Faith to Face the Fire: We'll Burn Before We'll Bow

This sermon was preached by Pastor Sam Adams at Independence Baptist Church in Belleview, Florida on 5/25/15.

Bible text: Daniel 3:1-30

Adapted, updated and expanded from a sermon preached in 2011, this message is from one of the most well-known and oft-told stories of the Bible, the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s great deliverance out of Nebuchadnezzar's burning fiery furnace. There are some great lessons from this account to apply to such a time as this:

OVERCOMING FAITH IS NOT A FUNCTION OF HUMAN ADULTHOOD. Even children can be heroes of faith in the face of great persecution, and can even decide to burn before they’ll bow.
THE GREATEST VICTORIES ALWAYS COME OUT OF THE WORST CIRCUMSTANCES. While this is one of the greatest stories in the Bible, we must remember that if Israel had not gone into captivity we would not have this great story of a great victory. As America goes into similar captivity for similar reasons, God’s people still have cause to hope in a great deliverance.
WE ARE TO SUBMIT TO EARTHLY RULERS ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY SUBMIT TO GOD. When civil rulers disobey God, we must disobey civil rulers. That has never been more true than it is right now, in this hour when many civil rulers have, as most have done throughout history, themselves become a "terror to good works" (Rom. 13:2).
GOD'S CHILDREN NEVER FIGHT ALONE. God has called us to battle - but has also promised to go through that battle with us, just as he went into the fiery furnace with these young men. God may send us into the fire as well; and as with millions of Martyrs through the ages, we may even suffer great tortures; but the Lord will never abandon us, and He will go through our trials with us and empower us to overcome and prevail.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIO2ZyBVdNk