Daniel part 3

(Daniel 3:1–7 NIV) King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it. Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

LESSONS FROM A FIERY FURNACE

1. You can BOW to an image or step into your DESTINY, but you can’t do both.

(Romans 8:29 NIV) For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

(Mark 10:43–45 NLT) But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

(Daniel 3:15 NLT) I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?

2.  You need to be ready to ANSWER the questions before the CIRCUMSTANCES around you pose them.

(Daniel 3:16 NLT) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.”

3. It not the temperature in the oven that matters, it’s about WHO’S in the fire with you.

(Daniel 3:27 NLT) Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!

Three scenarios when you face a fiery trial (Beth Moore)

1. We can be delivered FROM the fire.

Our faith is BUILT.

2. We can be delivered THRU the fire

Our faith is REFINED

 3. We can be delivered BY the fire

Our faith is PERFECTED

(Daniel 3:17–18 NLT) If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.

Final Thought: Remember, a faith that is tested by fire is a faith that can be TRUSTED. We must resolve to believe God, not just believe IN God. His TRUTH is bigger than facts.