The Harmless Furnace

THE HARMLESS FURNACE

Daniel 3:19-30

INTRO: In our day, we find it hard to follow Christ’s teaching, and walk with Him daily. We are ashamed of Jesus, it seems, and we won’t take a stand for Him.

Today, we want to look at three men who were not afraid to take a stand for their God and who were severely punished for their stand. But no harm came to them because their God was with them.

Some will say, but preacher, you don’t understand. It’s not the same for me as it was for them. You are right. It was harder for them.

I. THE KING CHOOSES THEM TO SERVE.

They were chosen to serve in the palace to be taught the

ways of the Babylonians (1:4). Their names were changed to

Babylonian names. They refused to defile themselves with

the customs of the Babylonians.

Nebuchadnezzar built an idol. He issued a decree that

everyone not bowing down would be cast into a furnace. The

three refused to bow down.

THEY WOULDN’T COMPROMISE THEIR BELIEFS. Because of

their unpopular stand in their sinful world, Jesus was with

them.

They were cast into the furnace. It was heated seven times

greater than normal. The men that threw them in are

consumed by the fire. The king sees a fourth man. They all

are unharmed.

II. WE NEED THE SAME FAITH TODAY.

We need more Christians with the faith of these three. If

we were as loyal to Jesus, He would be with us, too. The

problem in our world is compromise. We will be consumed in

the fire because of our compromise.