Faith in Facing the Fire (2)

Daniel 3

Faith in Facing the Fire

I. Introduction

A. Impala is an animal we often see on the Discovery channel. It is a beautiful animal, full of grace. Unfortunately, we often see the animal being eaten by a leopard or a lion when we see it on TV. These animals are known for their great ability to jump. Often when attacked they will all jump erratically in different directions to confuse their predator. They have been known to jump to heights of 8-10 feet. The interesting thing about the impala is that when they are found in a zoo, fences at heights of 3 feet confine them. How do they confine this animal with such jumping ability with only a 3-foot fence? It is because the impala will not jump anywhere it cannot see. As long as it cannot see what is on the other side of the fence it will never jump it. That is how many Christians are. When we are confronted with the opportunity to step out of our comfort zone for the glory of Christ, we will often choose to sit complacently by, going with the flow of this world. We are afraid to jump the fence for fear of what the other side might hold

B. Background

1. Chapter 2- dream of statue – He was golden head

2. He was trying to prove that he could usurp the will of God by making himself completely gold

C. Obstacle to faith – needing to see the other side

II. Committed (12) to their God

A. It would have been easy to do what everyone else was doing it

B. It would be easy for them to say they had no choice

C. It would have been easy for them to give in to their new culture

D. It would be easy for them to back down when confronted

E. These are all excuses that people use to keep from completely committing to Christ

F. Today

1. Popular culture

2. Self – I have certain material needs

3. Money

4. The Lake

G. Commitment to God means that I believe nothing else has sovereign supremacy over our God – We trust Him implicitly

H. Means that I am committed to God because I believe He is the King of the Kingdom that will last forever when all other Kingdoms will fall (see Chapter 2)

III. Consistent (16)

A. S,M,and A remained who they were in good times and bad

1. Pressures

a. Movers and shakers of the empire are all there.

b. This event had huge national and religious implications

c. Grand and emotional music would have been played

d. A precise moment to honor the statue when all would be watching

e. A death warning to all who would not bow down

f. When the time came, everyone else bowed down

2. Yet, none of that changes the truth of God is or where their loyalties lie

B. We tend to lose our consistency when the heat is on

1. Persecution

2. Bad times – depending on self rather than God

3. Sometimes ask God to deliver us and when he does it we act like we did it – Guys jumping out of an airplane

C. Relativism and situational ethics – We become like Nebuchadnezzar wanting to be God and determine our own right and wrong

D. What if S, M, and A had given in

1. They would have brought no glory to God

2. They would have convinced no one of His greatness

E. We must remain faithful especially when the heat is on if we are to glorify Christ.

F. The Christian worldview cannot be based upon our own likes and dislikes, but upon the Word of God if they are to be consistent

IV. Confident (17)

A. Exegesis

1. They believed that the power of God was greater than the power of the king and of Babylon’s gods

2. Because of commitment and consistency, they were able to stand under pressure

3. They had confidence in God’s power to save them and it was a supernatural power above any power on earth

4. He had a king and guards and a blazing fire before them, but God’s power was greater – assurance of things hoped for

B. Application

1. How much confidence do you have in God’s power when you cannot see Him?

2. We are to be confident that as we are faithful God is able

V. Courageous (18)

A. Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die. G. K. Chesterton, Leadership, Vol. 10, no. 4

B. They had faith in the will of God that outlasted their physical lives

C. They had an eternal perspective

D. They believed that even if they died in the fire that God had not left them and they could still depend upon him

1. We all die

2. At some point we all must have faith that Christ is waiting for us in heaven

VI. Convinced - that God was in control (23)

A. Whatever the outcome it was God’s plan, and they went willingly into the fire

B. They believed that God even had control over the fire and its physical properties

C. Illustration – Tight rope walker

VII. Conclusion