Oct. 20, 2024

Charles Haddon Spurgeon:

Furnaces Where God’s People Often Are:

1) Ours.

2) Satan’s.

3) God’s.

John 6, 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego teach us how to stand during trials.

Six (6) is the number of man--imperfect.

We are going to go through trials. That way we grow. We have God in the fire with us. God controls the dial. (Job 23, ¹⁰ But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold).

Cycle:

1) Going into a trial.

2) Going through the trial.

3) Coming out of the trial.

We cannot be a secret agent and be a Christian.

We make a decision to follow God when we are saved. 

God calls us to take a stand. We don’t bow; we stand.

Romans 14, 7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

Philippians 1, ²¹ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Just because we are a Christian, we are not guaranteed protection from trouble.

We are to put on the whole armor of God. (Ephesians 6, 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints).

We are not on the playground but on the battleground.

Daniel 3, ¹⁷ If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

The Lord showed up in the middle of the fire. (Daniel 3, 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God).

We are waiting for the rapture. The tribulation is for the Jews. 

This whole account illustrates perhaps serving as a type of the future of Israel during the Great Tribulation.  

1) Nebuchadnezzar is like the Antichrist, who forces the whole world into one religion of idolatry.

2) Nebuchadnezzar’s image is like the image described in Revelation 13--that the whole world will be commanded to worship.

3) The fiery furnace is like the Great Tribulation, which will be great affliction for the Jews.

4) The three Hebrew men are like Israel, who will be preserved through the tribulation.

5) The executioners who perished are like those in league with the Antichrist, who Jesus will stay at His return.

6) The mysteriously absent Daniel is like the church, not even present for this time of great tribulation.