Book of Daniel: Chapter 3

Book Of Daniel: God Is Able, But Even If

May 14th, 2022/Casey Middle School

Story: Single. Finding my wife. Trying to get pregnant.

Title: God Is Able, But Even If

Big Idea:

Passage: Daniel 3:8-30 ESV

Pray:

Background:

Haymakers:

1. When you stand up for God, you will stand out in the world

   1. 11 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

   2. Unpack:

      1. These three men had conviction and courage in the face of death. They knew the decree and they chose to remain faithful to God.
      2. If you are following Jesus, then don’t be surprised when you experience opposition. I would even say that if you are not experiencing any opposition, then maybe check your following?

      3. There men knew the commands of God and obeyed them.

         1. “You must not have any other god but me. 4 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.” - Exodus 20:3-5
         2. When God has spoken on a matter, then it is settled. No need for discussion, blogs, or instagram surveys. There’s no need to phone a friend or fact check!
         3. Obedience is on us, OUTCOME is on God!
            3. Application:

      4. Question: Are you ready to stand for God?

      5. If you stand up for God you will stand out in culture, at your job, at the gym, at the restaurant, with your friends and family, and in your home.

      6. I guess a better question would be “Are you ready to stand for God against all consequences?”

         4. Quote: “Decide what’s right ahead of time, and you’ll do what’s right at the time.” - Ps Christ Hodges

      7. Question: How can you know what is right ahead of time?

         1. Read the bible
         2. Pray
         3. Surround yourself with wise counsel
         4. Surround yourself with faithful friends
         5. Respond with obedience in the small things
            5. Passage: Isaiah 43:1-2

      8. But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

      9. I can imagine these young men thinking… “This is the God we serve. The One who is able. The One who has rescued us before, and He can do it again. He is our Creator and He has called us to obedience. We serve no other!”
      10. Question: Are you resolved in your response? Have you already chosen complete and total loyalty and commitment to God?
          6. Quote: “Faith means obeying God regardless of the feelings within us, the circumstances around us, or the consequences before us.” - Warren Weirsbe
      11. Story: Moving to Colorado (feeling, circumstances, & consequences)

      12. When faith is applied to adversity it becomes an opportunity for a miracle

          1. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
          2. Unpack:

      13. Here we see them given one more chance to comply. “Is it true?!”

      14. When I read stories like this I can’t help but notice what these men didn’t do. Notice that they didn’t compromise their conviction by offering excuses. Here’s a few excuses that they could have used…

          1. We will fall down but not actually worship
          2. We will worship just this one time
          3. The King is our authority, we must obey him
          4. The King appointed us, we owe this to him
          5. This is a foreign land and culture, God will understand
          6. Our ancestors did much worse than this

          7. We’re not hurting anybody 3. Question: What are your excuses? When faced with an opportunity to disobey God’s commands or calling on your life, what is your response?

          8. I’m going to turn my life around eventually

          9. God understand my situation
          10. Surely there’s worse things I could be doing
          11. At Least I’m not as bad as my roommate
          12. I’ll start to obey God when ______________ 4. How many of you are ready to make a commitment to no compromise? A commitment to living a life of conviction, obedience, and courage?
              3. Commitment lasts longer in community
                 1. Convictions come from God, but faithfulness to those convictions comes through walking with the Holy Spirit and a few faithful friends.
                 2. “Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” -Hebrews 10:23-25
                 3. The beginning of a faithful life is found in the accountability of faithful friends.
                 4. The right friends will stand with you for the right things.
                 5. These 3 young men stood together and remained faithful when challenged with food, and now they are standing before a fiery furnace.
                 6. I’m standing here today because of faithful men that spoke truth over my life and kept pointing me back to the Word of God and His calling on my life. There is strength in numbers and confidence through the power of God.
              4. Quote: “God is able, but if not…”

      15. Unpack:

          1. S, M, & A had faith and believed they would be rescued. “He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.” But their faith wasn’t contingent on the rescue. They wanted to be clear to the king that they would not bow down no matter the cost!
          2. Their obedience wasn’t contingent on their desired outcome, but God’s purpose for their lives.
          3. It was because of their obedience that they experienced the miracle of standing in the fire with the Son of God. It was because of their obedience that the king saw the mighty hand of God. 2. Application:

2. What if God is not just calling you to it, but what if He’s calling you through it?

   1. 22 Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.

   2. Unpack:

      1. What if God is not just calling you to Mount Moriah, but up Mount Moriah?
      2. What if God is not just calling you to the boat, but he is calling you through the storm?
      3. What if God is not just calling you to the battle, but through the giant?
      4. I’m afraid for so many of us we are faith filled and courageous up to the point that it really matters. I believe that God is calling someone here today to keep pressing in even against all adversity.

      5. What I find most impressive about Shadrach, Misha, and Abednego, is not that they started well, but that they were willing to finish well. They persevered.

         3. Application:

      6. A faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted.

      7. Question: Are you at a crossroad? Do I choose Faith, or do I choose my way?
      8. We are a house of faith. We believe in a sovereign God that says He will never leave us nor forsake us! If you need faith today you came to the right place! I’VE GOT FAITH FOR THE PRESENT, I’VE GOT FAITH FOR THE FUTURE!
      9. The longer I walk with the Spirit, the deeper I trust and desire His plan for my life!
         4. Nothing is wasted. The moments of testing gives you a testimony of God's faithfulness.

Closing:

When you stand up for God, you will stand out in the world

When faith is applied to adversity it becomes an opportunity for a miracle

What if God is not just calling you to it, but what if He’s calling you through it?

There’s a testimony on the other side, if you remain faithful.