3. Daniel 3:13-18.

3. Daniel 3:13-18. 

Consider three different scenarios when people of God face a fiery trial:

We face fires, and some of us are in those fires now.

SCENARIO A – We can be delivered from the fire. Dividend? Our faith is built. Pray for deliverance like the Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). We know that God is able and faith is built. Believe God for miracles; he works them continually.

SCENARIO B – We can be delivered through the fire. Dividend? Our faith is refined. Fight is the key word (John 11:4). God says “I am going to bring you through it; it will not end in death (1 Peter 1:6-7). Our faith is refined, and fiery trials will burn the “fake” out of us.

SCENARIO C – We can be delivered by the fire into His arms. Dividend? Our faith is perfected. God has another plan in mind. If we understood what was in the blink of an eye before us, this is the one we would be the most anxious for. It can be very difficult (Hebrews 12:1-2). The last enemy that Christ will defeat will be death (1 Corinthians 15:26). Faith is perfected (James 1:12). The fiery trial may be the vehicle that He is going to drive to take you home (Daniel 3:17). All death is; is dropping off this physical body, and walking on without it.

What “gods” are we tempted to bow down to when we are not delivered from or through the trial: Bitterness, unbelief, anger, self-pity, despair, and resentment. When you and I refuse to bow down, our circumstances bow down to become a servant to the Gospel (Philippians 1:12). I want to go out praising God.