OPEN YOUR BIBLES TO Daniel 3 & Romans 12
1. CONFIDENCE. We left off last week with 3 men who stood their ground before the leader of the known world!
a. It wasn’t new. Their confidence began early in their youth, continued through the teenage years, and now tested again!
b. Before the king, they stood with, answered in, ASSURANCE.
c. It’s the type of trust believers of all time share.
d. Men and women who love God, trust Him more & more.
e. I believe Job said it best!
Job 13.15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
WHEN YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT…
• HOW EASY it would have been to compromise.
• There were a lot of options they could’ve chosen.
• They could’ve given in, just a little.
• I mean, who would know? Who would care?
• What’s ONE BOW to this dumb statue. At least we’d live.
• And if we stay alive, well then we can tell others about God!
• We’re living in Babylon now, why worship like we did in Israel?
• IT doesn’t matter anymore. Things have changed!
• They faced the same RATIONALIZATIONS that come to us!
YET we find them calm/cool/confident before the king.
• They were ready, and refused to negotiate!
• Our God will deliver us! Even if he doesn’t we won’t bow.
• As we saw last time, they did not COMPROMISE!
NOTE: IT really takes a GODLY MAN, A GODLY WOMAN to say NO when the pressure is on.
• To have in their heart an attitude of, “I don’t care if they laugh at me. I don’t care if I’m not invited to the next party.”
• “I won’t, I can’t, disobey my Jesus!”
• And even though they didn’t know the passage yet, they certainly lived it. Let’s look at Romans 12:1-2
• They were not CONFORMED to this world, but transformed.
• A TRANSFORMED LIFE then begins to TRANSFORM those around him… and things really begin to change!
WELL, their decision came with a consequence.
• This morning, Nebuchadnezzar responds to their commitment to God and reacts and responds very violently (NO SURPRISE)
I. (3.19-23) Prompt Judgment
1. (19) Into the Fiery Furnace.
a. Nebuchadnezzar is enraged, out of control, angry!
b. He’s not used to anyone rebelling or refusing his commands.
c. Notice, you could see it on his face. No more chances!
d. Can you imagine being in his presence and seeing him blow his stack like this?!
e. Heat it up 7 times hotter than normal! What?
f. The pressure on these 3 young men was hotter and stronger than ever… but they don’t back down.
2. (20-23) Throw them in!
a. They are taken and thrown into this pit!
NOTE: It’s easy at this point to wonder a little. How tragic!
• Here are these guys that trust God with all their heart and they get thrown in the fire anyway!
• That’s not fair! It’s just not right! What’s going on?!
• And yet, what else is there at this point? They made the decision and were ready to take the consequences!
1 Peter 4.12-13 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
THE TRUE STORY is told of an early church father, Polycarp the overseer of the churches in Smyrna. Polycarp was a personal friend and student of John the Apostele. In 156AD, when he was age 86, he was urged by the Roman proconsul to reproach Christ and be set free. “Eighty and six years have I served Him and He never did me any injury. How then can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?” The proconsul said: “I have respect for your age. Simply say, “Away with the Atheists” and be set free.” SO Polycarp solemnly said, “Away with the Atheists”—pointing to the pagan crowd that he was passing. He joyfully went to the stake, thanking God for counting him worthy to be numbered among the martyrs.
• And so too are these young men: they’re steadfast as they are thrown into the furnace!
DID YOU NOTICE in v20, the mighty men of valor, the armed guards are destroyed as they take the young men to the pit?
Romans 12.19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
• When the mighty men of valor climbed up and threw Daniel’s friends into that furnace, the flames got them.
• The king lost these men and they lost their lives.
• It was no doubt a heavy blow of judgment to the king!
• Here he is thinking he’s doing the judging, that he’s in control, that his word is firm, but God is on the throne!
APP: When you serve the Lord and live for Him, the wicked are going to be taken care of by the Word of God.
• Nobody at any time is going to get away with anything.
Psalm 37.7-8 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret--it only causes harm.
Proverbs 24.19 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the wicked;
NOTE: SO a steadfast confidence in the Lord, instead of vengeance, our hearts will reach out in sorrow over their condition.
• Yes they are hurting us right now, but they need Jesus.
• Yes, they are undermining us, but they need Jesus.
• Ouch, that hurts. But they need Jesus.
• Rather than a heart of revenge, we have one of reaching out!
• No longer bound by bitterness, we’re free with brotherly love!
• The self-preservation is replaced with a desire for salvation!
But, you think, Pastor Ed, that guy is crazy! He won’t let up! He just doesn’t get it and I’m tired of being hurt.
• Guys… Jesus will never leave you for forsake you.
• He’s got your back, & your front, & all around in every direction.
• Let’s turn to Psalm 139.5ff
II. (3.24-25) Powerful Preservation
1. (24-25) Surprise Surprise!
a. Isn’t this great! The King was astonished!
b. Didn’t we cast 3 men into the furnace! Yes we did.
c. But look, there are 4 men there and they’re not hurt!
NOTICE: they were not trying to get out or climb the walls.
• They’re just walking around fellowshipping with one another.
• Then a 4th shows up and they’re talking with him!
NOW: There’s something special about the 4th one.
• The Bible wants us to see He was different from the 3.
• Nebuchadnezzar’s pagan background caused him to call him a son of the gods.
• He looks like the Son of God, or literally, a son of the gods. Nebuchadnezzar is shocked at the power of God!
• I believe the Lord Jesus Himself came in that fiery furnace.
NOTE: This is a PRE-INCARNATE appearance of Jesus Christ. An appearance of the Son of God before he took on a human body.
• Just as he appeared to Abraham in Genesis 18
• Jesus as He appeared to Joshua in Joshua 5
• Gideon was also blessed by Jesus showing up in Judges 6.
NOTE: He was there to comfort & encourage them.
• They are experiencing in a very real way the promises we hold on to so dearly.
Psalm 46.7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Matthew 28.20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
Psalm 41.10 But You, O LORD, be merciful to me, and raise me up, That I may repay them.
APP: TAKE HEART this morning guys. Jesus hasn’t left you.
• He hasn’t pulled back on His promise to be with you.
• Let’s turn to Isaiah 43.1-5 & 7
• God has told us we should NEVER be afraid.
• He will be with us in and through anything!
NOTE: You SEE it’s important to understand how God operates as the fires of life are turned up around us, flaming up against us.
• There are times when the Lord delivers us OUT of the trouble.
• He comes and simply PLUCKS us up and delivers us!
• YET STILL, there are those times when God delivers us THROUGH the trial.
Psalm 23.4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
• YES, as a loving Father only can, He sometimes allows the flames to burn away those things that are holding us captive!
NOW: Let’s go back and carefully compare v21 with v25…
• They went in BOUND but ended up LOOSE.
• How did they end up loose?
• Well, God could have just removed the bonds…
• Or the very fires that were intended to destroy them, only destroyed those bonds that where holding them captive.
Genesis 50.20 "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
APP: Oh I want so much to grow in Jesus. I want so much to kick this habit, to jump this hurdle, to move on in Him.
• Sometimes what will come in answer to prayers like these are the fiery trials… so that they might burn away the bondage!
III. (3.26-30) Precious Conversion
1. (26) Come out..
a. Nebuchadnezzar calls for them to come out.
b. I don’t think he said that in anger, but maybe in a gentle, soft, quiet timid, voice… “Servantsss, of the Most High God.”
c. Come out… PLEASE??? -- Boy has he changed his tune!
2. (27) The miracle of purity.
a. Now this is a real miracle.
b. They come out and their bodies had no fire on them, their hair was ok, and there was no smell of smoke on them!
c. (((You can’t even come out of Village in like this!)))
BUT TRULY, God wanted the world to know He protected them!
• Bible teaches us that God has angels protecting us all the time.
Hebrews 1.14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
And of course, some of us need more protection than others!
• But everyone has at least one…
• There is an angel assigned to each & every believer.
Matthew 18.10 "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
NOTE: We know that God will protect us until our purposes in this life are fulfilled.
• None of us will die one day too soon or one day too late.
• There is that DIVINE PROTECTION upon our lives.
• God’s whole program for you has been laid out from eternity past and all the days of your life are numbered by God.
• All the heartaches, all the burdens, all the tears are kept safely and secure in a bottle.
• And He knows the heat in your life, and at just what temperature it needs to be.
• He knows it all and says, “Don’t be afraid. Trust me!”
3. (28-30) Praise the Lord.
a. Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, & Abed-Nego.
b. The king’s word was frustrated. God is God!
c. Then v29, This guy likes to make decrees!
d. V30 – Not only were these young men protected, but they were also promoted as God had special plans for them!
Jer. 29.11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Awesome stuff… Now before we leave, I want to leave you with a very interesting thought on this text… an exciting & intriguing one!
We can view this story HISTORICALLY, looking back it it’s significance for the nation of Israel.
We can view this story SPIRITUALLY, as we gain great confidence and comfort in our faithful and powerful God!
We can view this story PERSONALLY, as we draw from it many personal applications on how to trust in the Lord through anything.
But we can also view this story PROPHETICALLY, seeing it as a picture of a coming event, the rapture of the church.
NOTE: Nebuchadnezzar foreshadows another WORLD LEADER, still yet to come on the scene.
• He’s mentioned throughout the Bible.
• He’s most commonly known as the ANTICHRIST.
• In Revelation 13, the beast has a sidekick the false prophet and the he erects a huge statue to be worshipped!
• To worship the image involves a worldwide, global one world religion and economic system.
• That system is known as MYSTERY BABYLON.
NOW here in Daniel, we have 3 Hebrew young men reserved and preserved in the midst of a fiery furnace.
• In the Great Tribulation period, we read of 144,000 Hebrew young men who are preserved and reserved so that the gospel might be spread throughout the entire world.
But the question that really lingers here is, WHERE IS DANIEL?
• He’s not here during the trial of his friends.
• Now we know he’s an administrator in the kingdom and perhaps he’s off on official business. We simply don’t know.
• But I would suggest that he’s not only absent physically, but also prophetically.
• Daniel represents another group of people during the Great Tribulation that God delivers just before the 7 years begin.
• The church. The church isn’t there, isn’t around, but will return! Interesting stuff. Why? Because God is faithful!
1 Cor. 15.52-53 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
