The Faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego

Text: Hebrews 11:34 & Daniel 3

Notice where faith will find itself (vss 1-7)

Nebuchadnezzar demands idolatry.
Their faith is put in the context of a culture that specifically demands disobedience to God. There is social pressure, legal pressure, physical pressure, and life-threatening.
In the world, but not of the world – John 17:14-19
I notice that obedience to faith applies in the culture, meaning it’s not limited to the synagogue or church walls. John the Baptist will do the same thing, but with different results. But he’ll put Herod under the law of God.

Notice how faith is applied (vss 8-12)

I notice these three young men were doing the law and the Lord called it faith. This helps clarify what it really means when God says works and faith are mutually exclusive. Someone doing the law because of their faith is not someone doing works to prove their righteousness. And that’s the problem when God says by faith, not by works.
The works are self-righteous works. These are in opposition to faith. But abstaining from idolatry is the law and it’s the application of faith.
This is said of Moses as well in Hebrews 11:28.
After the resurrection, the requirements are repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:20-21).

Notice it is a faith beyond death (vss 13-18)

Nebuchadnezzar is outraged and demands these men explain themselves.
They are clear and deliberate about their answer – 1 Peter 3:15-17
While these men lived before the resurrection, we live after it. We should have no problem giving an answer.
But if not; their faith doesn’t depend on how the LORD handles the situation.

Notice faith’s fiery trial refines substance (vss 19-25)

The fire hurts people close to it and may even destroy people without faith.
Faithless people are more concerned with being on the right side of the fire than being on the right side of God.
The benefits of allowing the faithful in the fire far outweigh the benefits of keeping them out of the fire.
The fire reveals substance and breaks the thing down to its basic elements.
The shackles don’t last.
The Savior is magnified: The fourth is like the Son of God – 1 Peter 1:6-7.

Notice how faith has the effect of glorifying Jesus Christ (vss 26-30)

Most high verse 26
Blessed be the God… (vs 28)
No one else can deliver after this sort (vs 29) – broad publication of the LORD’s power.
Rewards for the faithful
- They ended up with more than they went in with.
- And what they yielded, they got back.