When Jesus Stops By: Into the Fire
When Jesus Stops By • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Intro:
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.
Today, we will continue our series, [When Jesus Stops By]. The subject of my message is [Into the Fire].
During World War II the US Forest Service worked hard to minimize forest fires. They did this long before the 1940s, but the war brought greater urgency.
Many firefighters were drafted into the service leaving less people at home to fight forest fires. Also, The Japanese used fires as part of their attacks on our country.
They fired shells from a submarine to near an oilfield in Santa Barbara, CA. They also launched 9,000 fire balloons between 1944-45 with the express purpose of causing wildfires.
To combat the enemy’s effort and to educate citizens, on August 9, 1944 they created a character who would help people learn about the dangers of forest fires.
He has a slogan that most people recognize— Only YOU can prevent forest fires. His name is Smokey Bear and he is almost eighty years old!
In one sense, he has been very successful. Almost everyone knows Smokey Bear and the dangers of forest fires. However, even thought he is almost eighty, as of 2021, nearly 80% of forest fires are started accidentally or unintentionally by humans.
In many parts of our country, it is a serious problems.
In August 2020 a forest fire started in Northern California that has burned one million acres. Another started in July 2021 and it has burned 490,205 acres.
And that is with our well known spokesman— Smokey the Bear.
The word fire holds a prominent place in Scripture. The fire, fires, or fiery is found in the Bible 574 times. As we look through Daniel 3 we might notice that the word fire is used six times and the word fiery is found eight times.
Daniel is an interesting book. It is a prophetic book, but interspersed between the prophecies are details about life in the Babylonian empire.
Daniel is the key figure of the book, but he is absent in chapter three. Instead, the focus is on his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
The three of them, along with Daniel, were forcibly removed from Jerusalem as teenagers and required to live in Babylon. Though they were hundreds of miles from home, they did not forget about God.
In fact, their devotion to God gave them favor with foreign kings. God promoted Daniel and his three friends to places of prominence in Babylon.
The Babylonian empire was located in modern-day Iraq. It was a little smaller that the state of Texas. It was the center of cultured life in that region.
Many of the Jews that were taken from Jerusalem adopted the culture and religion of Babylon, but there were a few who refused to reject the God of their youth.
Among them were Daniel and his three friends. As a governmental official, Daniel held great influence in Babylon, which explains his absence from Daniel 3. It is likely he was gone on official assignment.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stayed home and did something that caught God’s attention. In fact, their commitment and dedication caused Jesus to stop by.
How can we say that Jesus stopped by in the book of Daniel, nearly 600 years before His birth?
We believe in One God, made up of three Persons— Father, Son, and Spirit.
If in the Old Testament God appeared to someone, it couldn’t have been the Father, for no one can see His face and live.
It couldn’t have been the Spirit, for Jesus said we do not see the Spirit, but we feel Him.
Therefore, it was Jesus, in His preincarnate state, who came around to help those who desperately needed Him.
So let’s look at the events that lead to Jesus’s decision to stop by and see Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. I have three points, [Royal Proclamation], [Royal Pressure], and [Royal Person].
Let’s begin
1. Royal Proclamation
1. Royal Proclamation
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.
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.
The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, was the epitome of arrogance. In Daniel 2, he had a dream that frightened him. He challenged his magicians and sorcerers to not only interpret the dream, but to tell him what he dreamt.
None of them could do that, but there was one who could— Daniel. God told him the dream and gave the interpretation. Daniel explained that Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of a statue of a man with a:
head of gold
chest and arms of silver
belly and thighs of bronze
legs of iron
feet of iron and clay
He then explained that the head of gold symbolized Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom. The remaining parts of the statue described future kingdoms.
Initially, the king declared that Daniel’s God was the greatest of all. He gave Daniel a position in the king’s court and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were in charge of state affairs, they had a governmental position.
Scholars believe about fourteen years separate chapters two and three. By this point, it is believed that Daniel is on a governmental assignment.
Nebuchadnezzar issues a royal proclamation, build a state that is 90 foot tall and 9.5 foot wide.
To give perspective of how tall this is:
about six midsize vehicles
a little more than one semi truck
or half of a Boeing 757 airplane
Abraham lincoln statue in DC is 99’
Taum Sauk Tower is 72’
The king did this to bring religious unity in the empire. He wanted people to worship him and bow down to him. He misinterpreted Daniel’s interpretation of the dream and he forgot that he declared Daniel’s God as the only true God.
The statue was made of wood and overlayed with gold. On the outside it was imperishable, but on the inside it was inferior, just like Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom.
His plan was simple, when the statue was up, and the musicians begin to play, EVERYONE has to bow before the statue. Those who do not, will be placed into a fiery furnace.
I envision the day arriving, a bright sunny day, with the sun reflecting off the gold. With the statue being 90 foot, the same as a nine story building, people could see it for a long distance!
It is estimated that there were 300,000 people standing before the statue. Once the music started, 299,997 people bowed their knees to the statue.
ALMOST everyone followed the royal proclamation, both gentile and jew alike. But the refusal of the three was just what was needed to set the stage for Jesus to stop by.
2. Royal Pressure
2. Royal Pressure
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?
For whatever reason, Nebuchadnezzar did not see the defiance of the three who refused to bow. He was resting on the praise of his empire when some officials came to inform Nebuchadnezzar, we have a problem.
We read your royal proclamation, we played the music, and ALMOST everyone bowed down.
I wonder what the king thought. Perhaps he assumed it was a peasant or a radical, he was surprised when he discovered who defied his orders.
They let him know, it was Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They also reminded the king that he put them in charge of the province of Babylon.
They began to drag the three men through the mud. Remember King, you gave them favor. You honored them with position. And they did not pay attention to you.
They refuse to serve your gods and they did not worship your statue! He became livid and ordered the three come to him at once.
6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame.
King Nebuchadnezzar wanted everyone to love him as much as he loved himself. When that did not happen, he became jealous, burning with anger.
The three men were brought before the king, and he began to question them. He wanted to know why they defied him. He pressured them to worship or burn.
I notice in verse 14, he asks a very foolish question, after I have thrown you into the blazing fire, WHAT GOD WILL BE ABLE TO RESCUE YOU FROM MY POWER.
He crossed a line when he chose to belittle the God of Israel. As the fiery furnace blazed, I can see Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego begin to burn with righteous anger.
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.
It as though they asked, you want to know which God will help us?
It is the GOD WE SERVE! He is able to protect us. He is able to rescue us from you. That took great boldness, but their next statement took great faith.
Even if God does not rescue is, let us make this very clear, WE WILL NEVER SERVE YOUR GODS AND WE WILL NEVER WORSHIP YOUR GOLDEN STATUE!
The refused to change their convictions because of the circumstances. They were going to follow God regardless of the consequences.
Wouldn’t our world be a much better place if people of God would refuse to change their convictions regardless of the circumstances that surround them!
Royal proclamations and royal pressures from an earthly king would not change these men. God looked on their faithfulness and very soon we see the...
3. Royal Person
3. Royal Person
22 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.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
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.”
The king lost all control of his anger. He ordered those in charge of the fire to make the furnace seven times hotter. Then he instructed them to tie up the defiant civil servants.
Nebuchadnezzar made a huge mistake. Because not only did he challenge the faith of these men, he challenged the God of these men.
The fire was so hot that those who through them in the fire immediately died because of the heat. That did not bother the king, all he wanted was the trouble makers to suffer.
I can envision the king growing impatient to discover the fate of the three men. Like most authoritarian leaders, he was troubled, insecure, and had a complex.
Perhaps he slowly came close to the opening of the fire to see the charred bodies or pile of ash of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
To his surprise, and frustration, he thought he was seeing things. He asked, didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?
LOOK, I see four men, they are unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed, and the fourth looks like the Son of God!
I love the way Oral Roberts describes this:
When the soldiers threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the fiery furnace, the Fourth Man hurled himself through space and in a moment's time was beside them, going into the burning fiery furnace with them.
By the time the door was shut, He had ripped off their bonds and clothed them with divine protection. When the king looked in, all four of them were walking around in the fire, unhurt and untouched by the flames.
The form of the Fourth Man was like the Son of God!
Who is the Fourth Man?
He is the same Man that visited Abraham at his tent, promising that in a year he and Sarah would have a son.
He is the same Man who wrestled with Jacob all night.
He is the same Man who told Joshua, I am the commander of the Lord’s army.
He is the same Man who came to Gideon and gave him instruction for the Israel.
He is the same Man who came into the midst of the burning fiery furnace to help people who refused to bow to the pressures of Satan!
Who is the Fourth Man to us?
We know Him as Savior
We know Him as Baptizer in the Holy Spirit
We know Him as Healer
We know Him as Coming King
and we call Him JESUS, the one who stopped by!
His royal power is greater any earthly king or leader!
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.
Notice the difference in Nebuchadnezzar. Earlier in the day he asked, WHO IS YOUR GOD that He can overcome ME?
Now, he calls them servants of the Most High God! Imagine his surprise when they left the furnace, unharmed by the heat, without a scent of smoke on their unburned clothing.
The king made another royal proclamation that no one could say anything negative or try to come against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
If they do, they will be cut in pieces and their house burned, because there is no God who can deliver like this. Then he promoted them to even higher positions of leadership!
Close:
I have always loved hearing and reading about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Everything changed for them when they refused to bow.
Had they been like the 299,997 other people, we would not even know their names. One author explains, “History does not usually elevate acts of cowardice.”
But they trusted God and He came through for them!
Our day is not that different Ancient Babylon. We live in a world filled with leaders who look to themselves as gods instead of trusting God.
World leaders and many people give lip service to God, but when it is time to stand for what is right, people habitually bow to pressure.
Now, we see a day when the heat is up and the pressure is on for Christians to abandon their principles, evolve from their outdated mindsets, and bow to the evils of the age.
I had someone tell me once, “Well Daniel, you wouldn’t understand, you’re too old-school.” I replied, “I prefer the term biblical.”
And if we will live a life based on Scripture, then we will discover that even though the world is turning the heat up on Christians, our God is not afraid of fire.
In fact, we read that:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Sure, Satan might try to threaten us and tempt us. He does all he can to cause us to bend and bow with pressures from the world. BUT REMEMBER, the fire could not overwhelm Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
For they burned with a passion for God that was unrivaled. Let the same be said of us. We might be surrounded with an inferno of threats and attacks.
I cannot say that we are persecuted in the US, but we are definitely under pressure to bow. But, God wants His fire to burn within us.
I am talking about:
the fire that spoke to Moses from the burning bush
the fire that protected the Israelites at night
the fire that consumed the sacrifices and the offerings
the fire that came down on the Tabernacle when God spoke to Moses
the fire that fell when Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal
Let us never forget the promise from the prophet:
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
What can give us this type of confidence?
If God is truly in us, He will consume every part of us! So let us pray for the fire of God to take control. Let’s get into the fire!
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
If we will let Jesus baptize us with the Holy Spirit and FIRE, we will have supernatural power to overcome every pressure from the enemy to bow.
And when Satan turns up the heat we can remember:
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
Then enemy will try to get us to bend and bow, but with the fire of the Spirit burning within us, we can have the boldness to declare, MY GOD WHOM I SERVE WILL DELIVER ME!
And that faith will get God’s attention, Jesus still stop by, and we will leave the trial unscathed, without the smell of smoke on us!