Today on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. What a tremendous story. What's the principle? Trust God who is able to do the impossible. You take a stand for God.
You refuse to compromise your internal convictions when faced with external pressure. You say, What will happen to me? Trust God. He is able to do the impossible. Welcome to The Verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe.
The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace is an amazing story of courageous faith and resisting compromise. Today, on the verdict, we're taking a fresh look at this wonderful story and the lessons we can learn as we trust this God who can do the impossible.
Now, with part two of a message titled, Our God is Able, here's Pastor John Monroe. Today we continue the thrilling story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. As they face the edict of King Nebuchadnezzar to bow before his image in Babylon. Everyone around them bows before the idol, but these three men defy the king's command. What pressures are you facing in your life?
About to compromise. Any idols in your life, money, popularity, your sport. Can you imagine the atmosphere when everyone in Babylon was bowing before the idol? It would have been very easy for them to bow before the idol and say that inwardly they were still standing for God. But that would have been compromise.
These three men refused to vote.
Now I don't know what pressures you're facing. But as we listen to this amazing story, I know you'll be tremendously encouraged. We're going to read the first twelve verses of Daniel 3. and learn our first Lesson. Here is the word of God to us then.
Daniel chapter 3. Verses one. Through twelve. King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold whose height was six cubits. and its breadth six cubits.
He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent together the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the councillors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the councillors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And he stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And the Herald proclaimed aloud, You are commanded, O peoples, nations and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you're to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. Therefore, as soon as all of the peoples heard the sound of the hornpipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down. and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Therefore, at that time, certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever.
You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the hornpipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music shall fall down and worship the golden image. And whoever does not fall down and worship, Shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.
Fascinating story, isn't it? We want to learn the first lesson this morning, and it is such an important one. Don't compromise your internal convictions when faced with external pressures.
Now that is an important principle. that we see from this passage, but also throughout the scripture. We are all faced with external pressures. We're all faced to do things that we know are wrong. And so often we yield to these external pressures from other people, from our family, from society.
But we learned this morning. We are never. never to compromise our internal convictions when faced with external pressure.
Now what's the situation here? In Daniel 3, Nebuchadnezzar, as we've read, builds this huge image and commands everyone to worship it. Got a bit of an ego problem, doesn't he, Nebuchadnezzar? And everyone bows down. Can you imagine the pressure?
Here is the king. And his command must be obeyed by all peoples, no exceptions. Ah, but three men. Defy the king's command. and refuse To bow verse twelve.
These men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, O king, these Jewish men, pay no attention to you. They disregard you, King. And they don't serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. Can you imagine the pressure on these men to conform? Far away from home.
in a pagan culture commanded by the most powerful Man in the universe. Facing a huge, impressive image ninety feet high. Listening to that powerful music. everyone around them. all nationalities, all of the peoples bowing down.
And Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego do not compromise their internal convictions when faced with external pressures. They realize that right is always right. And wrong is always wrong. There can be no compromise, there can be no negotiation. They take a stand for God.
What is of supreme importance to them is not popularity, is not fitting in. Is not going along with the flow. What is of supreme importance to them is how they stand before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the one who made them, and the one whom ultimately all of us give. an account.
However fierce However hot.
However, terrifying the external pressure on them, and they must have been terrified at the thought of the fiery furnace, they will not bow. They do not compromise. their internal convictions. When faced. with external pressures.
How about you? Most people's behavior and attitudes and lifestyle and decisions. Let's face it. are determined by the external pressures. rather than internal convictions.
But these three men are great examples of integrity of courage and of faith. What an example. Brothers, sisters, I say to you today. Don't. compromise God's truth.
I don't know what that means to you in your setting. You're a high school student. You're an elementary student, you're at college, you're a business person, you're in your home, you're in politics. I don't know what it means to you, but I know this. Take a stand for God.
Dare to be different in your school, in your office, in your bank. Take a stand for God. Don't be an idolater. Don't bow down just because everyone else is doing it. Don't go against your conscience.
Don't go against the clear teaching of the Word of God. Don't bow. Take a stand for God. And God will give you all of the strength. And all of the protection.
and all of the care that you need. as you take the stand for God. and don't compromise your internal convictions. when faced with external pressures. That's the first lesson.
Here is the second now. As we read from verse thirteen, Through verse twenty seven. And the second lesson is this: trust God. who is able to do the impossible. Lesson one, don't compromise your internal convictions.
when faced with external pressures. Secondly, trust God. who is able to do the impossible. There's Thirteen. Then Nebuchadnezzar, in furious rage, commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought.
So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve any gods, or worship the golden image that I have set up?
Now if you're ready. When you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made well and good. But if you do not worship, You shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the God who will deliver you out of my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, We have no need to answer you in this matter.
If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, Be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury. And the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated.
And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished.
And rose up in haste, he declared to his counsellors, Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? They answered and said to the king, True, O king. He answered and said, But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they're not hurt. And the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace.
He declared, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counsellors gathered together. and saw that the fire had not any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed.
Their cloaks were not harmed. And no smell of fire. Had come. upon them. What a tremendous story.
What's the principle? Trust God. Who is able to do the impossible? You take a stand for God. You refuse to compromise your internal convictions when faced with external pressure.
You say, What will happen to me? Trust God. He is able to do the impossible. He is able to do all things. These three men believe, verse 17, that God will deliver them out of the king's hand.
Their faith is greatly tested as the furnace is heated seven times more. They are tied up and thrown into the burning fiery furnace. The heat has increased. And as they're being bound and see the heat of that fire and even feel it as it as they see the man being killed. They have plenty of time to recant.
But they don't do so. What courage? And what faith? And what incredible trust. in God.
Athanasius was one of the early church fathers. During the debate on the deity and the eternality of Jesus Christ, Athanasius found himself in the minority.
Someone came to Athanasius and said, Athanasius, Don't you know that the Emperor is against you? The bishops are against you. The church is against you. And the whole world is against you. Athanasius answered, then I'm against the whole world.
It's gone down Athanasius, Contra. Mundom. The Latin for Athanasius. against the world. Have you ever found yourself contra mundum?
Have you ever found yourself in the minority that there's tremendous pressure against you? And that people are saying, everyone else does this. What about you? I used to try that argument with my father, but, Dad, everyone does that. And now I know why my father was always utterly unconvinced by the argument.
I'm sure students should try that with your parents. You try that with your pastors. But everyone is doing this. First and foremost, no, not everyone is doing it, but even if everyone did it, wrong is always wrong. And right is always right.
Wouldn't it be wonderful? To have A number. Of Andrew Melville's, of Athanasius, of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, saying, We realize that we're against the world, but. God is on our side. And we're going to trust God irrespective of the consequences.
We're going to trust this God who is able. Who can do? the impossible. They believe. that nothing is too difficult.
For God. Jeremiah tells us that in Jeremiah 32, verses 17 and 27, that nothing is too difficult for God. Are we so rationalistic in our thinking? Or do we really believe that the Almighty God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, can work supernaturally in your life? Our God, whom we serve, say the three men, is able to deliver us.
They know God. He is our God, and we serve this God, and we know He is able to deliver us. You trust in God for the impossible? To know God is to have faith in God. Without faith, it's impossible to please God.
A virgin shall conceive and bring forth a son. Luke 1:37, for nothing will be impossible with God. He's all-powerful, he can do all things, he's able. To do. The impossible.
This morning I hear someone say, but Pastor, my situation. Is too serious. Nothing can be done. My marriage is over. I've blown it, I've made a real mess of my life.
There's nothing I can do. I'll never ever get another job like that, like the one I've just lost.
So-and-so will never come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. If you talk like that, you're talking like an unbeliever. Have you forgotten? That the sovereign God, the Lord of the whole universe, is able. To deliver you?
Nothing. Nothing. Nothing is too difficult for God. He can do the impossible. Yes, men can go into a fiery furnace.
And God can and did deliver them. Why? Because God. was in the midst. Of the fiery furnace.
We see that in verses 24: that King Nebuchadnezzar, as he looks, Expects just to see a few ashes. Instead, he sees four figures, and he says, Well, Didn't we throw three men in? Yes, King, we certainly did. There's only three of them, but. In fact, we now see four.
Some commentators believe that this was the pre-incarnate Christ. Others, that it was the angel of the Lord. Either way, we know this: that in the midst of the fiery furnace, God. was with Shadrick. Meshach.
and the bednego, that God was with them in the middle of the fire. Yea, though I walk Through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil. For you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me. We have some dear brothers and sisters at church who presently are walking through that valley of the shadow of death, but this we do know.
That God is with them. That God's people are never alone in the midst of the fiery furnace. God is with them. He is Emmanuel God. with us and God, my dear brother, my dear sister, is with you in the midst of your fiery trial today.
And we'll be with you tomorrow. When you go through the deep waters, the dark nights, the fiery furnaces, do not fear. God is with you. When you pass through the waters. Isaiah says, Isaiah 43, verses 2 and 3: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you.
When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior, God, always. Takes care. of his people. And as they come out of the fiery furnace, there isn't even the smell of smoke on them.
The writer of Hebrews say of their faith, Hebrews 11:33 and 34, that by faith they quenched the power of fire. What traith? And what? A god. You worried about your situation?
God. Is able to do the impossible. Therefore, trust him. He will keep you safe from the fieriest of furnaces. He will deliver you from the darkest of nights.
He will give you peace in the midst of the most frightening storms of life. He is able to do all things. Therefore, trust this God who is able to do the impossible. Here, then, are these two great principles to guide us in life. First, don't compromise.
your internal convictions when faced with external pressures. What are you bowing to? What are you bending to? Where is the compromise in your life? Is there something or someone more important in your life than God?
Don't cave in. Take a stand. Young man, young woman, take a stand for God. Be different. Be a leader.
Stand for God. God will give you all of the help you can. Who cares what people think of you when you are pleasing the King of Kings and Lord? Of Lords, choose you this day whom you will. We'll serve.
Jesus said, You can't have two masters. You can't have two first loves. You've got to either love one and hate the other. If you're loving God, it means saying no to the external pressures. Of life.
Don't compromise your internal convictions when faced with external pressures, and secondly, trust God. who's able to do the impossible. Do you know there are no limits to the power of God? He's able, therefore, trust him with all of your heart. Never forget that God still delivers us.
And God is able to do the impossible. Hebrews 7, 25 says, Consequently, he is able. He's able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him. You're here this morning and you think God's blessing, God's salvation, God's forgiveness is not for you. You've made a mess of your life.
You've turned your back on God. You've heard the truth and you've resisted it. You've wandered away and you're too far gone, you think? Absolutely not. God is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him.
Will you come? Will you turn from your sin? Will you cry out to Christ for salvation? He's able to save you and to save you forever. You need salvation, you need deliverance.
Oh, you say, I'm not in the midst of a fiery furnace, but without Jesus Christ, you're lost, you're in the dark, and you are heading for the lake of fire. You need to be found. You need to be rescued. You need to be delivered. And Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
He's the Savior. He's the deliverer. He's the rescuer. Trust Him for salvation. He went into the fiery furnace of God for you.
And all of the wrongs, all of the mistakes, all of our sins which we committed were borne by him on the cross. This is why he came to suffer and to save. The Bible says that God didn't send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that through him. We might. Be saved.
He's able to forgive you, able to deliver you. He's alive, he'll cleanse you, he'll save you. Put your trust in God. And for those of us who have done that, May our lives Radiate the love and the truth and the righteousness of Jesus Christ in a world where there are tremendous pressures on us to compromise. both as a society, as families, as individuals.
May we learn from these men of faith. whose faith quenched the power of fires. that we will put our trust in God. And God alone. who is able to do.
The impossible. This is the verdict featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe. There's still more to hear when John returns in just a moment, so stay with us. From matters of truth and identity, to the subjects of love and grace, our world seems more confused than ever. But to find truth and certainty about who we are and find peace, we must turn our attention away from the world and look to the Word of God.
To help you do that, John wrote a booklet titled Eternal Security, Finding Certainty in a Chaotic World. Through this special resource John shares his personal testimony, along with a careful examination of Scripture, to offer us clarity on matters of eternity. Get your copy today by visiting our website at the verdict. org. While you're there, consider making an investment in this Bible teaching ministry.
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We're located on the corner of Highway 51 and Ray Road. If you've been looking for a church home or a community to help you grow in your walk with Christ, we invite you to join us for our Sunday services. For more details about Calvary and our service times, visit theverdict.org.
Now, here's Pastor John Monroe.
Well, what's your verdict? Isn't this amazing faith in the God who can do the impossible? These three men truly believed that God could deliver them out of the fire. Do you believe God is able to deal with your situation? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Even if the whole world is against God, we must not bow. but stand strong in the grace of our Lord Jesus. Don't miss next time as we look further into this amazing story of God delivering his servants from the fiery furnace. Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict. I'm Michelle Davies.
Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
