A Burning Furnace

Transcripts for Dr. Wiersbe's sermons are forthcoming. Below is an outline of his message.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego represented the Jewish remnant in the midst of Babylonian captivity.

The story of the fiery furnace teaches us to be courageous in our faith.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were so dedicated in their faith that they stood up against the ungodly demands of Nebuchadnezzar.

Three promises that will give us the courage to stand up for what is right:

• The promise of persecution
  • We will not serve and worship the gods of this world.
  • The world wants us to worship the creature, money, and our own works rather than the Creator.
  • When we are faithfully following God, we will face persecution for our faith.
  • It would have been easy for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to make excuses and bow to the golden image.
• The promise of preservation
  • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t know what God was going to do in the fiery furnace.
  • No matter what happened, they knew God would be with them.
  • We do not judge God’s Word by the immediate but by the ultimate.
  • God knows what He is doing in our lives.
  • God promises us His presence, protection, and freedom to walk and talk with Him.
• The promise of promotion
  • God takes care of us when we stay true to Him.
  • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were a witness for God to all of the people around them.
  • We have the opportunity to glorify God in our suffering.
  • Going through the furnace purifies us.
  • Don’t keep quiet about your faith. Take a stand for the Lord.

We can face the fiery furnaces of today and stand for Jesus because we will never have to face the furnaces of hell.