On The Other Side Of The Fire - Bro Jesse Howell 5-31-2023

Let's get into the let's get into the word of God. I certainly miss

certainly miss and by the way, I know about ninety nine point nine percent

of us was getting in when the spirit was moving. So that's that is

no reflection of and uh. But okay, certainly miss our pastor and our

pastor's wife. As I have said, there's no pastor like him. I

love him. I love him as much as you do. I miss him

as much as you do. And I tell you what, this will be

the second time I've had to preach without him. And I can tell you

I felt it the first time, and I can already feel it this time.

But but I believe that God will help us. I miss him so

bad, Daniel. The third chapter, we're gonna be looking at the twenty

six through the thirtieth version. We're gonna start and we're gonna jump right here

into the ending of this little, very familiar story or read our text,

and then I'm gonna go back and I'll catch you up on the context of

all of this narrative. I don't know how how loud I'm gonna get tonight.

I really feel like we're gonna look at this this story and we're gonna

go through this story, and I want to point out a few, a

few of a few things that stood out to me as I was reading this

and studying this out as God was leading me. And so let's read.

Let's read of our scripture text Daniel, chapter three, verse number twenty,

starting in verse twenty six, Then Nenua Knezer came near to the mouth of

the burning fiery furnace and spake and said, Sharak me Shaq and a biting

to go, Ye, servants of the most High God, come forward and

come hither. Then shank me shaq and a bet to go came forth of

the midst of the fire. And the princes, governors and captains of the

King's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men upon whose body the fire

and no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither was

their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. Then

Nedya Khanezar spoken, said, blessed be the God of Shadrak me shak and

Abenigo, who hath sent his angel and delivered his servants and that trusted in

him, and have changed the King's word and yielded their bodies, that they

might not serve nor worship any God except their own God. I noticed right

there, kingdom e kahnezars that God. Right there is a lord case God

except their own God with an upper case G. Reading verse twenty nine.

Therefore, I make a decree that every people, nation and language would speak

anything amith against the God of Shadrach me Shank and Abenigo shall be cut in

pieces. Their houses shall be made a dung hell, because there is no

over the God that can't deliver after this sort being the king promoted shadrack me

shack, and I've been to go in the province of Batahog. Let's look

again at the last sentence of the verse verse we read chat birth over twenty

six, the last sentence being a shadrack me shack and I've been to go

came forth out of the midst of the fire, and I want to preach

for just a few moments when the Lord, being my helper on on the

other side of the fire. Let us pray God women were goddess. As

I said, I want to go through this story, so I'm going to

go back to the start of this story. I want to I want to

priest to that point on the other side of the fire book. Going back

to the beginning of this of this book of Daniel, we read that in

the third year of Jehoahka King of Judah's reign, King Neb Theknezar of Babylon

besieged Jerusalem, and the Bible tells us that the Lord gave the King of

Judah into his hand, and after overthrowing Jehoahkham and Judah, Nevid Candezar tells

the master of his Unix named Ashton, ask to bring certain of the children

of Israel, in whom no blemish, but well favored and skillful in all

wisdom and knowledge and understanding science. And these chosen people would stand in the

King's palace, and they would choose these people out to teach them their language,

so they would name them. They would teach them the language of the

Coldeans, these Hebrew, these Hebrew slaves, or or uh that they that

they overtook whenever they took over Judah and uh. So Aspernas picks out four

men in particular, Daniel, Hannayah, Michielle, and Azariah. We know

he renames them. So he names Daniel built a shazarf. I'm not mistaken.

He names Shadrack. No, he names Hannaya shad Rat, he names

michielle me shat, and he names Azariah a bidden to go. And all

these boys, they were the pick of the letter. Out of all the

land of Judah, the kings said, pick out the well favored ones,

the smart ones, the brainiacs, you know, get the ones that they

can help me run my country and or by my kingdom. And I'm gonna

promote them in the provinces. So this is the four men that this man.

Now it's up to interpretation, I guess. But when I was reading

this, I think personally, you you welcome to disagree. I think it

was the only four he chose. I don't know. Maybe maybe maybe I'll

read that wrong. I spent a lot of time studying, but I still

buy it. But but these boys, they were the pick of the letters,

so to speak. But they somehow found themselves in the trial and in

the fight of their favor. And I don't want to say here, just

because you find yourself in a fight or a trial doesn't always mean that you've

done something wrong. Sometimes you do something right and you find yourself in a

fight. But I must admit that some trials that we face are wrote on

ourselves because we set ourselves up for failure. But this was not the case

for these three men. And after some time goes by, Nedu Cannezar constructs

a large image of gold that stands some sixty feet tall and nine foot white.

That's a big, old, big old image of golden And we can

read in verse two of chapter three of of everyone that Dedukhnezer calls to the

dedication of this of this image. It says the Nevi Cannezar, the King

sent together together the princess, the governors, the captains, the judges,

the treasurers, the captains, sorry, the counselors, the shares, and

all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image which

devide Cannezar. The king is set up. So we learned right there that

if you were somebody, if you were somebody, you got invited to this

great unveiling of this this golden image. But verse four explains the reason for

the gathering. And it wasn't just to show off the craftsmanship. He wasn't

just to show off all. Look what our build look what my beauilders have

constructed. It's it's beautiful, it's it's golden. It's just amazing. But

we can learn in verse four the the reason for the gathering. The Harold

hollers out to all the people that when they hear the sound of the all

manner of music, when you hear all the music, didn't fall down and

worship this gold What when you hear the sound of the all the music,

didn't fall down and worship this golden image. But I thought we were just

coming because we were somebody. I thought we were just coming because we're we're

a ruler of the Roden. It's no, you are to bow down and

worship this golden image. But the Harold don't even stop there. He goes

on to say that if you don't fall down in worship the image, you'll

be thrown into a furnace of fire. And I read a commentator that said

that this fire furnace is like an oven. That they was that they would

make like bricks in and uh something else, and that just slipped my mind.

But they said it was like a big oven to make bricks, it's

gotta be pretty hot. But so all when all the when going on in

our story with all the people, and I told y'all just want to explain.

I just want to go through this story tonight and point out a few

things that I feel like God has laid on my heart. And when all

the people heard the music, they fell down and begin to worship this golden

image. But here's where the story gets really really interesting, because we can

read and burst over eight of some tattle tell us. The Bible tells us

that some of the Coldeans they noticed that there was three men out there in

the crowd that they decided they didn't have to listen to the king's command,

decided that that they didn't have to do what the devil dictated. So so

these countians didn't get excited. You know, I can't help, but they

were. Maybe they were a little jealous of of Daniel and them. You

know, maybe I can't help, but think so. So they called to

David Cannezar and said told him, hey, Keith, there's a few of

them Jews that you put over your affairs and you that you promoted that when

you said bound down with the music, they didn't bow down and worship the

image that you set up. Well, Nigga Cannezar. He gets mad,

and he caused the men to come before him, and he asked them if

what he's being told is in fact truth? Or so he asked them,

and he decides to give him a second chance, you know, a second

chance, to give up, a second chance, to let up on what

you know is right, a second you you you passed the first test.

But hey, the devil's got a second chance right here. I told you

that I was going to discour of the first time. I didn't tell you

that I was gonna give you two chances, as hard as you knew.

If you didn't bow on the first time, you were gonna be thrown.

But but in them in the firebook, they didn't bow. If the King

I can't help, maybe he liked them. You know, I'm gonna give

you a second chance, you know. So look, but shat racking of

me, sha sha rack be shaking a been to go told him, we're

not careful to answer you in this matter. They told the King, our

god whom we serve as well, able to deliver us from this fiery furnace

and from your hand. But if not, and that's put out to me.

But if not, I said, it don't matter, give me dust,

deliver us out of this. We will still knock down down. I

said, We'll still not worse of the gods that you set up. Whether

God raises of us up out of it or not. We have food.

And uh. These men they were letting the king. No, it didn't

matter the circumstances or the consequences. They would never never bow to the plan

they had for them. They wouldn't neglect their integrity to call Jehovah and we

need some young people with some dads and moms to square off with a modern

day never the desert. They stand flat on their feet and say, fire

in furnace or mine. I will stand for righteousness and holiness. I don't

care if they go in the fire and turn up the heat. I won't

back up or let them. I know that God can deliver and God will

deliver. These men they couldn't say for sure that God will deliver them.

They knew deep down that they could be burned for Jehovah's seat right here in

the far in furnace, and and this could have been their final stand.

They couldn't see past the flames of their trial to their future they they didn't.

They didn't see the silver lining in the cloud as we see it now

we as we read it in the start of it. But they have the

faith and integrity and determination of And that word integrity has really been on my

heart, and I feel like these gods show great integrity unto what they believe.

First, pet Or one in seven reads that the trial of your faith

being much more precious than of gold, that perish you though at me trying

with fire, that it might be found unto praise and ardor and glory at

the appearing of Jesus Christ. So our faith is more precious than gold.

And when our faith is tested with firing, yields praise, honor, and

glory to Jesus Christ. So when I read that, I realize that there's

always a reason that we face trials and tribulations. Romans from five and three

tells us that tribulation work with patience. For this. Pe Or four and

twelve says to the believer, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial,

which is to try you, but read joyce in as much as you are

partakers in Christ's sufferings, that when his glory is revealed, you may be

glad also with exceeding joy. Back to our story, Nevid Candezard gives the

three hebrew men a second chance to bound down, and they let him know

right up from that their minds were already made up that. But the music

starts the second time, and everyone bounds down, and they all fall down

and begin the worse. And except those three sort thumbs just can't get rid

of them. Man, they're just sticking out there, sticking out there.

And the Bible tells us that this time the king's business was changed toward him,

and he was full of fiory. So the first time, the Bible

said, he got mad, you know, and like, what what did

you do? And I could have I could have destroyed you. I chose

to promote you. And now you won't do what I want you to do.

But but this time, the second time broke the camel's back, and

uh, he says, his visits was changed, and and he was full

of fiorian. So now he commands the furnace, then it should be heated

over one seven times harder than than it was ever meant to be heated.

And he tells the most mighty men of his army the Bible says, the

most fighting that was. It was his top guys. He told the most

mighty men in his army to bind him and to cast him into the flame.

So these be warriors. They they bind these three guys, and one

each. They each get one and they can't help but think they ran to

throw these guys. So they got a run and start right, and they

launched him. And as they launched him, the claim kills them and they

fall down dead. And and about that time then you can neither jumps up

out of his chair. He says, what in the world has got a

look at the startings, But the Bible says he wasn't stony. He had

a look at the startingsment on his face and he can't hardly believe his eyes.

And he turned to his wife, guys and his counselors, and he

says, then now we throw three men bound into the fire. And they

said, true, old King. And the king replies, well, I

see four men loose. So we from three men bound, and there's four

men loose. And I feel like and he said in it one of them

is life and to the son of God. And I feel like the reason

that it was noted by the kingdom. That they went in bound and ended

up loose was to show that the fire was still hot. So the trial

burnt their bands, and the trial burnt their barns. But that whenever,

whenever the fire was there, they found liberty in the fire, and they

found God's favor in the fire. And all how amazing it is whenever God

greets us with his presence, after we have kept our integrity in our faith,

we look up and we realized that He's standing wrought by our side.

Come with me when the fire is hot, and when the battle is heard,

when the storm is strong and the desert is long. If we will

hold to God's unchanging hand and us his plan, he never fails to show

up. These men's integrity and their God shone brighter than the flames of their

trial. And I want that to be said of us whenever we faced trials,

and we face things in life, and the storms of light blow and

the rains of fall, And I want it to be said that through it

all they had a smile on their face. Through it all, they loved

Jesus. Through it all, they gave a praise to God. We must

hold to our integrity Ephesians four and fourteen says that we his fo you no

more children, talls to and through and carry it abound with every window doctrine,

by the slight of men of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lying

way to deceive. The Bible also tells us to be steadfast, unmovable,

always abounding in the work of the Lord. And he needs to stand strong

on the word of God and biblical teachings and our personal convictions because uh and

uh, many times after we go through a trial, that we're standing on

the other side, then we can look back and see God's purpose, and

then we can see how it benefited our lives and our work with God.

But before we see it, before we see the after, before we see

the act, we must have faith and integrity and trust God. And I've

heard it says many times that trials only come to make us strong, and

I truly believe that tonight that there is a purpose and our reason for trials.

But the story got in there because mab Canezzar cast the shadrack me shaking

a been to go through the flames, and he tells them to come out

of the furnace, and when they come out. The people standing nearby realize

the only thing that was bird was their bands. They didn't even spell,

like smoke, their clothes work earned, their hands, burned sens. And

the Bible tells us that that ned Canezar blesses the God of the men.

He just persecuted. And whenever God makes his will so plagued, how could

you not how could you not bless this god? King ned Kannezar has to

admit and verse over twenty nine that there is no other God that can deliver

after this sword. I want to read verse thirties and the king promoting shadrackne

shaking a bit to go in the province of Babylon. So the end result

of the persecution was promotion. So they went through the fire, they held

their integrity. I'm sure Nether Canezar had to be just amazed at the integrity

of these guys and that their faith in their God. I can't help us.

He said, Yeah, that's the kind of guys that I want to

work shoulder to shoulder. Held. That's what I want to stand beside me,

is I as I'll run this, this this kingdom of Babylon, and

if we can stand the trial God would purnity into a blessing, and you

will see it when you were standing outside the fire. When you come through

the fire, then then you will understand. And I want to read quickly.

Isaiah forty three and verse over two says, when thou passest through the

waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers they shall not

overflow thee. When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned,

neither shall the flame kindle. The call thee for the kala which you

come here. It's a song Heroes twelve and two. Looking unto Jesus,

the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set

before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is sitting down

at the right hand of the crown of God. So the whole reason that

Jesus endured the cross, the whole reason he went through the trial, what

was for the joy that was set before him? Then we can't always see

passed by flames of our smile. But I assure you that at the perfect

plan of God is somewhere in the midst and trials down here. Don't hold

a candle to what our savior did for us on calorie, that that we

might have abund the life. I think it so much for him there forgiving

him life, and then during that the shame and the hurt and the pain

and our sin and taking that cup for us. Let us stand. I

want to get ready to make an alter. It's been sinning many times that

the gold is refined in the fire, and maybe our trial is refining and

fine tuning us. And when we're standing on the other side of the fire,

it will all make sense. Can we get it into an alser,

we will understand it better buy and buy. Let us hold to heart integrity

and trust God's players. Let's pray for integrity to stand the storms of life,

to stand the test of time. God, what you help us to

have? Integrity and trials? God? God, what you help us to

lean on you? Lord? Whenever everything on this sense and God, and

when we struggled and see your plan in our life, when we struggled as

the past the flames of our triumph. God, once you help us to

lean on you and half faith in an eternal God that works miracles. Flames

are hot. But I'm being burch The heir of me is laughing. How

won't be burned. I'm going through. Little Jesus has at and the one

saw. This is done. I stand through it all. God saves.

This word is crish. God is in controth. My how stay, how

tessy fine through? Will God the same around me? You wear it's cris

God is in controth. Stay, what is rising? No rasons of the

hege the waves around a reading us whole mistress. I'm going through. I

know Jesus has and them and mine saw. This is done. I stay.

I'll tas my God ha saved my life. This word is rip.

God is in the truth. So say the flames are hot, but I

being burch the in me is laughing. I won't be hurt. I'm going

through til Jesus has a play and one. So this is done. I'm

stay. I'm stay. I define God shine the water around the world.

Scratchy got is in the truth. I'm stay and I'm going in until the

star. I'm game to be rove the answers that I'm gonna see. The

story is hotter because I'm good, not because I'm green, not because I'm

strong. I'm going to the story is a burn. I'm goin to be

hero and I don't know the answers, but I'm going alone. See the

story is yearn Tom because I'm good, not because i'm green. Im Jo

stay. I tell to find the same the water to this bird got his

head. I'm called stand the water spurn