Lord with us. Our trials are to show Christ to others. One man of God said, 'The darkest hour of a saint is the brightest hour for God.' When we go through the darkest hour, it may appear difficult; but when we come out of it victoriously, it brings great glory to God. In our trials we should show our God to the world. We should not give up the truth or our faith.

"Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire." (Dan. 3:26)

OUR TRIALS SHOW WHO WE ARE..:

When did Nebuchadnezzar know that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were the servants of the Most High God? When they were in the fiery furnace. It is only in times of trials that others will know that we are worshipping and serving the true God. God wants us to prove to the ungodly that He is the true living God and that we are the servants of the Most High God. "Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that Thou art God in Israel, and that I am Thy servant," prayed Elijah (I Kgs 18:36). When we conquer our trials and preserve our faith, then our enemies will know that we are God's children. Do not led God down when facing a trial. "Glorify God in the fires," we read in Isaiah 24:15. When we go through fiery trials, we must glorify God.

TRIALS, A BLESSING IN DISGUISE..:

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were not only 'unhurt' but also 'loose'. We may have some bondages in our lives; the purpose of our trial may be to deliver us from these bindings. It is in the fiery furnace that we will be set free. Every trial or problem that we face will bring us to a great grace and glory if we have the right spirit and attitude. "The trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (I Pet 1:7). So dear child of God, take heart. Your trial of faith is not to destroy you. Your problem is like the pillar of fire; you will find light and life through it.

We may be going through a fiery trial but we should be free; our spirit should be free. Paul and Silas had their feet fastened to the stocks but they were singing and rejoicing and praising God! We should be free to praise and worship the Lord. Then the King will say to us, "Come out!"

GOD IS WITH US IN OUR TRIALS

"I see four men... and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." God could have sent an archangel to deliver them but He chose to come down Himself. God is personally interested in us. He cares when we are in trouble. "I am come down to deliver them," the Lord said when the Israelites were sighing and groaning in bondage (Exo 3:8). When Miriam and Aaron stood accusing Moses, the Lord Himself came down in his defence (Num 12:5). "I will be with him in trouble," is God's promise (Psa 91:15). So even if we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we need fear no evil, for, our God is with us! (Psa 23:4).

When Stephen was being martyred he looked up to heaven and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55). Normally, Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father. But when we go through fiery trials, Jesus is standing up to fight for us - not sitting and passively watching. When in trouble, if we are full of the Spirit we will not look at the problem but to heaven. Then we will see Jesus standing up to help us. But if we look at our problems or at people we will only be disappointed and discouraged.

[Next Topic: OUR TRIALS SHOW OUR GOOD TO OTHERS]

GOD KNOWS HOW TO DELIVER US...!

"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" (Dan 3:21).

GOD KNOWS HOW TO DELIVER US

A great spiritual truth is revealed in the above mentioned verse. God did not deliver the Hebrew children from the fiery furnace but in the fiery furnace. God allowed them to go through the furnace. There are two ways of deliverance. God may save us from being thrown into the furnace or save us from the fire when we are in the furnace. Sometimes God may not deliver us from the wrath of the king, from the hands of the devil. When we are victorious in our trials, we have victory over Satan. God permits trouble and, in the trouble, He delivers us. "I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him" (Psa 91:15). "God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (I Cor 10:13). He knows just how to deliver the godly out of temptations (II Pet.2:9).

John Bunyan said that our trials are like Samson facing the roaring lion. It was about to devour Samson, but after he conquered it he got sweet honey out of it, which he was able to eat and also give to others. Every trial is first like a lion roaring against us to destroy us. However, when we have overcome it, we find honey in its carcase; it will bring us a sweet experience. Going through the trial is hard but looking back on it afterwards and considering the way God delivered us, is a sweet experience. What would it have been like if God had told Abraham, "Go to Mount Moriah, bind your son and just raise the knife. I have kept a ram in the thicket and I have told an angel to stand there and stop you from killing your son"? It would not have been a trial at all! It would have been a drama. But God did not say anything to him and we know how faithful Abraham was wonderfully delivered in the trial.

So, dear child of God, when we go through trials, God does not tell us what He is going to do or the way He is going to deliver us but we know that our God will deliver us. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all" (Psa 34:19).

"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 Abednego" (Dan 3:22).

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CHILDREN OF GOD AND WORLDLINGS:

The men who bound Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and threw them into the furnace were 'the most mighty men in Nebuchadnezzar's army' (vs 20), but the fire consumed them. It is here that we see the difference between the children of God and worldlings. The worldlings succumb to their trials and sink in despair and despondency - some even end their life. They do not have the 'Everlasting Arms' to support them.

The enemies who threw them into the furnace were consumed but Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were loosed and they were able to walk in the fire! The very fire that killed the heathen, delivered Sharach, Meshach and Abednego. Our problems are like the pillar of fire during the wilderness journey of Israel. It gave light to the people of Israel but darkness to the Egyptians. "And it came between the camp of th Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it (the pillar of fire) was a cloud and darkness to them (Egyptians), but it gave light by night to these (Israelites)" (Exo 14:20). The very trial or problem that brings trouble and fear to sinners, brings light and life to saints. The trials that children of God face bring a great blessing to them. When worldlings face similar trials, they are only driven to despair. The very flood of waters that drowned all the people, took Noah and his family higher and higher up, closer and closer to God.

[Next Topic: TRIALS, A BLESSING IN DISGUISE]

- TPM Publication No: 29

ANGER MAKES YOU UNSTEADY...!

When Shadraach, Meshach and Abednego refused to worship the image, Nebuchadnezzar was upset. He became furious; his face changed. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times more. Anger is a terrible sin. If we have no victory over anger we will be unsteady in our spiritual life. When Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar his dream and interpreted it, Nebuchadnezzar had said, "Of a truth your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings," but now we find him changing and commanding the people to worship the image he has set up. Anger made King Saul unstable and unsteady. At one time he would be full of love for David and at other times, full of murderous rage. At times he would be sorry but then again he would change his mind. Once, in a fit of rage, he commanded, "Bring him(David) up to me in the bed, that I may slay him" (I Sam 19:15). Later, when in a sober state, he said, with great feeling - "Is this thy voice, my son David?" (I Sam 24:16). But it was not long before he was again after him in a hot pursuit.

Nebuchadnezzar's face changed when he got angry. So did Cain's. 'Face' shows character. When we are angry our character is affected. Cain, in his anger, murdered his brother. If we do not get rid of anger it will ruin not only us but others also. Suppressed anger is worse than expressed anger. If we have the spirit of anger, we must repent so that God can fill our hearts will His love. Only then can we live a steady christian life.

"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" (Dan 3:17,18).

BE READY TO DIE

We find that 'deliver' is the key word in Daniel Chapter 3. We see here how godly people can be delivered, how godly people should wait for deliverance, and the glory of deliverance. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were ready to die. It is better to be cast into a fiery furnace for standing for the truth than to be cast into the lake of fire for denying the truth, they decided. "Blessed be God Who sent His angel and delivered His servants that yielded their bodies," the king says (vs 28). It is when we are willing to die for the truth that the deliverance comes. It is said that only those who are prepared to die for their convictions can save their own lives and that of others. "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it" (Matt 16:25).

In the New Testament, we have to die everyday. St.Paul said, 'I die daily.' This is willingness to give up our comforts, willingness to give up certain things in order to please or satisfy God or to fulfill the will of God. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego watched unmoved as the furnace was being heated seven times more than the normal heat and as Nebuchadnezzar had their hands and feet tied. They were determined to die for the truth. The reason for a lack of growth in our spiritual life, the reason why God is unable to fulfil His plan in our life is, we are not prepared to die for the truth. God says, "Gather My saints together... that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice" (Psa 50:5). When we make a covenant we should be willing to shed blood, be willing to go through any trial or suffering for the sake of fulfilling or satisfying God's command. It is better to be cast into the fiery furnace with God than into the lake of fire without God.

[Next Topic: GOD KNOWS HOW TO DELIVER US]

- TPM Publication No: 29

THE SELECT RAPTURE..:

"Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king" (Dan 3:13).

Although there were millions of Jews there, only three refused to bow down to the image. Similarly, at the Coming of the Lord, many spiritual Jews (children of God) may be left behind to go through the Tribulation Period. "I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left" (Lk 17:34-36). Some say, "If I am not ready at the Coming of the Lord, it does not matter. In the Tribulation Period, I can refuse to take the mark of the beast and become a martyr and somehow go to a corner in heaven." Dear child of God, do not be deceived. The Antichrist will compel people to take the mark. "He had power to... cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads" (Rev 13:15,16). If, in the Grace Period, we cannot live for the truth, how can we stand for Jesus at a time when there is no more grace?

Many Christian churches give the teaching that to be raptured at the Secret Coming of the Lord, it is enough if one is born again. But the truth is, only a glorious Church that has no spot or wrinkle, and is holy and without blemish, will be raptured and presented before Christ (Eph 5:25-27). Only a few teach the truth - always a minority.

[Next Topic: ANGER MAKES YOU UNSTEADY]

TPM Publication No: 29

THE POWER OF MUSIC..:

Music is connected with worship - worship of God and worship of the devil too. "Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Eph 5:18,19).

Music has a power that none of us understand. The snake does not obey the charmer but sways to the music he plays. Music has the potential for stirring up a person for good or for bad. Psalm 32:7 reads: "Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance." If there are songs of deliverance there must also be songs of bondage - songs that bring us into bondage. We must therefore be careful of the type of music we listen to. In Ezekiel 28:13, which is a reference to the fallen cherub, music is mentioned. "The workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created." Reference to music is also made in Isaiah 14:11 when speaking of Lucifer. "Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols."

The true and divine purpose of music is, to worship God. But sin entered the picture. Lucifer, the master musician, fell, and music also fell with him. Satan still has the ability to create music and he desires worship through music. His music is what is captivating the minds of young people around the world. There is a peculiar beat and rhythm that invites the devil. People lose complete control of their body and senses when listening to such music. Many musicians have sold their souls the devil by getting high on drugs. Some rock stars get the words and music for lyrics from voices which they hear when they get into drug-induced trances. One artist is known to practise biting off heads of live doves in front of the audience. The whole audience goes wild when they see him doing this. Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones has said that he deliberately presents himself as a personification of the devil. One of their songs, Sympathy for the Devil, has become the unofficial anthem for Satanic movement all over the world. We have been chosen to praise God and worship Him in holiness and sing songs of love to our Father.

Parents should check on the type of music their children listen to. Listening to wrong music can lead to problems and even murders. One young boy who was regularly attending Sunday School and was the leader of his class, started listening to the wrong type of music. His father was in the army. One day, provoked for some very little thing, he took his father's gun and shot his father, his mother and their servant boy. Soon after that he felt very sorry and started crying. He repented of what he had done but he could not reverse his actions. He now writes from prison and warns all parents not to allow their children to listen to the type of music he listened to.

"Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king" (Dan 3:13).

[Next Topic: THE SELECT RAPTURE]

- TPM Publication No: 29

VICTORIOUS IN FIERY TRIALS...:

Daniel chapter 3 speaks of abiding character. There is a saying that true saints are made of gold. When gold is thrown into a furnace id does not get burnt; it only gets brighter. When trials come, we will know whether we are gold or not. If we are made of gold, we will shine, but if we are like clay, wood or hay we will get burnt. "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee" (Isa 43:2).

"1. Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon 4. Then the herald loudly proclaimed: “To you the command is given, O peoples, nations and men of every language, 5. that at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. 6. “But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.” (Daniel 3:1,4-6)

This is a picture of the Tribulation Period, when the Anti-Christ will set up an image and everyone will have to worship it. Those who do not, will be killed. Read Revelation 13: 15,16,18. We find the number 666 in the text here also. The height of the image was three score cubits that is, sixty cubits and the breadth six cubits and, six types of instruments are mentioned. Directly or indirectly, we find the number 666.

[Next Topic: THE POWER OF MUSIC]

- TPM Publication No: 29

STAY SMALL

What Daniel had managed to do was no ordinary feat. As the wise men had said, indeed, no man on earth could have done it. The king fell on his face and worshipped Daniel; all those who were around would have done the same too. And it was a singular honour that the king did him in making him 'ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon' - he being only a captive from a foreign land. However, all this greatness did not turn Daniel's head. The next thing we see him doing is, sitting at the king's gate! This is what is called 'humbleness of mind'. We see the same humility in Mordecai. He did not get carried away when his arch-enemy was made to honour him publicly. Instead of strutting around, he returned to his post at the king's gate.

Child of God, no matter how much the Lord uses you or exalts you, stay little; stay small in your own eyes.

[Next Topic: CHAPTER 5: VICTORIOUS IN FIERY TRIAL]

TPM Publication No: 29

BREAK EVERY IMAGE

The stone was not prepared with hands. Saints are not made by their works of righteousness. 'Not cut with hands' also means it was not touched with hands. This shows not having any earthly or carnal natures. We must have such a life.

The image can also stand for the images we set up in our hearts. What did this stone do? It broke the image into pieces. This is what we should do. We should break all the images in our life. Every image, everything that is not of God, every sin that we cherish, everything that we love more than God, should be broken. There should be no place in our lives for any image. There should be no 'I' in us. Sometimes when we are corrected we get upset and angry; the 'I' in us arises - this is Nebuchadnezzar's image. The wind carried everything away and no place was found for them. The Holy Spirit of the power of Christ should break every image in our lives, every imagination and every high thing that exalts itself (II Cor 10:4,5). We all want to deal with out secret sins - but many of us think it is impossible to get rid of them. It is possible if the Holy Spirit blows upon us. This is the message of Jesus and of the Church, the Bride of Christ, to the world - Live an overcoming life! Let us smite every sinful desire, every sinful thought, and every sinful activity in our life. There should be no secret sin in us, no secret thought, imagination or feeling. Everything should be completely broken and destroyed. The wind, the Holy Spirit, should carry them away out of sight and they should never be found again.

The stone that broke the image became a great mountain. We become great saints in the sight of God when we break every image in our life. 'Mountain' can also stand for a kingdom. We are this kingdom. We become a great kingdom of God. God's kingdom is established in us.

"Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king" (Dan 2:48,49)..

[Next Topic: STAY SMALL]

- TPM Publication No: 29