Mar. 06, 2024

Daniel 3 Worksheet

Courage in the Fire!   Scriptures: Daniel 3:1-30; Philippians 1:21

The Lord's mercy often rides to the door of our hearts on the black horse of affliction. It’s all about God’s glory, which is our highest good. 

God’s People will be confronted with the idols of this world (3:1-7.)

• The Golden Statue was 90 feet tall, and 9 feet wide, it was like a gold missile out in the middle of the desert plain of Dura with all these followers, administrators and leaders surrounding it. 
• “Beloved, you must go into the furnace if you would have the nearest and dearest dealings with Christ Jesus.” - Charles Spurgeon

God’s People will be criticized by the people of this world (3:8-12).

• The number one commandment that is given the most in scripture is “Do Not Fear,” because fear is the main tactic the enemy uses to discourage the people of God. If we live in fear, that stops us from really stepping out and exposing the darkness.
• Jesus said, my kingdom is not of this world, therefore we have to die to this world to live in His.
• Unfortunately, today we struggle being “lukewarm people who don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin.”
• The answer to our defining moments is to have the fear of God over the fear of Man. It doesn’t mean that we have to be arrogant, or antagonistic. It just means that we care more for God’s perspective than man’s.

To the carnal mind, this looks like anything but mercy. But as we grow in grace, the Spirit of God teaches us to think spiritually, according to the mind of God. 

The fear of man has to be dealt with, because it is one of the biggest thieves in the church that keeps people from doing what they were made for. 

• This is not something that we can get delivered from, it's only possible to have freedom as we are delivered through it. It’s a risk for sure, but it's not about the outcome, it's about who we become in the process.

God’s People will be challenged to worship the gods of this world (3:13-15).

“All the darkness of the world cannot extinguish a single candle.” - Saint Francis of Assisi

God’s People must be courageous in the face of danger in this world (3:16-18).

• When we make ourselves available for God to use screams the gospel, because its when God can use the ordinary among us to do supernatural work. 
• Do you know how many people are lonely, afraid, in torment, struggling, and in doubt in this world? We tend to have the mindset that people don’t want to be bothered.
• But if we can find one person each day to simply love, the gospel will meet everyone. 
• We have to stop waiting for people to come to us, we need to get moving and become a participant of His powerful love. 
• Regardless of miracles occurring, people need an encounter with Jesus Christ.

We begin to see our afflictions (trials of every kind) as instruments in His hand that bring forth mercies we need most, such as: 

• A deeper revelation of who Christ is;
• The precious fruit of divine humility;
• A greater dependance on God instead of ourselves;
• A greater intimacy with God;
• To prepare us to be more greatly used by God;
• Compassionate heart towards others, bearing His comfort.

God’s People can be confident the Lord is with them no matter what happens in this world (3:19-30).

• 7 times hotter was merely an expression that meant that something needed to be at its complete capacity. 
  • 900-1100 degrees was the capacity for there furnace temperatures
  • Not able to exceed 1500 degrees with their technology.
• Because the presence of God is with us and Christ’s work for us, believers can have courage to resist false gods and testify to the one true God.

Many have lost the cutting edge to their witness, and have become intimidated by the world.  

We need to ask ourselves a serious question. 

Are we willing to cultivate a lifestyle that the Holy Spirit can enthrone himself in allowing us to know who we are IN CHRIST. 

Other Scriptures: 1 Peter 1:6-9; 1 Peter 4:1-2, 12-14; James 1:2-4; Job 42:3,5; Genesis 50:20; Philippians 1:20-21; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; 2 Corinthians 12:5-10; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Habakkuk 3:17-19