Welcoming the Holy Spirit Stephen Seamands cracks open the mysteries of the
Holy Spirit.
A charge to keepStanley R. Copeland testfies to the peaceful witness of Bill Hinson.
Ruth Graham: The X-factor Terry Mattingly pays tribute to Ruth Bell Graham.
Darwin & Damascus: Forks in the road to enlightenmentElizabeth Glass maps out a response to the latest
prophets of atheism.
Pithy and persuasive: G.K. Chesterton’s writing still inspires Mary
Jacobs welcomes the colorful Catholic to the table.
Einstein’s search for God Steve Beard gives voice to the relativity
and religion of a genius.
God’s school of prayer Margaret Therkelsen reveals the Spirit’s tutorials in life-changing prayer.
COLUMNS
Next Generation Systemic thinking: Youth ministry as wind chime
RENEW Women’s Network Reclaiming the Wesleyan social witness: Offering
Christ
The Great Commission Hope for a recovering suburbanite
From the Heart The rest of the story
Annual conferences focus on starting new churches
Holsinger faces challenges on United Methodist involvement
Good News board has conversation with Bishops Jones and Dyck
Worldwide Methodism grows by one million per year
Culture in View
Amazing Grace
Here's a riddle for you. What do hungry lions, hot fires, and wet wood have in common? The answer? God's touch of power.
No doubt you've seen a plaque on some church wall with the following message: "When God does something wonderful, he starts with a difficulty. When he performs a miracle, he begins with an impossibility." It's as if God cranks up the challenge factor just to demonstrate his power. Hungry lions, hot fires, and wet wood are all impossibilities. Consider each of them with me.
Goaded by unsavory officials, King Darius made an irrevocable decree that no one could pray to anyone but him for thirty days. However, Daniel paid no attention. He still prayed three times a day to his God, in front of a window, no less. The punishment? A lion's den. The final report offers these details. "When Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God" (Daniel 6:22).
It gets a person wondering. Maybe the lions were tame, familiar with human contact. Perhaps their roar was ferocious but they had no bite. Maybe they had no teeth. But we know from the rest of the story that when Daniel's accusers and their families were thrown to the same lions, they were eaten "before they reached the floor of the den. The lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones" (Daniel 6:24).
It would be wise for us to come to the same conclusion that the Persian king, Darius, reached. "People must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever. He rescues and he saves" (Daniel 6:26-27).
In chapter three of Daniel's book, we are reminded of another chronicle. Because Daniel's three pals, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not bow down to the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar fashioned in his own likeness, they were sentenced to the fiery furnace. But the three Hebrew boys made a clear statement of faith. "The God we serve is able to save us.and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" (Daniel 3:17-18).
In his fury, the great Nebuchadnezzar lashed back with the order that "the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual" (Daniel 3:19). The trio was tied up and escorted into the blazing inferno, but only the accompanying soldiers were killed. What's the rest of the story?
There were four men observed in the flames. They were unbound and unharmed. Daniel 3:27 reports that "the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them."
It would be wise for us to come to the same conclusion as the arrogant king. "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. No other god can save in this way" (Daniel 3:28-29).
Just one more example. Elijah taunted: "Call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire-he is God" (1 Kings 18:24). So, the priests of Baal called. They shouted. They danced. They shouted louder. They slashed themselves. They frantically prophesied. But no answer came.
Elijah made sure only God would get the credit for this miracle. He arranged the wood, cut the bull, laid it on the altar and then.took four large jars of water and poured it on the wood. He did it again. And again. And he "stepped forward and prayed: 'O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O Lord, answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again" (1 Kings 18:36-37).
The rest of the story? The fire fell! The sacrifice burned and all the water was consumed. The people "fell prostrate and cried, 'The Lord-he is God! The Lord-he is God" (1 Kings 18:39).
So, I ask you, what "lions" are trying to devour you? God's power can rest on you if you ask him for help. He can shut dangerous mouths that roar. When you are weak, he is strong (see 2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
What inferno intends to consume your dreams and scorch your heart? "When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze" (Isaiah 43:2).
Are there strongholds of ungodliness that threaten your ministry and your very life? God has "divine power to demolish strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:4).
What is the rest of the story? "What is impossible with men is possible with God" (Luke 18:27).
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