October 9, 2005am                   Is It True?                     Daniel 3:8-28

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

Introduction:  How do we know God’s will for our lives?   When we know God’s will for our lives how do we respond?  If you knew what God wanted for your life would you be willing with God Helping you to do it? 

 Scripture Text:  Daniel 3:8 (NIV) At this time some astrologers {[8] Or Chaldeans}came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! 10 You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon--Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego--who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up." 13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king." 25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.  

A.  How do we know His will for us?  How did the Hebrew Children know what God wanted?

1.      Reading God’s word or the scriptures.

2.      Keeping in touch with Him in Prayer.

3.      Going with the flow of circumstances.

4.      Following Advice from other committed Christians.

5.      Following the feelings that He gives us through the Holy Spirit.

B.  Possible Responses the 3 Hebrews could have given.

1. I am going to do what I want regardless of what God wants.  Everyone else was doing it.  My free choice and my rights to do as I please.  For example the Hebrew children could have tried it just this once.  After all we know what is best.

2. If God will give me what I want first then I will give Him what He wants.  II Cor. 5:7  For we walk by faith not sight.  Would God do away with the furnace before we said no?  Stand on the promises to be able to go in Faith.  We say to God show me and I will go.  But God says go and I will show you. 

3. I’ll Give God what He wants first then I’ll have faith and wait for Him to give me what I want.  I’ll eventually get what I want by waiting and believing.  If He doesn’t I’m through.  God will deliver me if I believe … Prosperity gospel… Peter Popoff’s miracle water.  Get some and give Him some money if you want to be blessed and have all that God can give. 

C.  What was the actual response of the 3 Hebrew Children? 

1.  I’ll give God what He wants regardless of whether or not He gives me what I want.  V.16-18.  16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [are] not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [us] out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up

Will we give to God what He wants regardless of what He allows to come our way?  He won’t remove the furnace, but He’ll take us through it.  What about the maryters and Jesus?  Did He carry them through it?  What about Noah?  What about Moses?  What about you?  Will He carry you through?  Will you give Him a chance to carry you through the problems of life and give you his eternal blessing?  

What is our response to God’s will for our lives?  What is yours today? 

There was a religious lady that had to do a lot of traveling for her
business, so she did a lot of flying. Flying made her very, very nervous,
so she always took her Bible along with her to read as it helped relax her
on the long flights.
One time, she was sitting next to a man. When he saw her
pull out her Bible, he gave a little chuckle and smirk and went back to
what he was doing.
After awhile, he turned to her and asked, "You don't
really believe all that stuff in there do you?"
The lady replied, "Of course I do. It is the Bible."
He said, "Well, what about that guy that was swallowed
by that whale?"
She replied, "Oh, Jonah. Yes, I believe that, it is in
the Bible."
He asked, "Well, how do you suppose he survived all that
time inside the whale?"
The lady said, "Well, I don't really know. I guess when
I get to heaven, I will ask him."
"What if he isn't in heaven?" the man asked sarcastically.
"Then you can ask him," replied the lady.

from the internet joke closet  (http://www.shoptcs.com/cjp/rel/39.htm)

Two old friends met one day after many years. One attended college,
and now was very successful. The other had not attended college and
never had much ambition.
The successful one said, "How has everything been going with you?"
"Well, one day I opened the Bible at random, and dropped my finger on
a word and it was oil. So, I invested in oil, and boy, did the oil
wells gush. Then another day I dropped my finger on another word and
it was gold. So, I invested in gold and those mines really produced.
Now, I'm as rich as Rockefeller." 
The successful friend was so impressed that he rushed to his hotel,
grabbed a Gideon Bible, flipped it open, and dropped his finger on a
page. He opened his eyes and his finger rested on the words, "Chapter
Eleven."