SM131110/Staying Cool When Things Get Hot

Harvest messages are brought to you by harvest partners to receive free email daily devotions or to become a harvest partners, please visit us online@harvest.org Daniel chapter 1.

The title of my message is staying cool when things get hot good thing for Christians like teabags you don't know what they're made of, until you put them in hot water. Are you in the hot water of trial right now. Are you in the hot water of temptation will first of all I want to say, don't freak out because you're not alone exactly a confirmation that you as a Christian are on the right track last Sunday when Randy Alcorn joined this was a great having Randy out again.

I always love to talk with him. We came back to this passage a couple of times.

First Peter 412 dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials are going through is it something strange were happening to you. Be happy if you're insulted for being a Christian.

For then the glorious spirit of God will come upon you.

Listen. It's strange if you're not going through a trial, it strains if you're not being tempted. If you are going through trials. If you are being tempted is effectively the norm of the Christian life. By the way, it's not a sin to be tempted and we forget that some thought, because temptation comes at the worst times, doesn't it bring it up that thought come to you in church you get how can it be tempted in church while the double skinny kid to do whatever he wants to effectively kid to but the sin of temptation is not in the bay.

It's in the buying. If you see it for what it is and he rejected and you resisted no harm no foul temptation came knocking, you said no done deal, but if you bring it inside of your of your mind.

That's where the problems begin. It's been said you can't stop a bird from flying over your head, but you can stop them from building a nest in your hair.

Okay, now my case is not allowed to work with the bird would have to bring his own material, but you get the idea of what that same easy.

The temptation flies over it's when you bring it inside and to the point, even Jesus Christ himself was tempted in the wilderness, so anyone can be and if you're a follower of Christ.

You will be tempted. Melanie had something else to that. If you would say to me I can't remember the last time I was tempted, then you are either dead or worthless. I think honestly some people awry with a double once a he's marginalized them. He's neutralize them he would say why waste time on them. I'm going up to that man of God that starting to read his Bible every day and take his faith seriously, I'm going after that godly woman that's actually engaging people with the message of the gospel. Those people are trouble and I've got to stop them.

So he's going to come with his temptations to those people will. It's a hot water of temptation.

Now here before us is a story of three young men that were in a real fiery trial in their case it was literal because they were put into a fiery furnace. I think you know when talking about I'm talking about Hughley duly alluded not talking about the Pep Boys that suit nontargeted no. I'm talking about Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo out of the independence furnace of fire the unit up there because they would not deny God, and bow before a false image. It's a story of how they stood up for what was right even at the risk of losing their own lives because they were prepared ahead of time. Know this hardship, calamity and tragedy.

The loss of a loved one is going to come your way. One day in trials and temptations and testings will come to so take steps now to be prepared that it's Phillips Brooks, who said and I quote character may be manifested in the great moments but it's made in the small one lesson there's going to come a time when your faith is going to be tested when people are going to challenge what you believe when temptations are going to come in your direction.

Trying to pull you in the wrong way and so the question you might ask is, will I be able to stand when the day of testing, will he be able to resist when the time temptation comes my answer may surprise you. That's entirely up to you to know it's up to God. No, actually it's up to you of God will give you the strength to resist the temptation God will give you the power to get through the trial, but he won't do it for you. You see there's only there some things only God can do and there some things only I can do.

Only God can forgive sin only I can repent of my sins, God won't repent for me I have to do that and in the same way. Only God can get you through your hardship, but only you can take hold of his promises and believe him so if you want to know if you're going to make it in the day of testing you need to start thinking about it right now. The stand you make today will determine what kind of stand. You will make tomorrow the end of your life is determined by the beginning of it. The evening is determined by the morning is not unlike building a house. The most important time when you build a house is not when you hang pictures on the wall or when you lay your carpet down or when you landscape those of the fun parts.

The most important time in your building house is in the wiring the electrical and the plumbing and having your foundation done properly because of you must set up everything else doesn't matter. The same is true of life. The most important time is in the beginning when you're laying the foundation and if you don't get that right. Everything else is of no consequence because when it's all said and done character counts effective. The most important thing in a person's life, not just what you think you are or what other people think you are but what you really are comes out of this when you're all alone when no one is looking. When there's no one to impress. That's who you are, the measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out. Why don't you go and commit certain scents is a because you're afraid of the repercussions. Why don't you go rob that bank think of all the money you would have will you don't do because what I would be caught. I would be arrested or or or do you say why would do that because that's assuming that the wrong thing to do, whether to go and have that affair. Well, my wife would literally kill me if I did not want okay that's a deterrent.

I have a better one because you love the Lord and he would not want to do anything that would bring shame to his name and he would not want to disgrace your family and hurt your fellow Christian friends and so forth.

But the ideas why don't you do those things. If you are real character. That's were all start to see the real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out. What if you knew you could get away with what you do it then that's a lack of character. Let's understand you make today will determine what kind of stand. You will make tomorrow. You decide what principles you're going to live by. You get to decide what road you're going to take the Bible is a very honest book is an and it tells us the truth about our heroes and our villa. If I hero messed up. The Bible tells us that we are people that started well and self-destructive like Saul and Samson.

We have other people that started well but messed up toward the end of your of their lives like Gideon or Noah or even Moses. We have other people that had character from beginning to when it did well throughout their like light life like Joseph and Daniel and Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo, but a lot of times when we want to tell her own story.

We wanted airbrush out those flaws and inconsistencies. But the Bible does not do that when Oliver Cromwell had his portrait painted. He said that the artist Pinckney warts and all in the Bible gives as its heroes and its villains, warts and all we hear is a story of four young men that didn't seem to have any warts if you will. I can really find any deficiencies or flaws to speak up on talking about Daniel Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo they were ready for the big stuff later in life because they made a stand in a relatively small area. We think of Daniel are mine usually raises to Daniel and the that's right you got it Daniel in the lion's den, and we think of Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo we think primarily of the fiery furnace at the strength to make the stand that they came from a standing made in a much smaller area that will look at in a moment so here are Daniel, Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo living in Babylon now hunted for good Jewish boys and up in a place like that.

Well, God warned Israel to stop turning to idols and false gods. But Israel did it again and again. The Lord said if you don't turn from these false gods ominous sinew in the captivity for 70 years, but they continue to worship the false gods.

Then the Lord God specific and he said to Jeremiah chapter 25 verse eight says the Lord God because you will not listen to me. I'm to get our need to gather together all the armies of the North under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, whom I have appointed as my deputy under bring him against this land and its people and against the other nations near you so gonna say no, listen, if you don't stop worshiping idols under bring Babylon, led by Nebuchadnezzar, so that was very specific and I find it interesting that God referred to Nebuchadnezzar as his deputy and yet here was a godless man in charge of a godless nation that was going to take a godly nation in the captivity if they did not repent, yet they ignored God's warning and the Lord did exactly what he said he would do I think about our own country. At one time. I think you could say America was comparatively speaking, a godly nation.

I think you can say at one time in America we reveled in those Judeo-Christian values that gave us the liberty we all enjoy so freely. But today in the United States. Things are different now. There's a hostility in our culture toward the person that believes what the Bible teaches.

Now it's becoming increasingly unpopular to be a true follower of Jesus Christ, so we are nose at God, we praise his commandments left and right and sometimes I wonder if the Lord will allow another nation to overtake us. Even a godless nation to do so old I would never have and how can you say that he let it happen. The Israel he warned them that it happened to us. You know they loved idols. So God sent them to idle central Babylon alum was known to be a place of rapid idolatry, where they worship thousands of God. God careful what you wish for you might get it reminds us of the story.

The Israelites are for they left Egypt they were wandering in the wilderness by the way, it should not have taken 40 years. Why did it take them 40 years to get from Egypt to Israel because men were in charge and no one would stop and ask for directions 10 class okay know the real reason was they were disobeying God they were going around in circles we seen that cactus before I got my initials and it was bigger now yeah you're going around and around but the Lord provided for them and gave them their food every single day.

It was called manner that wake up in the morning right outside of their tent door manner would be waiting, and they would eat that manner will because they were in the wilderness for so long they got tired of manna they had read Moses's book on hundred one recipes for manna they had, you know the manna pancakes and manna sandwiches and manicotti and you name it they had it. They got tired of it. So they started complaining.

They said hey we remember the good old days back in Egypt when we used to eat garlic and leeks and onion in their breath must've stuck right and they said we mincemeat were tired of manna every day. It's manna. We don't want anymore manna we want eat and they cried out for me over and over again or to Moses them back, to get what they want.

The Bible says that heavens open up and got ring quail on all these little birds this dropping of the ground. These people were so desperate for me. Didn't even kill the bird and prepare it eat it while it was still alive. I heard that Ozzy Osbourne that they had about that, but this is crazy and you know what the Bible says it tells us that quail that beat turned bitter in their mouth. Scripture says he gave them the request but he sent leanness to their soul again.

Careful what you wish for you might get it. I want this. I want those cuts is that I don't want to give that to you. I don't want to give it to. I know I will hear that's what happened. That's what happened to them.

They wanted it got it okay God you want idols you like to worship false gods. You don't appreciate me you don't want my man anymore. Welcome to Babylon. Ladies and gentlemen see how that works out for you.

So, another conquered by Nebuchadnezzar exactly as God said they would be no Nebuchadnezzar.

He wanted them to abandon their faith.

He wanted to embrace the pagan Babylonian culture and religion. It was the intention of Nebuchadnezzar Torres every vestige of identification between the Israelites and their God, and he gave a decree that he wanted Israel's brightest and best brought into his court so he could have been indoctrinated in the ways of Babylon and that's where our story begins, Daniel chapter 1 verse one.

Let's read it.

By the way I'm reading from the new living translation during the third year to enjoy Kim's ring and Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it with his armies. The Lord gave him victory over King Joya Kim of Judah. Interesting that says the Lord gave him victory when Nebuchadnezzar returned to Babylon. He took with him some of the sacred objects from the temple of God and place them in the treasure house of his God in the land of Babylon. Then the king ordered Aspen as it was in charge of the palace officials bringing some of the young men of Judah's royal family and other noble families would been brought to Babylon as It so here.

Clearly, the king is looking for young Israeli men to corrupt verse four. Select only strong, healthy and good looking young man.

He said make sure they're well-versed in every branch of learning and are gifted with knowledge and good sense of the poise needed to serve in the your royal palace teach these young men. The language in the literature of the Babylonian verse five the king assigned them a daily ration of the best food and wine from his own kitchen's.

Now they were to be trained for a three-year period and some of them would become advisors this royal court.

Their names are given. Verse six Daniel Hannan, I Michelle and Azariah, those with their names given to them as good Jewish boy. By the way, each one of those names reflected an attribute of the true God of Israel, but the chief official renamed them with Babylonian names Hannan I was called Shadrach.

Michelle was called Misha.

Azariah was called a Bendigo, but Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to him by the king. He has the chief official for permission to eat other things instead. There so it is believed by many commentators at these four young men were somewhere between 14 and 19 years old. They were teenagers. Clearly they were raised in believing homes by godly parents. Nebuchadnezzar wanted to change that. So we change their names. What he could not change their hearts with their world as he knew it literally changed overnight. They went from a simple God-fearing culture to a decadent one. These young men torn away from mother and father were placed in this alien culture of paganism and unparalleled lecturing. Up to this time they would've lived in basic conditions. Now there in the very palace of the great Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon of that day was an amazing city. In fact, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world included the hanging Gardens of Babylon. They were surrounded by jaw-dropping opulence, but there was no reverence for the Lord God in this place everyone cowered in fear before King Nebuchadnezzar and I wonder if this is happened to you recently. Your world has changed your living in a new place. Maybe you're in a college campus or your businesses send you to a different city or you're in the military are you work overseas and you'll find yourself in a place like Iraq and Afghanistan are somewhere else but here is what you need to know no matter where you go in this big old planet. If you're a follower of Jesus Christ, God will still be with you and God was with them in this pagan culture Nebuchadnezzar could change their names. What he could not change their hearts. They had a God to serve and they understand to make and understand that Daniel and Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo were facing heavy duty temptation.

The world was their oyster. They were given the finest education before them with the most delicious foods and wine and the entire planet. Nebuchadnezzar was sure such young men would be seduced by all of this luxury, but he had not considered. One thing they had character, their mothers and fathers raise them right. So here they are the king's court. You're allowed to eat of the food from his kitchen and yet they decided to make a stand and not do it. I find this very interesting because this doesn't necessarily to us seem like a big deal but this is where they made their first stand per se.

Daniel made up his mind to not defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king or if you're a King James version or new King James it says Daniel purposed in his heart to note that follows. Now why would it be the filing himself to either the food made in the king's kitchen. I can only offer a guess. I think one obvious reason would be that it violated the dietetic laws given by the Lord to Israel, but I think perhaps another reason is this food was dedicated to the false gods about a lot and so Daniel and the boys said were not going to do that because in their minds that was a compromise, you know, sometimes there are things that we will simply choose to not do because we are a Christian, and sometimes these so-called liberties can vary from person to person you know we have different metabolisms right well remember Steve Wilburn a youth pastor and he is his church up in LA now court churches doing very well. I've known Steve for years and he just wire you doesn't have any weight on it when he was a younger man in his 20s and eat like a horse. I would see Steve you watch what's going to happen. Your metabolism will change and you'll start putting on weight. Guess what is metabolism never change.

I've been in and out burger with them purely to double doubles fries and I just had my one little hamburger and he gains what he doesn't gain weight. I do energizing crazy.

I don't. I love that I wish I had is metabolism and for some they may be able to do a certain thing and it's not necessarily wrong, but for another baby was a contents of the little more tender if they were to do that same thing that would be a violation. Romans 1423 says whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Another translation of that verse says if anyone believes that something he wants to do is wrong. He should do it. He sends if he does rip he thinks it's wrong to him. It is wrong, so Daniel made a stand here because for him it was wrong. Another temptation here, which is the basic appeal of the food and wine, of course, but also this was the way to climb the corporate ladder about a lot.

I mean if you wanted to succeed in Babylon make nice with the king by yesterday eat food from his kitchen don't blow mom be like your boss say I want to take you to lunch. Amusingly, I don't want to go to lunch with you, boss.

That's on the very smart thing to do and if you do decide to go eat lunch with your boss any orders you something. That's probably a good thing to eat it. If you can take the food and throw it on the floor. You don't want to offend him, so there was an intimidation factor in play. Nebuchadnezzar was powerful and he was wicked. You know when he captured the king of Israel, he forced the king to watch his own sons be put to death and then the couch. The king's eyes out. That was a kinda guy.

Nebuchadnezzar was, you want to mess with a person like this. And yet, Daniel, Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo make their stand right here.

We are not eating of that were drawing the line right here and in the same way there's going to come a time when you need to make your stand for Jesus Christ. Are you going to be able to stand in that day, Daniel did verse eight he made up his mind to not defile himself, or the King James is purposed in his heart. This is what we need more of today purpose there to be a Daniel there to stand alone dare to have a purpose firm dare to make it no Paul wrote to Timothy you will fully known my purpose.

Could you say that to someone. What would you say your purposes. Maybe the best way to find out your purpose would not be to ask you what it would be to ask someone that knows you really well. Hey, what is his purpose. What really gets our guy going. What really makes a girl excited.

What is it that drives them in life that your purpose, what would you say your purpose really some of the runners might say hey my purposes to just have fun.

All I want to do is have some fun. I got the feeling I'm not the only one that's on the great theologian Sheryl Crow.

For another, they might say my purpose in life is to experience pleasure. Another might say my purpose in life is to be successful. Another would say I want to make money. Another would say I want to be happy. The problem is if you chase after happiness. You'll never find it.

But if you seek to be a holy person you'll find happiness is a byproduct know we should not seek pleasure. We should seek purpose. We should not seek success. We should see significant, so Daniel made a deal with the men was in charge of enforcing the king's will is a lucky guy. You can eat all this would from the king's kitchen. We don't want to do this and I you eat your rich rich luxurious food. The boys and I rocketed to see vegetables and drink water for 10 days… He who comes up best when it's all said and done. Another man identified as a cheap official and Daniel 19 had great respect. The Bible tells us for Daniel. You see when you take a stand for the Lord on parental even non-Christians are impressed. That's because it's so hard these days to find people that have conviction and courage. Proverbs 16 seven says when a man's ways please the Lord. Even his enemies are peace with the king's official says guys… Because if you look unhealthy and weak after your little fast. I went to get in trouble with the king. Daniel reassures him. Listen, don't panic.

It's organic will be fine. Just give us our vegetables and what are you eat your other food will see how it turns out, this reminds us that a little with God is better than much without them repeat that a little and I would put that in quotes with God is better than much without I'd rather have God's words than the world's best. What's the world's best. I don't know you know all the things world celebrates. I guess, but what is God's worst what's the worst thing about being a Christian, I would say probably the worst thing is persecution.

Perhaps a being ostracized, being mom sometimes being assaulted and in some cases even being put to death.

That's one of the worst things about being a Christian I would rather have God's worse than the world's best. I rather be in a storm with Jesus than anywhere else.

Without him, but then there's the other side, then there is eternity and then whatever it wasn't just comfort the hardship or even the death of a person on this side is all sorted out when we get to the other side and will receive our reward and we get the big picture so you just and what is true and what we really miss is Christians only get off that merry-go-round of selfishness, drinking, drugs, illicit sex parties. Whatever you know you go your way in life. And although mine. Let's compare notes later see who made the right decision. I'm up for that, or you you know you want to live that life you can go live it if you want to attend a similar stand for the Lord will see how that turns out. Well it turned out very well because when it was all said and done, they were healthier looking that everyone else and God bless them, because they were faithful in the small things and now the king has a dream and it's a troubling dream. It's a nightmare and he wants to find out what the meaning of the dream is so he calls and all of his astrologers and magicians and other weirdos around the palace payroll says you guys gotta figure this out. I had this dream. What is it me. They said tell us a dream and and will make because I made a bold will give you the mystical interpretation. Nebuchadnezzar said if you're any good. You know what the dream is and the interpretation so you tell me what my dream was updated. No because they're all phony and so he was ticked off and said I want all of you kill will as it turns out Shedrick Jacob in the going Daniel were kind of on the palace payroll as advisors so they would have been killed to Daniel so hold on hold on let me see the king up telling the dream, so Daniel walked in the king's court says I know what you drinking you dreamt of a giant statue my rights apart yes yes okay the statute that head of gold had chest and arms of silver belly and thighs of brass and legs of iron and feet of clay is alright so far. Yes, that's it.

Here's what it means. King the first part of this dream that's Babylon you are. They had a goal that you but one day you're going to be overtaken by another nation represented his arms and chest of silver. So God is telling you.

Your kingdom will be overtaken one day. That's the meaning of your dream.

The king says in Daniel 247 your God is a God of God, the Lord over kings or revealer mysteries you been able to reveal the secret to King Nebuchadnezzar believe in the Lord. After that, no infected actually went from bad to worse as we come to chapter 3 of Daniel a Daniel himself is out of the picture momentarily. He returns later in the book and this is Shadrach me shack and Abednego the king has erected a 90 foot tall God image covered in gold so he took the dream where Babylon was represented by head of gold and made a statue of gold, probably a replica of himself and he told everyone in the kingdom to worship it and talk about missing the points he wants everyone to engage in fulltilt idolatry and so he called the whole kingdom together for a big celebration. It was a number one show in Babylon. In fact, it was the only show in Babylon. It was called Babylonian idol. There were contestants who sang and there were three judges no wrong.

So okay and so this celebration had a song they would play the theme song. The Babylonian idol. The theme song that everyone was about to and everyone did. So imagine the scene thousands and thousands of people bowing down before and 90 foot gold image and standing out like three sore thumbs. There were those three holy boys Shadrach me shack and Abednego they wouldn't so the interesting thing is the king's advisors ratted them out. By the way, Shadrach me shack and Abednego save the lives of the other advisors because they were able or Daniel rather was able to interpret the dream for the rounded out by the other advisors were probably jealous of him. They would take King Hill Shedrick Michigan today that they're not bowing is probably a mistake like those kids will bow, they just didn't understand though they're not bowing and so the king calls a minute since I give you guys a second chance.

Just be good boys and bow before the image see what happens. Daniel three verse 14 Nebuchadnezzar said that true Shadrach me shack and Abednego that you refuse to serve my God to worship the gold statue. I've set up. I'll give you one more chance if you dial down and worship the statue I have made. When you hear the sound of musical instruments, all will be well.

But if you refuse you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace what God will be able to rescue you from my power then Shedrick the second, Abednego replied all Nebuchadnezzar.

We do not need to defend ourselves before you were thrown into the blazing furnace, a God whom we serve is able to save us to rescue us from your power, your Majesty, but even if he doesn't, your Majesty can be sure we will never serve your God worship the gold statue you have set up your Majesty, let's just get this straight we bowing something up. We wanted to tell you that right now. See they understood what the Bible set and they knew with the second commandment set the second commandment said do not make idols of any kind. You shall not worship or bow down to them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, and I will not share my affection with any they said look, if God rescues, that's great. If he doesn't double go to be in his presence. What were not going to bow. Listen to this sooner or later you're going to be asked to bow before someone probably won't be made out of solid gold and will be 90 feet tall, but it will be some kind of an idle or someone will say, look, this is what everyone thinks this is groupthink now this is politically correct. You have to agree with us, you can be seen, the Bible says that's and so you have to conform you have to say when we say you have to do what we do is it will I'm sorry the Bible teaches something different that suppressor right there. Or maybe you're in a classroom, and the professor gets up and make some statement and you're the only person that is occurred to stand up and say excuse me, I actually disagree with what you just said rum might be another situation. Your friends are all going to go out and party from work and will get a drink or you have someone come on, don't be such a party pooper. Don't be a stick in the mud. What's wrong with you.

It'll be the pure pressure to do the wrong thing.

Here's a question, are you gonna bow or are you going to stand your ground, you decide that now you decide that now become a day when you'll be tempted to have sex with your girlfriend before your marriage is a will I have the strength to stand in that day you decide what you're going to do in the backseat of a car in the front row of the church you figured out right now salmon to make a stand and I'm not going to do that. I want to do what's right. See, that's why we need to make the stent in the small areas that gives us a stand of the ability to make the stand in the larger more challenging areas so everybody and Babylon bowed, but they stood up straight, that figure better to burn on earth bow in heaven than the bow on earth and burn in hell for them as it was win-win.

So like what Paul said to live is Christ and to die is gain. Hey, if I live fantastic call serve the Lord by dying go to heaven, from the pages of church history.

The story is told of a Christian.

He was arrested. He was brought before the Roman Emperor. He was told to renounce his faith. The Emperor said give up Christ's Rob Benish, the person said you can't banish me from Christ, for he said I'll never leave you or forsake you. The ruler said all confiscate your property. The Christian said my treasures are laid up in heaven.

You can't touch them. The Emperor said that I'll kill you and the person said I've been dead to the world in Christ for 40 years. My life is hid with Christ in God.

You can't touch that touch it until the Emperor turned to his court and discussed and said what can you do with such a man my responses. Let's pray we have a lot more of a lot more men than women like that upon hearing this insubordination on the part of these three teenagers. The king flies into a rage listen is furnace was hot but he was hotter. Nobody denies Nebuchadnezzar. Let's pick the story up never.

Daniel three verse 19 Nebuchadnezzar was so curious which Shadrach me shack and Abednego his face became distorted with rage. Any command of the furnace preheated seven times hotter than usual. Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach me second Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace so they tied him up and threw them into the furnace fully clothed, and because the king and his anger demanded such a hot fire in the furnace.

The flames leapt out and killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in so Shadrach me shack and Abednego securely tied fell into the roaring flame.

But suddenly as he was watching Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and explained it was advisors gently tie up three men and throw them into the furnace. Yes we did that, your Majesty, they said, look, Nebuchadnezzar shot it. I see four men on down walking around on the fire there not heard by the flames in the fourth looks like the sun. I love that store staying cool when things get hot, you might wonder if you could make the stand of a Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo well as I said earlier, you determine that by the decisions you're making today, I will. Maybe there will never be a test of this caliber, but test will come.

God will always grade temptations of the fiber of your life you will never give you more than you can handle the never be tempted above your capacity to resist. The Bible says, but there will with the temptation being a way of escape, that you may be able to bear. First Corinthians 1013, but here's the key to their courage.

It was their companion. Nebuchadnezzar said someone walking around with them and he looks like the son of God.

Now in fairness to another translation of this with a son of the gods.

I don't think Nebuchadnezzar had the spiritual insight to know that this might be a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus, which I believe it was by the way, I do think he saw 1/4 guy and they were walking around like it was a stroll in the park on a Sunday afternoon.

Hey, how's it going I don't know what you're walking around in the furnace who knows that but he saw the power of God on display.

So are you in a fiery trial right now. Are you in the hot waters of temptation, know this, you're not alone.

Jesus is with you each step of the way that makes a big difference doesn't it Isaiah 43 God says when you pass of the waters, I will be with you when you pass of the rivers, they will not sweep over you when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, the flames will not set you ablaze. This is what I would call a Christ softening of Christ. Softening is an appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament know Jesus being God's eternal beginning ON, so we talk about Jesus being born in the manger about the gun which he was. But of course he made many appearances in the Bible.

Before that, and I think this is one of them. I think it was the Lord himself walking with them to their fire. Guess what the Lord is walking with you your fire. Jesus said low. I am with you, even to the end of the age. Hebrews 13 Jesus says I will never leave you or forsake you. God was with them in this time of great let me say this. This is only true for the true believer.

If you're not a believer in the Lord. If you do not ask Christ to come in your life. You learn of the assurance that God is in you know God is around and you can call on the name of the Lord, but you don't have a relationship with him.

You may know about him, but that doesn't mean you know him. These young men knew him. That's what they could stare death in the face and say were not good about can you do that or you live in fear and trepidation of death.

I don't think anyone looks forward to it. Even the committed Christian, but the follower of Jesus knows when that day comes, they will go into God's presence. They know God will walk with them through the days leading up to it and God will be there on the other side waiting to welcome them with open arms into eternity. That is the hope of the Christian and only the Christian, the nonbeliever has no such promise you walk through life alone.

You don't have God with you, and you certainly don't have God in you, and then one day when you enter eternity you will meet God, but it will be a brief meeting. I'm sorry to say, because he will not find your name written in the book he will firmly but sadly say the part for me.

I never knew you workers of iniquity. But if you know him now.

He'll know you then if you stand up for him now to stand up for you then if you say come in the my life now will sink enter ran to my presence then what if you say I don't want you now you'll think apart for me. Then you determine what's gonna happen.

On the other side and I asked closing. Do you have this relationship with God. Do you have this Savior walking with you through life or do you find yourself alone. I don't know what you're chasing after maybe your pursuing funnier pursuing pleasure. Whatever it is your pursuing it's only can leave you empty the only appropriate pursuit should have in life is the pursuit of God and if you will seek first the kingdom of God, he will give you all the things that you need in life and you'll have is joy in your love is please mail of the hope of heaven.

If you don't follow the Lord will have to face that judgment. And that's the last thing God wants. That's why he sent Jesus Christ to come of this earth go to La Crosse and die in your place.

Jesus was fully God and fully man absorbed the father's wrath in our place at the cross of Calvary, he shed his blood for every sin we have ever committed the full terms and that sin and embrace him as Savior and Lord. He will forgive us and we can start a new life with Ken never alone. Have you ask Christ to come in your life. If you haven't I want to give you an opportunity to ask you and right now as we close in prayer. So if you've never asked Jesus to forgive you of your sin if you don't have that hope of heaven. You don't have this relationship with God. We went talking about respondent's invitation that I extend now as we pray together.

Let's all bow our heads if you would please and everyone praying father I pray now for these that may not yet know you these that have joined us in our hearing this message and don't have this assurance of the go to heaven when they die.

I pray Lord that your Holy Spirit will convict them of their sin and convince them of their need for Jesus and help them to come to you now, we would pray now that I heads about and her eyes are closed and were praying together. How many of you would say I want Jesus Christ to come in my life. I want him to forgive me of my sin.

I want to know that when I die I will go to heaven.

I don't want to be alone in life anymore. I want Christ to come and pray for me that your desire. Wherever you're sitting if you want Jesus Christ to come in your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want to go to heaven when you die you raise your hand up right now were of you are well. Pray for you raise your hand up and I'll pray for you. You want Christ to come in your life.

Combustion lift your hand up or I can see it published you and you. God bless you and I can see all of you.

You're watching the video screen.

One of our satellite sites.

Your outside or up in one of our buildings. You raise your hand to. Because this is between you and God are seen Jesus I want to become of them. I like anybody else you want is forgiveness want to turn from your sin and turn to him.

Raise your hand up and let me pray for you. God bless each one of you know what I had just about all of you that raise your hand. I want you to stand your feet hurt me right stand up nominally doing prayer stand up a lead you in prayer, stand up for her view arm and have you pray this prayer out loud after me.

If you're one of the overflow areas you stand up wherever you're seeing or hearing me you want to make this commitment to Christ and you're feeding right now I'm gonna pray together. One final moment anybody else stand the bustle of the youth understanding of what you do pray this prayer out loud after me. This is where you're asking Jesus Christ to come in your life to be your Savior and Lord. Again, as I pray pray this out loud after me. Pray this know if you would out loud, Lord Jesus, I know in the center but I know that you are a Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead.

Not come in to my life. Jesus be my Lord be my God, be my friend. I choose to follow you from this moment forward in Jesus name I pray. Amen. God bless each one of you that pray this prayer