God's People under the Wrong Rule

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-7

C.I.: The God of the Fire (that which the world does to harm us – ultimately helps us!)

The gifts God gives us can be taken to sinful extremes. – Last week God showed Neb. a statue (with him as the head of gold).
Now Neb. makes a statue of himself (since God told him he was the “big dog, ” pride! ) – expecting everyone to bow down!

•  Bowing to the World's Gods, (Daniel 3)

•  “You do not serve my gods or worship the golden image I have set up,” (vs. 8-18)

•  ( v. 8 ), “At that time certain Chaldeans came and brought charges against the Jews.”

•  Isn't it amazing how some people believe – it's their job is to criticize/defame others, (vs. 8-12).

•  Yet more amazing is how often God's people “knuckle under” for fear of what “certain” others might say?

•  People are more fearful of what they may lose – rather than what they could gain, ( Jn. 9:22 ) “His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; - for the Jews had already agreed, - that if anyone should confess Jesus to be the Messiah, - they should be put out of the synagogue.”

b. But the God of the fire removes our fear.
1) ( Heb. 2:15-16 ), “Since the children share in flesh & blood, - He Himself likewise partook of the same, that through death
He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; - and might deliver those who through fear of
death – were subject to slavery their whole lives.”

2) Ultimately, what we fear becomes our master. – We better be sure we fear the right One, ( Matt. 10:28 ), “Do not
fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; - but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both body/soul…..”

•  When believers won't bow to the world's gods, the world will seek to destroy us.

•  ( vs. 14-15 ), “Neb. said, ‘Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you do not serve or worship the golden image I have set up? Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of… fall down and worship the image I have made, very well. – But if you do not worship, you will be immediately cast into the furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?'

1) Faith comes with a price tag. – The only question is, “Are we willing to pay the price?”

a) Some people want a “discount faith,” - one that won't cost them too much!!

2) God lets us know there is a price to be paid, ( Matt. 10:37 [relationships], vs. 38-39 [lifestyle].
a) v. 37 , “He who loves father or mother more than Me; he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
b) vs. 38-39 , “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me – is not worthy of Me. - He who has found his life
shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it.”

b. Remember in our first lesson – we saw the 3-step process of being outstanding for God. (They stay consistent)
1) “Make a Decision” – They have done that.
2) “Expect Opposition” – Remember, the greater faith-decision we make for God – the greater the opposition!
a) ( I Pt. 4:12 ), “Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, - which comes upon you for your testing, - as though
some strange thing were happening to you”

3) “Remain Faithful to Your Decision” – So this is nothing new for these faithful men of God.

c. Where are the believers today – who have enough courage to say, “ENOUGH!!!”
1) Where are the men – who will say “Enough!” when the culture tries to destroy their marriage? – Where are the
parents who will say, “Enough!” when society attempts to side track our children? – Where are the leaders in
the church who will firmly say, “Enough!” to those who want to change God's divine organization?!
2) Some of us may need to return to the God of the fire – for a cleansing, ( Rev. 3:18-19 ), “I advise you to buy from
Me gold refined by fire … Those whom I love, I reprove & discipline; - be zealous therefore, and repent !”

•  So these believers have been given a choice, “Bow or Burn!” – What decision must a believer make?

a. ( vs. 16-18 ), “O Neb., we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. - If it be so, our God whom we serve is able
to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. – But even if He does not, let it be
known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods nor worship the golden image that you have set up”

•  They made their decision on the basis of what God's word says, ( Ex. 20:3, 5 ), “You shall have no other gods before me … you shall not worship or serve them.”

•  Therefore, they not only placed their faith – in the God of the word, - but also in the word of God!!!

•  “Cast them into the furnace of blazing fire,” (vs. 19-30)

•  Sometimes the world's response - to the word of God - is wrath, (vs. 19-27)!

•  ( vs. 19, 22-23 ), “Then Neb. was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was altered towards Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, – He gave orders to heat the furnace 7x more than it was usually heated … Because the king's command was urgent – and the furnace had been made extremely hot, - the flame of the fire slew the men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, – But these 3 men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.”

1) But God's people need not fear the fire – for it is often through the flames that we find freedom!

2) Too many long for holiness w/o suffering – sanctification w/o a cross – growth w/o tears!

3) Spiritual life does not come without struggles – ( I Pt. 2:21-23 ), “You have been called for this purpose, - since Christ
Jesus suffered for you, - leaving you an example to follow in His steps, - who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in
His mouth; - and while being reviled He did not revile in return; - while suffering, He uttered not threats, but kept….”

b. ( vs. 24-25 ), “Then Neb. stood up in haste & said, ‘Was it not 3 men we cast bound into the fire? – Look! I see 4 men loosed and
walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, - and the appearance of the 4 th is like a son of the gods.”
1) God takes care of His own!

2) ( Isa. 43:1-2 ), “You are Mine! – When you pass thru the waters I will be with you, and the rivers will not overflow you,
when you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched!” – This is the presence of God!

3) In the same way, - the promised presence of God has not been rescinded, - ( quote Matt. 28:20 ).

c. (Notice a change in tone…, ( v. 26-27 ), “Neb. came near to the door of the furnace & said, ‘Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego,
come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here.' Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came out of the midst
of the fire. - …the fire had no effects on the bodies of these men nor was their hair singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor
had the smell of fire even come upon them.”

•  Let us not forget – that their faith in a God of the fire – got them thrown into the furnace. – But it was this same faith – that brought them safely out of the fire!!!

•  Remember Step #3: “Remain faithful to your decision – no matter what!”

•  The now convicted king forgets his golden god - and glorifies the God of heaven (vs. 28-30)

•  ( v. 28 ), “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king's command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God.”

•  One day all the decrees of men – as well as the men who made them will bow, ( Phil. 2:10-11 ), “At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those in heaven, on earth, or under the earth, & every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”

2) So for the family at Golden – what are some conclusions that we can draw…!

CONCLUSIONS:

1. Faith in the “God of the Fire” removes all fear

2. There is a price to be paid for faith in the “God of the Fire”

3. The world gives us only two choices “bow or burn”

4. The “God of the Fire” will be with us in the midst of the life's fires.

5. If you are one of our guests today… (Quote Matthew 28:19-20)