a. But when the soldiers finally got them thrown into the furnace nothing happened and the King got up to see why there had been no flash of fire, and the smell of burning flesh coming out of the furnace.

 b. He could not believe his eyes.

 c. These men that had been thrown into the fire with there hands and feet tied so they couldn’t escape was suddenly up and dancing and praising Jesus Christ. Why shouldn’t they He was right there with them.

 d. Jesus was in the midst of their crisis. He didn’t take them out of there crisis but save them in the midst of their crisis.

(Dan 3:23 KJV) And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

 a. If you look at verse 23 you will see that these three men were bound and thrown into the furnace.

 b. But the only thing the fire burnt was the bonds, it didn’t touch one hair on there heads.

 IF WE BRING CHRIST INTO THE CRISIS, CHRIST WILL TAKE THE CRISIS AND USE THE VERY THING WE ARE GOING THROUGH FOR OUR GOOD.

 c. Jeusus Christ used the fire to burn off the bonds but didn’t allow it to hurt the three Hebrew men.

 (Rom 8:28 KJV) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

a. If we will bring Christ into our crisis and hang on to our belief no matter what we are facing even a firey furnace it will be even a witness to the unbeliving around us.

 b. The bottom line is Christ appeared with the Hebrews in their crisis.

 c. This was no small crisis, we are talking life or death, a hopeless circumstace according to the flesh, one that demanded a miracle.

 d. Notice Jesus did not take them out of their crisis, but was with them through it.

 1. Jesus came into this crisis for one reason to rescue and deliver them.

 2. But he didn’t take them out of it.

 3. Many times we think that God should come in and keep us from all crisis, but God doesnt’ work that way.

 4. We think God should do this or that, but we must allow Him to do what is best for us.

 5. When the disciple were in prison singing and praising God. God delivered them from the prison by opening all the prison doors, but they went out and shared the gospel with the guards and their familys and then returned to the prison.

 6. We must bring Jesus Christ into out crisis, but then trust Him to work the crisis we are going through for our good. Sometimes we don’t know what our good is so we must put our trust and faith in Jesus.

(John 2:23 KJV) Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

 (John 2:24 KJV) But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,

 (John 2:25 KJV) And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

 b. It is one thing to believe Jesus is God and Savior, but another to commit everything to Him.

 1. Commit means to "entrust or give charge."

a. Whom do you know who is not facing a crisis or hasn’t just come out of one?

 b. Personally, I know many Christians who are facing deep troubles that threaten to overwhelm and ruin them.

 1. What kind of crisis are you facing?

a. spiritual

b. financial

c. mental, physical

d. Is it in your marriage

e. job

f. business

(Dan 1:8 KJV) But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

 a. Daniel was saying, in other words, "Any compromise of my standards will rob me of my freedom.

 b. Three Hebrew men decided they would not compromise.

 c. They had made up their mind they would not compromise their belief in their God.

(Dan 9:3 KJV) And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

 (Dan 9:4 KJV) And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

 (Dan 9:20 KJV) And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;

 a. You see, the first commitment they had made to live a seperated life had to be backed up by a second commitment.

 b. To be seekers after God.

 c. Indeed it is impossible to live a holy life without spending much time on your knees, seeking God for the power and authority to lead such a life.

 2. Don’t be mistaken-faithful praying will not keep you out of a crisis.

 a. On the contray, it will most likely bring you to a fired-up furnace and a lion’s den.

 b. But prayer will prepare you to face it all with trust, to become a living sacrifice for Jesus sake.

 c. Daniel’s praying let him straight to the lion’s den.

 d. This test came years after that of the Hebrew men.

 3. The testing ends only when Jesus comes-or when you die in Christ!

(Dan 3:14 KJV) Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

 (Dan 3:15 KJV) Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

 (Dan 3:16 KJV) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

 (Dan 3:17 KJV) 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.

 (Dan 3:18 KJV) But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

a. Thats the problem today its hard to find christians that are totally dedicated to God.

 b. They have one foot serving God and the other one in the world.

 c. There time and lives are torn between serving God and grasping for everything this world has to offer.