Faith In The Tight Corner- Pastor Michael Oke

FAITH IN THE TIGHT CORNER

Text: Rev 2:10

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

OPENING MESSAGE:
The Four ways of escape when you find yourself in a tight corner.
Do not Fear.
1. Satan may invoke fear in you because he knows that the easiest way to lose your confidence in God is through fear.
1. 2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Do not imagine the Intensity of the Suffering.
1. Satan knows that if you imagine the density of the suffering, you can quickly decide to compromise.
1. Mat 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Accept the Dark time Joyfully without a Complaint.
1. Satan knows that if you refuse to accept your period of trial, you may not get the light to overcome it.
1. Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
Choose Faith even if it may lead to Death.
1. If you choose faith, and it leads to death, you will receive the crown of life. But if you choose not faith, it will still lead to death, however, the end will be eternal perdition.
1. Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

THE ANALYSIS OF HOW FAITH DELIVERED THE THREE HEBREW MEN IN THE TIGHT CORNER. Dan 3: 1-30
The analyses are highlighted as follows:
When it was time to test their faith in God, an unfavorable decree was declared. Dan 3:1-7
As a child of God, do not expect all decisions to favor you because some decisions might be to test your faith in God.
When it was time to prove their uprightness in God, they were accused and reported. Dan 3: 7-12
- As a Christian, when you are accused or misreported, that is the time to test your reactions – your reactions will determine the level of your faith.
When it was time to declare whom they believed publicly, the king invited them for a face-to-face defense. Dan 3:13-18
- In some cases, a face-to-face defense is a high degree of fire that requires a high degree of faith to prevail.
- Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
When it was time to paralyze their faith, the king became furious at them. Dan 3:19-22
- In most cases, many people deny faith when the king is angry with them. This is a time when you need faith to overcome fire.
- Faith will teach you not to respond to anger with anger. √
- Eccl 10:4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
- If you compromise faith to get the favor of a ruler, your salvation may be lost.
Before God steeped into the matter, He allowed the king to do his worst. Dan 3:23-24
- In some trials, you might not see God’s intervention at the beginning, but He is in all acts.
- At times, God may be silent. The silence of God is a message!
When it was time for God to reward their faith (the three Hebrew men), He turned the king’s commands worthless. Dan 3:25-27
When you apply faith to overcome fire the words of the proud will turn into foolishness.
- Indeed, there could be fire, but the bush would not be consumed.
- Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
When the three Hebrew men passed the test, God took the glory. Dan 3:28-30
- How do I know?
- In verse 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
- The king saw Jesus in the fire with three Hebrew men.
- Jesus did not set them loose before they were cast into the fire.
- But He was waiting for them in the fire.
- They were let loose in the fire. They were seen walking in the fire, and they came out unburned.
- As a child of God, whatever you may be going through if you can apply faith in God, it is going to bring glory to His name.
- Faith….. in….. the…..face…..of….. fire!