Even If He Doesnt.

Introduction

Daniel 3:1–18 NKJV

1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; 6 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” 7 So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.” 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Pray

Point 1: Too Hot to Handle

- Give Background: Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon who took the children of Israel into captivity. Exile was a war method used to subvert the enemy by scattering blood lines. It was also a psychological warfare method.

As if this whole worship scenario and the threat was not enough, Nebuchadnezzar decides to up the ante:

Daniel 3:19–20 NKJV

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

At this point, greatly angered the king commanded his men to make the fire 7x hotter. This was a big mistake.

How many people know the Lord often waits until something is too hot for us to handle to intervene? Why is this? Because when it is too hot for us to handle, nobody can offer any glory to anyone but Him for pulling us through.

How many people know that when you mess with God’s children, you have messed with the wrong ones?

How many people know that when the enemy comes in like a flood God will raise up a standard!

In my own situation, I found myself so deep and lost in the pit of addiction that I saw no way out. I often tell people that I go interview to tell them about Teen Challenge that if I was going to get clean before Teen Challenge, I would’ve already done it. The fact is, I didn’t want to be in it, fact is most of them don’t either.. but they don’t realize sometimes that it is too hot to handle.

Point 2: The Ultimate Faith

Daniel 3:17–18 NKJV

17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Pay close attention and recognize what they said here. They said EVEN IF HE DOESN'T SAVE US.. WE AREN’T GOING TO BOW.

Do you have that kind of faith? We have faith until things no longer go our way. These young men had faith.

Point 3: They Stayed in the Fire

Daniel 3:20–25 NKJV

20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

Notice here what did not happen before you notice what did. God did not pull them from the fire. He left them in it, but the fire being too hot to handle, He got in there with them and protected them.

The same is true of your life.

In fact, can I posit to you that sometimes God will wait until things are too hot to handle in your life because He knows that in the process it will work to destroy your opposition and enemies. What did the 7x hotter fire do here? It killed the men who took them up (verse 22).

What does this look like in your life?

What fire is getting hotter around you?

What fire has He refused to pull you out of?

What is it you are praying for Him to do??’

Jesus said:

I Am The Bread Of Life (John 6:35) 

I Am The Light Of The World (John 8:12) 

I Am The Gate For The Sheep (John 10:7) 

I Am The Good Shepherd (John 10:11) 

I Am The Resurrection And The Life (John 11:25) 

I Am The Way The Truth And The Life (John 14:6)

I Am The True Vine (John 15:1)

I AM THE HEIFER THAT WAS BURNT OUTSIDE THE GATE FOR YOUR SEPARATION!!!

STAND BACK AND SEE THAT I AM GOD. I AM ALL THAT. ALL THAT YOU ASK IF I AM. I AM THAT I AM.

YOU BETTER KNOW THERE’S A HEIFER IN TOWN.. A HEIFER THAT DIED FOR YOU!!!

SPEAK ENEMY IF THOU CAN STAND AGAINST THE ARM OF THE LORD… SPEAK IF THOU CAN STAND.

Conclusion

God didn’t pull those boys out of the fire. He let them go through it. In fact, He let them go through a fire that became 7x hotter and unmanageable.

What did they do