Faith Under Fire

Unshakable: Faith under Fire

Liz Gibson Jerry Lott

Stanley Green John and Nelda Haire

Doris Hyde

May 26, 2019

Introduction

We are in the middle of a series entitled, “Unshakable.” In this series, we are looking at the book of Daniel. In the book of Daniel, we see example after example of unshakable faith. The question that we need to be asking ourselves throughout this series, “Do we have an unshakable faith?”

Illustration: Tight Roper over Niagra Falls — Pushes Wheel bearer — Any Volunteers

The sermon today is about faith. The sermon today is about our faith being under fire. The sermon today is about our faith being put to the test.

Read Text

Chapter 3 is all about S, M, and A. Daniel is out of this story. Some have asked, “Does that mean Daniel bowed to the image?” That’s like asking Sean Peyton if he’s going to bench Drew Brees. It ain’t happening. Daniel bowing to the golden image. Not happening. is not about Daniel. This chapter is about his three friends: S, M, and A.

Growing up this was one of my favorite stories in the Bible. These three didn’t bow the golden image of King Nebi. They didn’t budge in their faith when threatened with death. S, M, and A didn’t burn when they were thrown into the fiery furnace.

It’s a powerful story of faith. It’s a powerful story of our faith being put to the test.

1. The Fire We Face

Explanation: Nebi brings all his official to the plain of Dura to dedicate and worship the golden image that he had built. Verse 3 is the pecking order of Babylonian officials. Circle the position of governor. S, M, and A were governors. In the last chapter, they were promoted from counselors to governors.

S, M, and A had it pretty good. S, M, and A were not Babylonians. They were Hebrews from Israel. The Babylonians had defeated and destroyed Israel. S, M, and A came to Babylon as prisoners of war. They are put in a program in which they become wise men to the king and eventually promoted to governors. Not bad for three prisoners of war. S, M, and A had it pretty good.

But now the find themselves in quite the predicament. King Nebi, the most powerful king in the world, wants them to bow to a golden image. Doing so would break the first two of the 10 commandments.

(KJV) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

(KJV) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them …

Illustrations: Funny Test Questions

For S, M, and A, their faith is being put to the test. Will they honor God or will they honor the king? Will they worship only God, or they worship the golden statue? Their faith is being put to the test.

When they refused to bow, they faced the fury of the king and ended up in the fiery furnace. Their faith is literally under fire. Their faith is being put to the test.

Application: I don’t want you to misunderstand me. This is a true story, a real story. This is not fiction. But fire in the Bible is also symbolic of testing, trials, suffering.

We go through the fires of life. We go through testing and trials in life.

How has your faith been tested? Is your faith being tested?

Maybe your faith is being tested by a sickness or the health of a friend or family member. Maybe, your faith is being testing situations at work — your boss is asking you to do something that is unethical. Maybe, your faith is being tested on how you will handle success? Or maybe your faith is being tested because you have hit rock bottom in life. Maybe, your faith is being tested every weekend — should I go to church or do something else? Maybe, your faith is being tested by a modern day idol. A modern day idol is anything that takes God’s place in our hearts.

(NLT) Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

The building needs at our church is a test of our faith.

How is your faith being tested?

2. The Faith We Follow

Explanation: S, M, and A pass the test. They do not deny their faith. They did not compromise their faith. Their faith led them to obey God’s Word even though the outcome was far from certain. I want you to see a couple of things about the faith of S, M, and A.

First, they had a strong faith. (v. 17). They believed that God was able to deliver them from the fiery furnace of King Nebi. They believe that God had the power to save them from the fire.

Second, they had a steadfast faith. (v. 18). Notice that phrase “if not.” If not had nothing to do with God’s being able. If not had nothing do with God’s power. What if God had a different outcome in mind. What if God had different purpose in mind. They had a steadfast faith. Even if God didn’t deliver, they were not going to bend or bow.

Application: Do we have a strong faith? Do we believe that God can deliver us from the fire? Do we believe that God can save us from the crisis? Our God is able. God can help us avoid the fire. God can take us out of bad situations.

But what if God chooses not to? What if God has a different purpose? But do we have a steadfast faith? God doesn’t always deliver us from the fire. God doesn’t always save us from a crisis.

(NKJV) And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell o Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

(NKJV) … Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us…

I think about two of Jesus’ disciples in the book of Acts: Peter and James. Peter was miraculously freed from prison. James was the first of the disciples to give is life for the cause of Christ.

God doesn’t always deliver us from the fire. God doesn’t always save us from a crisis.

Do we have steadfast faith? Are we going to put our faith in God no matter the outcome?

Steadfast faith comes with a promise. God will always be with us. When S, M, and A, were in the fiery furnace, King Nebi looked in and saw a son of God. (v. 25) Nebi didn’t see a son of God. He saw the son of God. He saw Jesus. Jesus is always with us. Jesus walks with us through the fires of life.

(NKJV) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Conclusion

Brian Sternberg. A nationally acclaimed track star, he held several records in pole vault competition. The 1963 season, when Brian was nineteen years old, held unbelievable success. He made sports headlines every week. He remained undefeated in outdoor competition, and he set his first world record. Excitement and thrills embellished the spring and summer for the Sternbergs.

Then, three weeks after Brian had set his last world record, everything changed. On July 2, 1963, while working out on the trampoline in preparation for the U.S. track team’s tour of Russia, Brian landed on his neck. There was a crack; then all feeling and movement in his arms and legs were gone.

Brian Sternberg was a Christian, and his faith was put to the test. He faced a crisis that threatened to leave him a quadriplegic the rest of his life, confined to a wheelchair. Brian had faith that God could and would heal his paralysis. Now, years later, he is still paralyzed. Did his faith fail? Did he not have enough faith? Did God make a mistake? Did God forsake his child?

Less than a year after the accident, Brian was asked to write an article for Look magazine. He ended with these powerful words that describe a Biblical view of faith: “Having faith is a necessary step toward one of two things. Being healed is one of them. Peace of mind, if healing does not come, is the other. Either one will suffice.”1

Yet the fact remained that when Philip Yancey left the house of Brian Sternberg, he sensed the mood of “an uncompleted, uncomfortable struggle mixed with tough, undying faith.” As Brian struggled to find enough human faith, he forgot that God is sovereign, and he lost his peace of mind.2