Sermon of the Week
Daniel 3:13-18 (NKJV)
"Through The Fire"
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?”
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.”
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.”
In this passage we can see that Nebuchadnezzar is furious with these three young men, because they would not fall down and worship the image he had built. Nebuchadnezzar had set a decree (rule) that anyone who did not fall down and worship the image he had built would be thrown in the blazing furnace. It didn’t matter what you were doing, you were to fall down as soon as you heard the music and worship the image he had made. But, even when given one final chance by the king, the young men still refused to fall down and worship his image of gold. They were willing to go through the fire, before they would worship a false god. We have got to be willing to do the same. We have got to be prepared to go through the fire. Here are a few points that will help us make it through the fire! Remember, you are either on your way into the fire, in the fire, or on your way out of the fire!
Be Yoked With Believers
2 Corinthians 6:14-15 tells us, Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between CHRIST and belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? The word "belial" is most commonly translated to mean "without worth" or "yokeless" Belial is immensely wicked.
Now I am not saying go to the extreme and cast out everyone who does not believe. We are not suppose to hate the person . . . only hate the sin that they are in. In fact, our lives should be a testimony to the unbeliever. It may be hard for some of us to believe . . . but no one is born a believer . . . not even you or me! We all have to accept and believe. We are to share the gospel, not the sin! However, If we want to get through the fire like these young men, we must yoke ourselves with other believers. You are able to withstand allot of things that seem too difficult to go through alone! All three of these young men shared the same belief and the same faith, in the same GOD! The very first yoke you should share as a Christian is with JESUS! HE said that HIS yoke is easy and HIS burden is light (Matthew 11:30). You have to yoke up before the fire, anything else will require a rescue! You don't wait to learn CPR at the moment you need it! You learn it before hand to be prepared when the time comes. So don't wait to yoke up after you are already in the fire, but do so before! However, please understand that you can call on HIM at anytime! Just as Peter called out, "LORD Save Me!" We can call out too!
Don’t fall into negative peer pressure. Yoke yourselves with positive peer pressure. Yes there is the right peer pressure! That peer pressure from believers who encourage you to wait on the LORD! Hang around folks that believe in GOD, so when the time comes that the fire gets hot, you are already yoke with someone who can help bare the flames and stand with you.
Be Ready To Stand In The Fire
These young men were ready to be thrown into the fire. They were yoked in their faith and ready to stand in the fire. They told the king that if they are thrown in the fire, their GOD would save them, and even if GOD did not save them from the fire, they would not serve his gods or worship the image he had set up.
Listen, if you don't stand in righteousness for GOD, you will fall in the flesh for foolishness. Because they were willing to stand for GOD, they did not fall in the flesh and worship a foolish king or his image. Just know, that if you stand for GOD, HE will stand between you and the enemy! 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And GOD is faithful; HE will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, HE will also provide a way out so that you can STAND up under it.
And when you are in the fire, don't panic! GOD will give you a peace that surpasses all understanding . . . even in the fire! HE didn't snatch the young men from the fire. Verses 24-25 of chapter 3 tells us that Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and throne into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, O king.” Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods” GOD is with us in the fire, and HE has us there for a reason! HE will walk with you and show you somethings! As you stand in the fire with GOD, HE will begin to point out certain things that will make you better and stronger. You will be refined in the fire.
Be Refined In The Fire
This is not something I read in a book, but something I have actually lived! When you go through the fire with GOD . . . you come out much better than you went in! If you try and go through by yourself, trust me, you will get burned! Without HIS protection, the fire will consume you, but with HIM you will be refined. Listen, GOD prepares you for the fire . . . HE protects you in the fire . . . and HE brings you out of the fire! The pressure may be heavy, but you will not be crushed. The fire may be hot, but you will not get burned. The young men were seen unbound and unharmed as they were walking in the fire. The scriptures tell us that they didn't even have the smell of smoke on them as they came out! Not only will GOD keep you safe in the fire, but HE will keep you clean in the fire!
A diamond is first a piece of coal! But as the pressure and heat completes the refining process, it comes out as a precious jewel! You may go into the fire one way (as a lump of coal), but when GOD brings you out . . . you are HIS precious jewel, and others will have to take notice of what the LORD has done for you!
From Test To Testimony
Not only will you have a testimony to tell, but you will BE a testimony for others to see! Verse 26 tells us, Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High GOD, come out! Come here!”
Someone should be getting ready to shout "Glory!" The same king that threw them into the fire is now calling them "servants of the Most High GOD". I have said it before, "Your walk is not just for you, but it is for someone who is watching" And trust me, someone is always watching! Our children are watching, our friends are watching, our enemies are watching, and at all times . . . GOD is watching!
Listen, when others are watching . . . GOD allows them to get a really close look! Here is the "Glory" shout moment! The king who had the fire increased to be seven times hotter was now standing at the opening of the blazing furnace . . . watching! "Glory, Glory!" GOD allowed Nebuchadnezzar to get close enough to the fire to see what HE was doing with the young men! Watch this! When the young men came out . . . that mean old king looked at them and said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way." (verses 28-29)
Listen, when others are watching . . . GOD allows them to get a really close look! Here is the "Glory" shout moment! The king who had the fire increased to be seven times hotter was now standing at the opening of the blazing furnace . . . watching! "Glory, Glory!" GOD allowed Nebuchadnezzar to get close enough to the fire to see what HE was doing with the young men! Watch this! When the young men came out . . . that mean old king looked at them and said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way." (verses 28-29)
These young men went from the test to the testimony! Verse 30 says, Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. GOD will promote you in the presence of your enemies and sometimes through your enemies! Amen
Conclusion
Know that if you yoke yourself with the FATHER and HIS body of believers, you can withstand any fire the enemy sets. You have to be ready to stand for the True GOD and not fall down to the false gods. If you don’t stand in righteousness for GOD, you will fall in the flesh for foolishness! GOD will make you better than you were before the fire if you trust in HIM and even your enemies will know it was GOD who got you through!
Prayer
LORD GOD, we thank YOU for being there before the fire, in the mist of the fire, and after the fire! YOU said that YOU will never leave us nor forsake us, and these young men were able to stand on that promise! Give us the courage and willingness to stand for YOU in righteousness. Keep the hands of our enemies from destrorying us! Refine and renew us! Let us be the believers that others can yoke with as we stay yoked to YOUR Son! LORD, there is someone right now, who needs YOU! The fire is too hot and the flames are too high! Let them see that YOU are there, and YOU have a plan for them! Help them to see that they are a jewel! In JESUS name we pray. Amen!
As always, we encourage you to attend a worship service, and fellowship with other believers! Satan wants you to think you can do it on your own, but that is a lie to get you off by yourself! Satan's best work is done when you feel you are the only one going through something! Rely on GOD to put the people in your life that you can yoke up with! And know that, where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is liberty!
As always, we encourage you to attend a worship service, and fellowship with other believers! Satan wants you to think you can do it on your own, but that is a lie to get you off by yourself! Satan's best work is done when you feel you are the only one going through something! Rely on GOD to put the people in your life that you can yoke up with! And know that, where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is liberty!
1 comment:
Truly a blessing.
Thanks
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