Homesick: In the fire

Have a bad day?

double drive by baptism

Jesus said in this life you will have many troubles:

you will be criticized for your faith

health issues

financial challenges

discouraged

depressed

grieve

1 Peter 1:7 NLT

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

A faith that is tested is a faith that can be trusted

Review:

King Nebuchandnezzar most powerful man - king of Babylon

After conquering Judah, ordered the capture of the best and brightest

Daniel & his 3 friends were most likely teenagers

Last week:

Jeff talked about

King Neb making golden statue 90ft high & 9 ft wide

every government leader, adviser, judge, magistrate to come to the dedication!

Daniel 3:4–6 ESV

And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 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. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.”

v. 12-15 everyone bowing

but 3 standing tall

3 qualities of standing in faith

1) Faith always obeys God instead of following man

Daniel 3:16 NLT

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.

Dan 3:17-

Daniel 3:17–18 ESV

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. 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.”

I love that they didn’t need to defend themselves

don’t have to explain everything

Didn’t weigh pros & cons

didn’t post on FB ask for advise

didn’t have to pray about it

the plan was obedience

Think of how easy it would be to have rationalized a different plan

fake it - bow down but won’t really worship idol! fingers crossed

maybe just worship this one time & ask for forgiveness - God will understand

besides if we die who will help these people?

I PROMISE YOU:

if your commited to serving God

Satan will give you ample opportunities to compromise your commitment

Faith obeys God instead of following man

2) Faith believes in spite of what it sees

Daniel 3:17 NLT

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.

No matter what I see - my faith says that God is able!

see a bad medical report - my God is willing & able to heal!

see a broken relationsihp - my God is willing and able to restore!

See a dangerously low bank account - my God is willing & able to provide!

God is willing and able to do exceedingly & abundantly more!

Wayne story with my mom

my faith believes in spite of what it sees!

But what if God doesn’t do what I’m believing for Him to do???!!!!

3) Faithful obedience is our responsibility - The outcome is God’s

Dan

Daniel 3:18 NLT

But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

Becasue we will do what is right before God & trust Him with the results!

Not a big deal when we know the end of the story

These 3 boys had no idea what would happen!

King ordered the furnace heated 7x hotter

strongest soldiers to tie up 3 men

thrown in

SO HOT FLAMES KILLED SOLDIERS

Daniel 3:24–25 NKJV

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.” “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.”

God reveals His power in many places but you’ll know His presence best in the fire!

read second half:

Daniel 3:27 NIV

and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

Didn’t bend, didn’t bow, because of God - wouldn’t burn

come out of hard time - can’t even tell

I would never know you went through the fire - didn’t go through alone!

Daniel 3:28 NIV

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

A Faith that is tested is a faith that can be trusted!