Unshakeable – Daniel Week 3

Joke:  A teacher is teaching his class when he notices a student fooling around with a yard stick.

He tells him to stop, as it’s distracting.

He does, but a few minutes later, the kid is tapping his desk with that same yard stick. The teacher again tells him to stop, and once again he stops.

Later in the class, the kid is poking his classmates with the yard stick.  And you guessed it again, the teacher tells him to stop.

But it’s when the kid starts poking the teacher with the yard stick, that the teacher’s had enough. He takes the yard stick from the kid and begins chastising him.

“That’s it, I’ve had enough of your disruptions!” he yells. “What are you even measuring with that?!”

The kid looks up at him and says calmly, “Your patience, sir.”

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Raise your hand if every single part of your life is going great right now.   Like you are having no issues, no problems, every aspect of your life is spot on.

If that’s you, first off I want to talk you after service so you can help me get a few things straightened out in my life.   Secondly,  I’m really excited for you.

And if that is you this message is not for you.

Because today, I want to talk today to those of you who may be going through something difficult.  Where there are some things in your life that are not going the way you hoped they would.

I want to talk to those of you that may be in a complicated or difficult season. And it could be you or maybe somebody that you love is in one.

Here’s a question I would like to ask to start off.  Have you ever prayed for something that you know God is capable of answering, maybe a miracle, a situation and you know God can but God just isn’t answering the prayer the way you believe He could?

Here’s the truth church, we live in a broken world that’s marred by sin and honestly life can be difficult.

Jesus said, in this world you will have trouble. . .but the good news is Jesus also said, take heart I’ve overcome the world.

Here’s the thing often times we are in one of three seasons.  We are either going into a hard season or you’re in the middle of a hard season or you’re coming out of a hard season.

Peter said this about difficult seasons. . .

1 Peter 4:12 (NIV) – Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

And some of you may be in a fiery trial right now. You’re discouraged and you might even feel like your faith is being tested.

Well look what else Peter said,

1 Peter 1:7 (NLT) – These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Today, we are continuing our series through the Book of Daniel.

We’re looking at Daniel and his friends, and we’re going to see that Daniel and his friends were going to be facing the test of a lifetime.

They’re going to be literally be thrown into a fiery trial, a fiery furnace, and they’re going to discover, and we are going to learn, that a faith that’s been tested is a faith that can be trusted.

Let me say that again, a faith that’s been tested, in the middle of a trial, is a faith that can be trusted.

Before we get started let me recap where we have been in our series so far.  In week number one we talked about King Nebuchadnezzar.

Nebuchadnezzar was wicked.  He was the most powerful man in the Kingdom of Babylon.  And after he conquered Judah, he destroyed the temple, mocked the faith of the people.   Giving new names trying to give them a new identity thinking they would forget who they are.

And church, we must never forget who we are in Christ.   When the enemy comes to you, and he will come, and when he does come trying to tell you your not good enough, talented enough, gifted enough, whatever lie he tries to convince you of you need to remind him and maybe yourself who God says you are.

So, King Nebuchadnezzar takes the best and the brightest young men, captured them, took them from their homeland, from their families, and took them to Babylon to indoctrinate them with the Babylonian views.

And Daniel along with three of his friends were four of the people that were taken.  If you recall they were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

And King Nebuchadnezzar, had an inflated sense of importance.

So, he made a gold statue of himself that was 90 feet tall, and nine feet wide.

To put that into perspective, that’s as tall as an eight-story building.

I don’t know for sure put maybe he was bullied in school, and a bit insecure so he’s compensating for all stuff he had to go through as kid.  All times he had to run off the playground because he was the smallest and everybody gave him a hard time.

I don’t know. . . but anyway he builds this massive statue of himself and all the important folks come to the dedication.

All the government leaders, the advisors, the judges, the city counsel if you will.  All these important people come to this statue that he had made for himself of himself.

They all look at the statue, and maybe their all thinking how important he must be.

And in Daniel chapter 3 we read this. .

Daniel 3:4–6 (NLT) – Then a herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command! 5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. 6 Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

So this guy builds this big statue of himself and says, everybody,  tell everybody, they need to worship the statue of me, you know the one over there made of gold you can’t miss it it’s big.   And if you don’t then it’s adios amigos.

So, there’s these probably teenagers, maybe a little bit older now, but they love God and don’t want to worship this false idol.   Their not willing to compromise their convictions.

But the herald said, when the band starts playing, you must bow and worship the kings statue. If you don’t, theres consequences called a fiery furnace.

To put it in other words, your life expectancy is greatly reduced.

Like, literally, you’re gonna die.

That’s a test. This is a trial.

And remember, a faith that’s been tested is a faith that can be trusted.

Some of you right now, you’re in the middle of a test and it may not seem like it right now but on the other side of that thing your faith is going to be strengthened.

Back to our story, there’s a big crowd there.  And what do you think they did?  What did the crowd do, did they stay standing or did they bow down?

They bowed down. Why? They didn’t want to die.

Daniel 3:7 (NLT) – So at the sound of the musical instruments, all the people, whatever their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Picture this, there’s this big gold statue and everybody, all the important people. They’re bowing down and they’re worshiping, Oh great king, you’re so amazing we worship you.  There is no other like you.

And in the midst of it all when the whole crowd is bowing down, there’s three boys that are not.

And I don’t think it would be too hard to notice that these three boys weren’t doing what everybody else was doing.  They as the saying goes stood out like a sour thumb.

Three boys still standing. And the leaders were looking around and they take notice.   “Wait, look over there, they are disobeying the king!  There’s no way they would do that, they know the rule! King look!”

They’re like, “Hey, great King Nebuchadnezzar, those Jewish boys that you promoted. . .they’re not worshiping the image, not bowing, they’re still standing after the music starts,”

And the king’s like, “Can’t be.  I made this statue to help my ego, and I made a law to bow when you hear the music.   I know they heard the music.

So, the king said, ok boys one more try.  But if you refuse this time. . .well you know what’s going to happen.

Now watch this. . .

Daniel 3:16–18 (NLT) – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 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. 18 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.”

They’re not arrogant. They’re not mean. They’re not critical. They’re clear for sure, direct yes, and they’re respectful.

They said, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to defend ourselves.” We don’t need to. We don’t need to tell you. “We don’t need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.

But if we’re thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and our God will deliver us from your majesty’s hand.

I don’t need to tell you about my faith. I don’t need to tell you why your rule’s stupid.  I don’t need to make a big point. I’m just going to continue to worship my God.

We’re not bowing down to you, and I want you to understand that there is a God in heaven, and the God we serve is able.

And I want you to think about this because that story preaches really well.

But when your life is on the line, like literally, like if you’re about to be thrown into a fire and they say, “Our God is able,” and when everyone else bows, they stand.

Because they refused to compromise their faith even in the face of death.

Let that sink in.

That’s a faith that’s been tested which is a faith that can be trusted.

And let’s just acknowledge for a minute how easy it would have been for them to kind of like, I’m just going to blend in.

Think about it. Everybody else is bowing down. They don’t want to die.    How easy it would be to rationalize and just bow down.

They could have just, faked it like, “We’re bowing down and we’re acting like it, but we got our fingers crossed.

Even through we are bowing down facing the statue our hearts are towards God and we are actually worshipping Him.

You know, we’re not. . .they could have faked it, and just kinda blended in.

They could have worshiped just one time like,  we need to do this but then we’re going to ask God for forgiveness.

Surely, God will understand.

And so you can see how easy it would have been for them to rationalize and compromise their faith to fit in and to be safe, but they refused to compromise their faith even in the face of death.

And listen for you and I here in our country it’s easy to write this Old Testament story off and think it doesn’t even really apply to me,

But think it about this, there are places that literally live it.  That if they were to watch online, or listen to this message they have to do so privately because if they proclaimed Jesus publicly they’d lose their family,  be thrown in jail, or be killed.

And so for us here in this place we may never have our faith tested like this, we may never have to have our life in danger.  Maybe not.

But I want to say right now, rather that happens or not your faith is tested in so many other ways every day.

Every day you get to decide whether you will compromise and laugh at that joke or not, whether you will compromise and join in the gossip or not, whether you treat people with love and respect and dignity or not.

Whether you join in the chaos of all the division or you try to rise above it and keep the mission of Jesus higher than everything else in your life.   Whether you will just fit in to be liked or not.

Every single day, your faith is tested.

And you have a choice between doing what’s right or doing what’s easy. Every day you have a choice between doing what pleases God or doing what pleases people.

And at the heart, I can describe it this way, you have a choice between worshiping God or giving your heart to an idol.

And maybe your thinking pastor I would never give my heart to an idol.  But then you scroll, scroll, scroll, scroll, scroll.

I’d never give my heart to an idol.  Bit then it’s. . .what do you think of my watch? What do you think of my outfit?   Don’t I look good.

And I promise you, if you’re committed to serving God, the devil will tempt you to compromise your faith in God.

Even in the face of death, they refused to compromise their faith in God.

These boys inspire me. I want to look at their faith again.

Verse 17 tells us this.

Daniel 3:17 (NIV) – If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.

Truth is church, there are some things that I struggle with too.  And sometimes I have to be like David when he said to encourage yourself in the Lord.

And what that means to me is sometimes when I’m in a difficult season and going through some hard times I need to remind myself that there is a God in heaven, and the God I serve is able to deliver me.

I need to remind myself that my God is able.  I need to remind myself that I serve the God who says with Him all things are possible. I serve the God who has the ability to open up blind eyes.

My God is able.

And I don’t know what it’ll be for you, but somebody, you might get a bad medical report. And so what you say is, my doctor says this but my God is able to heal.

You may be struggling financially right now. I mean, who’s not with the way the world is right now? You can’t even afford milk, or eggs much less buy a house.

But see I know my God is able to supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory.

My God is able.

My God is able, but what if God is able and He doesn’t?

What if He’s able to heal and He doesn’t? What if He’s able to provide and you find yourself lacking?

Can we just be real today?

I mean, you’re praying, you’re believing, you’re doing all right things.

You’re confessing because Scripture says if I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth,

Lord, you said say to this mountain, be thou removed and cast in the sea.

And if two or three gather and believe anything, if we pray according to Your will, God, You will answer and You hear our prayers.

And the prayer of faith will heal the sick.

And you pray to Him and you’re believing and you’re believing God will. . .and He doesn’t.

Can we be that real?

Because church there have been times that I’ve had more questions then answers.  Is that just me or have some of you gone through seasons like that as well?

Let’s just be honest when your in times like those it’s tough.

And we see the boys face this very real possibility.

Daniel 3:17 (NIV) – If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.

The God we serve is able to save us.  We know He can. We know He can and we believe He will. He will rescue us from your power, your majesty.

But sometimes He doesn’t always do what He can or what we think He will.  Amen.

And so they say, He will save us. . .But

Daniel 3:18 (NIV) – But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

But even if He doesn’t do what we know He can do and what we hope He will do, even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to  you, your majesty.

They were kind and respectful.  But they said, 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.

Our God is able. We know He can. We believe He will.

And church I want you to know whatever you’re facing right now, if you’re in a fiery trial, and you’re asking God to deliver you.

One of the greatest faith statements you could ever say is, God, I believe You can. And I believe You will. But even if You don’t, I still believe.

I still trust You. I’ll still serve You. I’ll still honor You. I still believe.

There’s some of you that God didn’t do what you thought He would do and so you walked away from Him.

Listen, faith is believing He can, but faith is also believing He’s King.

Faith is believing that He can, but faith is still believing that He’s sovereign.

A faith that’s been tested and stays on track is a faith that can be trusted.

Real faith believes on the other side of disappointment.

God I’m mad, because I wish You had, but you didn’t.

But at some point you have to determine that is He God and not you?

I believe You can. I know You can. I believe You will, but even if You don’t, You’re still God, and I still believe.

So the king ordered the furnace turned up seven times hotter than usual. He’s ticked. He’s mad. He’s got a big statue and they’re not worshiping him.

So he orders soldiers to get these three boys, tie ’em up, and throw ’em in.”

And the guys that were throwing ’em in, because the furnace was so hot, they actually got burned by the fire.

And so these three boys that chose to worship the true God and not the false God, they’re in the middle of the fire and the king looks on and he’s shocked.

He’s like, “Wait a minute. Didn’t we throw three men into the fire?

And all his crew is like Yes, Your Honor we threw three guys in the fire.”

Well why then do I. . .

Daniel 3:25 (NLT) – “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”

This just got incredibly powerful. Our God is able.

Three men are thrown into the fire and a fourth appears.

Fast forward to the end of the story. The story tells us, that they survive.  And not only did they survive, but there’s no harm on their body. Their bodies didn’t even smell like smoke.

There’s someone here, you’re going through a trial right now.  But I want to tell you right now, by the power and the grace of God, not only are you not going get burned, but you’re going to come out not smelling like smoke.

Your God is faithful. He will prove Himself faithful to you.

You’re going to walk through the fire and not smell like smoke.   Your faith is going to grow because there’s somebody in there walking through it all with you.  Don’t loose hope.  My God is able.

And the next thing you know, King Nebuchadnezzar who resented these boys’ faith in God, promoted them and it appears at least that he decided to put his faith in their God. At the very least defended the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Look at it verse 28 tells us this. . .

Daniel 3:28–30 (NLT) – Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.

Our God is able.  And our God showed up and did this.   Amd my God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

As I try and wrap up today I want to point out to you exactly what God did and exactly what God didn’t do.

I need you to see this, when did God deliver the boys?

God didn’t deliver them from the fire. God delivered them in the fire.

And this is so important, because the truth is God doesn’t always deliver us from our trials, but He is always with us through them.

In the middle of the worst fiery trial of their lives, God met them in the fire.

And I want to talk to those of you that may be in a difficult season.

Listen church some of you know the difficult seasons my wife and I have gone through.  And in the middle of the fire, God was with us.

And I’m here to tell you today that when you put your faith in Him, Jesus will always meet you in the fire.

Think about these boys, they’re in the fire and God shows up.

They’re surrounded by flames and everybody thinking these guys are dead. But they’re still alive and a forth like the son of god is with them and they’re like. . .

They’re beside themselves. I don’t know for sure but I can imagine this forth one was talking with them maybe asking how their day was going.

I wonder if He would’ve told them that one day, people all over the world who are suffering and going through troubling trials and those who are persecuted, those who are martyred for their faith will be strengthened by hearing your story.

And I need you to get this, the fiery furnace looked like the place where it would be the end of their lives. And it turned out to be the place where they met God.

And whatever you’re going through, you can hold onto that same hope. No matter what you’re going through, Jesus will meet you in the fire. And when He does, He’ll speak to you.   Our challenge is to listen.

He’ll speak to you through His Word. He’ll speak to you through a sermon. Through a friend, or maybe even someone you really don’t like.   He’ll speak to you by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And He may simply tell you that He loves you. He may tell you He’s proud of you for keeping your faith in God.  He may tell you He will never leave you and never forsake you.

I want you to believe me when I tell you this because I have   lived it, and He is always with me in the fire. He has always been found faithful even when I may not have been.

And He’s always with you.   Jesus will meet you in the fire.

So Father, we worship You. We worship You for who You are, not just for what you’ve done.  We believe You are the God that can and You are the God that will. And we declare that You are God, and no matter what, we trust You.

Papa, I pray right now for every person here or watching online or will hear this message a year from now that is going through a seemingly difficult time.  The fiery trial has taken it’s toll, God right now touch them let them sense your presence and know that you are with them and will work all things for good because you love them.

And so Father, I ask right now for whatever those in our church family, those around the world are going through right now, that they would sense that You’re good. That Your peace that passes all understanding, in this moment, would guard their hearts and their minds in Christ Jesus.

Jesus, we believe by faith You can move mountains, And God, we know You can, and we believe You will.

But ultimately, God, even though we know You can, and by faith, we still believe You will, but even if you don’t, God, we still worship You.

Right now Yahweh meet those who are hurting in the fire.  Show them Your love. Show them Your  goodness. Show them Your grace.

And God, we thank You that a faith that has been tested is one that can be trusted.  Teach us to depend on You.