· What does it look like to have courage?
· Courage is not JUST what you do, it’s who you trust
· Who should you trust?
· Daniel 3:10-18 10 You, O king, have made a decree, that
every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. 11 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready
when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my
hands?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
· His truths are going to cause you to live in a way that stands out in a sea of idol worship.
· “You will never get in trouble for saying that Jesus is your personal savior. But you will when you say that there is no
other name… by which we must be saved and that he alone sets the rules…” - J.D. Greear
· Courage is not JUST what you do, it’s who you trust
· Do you fear God more than a furnace?
· “True faith confesses the Lord and obeys Him, regardless of the consequences.” - Warren Weirsbe
· 17 …he will deliver us out of your hand
· 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the
burning fiery furnace. 22 Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the
appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
· “Those who suffer for Christ, have His presence in their sufferings, even in the fiery furnace, and in the valley of the shadow of death.” -Matthew Henry
· Who should you trust?
· 1. Crowd – Follower
· Do I truly love Jesus?
· 2. Nebuchadnezzar – Seeking Validation
· God, show up in my life. Help me to trust you.
· 3. Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego – Courageously standing on truth
· Am I going to trust God no matter the outcome?
· Your trust in God leads you to courage
