Sermon Central
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Our God Is Able And The Fourth Man Of Daniel 3
Contributed by William Akehurst on Aug 27, 2023 (message contributor)
Summary: The fiery furnace. Three men were thrown into the fiery furnace, and yet, there were four walking in the midst of the Fire. Their faith said, “Our GOD is able”, because GOD said, “HE will never leave nor forsake you.” When faced with the fiery furnace, will you contend for the faith, or bow?
2023.08.27. Sermon Notes. Our GOD is able, and the Fourth man.
William Akehurst, HSWC
BIG IDEA: The fiery furnace. Three men were thrown into the fiery furnace, and yet, there were four walking in the midst of the Fire. Their faith said, “Our GOD is able”, because GOD said, “HE will never leave nor forsake you.”
We of faith will go through some fiery furnaces, will we stand firm in what we believe?
SCRIPTURES: 2 Timothy 4:5, Deuteronomy 31:6, Jude 1:3-4, Daniel 3 :1-30, Revelation 12:10-11
WATCH IN ALL THINGS, ENDURE AFFLICTIONS, FULFILL GOD’S PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE.
2 Timothy 4:5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Last week we were looking at TRUTH that comes from the Word of GOD. We read that we are living in perilous times. And as we come closer to HIS RETURN, we will face even more.
But GOD has promised.
HE WILL NEVER LEAVE NOR FORSAKE YOU
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
CONTEND EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH - FIGHT FOR YOUR FAITH
3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
IN THE DAYS OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR
Nebuchadnezzar, made himself as a god, a form of anti-christ, and created a image of himself some 90 feet tall by 9 feet wide
AN IMAGE TO WORSHIP.
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
3 So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
THE COMMAND, YOU WILL BOW, OR YOU WILL BURN
4 Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; 6 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”
7 So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
TAKE A STAND, CONTEND FOR THE FAITH.
ACCUSERS OF THE BRETHREN
Daniel’s Friends Disobey the King
8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
NOTE/THOUGHT: They praised Nebuchadnezzar, and repeated the words that he said.
I worship the ONE TRUE GOD, I begin with praise, and then repeat HIS WORD in my prayer requests.
12 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king.
THE TEST
14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?
