Jesus in the Midst
Daniel • Sermon • Submitted
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· 8 viewsThis world is constantly asking us to go against the Word of God and His principles. In Daniel 3 we have an example of how to stand against the trials of this life and bring glory to God as Jesus meets us in the midst.
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Memorial Day
Memorial Day
I love our country. I love the fact that it has been under the blessing of God since it’s conception.
It was founded on the principles of the Bible by men that feared God and eschewed evil.
These blessing were not free. They were only afforded to us through they greatest of sacrifices.
In a gesture much like that of our Lord Jesus Christ, men and women laid down their lives so that we can have the joys and freedoms of this great nation.
I want us to stand together on this Memorial Day weekend and give a shout of praise for all our family and friends and even strangers that were will to die that we might live the way that we do. Stand with me and give a praise of thanksgiving.
Remain standing as I pray.
Communion
The freedom of our country didn’t begin with the sacrifice of men but ultimately with the sacrifice of Christ. It was God who first was willing to give his Son so that we could have the life and freedom we now possess.
The bread represents the body of our Lord broken, bruised, and battered for the iniquity of us all.
The wine represents the life of Jesus that was poured out on the cross not only taking his life but giving life to all who would receive it.
If you have been healed by the strips of Christ’s broken body and you have entered into a covenant relationship with God through the blood of His Son. I invite you to come and remember the Lord through this time of communion.
If you are desiring to have this relationship with God please reveal that by coming and standing with me here at the front.
Let us pray and thank the Lord for freedom granted to us through Jesus His Son.
Bumper
Introduction:
The country we live in now does not hold the same values as it once did. Even the fact that we have “In God We Trust” on our money is an offence to some.
The values and godly expressions of the Bible are no longer the final authority for life and practice in this country. People have taken there civil liberties to a place of offences to God and Man.
When the world view of a people change so do the rules. We, as Christians are demanded to tolerate or even endorse lifestyles that we know to be an abomination to God.
We are now having to navigate waters that we have never sailed before. The divide over these issues is so strong in our country that it’s only a matter of time until one side wins and one side looses.
So what do we do when our government is making laws that go directly against our core beliefs and even the very commands of God. How do we live peaceably among men in a godless society.
This is by no means the first time this has happened in history. And this morning I want us to open our Bibles to Daniel chapter 3 and let’s see how the boys from Jerusalem handled it.
1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
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.
Daniel
6 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.”
Daniel 3:4
This is a problem for the Hebrews. It is in direct violation of the first commandment from God.
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
Exodus
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
Exodus 20:
5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,
There were many Hebrews that would have been in the land at that time. Everyone must choose what kind of follower they will be.
The compromising Christian
Or the unwavering Believer
Body:
Three rules for when you must break the rules:
1. When the world makes you choose, choose God.
1. When the world makes you choose, choose God.
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.
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?”
Dan 3:13
Obey until you can’t obey!
Obey until you can’t obey!
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
Obey God above all!
Obey God above all!
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
Count the Cost!
Count the Cost!
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.”
Dan
Their faith never wavered on the mighty hand of God.
God has the power to save.
God has the power to deliver when necessary.
Until you are willing to die you don’t truly live.
What do you stand for?
Are you willing to stand alone?
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
2. When the Fiery Trials come look for Jesus in the Midst.
2. When the Fiery Trials come look for Jesus in the Midst.
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.
Dan 3:19-23
Jesus is aware of your fiery trials!
Jesus is aware of your fiery trials!
1 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
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.
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.”
Is 43:
Jesus will meet you in the trial!
Jesus will meet you in the trial!
When it seems that all hope is lost, Jesus will meet you in the trial.
When the furnace has been heated more than you can stand it, Jesus will meet you in the trial.
When there is not way out don’t you doubt, Jesus will meet you in trial.
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.”
Dan 3:24
8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
2 Cor 4:
3. When we stand in the midst of the trials the world will take notice.
3. When we stand in the midst of the trials the world will take notice.
The fiery trial draws people closer to God!
The fiery trial draws people closer to God!
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!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.
Dan 3:
When Jesus meets you in the trial, you don’t want to come out.
Being with Jesus in the trial is better than being without Jesus with no trial.
Your fiery trial will bring glory to God!
Your fiery trial will bring glory to God!
28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.
Dan 3:28
God uses the fiery trials to promote his people!
God uses the fiery trials to promote his people!
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Conclusion:
As we bow our heads together this morning and concentrate on the message.
I wonder if you are facing a fiery trial in your life today?
The world is asking you to compromise everything you are or face the fiery furnace and your trying to stand.
If you willing to stand in the face of the trial God will stand with you and Jesus will meet you in the trial.
Are you tired of letting the world dictate your life of rebellion and pain? Jesus will meet you in the trial.
