Standing For God
Text: Daniel 3:17-18 - 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. But if not, be it known unto the, O king, that we will not serve thy god’s nor worship the golden image, which thou hast set up.
Introduction: Life is a series of choices and the consequences that follow that choice. Constantly we are making choices about what to do from one minute to the next. You made the choice to come to service, you choose what you ate or if you ate this morning, you choose what you are wearing. But after making choices, we should always wonder if this choice was the right choice, if this road was the right road, if this was choice God would have made? Because some choice can and will lead us into situations that we aren’t prepared for, and that can place us in awkward and dangerous positions that can harm us. Here in this third chapter of Daniel, these three young people demonstrate, quite clearly, the right choice is always in the will of God. They assure us by this presentation that regardless of the circumstances God will deliver you.
I. Is It True? Daniel 3:14-16 - Nebuchadnezzar space and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were the talk of the town. They were Israelites and captives to the king, and they were still under his authorization. The king had made a decree that everybody had to worship the golden idol that he had erected. Nevertheless, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship the idol. This news spread around the entire kingdom liked greased fire in dry grass!
Perhaps, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego told someone in confidence that they were not going to worship any god’s saving the only true God. That person told another person, and so on, until the story became a rumor. Many people spend all their time dipping into other people’s business. In the dense corridors of the schools, in the hallow cubicles of the workplace, we hear bits and pieces of information about certain people that turns from facts, into rumors, to plain out juicy gossip. Then something inside of us longs for confirmation, and when we see that person the first question we want to ask is: ’Is it true?’
The king then confronts these young men with the rumor that has so quickly spread throughout the land. He asks them ’Is it true that won’t worship the god I have erected? Is it true t hat you don’t agree with my teachings? What’s going on?’ These young people responded : ’ we aren’t careful to answer you in this matter.’ They knew that the rumorwasn’t true. But they understood also that they didn’t owe any explanations concerning their faith, and neither do we.
II. Truth or Dare Daniel 3:17-18 - 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. 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 game of truth or dare presents to us the rare opportunity to find out whether or not something is true. In deciding whether or not something is true. In deciding whether or not to choose truth or dare, the player must look over their lives, and determine whether any truth would be detrimental than taking a dare. It is a game of self-evaluation. The basic question is: Do I have more to lose by choosing the dare or by choosing the truth? These young people show us how sometimes choosing the dare makes the truth unfold more clearly than that of speaking the truth.
These young men, told the king it was none of his business whether or not they choose to worship the idol. They knew by not answering, that the choice they had made would result in them being thrown into the fiery furnace. In other words, the king was asking the boys "truth or dare". They in essence of the situation told the king "Go on and throw us into the Fire. For our God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we can ask or think!" It was true, they refused to worship the idol. They showed unwavering faith, they chose to stand for God. They would only worship the true God. Do you love him enough to take a risk for his sake. Unwavering faith is the faith that we have in the good times and in the bad times. No matter what comes you got to stand!
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose to have faith in God, they chose to walk on the wild side. They evaluated their losses and calculated their gains, and concluded that even if they chose the truth they still had to take the dare. But they believed that their actions were more reflective of the truth concerning themselves.
These young people chose to have faith in God despite the consequences. They were willing to take a chance, they were willing to risk it all for God. They were willing to lay it all on the line for God. These young men told the king that God was going to deliver them from the fire, and even of he didn’t he was still able to do all but fail. We never know what God can do until we put him to the test. The conquered says ’ I should of, could of, would of’. But the conqueror says ’ I thought I could, I think I can, I did it, I knew I could.’ You will never know what you can do until you put yourself and your faith in God to the test.
III. Rescue Me!! Daniel 3:19-23 - Then was Nebuchaddnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and 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. Then these men were bound in and their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast in the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Television presents a great deal of scenarios where the super-hero is found in life or death situations. The character is hanging off a crumbling cliff, drowning in a shark infested tank, a bomb is about to explode in the seller that he is trapped in, a deadly snake is about to bite him, or he is staring down the barrel of gun. The audience knows that this character, however, can’t be killed because that would end the series. The audience knows that the super-hero will be rescued. In the case of these young men, no one knew that they would be rescued. But they knew that God was able to. Have you ever found yourself in circumstances and situation where you wondered if God was able to deliver you? In this Scripture passage, help was needed. And if help is needed we must ask God for help. These young men were thrown in the midst of a fire seven times hotter than usual. This furnace was so hot that the men who threw them in the furnace were consumed, but they went in without a burn. At that moment, the three men fell down in the middle of the furnace were consumed, and they could have said ’ Lord thank you rescuing me’. Sometimes things happen, that cause people to fall down, and praise God for his divine help. God is our help and our strength. When we call on his name, he will show us up, and show out.
Conclusion : Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were tied up and tossed into the fire. The Word of God reveals that when we choose God, when we choose to place our faith above our fear, then the power of God will be in the midst of our fiery furnace situation. God sent his son Jesus into the midst of the fiery furnace of life to rescue us. Jesus will be in the midst if we call on him in faith. Notice that these young men were walking around free. They were slaves to the king but masters of themselves because they submitted their will to God. Even though the men that threw them in the fire were consumed, they came out without being scorched, without a scald, without a seared spot on their bodies. God will take care of you, just call on him, and he will answer your prayer.
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness
I shall not trust the sweetest frane
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name
Standing on the promises of Christ, my King
Through eternal ages let his praise ring
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing
Standing on the promises of God
Standing, standing, standing on the promises of God my Saviour;
Standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God!
