Faith Under Fire

Faith is the Substance of Things Hoped for and evidence of things not seen

through faith we can overcome, grow, endure and accomplish

through faith we are saved

Without faith we cannot please God

Every person is given faith

Your faith will be tried, and tested

faith that is not tested is not faith

There are many trials of our faith

we are all familiar with the concept of tests of adversity

Faith is also tested by success

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego

These young men were friends of Daniel, and taken captive at about the same time as him

probably in their teen years

Daniel 1:1–7 NKJV

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god. 3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, 4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king. 6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.

Their story begins with great adversity

their parents were likely killed

their homes destroyed

taken as slaves to a far country

they were not taken as labor slaves, but to become advisors

they were made Eunuchs

taken becasue they were attractive and intelligent

they were to be taught the ways of the Babylonians, and could prosper - with limits

Although they had been through a lot - they could have it a lot better than their peers

as long as they pleased the master ---

they were offered the best meat and drinks

But Daniel Purposed In His Heart Not To Defile Himself With The King’s Meat

The first major test of their faith is recorded here.

they were at risk of their lives -

yet they refused to eat the kings meat

They refused to do what everyone else was doing - even if it caused consequences

in their case, even if that consequence was death

where have the men of this kind of faith gone?

So many people are willing to compromise all their principles at the pool of popularity

They ate only vegetables and water - and yet, they were healthier than their peers

In everything they were found to be 10 times better than the others

After you Have Made the Lord Your Confidence - He will exalt you

God will sustain you and deliver you from all adversity - when you put your trust in Him

Sometimes we confuse that with making us popular

Sometimes, it may seem like our faith has failed becasue even after choosing God over popularity, we are still unpopular

You may never be “popular” in this world, or among the ungodly, but you will be saved - God is able.

Even after 70 years, people were still plotting against Daniel, and God was still saving him in the lion’s den

let your faith be in God, and Your Hope in Him.

David said “One Thing” —

Faith Brings Promotion

After they were tried in their adversity, they were promoted.

They continually rose up in favor, and accomplishment

They performed their tasks well

it should be noted here that these were secular tasks

Christians who are good at talking about church and won’t do the job they are paid for, are not exercising faith — and many suffer as a result

whatever your hand does, you should do it to the best you can

As they advanced through natural means, God arranged supernatural promotion

A certain day came when the king had had a dream — and Daniel knew what to do

This is a common pattern

after you have done what you can do in the natural --- then comes the supernatural

we often want it the other way — so we do nothing — - but that is unlikely

Most things happen slow, steady, then suddenly

After this supernatural even, they were promoted above everyone else.

Daniel became a right hand advisor to the king and the other three became governors over the whole province of Babylon

they were finally there — they were at the top

like Joseph in Egypt, God had brought them from the pit to the palace

Success Also Brings Trials of your Faith.

I believe that it may be more difficult for most people to stay faithful when they are successful than when they are poor

When people have nothing left to lose, they often hold onto their faith in God

when you have already lost everything and have nothing left but faith

When you are desperate and have nowhere else to go

But when people have wealth and power and popularity, all kinds of temptations, and compromise come into play

It was success that led to Saul’s prideful downfall

Success lead to David’s lazy lust

Success and wealth lead to Solomon’s lustful idolatry

It was the power and position of success that led the Pharisees to reject Jesus and crucify Him

All of these men had come through some trials, by faith, but fell, not in their adversity, but in their prosperity.

When things start going good - beware - stay humble, stay prayerful

Just when everything was going great — their faith was tested

Daniel 3:1–15 NKJV

1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; 6 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” 7 So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.” 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”

We don’t know how long they had been in their positions, but it was probably some years

they were comfortable and secure

they were invited to the celebration - and they were front and center — main leaders

But they were ordered to bow before the image —

what would it really hurt — it was only for a moment

its just some metal after all — -not like it is a real god

I’m sure there were a thousand ways that they could reason it away

you should be careful when you have to start reasoning with your conscience

If you are asking yourself the question, you probably already know the answer — stop asking -

The just shall live by faith -

But if they don’t cooperate - they may lose their position —

they won’t just lose the position — but they also have friends, acquaintances

this has become their whole lives now

no doubt many people count on them to keep their position

they won’t be able to help their people if they get fired

Surely the good outweighs the bad — so easy to compromise our faith

Everyone else is doing it - thousands — in fact they are the only ones standing

Will you be standing when Jesus comes?

Or will you bow to your own golden image?

what are you being tempted by today? Where is your faith being compromised?

And Suddenly, the stakes went from power and popularity, to life and death

the king became so angry, he threatened their lives

they would bow or be thrown into the fire!

Their reply it the faith we all should live by

One of the greatest examples of faith and faithfulness in the bible.

Daniel 3:16–19 NKJV

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.

God Will --- But If Not

Their answer is where we should live in our faith

They knew God was able to save them

they believed that He would save them

They also knew that He would save them from the king’s hands — whether by life or by death

they said “he is able to deliver from the fire and He will save from you

Jesus said to have no fear of those who can kill your body

it is truly amazing how many people do not fear death, but certainly fear poverty or rejection

Many Pastors quite regularly compromise their own faith on this point

But they said — Even If He does not ---

even if God doesn’t do what I thought He would — I will serve Him

as Job said — though He slay me - yet will I trust Him

I think God will do many things - and sometimes I am right

but even if He does not — I will stand - we must stand

I have lost track of how many times God did it differently than I thought He would

like when we were advised to close our doors by our closest advisers

when we were threatened

when we were cut off from friendship and support — because of our stand of faith

In all these times, I thought it would work out differently — yet we are still here.

I didn’t know how God would move — but He did.

Christ In The Fire

In their case, the king did through them into the Fire

the furnace was heated so hot the soldiers died

They were tied and thrown in alive

I don’t think they were going to be thrown in

I think they probably thought some rain was coming

Or maybe the king would change his mind

But instead, they were thrown right into the flames

And you may get thrown into the fire too

When you stand for faith — you may well get rejected

when you overcome the temptations, you may lose your friends

and you may find yourself int he heat

We all want to avoid the fire - But God has not promised that

Instead, He promised that he would be there with us

that He would take us by the hand, and we will pass through the fires and the waters with Him

The Lord met them, there in those flames - and He will meet you too - if you don’t give up

in all your trials, in all your temptations, in all your victories and failures, He will meet your there.

Daniel 3:24–28 NKJV

24 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.” 25 “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.” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!

God was glorified in their trial

they were ok - they were not burnt

they did not even smell like smoke

When they were tired, they were promoted even more -

Whatever Trial You Face — God Can Save You From It - But If Not

Let your faith be unwavering

the “but if not faith” of these three

Peter said the trial of your faith is more precious than gold which perishes

when you have been tried, you will come forth pure, and glorious, and stronger than ever.

Are you facing adversity — have faith

Have you accomplished some success --- have faith

are things going your way? Keep looking to Jesus!

There is no limit tot he good that God wants to do in your life.