Voices of Faith: Only God can cure ills of the world

Fountain pen writing Faith
Fountain pen writing Faith

The cold months of winter are behind us and much around us is flourishing, yet we are faced with many problems in our city and nation. Indeed, we are enjoying the life that is sprouting around us in plants, trees and gardens.

As I think about life in the natural, I think about our spiritual lives as the body of Christ. What is our response to the problems we are facing? Have we flourished to the point of taking authority over the crime that continues to reign?

I have been meditating on Daniel 3 and have not been able to get away from its powerful testimony of three men who had truly flourished - wholly given their hearts to God - in their relationship with God and the victory they experienced.

Nebuchadnezzar, the king, wants to be worshipped. There is a tremendous penalty for failure to comply with his command. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refuse to comply because of their close relationship with the true God, Jehovah, and their determination to obey him at all costs.

As a result, they are thrown into the midst of a fiery furnace. They enter the fire with worship. The fire is turned up seven times hotter to ensure their death; even the men who took them to the furnace are killed.

But as the king looks on, he sees four men walking in the midst of the fire, unharmed. The form of the fourth is like the son of God. They came out of the fire with worship.

Nebuchadnezzar's eyes are opened to what happens when a person trusts Jehovah to the point of death, if that is what is to take place. Their obedience "changed" the king's command. They were "promoted" as a result of their commitment to follow Jehovah. It is important to note that their commitment was not in talk but in demonstration.

What about us today? Do we have this kind of commitment that we, as the body of Christ, can change the enemy's words? Have we taken the path of least resistance, such as marching or gathering on a corner to pray, yet our lives do not demonstrate that we are a branch connected to Christ Jesus, the Vine? Jesus reveals in John 15 that when we are vitally connected to him, we can ask what we will, and the Father in heaven will answer. Wow, what assurance he gave us.

We can't say we are in him and do not manifest his character. For example, we struggle walking in love, forgiving one another, going to each other to discuss problems, etc. We have found it to be easier - the path of least resistance - to ignore one another and yet say, "We love the Lord." This is unacceptable, and results in us being powerless to deal with the problems at hand.

We seem to want the outward works, without the inward cleansing. I am reminded of Acts 12:5 and 16:16-34, the power and results of the righteous praying in the assembly. Men who worshipped God in the midst of adversity and experienced God move. We can change our city but we must first be changed. Christ must be formed "in" us.

John 14:9 reads: "Jesus saith unto him, 'Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?'" What a challenge this is for us because it is in John 15 that Jesus speaks about abiding in him. We must come to a place in our lives where others see and experience Jesus when they see us.

Are we, the church of the Lord Jesus, manifesting/flourishing in the fruit of the spirit as described in Galatians 5:22-23 and II Peter 2:3-10? Are we speaking to the problems in the name of Jesus and getting results?

We must come to grips with the truth. We must be willing to humble our hearts and do things God's way. With no personal agenda, no arguments or arguing, and no attempt to prove our points. There is only one agenda and it is God's kingdom manifested in a wicked world through an obedient people who refuse to allow self to be in the way.

A flourishing life in Christ constantly asks what does the word of God say and what does it mean? It takes the Holy Spirit to reveal these things and they can only be revealed to a heart that is open and willing to repent and turn to the true God. A flourishing heart is one that is willing to pay the price - regardless of the consequences; regardless of how hot the fire may be.

We can change the king's (the enemy's) words. We can stop the killings and problems in our city and country, but only in God's way. The enemy will experience the fourth man, like unto the son of God.

Ruth Thomas is the founder of Real Life Christian Ministries.

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