We Serve a God who will Get Down IN the Fire WITH You

(Read Daniel 3:20-25)

This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”.  Let’s pick up the story where we left off yesterday and get right into it.

The Bible says, “Then he commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He told the soldiers to throw them into the hot furnace.  So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were tied up and thrown into the hot furnace.  They were wearing their robes, pants, cloth caps, and other clothes.  The king was very angry when he gave the command, so the soldiers quickly made the furnace very hot.  The fire was so hot that the flames killed the strong soldiers.  They were killed when they went close to the fire to throw in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell into the fire.  They were tied up very tightly.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar jumped to his feet. He was very surprised and he asked his advisors, “We tied only three men, and we threw only three men into the fire.  Is that right?”  His advisors said, “Yes, King.”  The king said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire.  They are not tied up and they are not burned.  The fourth man looks like the son of God.”

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things.

1.  The attacks of the enemy often backfire on him because of God’s protection.

a)  Nebuchadnezzar lost some of the strongest Soldiers in his army as they attempted to throw the Hebrew boys in the fire.

b)  The same fire that could not consume Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, quickly killed Nebuchadnezzar’s best men.

c)  Divine protection can keep you safe from any of the enemy’s attacks.

d)  God did not have to save the Hebrew boys, but He did it by grace, honoring their faith.  God will do the same for you.  Your faith can access God’s grace for divine protection.

2.  God can take the very thing that was meant to destroy you and use it to bless you.

a)  Not only were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego thrown into the fiery furnace, but they were thrown in bound with ropes.

b)  The same fire that was supposed to destroy the Hebrew boys, wound up freeing them from the ropes that had them bound.

c)  God saw to it that the fire consumed the ropes, but it did not touch the boys.  They would later walk OUT of the fire and not even smell like smoke!

d)  What the enemy meant for evil, God used for their good.

e)  An episode that was designed to destroy the Hebrew boys ended up getting them promoted.

f)  The more satan messes with you, the stronger you get.  If he knew any better he would leave you alone!

3.  You can be free in the middle of a terrible situation.

a)  The Hebrew boys went into the fire bound and before they left the fire completely, they spent some time walking around IN the middle of the fire FREE!

b)  It did not seem like the Hebrew boys were in a hurry to leave the fire.  They were walking around IN the middle of the fire, enjoying God’s divine protection.

c)  Not only will God deliver you FROM a bad situation, but He can actually deliver you IN it.  You can still be IN the middle of the bad situation, and actually enjoy the fact that it can’t harm you.

d)  Don’t be so quick to get out of a situation that is not harming you, because God can that situation as a witness of His power.  People need to see you in the middle of a bad situation with a smile on your face, a song in your heart and a spring in your step!  This becomes a testimony of God’s protection and peace.

4.  Our God will get down in the fire with you.

a)  The main reason Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were able to walk around freely IN the fire, in a way that seemed like they were enjoying it, is because they were not alone!

b)  God got down in the fire with the Hebrew boys.

c)  God will become the 4th Man in your fire!

d)  Our God has said, “I will never leave you; I will never run away from you; I will never relax the grip I have on you” (Heb 13:5).

e)  God is more committed to you than you are committed to you.  He will never turn His back on you.

f)  When you know God is IN the fire with you, you are not afraid.

g)  When you know God is IN the fire with you, you are not in a hurry to get out.

h)  When you know God is IN the fire with you, you get excited about the testimony the fire will bring.

i)  Don’t bow down to the enemy, don’t be afraid of his threats, and don’t succumb to his pressure.  Even if you are thrown into the fire, we serve a God who will get down IN the fire with you… by His grace, for His glory!

Closing Confession:   Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith.  I enjoyed today’s message.  I am excited about You and Your power.  My faith is energized as I read about Your divine protection.  You don’t have to do anything, but You choose to bless me by grace.  You choose to honor my faith.  You choose to be a shield for me.  You choose to keep me from the enemy’s secret traps and deadly diseases.  I have made You, the Most High, my dwelling place and my habitation.  Therefore, no evil shall befall me, neither shall any plague come close to my dwelling.  I give and You give angels charge over me, to keep me in all my ways.  A thousand can fall at my side, and even 10,000 at my right hand, but it will not touch me.  Only with my eyes shall I see the reward of the wicked.  I enjoy divine protection daily.  Me and my household are protected by You and Your angels.  I am not afraid of the fire, because I know You can get down IN the fire with me.  When You are WITH me, I can walk around IN the fire and not be burned.  I can walk out of the fire and not even smell like smoke.  People can see me IN the fire with a smile on my face and a spring in my step.  Thank You Father for being so committed to me.  You will never leave me, forsake me, or relax the grip You have on me.  Your commitment to me gives me peace and confidence.  I enter this day with fearless confidence – a confidence rooted and grounded in You, Your grace, and Your commitment to me!  I declare this by faith.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.