MORE CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE

Daniel 3:12-28

FAITH ...

1. EVEN IN THE MIDST OF A

Psalm 137:1-4  By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. Upon the willows in the midst of it, we hung our harps. For there our captors demanded of us songs, and our tormentors mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” How can we sing the Lord’s song on a foreign land?

2. EVEN IN THE FACE OF

Daniel 3:4-6  Then a herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command! When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

Daniel 3:12  But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.

Daniel 3:15a  I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments.

3. NO MATTER HOW IT IS

Daniel 3:15b   ...if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?

Isaiah 36:18-20   Don’t let Hezekiah mislead you by saying, ‘The  Lord will rescue us!’ Have the gods of any other nations ever saved their people from the king of Assyria? What happened to the gods of Hamath and Arpad? And what about the gods of Sepharvaim? Did any god rescue Samaria from my power? What god of any nation has ever been able to save its people from my power? So what makes you think that the Lord can rescue Jerusalem from me?

4. BECAUSE OF WE TRUST

Daniel 3:16-17   Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty."

Ephesians 3:20  Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

5. EVEN WHEN THE OUTCOME ISN'T

Daniel 3:18  But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.

2 Timothy 2:13  If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

6. NO MATTER HOW IT GETS

Daniel 3:27-28  Then [they] crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke! Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him..."

God uses the confidence we have in Him to impact or change the hearts of others.

Deuteronomy 29:5-6  For forty years I led you through the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out. You ate no bread and drank no wine or other alcoholic drink, but he provided for you so you would know that he is the Lord your God.

TAKEAWAYS

• Identify what source, reason, or cause of your uncertainty / fear of the future.
• Apply a faith-based perspective to your situation: “If we are the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us.”