Fire can be a wonderful thing and it also can be a devastating thing. You need to learn how to handle fire, especially when you are in Babylon.

What “fires” have you been through in your life?
*Would you handle it any differently in retrospect?*

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. 3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it. 4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” —Daniel 3:1-6 (NIV)

There is a tension here that has existed from the very beginning. Will the creature worship the Creator or the created? Will the image that God has made bow down to an image that God has not made? And Babylon demands that we bow down to it’s gods (whatever they may be).

What gods does our modern day Babylon try to force us to bow down to?

The thing that we need to remember is that faith is always under fire in Babylon.

You must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold. —1 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT)

What do you see Peter saying here?

As the story continues… Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are going to put their faith on display because they are willing to stand in the line of fire.

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?” —Daniel 3:13-15 (NIV)

Why did Nebuchadnezzar give them a 2nd chance?

In the sermon, Mitch mentioned two options people often take when the culture turns up the heat.

Option 1 - Bow along to get along.
How have you seen Christians do this?

Option 2 - Stand for God and withstand the heat.

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 3:16-18 (NIV)

What do you see in their response to the king?

They knew their God had power, but they also knew that their God had purpose… and they were humble enough to admit that they didn’t always know the purpose. And so they subjected themselves to the king’s punishment.

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.” … 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.” —Daniel 3:24-25, 28-29 (NIV)

Faith doesn’t guarantee the absence of fire. Rather, it guarantees his presence in the flames.

What do you take away from this story?