SERMON: Living in Babylon – Trust – Daniel 3 (9/17/2023)

Sunday, September 17, 2023

Sermon Series

Living in Babylon - A Study of Daniel 1-6

Introduction

Open your Bibles to Daniel 3...
- Background...
- Setting...
- Daniel 3:12 | There are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men have ignored you, the king; they do not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” (CSB)
- –––
- Daniel 3:16 | Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to give you an answer to this question. (CSB)
- Daniel 3:17 | If the God we serve exists, then he can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he can rescue us from the power of you, the king. (CSB)
- Daniel 3:18 | But even if he does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.” (CSB)
- Daniel 3:19 | Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times more than was customary, (CSB)
- Daniel 3:20 | and he commanded some of the best soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. (CSB)
- –––
- Daniel 3:24 | Then King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm. He said to his advisers, “Didn’t we throw three men, bound, into the fire?” “Yes, of course, Your Majesty,” they replied to the king. (CSB)
- Daniel 3:25 | He exclaimed, “Look! I see four men, not tied, walking around in the fire unharmed; and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” (CSB)
- Daniel 3:26 | Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and called, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God—come out!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire. (CSB)
- Daniel 3:27 | When the satraps, prefects, governors, and the king’s advisers gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men: not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them. (CSB)
- Daniel 3:28 | Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted in him. They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. (CSB)
- Daniel 3:29 | Therefore I issue a decree that anyone of any people, nation, or language who says anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb and his house made a garbage dump. For there is no other god who is able to deliver like this.” (CSB)
- Daniel 3:30 | Then the king rewarded Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. (CSB)

What is Real Faith?

I. Real faith trusts first, and asks questions later. (Daniel 3:16)

Daniel 3:16 | Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. (ESV)

II. Real faith recognizes the power of God over every problem. (Daniel 3:17)

Daniel 3:17 | 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. (ESV)
Real faith is not predicting God's movements and responses.
Real faith is believing and trusting in God's power, integrity, and goodness.

III. Real faith lives for the glory of God, not the benefits of God. (Daniel 3:18)

Daniel 3:18 | 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.” (ESV)
Be willing to suffer...
- Be willing to lose a job...
- Be willing to lose a relationship...
- Be willing to lose a tax break...
- Be willing to lose some money...
- Be willing to lose an opportunity...
- Be willing to lose some freedom...
- Be willing to lose an opportunity...
- Be willing to be...
  - Uncomfortable
  - Insecure
The roll call of faith...
- The first 34 verses of Hebrews 11...
- The last five verses...
  - Hebrews 11:35 | Women received their dead, raised to life again. Other people were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. (CSB)
  - Hebrews 11:36 | Others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment. (CSB)
  - Hebrews 11:37 | They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. (CSB)
  - Hebrews 11:38 | The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. (CSB)
  - Hebrews 11:39 | All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, (CSB)

Conclusion

Not tied...
- Look back at our Bible passage...
  - Daniel 3:25 | He exclaimed, “Look! I see four men, not tied, walking around in the fire unharmed; and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” (CSB)
- I started to jettison my entire sermon this morning and just preach on that verse!
- The elements we ordinarily focus on in that verse...
  - Waling around unharmed...
  - The fourth man...
- For me, today, the most significant part of that verse is a two-word phrase that you might not have really noticed...
  - "not tied"
- There is a lesson in those two words that I'm trying hard to learn...
Let's notice the progression of events that led to those two words...
- The men were well-tied...
  - Daniel 3:20 | and he commanded some of the best soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. (CSB)
- The men were helpless...
  - They were bound...
  - The bonds kept them from doing what they would ordinarily do...
  - They couldn't loose themselves from the bonds...
- God freed these men from their bondage, but how did he do it?
  - He allowed them to go into the fire...
  - God went with them through the fire and kept them from destruction...
  - And God used the fire to burn away the bonds...
- So, what is the lesson?
  - There are times when we get tangled up and the world brings a bondage into our lives.
    - There are times when we are limited due to our bonds.
    - There are times when we can't get free no matter how much we struggle.
  - In these times, the Lord will be faithful, but he made have to send us through the furnace to burn away our bonds and free us from our restraints.
Church, I've been struggling under some heavy cords for a number of months.
- I've been in bondage.
- I've struggled as hard as I can to free myself from a deep despair.
- I'm weary from the struggle.
I've learned (learning) in the past week that no amount of...
- Struggle...
- Self-help...
- Determination...
- Taking the bull by the horns...
- And just manning-up to things...
- Is going to get me free from this bondage...
The only way I will be free of these bonds is for the Lord to burn them away in the furnace.
- As a child of God, the Lord has promised to be with me in the furnace...
- And though the furnace can be a scary place to be, it is in this time of adversity that the Lord will loose me from the bondage of the despair.
I'll describe the details of my situation...
- Not so that the focus would be on me...
- But so that any who may struggle with similar things will be encouraged to know they are not alone...
- And so that God will be glorified when he brings me out of the furnace...
I have a problem.
- I don't want to overstate the problem...
  - I'm not involved in some sin...
    - There is no scandal...
    - There are no suspicions...
    - There are no secrets...
  - My marriage is good...
  - I don't need more money...
  - My physical health is good...
  - I don't have a problem with the church or anyone in the church...
    - I love this church.
    - I believe this will be the very last church I pastor.
    - I plan to be pastor here another 15+ years.
- I also don't want to understate the problem.
  - I've been a senior pastor for just over 29 years.
    - I had been serving as a full-time associate minister with different responsibilities for a few years...
    - When a small country church called me to be their pastor in 1994.
    - The Lord blessed, and we began hiring the church's first-ever full-time staff almost immediately.
    - So, for 29 years I've been the buck-stops-here person for communities, churches, church members, and staff.
    - And I've see a lot in 29 years...
      - But I've never been where I am today...
      - I've never struggled like I have in 2023...
- I have just hit a wall.
  - I've lost my motivation...
  - I've lost the energy to minister.
    - Everything I do is absolutely exhausting.
  - My mind is swimming.
    - I can't remember in the afternoons what I did in the mornings.
  - It is really really hard to be around people right now.
- There have been some hurdles and some difficulties in the last two years...
  - Some you are likely aware of and some not...
    - My mom's passing...
  - But I haven't really been through anything unusual.
  - And I don't think this despair is primarily tied to a single problem.
  - By most measures, my life is easier than it has ever been.
    - I'm healthy...
    - My family is healthy...
    - My finances are fine...
    - My marriage is good...
    - I love and am thankful for every person on my staff...
    - The church is going well...
  - But I'm dead on the inside...
    - I'm embarrassed to tell you that.
    - I’ve always believed that if you had a problem you just got up a little earlier in the morning and worked a little harder.
      - If you had a bad attitude, you just confessed it and changed it.
      - If you were weary, you just needed to buckle up and work harder.\
    - I've tried so hard to keep that secret.
- Church, I just cannot pretend any longer.
- I know I'm not the first minister or pastor to go through this...
  - My mentor...
  - Adrian Rogers...
  - Charles Spurgeon...
  - Moses, Elijah, Jonah...
- I genuinely believe that just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the enemy's best soldiers have tied me up...
  - And it is beyond my resources and strength to free myself.
- But I also genuinely believe the Lord is with me and through this furnace experience, he will set me free.
Next steps...
- At the advice of some specialists who are assisting me through this time, and with the permission, encouragement, and support of a diverse group of church leaders...
  - I'm going to take some time off.
    - Sabbatical...
- I've struggled with this...
  - No one is making me do this...
  - No one is asking me to do this...
    - With the exception of these two outside specialists who are assisting me with this.
  - No one here at this church even suggested this until I asked input on the possibility this past Tuesday evening...
  - I know there will be six or seven people in the church/community who will try to make this hard for me.
    - And I almost let that keep me from doing what I needed to do.
    - But right now, honestly, I don't care.
  - This is what I need to do to be the best pastor I can be in the last couple decades of my ministry.
- My goal...
  - Submit to what the Lord wants to do in me in the furnace...
  - Get back my motivation...
  - Refill my bucket...
  - Make an investment in my spiritual and emotional health that will allow me to be a strong pastor for FBC for the rest of my working days.
  - Every person I have shared with in the past week has expressed their support.
    - Leaders
    - Personnel Committee
    - Deacons
    - Staff
  - Serving with you and being a part of this local church has been the greatest privilege in my life.
  - I look forward to spending the rest of my ministry years serving along side you.
Details...
- I fully expect and plan to be back by December 1.
- Please pray for me...
  - This sabbatical will consist of...
    - Time in God's word...
    - Time with my family...
    - Counseling...
    - Healing...
  - Pray...
    - I need the Lord to fix what is broken...
    - I need the Lord to fill what is empty...
    - I need the Lord to loose what is bound...
- Things here at the church WILL NOT MISS A BEAT!
  - You are about to realize how incredible your church staff is...
    - My biggest fear is that you will realize in the next few weeks just how small a part of all of this I am...
    - You may realize you don't actually need me to come back...
  - Nothing is cancelled.
    - Be here...
    - Be involved...