We Will Not Bow Down….

When we read the account of Daniel’s three friends as they face the worst that men could do to them. We can all be inspired and challenged by their courage which was grounded in knowing that their God was a sovereign God and a God of mercy and justice who is without any parallel.

The story is prophetic in it’s setting, because the king is a type of the Anti-Christ, and Daniel and the Hebrew children are a type of the church who remains faithful, in spite of the Godless pressure which attempts to destroy it.

The event of the golden statue of Nebuchadnezzar and the fiery furnace occurred just eight years before the destruction of Jerusalem in 589 BC… The temple was rebuilt at the time of Christ, by Herod the Great…. the Roman appointed King over the Judean region…

Our scripture is a narrative which still brings great comfort and inspiration to Jews and Christians, the world over….Let’s look at the account in scripture…

Daniel 3:1 “King Nebuchadnezzar built a gold statue, ninety feet high and nine feet thick. (It was 16 years in the making) He set it up on the Dura plain in the province of Babylon. v2 He then ordered all the important leaders in the province, everybody who was anybody, to the dedication ceremony of the statue. v4 A herald then proclaimed in a loud voice: "Attention, everyone! Every race, color, and creed, listen! v5 When you hear the king’s music, fall to your knees and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. v6 Anyone who does not kneel and worship shall be thrown immediately into a roaring furnace. v7 The king’s music started to play, and everyone - fell to their knees and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. v8 Some of the king’s advisors said to him, "Long live the king! v10 You gave strict orders, that when the music started playing, everyone had to fall to their knees and worship the gold statue, v11 and whoever did not fall to their knees and worship it, had to be pitched into a roaring furnace. v12 Well, there are some Jews here - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego - whom you have placed in high positions in the province of Babylon. These men are ignoring you, O king. They don't respect your gods and they won't worship the gold statue you set up." v13 Furious, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought in. When the men were brought in, v14 Nebuchadnezzar asked, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don't respect my gods and refuse to worship the gold statue that I have set up? v15 I'm giving you a second chance - but from now on, when the music starts, you must bow and worship the statue I have made. Otherwise, you’ll be thrown into a roaring furnace, no questions asked. Who is the god who can rescue you from my power?" v16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the King, "Your threat means nothing to us. v17 If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace, O king. v18 But even if he doesn't, we still wouldn't serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up." v19 Nebuchadnezzar, his face livid with anger, ordered the furnace fired up seven times hotter than usual. v20 He ordered his inforcers to tie them up, hands and feet, and throw them into the roaring furnace. v21 And so, they were tossed into the roaring fire. v22 The furnace was so hot, (the temperature would have been 900–1000 degrees) the furnace killed the men who cast Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into it. v23 While the fire raged around them. v24 Suddenly as they watched, King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm and said, "Didn't we throw three men, bound hand and foot, into the fire?" "That's right, O king," they said. v25 "But look!" he said. "I see four men, walking around freely in the fire, completely unharmed! And the fourth man looks like a son of the gods!" v26 And Nebuchadnezzar went to the door of the roaring furnace and called in, “Servants of the High God, come out of the fire!" Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walked out of the furnace. v27 All the government leaders and king's counselors, gathered around to examine them and discovered that the fire hadn't so much as touched the three men –

not a hair singed, not a scorch mark on their clothes, not even the smell of fire upon them! v28 Nebuchadnezzar said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted in Him! They laid their bodies on the line rather than serve or worship any god but their own God. v29 "Therefore I issue this decree: Everyone, everywhere, of any race, color, or creed, must worship the God of Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego. There has never been a god who can perform such things as this." v30 Then the king promoted them in the province of Babylon”.

It’s difficult when you arm wrestle with yourself….When you are hearing only with your flesh you cannot walk in obedience, because our flesh struggles against the spirit man within, and the spirit struggles against our flesh. In the flesh you’ll always be late for Bible study and church, or not make it at all…In the flesh, You will never volunteer to help do anything, that is not to your own interest, because to the flesh, it never goes beyond an obligation…. In the flesh, You will always find something to complain about because the flesh wants to justify it’s misery and discomfort, when things don’t go it’s way….If it works against the Spirit, it’s flesh!!!.....

Often our flesh man will be saying one thing while our spirit man is saying another….Our flesh says we are sick… Our spirit says “By His stripes we are healed”…..Our flesh says we’re not going to make it…. Our spirit says, “He makes a way where there is no way”….. Our flesh says, we can’t do it… Our spirit says “We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us”…. Our flesh says “we’re always going to be broke, bent and busted”… Our Spirit says “We are blessed going out and coming in, blessed lying down and blessed rising up, blessed in the storehouse and in the work place, blessed in our labor and our leisure! The three Hebrews couldn’t hear the flesh, because the Spirit was so loud in what it was saying within them, it was shouting down the flesh….!!! WE WILL NOT BOW DOWN!!!!

Listen Church, we get in trouble when we start making decisions that we should have already made! There are some things that we should already be so committed to, that we don’t even have to spend time sorting it out, because it’s already settled, and resolved in our spirit!

A certain department manager of a large company, was a wise, friendly, well liked man, and during an interview in his office he was asked, "Sir, What is the secret of your good success with the company?" Well, He said, "It’s two words." "And, Sir, what are those two words?"…. The two words are "Right decisions."…."But sir, how do you make right decisions?"…“Oh, that’s only One word," He responded….."And, sir, What is that one word?"….”Oh, that one word, is Experience."…."And sir, how do you get Experience?"….“Oh, well, that’s two words."…. "And, Sir, what are those two words?"… “Oh, yes, those two words are Wrong decisions."

Well, I must say, that’s about the way it goes….but Praise the Lord, wrong decisions, is what Grace is for. We don’t always get it right the first time, but we don’t quit, and we don’t stop learning….. ….and grace will keep bringing us into right decisions!!!

Paul the Apostle of the Lord, said in …2 Timothy 1:12, ”I know whom I have believed, and I’m persuaded that He is able to keep all that I’ve committed unto Him…(the Greek word for committed is “par-at-ith'-ay-mee.. to make investments in, to be in alignment with,) against that day (the word day is ek-i'-nos.. a specific event or situation in a time to come)”…

It’s about “alignment”…When you know what you believe and have aligned yourself with those Kingdom of God principles…. negotiations are over, compromise is out of the question, and you are no longer subject to social pressure that says, “when I’m not with the one I love, I love the one I’m with! The old Italian mason, said it this way….“the level is level, the line is straight….why is the wall crooked”!!!!!

I don’t have to decide on many issues of the day, because I have already settled it, as I align myself with Kingdom principles, which take priority over much of the political correctness and progressive, liberal thinking of the day…. I don’t have to set down and make a decision on abortion….it’s already laid down in the word of God…..and it’s called murder of the unborn. Now, I believe God forgives if a person repents and turns to Him, receiving Christ’s atonement which He purchased on the cross, but those who do not and who promote this, are under God’s judgment. God hates the sin, but by grace, He loves the sinner enough that while we were enemies of God, Christ died for us, so that we might receive His forgiveness, if we will only receive it….

The King actually ended up praising the Hebrew children for refusing to bow to Gods that were not their God! In Daniel 3:28, Nebuchadnezzar says, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted in Him! They laid their bodies on the line rather than serve or worship any god but their own God”.

That’s exactly what the Constitution of the United States guarantees it’s citizens….(I quote) “ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances”. It does not suppress religious freedom…..IT PROMOTES IT!

The only place that separation of church and state is found is in the “Communist Manifesto”…… As a matter of fact, the president and liberal progressives, seem to have confused that document with our constitution, and are hell-bent on communist, and not Democratic principles! Atheism is a natural and inseparable part of Marxism, in order to continue the expansion of the theory and practice of scientific socialism. Therefore it is necessary to abolish religious freedom.

Listen, the real battle in this hour, is whether or not we are committed (in alignment with Jesus Christ), and truly know what we believe and why we believe it…

Zig Ziglar says “character will get us out of bed, commitment will move us into action, and discipline will enable us to follow through and stay on track”.

John Chrys-os-tom was one of the greatest of the church fathers, following the days of the Apostles. He lived in AD 347-407 and was a guiding force for the Greek Christian Church. As a very young Christian he was brought before the Emperor, who said that if he would not give up Christ, he would be banished from the country.

Chrys-os-tom said, "You cannot banish me, for the whole world belongs to my Father's, and I am His heir." The Emperor said, "Then I will take away all your property". "You cannot. Because my treasures are in heaven", was the reply. "Then I'll take you to a place where there is not a person for you to speak to." Chry-sos-tom replied, "You cannot. I have my friend Jesus, who is closer than a brother, and He walks with me and talks with me throughout the day. "The Emperor finally threatened, "Then I'll take your life". John’s answer was "You cannot. My life is hidden with God in Christ, it is eternal and you will only promote me". And the emperor said, "What do you do with a man like that?"

Its easy to be a Christian when everything is fine, but when the fire is hot, and it’s easier to just go with the flow, than to take a stand on the hard issues of the day….that’s a different story.

A farmer once printed the words “GOD IS LOVE” on his weather vane. When someone asked the farmer if he meant that God was as unpredictable as the wind. The farmer replied, "No, I mean that God is love no matter which way the wind may be blowing”.

Are you in the furnace right now? God's people experience all kinds of furnaces. Maybe its a family furnace, or maybe your furnace is a physical or financial problem. I don't know how your furnace may be defined, but remember there are some lessons that can only be learned in the furnace. There are some impurities that can only be removed by the furnace…DO SOME SHOUTING IN THE FURNACE!!!! Not just when it’s over!

I came across this list, titled how to know you’re in a heap of trouble… You have to ride a friend’s bike to the bank to make your car payment...Your suggestion box has started ticking...You see your stockbroker hitchhiking out of town.... You see the captain of your cruise ship running toward the railing wearing a life jacket.... The moths in your money belt have all starved to death.... You make more than you ever made, owe more than you ever owed, and have less than you've ever had.... Getting there is half the fun and it also took most of your vacation budget...You take an assertiveness training course and you're afraid to tell anyone...Your pace maker has only a thirty day guarantee.... The pest exterminator crawls under your house and is never seen again.... A copy of your birth certificate comes in the mail marked null and void… (Friend, that’s when you know You’re in a furnace)

The flames in God’s furnace are very selective. They did not burn the three men, but only the ropes that bound them were burned off by the fire of the furnace. The furnace experiences, are those times when God is allowing the things that hinder us and limit us to be burned off. He’s removing those areas where we have compromised, and settled for less than the best He has for us. In those times we are required to reevaluate where we stand, and ask ourselves why, and then to be sure of what we really do stand for!

You can take God at His word…. He’s looking for the word in you, that He can honor…. Scripture says that He watches over His word to perform it.. Make sure that the God-word, is found abundantly in your life….It’s the word that He has promised to honor, not your personality, or your works, or your charm, popularity or charisma….To the three Hebrews and to you and me today, He has said, in…

Isaiah 43:2 "When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned neither shall the flame kindle upon you".

Can you see why God lets you go through the furnace He wants to free you from things that are trying to ruin your life, take your victory, and make you it’s captive. God takes that fire and uses it to rid your life of those things that hinder you from receiving all that He has in store for you. The fire only set them free. We are told that when they opened the furnace the statement made was " THEY HAVE NO HURT”.. HALLELUJAH! Jesus made the ultimate declaration…”Oh grave where is your victory, oh death where is your sting”…..

Instead of writhing in agony they are celebrating in victory. Why, Because the Lord Jesus (the fourth man) is with them! We call this an Old Testament theo-phany... a visible, Old Testament manifestation of the eternal Son of God, the Lord Jesus.

When these Hebrew boys were about to burned to a crisp, they didn’t call the fire department, they called on God!

When Daniel was about to become the main course on the lion menue, he didn’t call animal control, He called on God….

When Esther was faced with the destruction of a whole race of people, she didn’t call the ACLU, She called on God….

When Nehemiah saw the city of Jerusalem about to be destroyed, he didn’t call the city planners, He called on God!

And when Peter started to sink when he tried to walk on the water, he didn’t call the Coast Guard, He called on the one who spoke the sea into existence…..

Now don't miss the picture here. Down here on earth people who saw this situation must have thought, " aren't they some kind of fools, but the Lord Jesus in heaven got so excited when he saw their resolve and their faith, as they faced the furnace, that He stepped off His throne, strode through the portals of glory, with one quantum leap, He descended the starry staircase to earth, assumed human form, went inside the furnace and said to the fire, "BE COOL!". And the fire lost it's heat!

Three went into the furnace, but when the king counted them, Four were seen walking around. When the king commanded them to come out of the fiery furnace… how many came out? Three! Where was the fourth man he saw walking in the fire? I believe He’s still there waiting, so that when you go through the furnace of fire, the Lord Jesus is already in there waiting for you. He’s omniscient and all present, you know! He’ll be there for you and He’ll walk with you through your fiery trial as well.

THE STORY THAT WAS GOING TO BE ABOUT THE HORRIBLE END OF THESE THREE, INSTEAD BECOMES A STORY ABOUT THEIR PROMOTION, AND A BRAND NEW BEGINNING!!!

After praising the Person of God, Nebuchadnezzar honors the Servants of God! Daniel 3:30 tells us that they were actually better off for having gone through the fire! For through this fiery ordeal they experienced the Lord's presence: they exalted the Lord's Person: and they received the Lord's Promotion!

God has a plan for you in your furnace….that you become better not bitter.. That you be the victor not the victim…. that you overcome instead of being overcome…..He plans for you to be the head and not the tail, for you to be above and not beneath….. If you go into the furnace knowing that God sent you there, then you’ll come out knowing that God brought you out!

The fourth man in the fire, tells us that there is healing walking with us in the midst of the fires of sickness…. There is deliverance and sweet release walking in the midst of the fires of oppression, bondage and over-whelming pressure…. There is a light of hope walking in the midst of our darkness, despair and discouragement…There is the promise of better things to come, at the end of ourselves and our resources….There is the sound of victory, when everyone & everything else is declaring defeat…..

When you’re in the furnace, it’s not the time to look around you at your peers, your pills or your Psychiatrist.. It’s not the time to look around you and blame everyone and everything else for your problems…It’s not the time to look within you at your strength and ability, that’s probably what got you there in the first place….Our confidence is not in the flesh……

LOOK TO JESUS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER, WHO WAS THERE BEFORE YOU WENT IN, AND HE’LL BE THERE AFTER IT’S ALL LONG GONE!!!!

Folks who go to the gym are always saying (FEEL THE BURN) and when He sees you becoming more and more like Him, He will promote you and use you in ways you never dreamed possible! Is anyone here, ready for promotion and ready to move to the next level!!!!? Your greatest challenge is to Trust Him in your fiery furnace!....Help is on the way….believe it!

His strength is revealed in our weakness….I said, “I can’t go on, but Jesus said “I will carry you”…..I said “I’m too tired”, but Jesus said,“I will give you rest”……I said “It’s impossible” but Jesus said, “All things are possible”….I said,“I feel so all alone” but Jesus said “I will never leave you or forsake you, I will be with you always” …..I said, “I think I’m going to die” but Jesus said, “The same spirit that raise me up, shall quicken your mortal body also”…..I close with….

PSALM 121, Is called “A song of ascending” v1 “I lift up my eyes unto the hills, where my help comes from. v2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. v3 He will not suffer my foot to be moved: He that keeps me will not slumber. v4 Behold, he that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. v5 The LORD is my keeper: the LORD is my shade upon my right hand. v6 The sun shall not smite me by day, nor the moon by night. v7 The LORD shall preserve me from all evil: He shall preserve my soul.v8 The LORD shall preserve my going out and my coming in from this time forth, and ever more”.