The Life of Daniel | Pt.3

Introduction

DANIEL 3

The chapter opens and King Neb has built an image of gold and gives a decree that all Babylonians should worship this statue.

The consequence for not falling down and worshipping this statue was that you would be thrown into a burning, fiery furnace.

Daniel, chapter 3, says that when the music would play the CROWDS began to obey the command.

As Christians, we have to be conscience of what we allow in our minds, bodies, and spirits.

The crowds didn’t see the statue and start worshipping, it says they heard the music. Music has power that can be used for good and evil.

If we are always listening to destructive music, hanging out with toxic people, watching/looking at perverse things, we will eventually reap those things.

Body

Everyone had to worship this statue King Neb built. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego did not.

You can not get by with living for God under the radar. The world is going to take note of your lifestyle, but this the time for us to make a mark.

Daniel’s friends went against the crowds or the masses, meaning that they were in the minority. While everyone else was worshipping they did not.

“This little light of mine”…

Daniel 3:13–15 NIV

Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

King Neb interviews Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.

He questions their actions.

[MOM KNOWING THAT IT WAS YOU WHO ATE LAST COOKIE]

King Neb knew that they weren’t worshipping, because the Chaldeans told him. Neb was giving them a way out of what was to come.

Then, the 3 friends insist that they will never worship the golden image.

Daniel 3:16–17 NIV

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.

These three friends knew and understood that God was all-powerful.

They knew that the God of the universe, the One that set this all into motion would deliver them from the fiery furnace AND from the hand of King Neb.

God will never let a weapon formed against you prosper. That’s a promise!

Daniel 3:18 NIV

But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

This verse is where I want us to focus.

True submission to God, is doing what is right even if God does not do what we want or what we expect Him to do.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego knew what it meant to live in full, true submission to God.

They didn’t know how things were going to play out, but still they trusted that He was good and that whatever happened would not change who God is.

Heroes tale/Happy ending…

I have my own desires, dreams and I pray that he fulfills them. But even if He doesn’t, I can’t turn my back on Him.

Conclusion

So, we know how the story ends right?

They’re tied and thrown into the furnace. King Neb looks into the blaze and sees not 3, but 4 men walking around.

Jesus has been with them through their trials, but here He was literally with them in the worst of trials.

Then the men leave the furnace unharmed and King Neb goes on to acknowledge the greatness of God.

Many Christians fall victim to disobedience, because we are so busy waiting on this “big” trial to show how much we trust and love God.

Then we live with a “compromised faith” mentality that when it’s convenient or it matters I will live for Jesus.

I think that Daniel is telling us that if we remain faithful through the tests, big or small, God will show His favor on us and our trial will turn into a testimony.

What we thought would kill us, now will be used to give life to others.

Tonight, where do you need God to show up? If he doesn’t, shows up in another way do you trust that He is good?

Prayer