If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. Daniel 3:17-18
If you’ve been a Christian for awhile then you know the story of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, but their Hebrew names were only used three times and we all tend to use their new Babylonian names Shadrach, Mishach, and Abednego. But we don’t usually remember that Daniel was given a new Babylonian name as well … Belteshazzar. What didn’t change for these four men was their commitment to God, even in the face of certain death. Daniel faced the lions den. The other three faced a furnace so hot it even burned up those throwing the three into it. (vs 22)
We know that God miraculously spared all four men from their death sentences which were attempted on them. Will that always happen? No. But if His plan has more for you to do then He will make a way for you to continue … for awhile. Like Peter in prison — being unshackled and walked straight out of the prison by an angel. Or Paul and Silas experiencing an earthquake which freed them, and them bringing the jailor and family to salvation in Jesus. Obviously Paul had quite a few times he should have not survived… but God had more plans for him. Yet both Peter and Paul were killed / martyred by Nero. Their time and race were done, and they got to graduate to His heavenly kingdom. Did they submit or comply? NO! Neither did Daniel or Hannaiah, Mishael, or Azariah when asked to worship at the feet of another. They all stood firm before certain death, knowing their reward was certain no matter what would happen to them.
This actually is the testimony of the TC2 commitment. As it really should be the testimony of the Christian faith, but the term Christian has been so bastardized by the enemy, it no longer holds it’s original meaning for 99.9% of those that use the term / label. The label isn’t important but the commitment is. Even the symbolic act of water baptism has lost it’s meaning for most, and they don’t really understand that it means … their death when going under the water. And then rising from the water meant a ‘new’ life — which is Jesus Christ’s life. The water baptism was a symbol that their lives were no longer their own. That’s all water baptism is about. The REAL baptism is into the Body of Christ, which the thief on the cross next to Jesus experienced. Then the baptism with the Holy Spirit by Jesus Christ to those who really become His is the event in which the person becomes indwelled by the Holy Spirit making their body His Temple. Most of the institutional religious system no longer really teach these things in detail. Or explain to the individuals what it all means, but just put them through the religious ordinances as a way of identifying them as ‘members’. Certainly they won’t explain how to have a deep relationship with the Holy Spirit. Why? Because it would possibly mean they would lose control over them. And the ‘sin in the camp’ would be exposed. The Holy Spirit ALWAYS exposes the sin. God cannot cohabit with sin. That’s why the main message of every real prophet is … REPENT! This is the reason that the prophetic gift has been so shunned from the organized institutional Church.
We are actually are in a time where many believers in Jesus are experiencing the same type of trials that Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah, Peter, Paul, and the rest of the apostles were put through. We have brothers and sisters in Christ in Africa, Iran, Iraq, China, and North Korea — who face these trials everyday. Are you mature enough in Him to face them too? If He would ask you to? Those who understand the TC2 message have already thought through those kind of scenarios that they may face one day, and STILL decide to ‘follow Him’. Is the American Church supposed to avoid these trials and judgment for it’s sin? Could that type of persecution arrive BEFORE the Lord whisks people away to heaven without any pain or suffering? Where is that scripturally? So many have been taught that God would never put them through any type of suffering or pain. It has made most of the American Church …weak, and spineless. They make the American Church a cruise ship / a social country club of fat babies, who never advance past the third grade spiritually.
What is your commitment? Have you steeled your mind and heart to serve Him no matter what? No matter what anyone else says about you? What is the Holy Spirit preparing you for? What everyday lessons is He bringing to you specifically .. so that you will grow spiritually mature in Him?
The time is to arise and stand your ground is now …with the power and direction of the Holy Spirit which dwells within you. What is He asking you to stand for? Know it deep within you — to the level that those heroes of the faith did.
Terminally Committed To Christ / TC2