The God who is in the Fire
March 2, 2025

The God Who is in the Fire

Daniel 3
March 2, 2025


“Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” —Daniel 3:6

When the World Down

The Faithful Up for God

Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! —Acts 5:29

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. —Matthew 10:32-33

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, pipe 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 him, “King 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 deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” —Daniel 3:13-18

When The World Tries to

The Faithful Stay to God

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. —John 10:10

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. —James 4:4

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, Your Majesty.” 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.” 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. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. —Daniel 3:19-30

When the of the World Come

The Faithful with God

“Beloved, you must go into the furnace if you would have the nearest and dearest dealings with Christ Jesus.” —Charles Spurgeon

“We compromise under pressure even though the pressure we face is nothing compared to that of facing death if we obey. The fourth commandment says to keep the Sabbath Day holy, but we compromise under the pressure of a society that totally ignores this commandment. We are drawn into activities from sports to shopping so easily and without a thought. We rationalize and justify our activities.” —Rodney Stortz

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. —1 John 5:4

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. —James 1:12

Do I Have an “ ” Mentality?

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. —Luke 9:23

Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him Job —13:15a

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” —Matthew 28:20b

Am I with God?

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. —Psalm 23:4

“Only one life twill soon be passed, only what’s done for Christ will last.” —C.T. Studd


Journey Deeper

  • Read Daniel 2:46-49 again. Many scholars will say there is about a 15-20 year gap in the narrative from Daniel 2 to Daniel 3. What might have happened to change Nebuchadnezzar’s attitude toward God so much?
  • Faithful obedience is an important element of our walk with Christ. We see in this story that the king’s faith faded and washed away over the course of years. How can we work not to let this happen in our lives?
  • Read Daniel 3:15. King Nebuchadnezzar seems to think he is greater than God in this moment. In what ways do we unintentionally elevate ourselves above God?
  • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had every opportunity to bow to the statue, yet they chose not to. Why do you think that was? How can we emulate that same sort of dedication to our Creator?
  • On Sunday, we talked about an ‘Even If’ mentality. What does that phrase mean for us in our daily lives? How can we cultivate that kind of faith practically?
  • When we read this story, we all almost instinctively go to a time of trial in our own lives. Read Psalm 66:10-12. How do trials refine our faith? When was a time you experienced a hardship that drew you closer to God?
  • Memorize Daniel 3:17-18. “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”