Don’t Dodge the Fire
Have you had any troubles lately? Trouble is something everyone has -- & nobody seems to want! But the interesting thing with trouble is not the trouble itself -- but the way we handle trouble! As an example -- one young man loses his girlfriend & jumps off a bridge -- committing suicide. Another young man loses his girlfriend -- writes a country western song about it -- & makes a million dollars! The difference is in the way we treat the troubles of life.
In the third chapter of Daniel -- we find the amazing story about three Hebrew young men: -- Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego! They had been taken captive to
Nebuchadnezzar -- king of
Nebuchadnezzar was enraged by their refusal to worship his idol -- but he gave them another chance to bow before the image. When they politely refused to do so -- the king commanded that the three young men be thrown into a fiery furnace which had been heated seven times hotter than ever before! -- It was either Bow or Burn!
Talk about trouble -- it can't get much worse than this! Let's pick up the story at Daniel 3:16 -- 27 (NIV).
Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego replied to the king,
"O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego, & his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual & commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego & throw them into the blazing furnace. So these (young) men wearing their robes, trousers, turbans & other clothes, were bound & thrown into the blazing furnace. The king's command was so urgent & the furnace so hot that the flames of fire killed the soldiers
who took up Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego, & these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement & asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up & threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king." He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound & unharmed, & the fourth looks like a son of the gods." Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace & shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego came out of the fire, & the satraps, perfects, governors & royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed;
their robes were not scorched, & there was no smell of fire on them.
The underlining lesson in this story is: -- Don't dodge the fire! All of us -- sooner or later -- get into some kind of a mess in our lives -- but few of us will ever have to face the kind of trouble these three young men faced on that day!
You don't have to be in the kind of trouble these three young Hebrew teenagers found themselves -- in order to appreciate the power of God's deliverance. But whatever your difficulties are today it is good to know that there is always deliverance available from God! If you are struggling right now with some great problem in your life -- let me remind you that -- God is still in control! And the same God who delivered Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego -- can deliver you as well!
Is your life in trouble? -- Have you lost your grip upon life?
Is your marriage in trouble? -- Is your health going down?
Are the burdens of this life pressing upon you until you're so nervous that you feel like you are going to scream?
Do you feel you're at the end of your rope?
Are you having spiritual trouble? -- Are you in financial distress?
Are you beaten down? -- Do you feel crushed with your load?
We all know what it is to be full of troubles -- to see our health disappear -- to see our loved ones die -- to see our family disintegrate -- & our lives just fall apart!
Life's fiery furnaces; -- O, how very hot life can get!
The lessons in this story are indeed rich for you & I today! Three things I want you to notice about these young men -- & the trouble they faced -- & the victory God gave them: --
1. Notice Their Confidence! --
Verse 17 -- "The God we serve is able to save us."
The confidence of these young men was firmly planted in the Almighty God Whom they served! They were convinced that God was in control of their lives! At their moment of greatest need -- they were willing to trust themselves to God's sovereign will. That is why they were able to face Nebuchadnezzar & say: -- "O Nebuchadnezzar, -- we're not intimidated by you -- for our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace & He will deliver us out of your hand. But even if He does not -- we may burn in your furnace -- but we'll not bow down to your idol of gold! -- You can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship your golden statue." The "if" in that statement was not one of doubt -- but one of submission! On the one hand -- they were expressing their faith & confidence in God's power to deliver them. On the other hand -- they were not presuming upon God to deliver them. In other words, their attitude was one of perfect balance & submission to the will of God! They were saying that they believed that God had the power to deliver them if He chose to do so -- but even if He did not so choose to deliver them -- they would obey God anyway!
That -- my friends -- is the kind of attitude which reveals real faith & confidence in God! So often -- we want God to do our thing -- in our way -- & if He doesn't -- we feel that God has deserted us. Real confidence in God says: -- "No matter what -- God is in control -- & my life -- my trust -- my all -- is in His hands!"
Do you have that kind of confidence in God today? Like the three Hebrew men -- have confidence in God! -- & Don't dodge the fire!
2. Notice Their Circumstances! --
Verse 19 -- "Seven times hotter."
Did their statement of faith get them off the hook? -- No! It infuriated the king all the more; -- we read in one translation that "his face became distorted with rage!" King Nebuchadnezzar commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than ever before. Then the king ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego -- & throw them into the blazing furnace. They tied them up & threw them into the furnace fully clothed!
Because the king -- in his anger -- had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace -- the flames leaped out & consumed the soldiers as they threw the three young men into the furnace. So Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego -- securely tied -- fell down into the roaring flames!
Have you ever felt the severe heat of your troubles -- & wondered if you would survive the fiery furnace? You are sure -- that in your case -- the furnace has been heated seven times hotter! The circumstances of Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego's troubles was no laughing matter -- & you are not laughing in the heat of your troubles either!
Life's fiery furnaces! -- O, how very hot they get! And they take many shapes; -- the loss of a friend; -- the loss of a job; -- the loss of one's hopes & dreams; -- the loss of your own health! Oh how hot the fiery furnaces of this world are! Still, I say to you this morning: -- Don't dodge the fire!
The fiery furnace -- the intensity of the heat -- & the anger of the king -- were all human efforts to circumvent the will of God! But God overcame them all! In the light of your troubles -- don't under-estimate what God can do for you!
3. Notice Their Companion! -- Verse 25 -- "The Fourth Man.."
In the furnace these three young Hebrew men were not alone! And in the furnace of your trouble -- you are not alone either!
As Nebuchadnezzar was watching -- he suddenly jumped up in total amazement & asked his advisers: -- "Didn't we tie up three men & throw them into the furnace?" "Yes," they said, "we did indeed, Your Majesty." "Look!" Nebuchadnezzar shouted. -- "I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound & unharmed. They aren't even hurt by the flames! And the form of the Fourth Man is like the Son of God!"
In the urgency of their need -- the Fourth Man subdued the crackling flames & robbed the fire of it's violence!
Who was this Fourth Man? Who was their Companion there in that fiery furnace? He was none other than the Second Person of the Godhead -- Jesus Christ -- the Son of God --the King of kings -- the Lord of lords! Christ Himself came down that day to deliver three young Hebrew men from the fiery furnace! It was not the first time the Son of God came down!
He came down & linked arms with Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden in the cool of the day.
He came down & walked with Enoch.
He came down & talked with Noah.
He came down & fasted with Abraham.
He came down & wrested with Jacob.
He came down & manifested Himself to Moses.
He came down & filled the tabernacle with His glory.
He came down & guided
He came down & revealed the will of God to Gideon.
He came down & defended
He came down & delivered Daniel from the den of lions!
He came down & delivered the three young Hebrews from the flames!
And again He came down & was born in a stable in a manger in
Oh -- the goodness -- the greatness -- the grace of God!
Another important question is: -- Where was the Fourth Man?
Was He back in
Was He in
Was He in the fiery furnace? -- Yes!
Was He in the three Hebrews? -- Yes!
Where was this Fourth Man? -- I'll tell you where He was!
He was at the point of the need!
He was in their hearts & He was in the fiery furnace before they ever got there!
He was in the flame waiting to catch them in His arms when they were thrown into the fire!
And where is He today? -- right now?
Some people think He is up there in heaven -- & He is!
Some people think He's away off somewhere in some mystical world that they cannot comprehend or reach.
But -- if you are a Christian today -- then the Lord of host is inside of you! -- Inside your heart; -- inside your soul!
The Lord Jesus is at the point of your need.
The Lord is closer to you than your very breath!
He's not a million miles away; -- He is in you!
He's wrapped in your skin & He's wrapped in your spirit -- in your mind -- in your body -- in your circumstances!
As I was preparing this message -- I discovered something new -- (new to me at least)! When the three Hebrews came out of the fire -- without even the small of smoke upon them -- the Fourth Person (the Son of God) -- stayed in the fire -- so when WE go through the fire of trouble -- He is already there for us & with us! That is why Isaiah is able to say: -- "Fear not! When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; -- the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of
Conclusion: -- There are so many times in our lives -- that we want to avoid the fire altogether -- or we want to tell God how to solve our problems! We want to make sure that He is not going to allow us to be thrown into the furnace -- so to speak. We claim that we believe in His deliverance -- but we want Him to deliver us before we face any real trouble! In contrast -- the Bible clearly tells us that -- more often than not -- God will deliver us in our troubles -- rather than from our troubles.
I know, -- O, how I know -- that it is never any fun to go through the furnace of troubles & suffering! But when you do go through the fire -- you can be assured that God is with you! -- So my friends -- Don't dodge the fire! The more severe the trial -- the more amazing & glorious is the deliverance! The more we trust God -- the greater is the victory!
I would rather be in a fiery furnace with Christ -- then in a place of luxury without Him! I would rather be in trouble with Jesus -- than appear to have my life together -- & not have Jesus in my life at all. While He is always present in the lives of His children -- we often find ourselves closest to Him in our times of trouble. It is then that we call upon Him with a heart of fervency! It is then that we desperately reach out to Him for help & guidance & direction. And -- It is refreshing to remember that either in or out of the fiery problems of life -- the grace & the power of God are sufficient to meet our every need -- if we will but believe in the promises of the Almighty!
When you get to a place in your life where you are in the midst of trouble -- & you feel that you are all alone -- remember that God is still there -- with you -- & in you! He is ever present in our lives & He is constantly at work on our behalf! -- So, my dear friends -- Don't dodge the fire!
Pastor Lyle Pettit -- Wynne Chapel -- Cochise, AZ
www.wynnechapel.org