Sunday, September 09, 2001
3 POSITIONS OF LIFE A CHRISTIANS LIFE
Dan. 3: 26 – 30
[Heading into the Fire, In the Fire, Coming out of the Fire]
Notice what brought the Hebrew boys to the fire.
Da 3:6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. :7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down [and] worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. :8 ΒΆ Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. :9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. :10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: :11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, [that] he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. :12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
It was their lifestyle, their devotion and dedication to the One True God.
They refused to Worship an image or false god.
They would not be entertained by their music.
They were put to question about their living.
They were ridiculed about who was their God,
They could not see Him
“”””””””””””Touch Him.
Hear is their response
Da 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [are] not careful to answer thee in this matter. :17 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.
Heading into the fire and knowing that is were you are going it is important to keep your faith in God.
Even when you do not know how God is going to work it out.
Da 3:18 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.
The Hebrew boys knew they would lose if they bowed.
[Nebie said boys if you do not bow you will burn the 3 boys said you got that wrong o king if we bow we will burn]
The songwriter said I’m a winner either way. A Brother in Madisonville, Ky was dying and people were in the room and said if you are going to be a winner you need a miracle. Brother said folks you got that wrong for wither I go or wither I stay I’m a winner either way.
3 boys did not allow fear to direct their life and relationship with God.
2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Church sign said when fear knocks faith answered and no one was there.
Ps 46:1 God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. :2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; :3 [Though] the waters thereof roar [and] be troubled, [though] the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. :4 [There is] a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy [place] of the tabernacles of the most High. :5 God [is] in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, [and that] right early.
Ps 56:2 Mine enemies would daily swallow [me] up: for [they be] many that fight against me, O thou most High. :3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. :4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
3 boys possessed a faith that regardless of the conscience they trusted God
Your faith will be tried.
#2 In the Fire
I believe it is this position that is the determining element in their deliverance.
Da 3:20 And he commanded the most mighty men that [were] in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, [and] to cast [them] into the burning fiery furnace.
Bound and cast in.
Just because you have been thrust into a fiery situation does not spell disaster.
In the fire the found Liberty.
No matter where in life’s journey you are if you are the Kings kid there is freedom.
When the Son sets you free you are free indeed.
Not necessarily out of the problems of life, but you are free.
For where the spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty.
They were loose, It does not mean bondage if you are in the fire.
They were free.
Da 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
Four men loose
Before we shout about the fourth man, How did the king know they were loosed?
He saw them. Your actions do speak.
If you are bound you can not lift you hands, you can not walk run or jump.
I believe they were praising God, Paul and Silas in jail but they were praising and singing, magnifying God.
The devil had a double coronary attack.
Anybody can praise God and shout when things are going good. But it takes a man or woman of God to shout in the fire.
Are you in the fire today? Get up and shout, for He has made us to tread upon scorpions
In the fire if we are faithful and praising God, Praise God in all things, rejoice in the Lord at ALL times.
The fourth man will come.
Isa 43:1 Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine :2 When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. :3 For I [am] the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt [for] thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. :4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. :5 Fear not: for I [am] with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; :6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; :7 [Even] every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
#3 Coming out of the Fire.
When you have been faithful, coming out of the fire you will have a witness back in the fire, the fourth man never came out.
Coming out their will be no bitter spirit, no chip on your shoulder, no holier than thou attitude.
Da 3:26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, [and] spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come [hither]. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
People will be able to tell you have been with Jesus.
Da 3:27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. :28 [Then] Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed [be] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
Da 3:29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. :30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
Promotion comes.
God will promote you here in this world.
Peter was by the fire and then in the fire, but he came out of an upper room on fire and promoted as leader of the first church.
As we remain faithful to God no matter your position in life going into the fire or in the fire or coming out of the fire promotion is on the way.
Jesus is coming.
