Free In the Furnace! (PART 1)

Hey friends! It's been awhile BUT this is TOO good not to share!

This message has been on my heart for over 5 years and the other day at church I had the privilege of sharing it. This word has been tattooed on my heart and so I thought what better way to make it a permanent artefact to look back on than to post it on Wonder In The Whispers - which essentially is an extension of my heart. This is just PART 1 of the message, PART 2 will be coming soon!

Daniel Chapter 1 Now here's some context King Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem and took some Israelites as captives back to Babylon. Of the Israelites were Daniel and some of his friends. Daniel and his friends began a process of enculturation ordered by King Nebuchadnezzar that threatened to keep them captive and change them into a Babylonian way of life while effectively neutralising their identity as the Lord's holy people.

Enculturation: Enculturation is the process by which people learn the dynamics of their surrounding culture and acquire values and norms appropriate or necessary to that culture and its worldviews

We see this is Daniel 1 3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. 4 “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are

suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.” 5 The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service. 6 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. 7 The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego.

This change in names is quite significant as names in the bible times not only signified one’s identity and heritage but in the case of these particular names, also one’s religious beliefs. So all three of the original names of these Jewish men contain references to God such as “God is gracious” in the case of Hananiah, “Who is like God?” in the case of Mishael, and “God keeps him” in the case of Azariah. These references to the God of Israel have now been substituted with references to the Babylonian gods, such as Nebo — Abednego means “servant of Nego.” They were taken to a land called Babylon - which essentially was a symbol of defiant human pride, Babylon takes its name from Babel and was most likely the location of the tower of Babel, and we see in Genesis 11:1-9, that there was an attempt by humanity to construct their own identity apart from the Creator. Another word I like to refer to Babylon as is Bondage. Now as mentioned before, Daniel and his friends were part of a process of enculturation where they were trained: Here is what the training process looked like

1. Their names changed

2. Education changed 3. Eating habits changed

In this place of Bondage, these were the requirements Similar to these 4 men, we can also find ourselves in a place of Babylon - a place of bondage Bondage we might be caught up could be the following: ● Past ● Future ● Relationship

● Addiction

● Mindset

Here is what happens in this place of bondage, similar to what happened to Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and Daniel

1. Our name changes (Our identity changes) We start to see ourselves through a different lens, it's no longer - I failed in that area, but now, I AM A FAILURE. It’s no longer, that I feel anxious, it becomes I AM AN ANXIOUS PERSON, it's no longer I made a mistake it becomes I AM A MISTAKE We become our bondage. When we are stuck in bondage in a relationship, mindset, the past or an addiction the way we see ourselves starts to change.

When I first failed my driver's test, it took a huge knock on my self-confidence and then when I failed another 3 times I genuinely thought I was a failure. I began to label myself as a failure and genuinely BELIEVED that I would never succeed. I believed that guys! Whilst I was serving in church, spending time with God, and leading my connect group girls I believed that I was a failure and would NEVER amount to anything. Failing became my identity and I carried a weight far too great. I didn't feel worthy or capable. This no longer was an event that occurred, it became my identity. How often do we allow the events of our lives to become our identity? Getting my license was no longer a physical battle, it became a spiritual battle where I had to dig myself out of self-pity, victimisation and blaming those around me. Maybe right now you've been struggling with something in the physical, or maybe you've been struggling for years, can I encourage you - the fight for your identity is not a physical fight, this is a spiritual fight. Go back to your creator and allow him to wash you with HIS truth!

2. Our Education changes (what we listen to, take in and start to BELIEVE about ourselves changes) We become brainwashed in our bondage, washing our thoughts in non-truths. When I was in high school, I was a bit of a loner, I struggled to make friends and kind of felt out of place and one day I was scrolling on Instagram and I saw a thread called ‘Signs you have social anxiety’ and immediately I began to relate. Oh my gosh, this is exactly me. Someone understands me! Every night before I went to bed I would scroll on Instagram for hours, watch YouTube videos, look at articles and begin to self-diagnose myself with anxiety. I was feeding my brain this lie. When we feed our brains this lie, we start to believe it. What have you taught yourself that isn't true or doesn't align with God's word?

3. Our eating habits change (what we consume and ingest changes) Daniel and his friends were going to receive food from the King's kitchen that was going to defile them. Where are you receiving your food from? When we are in a place of bondage, often what we consume is not true or even sustainable! Let's take a look at our eating habits:

(7 x week) Breakfast: Tiktok

(7 x week) Light afternoon snack: Instagram

(7 x week) Lunch: Youtube,

(7 x week) Dinner: Binge-watching series

(1 x week)Desert: Church on a Sunday

This diet is not sustainable or even nutritious. How are we supposed to remain strong in our faith when we are only consuming what the world has to offer? I say this because this is often what my life looks like and I can tell you, its not sustainable.

Jesus has better for us and he doesn't want us to live in a place of bondage. He paid a price far too high for us to be bound by lies. My heart breaks just thinking of how long I was stuck in a place of bondage. Thankfully God redeems and he restores and he wants that for you too. Take a moment and spend some time with Jesus and allow him to wash you with his truth. Here's a beautiful song to declare!

https://open.spotify.com/track/2hvpCFzLL9fys50k7v7tDf?si=ba07c5383e6b48a0

I hope you feel challenged, inspired and encouraged!

Part 2 is coming soon!