We Value Spirit-Led Courage

Introduction

Tonight I want to speak on our second core value: Spirit-Led Courage.

And the text that we’ll be diving into is in Daniel chapter 3. If you have your Bibles, open them to Daniel 3:15b The king said… if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Prayer

This sermon is about Spirit-Led Courage. So we need to address three simple questions:

What does it mean to be Spirit-led?

What does it mean to be courageous?

What happens when we operate in Spirit-led courage?

What does it mean to be Spirit-led?

The Bible says that if we are in Christ, meaning we’ve trusted in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then we have the free gift and promise of eternal life, and we also have the free gift and promise of the Holy Spirit in this earthly life. In John 14, at the last supper, before He went to the cross, Jesus told His disciples this: 16 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

This was a promise to the disciples and it’s a promise to all disciples of Christ today. We are a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit of God. He lives within us.

And the closer we live in communion with God, the more clearly we hear from God, the more we see His direction for our lives… the more sense His Word begins to make… the more He leads us. And if we’re being led by the Spirit of God, His leading will always be directed toward His will. If we want to discover and walk in the will of God, then we MUST be Spirit-led. And if we are being led by the Spirit of God toward His will, then God’s Word guarantees that we will face difficult times. In Paul’s last letter that we studied last week, he tells Timothy all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. If we are boldly pursuing God’s will, then we are guaranteed to face circumstances that require courage.

What is courage?

First of all, here’s what courage is NOT. Courage is not the absence of fear. Merriam-Webster defines courage as this: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.

In other words, courage is saying, I know this will be difficult, I know this may be scary, but I am going to do it anyway. And the only difference between Spirit-led courage and regular courage is when it’s Spirit-led, you’re saying I’m doing it because GOD SAID TO.

In the greatest display of courage in the history of the world, Jesus willingly went to the cross, not only to die, but to take on the sins of mankind and to have the wrath of God poured out on Him. And He was not without fear or stress. The Bible says that the night before, when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, that He was under so much pressure that He literally sweated drops of blood. Asked God if there was any other way..and there wasn’t. So He fulfilled the will of God, regardless of the consequences.

In Matthew 4, The Spirit of God LED Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil for 40 days. It required courage from Jesus the man to do what God said.

In Joshua 1, after Moses died, God told Joshua to lead his people into the promised land. And God had to tell him 3 different times to be COURAGEOUS. Why? Because He was scared. But He did it anyway. Courage is doing it scared. And Spirit-led courage is doing what God says regardless of the consequences.

So what happens when we operate in Spirit-led courage?

1. We walk in God’s will - 100% of the time, when we’re being led by the Spirit of God, we’re being led toward the will of God.

2. We face difficult challenges. If the circumstances surrounding the fulfillment of God’s will weren’t challenging, then they wouldn’t require courage. Joshua knows it will be an incredible challenge to conquer the land that God has promised His people. That’s why God has to tell him “Be strong and courageous” 3x.

3. God is with us. After God told Joshua 3x to be courageous, he said “The Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” This same principle that was true for Joshua was true for Moses when God parted the sea, was true for David when he defeated Goliath, was true for Mary when she was told she would carry the Son of God. Was true for the disciples in Matthew 28 when Jesus said in v.19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Here’s the point in every one of these scenarios: God is saying “This is my will. Go and do my will. And it won’t be easy, but you don’t have to do it alone.”

After the example of Jesus going to the cross and suffering the punishment for our sins - which is the ultimate example of courage: fulfilling the will of God no matter the cost - there may not be a greater example in the Bible of Godly courage than the one we see in Daniel chapter 3.

Daniel 3 - Context and Background

God’s people have been given up to Babylonian captivity.

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (4 Hebrew Boys) are useful to the Babylonians, so they take them and try to indoctrinate them.

At the beginning of the chapter an idol is presented and all the people are commanded by the king to worship it. What is an idol? Anything in the world that successfully takes us out of the will of God.

Daniel 3:1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits…4 And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.

These Hebrew boys have a choice here. They can act in direct opposition to God’s will, in disobedience, or they can choose Godly courage. They can say, “God, you say to do it. So I’m gonna do it. And I’ll trust you to handle the rest.” And if you know the story, you know that’s what they’ll do.

I’m going to highly doubt that anyone in this room has a statue at home that they bow down to. If you do, get rid of it… But we all probably have things in our lives that direct us toward the sin of idolatry. Here’s what I mean… an idol is this: anything in the world that successfully competes for our love for God, taking us out of His will.

Maybe it’s some sort of material thing in your life - new furniture, new car, new toy, whatever… that you get a fulfillment from that you’re not getting from your relationship with Christ. Remember what we talked about last week… God is not anti-things.. God has no problem with us enjoying the things in our lives as long as our love for those things doesn't pull us out of the will of God.

Maybe it’s not material.. maybe it’s a relationship that brings you some level of comfortability, but every time you’re with that person, you’re pulled further away from God. We all know someone, if it’s not ourselves, who has been in a toxic relationship that pulls us away from God. And the consequences of getting out of that relationship will change our lives in a major way.. but when we do end the relationship, according to God’s will, He’s right there with us and works it all for good, changing our lives and the lives of those around us.

It could be a job that provides you with a comfortable salary… but when you go to work everyday, you’re in such an ungodly environment that every time you punch the clock, you get a little further and a little further from who God wants you to be.

When Haley and I got married, I got hired to work at a paper mill, and the money was great.. I’ll likely never make that kind of money again. But I was not close to spiritually-mature enough to be working in that kind of ungodly environment every day. And my relationship with God suffered. It was a stretch in my life where I got further and further away from God it felt like each day. And I felt like I couldn’t leave that job because I couldn’t give up that money. That job was an IDOL. And I worked there for several years until my Spiritually-mature wife, thank God, encouraged me to leave and pursue a new career. And did my bank account change? It sure did. Did my walk with God change? You better believe it. Which one is more important?

It would have been very easy for S, M, and A to bow to the idol. But that would have gone against how God commanded them to live… would have gone against God’s will. God calls us to seek and fulfill His will no matter the cost. And when we do that, we will inevitably face a little difficulty…difficulty that requires courage.

Back to the text, let’s look at the consequences of Godly courage.

Daniel 3:12 (Accusers of the Hebrew boys said…) There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.

Okay, they know that they are going to face the consequences of refusing to bow to the idol. But their top priority is not self-preservation; it’s fulfilling the will of God.

God’s Word in Proverbs teaches us an important truth that will have a direct impact on whether or not we fulfill the will of God in our own lives.

Proverbs 9:10 says The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Holding God in reverence, acknowledging that His way is the only way = the beginning of knowing God’s will and doing God’s will).

Consequences of a lack of Spirit-led Courage: Proverbs 29:25 says The fear of man lays a snare (It’s a TRAP. Seeking the approval of people will prevent you from fulfilling God’s will). The fear of man (and the fear of the consequences of man) the Bible says lays a snare- a trap. And it’s a trap that prevents us from walking in the will of God. It’s a trap that prevents us from living the way that God has called us to live.

Choose your hard? Illustration.. trials will come whether we’re pursuing God’s will or not.

Courage requires Faith and Obedience

Daniel 3:14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Spirit-led courage requires faith and obedience. The faith (v.17) to say my God can do it. And the obedience (v.18) to say even if He doesn’t, I will still follow Him.

Charles Stanley “Obey God and leave the consequences to Him.”

And that’s how we’re called to live our lives as Christians. “God, I’m going to pursue your will at all costs… that’s my part. And I’m going to trust you to do your part.

Daniel 3:19–23 (ESV): 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. 22 Because the king’s order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” (That’s Jesus)

Though Spirit-led courage often leads to trial, God’s character is revealed through His Word.. and His character shows us that we are not alone in the trial. These men had great faith.. And probably enough faith to believe that they would be kept from the fire… but God said, “No you will go into the fire, but I’m going in with you.”

The character of God is revealed by the Word of God. The same God of S, M, and A is The same God that we serve today… the same God who never changes—never has, never will.

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

In Matthew 20, Jesus said. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

In other words, God’s message is this: do what I’ve called you to do, seek my will, and I’m right there with you… through every step… no matter how difficult things get

Spirit-led courage will lead to trial… it will lead you to the fire..To uncomfortability..To great challenges

But when we walk through the fire WITH JESUS, in Spirit-led courage, then He makes things happen that otherwise could not have.

God is Glorified & We are Protected

v.26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” … 27b The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.

When S, M, and A stood up in courage, God was glorified… so much so that Nebuchadnezzar, this pagan ruler, calls Yahweh the Most High God.

100% of the time, when we’re walking in the will of God, He will be glorified.

And when people look at you and say, “How did you make it through that?” or “How are you still hanging on?” And you say, “JESUS”. No matter how hard it gets, I know He’s right here with me.

These trials that we experience show others how powerful our God is. When we practice Spirit-led courage, God is glorified.

Lastly… We are promoted

v.30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

And when I say promoted, I don’t necessarily mean job promotion or financial promotion. I’m talking about promotion according to God’s will.

Our chief mission is to seek first the Kingdom of God… to discover God’s will and to walk in God’s will…

This life that we live is a journey… a long and winding road to what God has called us to.

And every time we step out in Spirit-led courage, we take one more step toward the will of God for our lives. AMEN?