The Firery Furnace

Recap:

Last week we looked at the introduction to our passage of scripture we aer examining this week.

Nebuchadnezzar had set up an Idol in the plain of dura

90ft tall

and 9ft wide

The thing with idols that we noted last week was that Babylon was full of them, and this was just another one added to the pile of false man made gods that they worshiped

But tht hign with idols is they never satisfy you

They are not real

They are simly objects

But when we worship the true and living God, seated on the throne, soveriegn over all, we have the promise:

He is never going to leave us

That he answers when we pray to Him

That he will lead and guide us

That He is all we need

That God alone satsisfies us, only he Can

Nebuchadnezar then called all his officials to come to the plain of dura to show off his giant statue, his new idol!

Then he demanded that the officials of his kingdom that whenever they hear the sound of any music they are to bow down and worship the image.

As we looked at this, we asked where it is that we are stading:

Is it anchored to the truth of Scripture

Is it resting solidly upon the grace of God

It is important for us as know where we stand before the hard times come. Trust me it is not something that you want to be figuring out when the trials and tribulations come!

Romans 5:1–5 ESV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Paul makes it clear that becuase we are saved, justified, by faith we now have access to the grace of God where we should be, and need to be standing!

Why because trials and tribualations are coming to the life of the believer!

Trials that stretch us

Trials that bring the impurities of our lives to the surface that we might deal wit them

Trials that bring about sanctification which results in hope!

But we have only two options as believers we stand, and come what may

Or we will compromise!

But when we compromise our faith and walk because we want to be liked, or avoid difficulty in our lives, you also have to be prepared, because your compromise will never be enough for the enemy!

He will demand more and more compromise until your life is effectively usesless for anything pertaining to the kingdom of God!

Introduction:

making a stand for Jesus cannot be something we only talk about!

No taking a stand requires action!

Take for example the Story of John Huss

“Huss was born to peasant parents in "Goosetown," that is, Husinec, in the south of today's Czech Republic. (In his twenties, he shortened his name to Huss—"goose," and he and his friends delighted in making puns on his name; it was a tradition that continued, especially with Luther, who reminded his followers of the "goose" who had been "cooked" for defying the pope).

To escape poverty, Huss trained for the priesthood: "I had thought to become a priest quickly in order to secure a good livelihood and dress and to be held in esteem by men." He earned a bachelor's, master's, and then finally a doctorate. Along the way he was ordained (in 1401) and became the preacher at Prague's Bethlehem Chapel (which held 3,000), the most popular church in one of the largest of Europe's cities, a center of reform in Bohemia (for example, sermons were preached in Czech, not Latin).

During these years, Huss underwent a change. Though he spent some time with what he called a "foolish sect," he finally discovered the Bible: "When the Lord gave me knowledge of Scriptures, I discharged that kind of stupidity from my foolish mind."

The writings of John Wycliffe had stirred his interest in the Bible, and these same writings were causing a stir in Bohemia (technically the northeastern portion of today's Czech Republic, but a general term for the area where the Czech language and culture prevailed). The University of Prague was already split between Czechs and Germans, and Wycliffe's teachings only divided them more. Early debates hinged on fine points of philosophy (the Czechs, with Wycliffe, were realists; the Germans nominalists). But the Czechs, with Huss, also warmed up to Wycliffe's reforming ideas; though they had no intention of altering traditional doctrines, they wanted to place more emphasis on the Bible, expand the authority of church councils (and lessen that of the pope), and promote the moral reform of clergy. Thus Huss began increasingly to trust the Scriptures, "desiring to hold, believe, and assert whatever is contained in them as long as I have breath in me."

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A political struggle ensued, with the Germans labeling Wycliffe and his followers heretics. With the support of the king of Bohemia, the Czechs gained the upper hand, and the Germans were forced to flee to other universities.

The situation was complicated by European politics, which watched as two popes vied to rule all of Christendom. A church council was called at Pisa in 1409 to settle the matter. It deposed both popes and elected Alexander V as the legitimate pontiff (though the other popes, repudiating this election, continued to rule their factions). Alexander was soon "persuaded"—that is, bribed—to side with Bohemian church authorities against Huss, who continued to criticize them. Huss was forbidden to preach and excommunicated, but only on paper: with local Bohemians backing him, Huss continued to preach and minister at Bethlehem Chapel.

When Alexander V's successor, the antipope John XXIII (not to be confused with the modern pope by the same name), authorized the selling of indulgences to raise funds for his crusade against one of his rivals, Huss was scandalized and further radicalized. The pope was acting in mere self-interest, and Huss could no longer justify the pope's moral authority. He leaned even more heavily on the Bible, which he proclaimed the final authority for the church. Huss further argued that the Czech people were being exploited by the pope's indulgences, which was a not-so-veiled attack on the Bohemian king, who earned a cut of the indulgence proceeds.

Scripture rebel

With that Huss lost the support of his king. His excommunication, which had been tacitly dropped, was now revived, and an interdict was put upon the city of Prague: no citizen could receive Communion or be buried on church grounds as long as Huss continued his ministry. To spare the city, Huss withdrew to the countryside toward the end of 1412. He spent the next two years in feverish literary activity, composing a number of treatises. The most important was The Church, which he sent to Prague to be read publicly. In it he argued that Christ alone is head of the church, that a pope "through ignorance and love of money" can make many mistakes, and that to rebel against an erring pope is to obey Christ.

In November 1414, the Council of Constance assembled, and Huss was urged by Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund to come and give an account of his doctrine. Because he was promised safe conduct, and because of the importance of the council (which promised significant church reforms), Huss went. When he arrived, however, he was immediately arrested, and he remained imprisoned for months. Instead of a hearing, Huss was eventually hauled before authorities in chains and asked merely to recant his views.

When he saw he wasn't to be given a forum for explaining his ideas, let alone a fair hearing, he finally said, "I appeal to Jesus Christ, the only judge who is almighty and completely just. In his hands I plead my cause, not on the basis of false witnesses and erring councils, but on truth and justice." He was taken to his cell, where many pleaded with him to recant. On July 6, 1415, he was taken to the cathedral, dressed in his priestly garments, then stripped of them one by one. He refused one last chance to recant at the stake, where he prayed, "Lord Jesus, it is for thee that I patiently endure this cruel death. I pray thee to have mercy on my enemies." He was heard reciting the Psalms as the flames engulfed him.” (Christianity Today Church History Archives)

Stirring Up Trouble:

Daniel 3:8–12 ESV

8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. 9 They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. 11 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. 12 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.”

You can imagine that there were certain people in the kings employ who propably would not have like the young Jews who had risen to power in the kings service!

They were captives

They in their eyes, didnt really work their way to the top they just got there by their buddy who “happened to interpret the drea of the king”

They were probably jealous and wanted to get rid of them.

So taking note of their actions they notice that these three men didn’t bow before the idol that king had put in place in the plain of Dura

and in their minds they had their ammunition against them!

So they approach the king

Daniel 3:8 ESV

8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews.

Daniel records their intentions when approaching the king

They were malicious

They wanted to accuse them before the king!

Why?

Because they knew the consequence

Nebuchadnezzar had said that anyone who did not bow down to the idol and worship a the sound of the music then they would be cast into the firery furnance.

The Accusation:

Daniel 3:11–12 ESV

11 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. 12 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.”

They reminded teh king that he had said that if anyone doesn’t heed your command and bow down that they would be thrown into the firery furnace to be destroyed.

They wanted this fro Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

They wanted them out of their way politically and in regards to the power they had as provincial leaders.

Then they took these men and painted them as those who just blatently disregarding the kings decree!

They pay no attention to what you say

They don’t serve your gods or worship the golden image

It was true that out of devotion for the true God of the Bible they did not follow the kings decree!

They made a stand with and for God!

They were not willing to defile themselves and their God by bowing down to an idol!

They were not willing to compromise

But what we see here is the product of making the decision to stand upon the truth of God long before they found themselves in a place of trial.

Back in daniel they purposes with Daniel not to defile thmselves!

They had chosen to stand upon the Word of God, the Law of God, and in exile to walk in obedience to the truth.

There was no compromise!

They knew the consquences but they trusted God anyways!

Isn’t that such a beautiful picture of surrender to God!

To know this world would desire to do you harm for following God, yet you follow Him anyway!

You stay true

You don’t compormise

You walk by faith and leave the consequence to Him.

The King wasn’t very happy:

Daniel 3:13 ESV

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

Nebuchadnezzar as we said before was not the most tolerant and stable man!

I know how I feel when I feel disrespected, I don’t like it!

But I am not a king either!

So nebuchadnezzar the ego maniac came out and he was enraged at the choice these godly men had made to defy him in service to their Lord!

Get them in here, right Now!

Last Chance:

Daniel 3:14–15 ESV

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?”