Note: message inspired by Bishop Tim Hill
How do you live when the heat is turned up?
Daniel 3
Daniel 3:1-30 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. (90ft high x 9ft wide) He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. (16 miles from Babylon, probably a place large enough to gather a crowd) (2) And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. (notice who was invited, these were the leaders of society, the influencers) (3) So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. (4) Then (as if a next event, or telling a surprise story) a herald cried aloud: "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, (5) that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; (6) and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace."
So there was first a dedication of them image. Then it became an idol to worship. Why did King Nebuchadnezzar decide to do this? Probably to unite the kingdom together around one image and man.
And this is what they did. When they heard the music they began to bow down. This great crowd of people fell prostrate before this idol. That is except three men. You could look across the crowd and notice that there were three standing. Just in case Nebuchadnezzar missed the Chaldeans stepped up and pointed it out to the king.
They said:
Vs. (12) There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up."
Accusation:
- They do not serve your gods
- Or worship the gold image you set up.
-
This send the king into a rage. He called them forth. Interesting enough is the fact that King Nebuchadnezzar gives them another chance. Even though the command was they were to be thrown immediately into the fire. Why? My theory that it was either because of his closeness to them or because of his respect for Daniel (who was probably on a trip some where)
Let us move to 16 and read their answer.
(16) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. (17) If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. (18) But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."
That is a powerful statement. Deliverance or not they were determined to follow their convictions.
King Nebuchadnezzar was one of the first ones to try this “cancel culture”.
He wanted to
Cancel their faith – belief in God
Cancel their Posture – what they were “standing” for
Cancel their purpose – why they lived
What was Nebuchadnezzar’s response: Make it 7 times hotter
(19) Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. (20) And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and
Which brings us to our first question of the story: How do we live when the heat is turned up?
I believe the Heat is being turned up: covid-19, racial strife, division, political season
How do we live when the heat is turned up?
I. Remain convinced & do not compromise
- I am persuaded
This is the first key. This begins before the heat is turned up. We are convinced of who our God is. We will not compromise our belief. No matter how shiny the object looks.
Paul said it best:
- (2 Timothy 1:12) For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
This brings us to our second point.
II. Remain Positive in the Problem
I know whom I believe and that he is able to
III. Remain Worshipful in the Worst of Circumstances
This is so true.
Job 1:20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. (21) And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord."
David’s chapter 30: encouraged himself in the Lord.
1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
IV. Remain at Restful in you Resolve
- Determination
- Persistence
(16) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. (17) If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. (18) But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."
How did they get into the fire?
The soldiers who were taking them to the fire were being killed. Yet I believe that shadrach, Mechach, and Abed-Nego stepped into the furnace. It was not affecting them. They did not run from adversity they stepped toward it with the confidence they had in their God.
Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. (21) Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. (22) Therefore, because the king's command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. (23) And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
God’s Answer
(24) Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." (25) "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." (26) Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. (27) And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. (28) Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel [9] and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! (29) Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this." (30) Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.
We don't run from our adversity but we face it head on. We know who our God is and know that He will get us through this.
Conclusion
Some of you this morning are feeling the heat. Your faith is being tested.
God is asking you to make a stand for Him.
Who will stand with me in the midst of the adversity?
I will not bow.
