A Consuming Fire
May 20, 2018
This is a bit of a long segue into what my message is about this morning, but I
figured my last message was so short I’ll have plenty of time. For those of you
who like to have a title for your notes, I'm going to be sharing about our shield
of faith. But first I'm taking a slight detour.
Yesterday, Prince Harry married Meghan Markle. I got up a bit earlier than usual for a Saturday morning to watch the ceremony, 1. because I love wed- dings, and the British royals know how to throw a gorgeous wedding, 2. Har- ry is 6 months older than I am, so he’s always been a favorite royal, and 3. if I didn’t watch it live chances are I wouldn’t have been able to catch up until very late last night. All that has absolutely nothing to do with what I’m about to talk about, except that in 2011 I got up even earlier to watch his brother William marry Kate. During the ceremony, the Bishop of London quoted Catherine of Siena in his message: “Be who God meant for you to be, and you will set the world on fire”.
Now, I definitely want to be who God wants me to be, but isn’t setting things on fire a bit...destructive? I think of the forest fires on the West Coast that can take weeks to contain, or the lava from the volcano in Hawaii that wipes out everything in its path. Fire is a powerful force!
If you actually look up the phrase "set the world on fire," the modern definition isn't as dramatic: "to do wonderful or exciting things that cause a great or remarkable sensation in the world".
Yesterday, Prince Harry married Meghan Markle. I got up a bit earlier than usual for a Saturday morning to watch the ceremony, 1. because I love wed- dings, and the British royals know how to throw a gorgeous wedding, 2. Har- ry is 6 months older than I am, so he’s always been a favorite royal, and 3. if I didn’t watch it live chances are I wouldn’t have been able to catch up until very late last night. All that has absolutely nothing to do with what I’m about to talk about, except that in 2011 I got up even earlier to watch his brother William marry Kate. During the ceremony, the Bishop of London quoted Catherine of Siena in his message: “Be who God meant for you to be, and you will set the world on fire”.
Now, I definitely want to be who God wants me to be, but isn’t setting things on fire a bit...destructive? I think of the forest fires on the West Coast that can take weeks to contain, or the lava from the volcano in Hawaii that wipes out everything in its path. Fire is a powerful force!
If you actually look up the phrase "set the world on fire," the modern definition isn't as dramatic: "to do wonderful or exciting things that cause a great or remarkable sensation in the world".
I suppose literally setting the world on fire could be described as causing a re-
markable sensation, but I'd hardly describe it as wonderful or exciting. And
of course we sing a song about God setting His Church on fire. What do we
mean by that? I have no idea what Catherine of Siena truly meant by this
phrase back in the mid 1300s, so I am choosing to go beyond the modern definition and take a look at the spiritual significance.
The definition of being on fire is "consumed by flame". In Song of Solomon, love is described as a vehement or consuming fire (8:6). In Exodus 24 and Deuteronomy 4 God is described as a consuming fire. In Exodus it says that “to the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain”. In Deuteronomy Moses warns the people not to forget their covenant with the Lord and make idols for themselves because “the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God” (vs 23, NIV).
Yet there are also at least 4 examples in the Bible where the fire did NOT consume as it burned: The burning bush where God spoke to Moses, the pillar of fire that led the Israelites in the desert, the fiery furnace in Daniel, and the tongues of fire the day of Pentecost. In the case of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, they were protected from the fire. But in the other three situations the fire was, or at least was a physical representation of, the actual Presence of God. Sometimes the Fire guards us, sometimes we’re guarded from the fire, but every single time we have the opportunity to come out the other side of our trial with our faith strengthened and refined.
The definition of being on fire is "consumed by flame". In Song of Solomon, love is described as a vehement or consuming fire (8:6). In Exodus 24 and Deuteronomy 4 God is described as a consuming fire. In Exodus it says that “to the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain”. In Deuteronomy Moses warns the people not to forget their covenant with the Lord and make idols for themselves because “the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God” (vs 23, NIV).
Yet there are also at least 4 examples in the Bible where the fire did NOT consume as it burned: The burning bush where God spoke to Moses, the pillar of fire that led the Israelites in the desert, the fiery furnace in Daniel, and the tongues of fire the day of Pentecost. In the case of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, they were protected from the fire. But in the other three situations the fire was, or at least was a physical representation of, the actual Presence of God. Sometimes the Fire guards us, sometimes we’re guarded from the fire, but every single time we have the opportunity to come out the other side of our trial with our faith strengthened and refined.
Faith is a Shield
So the question then becomes, who has God made us, His fire-starters, to be? In a word...FAITHFUL. Faith is a complete trust or confidence in someone, a conviction, a strong belief. A faithful person believes that God is Who He says He is. A faithful person endures difficulties because she trusts that God has a plan and a purpose.
A faithful person comes alongside those with mustard seed-sized faith and encourages them. A faithful person takes the gifts God has given and uses them to multiply the kingdom. A faithful person endures the trials and fin- ishes the race. A faithful person hears Jesus say "Well done".
I want to be a faithful person, but wow. It's hard, right? I know for certain I can't be faithful on my own, but thankfully we're not on our own, are we? Each of us who have made the choice to believe in and follow Christ have ac- cess to His abundant grace, and our Helper, the Holy Spirit. We have been em- powered to become more like Christ! Habakkuk 2:4 says "the righteous person will live by his faithfulness". Paul says in Romans 1:8, "I thank my God for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world".
What does this faith empowerment look like?
Ephesians 6, starting in verse 10. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
So the question then becomes, who has God made us, His fire-starters, to be? In a word...FAITHFUL. Faith is a complete trust or confidence in someone, a conviction, a strong belief. A faithful person believes that God is Who He says He is. A faithful person endures difficulties because she trusts that God has a plan and a purpose.
A faithful person comes alongside those with mustard seed-sized faith and encourages them. A faithful person takes the gifts God has given and uses them to multiply the kingdom. A faithful person endures the trials and fin- ishes the race. A faithful person hears Jesus say "Well done".
I want to be a faithful person, but wow. It's hard, right? I know for certain I can't be faithful on my own, but thankfully we're not on our own, are we? Each of us who have made the choice to believe in and follow Christ have ac- cess to His abundant grace, and our Helper, the Holy Spirit. We have been em- powered to become more like Christ! Habakkuk 2:4 says "the righteous person will live by his faithfulness". Paul says in Romans 1:8, "I thank my God for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world".
What does this faith empowerment look like?
Ephesians 6, starting in verse 10. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be ABLE to with-
stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore,
having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of
righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given
by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances TAKE UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH,
with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take
the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”
Faith is a shield.
I want you to picture a shield in your mind or take a glance at the one on the cover of the bulletin. Like people, shields come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Some are round, some are oval, some are skinny, some are made of wood, some are made of metal. Some have symbols on them, like a dragon or lion, or spe- cial colors to show that the bearer belongs to a specific kingdom, house, or group. A knight's shield may also have his own personal emblem or device, setting him apart from the other knights on the battle field. What all shields have in common is their purpose. A shield is designed to protect the bearer, and everyone behind him, from enemy attack.
So why is faith described as a shield? Consider this. You’re holding a relative- ly small piece of metal or wood in front of you for the purpose of blocking ar- rows, bullets, or sword hits. You must believe the shield will protect you as you stand, or as you move forward on the offensive to push back the enemy. So it is with faith. The enemy is shooting fiery arrows at us, designed to steal our hope and peace, kill our joy and love, and destroy our relationships and families. My shield is my conviction that God is Who He says He is, that I am who He says I am, that He will do what He has said He will do, and that He has done what His Word says He did.
Faith is a shield.
I want you to picture a shield in your mind or take a glance at the one on the cover of the bulletin. Like people, shields come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Some are round, some are oval, some are skinny, some are made of wood, some are made of metal. Some have symbols on them, like a dragon or lion, or spe- cial colors to show that the bearer belongs to a specific kingdom, house, or group. A knight's shield may also have his own personal emblem or device, setting him apart from the other knights on the battle field. What all shields have in common is their purpose. A shield is designed to protect the bearer, and everyone behind him, from enemy attack.
So why is faith described as a shield? Consider this. You’re holding a relative- ly small piece of metal or wood in front of you for the purpose of blocking ar- rows, bullets, or sword hits. You must believe the shield will protect you as you stand, or as you move forward on the offensive to push back the enemy. So it is with faith. The enemy is shooting fiery arrows at us, designed to steal our hope and peace, kill our joy and love, and destroy our relationships and families. My shield is my conviction that God is Who He says He is, that I am who He says I am, that He will do what He has said He will do, and that He has done what His Word says He did.
We Are Shielded
Sometimes it's easy to have faith, but there are definitely situations that re- quire us to believe in what men say is impossible. In those times, our faith is strengthened because no matter how bad the situation looks, we are not alone. You are not alone. Isaiah 43:1-2 says: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you."
The shield of the Father is seen often in the Old Testament, but there are two specific times where His protective shield defied human comprehension. In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzer's golden statue had created a dilemma for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. Bow down, and disobey God, or disobey the king—with whom they currently had unprecedented favor—and be thrown into the fire to die. For the three of them there was no contest. They told the king, "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".
Sometimes it's easy to have faith, but there are definitely situations that re- quire us to believe in what men say is impossible. In those times, our faith is strengthened because no matter how bad the situation looks, we are not alone. You are not alone. Isaiah 43:1-2 says: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you."
The shield of the Father is seen often in the Old Testament, but there are two specific times where His protective shield defied human comprehension. In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzer's golden statue had created a dilemma for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. Bow down, and disobey God, or disobey the king—with whom they currently had unprecedented favor—and be thrown into the fire to die. For the three of them there was no contest. They told the king, "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".
So the king ordered the furnace be heated seven times hotter, then had his
soldiers bind them and throw them in the fire. Verse 21 even makes sure to
note that they were thrown in wearing all their clothes, and even turbans,
and in verse 22 we discover the fire was so hot that the soldiers were killed
just by being that close to it. Yet, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were
able to walk through the fire and come out completely untouched by it. They
didn't even smell of smoke! God was with them in the midst of the fire and
made sure that the king saw it. So Nebuchadnezzer gave glory to God, and
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were rewarded for their act of great
faith.
Now we fast forward a bit in time. Nebuchadnezzer is gone and his son has been overthrown and killed by Darius. Daniel continues to serve, now as one of three governors or administrators, and quickly becomes a favorite with the king. Because of this Daniel 6:4 says "the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling gov- ernment affairs, but they couldn't find anything to criticize. He was FAITH- FUL, always responsible, and completely trustworthy".
So they invented a problem and set a trap. They went to King Darius and introduced a decree stating that all petitions had to be made to the king, and no one else, for 30 days. It's flattering, and seemed fairly harmless, so the king signed it. Daniel recognized the trap, went home, and did the exact same thing he had done for years. He knelt by an open window and prayed. The men caught him and alerted the king. The king was, of course, unable to save Daniel because—like in the book of Esther—a law once signed by the king could not be revoked. So they took Daniel to the lions' den and threw him in.
Now we fast forward a bit in time. Nebuchadnezzer is gone and his son has been overthrown and killed by Darius. Daniel continues to serve, now as one of three governors or administrators, and quickly becomes a favorite with the king. Because of this Daniel 6:4 says "the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling gov- ernment affairs, but they couldn't find anything to criticize. He was FAITH- FUL, always responsible, and completely trustworthy".
So they invented a problem and set a trap. They went to King Darius and introduced a decree stating that all petitions had to be made to the king, and no one else, for 30 days. It's flattering, and seemed fairly harmless, so the king signed it. Daniel recognized the trap, went home, and did the exact same thing he had done for years. He knelt by an open window and prayed. The men caught him and alerted the king. The king was, of course, unable to save Daniel because—like in the book of Esther—a law once signed by the king could not be revoked. So they took Daniel to the lions' den and threw him in.
Interestingly, nowhere in this section of Scripture does it quote Daniel's response, but in verse 16 Darius makes his own statement of faith: "Your God,
whom you serve continually, He will deliver you".
The king spent all night fasting and returned to the den as soon as he could the next morning. He called out: "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God...delivered you from the lions?" And Daniel responds: "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me". He was brought up from the pit, uninjured, and verse 23 states "because he believed in his God". And, like with Nebuchadnezzer before him, King Darius publicly glorified God for all he had witnessed (6:25-27).
In both of these situations, and the many others in the Old and New Testament, their faith was being tested. They came through unscathed and refined, not because they were able to conjure up enough faith at the time, but because they lived it every day. Daniel didn’t begin to pray at the open win- dow when the law was signed. He had prayed at that same window the day before, a month before, even ten years before. Daniel’s faith was evidenced in his day-to-day activities, in his work ethic, in his treatment of others. A knight who has been taught to carefully polish and repair his armor will be ready when he needs it, but one who only searches for it when the enemy is closing in will fail. Faith is grown in the seemingly mundane activities of life, so that our shield will be strong enough to withstand the attack when it comes.
The king spent all night fasting and returned to the den as soon as he could the next morning. He called out: "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God...delivered you from the lions?" And Daniel responds: "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me". He was brought up from the pit, uninjured, and verse 23 states "because he believed in his God". And, like with Nebuchadnezzer before him, King Darius publicly glorified God for all he had witnessed (6:25-27).
In both of these situations, and the many others in the Old and New Testament, their faith was being tested. They came through unscathed and refined, not because they were able to conjure up enough faith at the time, but because they lived it every day. Daniel didn’t begin to pray at the open win- dow when the law was signed. He had prayed at that same window the day before, a month before, even ten years before. Daniel’s faith was evidenced in his day-to-day activities, in his work ethic, in his treatment of others. A knight who has been taught to carefully polish and repair his armor will be ready when he needs it, but one who only searches for it when the enemy is closing in will fail. Faith is grown in the seemingly mundane activities of life, so that our shield will be strong enough to withstand the attack when it comes.
We Are a Shield
Let’s go back to Isaiah 43 for a second, verses 3-4. God tells us why He has promised to be with us in the flood and fire. He says "For I AM the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...You are precious to Me...and I love you."
We are shielded by our faith and His love. Not so we can live in peace and security, but so we can go out into the battle and lead others to safety. Often that means taking risks. It shouldn't be a surprise when the faithful response isn't the one that makes the most sense to those around us, both in the world and often in the Church. "Shadrach, what's the big deal? It's just a statue. You can bow and not mean it. God knows your heart, right? It's not worth dying over." "Daniel, why did you have to pray at that open window where everyone could see you? Why didn't you pray in the closet? God would still hear you. It's not worth your life."
Last June I was 9 months pregnant and pretty miserable. We weren't able to do much for our 10th wedding anniversary because of that, but there was one thing I told Jeremy I really wanted to do. So for our anniversary he took me to see Wonder Woman. For those of you not familiar with the Wonder Woman character, she's called Diana, essentially a woman with super-human abilities (extra keen vision, jumps great distances, runs very fast), who was trained in hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship, wears a tiara with her armor, and carries a golden lasso that forces you to tell the truth when it's wrapped around you. She also has bullet-resistant gauntlets on her wrists and carries a sword and shield.
Let’s go back to Isaiah 43 for a second, verses 3-4. God tells us why He has promised to be with us in the flood and fire. He says "For I AM the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...You are precious to Me...and I love you."
We are shielded by our faith and His love. Not so we can live in peace and security, but so we can go out into the battle and lead others to safety. Often that means taking risks. It shouldn't be a surprise when the faithful response isn't the one that makes the most sense to those around us, both in the world and often in the Church. "Shadrach, what's the big deal? It's just a statue. You can bow and not mean it. God knows your heart, right? It's not worth dying over." "Daniel, why did you have to pray at that open window where everyone could see you? Why didn't you pray in the closet? God would still hear you. It's not worth your life."
Last June I was 9 months pregnant and pretty miserable. We weren't able to do much for our 10th wedding anniversary because of that, but there was one thing I told Jeremy I really wanted to do. So for our anniversary he took me to see Wonder Woman. For those of you not familiar with the Wonder Woman character, she's called Diana, essentially a woman with super-human abilities (extra keen vision, jumps great distances, runs very fast), who was trained in hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship, wears a tiara with her armor, and carries a golden lasso that forces you to tell the truth when it's wrapped around you. She also has bullet-resistant gauntlets on her wrists and carries a sword and shield.
She ends up alongside British soldiers on the front lines in World War 1, on a
mission to stop the bad guys from unleashing a terrible weapon on both sol-
diers and civilians. I wish I could show you the clip, but I will do my best to
describe it for you. She and a small group of men are in a bunker attempting
to sneak across the enemy line. They’ve reached a region the soldiers refer to
as No Man’s Land. The armies are at a standstill, the ground between the
bunkers is desolate, destroyed by the continuous fighting. No one dares peek
over the barricades. A nearby village has been overrun and some of the civil-
ians are hiding in the bunker attempting to make it to safety. A woman
reaches for Diana and tearfully tells her of the village and the people still
trapped there. The men urge her that they need to quickly move on, that
there’s nothing they can do.
She doesn’t listen. She takes off her cloak, revealing the armor she was wearing underneath, places her tiara on her head, picks up her shield, and climbs the ladder onto the battlefield. Immediately bullets begin flying to- wards her and she uses her wrist gauntlets to block each one. With growing confidence she begins striding forward, breaking into a run. Behind her, the men realize she is drawing all the enemy fire and grab the opportunity to climb the ladder and find defensible positions. The enemy continues to fire at Diana and she brings her shield up.
Diana could leave the shelter of the bunker and step out into No Man’s Land because she knew who she was and what she was capable of. She had been trained and had the tools to help those who couldn’t do what she had the ability to do. She refused to remain in safety while others died. When she stepped out, the enemy saw her and shot everything they had at her.
She doesn’t listen. She takes off her cloak, revealing the armor she was wearing underneath, places her tiara on her head, picks up her shield, and climbs the ladder onto the battlefield. Immediately bullets begin flying to- wards her and she uses her wrist gauntlets to block each one. With growing confidence she begins striding forward, breaking into a run. Behind her, the men realize she is drawing all the enemy fire and grab the opportunity to climb the ladder and find defensible positions. The enemy continues to fire at Diana and she brings her shield up.
Diana could leave the shelter of the bunker and step out into No Man’s Land because she knew who she was and what she was capable of. She had been trained and had the tools to help those who couldn’t do what she had the ability to do. She refused to remain in safety while others died. When she stepped out, the enemy saw her and shot everything they had at her.
The further she stepped out, the more she deflected, the more they shot. It got
HARDER. It got so hard she had to stop and brace herself. But her position
allowed those behind her, without shields, to move forward. She became their
shield.
For us today, becoming a shield for others won’t be so dramatic. Our battle- fields of faith are in our own communities, at work, and even at home. When we choose to pay attention to those around us, and notice the open doors, we’ll be able to raise up our shields of faith and make a difference...saving lives, both spiritually and physically.
One of those ways is through intercession. In Exodus 32, Moses is on Mount Sinai receiving the Law from God. The Israelites grew restless waiting for him to return, so they made a golden calf and had a day of feasting. God immediately tells Moses to leave Him so that He can destroy the Israelites and start over. But Moses doesn’t budge. Instead, starting in verse 11, he pleaded with the Lord to spare the people. He reminded God how He brought them out of Egypt, and about the promises He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So the Lord relented and Moses returned to the camp. Then he returned later, after dealing with the situation, in order to ask God’s forgiveness on behalf of the whole camp. In the end, 3,000 men died and God sent a plague as punishment on the rest of the people, but Moses’ intercession saved the entire nation of Israel from destruction. God hears our prayers when we stand in faith for others and believe He will do what He has promised us in His Word.
For us today, becoming a shield for others won’t be so dramatic. Our battle- fields of faith are in our own communities, at work, and even at home. When we choose to pay attention to those around us, and notice the open doors, we’ll be able to raise up our shields of faith and make a difference...saving lives, both spiritually and physically.
One of those ways is through intercession. In Exodus 32, Moses is on Mount Sinai receiving the Law from God. The Israelites grew restless waiting for him to return, so they made a golden calf and had a day of feasting. God immediately tells Moses to leave Him so that He can destroy the Israelites and start over. But Moses doesn’t budge. Instead, starting in verse 11, he pleaded with the Lord to spare the people. He reminded God how He brought them out of Egypt, and about the promises He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So the Lord relented and Moses returned to the camp. Then he returned later, after dealing with the situation, in order to ask God’s forgiveness on behalf of the whole camp. In the end, 3,000 men died and God sent a plague as punishment on the rest of the people, but Moses’ intercession saved the entire nation of Israel from destruction. God hears our prayers when we stand in faith for others and believe He will do what He has promised us in His Word.
In the book of Joshua there’s another story of someone who stood in faith
for others. She took notice of strangers, spoke out in faith, and saved her
entire family from death. Moses had died, Joshua was the new leader of Israel, and God told him it was time to cross the Jordan River and take the
Promised Land. But Jericho stood in the way. So he sent two men over to spy
on the city. The two men ended up at the house of Rahab, and the king of
Jericho sent men to capture them. But Rahab did something surprising. In-
stead of turning in the men and saving her city, she hid the two spies and told
the king’s men that they had already left. The king’s men left in pursuit, giving Rahab the time she needed. She told the two spies, “I know that the Lord
has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us. For we
have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you...and what
you did to the two kings of the Amorites...whom you utterly destroyed. And
as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted in fear...for the Lord your
God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath” (2:9-11). Then she
begged them to spare her family when they returned. They promised to do so,
and she let them out of the city through a window, leaving the scarlet cord in
the window as a sign of their agreement. Almost a month later, when Jericho
fell, Joshua sent the two men back into the city to fulfill their oath to Rahab
and bring her and her family out safely. Rahab’s great-great grandson was
King David, she is now one of two women mentioned in “the faith chapter”
Hebrews 11, and one of the five women mentioned in the lineage of Jesus.
Strong and Mighty
I was listening to worship music the other week and a song came on led by Steffany Gretzinger. It was one I sang as a child, so I was surprised to hear it in a worship setting sung by adults. As I was listening to the words I felt the Spirit say “This is what the Old Testament heroes of faith and the New Testament Church believed. This is how they set the world on fire. They believed in Me, passionately.”
This is the song. I’m sure it will be familiar to many of you as well. The kids version has a few other lines, but the chorus is the focus. One line, repeated over and over: "My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do.” She finishes with a line from another song: “Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing. Nothing is too difficult for Thee.”
Do you believe it?
Where is your faith today? When you’re living your life, going to work, or home with your family...Where is your shield? Do you carry it with you, or is it just an heirloom hanging on your wall? Would people say you are faithful, trustworthy, and always responsible, like Daniel? Are you prepared to stand for righteousness like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego? Are you willing to intercede for your family and your nation? Maybe you’ll never have to face a test that huge. But when difficult times come your way, do you believe God is big enough, or do you fall into the depths of despair? Maybe there is some- thing you’re dealing with right now and you need to stand and claim that “Nothing is too difficult, there is nothing my God cannot do!” Take some time right now and talk to God. The front is open if you need to come and pray.
I was listening to worship music the other week and a song came on led by Steffany Gretzinger. It was one I sang as a child, so I was surprised to hear it in a worship setting sung by adults. As I was listening to the words I felt the Spirit say “This is what the Old Testament heroes of faith and the New Testament Church believed. This is how they set the world on fire. They believed in Me, passionately.”
This is the song. I’m sure it will be familiar to many of you as well. The kids version has a few other lines, but the chorus is the focus. One line, repeated over and over: "My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do.” She finishes with a line from another song: “Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing. Nothing is too difficult for Thee.”
Do you believe it?
Where is your faith today? When you’re living your life, going to work, or home with your family...Where is your shield? Do you carry it with you, or is it just an heirloom hanging on your wall? Would people say you are faithful, trustworthy, and always responsible, like Daniel? Are you prepared to stand for righteousness like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego? Are you willing to intercede for your family and your nation? Maybe you’ll never have to face a test that huge. But when difficult times come your way, do you believe God is big enough, or do you fall into the depths of despair? Maybe there is some- thing you’re dealing with right now and you need to stand and claim that “Nothing is too difficult, there is nothing my God cannot do!” Take some time right now and talk to God. The front is open if you need to come and pray.
1 Peter 1:3-9
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes
even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Amen.
https://cornerstonebroadway.sermon.net/embed/main/21170211
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