The Triple Medication
2 - Protection by God (3)

What has comforted the three young men before the burning furnace and what was their answer to the king? “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.  If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.” (Daniel 3: 16, 17) as if they were saying: “We are aware that the fire is severe , the furnace is flaming and the king is tough , yet we trust in the power of our Lord and that He will deliver us”. Daniel’s faith and trust in his God was not less that of the three young men, when the king asked him: “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”  Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever!  My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” (Daniel 6: 20-22). What comforts and reassures the believer amid his pains is not only the Divine Birth but also the Divine protection.

You may ask: why I am in fear although I am a believer; don’t I have divine protection around me?, doesn’t God fights for me?; Didn’t God pray for me that my faith would not fail? Isn’t the Divine power for me? Why I am not enjoying it?  No, It’s yours but remember that we obtain this protection by Grace and enjoy it by Faith. “The words of the LORD are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times.” (Psalms 12:6) for that Peter says: “You who are kept by the power of God through Faith” We do not enjoy the blessings of God’s word without believing it and having faith in it. Do you know why God’s word has lost its power with you? Because it is not mixed with Faith. 

Apostle Paul writes in his epistle to the Hebrews saying: “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. (Hebrews 4:2) Who are “them”? They are those who walked with Moses “who received the living oracles to give to us” (Acts 7:38). What was their fate? “But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness” (1 Corinthians 10:5) and: “whose corpses fell in the wilderness” (Hebrews 3:17). Yes they were those who took God’s word but it did not profit them.  I wish this verse of (Hebrews 4:2) could scare us and encourage us also.

God asks: “If you can believe all things are possible to him who believes.” Let our reaction be: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”. (Mark 9:23, 24) and let’s ask from the Lord: “Increase our faith.” (Luke 17:5). When we enjoy Faith then we can experience the certainty of the Divine Protection.

Protection from outside pressures is not everything, this power protects from the inside, preventing also any collapse.  That’s why the Apostle Paul says: “Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12: 8, 9) Which means I might allow Satan to buffet you externally, but I will not protect you from outside only, I will strengthen you internally.