Trial by fire
Be Resolved: Book of Daniel • Sermon • Submitted
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· 45 viewsResolved faith displayed in the midst of firey trials, a good example for us
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Trying times
Trying times
Trying times, we all face them, they are even biblical (1Pt4:12-13) and we should not be surprised by them. Trials refine us (1Pt1:7). Trials are growth opportunities and I think you will see who grows through this trial before us today.
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
Trials will come, so don’t be surprised (1Pt4:12)
Rejoice in the midst of trials (1Pt4:13 another example Jm1:2-3)
Hold on to the end in rejoicing so you can extol when Christ is revealed (1Pt4:13).
7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Results, praise, glory and honor when Christ is revealed (1Pt1:7)
We see faith and worship on trial here today in our passage. It is very apparent from the response of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego that they had resolved faith. Faith that cannot be tested is faith that cannot be trusted. Our passage today gives us a great example of what we can do to have resolved faith in the midst of fiery trials.
Today we will look at 3 sections of scripture but 4 points.
Displayed faith in midst of trials (Dan3:13-18)
Displaced peace in the midst of trials (Dan3:19-27)
Fellowship in the midst of trials (bonus section)
Results of the fiery trial (Dan3:28-30)
Faith in face of trials
Faith in face of trials
The King’s emotions are running high and command is given again this time personally, and personally this is a great response by faith, of faith in our first portion today.
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?
15 “Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter.
17 “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 “But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?
(Faith displayed picture inserted here)
I think like usual we need to pull from the scripture first
What was Nebuchadnezzar's mood here (v.13)?
why do you think he is in rage and fury (look back v.8-12 summarize)
What is the kings observance and suggestion of resolution (vv.14-15)?
Hey you are not bowing down, so bow dawn and it all be good.
What is the kings command if they do not stop drop and roll, oh wait I mean worship (v.15)?
What are the boys’ response to the kings command (v16-18)?
God is able to deliver
If God does not deliver from fire, he will from you
Hey we will not stop, drop and roll for anyone!
This time of trial did not come from sin, but in strength of faith to be displayed
Resolved faith stood out and not conformed to the world (Rom12:2)
Resolved faith went from theory, concept to action; transforming (Rom12:2)
Resolved faith was displayed knowing God would deliver from fire or from death
There are times that you are going to have to stand up under fire, for your faith, for your conviction
How we handle fiery trials matters; handle joyfully (Jm1:2-4)
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
We are an example, be it good or bad and we may have talked about that before, so how we hand fiery trials, tribulations will be a display of our God and the peace that God gives us to withstand the trials and to grow in Him knowing we are lacking nothing.
(Transition) - speaking of peace that brings us to next point, next section.
Displayed peace in midst of trials
Displayed peace in midst of trials
God gave us peace that was from out of this world (Jn14:27) and it is beyond comprehension (Php4:7), and in our section now we see it displayed, in other words in action!
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was altered toward Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. He answered by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 He commanded certain valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in order to cast them into the furnace of blazing fire.
21 Then these men were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their caps and their other clothes, and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. 22 For this reason, because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego.
23 But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up. 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, “Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?” They replied to the king, “Certainly, O king.”
25 He said, “Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he responded and said, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego came out of the midst of the fire.
27 The satraps, the prefects, the governors and the king’s high officials gathered around and saw in regard to these men that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.
What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?
Let’s pulls some details from the passage then will look at some things for learning and application from it.
What emotion was the king feeling toward the boys (v.19)?
what was the results of his feelings (v.20)?
We know what happens in (v.21) they were bound and thrown in. now look at (v.22) what happened to the men who threw them into the furnace?
What was the king feeling as he looked into the furnace (v.24)?
Pay attention to (v.25) what was said and who said it?
What did the king do (v.26)?
What was the response by the boys (v.26)?
What happens in (v.27)?
In the midst of the fire they were not out of sorts
They were not running around going crazy
They were not sitting down complaining about the problem
In fact, they were not even trying to put out the fire
What were they doing? They were walking around in the Lord knowing God is God and God would deliver them from or deliver them through the fiery trial. (expand on this for application for us)
In the midst of fiery trial they did not lose their head or their God
Nebuchadnezzar was in anger, in rage, but the boys were calm.
Others may come at you in anger or rage because of your faith at times, because of your walk with Christ, don’t loose your head or lose your God.
In the midst of fiery trials remember, God’s God This! (Php4:7)
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
In the midst of fiery trials remember we are being refined, perfected (Rom5:3-5)
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Now there are results, from the fiery trials for you, being perfected, but there are evident results that will show to others (Dan3:27) and will impact others (Dan3:29).
Fellowship through the trials
Fellowship through the trials
You are not alone, in the midst of trying times, fiery trial times, you are not alone. We may feel alone, but we know feelings can be deceptive to us too, can’t they. The truth is we have fellowship through the trials.
God’s promise to be with you (Heb13:5; Isa43:1-2; Mt11:28)
5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”
and I love the promise that I find in Isaiah
1 But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! 2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.
God, the Lord of all creation, maker of heaven and earth gives us such comfort that He is with you in and through all things. Then, here is a freebee for you not on your outline
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
The God of all comfort uses people to comfort one another
5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
Jon Courson said this and I believe it holds true
“We can talk esoterically about the Lord. we can discuss theologically His presence. But it’s not until we’re in the fire of trial that we truly know He is ALIVE, that He’s WITH US, and He’s FOR US!”
Fellowship with one another (Gal6:2; Ecc4:9-12; 1Jn1:7)
We need one another, especially when in the midst of fiery trials, we need fellowship, love, help, assistance, accountability and encouragement with one another. And we need to be willing to to burden bearer’s for one another
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
The law of Christ, love, not judgment, or commands, love!
Fellowship through being there for one another
9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. 10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.
11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
and then we have the great reminder
7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Fellowship with one another and with God and continued cleansing.
It is not when we are cruising along that we grow the most, it is when we are cooking. May we not wait until those times to seek the Lord but do that daily so we can have the resolved faith like Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego.
(transition) And all this leads up to our last point for this morning.
Results of the fiery trial
Results of the fiery trial
Everything has results, be them good, bad or even indifferent, there are results. May we remember the reason for Daniel it is to display the power and the reign of God to the Jews and to the world (Gentiles) here.
28 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 “Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.”
30 Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to prosper in the province of Babylon.
What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?
Now some general questions like usual to pull from the scripture then will look at some application.
What did king Nebuchadnezzar say (v.28)? - in your own words
Now they had many god’s so acknowledging the God of the boys did not mean exclusiveness but it did mean acknowledgement of He and His power to save.
It also acknowledges the power of faith displayed that he could not deny for the boys stood before him and did not look or smell like fire at all.
What did the king then do (v.29) after the awakening he had in (v.28)?
Notice who it would impact, anyone who spoke regarding God; so the wise men, the Chaldeans who started this issue in the first place would be impacted if they spoke up and out again.
There is the acknowledgement that no other God could do what their God did, no other God could deliver
god of money, property, prestige could not
god of self-sufficiency, family heritage or self-worth could no nothing.
Only the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego could, just like they said he could and would (vv.16-18).
What was the result for Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego (v.30)?
Promotion! Reward, so from death sentence averted (Dan2) to the fiery trial (Dan3) they ended up better than when they started.
And it was a prosperous promotion (NASB) - for God caused them to prosper.
Fiery trials result in being refined
Fiery trials display your faith, sometimes even to yourself.
Fiery trials display your God!
you too receive a promotion from sinner to saint, from condemned to set free, from without hope to being filled with the God of hope that is available to all who are willing to receive. While you may not prosper in the physical sense now, you are spiritually and will receive your spiritual reward in heavenly home one day. So keep on keeping on and store up your treasures in heaven right on through any fiery trial you may have to walk through.