There are attacks made against people of faith on a daily basis. One can hardly turn on the television, listen to the radio, read the newspaper, surf the internet, or engage in a conversation without hearing some secular progressive gripe about how religion is in the public arena to the degree it is. So in order to diminish the public nature of a religion of belief these skeptics wish to advance the public nature of their religion of unbelief. Such is hypocrisy to the highest degree. How can we combat such a push from the left for the mouths of Christians to be shut? Luckily we do not have to speculate. We have any number of examples from the Bible of those who had to do the very same thing. Three are the subject of our sermon starter this week:
Title: Faith in the Face of the Fire
Text: Daniel 3:1-18
Main Point: We all face the fire of life at regular intervals – it is rarely if ever welcomed. But we should be encouraged to remember an occasion when three young men’s faith was literally threatened by fire and they stood firm and continue to stand as an example of rock solid faith. How were they able to stand so firmly in the face of the fire?
Discussion Points:
1. They Looked Up – These young men were adamant and unified in their declaration of faith and their first and foremost concern was to please Him. They looked up for authority upon which they might act and they looked up for approval by which they might be assured in their course of action (Colossians 3:17; Matthew 28:18; John 12:48; Deuteronomy 4:2). By looking up they knew the will of God and in humility subjected themselves to it.
2. They Looked Down – These three young men had quite a hatred for sin because they knew it was a rejection of God and His will (1 John 3:4; Hebrews 6:4-6). Many are torn because they do believe in God and have a desire to follow Him but they also have an affinity for sin. But sin counteracts any other good that we otherwise might accomplish in life (James 2:10; Hebrews 10:26). Sin ultimately ends with our spiritual and eternal destruction (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 1:21-32; Numbers 32:23; Proverbs 28:13; 1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Proverbs 14:34; Romans 6:23; Romans 7:23-25; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). We need to learn to look down our nose at sin because of what it is and what it does.
3. They Looked Around – Influence is either a constructive or destructive tool at our disposal. We can influence people in righteousness or in evil. These young men knew they were representatives of God and looked around to ensure their influence was proper (Matthew 7:15-20; Matthew 5:14-16). They knew their reaction to this command could be the one thing that not only stood between themselves and eternity, but between others as well.
4. They Looked Forward – Our eternities will be the fruit of the seed sown in our lives (2 Corinthians 5:10). What we must determine is whether we are also going to stand out from the world or stand with the world (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:9-10). By looking forward they were well aware that their present actions would reap eternal results.
While the circumstances of this story are much different than we face today, the principles remain the same. Satan’s influence rages as intensely as it ever has in attacking our faith. Let’s help each other develop and maintain a faith that can stand even in the face of the fire!