Men Of Conviction

What made them stand up for God like that?

(1) THEY HAD GOD’S WORD. They were familiar with the law of Moses. They had godly parents who had instilled in them a love of God’s word and a love of doing right and obeying God.

(2) THEY HAD EACH OTHER. Do not underestimate the strength we draw from our Christian friends. It’s not so hard to believe that these three friends found strength and comfort in numbers.

(3) THEY HAD AN EXAMPLE. It was Daniel who first led the others in defying the godless ordinances of Babylon. (Look at Daniel 1:8-15) Their friend Daniel proved in the den of lions that God and anyone is a majority.

(4) THEY HAD FAITH. Look at Daniel 3:16-18, we read, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”

Their faith in the Lord was the foundation of their confidence, and it wasn’t rooted in worldly pride or personal accomplishment.

Conclusion:

SO WHAT HAPPENED? (Read verses 19-30)

They didn’t even smell like smoke!!!! I can’t even leave the bowling alley without smelling like smoke, but God’s protection was so thorough, so complete, that not only was there no singe on them, but they didn’t even smell like smoke. What a God we serve! One of the great needs of the church today is to have men and women with convictions based on the Word of God.

We have looked at:

I. THE COMMAND

II. THE CONVICTION