Facing the Fire
The Sovereignty of God | A Study Through the Book of Daniel • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 2 viewsGod never promises to take us out of the fire, but He does promise to be with us in the fire.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
We have to understand that choices have decisions, even choices that honor God. As found in the previous text, the Hebrew men, stood for God and refused to kneel down before Nebuchadnezzar. This was not a decision that took them long. They knew instantly, even under derision, that they must remain faithful. Would their faithfulness take away the fire of the enemy or would they have to face the fire? 9 out of 10 times, we find that God will not take us out of the fire, but He will definitively see us through the fire. We must have the same faith that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego had and trust the sovereignty of God.
Daniel 3:17–18 (NASB 2020)
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up.”
Focus Passage: Daniel 3:19-25
Daniel 3:19–25 (NASB 2020)
Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. He answered by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. And he ordered certain valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in order to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. Then these men were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their caps, and their other clothes, and were thrown into the middle of the furnace of blazing fire. For this reason, because the king’s command was harsh and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell into the middle of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up quickly; he said to his counselors, “Was it not three men that we threw bound into the middle of the fire?” They replied to the king, “Absolutely, O king.” He responded, “Look! I see four men untied and walking about in the middle of the fire unharmed, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!”
Outline
The rage of the enemy (vv. 19-22)
The enemy is consumed with anger and hatred for God’s people - ‘…filled with wrath...’
The idea that is presented in the Hebrew, his facial expression was changed, gives the idea of a locked jaw and grinding teeth. What a great picture of what the enemy truly looks like. He was giving the three Hebrews a chance to change their mind, I’m certain his facial expression was subdued and calm. Now, when he realized they would not cower down, his true colors have come through. He was not Christian. He was not believer in God. He was a believer in self and was a megalomaniac. He is definitive picture of Satan himself. He paints a good picture to entice those that follow him, but inwardly he just wishes to destroy.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.
The enemy reveals his true spiritual state (vv. 20-21)
He shows that there will be no escape from his wrath, he ordered certain valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. He shows his own urgency in destroying those who resist him, tied up in their trousers…coats…caps…other clothes…thrown them into the middle of the furnace of blazing fire. He shows not regard or value for the life of others, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.
The believer’s faith in the sovereignty of God (v. 23)
The believer is called to have faith in the sovereignty of God
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up.”
The believer is called to act in their faith in the sovereignty of God
The believer can rest in the sovereignty of God
God’s providential hand (vv. 24-25)
Often the words sovereignty and providence are used interchangeably. However, these words are different and have different meanings. When using them to define characteristics of God, the sovereignty of God means that God is in control of all things. When using the word providence, it is meaning that God’s protective hand is upon His people. Within our text, we find that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, all three, had faith in the sovereignty of God. Thus, to honor that faith in His sovereignty, we see God’s providential (protective) hand at work. For he spared the three Hebrew men.
God’s providence showed in a miraculous way (v. 25)
As we look through the Scriptures, we see that these miraculous movements of God are not exhaustive throughout, rather they are sprinkled during certain times within the cannon of Scripture.
God moved during the time of the Exodus with Moses. God moved during the time of Elijah and Elisha, when he established their prophetic ministries. God moved during the time of Daniel and the exile. Finally, God moved in a miraculous way during the time of Jesus and the apostles.
We also find that these sudden shows of miraculous power are specific in purpose. We see that they happen during times of special crisis for the kingdom of God or special pressure on the people of God. We see it is a time when there is a special break-in of the future kingdom of God. We see these events takes place when God’s servants and their message are in need of vindication. This was the same here.
God was faithful to His promises
God has promised throughout His word not to leave nor forsake His people. God has promised to love His people and be there for them in their time of need. He wishes to receive glory in and through them. This time was no different. When Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace expecting three men, he saw four. Our Lord was right there in the fire with them, Look! I see four men untied and walking about in the middle of the fire unharmed, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods! God was remaining faithful to the promise He had given to Isaiah.
Isaiah 43:5 (NASB 2020)
“Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, And gather you from the west.
Jesus will continue to fulfill that promise He has made to His disciples and the church today.
Matthew 28:18 (NASB 2020)
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
Matthew 28:20 (NASB 2020)
teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
God has given us three keys to remember when facing trials (1 Peter 1:5-7)
1 Peter 1:5–7 (NASB 2020)
who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Trials purify and strengthen the faith of the believer
Within trials the believer is kept in God through faith
The believer should not be taken by surprise by trials of our faith (1 Peter 4:12-14)
1 Peter 4:12–14 (NASB 2020)
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the revelation of His glory you may also rejoice and be overjoyed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, and of God, rests upon you.
If we will hold onto our faith and trust in the sovereignty and providence of God, let it be said of us as it was of the reformer, John Knox, at this graveside, They feared the face of no man, because they learned to live in the fear of the LORD!
Conclusion
As I set in the break room of Roller Citizens funeral home, Helena-West Helena, I looked up on the wall and saw a placard. This placard read, He who kneels before God can stand before any man. This truth is so richly portraid in through the obedience and faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. They all were able to stand before the crowds, stand before the accusers, and stand before the king because they all had kneeled before God and God alone. Have ever knelt before God and surrender your soul, your life, your entirety to Him? If so, when was the last time you knelt before God finding power to stand before any man?