LAYING OUR BODIES ON THE LINE (Daniel 3:16-18)

As a lover of cartoons, I'm drawn to stories of heroes who risk everything to rescue those in harm's way. Often, these heroes are perceived as having superpowers or extraordinary abilities. However, more often than not, they're simply ordinary people who dare to stand up against oppression.

The story of God's rescue of the three Hebrew men - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego - from the fiery furnace is a powerful example of this. When we read this story, it's easy to think, "Lord, make it real." But the truth is, whether we believe it or not, God is constantly on a mission to save us.

We can call Him "Agent God" or any other title that fits the Father who never leaves His own stranded. When we stand up for God, there are times when our actions or words don't seem to make sense, and we're left standing alone, saying, "This is God's way."

Victory often requires drastic measures, and we must be willing to lay our bodies on the line. The enemy's strategy is to make us think that God honors us because we haven't suffered; he did it to Job but the truth is, we can love and choose God not for what He can offer us, but because we trust Him daily.

The story of the three Hebrew men is unique. Their boldness and confidence in responding to King Nebuchadnezzar's demands demonstrate their faith in God's saving power. They believed that God would save them, and even if He didn't, it wasn't important. 

They boldly declared:

"(16-18) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, "Your threat means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up, O king. But even if he doesn't, it wouldn't make a bit of difference, O king. We still wouldn't serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up."

To respect God's supremacy, they laid their bodies on the line, which is an act of worship - a sacrificial act.

I'm willing to lay my body down for my King, not to see if He'll save me, but because I know He will. And even if He doesn't, I still won't care, because I'm ready to be a living sacrifice.

God pulled off the first rescue mission, and King Nebuchadnezzar can attest to that. The question is, are you ready to be a living sacrifice? Are you willing to honor God in every moment you get? God desires true worshippers - will you be one?

Stay Revived!

The Thirst That Only Jesus Can Satisfy

Many of us experience a deep thirst—a longing for more. No matter how much we chase after the things of this world, satisfaction always seems just out of reach. We often crave something, and when we finally get it, we find ourselves thinking, "Is this all there is?"

I remember a time when I really wanted a particular bag. When I finally got it, I felt momentarily happy, but soon after, I realized I wasn't using it. It was just sitting there, like a statue. I had spent so much time desiring it, only to discover that it couldn’t truly satisfy me.

This experience reflects a deeper truth: there is a thirst only Christ can quench, and a hunger that can only be filled when we discover who we truly are in Him.

The Bible warns us in 2 Corinthians 10:12: "When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise." True fulfillment cannot be found in comparison or by chasing after earthly desires. It is found in discovering our true purpose in Christ. When we know our place in God’s plan and live according to it, that is when we find genuine satisfaction.

In John 4:13-15, Jesus offers something far greater than anything the world can give:

“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

In this encounter with the Samaritan woman, Jesus offers a kind of water that satisfies the soul. This water quenches a thirst that nothing on earth can fulfill. The living water Jesus provides is eternal—it’s a promise of fulfillment that never runs dry.

The Samaritan woman at the well had been searching for satisfaction in all the wrong places. She had been with many men, hoping to find something that would fill the emptiness within her, but nothing worked. It wasn’t until she encountered Jesus that she discovered true satisfaction—the kind that endures and can only be found in Him.

Today, I encourage you to reflect on your own life: Are you satisfied with what you have? Is there a hunger for something more? Perhaps you’ve been searching for fulfillment in places where it can’t be found. 

The Bible reminds us in Revelation 3:20: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” When we open our hearts to Him, He offers us the living water that will never run dry, guiding us to our purpose and leading us to the life He has designed for us.

Friend, there is a river that never runs dry. Come, all who are thirsty, and drink deeply, that you may never thirst again.

Jesus is the water of life. When He gives, we are never thirsty again. His satisfaction is eternal, refreshing us from within and leading us to the abundant life He promises.

Stay revived!

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth

It’s a new month, and for many, the phrase "Happy New Month" has become a common greeting, often devoid of true meaning. For others, however, the start of a new month brings with it anticipation and specific expectations for what they want to see and experience.

But what do you want to see this month?

This past Monday at precisely 12:47 AM, I felt a quickening in my spirit while I was still asleep. It was as though I was gently tapped and prompted, "Onos, wake up and start praying immediately." The moment the quickening came, I was fully awake. I hadn’t even realized it was the start of a new month until I began to pray, and then it dawned on me — this was the exact time the Holy Spirit often wakes me up in the middle of the night.

As we enter each new month, let us make it a habit to seek God’s face for the month ahead. God is always ready to set the pace for a new reality in our lives. He desires that we seek Him at the start of every new month. Yes, God does not speak to us based on the calendar months because He exists outside of time, but He relates to us according to the seasons in our lives. When we seek His face and align ourselves with Him, He reveals His thoughts to us and brings His reality into our lives. This is evident in His Word, as spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

Isaiah 43:19 (KJV)
"Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."

God is ready to do a new thing for us in this new month, but we must first seek His face. Seeking His face helps us avoid potential troubles that have yet to unfold. It prepares us and keeps us aligned with God’s will for what the new month holds.

So, when the new month begins, don’t just offer a generic “Happy New Month” to others. Let your greeting come from a place of conviction, grounded in God’s Word. Be vigilant, for our enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. May we not fall into his traps in Jesus' name. Amen.

Stay revived!

More Than Conquerors: Embracing God’s Triumph in Our Lives

The term "more than conquerors" is one that many of us are familiar with, but not everyone truly understands its profound meaning as described in Scripture. God's plan for our lives is for us to live triumphantly. However, this victory is not automatic. While giving our lives to Christ makes us children of God and secures our redemption, we must also come to a place of total reliance on Him to live out our identity as conquerors.

As we walk through daily life, it's easy to become distracted by worries and challenges that make us look or feel insignificant. But we must take a moment to pause, reflect, and search within ourselves. There is untapped potential waiting to be discovered, potential that can only be unlocked when we choose to fully rely on God's plan. We often get caught up in the "normal" routine of life, forgetting that God has promised something far greater. He has a life for us filled with hope, purpose, and anticipation, where we can confidently step into His promises for us.

Romans 8:37 declares, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Long before we fully realized it, God loved us and declared us conquerors. He is a faithful God who desires for us to come into the full realization of our rights and privileges in Him. In doing so, we will come to understand the depth of what He has prepared for those who overcome the world.

In Revelation 3:5 MSG, we are reminded that, “The victorious one will, like them, be dressed in white. I will not blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.” 

This victory, secured by Christ, is not just about overcoming life's challenges; it's about securing our place in the eternal victory parade. When we walk in the power of God’s victory, He celebrates us as overcomers, our names forever etched in the Book of Life.

God rejoices when we overcome, not just as individuals but as His redeemed children. The sacrifice of Jesus was not merely a ceremonial cleansing; it was the redemption of mankind and our introduction to the life He has prepared for us in Him. Through His death, He offers us a life of victory, purpose, and fulfillment.

Perhaps you’ve felt defeated, weary, or stuck. Maybe you've been waiting for a breakthrough that hasn't come yet. Let me remind you that there is a life found in Jesus—a life that introduces us to boundless possibilities. All we need to do is let Him in and allow Him to take the lead in our lives. The victory that Jesus offers is not just a future promise; it is available to us today.

So, take a deep breath, trust in God's plan, and walk confidently as more than a conqueror, because in Christ, we are destined for victory

Stay revived!