Daniel 3:19 -30 Lessons from The Fire I GOD’S PEOPLE ARE A PRINCIPLED PEOPLE 1. They are a Called People 2. a Committed People 3. a Consecrated People A) Their Commitment Was Unmovable 16: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.” B) Their Confidence Was Unshakable 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.” C) Their Convictions Were Unwavering 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.” They Refused :- 1. To Bend to their Will 2. Bow to Their Idols 3. Break Fellowship With Their God Luther " Here I Stand " II. GOD’S PEOPLE ARE A PERSECUTED PEOPLE v. 19-23 A. They Are Persecuted Because Of Their Standards – v. 8-12 Col. 3:1-2. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. B. They Are Persecuted Because Of Their Saviour – v. 13-15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? Nebuchadnezzar implies that he is more powerful than the God they serve. He demands that they bow to his will instead of the will of God. John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. C. They Are Persecuted Because Of Their Stand – v. 16-18 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. 2 Tim. 3:12; Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 1 Pet. 4:12. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. III. GOD’S PEOPLE ARE A PRESERVED PEOPLE v. 24-27 A. They Were Preserved By An Ever Present God – v. 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. 1. Their Fellowship In The Fire (the Lord met them in the fiery furnace.)
My mama read a story about the Bible long ago,
About Shadrach, Meshach, and old Abednego;
How the wicked king commanded they be thrown into the flame,
Because they wouldn't bow and then deny their Father's name.
My Mama said the king stood high upon a balcony so tall,
When he looked in he was shocked by all the things he saw;
He thought that he would find them lying dead upon the ground,
But instead of three he counted four up walking all around.
Well, He's still in the fire and He's walking in the flame,
And He'll be there to help you when you call in Jesus' name;
And he can still deliver by His almighty power,
While here below it's good to know He's still in the fire.
Then I said "Mama, wait a minute, there's one thing that I must know,
If three went in and three came out, then where'd the fourth man go?"
And I never will forget it, as Mama danced across the floor,
These are the words I heard her say as she shouted through the door.
Son, He's still in the fire and He's walking in the flame,
And He'll be there to help you when you call in Jesus' name;
And he can still deliver by His almighty power,
While here below it's good to know He's still in the fire.
Now my friends you may be destined to face life's hottest flame,
But I'm glad that I can tell you thru the power of His name;
Not one flame of fire will touch you, you'll come thru it and you'll tell,
Yesterday, today, forever, God is still alive and well.
Oh, He's still in the fire and He's walking in the flame,
And He'll be there to help you when you call in Jesus' name;
And he can still deliver by His almighty power,
While here below it's good to know He's still in the fire.
2. Their Freedom In The Fire – All the fire did was burn away the ropes. Open Air Preaching George Whitefield stated: "I believe I never was more acceptable to my Master than when I was standing to teach those hearers in the open fields." "I now preach to ten times more people than I should, if had been confined to the Churches." John Wesley: "I am well assured that I did far more good to my Lincolnshire parishioners by preaching three days on my father's tomb than I did by preaching three years in his pulpit." ... "To this day field preaching is a cross to me, but I know my commission and see no other way of preaching the gospel to every creature". Spurgeon: "It would be very easy to prove that revivals of religion have usually been accompanied, if not caused, by a considerable amount of preaching out of doors, or in unusual places." "No sort of defense is needed for preaching out of doors, but it would need very potent arguments to prove that a man had done his duty who has never preached beyond the walls of his meeting-house. A defense is required for services within buildings than for worship outside of them." 3. Their Fortitude In The Fire – We are told that they “have no hurt.” The fire did not kill them, it didn’t even burn them! God allowed them to go through the fire, but He did not allow the fire to go through them. B. Preserved By An All Powerful God – v. 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. When God does something, He does it all the way. When He heals, He heals completely! When He saves, He saves completely! When He forgives, He forgives, He forgives completely. Whatever He does, He does it all the way! C. Preserved By A Pre-eminent God God's Purpose was higher than theirs
IV. GOD’S PEOPLE ARE A PROMOTED PEOPLE v. 28-30 Notice what happened when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were delivered A. God’s Person Is Praised – v. 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. Paul 2 Cor. 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. B. God’s People Are Promoted – v. 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon. God never really uses anyone in a great way until He first takes that person through the furnace of affliction. C. God’s Plan Is Perfected 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.
