THE POWER OF FAITH

Faith is that which enables people or man to do the impossible. In the 11th Chapter of the book of Hebrews we read about what faith is and how faith was applied in the old covenant by men of old to come out of trouble.
Even though faith was defined or made clearer in the New Testament, it had been there right from the old, and anything about the entire Christian race hovers around faith and works by faith.
Thus we hear of people doing everything that was humanly speaking – difficult or impossible– by faith, in that chapter.
David, 1 Sam.17 was one of those mentioned here, and through faith he subdued kingdoms (Heb.11:32-33) Then in verse 34 we read:
34 "Quenched the violence of fire…"
The beautiful story of how faith can be used to come out of trouble includes to quench the violence of fire, this is clearly written in the Book of Daniel Chapter 3, where the three Hebrew children – Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego demonstrated an unshakable faith in a God that cannot fail and by so doing conquered or quenched the violence of raging fire.
Israel was at that time captured and indeed in captivity in Babylon, and the Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar had made a golden image which he claimed was now God, and had instructed that everyone in his kingdom was to bow at the sound of instruments to this idol that he had made. He further instructed that whosoever would not bow down at the sound of music was to be thrown into a burning fiery furnace which he had prepared – Dan 3:4 – 6.
4 "Then an herald cried out aloud, to you it is commanded, O people, nations and languages".
5 "that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer; and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up"
6 "And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace".
This single decree spelt trouble for the Jews, but especially for those who were committed in their service to the God of heaven, because this God of heaven is the only true God, and will never share His glory with the gods of the heathen which were objects of creation. Amongst these Hebrews were Shadrack Meshack and Abednego, who were not willing to share their worship of God Almighty with Nebuchadnezzar's god of gold. And so in Daniel Chapter 3 verse 12, we read of a reporting of these Jews to Nebuchadnezzar because of their refusal to bow down to his god.
12 "There are certain Jews, whom thou has set over the affairs of the province of Babylon Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego; these men O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou has set up".
The King who was ignorant of the ways of God Almighty, became very angry and ordered that they bring Shadrack Meshack and Abednego to him, to come and explain themselves. He actually told them to get ready to bow down to his golden image or be cast into the fire as you can read from verses 14-15.