"…So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them."

                                                                    -Daniel 3:26-27 (NIV)

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It appears that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were taught fire safety because S.T.O.P.³, D.R.O.P.² and R.O.L.L., proved beneficial to them.

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When learning about fire safety, we have all heard the term, "Stop, Drop, and Roll". This is a technique that we can probably remember being taught in grade school. We were told that if our clothes caught on fire, we were to stop, drop to the ground, and roll. If we reflect on last week's post (FAITH, "FIRES", "PITS", and Survival -Pt. 1) we talked about "fires". Not the kind of "fires" that you may have been given fire safety tips for as a child, but we discussed those "spiritual fires", those trials and tribulations that we might all find ourselves in at one point or another. However, we can still apply the "Stop, Drop, and Roll " technique to our "spiritual fires". Let's Explore:

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Welcome to "Spiritual Fire" Safety 101:

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STOP: Fire safety taught us that the first thing to do if our clothes caught on fire was to stop. Stopping is a means of preventing the flames from spreading. If you move while your clothes are on fire, moving gives air to the fire causing it to burn more. We were taught that moving while one's clothes are on fire can make it harder for the individuals who are trying to put the fire out.

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When we find ourselves in our spiritual fires, we too have to S.T.O.P.³

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STEP 1-S.T.O.P.³ (Stand Tall on Prayer):

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When we find ourselves in those "spiritual fires", before we try to handle them on our own, before we go to a friend or loved one to handle them for us, we must first go to God. We must take all of our cares, worries, and concerns to Him. One of the ways that we can do this is through prayer. Prayer is not only about asking God for something, but it is also a means of thanking God for what He has already done, and for what we are trusting Him to do. Most importantly, it is a means of thanking Him for what we know "HE CAN" do. Prayer allows us to acknowledge what we are facing while seeking God's face to work it out. Through prayer, we can give God all of those things that weigh us down. Praying before we react gives us that much-needed moment of "stopping" that we often times run past in order to address things in a way that makes us feel more in control. Praying before we react allows us to slow down and seek God instead of trying to quickly alleviate the problem. Prayer helps us to shift our focus from the problem to God, realizing that He has a solution for whatever we are facing. In Part 1 of FAITH, "FIRES", "PITS", and Survival, we discussed how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (The Hebrew Boys) walked into a natural fire. Although Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown into the fire, they chose the fire because they believed in their God and would not bow to any god besides their own. I say that they walked into the fire because Nebuchadnezzar gave them another chance to bow down to the golden image, but they still refused although they knew what the consequences were. They were willing to endure the fire for the sake of honoring their God and not bowing or glorifying any other god. They were not focused on the problem but their faith, trust, and ability to overcome was rooted in God.

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Daniel also effectively utilized the "S.T.O.P.³ technique".

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"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before." -Daniel 6:10 (NIV)

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Daniel also found himself in a "fire". Not the same kind as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, but a "roaring fire". Daniel had found favor with King Darius who was going to put him to rule over the entire kingdom. Out of jealousy, some of the other administrators and governors convinced the king to make a decree that anyone who prayed to any other god or human besides the king within a span of thirty days, would be thrown into the lions' den. King Darius favored Daniel and did not realize that Daniel would be affected by this decree. When Daniel found out about this decree, the first thing that he did was pray. Instead of allowing news of the decree to hinder his prayers, he went and prayed to God. Daniel went and gave thanks to God. Many people would have probably changed how they prayed or been afraid to pray at all, but Daniel Stood Tall on Prayer and continued to place his trust in God and not man. In case you are not familiar with the story, what happens is that these men who already knew Daniel would be praying went and reported to the king that Daniel was not acting in accordance with the decree and that he should be thrown into the lions' den. The king did not want to punish Daniel, but his hands were tied as he could not reverse the decree. The king tried to save Daniel, but he couldn't. Therefore, Daniel was thrown into the lions' den. We know that God's hands were on Daniel because the king said unto him, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” The king himself lost sleep over having to put Daniel in the lions' den. However, the next morning the king rushed to the den of lions. And we read as follows:

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          When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, 'Daniel, servant of

          the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the                lions?' Daniel answered, 'May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the                  mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor

          have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty' (Daniel 6:20-22, NIV).

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The king was joyful because of this and had Daniel lifted from the lions' den. The king then ordered for the men who brought the charges against Daniel to be thrown into the lions' den along with all their wives and children.

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Daniel 6:23, in part states, "no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God" (NIV).

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Daniel Stood Tall on Prayer. Daniel trusted in God. And because of his trust in God, God fought for him. God delivered him. And the same ones who tried to cause Daniel harm were thrown into the same trap that they put him in. And if you read this account, even in the midst of trouble, Daniel was still thanking God as he prayed. Daniel did not just Stand Tall On Prayer, but he also Stood Tall On Praise. Often times, as we are facing challenges, we fail to realize that there is always something to thank God for, even amid unfortunate circumstances. Is it easy to do? Of course not! But when we trust God, focus on Him, and ask Him to give us strength, we too can thank Him in the midst of whatever we face. We too can praise Him amid our circumstances.

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Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel all Stood Tall on Promise. They believed in their God. They knew that God would see them through. They knew that their God would protect them. Psalm  9:10 states, "Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you" (NIV). Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel understood that God does not forsake those who place their trust in Him. If we truly meditate on the scriptures that we read in the bible, while God may give each of us a promise that is ours and ours alone, there are those promises that He makes to all of His children, to all of those that believe, trust, and follow Him. God has promised us that He will protect us, fight for us, and that He would not leave neither forsake us. As we face our "fires", "pits", and "lions' den" experiences, we have to hold on to what God has promised us whether it be those personal promises or those that we share as believers in Christ.

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One of the reasons that we are told to "Stop" if our clothes caught fire was to prevent the flames from burning more and to prevent making it difficult for those that are trying to help us put the fire out. When we don't "S.T.O.P³", and we try to handle our "spiritual fires" on our own, we only make them worse. We only cause more damage to ourselves and those that may be connected to us. And most importantly, we make it difficult for God to show us who He is and what He can do. The last thing that you want to do in a "spiritual fire" is to tie God's hands.

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 If you were in a natural fire, would you want someone to tie the hands of the firefighters that came to rescue you? I'll answer for you! "NO", you wouldn't. So, why is it that we tie God's hands as we face our trials and tribulations? Why do we tie God's hands as He tries to bring us out? If a firefighter gave you instructions during a fire, you would follow their command because you realize that they are trained to do what they do. You realize that their job is to rescue you. If we can trust that these men in uniform can do what they are trained to do, then why can't we follow the commands of God when He tries to instruct us during our "fires"? Why do we not give God the same level of trust and respect? How can we trust the firefighters to rescue us, but we can't trust God who not only created the firefighters, but who is the creator of all things, to see us through?

 

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DROP: During this phase we are taught to drop down to the ground and lay flat (cover your face with your hands).

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STEP 2-D.R.O.P.² (Don't Run Over Promise)

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We must realize that when we try to avoid the "fires", "pits" and "lions' dens", when we try to run past them, what we are really doing is running over our promise. In part one, we discussed John 16:33. Within this scripture we are reminded that we all have to face trouble. While we understand that there is trouble that we bring upon ourselves, the trouble that we are going to discuss is the trouble that we don't initiate, the trouble that we don't ask for. The Job, Joseph, Hebrew Boys, and Daniel types of trouble. Those troubles that are tied to "our promise". We are referring to the troubles that God allows us to endure as part of His purpose, in order to fulfill what He has promised us.

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Those "fires", "pits", and "lions' dens" that you have to be placed in to receive what God has promised you are the ones that you can't run past. Sometimes you just want out but you realize that you are too far along to run back, so you try to run past your trial trampling all over "your promise". Stampeding on "your purpose". And then you have the audacity to ask God why is it that everyone else is being blessed besides you. You ask God when your time is going to come, not realizing that God keeps putting you on the receiving line, but you keep taking yourself off of it every time you decide that YOU DON'T WANT TO FACE TROUBLE!

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Even when you're doing everything you're supposed to do, trouble will find you. Jesus had troubles, the disciples had troubles, Moses had a whole lot of "troubles" and "troublemakers". Anyone who wants or expects to receive anything from God at some point is going to get a "How you doing?!" from that thing called "trouble".

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As long as we keep thinking that salvation makes us exempt from trouble, we are going to keep struggling to stand during our adversities, therefore, pushing ourselves further and further from receiving what God has promised us. Don't Run Over your Promise or your Purpose!

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Does it sometimes feel like the things that we have to go through are unfair? Absolutely. Let's be real, nothing about this discussion is saying that we are supposed to like our adversities. Nothing about this discussion is saying that we are supposed to fall in love with our trials and act like things don't hurt us. This discussion is just helping us all to understand that some of our troubles are not a choice. But even with that being so, we can choose to trust God to help us to overcome them. This discussion is something for us to reflect on, helping us to realize and accept that anybody that God has a plan and purpose for, is going to face some trouble. We cannot avoid it.

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Now does that mean that every single thing that God blesses us with will always be attached to trouble. No! God gives us grace, mercy, and favor, so there are many moments in which God will bless us with things not because of who we are but because of who He is. But at other times, there will be things that we are going to have to endure in order to get what we have been praying, "faithing", and believing God for. Receiving those promises are going to cause some opposition. Fulfilling God's purpose is going to cause some opposition. BUT WE MUST STAND FIRM!

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ROLL: We are taught to keep our face covered and roll back and forth until the flames are smothered (some manuals instruct to roll over and over or back and forth). During this step we may have also been instructed not to worry about the surface that we're on, just roll.

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STEP 3-R.O.L.L. (Remember Our Lord Leads)

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Before we fully expound on Step 3, let's quickly refer back to the action of "dropping". During "Drop", we are told to cover our face. Some manuals state that we should cover our eyes and our mouth. Some manuals even emphasize the "Cover" technique as a separate action after dropping as a means of stressing the importance of it. The reason that I am bringing this to your attention is because it is pivotal to what happens next. Understand that when we have Stood Tall on Prayer, Praise, and Promise, and when we have dropped as a means of not Running Over our Promise and our Purpose, this places a covering over us. When we do what we're supposed to do, God acknowledges it. And once we can truly acknowledge that God is in the midst of our circumstances (when we can see Him in the details), when we can hold on to the fact that God's hands cover us, this protects not our face, but it protects our "faith" and allows us to R.O.L.L. This causes us to Remember that it is Our Lord that Leads, which means that we recognize that our God is in control.

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After Nebuchadnezzar gave The Hebrew Boys a second chance to worship the golden image, he stated, "But 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 3:15, NIV). The Hebrew Boys boldly told Nebuchadnezzar that they had no need to defend themselves in that matter. In essence what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were saying to Nebuchadnezzar was "Our God can show you better than we can tell you." They did not see the need to argue back with Nebuchadnezzar or prove anything to him because they knew who was in control.​ Not only were they not going to bow to the golden image, but they were not going to bow to Nebuchadnezzar or plead for their lives because they knew that their lives were in God's hands.

 

Something caught my attention in Daniel 3:17 that I absolutely loved. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said, "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" (NIV).​ 

 

The word "IF".  Really reflect on that word.

 

Nebuchadnezzar did not say you "might be thrown" into the fiery furnace. Nebuchadnezzar stated that if they did not bow, they would "immediately" be thrown into the fiery furnace (NIV). The King James versions states, "ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace" (Daniel 3:15). Nebuchadnezzar was saying, this is what is going to definitely happen, and The Hebrew Boys' reply was still, "If". "If" it happens.

 

We can infer from this that they gave Nebuchadnezzar no power over God although Nebuchadnezzar had earthly authority. Their saying "If" after he had given them a definite, shows us that they were not limiting God. They knew that if God wanted to, He could save them from having to go into the fire. They knew that God could save them while in the fire. And they knew that if God didn't save them from the fire, that He still had the ability to do so.

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In Part 1 of FAITH, "FIRES", "PITS", and Survival, we expounded on the story of Joseph. Joseph could have placed the blame on his brothers for all of the bad things that had happened to him as a result of their throwing him into a pit and then selling him. But Joseph instead chose to acknowledge God. Joseph understood that God was in control and that God was responsible for everything that he had to endure. Joseph realized that it was God who was orchestrating the events of his life and he credited Him for such.

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Daniel also knew and understood that God was in control. When King Darius went to check on Daniel in the lions' den, Daniel told him that he was found innocent in God's sight. Daniel knew that he had done nothing wrong. Daniel also knew that he had done nothing wrong toward the king. Daniel did not stop praying, worshipping, or praising God even amidst tribulation. And the scriptures make a point to emphasize that Daniel survived the lions' den because he trusted in God.

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Another important lesson that we take from the R.O.L.L. technique, is that just as we are taught not to worry about the surface that we fall on because our job is to roll to smother the fire. Our "spiritual fires" are no different. No matter where you fall, no matter the situation, no matter who is trying to harm you, no matter where you are when the trial starts, just ROLL. Just REMEMBER OUR LORD LEADS. Our God is in Control. Remember that God is covering you.

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You don't have to respond to your enemies. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not argue with Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel did not argue with King Darius. Joseph did not argue with Potiphar. When you know who God is and you truly believe that He is who He says He is, you realize that He can respond to your enemies better than you can. Responding to your enemies in your way only puts you in the line of fire that God plans to put them in.

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What Can We Learn?:

 

What is so interesting in all three of these stories, The Hebrew Boys, Daniel, and Joseph, is that none of them had done anything wrong to end up in the situations that they were in. If you really think about it, they all had haters.

 

A group of Chaldeans went to Nebuchadnezzar to tell him that The Hebrew Boys were not worshipping the golden image that he had set up which had them thrown into the fiery furnace.

 

The administrators and governors were jealous of Daniel, so they went to the King Darius to make claims against him which had him thrown into the lions' den.

 

Joseph's brothers were jealous of him, so they threw him into a pit and then sold him. And then Potiphar's wife lied on him because he would not give in to her attempt to seduce him, and he wound up in prison.

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However, ALL of their enemies were either destroyed or humbled. The guards who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace were killed while taking them into it. The men who falsely accused Daniel was placed in the lions' den along with their wives and children. Joseph's brothers had to beg for mercy and bow down to him because they needed him in order to survive the famine.

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Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel, and Joseph were all promoted after they endured. The Hebrew Boys were promoted in the province of Babylon. The scriptures state that not only did Daniel prosper during the reign of King Darius but also during the reign of Cyrus the Persian. Joseph was appointed ruler of all of Egypt.

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And of most significance is the fact that God was glorified and reverenced by people who worshipped other gods.

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In the case of the Hebrew Boys examine the following passage:

            Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,                    who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! 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. Therefore, I decree that the people of any nation or language who              say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and                  their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way

(Daniel 3:28-29, NIV).​

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In the case of Daniel read the following passage:

Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:

“May you prosper greatly! “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

(Daniel 6:25-27, NIV).

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Pharoah saw fit to bless Joseph's entire family.

​As it concerns Joseph explore the following passage:

When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’ “You are also directed to tell them,

‘Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.’”

(Genesis 45:16-20, NIV).

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God had a plan and a purpose for all that they endured. For that "fire", "lions' den", and "pit", God rewarded them all. They stood on God's words. They did not depend on their own power to get them out of their situations, but they focused on God. They did not depend on anyone else to bring them out, but they depended on God. What we must realize is that when we trust God even when it hurts, even when it feels like we can't catch a break, and even when we may not have the strength to do so, He fights for us. We do not have to worry about trouble caused by those who hate on us because God is in control. Our enemies can't put their hands on us because we are covered by God. Think about all the times that God protected us even when we didn't do right. If God kept us prior to our salvation, if He still kept us during those times when we may have fallen short, or even in those moments when our faith might have wavered, imagine what He will do when we put our complete trust in Him.

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When we have to go through the "fire" if we put our trust in God, He will make us "fireproof". 

 

When we've been thrown into the "lions' den" and we put our trust in Him, "He will shut the lions' mouths".

 

When we are thrown into the "pit", if we put our trust in God, He will not just save and promote us, but "He can give us an Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob kind of blessing" that will cause even our families to be blessed because of the sacrifice that we made when we decided to put our trust in Him and Him alone. Pharaoh did not just offer Joseph's family the "best of Egypt", but he put a command on it. Pharaoh commanded Joseph to tell his entire family to come and leave their belongings behind. That same brother that they threw into a pit had become their lifeline. Even when you are hurt by those that you love, you still have to give it to God. Put it in His hands. There is nothing that God won't do for those who put their complete trust in Him.

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While we may not use the Stop, Drop, and Roll technique until we are placed in a natural fire, S.T.O.P.³, D.R.O.P.² and R.O.L.L. can be applied to our everyday lives. Regardless of whether you find yourself in a "fire", a "pit", or in the "lions' den",  just simply S.T.O.P.³, D.R.O.P.²  and R.O.L.L..

Stand Tall on Prayer, Praise, and Promise. Don't Run Over Promise (or Purpose). Remember Our Lord Leads. And WATCH God bring you out!