How much do you trust God?

Do we have anybody here on fire for God this morning?

If you’re not on fire for God every day, your woods wet, and you have a lot of smoke, but no fire.

God calls that being lukewarm…

Revelation 3:16 “So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

Spit you out… that’s rough, but it’s a warning.

Hey. lukewarm doesn’t mean what we think it might mean, it doesn’t mean we hate God, sometimes, it just means we’re not sure how to love Him better.

3 signs:

comfortable with sin: if sin doesn’t bother you, you might want to do a heart checkup with God

Jesus is savior, but not Lord: you like forgiveness, but not not Lord when He asks you to change

You blend in so well, no-one knows you follow Jesus: your faith is private so you don’t get uncomfortable

Are you the light of the world?

How much do you trust God?

Do you trust Him enough

I want to work through the story of Shadrach Meshach, and Abednego.

If you ever read Daniel, it’s a great book…

So at the time Daniel also called Belteshazzar, after interpreting the Kings dream had been promoted, and upon his recommendation Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who were 3 other Jewish exiles, were appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon.

Their most famous episode involves an act of religious defiance.

Nebuchadnezzar, not the best king you find, a Babylonian king who destroyed Jerusalem and carried Judah into captivity, erected an enormous golden statue, and issued a decree requiring all subjects to bow in worship when musical instruments sounded, with the penalty of execution in a fiery furnace for those who refused.

Daniel 3:5–6 “5 that at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, you are to fall down and worship the golden statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. 6 But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be thrown into the middle of a furnace of blazing fire.””

Chaldean officials brought accusations against the three Jewish men, presumably for their refusal to participate in this act of idolatry.

Daniel 3:12 “12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. These men, O king, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods, nor do they worship the golden statue which you have set up.”

So the king was really mad, and he actually had the 3 men brought before him and gave them one more shot… when you hear the music, will you worship the statue?

their reply was nothing short of amazing...

Daniel 3:16–18 “16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we are not in need of an answer to give you concerning this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up.””

King Nebuchadnezzer was so mad, his facial expression got kinda twisted… he ordered the fire to get cranked up to 7 times the normal heat. Had a few of his best warriors to secure the 3 Jews and throw them in.

If it wasn’t interesting yet, this is where unexpected things happen.

Now they were tied up fully clothed, pants, shirts, jackets, even hats, and thrown into the middle of this incredibly hot furnace.

It was so hot… the soldiers that threw them in died.

2 things that happened next, that most will miss.

Daniel 3:24–27 “24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up quickly; he said to his counselors, “Was it not three men that we threw bound into the middle of the fire?” They replied to the king, “Absolutely, O king.” 25 He responded, “Look! I see four men untied and walking about in the middle of the fire unharmed, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came out of the middle of the fire. 27 The satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men, nor was the hair of their heads singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had even the smell of fire touched them.”

So, we might ask ourselves, What did I miss?

Sure we know the story, they weren’t burned, and Jesus was with them.

Remember how hot it was, 7 times normal, killed the guards…

but something WAS destroyed in that furnace though… The ropes that bound them.

What man used to hurt them, God used to free them.

Another thing we might miss here… the scripture never says the 3 men saw Jesus with them.

The King saw Him… scripture say they were freed from their bonds and walking around… trusting God to protect them… but the king saw Jesus, the 4th man.

So, if you feel the heat of the furnace of life, and it’s tough… first, He may be using the fire to free you from some sort of bondage, and trust Him to get you through it… you may not see Him, or feel Him… but somebody else might see that Jesus is with you if you hold your faith.… who was it, the aggressor, the enemy… another slap in the face to the enemy that throws you into the fire.

Worship team

And when you come out of the fire, you won’t come out burned… or broken, but free from the bindings that you went in with.

Are you trusting Him completely today?

With everything?

Are you letting Him transform you?