“Coals of Fire”

Philippians 1:9 “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in the knowledge and all discernment, so that we may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Jesus Christ.”

I awoke this morning early with the need to get up and read the Word. I lingered because it was my day off and I was enjoying the warmth of two quilts and a blanket, socks and flannel pajamas.

We keep the house cooler so we can bundle up. But the Lord, kept saying, “sit” so I got up but not before I saw a picture of large, red hot, coals. They were glowing in the heat of a fire that had died down. Of course I got up, put a short blanket around me, washed my face quickly and left for the kitchen to find my Bible. I fed Bubba, Sally, Charlie and Rocky and I sat at the den table and with paper and pen, ready to seek the Lord. I knew only one verse about coals of fire. I sat, in His presence, until the rest of the house stirred. The need to be with Him continued and I kept the picture of hot coals in mind all day as I cleaned the house.

Isaiah 6: Isaiah was praying and he saw the Lord high and lifted up and His presence filled the room. He immediately was humbled by the glory of the Lord and he cried out that he was not worthy to be there in His presence. The Lord placed a hot coal on his lips and called him to speak to Israel. When we get into the close presence of the Lord, this is what happens. Some people will put up barriers, or hold back when He is saying to get right. Others may surrender and come close to the Lord through confessing their need for Him and asking forgiveness for apathy, haughtiness, anger, offenses etc.

In Matt. 11 it says, “Come unto Me all ye who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.” In 1 Peter it says, “Cast your burden on the Lord and He will help you.” Too often we come before Him all burdened and we cannot pray effectively because of this heaviness on us. All the burdens belong at His feet. In Luke 3: “I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove his sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire and His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat in to the barn, and He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

The Holy Spirit was given to us to be a counselor, teacher and He convicts of sin and draws us to Jesus. He is God and when you draw close to pray and study, He will teach you and give you wisdom to pray. If you are having trouble reading and praying, ask the Holy Spirit to explain the scriptures to you. Bind every spirit between you and God. Bind self from talking to you, and release the Holy Spirit in your life. Welcome Him to come teach you and to talk to you. If the Lord isn’t talking to you, then ask Him to speak through His Word.

Daniel 6: Last time we talked about the importance of shouting and singing to the Lord. This time we are continuing to talk about the fire. Daniel was set apart to do God’s work, but He had a secular job with King Darius. Daniel had an unusual spirit of wisdom and discernment on him. The king recognized this and promoted him many times. Daniel carried a burden and prayed about it three times a day, within sight of anyone because he knelt in his house with his window open. King Darius planned to promote Daniel again, and put him in charge of the whole kingdom, but interference came suddenly and all hell broken out against him.

Commissioners and satraps tried to find something to accuse Daniel of so his favor would be taken away. When they found no corruption or negligence in him, they made request to the King that no one should petition except to the King for 30 days. Daniel did not stop praying. He kept faithfully praying three times a day for his people to be freed to return to Jerusalem. The consequence for breaking this ban on praying was that Daniel’s name was brought before the king by the same wicked men, who demanded that the king carry through with his edict. The king was distressed and tried to get around this ban, but Daniel’s accusers wouldn’t hear of it. They insisted that Daniel should be punished. The king fought to save Daniel until sunset

Intercessors are often attacked, because Satan doesn’t like God’s people to spend time praying. Daniel was praying for release from captivity. He was serious enough that he fasted frequently and God spoke to him through dreams and visions, and words of wisdom. Nothing bothered faithful Daniel. He loved to pray and converse with God and he did so seriously. As Daniel was thrown into the lions den, the king said, “The God whom you continually serve will Himself deliver you.” A stone sealed the den and the king put his seal on it so that nothing would change regarding Daniel.

Then the king withdrew to his palace and fasted sleep, television, radio, CD’s, and all entertainment. He didn’t eat and I am sure he paced the palace floor. I’m sure this was a long night for the king, but his hope was that the God Daniel was so close to would spare him. Have you been faithfully doing what God wants and found yourself in a lions’ den? All was going fine, until something happened and KABOOM! The adversary to a Christian goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. This was an impossible situation, a formidable one because Daniel would be snapped up by a hungry pack of lions and there would be no more intercession for his people.

Daniel was a winner either way this turned out. He had been faithful and he would have entered heaven immediately upon death to lions, but God sent His angel to protect Daniel and he got a good night’s rest. When we call out to God he hears us before we pray and still listens while we are praying. Daniel was at peace because he had done no wrong. I would like to know what really happened all night for Daniel, but I know he was awake early when the king yelled to him,

“Daniel, IS YOUR GOD WHOM YOU FAITHFULLY SERVE ABLE TO SAVE YOU FROM THE LIONS DEN?”

Daniel was able to yell back, “GOD SENT HIS ANGEL TO SHUT THE LIONS’ MOUTHS AND THEY HAVE NOT HARMED ME BECAUSE I WAS FOUND TO BE INNOCENT BEFORE HIM; AND ALSO TOWARD YOU, O KING, I HAVE COMMITTED NO CRIME.”

Daniel was immediately brought up and no injury was found on him because he had trusted God. His accusers and their families were thrown into the lions’ den and they were overpowered and crushed before they hit the den floor. King Darius then signed a letter decreeing that the entire kingdom must serve the God of Daniel, “For He is the living God, enduring forever, and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, and His dominion will be forever. He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. He is who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”

Have you been in an all night prayer meeting where you were actively praying for God to move in your church, or in a situation? You couldn’t sleep, because God wanted you to pray over someone? God’s people must be disciplined to study and prayer so they are ready for the impossible situation that comes along.

“Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in their midst.”

Hebrews 12 says,” Since we have a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who has endured such hostility, by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.

Have you been zealous for the Lord and lost heart along the way? Have you gotten yourself trapped by the lions and people who are forcing you into a situation that is impossible to get out of? Hebrews 12 says, “It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with us as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. We had earthly fathers who discipline us; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father and live? All discipline for the moment seems not joyful, but sorrowful yet those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.”

So when you trust the living Christ as your Savior, and give your life to Him, he may put you through the lions’ den experience. He will be close enough to shut the lion’s mouths and cause the angels to be around you, protecting you and bringing you full circle to stand before kings and enemies to declare your innocence before God. Jesus is our intercessor our advocate with the Father. He is the one who shed His blood for us and is seated at the Father’s right hand. We are tested so our flesh, our old man, will die so God can use us.

The structure he builds through prayer and the Word causes us to stand in Him, trusting that He who began a good work in us will complete it. Daniel was allowed to serve God a while longer and to pray for His people. J Let’s pray:

Dear heavenly Father,

Thank you for bringing us together to your throne room once again. Thank you for helping me put this letter out. Thank you for your love and care over us when we have been in the lions’ arena. Thank you for protecting and guarding us and for the many times you have delivered us from dangers and situations that arose. You are great and we praise you now for all those hard times, for all those times we called on you and you heard us. Thank you for being close and for so many times sending your angels to protect us. Thank you for leading us, and we come with thankful hearts before you this hour. I bless your wonderful name and magnify you, Lord Jesus. You are omnipotent, the everlasting God, the living God, and I welcome your presence. Speak to our hearts as we have discussed many things in the Word. I pray that you would bring us together in unity to pray, to praise your name and to worship. I pray that you would deal with our attitudes and help us to be sensitive to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our services and his drawing to come before Him. Help us to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for we know our labors are not in vain in the Lord. Help us to be full of wisdom of God. We Love you, Father, and bless your name. In Jesus name we pray, knowing that the weapons of our warfare are mighty in God to the pulling down of strongholds. Bring revival to our congregation, Father. Move Holy Spirit of God as we read your word and as we listen to what you have to say to us. Help us to draw close Lord to your throne with boldness and courage. Bring your church into oneness and unity of the Holy Spirit. Bring your church into revival, Father. Move Holy Spirit of God in bring people to Christ. Help us to be so in touch with you, Lord, that we forget the past hurts and trials. Cleanse us, Father, and bring renewal. I love you, Father. Amen

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For anyone who might live in the Chattanooga and North Georgia area, and be interested in learning more abour our church {Christ Fellowship} please check out our new website:

http://sites.advancedministry.com/ngachristfellowship.

Love,

Ruby