Real Life/Real Faith - Sermon 7

Is The Fire A Same Place For Me?

Text: Daniel 3

Introduction

1 Peter 3:15 “15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

On the surface, this verse might sound pretty easy to carry out. However, put yourself in these three Hebrew men’s shows and see how quick you are to follow through.

Here is the amazing thing.....YOU CAN FOLLOW THROUGH WITH FAITH!!!

These men lived long before this verse was ever penned. As many of you already know, they FOLLOWED THROUGH with a REAL FAITH.

Two things they kept in mind when facing real life: 1) We have a purpose that is more important than becoming captive by my fears & 2) God will either continue our service here or bring us to rest with Him. Either way, God will always be with us.

Let me answer the question for you: YES, the fire will always be a safe place when God is with you.

Let’s step through this story together and see how much stronger we can be on the other side of it.....

1) A Low View Of God

In spite of the seemingly favorable view the king had of these Hebrew’s God, it did not stop the king from turning against them.

The idol the king made was more about him than it was about the idol.

Man has always wanted to be autonomous and worshiped.

Notice the dialogue.

Remember what his magicians, astrologers and sorcerers said about the gods (2:11)

The king was very ignorant about Jehovah/Yaweh (2:20-23)

2) The Culture’s Vain Faith

(v7) Once again, the culture approves and prioritizes a vain and wasteful faith.

You and I may not have a monarch’s decree over our heads, but we do have government, authorities, friends, family and popularity who are working hard to find any way to squash your testimony of faith.

There may not be a gold idol, but what we are tempted to bow down to is just as damaging:

Subjective morality

Lusts — money, cheating, porn, etc.

Your career/job

Your ministry

Popularity/trends/comparison

(v12) The culture has NO tolerance to grant believers.

Notice how the king’s advisors conflate respecting the king with disagreeing with His decree. (NOT ON OF THE SAME)

We face the same thing today!

“If you don’t respect my LIFESTYLE then you are disrespecting/rejecting me as a person.

3) The King’s Ignorance

(v15) “...who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?”

This is evidence that the king sees all gods as the same.

With one word “Who,” the king has given these GOD fearing men the greatest platform a christian can be given; telling him about their God.

Not only will these God followers be given the opportunity to tell about God, but they will allow God to be put on the stage of their life.

Did you know your life is just like a stage? Your life is the stage on which God has given you so others may discover why you worship Him.

PROVIDE SCRIPTURES

4) The Believer’s Message

(v16) Their response to the king was that of a UNIFIED FAITH!

UNITY is huge when it comes to successfully completing our mission for Jesus.

Success will always have this ONE thing; CONSISTENCY.

It begins in all of our INDIVIDUAL lives!!!

Key element: Bible, prayer, worship, devotion, giving, fellowship, etc.

This was their NEXT STEP of faith.

God orchestrated this fire of growth for his children!!!

They felt no need to argue with the pagan king.

The form of action was to state their faith in God and give it all to Him.

God’s actions will always speak louder and clearer than your arguments.

The king’s gods may not be interested in humanity, but their God NEVER LOST INTEREST!

Their satisfaction was two-fold:

God is ABLE and we BELIEVE that!

BUT if not.....

What they wanted most of all is for the king to know what inner peace and assurance looked like.

You have to de-throne yourself and put Jesus on the throne if you are ever going to have inner peace and assurance.

LISTEN.....the world has no peace without God!

5) The King’s Fury

(v19) Why such HOT HEAT?

This heat was simply a response to the message these men were leaving behind.

The king’s ambition was to BURN OUT the impact of God’s power on these men’s lives.

There is no power under Heaven that can erase the witness of the one true God from those who display faith in Him.

Example (John Wycliffe) Quote: "Trust wholly in Christ; rely altogether on his sufferings; beware of seeking to be justified in any other way than by his righteousness."

History: (Christianity Today) John Wycliffe left quite an impression on the church: 43 years after his death, officials dug up his body, burned his remains, and threw the ashes into the river Swift. Still, they couldn't get rid of him. Wycliffe's teachings, though suppressed, continued to spread. As a later chronicler observed, "Thus the brook hath conveyed his ashes into Avon; Avon into Severn; Severn into the narrow seas; and they into the main ocean. And thus the ashes of Wycliffe are the emblem of his doctrine which now is dispersed the world over."

The world may try to tie your hands and feet, but who needs their feeble limbs when you have the hands of God on your life?!!!

The death of the mighty men speaks to me this reality—always expect a tragic and wasteful result when you approach the fire WITHOUT JESUS.

6) God’s Mighty Hand

(vv24-27) No one can prevent the Lord from ministering to His children.

God has never promised you a life without fire.

God HAS PROMISED you, is a life where you would NEVER BE WITHOUT HIM!

Conclusion

The whole point of this story of faith is this—See God, UNDERSTAND God, RECEIVE Jesus, LIVE life based on His promises and never fear the fire again!

CHRISTIAN — God is walking in the heat with you! TRUST HIM!

UNBELIEVER — God sees your true future (Hell). He desires to save you from that future. Confess your repentance from unbelief and complete trust in Jesus as your savior.