コミュニティと弟子訓練

Lessons from the Furnace (Daniel 3)

2016.07.10Mike Lee

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow before the golden image because they trusted that their God is able to save them and that his name would be exalted whatever happened. God honored their commitment, so we too should not compromise our faith in difficulty but bring our challenges to him in prayer.

When things get hot, we are called to stand, not fold

The sermon begins with Korea's summer heat and the custom of eating hot chicken soup on the hottest day, which seems strange. The speaker reflects that when life gets difficult, many of us want to fold or let go of the pressure rather than fight back. As followers of Christ, we are called to fight against the difficult circumstances we face. He turns to Daniel 3 to see how three men faced a difficult situation and whom they turned to in their hour of need.

Their faith was challenged by the golden image (vv. 1-12)

King Nebuchadnezzar set up a gold image ninety feet tall and ordered the whole nation to bow down and worship whenever music played. Whoever refused would be thrown into a burning furnace, so the officials and the people all fell down together. The speaker says believers will also face challenges to their faith in many forms. He shares how his father opposed his family's life in the church, and how that pressure drove him to prayer. He reminds us that Peter said not to be surprised by trials, and that these three men counted the cost of refusing the king's decree.

Our God is able, so we will not compromise (vv. 13-18)

Nebuchadnezzar, normally a violent man, gave the three men a second chance to bow down. They answered together that their God is able to deliver them from the furnace, but even if he did not, they would not serve the king's gods or worship the golden image. The speaker says their confidence came from trusting God's power, since earthly kingdoms come and go while God's kingdom lasts forever. He challenges us to ask whether we truly believe our God is able to overcome our worries, our addictions, and our battles.

God honored their commitment in the fire (vv. 19-30)

Furious, Nebuchadnezzar ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter, and the soldiers who threw the men in died from the flames. Yet the king saw four men walking unbound in the fire, and the three came out with not even their hair singed and no smell of smoke on them. The speaker says God protected them because of their commitment to him. The king who had threatened them then decreed that anyone who spoke against their God would be punished. God sees our prayers and our actions, and he will provide for us.

Apply to Life

  • Let us not compromise our faith when difficulties come, but fight back by bringing them before the Lord in prayer.
  • Let us stop trying to find solutions only within ourselves and confess that our God is able.
  • Let us trust that God's name will be exalted in our lives, whether he delivers us or not.
  • Let us count the cost and follow Christ's calling on our lives every day.
  • Let us come before the Lord in prayer over the issues we are facing today.

This summary was made automatically from the sermon's captions and may differ from the sermon.

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