Daniel 3:17-18 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.”
Confidence is not rash boldness that everything is going to be fine. It is a divine confidence that God is supreme and nothing can tamper or tarnish His plan for our lives. It is the confidence that sees God not only in the answered prayers but also in the declined petitions.
In 585 BC about 20 years after the captivity of the Israelites into Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden image which was about 36 foot tall. All the nations that were under his dominion were ordered to bow down and worship the image at the sound of a loud instrumental jazz. Every stringed and percussion instrument that was found in the earth was played. The loud music stuck the hearts of all who lived in his kingdom with fear and they fell down before the golden image. Those who did not worship were ordered to be thrown into a fiery furnace. The four young Hebrew lads were fearless and fervent. Bible scholars believe these courageous comrades must be around 16 to 19 years of age. Confidence in the nature of God will wipe out the fear of death and uncertainty. God-confidence will clothe us with a tenacity that no worldly, demonic or external influence can touch or tamper. God-confidence is a divine doggedness.
Godly confidence defeats intimidations, insinuations and demonic influence. :
1. Intimidation: The threats of torture and the dread of death did not intimidate the four brave boys. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” (Daniel 3:6). They were confident not in their escape but in their faith and their decision to worship only the Lord God. They were prepared to die if their time on earth was over but refused to worship a man or an idol. God-confidence will give us the inner strength to stand up even when we are threatened with a loss of power, position, people, possessions or posterity.
2. Insinuation: The insinuations from the enemy could not push them into incarcerating fear. The king threatened, “if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” (Daniel 3:15b). The king was using his influence to insinuate that no god can save them. Demonic suggestions will bounce away from a confident person who has a close relationship with the Lord.
3. Insight: The boys were confident that their God was able to save them. They had no doubts in the power and authority of their God. But even if the Lord chooses not to save them, they were willing to go into eternity as ardent worshipers of the Lord than to live for a few more years as traitors of their faith.
God-confidence is divine boldness.
Daniel 3:28b They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
Prayer: Father God, fill me with God-confidence and insight that no worldly intimidation or demonic insinuation can steal. Amen
Leave a Reply