Daniel 3 Through the Fire - Pastor Jason Lockard - Bible Sermon

Daniel chapter 3 is about three young men who refuse to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar's statue.

The king throws them into a fiery furnace, but God shows up and delivers them.

Nebuchadnezzar is amazed to see four men walking in the midst of the fire without harm.

The story shows God's power and protection of His people.

Daniel chapter 3. We're talking about through the fire. We're going to get to the meat and potatoes of the story. But first we want to kind of tell you where we're at in this account. Okay? There was an evil king named Nebuchadnezzar. I remember my dad pretty too many times and he would say, you know, Nebuchadnezzar, how would you like to have a name like that? I wouldn't want to have to spell that name, let alone have that name. Anyway, you ever try spelling Nebuchadnezzar? It's a little difficult. Anyway, but even evil king Nebuchadnezzar, he had this brilliant idea that he was going to build this humongous statue and have people bow and worship this statue. And his idea was that if they did not bow when the music would play, they would suffer the consequences. The consequences being burned in a furnace. Well, in the land, there were three young men that believed in Jehovah God. Their names, yeah, you know, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These three Hebrew young men said, you know what, we only bow to Jehovah and no one else. and when the time came that the music began to play and everybody in the whole country began to fall on their knees and began to worship this magnificent statue that was built from King Nebuchadnezzar from his specifications everybody was bowing and then all of a sudden people began to look around and they saw that three young men were not bowing. Three young men were not worshiping this statue. They were brought before the king, the evil king Nebuchadnezzar. And Nebuchadnezzar said, why did you not bow before the image my statue, my golden statue that I have erected? Why did you not bow? And the three young men said, that's because King, we only bow before one, and that is Jehovah God, our God. And we will not bow before anything but Him. And he said, do you not realize the penalty? That if you don't bow, that I have to throw you in a fiery furnace? And their response was, King, our God is able to deliver us out of the midst of a burning, fiery furnace. But even if he didn't choose to deliver us, we still would not bow to the image that you have built. Now we pick up in verse 19 to begin our reading as we see the history of where we're at. This is where we begin our reading in verse 19 of Daniel chapter 3. And it says, then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury. He was, have you ever heard the term mad as a hornet? He was mad as a hornet. And the form of his visage changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He went from smiles to an enraged look upon his face. therefore he spake and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it want to be heated now when I read this over the years my thought was was this overkill heat that furnace seven times hotter than it's ever been heated before I thought about it and I thought well you know you throw somebody in a furnace They won't die. So what's the point of repeating it seven times more? And as I was studying this time around, it's like God unfolded something to me. And it was simply this. It wasn't overkill. What he was doing was hedging his bets. That's what Nebuchadnezzar was doing. He was saying, okay, okay. I'm going to prove to you three and to everybody else in this world that can nobody defeat me, even your gods and that's why he overkill it because it was like, hey, you know what heated hotter than it's ever been heated before and that way they will know who the true ruler of this kingdom is and it's me, Nebuchadnezzar he was hedging his bet, he was making sure that ain't nobody going to survive this. That's what he was doing. Verse 20 says, And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats and their hosen and their hats and their garments and they were cast in the midst of the burning fiery furnace. now look at what it says in verse 22 therefore because the king commanded commandment was urgent in other words he said do it immediately and so it was done the furnace was exceedingly hot it had no time to cool off okay the flames of the fire slew the men that took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego Now I want you to think about that for a second These men bound up Shadrach Meshach and Abednego took them to the furnace and threw them in And while they were doing it the flames the heat from the flames killed the men that were throwing them into the furnace So what does that mean? Logically, that means Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego should be dead. Right? If it killed them, if it killed the men throwing them in, it should be that they're dead too, right? The intense heat killed these men. Now, interestingly enough, it says in verse 23, And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down, bound in the midst of the burning, fiery furnace. Now, what that means is not so much that they were sick or had heat stroke. It's they threw them in and they fell on their knees. Because let's face it, if somebody throws you, you're not going to let. more often than not, you're not going to land on your feet. Most of the time, you're going to land on your knees. That's what happened. They threw them in the furnace, and they landed on their knees. Now, interestingly enough, as I can almost see in my mind's eye, King Nebuchadnezzar standing up, looking into the furnace, and going, ha-ha, they're on their knees. They're gone. Ain't nobody, ain't no God can defeat me. Ain't no God can defeat what I have done. I am greater than this God that they serve. But you know what King Nebuchadnezzar was in for? He was about to be in for a very rude awakening. Because he was about to see something that he would have never dreamed before in his life. I love what happens here. He sees them on their knees. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished. I like that word astonished. It means amazed. Or even a word that we don't say too much nowadays. Flabbergasted. You ever hear that word flabbergasted? That's what it was. He was just, what is going on here? He rose up in haste and he spake and he said unto his counselors. Did not we cast three men bound in the midst of the fire? And they answered and said unto him, true, O king. You know he did, sir. It's three. That's all it was. Just three. I love his response. He answered and said, lo, I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt. I love the fact here. He said, boy, my eyes are deceiving me. Three, now there's four, something doesn't add up. Something's not adding up. The numbers don't add up. Aren't you amazed when the numbers don't add up? You know, a doctor sits there and says, this is what your numbers, your physical numbers say. And yet God comes in and brings you a healing. And you sit there and go, wow. And the doctors say, I don't understand it. The numbers don't add up. Maybe you got too many bills and not enough money coming in. And somehow all the bills get paid and you got a little bit left over. And you sit there and you look back and you say, I don't understand it. The numbers don't add up. Why? Because God doesn't look at the numbers. God doesn't look at the numbers. God comes in and helps his chosen. God comes in and helps his people. That's what God does. See, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said, we believe in Jehovah God and there is no way we're going to bow down before a king's image or a statue or an idol or anything that is put up other than our God Jehovah. That's the only one we're going to bow before. And God showed up. God showed up. I like to say it this way. God showed up and showed off. That's exactly what he did. Because the king thought he had it all figured out. This burning, fiery furnace cannot be defeated. And he took those three that believe in God and threw them in a fiery furnace. And God showed up. And God showed off. I love it. God doesn't believe in numbers. You want proof of that? Let's go back to another account in the Old Testament. You remember the account of Gideon? I love that story of Gideon. Gideon was put in charge of defeating a humongous army. And he got all the strong men that he could find in the land. And he got a pretty good sized army. And God looked at Gideon's army and he said to Gideon, Gideon, you've got too many men. Now, let's be honest. That doesn't sound like something that a military strategist would say. We don't have too many men. We ain't got enough, right? But God said to Gideon, you've got too many. And he began to weed out all of the men until he got down to 300 men. Why? Because God didn't look at the numbers. God was looking at the heart. Hallelujah. Let me say that again. God doesn't look at the numbers. God looks at the heart. He looks at what your heart says. Do you believe in God? Do you trust in God? Do you have faith in God? And if you have faith in God, anything, and let me say it again, anything is possible if you have faith in God. Hallelujah. Faith in God can move a mighty mountain. Faith in God can calm a troubled sea. Faith can make the desert like a fountain Faith can bring the victory Hallelujah And that exactly what happened for Shadrach Meshach and Abednego That's exactly what happened for Gideon with his 300 men when they went up against that humongous army. God doesn't look at the numbers. God looks at the heart. I love that. He says, I see four men walking around. And I love what he says. He says that the form of the fourth is like that of the Son of God. Even this evil king could not deny the glory of Jehovah God. Even the evilness cannot deny the glory of the Lord. Hallelujah. That's beautiful. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near the mouth of the burning, fiery furnace and spake and said unto Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Ye servants of the Most High God. I want you to read that again. I want you to look at that and read it again. Look what it says. Ye servants of the Most High God. Wow. What a difference a couple moments makes, right? once he saw the glory of God he realized there was but one the most high God Jehovah God hallelujah he says come forth and come hither then Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came forth in the midst of the fire and the princes and governors and captains and kings and counselors being gathered together saw these men upon whose body the fire had no power. Hallelujah. Satan and his forces have no power over the child of God. Let me say it again. Satan and his forces have no power over the child of God. There is nothing that Satan can do to you if you are a child of the king. He is the king of kings. He's the lord of lords and Satan cannot defeat you if you have trust in God. Hallelujah. I love it. I love it. I love what happens here. They look upon him and their bodies the fire had no power of. Nor their hair of their heads were singed. Neither were their clothes changed. Nor the smell of fire had passed on them. Now let me tell you something. Fire leaves its mark. There is no doubt about it. Fire leaves its mark. You don't believe that? All you got to do is get an old shirt. I'm telling you, go get an old shirt, put a little fire to it and see what happens. Don't be nothing left. Right? Don't be nothing left to that shirt. But everything. Their hair. I did that one time. I had real long hair. Right? And I was lighting a candle. This is a few years ago. Right? I had real long hair at the time. and it was hanging down, and I was lighting candles because the lights went out. So I had the candle, and I lit the candle. My hair went down, and next thing I know, my hair's on fire. And I went, whoo! And I had to, like, get my hair and take it. And you know what? My hair smelled of fire for several days afterwards because fire leaves its mark. yet Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego it was like they were on a leisurely walk in the park and came in from the cool that's what it was like there was no signs that they were even near fire then Nebuchadnezzar spake and said blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who has sent his angel to deliver his servants and trusted in him, that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word and yielded their bodies that they might not serve nor worship any god except their own. What a difference God makes, amen? I love it. He says, therefore, I make this decree that every people, nation, and language which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be cut into pieces and their house will be made dunghills because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. I want you to read that. That is amazing. That shows you how much the king Nebuchadnezzar changed when he realized there is but one God that could save out of the midst of a fiery furnace and it had to be Jehovah. Hallelujah. And then in verse 30 it says, Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. Now that is beautiful. Now maybe today you feel like you're going through the fire. Maybe today you feel like there is a A fiery furnace that you're standing in. That something and I not talking an actual furnace but it trials tribulations spiritual attacks from Satan Maybe it financial problems Maybe whatever the case may be physical problems Whatever Maybe you going through something today And it feels like a fire It feels like something that you don't know. If you're going to be able to make it through. I say you can come through the fire. Just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And I want you to hear the words. From Isaiah. And if you get nothing else today. I want you to get these words from Isaiah. Isaiah 43, 2 and 3. Isaiah 43, 2 and 3. When it says this. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee. And through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned. Neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, the Savior. I gave Egypt for a ransom, Ethiopia, and Seba for thee. Now what God is saying, you'll go through the fire and the flood. But if you go with God, you'll not go through it alone. you can be like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the flood will not touch you and the flames will not harm you you can go through the fire and come through on the other end with no hurt just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego but we have to walk through the fire with God let's bow our heads before the Lord this morning maybe you're going through something today man I don't want to know what you're going through God knows that and you know that and that's all that matters but maybe there is something you're going through today some sort of difficult situation maybe it's a trial of finances or spiritual problems or maybe it's a physical ailment I don't know. And I don't need to know that. You know it and God knows it. But maybe it feels like a fiery furnace today. And you don't know if you can make it through. And today you're saying, I need that fire-walking God to put his hand in mine as I walk through this fire. Would you be honest to God and say, God, I need you today? Would you raise up the hand and say God I need you as I go through this fire Hands going up today, that's beautiful Hands going up today, that's beautiful Thank you for your hands going up We appreciate it Maybe someone's watching the video today Or listening to the audio version or whatever And you're saying, you know what, I'm going through the fire today And I need God's help Wherever you're watching this video Wherever you're listening to this podcast I want you to raise up your hand I don't care if you're amongst family or friends or whoever. I don't care. It doesn't matter. Just raise up your hand and say, God, I need you. Father God, you saw the hands of the people in this house here. Maybe somebody listening to the audio or watching the video saying, I need this today, God. I need God's help today as I walk through the fire. Father God, I ask right now that you will open the windows of heaven. That Father God, you would pour down upon those ones that raised up their hand and will say, Father God, hold me. That you will help them today. You will walk with them. Just like you did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. That Father God they will come through this trial. They will come through this trial. As Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did. Come through the trial on the other end. And be blessed. There will be no hurt upon them. And they will be able to testify to the goodness of God. That they have been brought through the fire. And through the flames. because of you. I pray that right now in Jesus' name. Father God, I thank you today for this time together. I thank you for your word. Father God, your word is so rich. It is such a blessing. And Father God, we never want to take the word for granted. But Father God, I pray today that your word will be in our heart as we go forth this week. That we will remember the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. That we will remember the words of Isaiah as we go forth this week. If the fire lasts a little bit longer than maybe we want it to, we will still walk with you. I pray it right now in Jesus' name. I thank you, Father, for the blessing that it is to be in your house. Father God, I thank you for each and every one that came out today. Father God, as we dismiss, I ask, Father God, that you will go with your people today. That they will be blessed beyond measure. That they will be so blessed. That they will have the blessing of God all week long. And be able to share that with someone. Now, Father God, as we finish up this service today, we just want to say thank you for being with us. And continue to be with us. And Father, until we meet again, we ask that you'll be with us all week long. and Father for all that you are for all that you do we give you all the praise and honor and glory for all for it's in Jesus name we beg these blessings and we say Amen you

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