Daniel 3:13-18 NASB
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar began speaking and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods, nor worship the golden statue that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, very well. But
if you do not worship, you will immediately be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can rescue you from my hands?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we are not in need of an answer to give you concerning this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up.”
Big Idea: When our future is unclear… Our trust must be unshakable…
1. The Godly Move Different
a. When they are unrighteous in their wants… We must be unshakable in our worship… (v.2, v.5-6)
i. Counterfeit Worship vs Authentic Worship
1. Counterfeit worship is fear mongering and manipulative
2. Authentic worship has nothing to do with music and everything to do with life choices
Daniel 3:28 NASB
“…His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and surrendered their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”
b. When they are unsure about their gods… We must be unshakable about our God… (v.1, v.5, v.15, v.17)
Daniel 3:15 NASB
“what god is there who can rescue you from my hands?””
Daniel 3:17 NASB
“our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will rescue us from your hand”
c. When they utter threats… We must be unshakable in our trust
Daniel 3:18 NASB
“But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up.””
i. Defying human threats honors God when my fear of God supersedes my fear of people.
2. God Moves to Deliver
a. When things get hot… God keeps us cool (Dan. 3:19 NASB)
Daniel 3:19 NASB
“Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. He answered by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.”
i. Side Note to Leaders: when a leader makes demands in a rage the fire of our arrogance harms those under our authority.
Daniel 3:27 NASB
“the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men, nor was the hair of their heads singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had even the smell of fire touched them.”
ii. Jesus could take the hot out of the fire… Because He was the One who put the hot in the fire to begin with!
John 1:3 NASB
“All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being.”
b. When things get tight… God sets us free (v.21, 24-25)
Daniel 3:21 NASB
“ 21 Then these men were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their caps, and their other clothes, and were thrown into the middle of the furnace of blazing fire.”
i. Jesus knows how to free the bound!
Luke 13:16 NASB
“And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this restraint on the Sabbath day?”
John 11:44 NASB
“Out came the man who had died, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus *said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.””
Daniel 3:24-25 NASB
“ 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up quickly; he said to his counselors, “Was it not three men that we threw bound into the middle of the fire?” They replied to the king, “Absolutely, O king.” 25 He responded, “Look! I see four men untied and walking about in the middle of the fire unharmed, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!””
John 8:36 NASB
“So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.”
c. When things get right… God blesses us up (v.28-30)
I. We never knowing hod God may use their mistreatment of us to become the occasion for their introduction to God.
Through the fire by Chaka Khan
Through the fire, to the limit, to the wall
For a chance to be with you
I'd gladly risk it all
Through the fire
Through whatever, come what may
For a chance at loving you
I'd take it all the way
Right down to the wire
Even through the fire
Big Idea: When our future is unclear… Our trust must be unshakable…
