1. Lessons From The Furnace Pastor Timothy Hinkle September 1, 2013

2. Daniel 3:14-18 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? 15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery,

3. Daniel 3:14-18 in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”

4. Daniel 3:14-18 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand,

5. Daniel 3:14-18 O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

6. Who you worship really matters This is a primary concern to the God who loves us and responds to our worship. This is a primary concern to the God who loves us and responds to our worship.  Exodus 20:3  Exodus 20:3  3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.

7. Who you worship really matters  Deuteronomy 4:24  Deuteronomy 4:24  24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.  John 4:24  John 4:24  24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

8. The furnace, which looked like the end of life, can turn out to be the place where you meet God.  Psalm 11:5  Psalm 11:5  5 The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

9. God sometimes decides to deliver in the furnace, not from it. Jesus said to Daniel and his friends what he says to people still, " I'll meet you in the furnace.”  It’s NOT all about YOU!

10. John 9:1-3 John 9:1-3 1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

11. 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”

12. Daniel 3:26-28 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire.

13. Daniel 3:26-28 27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. 27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

14. Daniel 3:26-28 28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!

15. Going into the furnace can turn out to be the greatest event of your life, because God was there.  When you think of the Hebrew children, what do you think of?  Of course, you think of THIS story—the GREATEST EVENT OF THEIR LIVES!

16. God calls us to a dangerous life, as he did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, because He has something better for us.  Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

17. We should stop asking for a more pleasant life and instead ask God to give us the opportunity to xperience God’s Best for our life.  Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

18. We should stop asking for a more pleasant life and instead ask God to give us the opportunity to experience God’s Best for our life.  1 Thessalonians 5:17-19  1 Thessalonians 5:17-19 Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.

19. Conclusions 1.God wants to meet us IN the furnace! 2.We grow in the difficult times in ways that we cannot grow when things are easier.