FIREWALKERS
Daniel 3.1-30
S: Commitment
Th: Choose the Fire
Pr: BOLDLY CHOOSE GOD OVER ALL COMPETITORS.
?: Why?
KW: Reasons
TS: We will find in our study of Daniel 3 three reasons why we are to choose God.
Type: Propositional
The ____ reason is for…
I. CONSCIENCE’S SAKE
II. TESTIMONY’S SAKE
III. HEAVEN’S SAKE
PA: How is the change to be observed?
• Don’t compromise your beliefs.
• Make a stand.
• Trust God over man.
Version: ESV
RMBC 20 April 08 AM
INTRODUCTION:
How are you at making a choice?
ILL Personal
In our marriage, Dondra likes to take some time before making a choice.
Like when we bought our dishwasher.
After three weeks of looking at dishwashers, she finally narrowed it down to two.
Fortunately, the two models were at the same store.
So she finally brought me along, because up to this point of time, I wisely stayed out of it.
We looked at the first.
She showed me all the features.
Then we looked at the second.
Again, she showed me all the features.
Then asked me what one I liked better.
So I picked one.
Then she proceeded to tell me all the reasons why we should pick the other.
So I wisely said, “OK, let’s get that one then.”
Then she told me all the reasons why we should take the one I chose in the first place.
And as you can imagine, my eyes rolled.
This was not going to be as simple as I hoped.
Making choices can be tough.
Some of us like to make them quick, and move on to other things.
Some of us like to be more thorough, and be sure it is the right choice.
Regardless of these differences, I wonder if we can be like the main characters in today’s narrative?
For…
1. Are you able to choose the fire (4-6)?
In Daniel 3, we find this proclamation:
And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.”
We are not sure what this image looked like.
It may have been of Nebuchadnezzar or something that represented the spirit or religion of Babylon.
Even though we don’t know what it looked like, we do know this.
It was huge.
It was massive.
You could not miss it.
And everyone was supposed to bow down.
Everyone.
And for those that refused – the lunatic fringe – it was fire.
You choose to obey Nebuchadnezzar, or you choose the fire.
Now, I think it may very well have been that Nebuchadnezzar did not expect there to be any opposition.
It would have been crazy.
After all, worshipping the huge statue would have put everyone on the same page.
It would bring unity to their nation.
Who didn’t want that?
But for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, a line is drawn in the sand.
For them, there is a choice.
They can either obey Nebuchadnezzar or obey God.
They can choose to worship the idol or choose the fire.
Those are their choices.
There is not a third choice, though I am sure they wished there was.
They know that they cannot bow down.
They cannot.
That leaves fire.
And we know what they do.
They…
2. BOLDLY CHOOSE GOD OVER ALL COMPETITORS.
And that is our challenge as well.
Do you choose God over all the competitors?
Think for a moment…
What in your life is competing with God?
What is demanding your attention and distracting you from having a relationship with Him?
What is diverting your mind away from God?
Could it be sports…or cars…or hobbies…or prestige…or success…or music…or knowledge…or a pristine lawn…or an immaculate house…or another person?
Well the list could go on, could it not?
And it is not that any of these things are bad in and of themselves.
But they can become competitors with God when they occupy our full attention.
A line gets drawn in the sand.
And there are two ways to go.
Will you choose God?
Will you boldly choose Him, even if it is an unpopular decision?
Will you boldly choose Him, even if it is a socially unacceptable position?
Will you boldly choose Him, even if it brings caustic remarks from family and so-called friends?
You see, that is the example of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
So…
3. We will find in our study of Daniel 3 three reasons why we are to boldly choose God.
OUR STUDY:
The first reason is for…
I. CONSCIENCE’S SAKE
You see…
4. Morality is written on our hearts (12).
In this text, some of the Babylonian leaders are speaking to Nebuchadnezzar…
“There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
It is clear that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were not liked by some, because they were very willing to tell on them.
Perhaps they did not like the fact that these certain Jews had positions of authority, and they had just been waiting for them to make a wrong move.
But for these three, it was not the wrong move.
They could not compromise their belief in God for the sake of Nebuchadnezzar.
It was a matter of conscience.
They knew it was wrong…period.
It was on their heart.
They knew the difference between right and wrong.
They were going to choose right.
So these three men stood tall in the face of…
5. “Everybody is doing it!”
When we were kids, we always said that to our parents didn’t we?
“Everybody’s doing it!”
And our parents said to us, “If everyone is jumping off a bridge, would you jump off too?”
But here is the problem.
Everybody is doing it.
Everybody is bowing down to this statue.
When Nebuchadnezzar finds out it is these three, he is shocked.
He gives them a second chance.
“Look, everybody is doing it!”
“If you don’t, there is fire waiting for you.”
But Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are undeterred.
Are you like that?
Do you stand up for God like that?
Is it your determination that you will not sacrifice the truth of God on the altar of expediency?
You see…
True faith isn’t frightened by threats.
True faith isn’t impressed by what the crowds are doing.
True faith isn’t even swayed by the authority of kings.
We stand for what is right.
We do not compromise.
The second reason is for…
II. TESTIMONY’S SAKE
6. It is always God first and God only (16-18).
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Are you like these three?
What a testimony they serve up to Nebuchadnezzar.
They are for God alone.
He is first.
There are no competitors.
They are for God only.
Worship is exclusive for Him.
This is their testimony.
And because of that…
7. Times of adversity are opportunities.
Their attitude was respectful.
Their words were few.
Their words were carefully chosen.
And what did they choose?
They chose the fire.
If you are like me, I am in awe of these guys.
Because…
I don’t want the pain.
I don’t want to be singled out.
I don’t want the shame.
I don’t want the conflict.
I don’t want to burn.
But this is what they choose.
And Nebuchadnezzar, full of rage and hate, was blind to the truth.
There was no escape.
There was no rescue.
He says, “No one can save you now.”
Death is certain.
For Shadrach, Meshach and Abenego, it is all right, because they are choosing the fire for…
III. HEAVEN’S SAKE
8. Faith makes no bargains with God.
Do you note what these guys did not do?
They did not bargain with God.
They did not pray as I so often did when I was young in my relationship with the Lord, “O Lord, if you just get me out of this, then I will never do that sin again, I will go to church all my life and I will serve you forever.”
Did you ever pray a prayer like that?
Instead, they simply trusted God for the outcome, whatever the outcome might be.
What a scene that must have been…
As they approach the furnace door…
…the intensity of the heat.
…the flames pouring out the door as it opened.
They are thrown in…and met by another, already in the fire...the Lord of fire!
And they become firewalkers.
They are walking about as in a palace, not a furnace.
They are able to do this because of the way they thought and acted.
They were thinking bigger.
And so, we too…
9. We must learn to think and act eternally (24-25).
Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
Nebuchadnezzar thought he had the last word and no one would be able to save them, but he was wrong!
God saved Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and we should not be surprised.
God is in the salvation business.
Jesus is in the deliverance business.
Whatever difficulty you are facing today, know this…we serve and worship the same God.
God is still on His throne today.
You may find yourself in a fire, but rescued, not because you are great, but because God is.
CHALLENGE:
I don’t know about you, but I know that I can be real good with the excuses (please don’t hold that against me).
How about you?
Are you good with them as well?
When you know you are being asked to do something that is contrary to your faith, do you just go along with the crowd?
Do you think, “Oh, it won’t hurt if I do it just this one time”?
Do you just go through the motions, hoping that God will know the intentions of your heart?
Perhaps on the job, you rationalize it by thinking that God put you in this position, and if you don’t, evil men will take your place?
I know that at the very least, I have been tempted by those excuses.
But let me encourage you today.
Be like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
10. Don’t compromise your beliefs.
What is interesting is that what these three had to face is still going on today.
Nebuchadnezzar wanted them to be pluralistic.
He wanted the three of them to practice pluralism.
Pluralism is the belief that there are many ways to God.
That is what Nebuchadnezzar wanted.
He wasn’t asking the Jews to give up God.
He just wanted to mix his in too.
“Bow down and worship the Babylonian idol.”
It is just one of the many ways to God.
We hear that a lot today, don’t we?
All religions are good.
There are many ways to God.
If you think it is a new problem of the postmodernist, it is not.
It has been around a longtime.
If you are a Christian today, don’t fall for it.
It is a compromise of our belief.
Nebuchadnezzar also showed that he was syncretistic.
This is what surprised him so much when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow down.
Syncretism is the idea that there is good in all faiths.
All ways have truth in them.
So take what is good from each and apply it to your own beliefs.
Nebuchadnezzar was fine with their bowing in worship to El Shaddai (God Almighty).
Let’s just mix them together.
Again, syncretism is alive and well in postmodernism.
But it is not new.
There are a lot of people that sound like they believe in Jesus, but when you start to listen to them closely, it is not the Jesus of the Bible.
It is just the parts they like.
If you are a Christian today, don’t fall for it.
It is a compromise of our belief.
It is a compromise of the truth.
Truth (H)
There was a young man who was a student at the University of Texas and he entered a lecture hall one morning prepared to take a major exam. When the professor announced that the test had been postponed, the student rose and complained that the delay would mess up his study schedule for other courses.
"What is your name, young man?" demanded the professor.
"Ron," the now subdued student replied. "Ron Adams."
"Well, Ron," said the professor, "I’m going to give you an A for this exam and excuse you from taking it, because you had the courage to speak up."
"In that case, sir," the young man responded, "I’m John Wilson."
Well, that was courage, sort of…
But let me encourage you today.
Be like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
11. Make a stand.
When we enter into a time of trials (and we all have them), what is true about us comes “front and center.”
If we fear man more than God, this will come through.
Sometimes, there is a temptation to deny the fact that we are Christians.
Sometimes, we don’t stand up for Jesus because we will lose respect, or friends, or our social standing.
Sometimes, we are ashamed, because people make fun of faith.
They say our faith is a crutch for weak-minded and weak-willed people.
And you may want to crawl in a hole, and hide the fact that you are a follower of Christ.
But let me encourage you today.
Make a stand.
Be like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Perhaps God is asking you to choose fire.
What God wants you to go through is like a firestorm.
You are in no mood to be a firewalker.
I don’t know what you are facing.
I don’t know what stresses that you are encountering.
I don’t know what challenges are coming your way.
But I do know this.
God wants his followers to stand!
ILL Courage (S)
About 50 years ago Premier Khrushchev of the Soviet Uniion was speaking before the Supreme Soviet and was severely critical of the late Premier Stalin.
While he was speaking someone from the audience sent up a note: “What were you doing when Stalin committed all these atrocities?”
Khrushchev shouted, “Who sent up that note?” Not a person stirred.
“I’ll give him one minute to stand up!” The seconds ticked off. Still no one moved.
“All right, I’ll tell you what I was doing. I was doing exactly what the writer of this note was doing — exactly nothing! I was afraid to be counted!”
I think an interesting lesson comes from those old communist characters that applies to us as well.
Bad things happen when we don’t stand up to be counted.
I think that applies to us as Christians.
Bad things happen when we don’t stand up for Jesus.
And do know this.
It shows that we don’t trust God.
But let me encourage you today.
Be like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
12. Trust God over man.
One thing is for sure.
God honors faith.
God will honor your faith, when you refuse to compromise your beliefs.
God will honor your faith, when you stand for Him.
God will honor your faith, when you trust Him over everything else that competes.
So boldly choose God over all the competitors.
It will never be the wrong choice.
For Further Study: Proverbs 16.32, 21.1-2; Isaiah 12.2; Matthew 10.28; Romans 2.14, 8.38-39, 15.4; Hebrews 11.32-38; Revelation 2.10
BENEDICTION:
Available to you after postlude has completed.
If you want someone to pray with, I will be here for you.
Boldly choose God – over all competitors – refuse the compromises that characterize our world today – instead, know what you stand for and more importantly, who you stand for – He is the One you trust with your very life.
Now know this, that the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered. To Him be the power and glory forever and ever. Amen.
RESOURCES:
Sermon
Decker, Paul Turning on the Heat
Sermon Central
DeWitt, David Strength to Stand
Petticrew, David No Compromise on Worship
Seel, Anthony Fire Power
Other
Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament. Colorado Springs: Cook Communications Ministries, 2000.
Walton, John H., Victor H. Matthews, and Mark W. Chavalas. Ivp Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000.
Wiersbe, Warren. The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament. Colorado Springs: Cook Communications Ministries, 2004.
