Bow or Burn

How hungry are you to get into the presence of God, to sit with him, and behold him?

For the Lord is a consuming fire, and dwells within unapproachable light.

How far are you willing to go to separate yourself out from the world, and unto God?

In the book of Daniel, we read of the story of Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego. They originally had Hebrew names that Glorified God, but when they were taken into captivity, the King, Nebuchadnezzar, exclusively changed their names to those that glorified the Babylonian Gods being worshiped. He changed their food/diet, maybe their clothes, their daily activities were different. They were forced into a system they did not agree to or choose. Eventually, the King, created an image. A large image that he made all of Babylon bow down to and worship. The decree was bow or burn. If the people did not bow, at the time the sound or musical instruments played they would be held accountable and judged by fire.

HMM, sounds awfully familiar to another book, doesn't it?

The thing is the enemy is always a counterfeit or a fake to what is real. This story really is the true testament of what it is like to serve God.

I asked the Lord, baptize me in your holy fire. I want to be holy like you are holy, perfect as you are perfect, set apart and consecrated unto you... his response, do not bow... Do not bow to the image. Then you will be thrown into the fire. Bow or Burn.

When Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah refused to bow to the image, they were seized.

This is what they said to the King in response when he asked them again to bow, and who was able to save them from out of his hands.

“King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” - Daniel 3: 16-18

What does this all mean? These men were loyal to their God, strong in their identity, and refused to compromise even unto death.

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." - Revelation 12:11

Their Life: They had the prophetic act of the Blood of the Lamb at Passover, that the blood of this lamb made the destroyer pass over them and would not harm them. They celebrated this in their years, it was custom, to remember what God did for their forefathers. This was a lifestyle, to follow after Gods celebrations, to elevate what he did and what he cares about.

Their testimony: Silence. Just like Jesus. They did not need to give a defense... They set a boundary that said we are not accountable to you, but unto God. God is the mighty to save. Him we serve. The fear of God and not man. Non- negotiable, not debatable, not on trial, no question to be made, nothing up for discussion. Unlike Adam and Eve, but that is for another day.

Their Love: They loved God more than life itself. Jesus said if you renounce all that you have you will receive 100-fold in this life. Take up your cross and follow me. Loose your life to find it, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and might. Giving their life to God in the face of death, and fearing God over death, stripped the enemy and the king their power over them, and led the way for Jesus to save them. This is the gospel. Jesus faced death and was resurrected back to life and overcame death. Defying the odds. He stripped death and the enemy of power so that you and I could live. They, coming to the knowledge of God, where saved and obtained life.

What are you bowing to? Who are you bowing to?... Self?... Ego?... Flesh?...

You are the image; you are the likeness. For God created us in his image and his likeness. But we are meant to worship him and give him the Glory. Not any other replacement.

Not your career, status, money, projection. Not for protection, safety, provision, needs.

God is not a transaction; he is a relationship.

Are you going to bow down to the image and burn later in the return of Christ? or are you going to burn now in Christ and bow to him who is able to save you from eternal damnation?

"For every knee will bow - in heaven, and on Earth and under the Earth, - and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." - Philippians 2: 10-11

The Bible said that they were instructed to bow at the sound... the sound that was blown, the multiple different instruments. This was supposedly because there were many cultures, and when they heard the sound, they knew it was time to bow down, not that they were spoken to.

What signals, cues, sounds, noises, or alerts are you subject to. When it sends out its vibrations, you act right away? Do you do this with God when he speaks, or inclines you, or prods you to do something, do you act right away? Do you know what that signal is coming from the Lord or from the enemy? If then you are a true follower and believer in Christ, then you will follow him and a stranger you will not follow. be careful not to fall into the antichrist's schemes, be diligent to be still and listen to the Voice of God.

Tune your life, your words, and your heart to God, and his will, his word, and his heart, and you will be blessed even though you walk through the fire. If you burn for God, the fire will not consume you.

The scripture says

" Nebuchadnezzar spoke saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent his Angel and delivered his servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any God except their own God!""- Daniel 3: 28

They saw that the fire had NO Power; the hair on their head was not singed, their garments were not affected, and neither did they smell of smoke. The book of Isaiah 43 says that when you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Are you a living sacrifice unto God, yielding your bodies unto God? A sacrifice unto God is tied to an altar, then set on fire. Do not get off the altar, sit there and burn! Offer up yourself a living sacrifice, pleasing him. Let him plunge you in the water to heal you, feed you, quench your thirst, and wash away the residues. Then tie yourself to him, and let him set you on fire, burn away the chaff, the weeds, thorns and thistles, the flesh, let him burn away all the impurities, rise from the ashes and do it all over again. Do it now while he can be found, before the time fully arrives. Burn... BURN for HIM!

May he bless you, and keep you, and make his face shine upon you all the days. In Jesus Name, Amen

Em