Pulpit Speech II                                                KL Paulson
Preacher Silcox                                                   3-2-1999

Tried by Fire

TEXT: Daniel Chapter 3 -> (To be read in 3 parts)

INTRODUCTION:

   -- To begin . . . I'd like to read to you a local NEWSPAPER article . . .

Throngs Worship Golden Image at Dura
BABYLON, May 8--King Nebuchadnezzars' new worship-image on the Plain of Dura, near here, was dedicated today. The image, which took over a year to construct, is 90 feet high & 9 feet wide & is plated with pure gold.
  At the emperor's COMMAND, provincial officials & private citizens from all parts of the empire gathered for the CEREMONY.
  When the royal band started to play, the crowd FELL DOWN & WORSHIPED the IMAGE. The king believes that such worship will help SOLIDFY the empire & UNITE the people. The announced penalty for any who failed to PARTICIPATE was DEATH in a BLAZING FURNACE.
  After the ceremony, some of the royal astrologers filed a COMPLAINT about the conduct of 3 young Hebrews, Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego, alleging that these men had refused to worship the image.
  The king reportedly flew into a "rage" at this news. He ordered the immediate ARREST of the 3 young men on charges of insubordination to the throne--a major crime.

I. They would not BOW. (3:1-12)

   A. Verse 1ff

        1. In Babylon's RELIGIOUS CULTURE, STATUES were frequently WORSHIPED.

        2. Neb hoped to use this huge statue to UNITE the people & SOLIDFY his power.

        -- Neb wanted his kingdom to last forever. --> Daniel 2:4 "O king, live for ever"; Hebrews 9:27 Appointment w/ death

   B. Verse 6ff

        1. This "fiery furnace" was a huge industrial type furnace that could have been used for baking bricks & smelting metals.

        2. The TEMPERATURES were hot enough to assure that NO one could survive its heat.

        3. The roaring FLAMES could be seen leaping from its top covering, & a fiery blast killed the soldiers who went up to the furnace door (3:22).

II. They would not BUDGE. (3:13-18)

   A. Verse 15

        1. The 3 men had more than one chance.
            -- Your convictions will be subjected to pressures of compromise.
            [e.g. RECANT BUSINESS of the dark ages.]

        2. To BOW to the image would VIOLATE God's command in Exodus 20:3, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

        3. It would also DESTROY THEIR TESTIMONY for God forever.

        -- Do you use excuses for not STANDING UP for God?

   B. Verses 16-18

        1. They were PRESSURED to deny God.

        2. They CHOSE to be FAITHFUL to Him no matter what happened!
            -- Better to obey God rather than men

        3. They "trusted" God "to deliver" them. (17)

        4. They were DETERMINED to be faithful regardless of the consequences. (18)

        -- We should be faithful to God whether He intervenes on our behalf or not.
            [e.g. James was killed. . .Peter was let go from prison]

III. They would not BURN. (3:19-30)

   A. Verse 25

        1. It was obvious to those watching that the 4th person was NOT HUMAN.

        2. Many believe this was a PRE-INCARNATE APPEARANCE OF CHRIST. <-- Isaiah 43:2

        -- God sent a heavenly visitor to accompany these faithful men during their time of great trial.
            [e.g. Born-again Christians have guardian angels]

   B. Verse 27

        1. These young men were completely UNTOUCHED by the fire & heat. -- Hebrews 11:34 (By faith)

        -- No scorch marks were found on them.

        -- They didn't even smell of smoke!

        2. TRUST God in the midst of EVERY trial. -- Hebrews 13:5b <- Never leave thee

        -- There are ETERNAL REASONS for temporary trials
            [Remember Romans 8:28]

   C. Verse 28-29

        1. Neb acknowledges that God is POWERFUL.

        2. Neb commanded the people NOT to SPEAK AGAINST God.

        3. Neb, however, didn't tell the people to throw away ALL their false gods.
            [NOTHING about godly repentance]

   D. Verse 30

        Promotion after No compromise

CONCLUSION:

Hebrews Unharmed after Ordeal in Blazing Furnace
BABYLON, May 9--Three men emerged UNSCATHED after more than 10 minutes in a Dura brick kiln yesterday.
  Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego, members of King Nebuchadnezzar's advisory council, had been sentenced by the king to incineration because they REFUSED to worship the gold image the king had set up on the plain.
  The young men, who were arrested following the dedication ceremonies yesterday, READILY admitted that they had IGNORED the royal command to fall down & worship the image.
  The king gave them a 2ND CHANCE to comply with his wishes, but the 3 young men--citing THEIR BELIEF that there is ONLY 1 GOD WORTHY of WORSHIP-- STUBBORNLY REFUSED to prostrate themselves before the image. This incensed the king, who screamed, 'Make the furnace 7 times hotter than usual!' and ordered a squad of soldiers to tie up the rebels.
  The royal band played a medley of POPULAR songs for the crowd as the furnace was fired up. The heat became so UNBEARABLE that it KILLED the soldiers who threw the Hebrews into the furnace.
  The fire CONSUMED the ropes with which the 3 Hebrews were bound but, INEXPLICABLY, did NOT HARM them, and they began walking around the red- hot coals. A 4th man, SUPERNATURAL in appearance, was observed in the furnace with them.
  Cautiously approaching the furnace, the king shouted for the Hebrews to come out. When they did so, AMAZED bystanders noted that their garments were NOT even SINGED.
  As the Hebrews emerged, the 4th figure in the furnace disappeared, leaving EYEWITNESSES MYSTIFIED.
  The MIRACLE of the PRESERVATION of these Hebrews led his majesty to issue a proclamation making it a crime for anyone, anywhere to say a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego. In addition, the king publicly assured the 3 young men that he would take a personal interest in their political careers.