Day 3 of 30: Fireproof Begins with Our Relationship with God

Some people asked Smith Wigglesworth, a great Apostle of Faith in the first half of the 20th century, about prayer.  They said, “Smith Wigglesworth, you’re a man of faith and miracles, you’ve raised people from the dead. You’ve cast out more demons than we’ve had hot dinners. Tell us, how long do you pray every day? 

“Well, the apostle replied, “I don’t ever pray any longer than twenty minutes.”

“What?” his questioners exclaimed.

After pausing for effect, Smith Wigglesworth continued, “Yes, but I never go twenty minutes without praying”.

Can you imagine a talking to God all day, every day?  What would you talk about?  

Having a relationship with God is key to trusting and believing His Word.  Think about it.  When is the last time you trusted someone walking down the street to hold your purse or wallet for you?  Would you leave your child in the hands of some sitting near you at a restaurant, a perfect stranger?  A young man comes up to you on the street and says he needs to borrow your car to run to the local grocery store.  Would you give him the keys and tell him to drive safely?

We trust those we know.  Proverbs 3:5,6 says, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."  

Trusting God and acknowledging Him puts us in a position for Him to give our lives direction.  How can we trust a God that we only meet on Sunday mornings a few times a month for an hour or so?  

Liken a relationship that creates trust to a spouse or close, long-time friend. At first meet, both are a bit awkward.  Why?  Because they want to impress each other, but really do not know what each other likes, thinks, or even hates.  Both parties do not want to make a mistake.  It is only after spending time together that they get to know each other well enough that they are comfortable to talk and express themselves freely.  Often times, it is not even until after the honeymoon phase of a marriage before the two show each other their true selves.  

Your relationship with God is the same.  Our prayers at first may be awkward.  We do not want to say anything wrong.  We don't know what pleases and displeases God.  After much time in His Word, learning His will, His likes and dislikes, what pleases Him, and what displeases Him, we can begin to truly trust Him completely. (But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6)  

Today's passage is Daniel 3 (KJV).  This chapter describes the complete trust three men had in their God and His Word.  Read through the chapter, and as your read ask God to give you "wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him."  You see, the Old Testiment points us to Christ.  Do you see this in today's passage?

Dan 3:1  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. 

Dan 3:2  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 

Dan 3:3  Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 

Dan 3:4  Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 

Dan 3:5  That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: 

Dan 3:6  And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 

Dan 3:7  Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 

Dan 3:8  Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. 

Dan 3:9  They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. 

Dan 3:10  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 musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: 

Dan 3:11  And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 

Dan 3:12  There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 

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

Dan 3:14  Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 

Dan 3:15  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 musick, 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? 

Dan 3:16  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 

Dan 3:17  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. 

Dan 3:18  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 3:19  Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 

Dan 3:20  And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 

Dan 3:21  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 3:22  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 3:23  And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 

Dan 3:24  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 

Dan 3:25  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. 

Dan 3:26  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 3:27  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 3:28  Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 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. 

Dan 3:29  Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 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. 

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

Day 2 of 30: He Speaks, We Hear

How do we know what God is saying to us? 

God's Word speaks (Hebrews 4:12, from Day 1 blog post).  If His Word speaks, then we can hear it.  ("So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."  Romans 10:17)

Return to the book of Ephesians Chapter 1.  We find the Apostle Paul praying a prayer for the church.  He is saying, he prays this prayer for you, the church.  He is praying that God gives 'you' a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. (Ephesians 1:17) 

This prayer is for us, try praying it this way, "God I ask you to give me, a spirit of wisdom in the revelation and knowledge of you."  By praying this way, you are making it personal.  You have taken the living, breathing, Word of God, and have spoken it in prayer into your life. 

The power of God's Word is in the Words you have just spoken.  Remember from yesterday's post, "God's Word in my mouth has just as much power as God's Word in His mouth."  The whole passage from yesterday, make it personal for you. 

I encourage you to meditate further on this passage and memorize verse 17-19.  Even further, speak those powerful Words in prayer throughout the day, today and everyday. 

"Lord I ask you to give me a spirit of wisdom and revelation of knowledge of who you are.

 That I may know the hope of my calling and the riches of your glory. 

That I may know my inheritance as a saint. 

That I may know the exceeding greatness of your power to me.

I am a believer according to your mighty working power."

Pray this everyday. 10 times a day even.  If you need answers to situations in your life; What is my calling?  Why am I here?  What job should I get?  What area of study should I take in college?  How should I direct my child in specific situations?  

This prayer is powerful. Make it operative in your life, by speaking it in prayer to God, and by making it personal. 

"There is power packed into God’s Word. God’s Word brings life, light and the Holy Spirit into the situation."  Paula White

You may pray this prayer by itself.  Or, some may prefer to pray in the spirit in between each section of it.  You may choose to enter into praise and worship then begin to pray.  However, you choose to pray Ephesians 1:17-19 today, thank God for the outcome of your prayer in advance.  Give Him thanks knowing that He always answers when we pray according to His will, praying His Word.


Today's passage is a portion of yesterday's passage: a more focused prayer of what we meditated, studied, thought, and prayed about yesterday..... getting a greater revelation of what these verses say and how they apply to us. (Today's passage is in the KJV.)

Eph 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 

Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 

Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 

Day 1 of 30: Word of God Speaks

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12 KJV

 For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12 AMP

The Bible contains the Word that God speaks...it is ALIVE and FULL OF POWER!  It is sharper than any two-edged sword.  Isn't that just amazing?  His Word is active today, just as much as it was yesterday.  And, He has provided His Word for us to have and take hold of ourselves.  

I heard a pastor* say, "God's Word in my mouth has just as much power as God's Word in His mouth."  He went on to explain this:  God's Word is God's Word, even when it comes out of our mouths.  It is still God's Word regardless of who speaks it.  The power is in His Word. 

In Luke 1:37 KJV we read, "For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment." If you read this in the original Greek the last portion of the verse would read like this:  "No Word from God is void of power."  Every Word from God is FULL OF POWER.  When we read and pray His Word we are praying with the same power and effectiveness as if God were saying the Words Himself, because it is His Word and we are coming into agreement with it.

I encourage you today, to meditate (read aloud, think about, and pray about) Ephesians 1:17-23.  As you do, think about this passage and how do it applies to your life?  At first glance you may see how this prayer applies to those who do not yet know Christ as their Lord and Savior.  And, yes, it is a great passage to pray and speak over them.  Keep in mind, that Paul wrote to the Church, born-again believers just like you and me.  This prayer was intended for the Christian.  By meditating on this verse and spending time with God in prayer gives us a greater revelation of what God is telling the Church, the believer.

Because God's Word is ALIVE.  We receive revelation from it much like peeling an onion, in layers.  Even the seasoned believer, regardless how many times he or she has read a passage over and over, will always receive new revelation ( a new layer of meaning) if they read it with the expectation of receiving something new.

Here is Day 1's passage:  Ephesians 1:17-23 KJV  

Eph 1:17  [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, 

Eph 1:18  By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), 

Eph 1:19  And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, 

Eph 1:20  Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places], 

Eph 1:21  Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come. 

Eph 1:22  And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church], [Ps. 8:6.] 

Eph 1:23  Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself]. 

"...Prayer is so simple that the feeble child can pray, yet it is at the same time the highest and holiest work to which man can rise..."  Andrew Murray

*Today's message inspired by Pastor Dale Durant.  

To Quench or Not to Quench

"The Holy Spirit is Person, and He can be resisted (Acts 7:51), grieved (Ephesians 4:30), and even insulted (Hebrews 10:29). Likewise, our relationship with the Holy Spirit can be cultivated, and we can encourage a greater working of His Presence and influence in our lives. If we follow the admonition of Scripture and do not quench His work in our lives, we can be, “...not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord,” as Paul directed in Romans 12:11" 

Tony Cooke, To Quench or Not to Quench, July 2014 

His Word, Our prayers

“If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7).


Our time spent in God's Word grows our faith.  Through the Word we are transformed in the mind.  During this process we begin to understand that Christ abides in us, and that His Words have begun to abide in us as we have read and meditated upon them.  It is then, that we can act upon and receive this promise.  This verse directly connects His Word with our prayer life.

The Fire Has No Power! - Part 5

"Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 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 musick, 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?

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 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."  (Daniel 3:13-18)

  If Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had any reservations regarding their trust in God and where they stood on this matter, any doubt at all, verse 16 was the time to back out!  

  However, they stood on God's Word, they trusted in Him.  How do I know this?  Look at how they responded to the King in the Amplified:  "it is not necessary for us to answer you on this point." (verse 16) 

  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego demonstrated:

  "...The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer."   (2 Samuel 22:2)

   These three men knew the Word of their God was trustworthy:  

"Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee. And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the LORD hath spoken."  (Deuteronomy 6:17-19)

  They knew that He would keep His Word.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego bud their faith to work by doing their part, keeping the commandments given to them.  In doing so, they put themselves in position for God to do His part.

To be continued....