Fireproof Faith

Introduction

We continue our series in the book of Daniel and there’s something that has struck me as we go through, and that is that while these are very familiar stories, they just hit differently today. Once upon a time, we read these stories of Daniel and we lived so securely in a world we knew and understood. Once upon a time, the Judeo-Christian view was highly regarded and considered admirable. Once upon a time the values and character traits that we hold so near and dear to our hearts as children of God were lauded by society.

Times Have Changed

But church, those days are gone. We live in a new world, and while, no, they’re not feeding s to the lions yet, we certainly don’t enjoy the high esteem of men any longer do we? It seems as each day goes on, we are opposed more and more. But we should not be dismayed at this, Ecclesiastes tells us that there’s nothing new under the sun. This isn’t the first time the church has faced persecution and it won’t be the last.

As we’ve gone through the book of Daniel we find a people that is totally defeated, completely conquered, and yet in the midst of that we find a God who is absolutely bound and determined to show Himself faithful, even in the midst of these calamitous circumstances.

God Has Not Changed

And so, today, as we go through this unprecedented time in the American church, we can look to the same God who champions the cause of His people in the midst of it all. We must allow our faith to rise up, and meet the challenges that we face. This is the only way we will ever be able to stand in days such as these. Today we take a look at just this kind of faith. What kind of faith you may ask?

Faith That Stands in the Face of the Fire

In Dan 1, we were introduced to three companions of Daniel: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, like Daniel, they were young men taken from Judah into captivity and trained to serve before the king.

Like Daniel, they were blessed by God and impressed the king after their period of training.

Dan 3 reveals more about the character of these three young men in recounting an incident that has fascinated many, both young and old.

Like Dan 1, it illustrates the power of a strong faith in not only those who are young, but rather in those who would trust God no matter what the outcome.

The Trial

What Led to It?

Daniel 3:1–7 NKJV

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. 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. 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. Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 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; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” 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.

So the king made an image of himself. The ruler, the governing authority, the head of the government itself declared that he should be worshipped and obeyed over and above the commands of the Lord God Almighty. Does that sound uncomfortably familiar yet church?

Well, the people of God were having none of that, and that wouldn’t do. The people of the nation, the leaders brought a charge against them for defying the command of the king, read with me.

Daniel 3:8–12 NKJV

Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 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; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 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.”

Well, this did not go over well with the king. He was accustomed to getting his way and so he issues up a great big threat.

Daniel 3:13–15 NKJV

Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. 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? 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?”

The arrogance of government to think that it has the ultimate authority! Saints, we serve a higher law than the law of man, we serve a greater king than the kings, prime ministers, premiers and presidents of any land on the face of this earth. Don’t you ever forget that, because in the end, He is the only one to whom you will have to answer.

The Ultimatum

Ha ha. OK boys, you’ve made your point. Now I’ll give you one last chance to do what you were supposed to do the first time. Remember, you have high ranking and position. Are you sure you want to throw it all away and not to mention cut your lives short to make a dumb point?

What a decision! I mean if we look at it a certain way, all they had to do was to conform outwardly. I mean they could just go along to get along. They could bow before the idol and still love God in their hearts right? They’d only be sacrificing a bit of their conscience after all, right? Perhaps. Or perhaps Sharach, Meschach, and Abed-Nego knew the word of God which says:

Exodus 20:4–5 NKJV

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—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; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

We Face a Similar Trial Today

This is often the compromise we are asked to make each and every day.

Our youth see it as pressure to retain their popularity at school, or on social media by doing things their peers or teachers do not see as being wrong.

As adults, there is the pressure to do that which our boss or company requires which may be illegal, unethical or immoral.

We are required to sacrifice our conscience.

It would be easy to conform outwardly, to "go along with the crowd"

But our conscience would condemn us, and so would God

Likely we all have been tempted in some way like this. How did we react? How should we have reacted? How did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego react?

Their Testimony

They Demonstrated Faith

Faith in the Power of God

Daniel 3:16–17 NKJV

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 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.

They started off by stating this matte of fact. God requires X, Y and Z, and we will not compromise. We have every confidence that God can and will deliver us from your hand. And then they add this little gem in verse 18

Daniel 3:18 NKJV

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.”

Look at that! Even if it costs us our lives, we aren’t going to sin against our God! That is amazing faith saints. They are stating the fact that they believe that God can and will save them, but at the same time they acknowledge that saving them would have to be according to God’s will. But Pastor, would God allow someone to be killed for obeying Him? Well, perhaps you can ask that question of Stephen.

If it was God's will not to deliver them, then so be it!

They would still not worship other gods, nor the gold image!

They Determined to Serve God, No Matter What

Like Job in the midst of his affliction.

Job 1:20–21 NKJV

Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Job 13:15 NKJV

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.

Like Habakkuk who would praise God even in suffering.

Habakkuk 3:17–19 NKJV

Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.

Like the apostles who rejoiced to suffer in His name. Saints, God’s goodness and faithfulness are absolute and have nothing to do with our circumstance or outward situation. In fact, we could stop this story, right there! Right in the middle, not knowing what happens next, and we would still have an example to live by. But aren’t you glad we don’t stop there?

Their Triumph

The Rest of the Story...

Daniel 3:19–25 NKJV

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. And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 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.”

It was such a triumph that even Nebuchadnezzar, their antagonist was forced to declare the goodness of God.

Daniel 3:26–30 NKJV

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. 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. 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! Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.

Consider What Their Trials Brought them

A New Sense of Freedom!

They entered bound, but were soon seen "loose, walking" -

Daniel 3:23–25 NKJV

And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 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.”

The very thing presumed to destroy them, enabled them to walk freely!

So our own trials can be used to set us truly free!

James 1:2–4 NKJV

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Romans 5:3–5 NKJV

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

A New Source of Fellowship!

Note: There was a fourth person in the fire! -

Daniel 3:25 NKJV

“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.”

The identity of this fourth person is not certain

Some think it was an angel, while others believe it was a Christophany (a preincarnate appearance of Christ). Whichever, it suggested a closer communion and fellowship with God!

So our trials can bring us closer to God

Hebrews 12:5–11 NKJV

And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

In fact, Jesus Himself promises it!

Revelation 3:12 NKJV

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

Revelation 7:13–17 NKJV

Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

A New Opportunity for Service

They were promoted to even higher positions!

Daniel 3:30 NKJV

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.

Just as Joseph, who in his trials went from slave to steward; from prisoner to Pharaoh's second hand man! So our faithfulness in trials will lead to greater things!

Matthew 25:21 NKJV

His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

Revelation 2:25–27 NKJV

But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father;

Revelation 2:25–27 NKJV

But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father;

Putting it All Together

What a wonderful example of faith in these three young men! Committed to serving God, no matter the consequence. Believing that God can bring deliverance, willing to accept death if He doesn't, demonstrating that faith in the face of fire can lead to greater things.

Let's not overlook perhaps the most important outcome of this incident: glory to God!

Note the praise rendered by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.

Daniel 3:28–29 NKJV

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! Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”

So our faith (and works) should be to the praise of God.

Matthew 5:16 NKJV

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

What kind of faith do we have? Is it like a....

Spare tire, used only in the case of an emergency?

Wheelbarrow, easily upset and must be pushed?

Bus, ridden only when it goes our way?

May our faith be like that of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, committed to serving the Lord and demonstrating "Faith In The Face Of Fire"!