Pastor Rev. Steven Wagner Telephone: 573-437-5190

Rt 3, Owensville MO. 65066

STRENGTH COMETH BY FIRE

Scripture: Isa. 43:2

(Isa 43:2 KJV) 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 upon thee.

A. When Thou

a. God didn't say if, maybe, it is a possibility, some people, only sinners, but THOU.

b. God is saying you will go through the waters, the rivers, the fire. BUT!

c. He also says when thou does go through the fire, THOU SHALT NOT BE BURNED; NEITHER SHALL THE FLAME KINDLE UPON THEE.

I. THE FIREY TRIAL THAT WILL COME UPON YOU WILL STRENGHEN YOU IF YOU STAND.

Daniel 3:12-30

(Dan 3:12 KJV) There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

WHEN YOU WILL NOT BOW TO THE GOD OF THIS WORLD IT WILL BRING PERSECUTION.

(Dan 3:13 KJV) Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

(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?

THE DEVIL WILL ALWAYS MAKE YOU THINK THAT WHAT YOUR GOING THROUGH IS TO BIG FOR EVEN GOD, WHO IS THAT GOD THAT SHALL DELIVER YOU? BUT REMEMBER ELIJAH WHO PRAYED TO GOD FOR THE FIRE THAT FELL FROM HEAVEN TO SHOW THEM JUST WHO HIS GOD WAS.

(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.

SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO HAD PRIDE IN THEIR GOD, THEY DIDN'T STOP TO THINK AND WORRY AND QUESTION THEY SAID WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO THINK ABOUT YOUR QUESTION NEBUCHADNEZZAR BECAUSE WE KNOW WHO OUR GOD IS.

(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.

THEY NEW THAT THERE GOD COULD DELIEVER THEM, BUT THEY HAD REAL FAITH IN THEIR GOD, BECAUSE THEY HAD PUT THEIR HOLE LIVES IN GODS HANDS, AND LET HIM MAKE THE DECISIONS FOR THEIR LIVES, IF HE DOES'NT DELIEVER WE WILL NOT WORSHIP YOUR GOD, BECAUSE WE LOVE ONLY OUR GOD.

THIS SHOWED REAL SPIRITUAL MATURITY, EVEN WHEN GOD DOESN'T INSTANTLY DELIEVER US OUT OF THE FIRE WE STILL SERVE HIM NO MATTER WHAT, BECAUSE WE TRULY LOVE GOD FOR WHO HE IS AND NOT ONLY FOR WHAT WE CAN GET OUT OF HIM.

ALOT OF CHRISTIANS ONLY LOVE AND SERVE GOD WHEN THEY CAN GET SOMETHING OUT OF HIM. THEY GET IN A JAM AND THEN THEY RUN TO GOD AND WHEN GOD HELPS THEM THEY GO ON THERE MARY LITTLE WAY AND BACK INTO THERE SIN AND REBELLION. GOD WAS JUST A SCAP GOAT FOR THEM.

(Dan 3:19 KJV) Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

WHEN WE DECIDE TO SERVE GOD AND MAKE A STAND FOR GOD IT GETS WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER A LOT OF THE TIME. IT IS A TESTING PERIOD OF OUR FAITH.

(Dan 3:20 KJV) And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

(Dan 3:21 KJV) Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

SOMETIMES IT SEEMS THAT WE ARE BEING DESTROYED, BUT WE NEED TO REALIZE THE GOD SAVES IN THE MIDST OF THE FIRE NOT ON THE OUTSKIRTS, OF THE FIRE. ITS THE FIRE THAT MAKES US STRONG, BEING IN THE MIDST OF THE FIRE WILL MAKE US STRONGER.

(Dan 3:22 KJV) Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

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

SOMETHING THE DEVIL NEVER LEARNS IS THAT NOT TO TOUCH GODS CHILDREN, TOUCH NOT THE ANNOINTED OF GOD, FOR VENGENCE IS MINE SAYEST THE LORD. GOD WILL AVENGE HIS OWN, AND ANYBODY THAT IS A PART OF HURTING HIS CHILDREN WILL BE DESTROYED AS WELL. THIS IS A WARNING TO YOU IF YOU ARE BEING USED BY THE DEVIL (KING) TO HELP TO DESTROY GODS CHILDREN BEWARE FOR THE VERY FIRE THAT YOU TRY TO THROW GODS CHILDREN INTO WILL CONSUME YOU.

(Dan 3:24 KJV) Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

(Dan 3:25 KJV) 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.

YOU SEE JESUS WALKING IN THE MIDST OF THE FIRE, BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE HIS WORK IS PERFORMED. MANY TIMES WE DON'T WANT TO GO INTO THE FIRE, WE WANT GOD TO DELIEVER US BEFORE WE GO INTO THE FIRE, AND WE MISS THE BLESSING. YES THE BLESSING OF THE FIRE. YOU SEE IT IS THE FIRE THAT STRENGTHENS YOU.

(Dan 3:26 KJV) Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

NEXT SCRIPTURE HAVE CONGREGATION READ EACH EVENT OUT LOUD WITH YOU

(Dan 3:27 KJV) And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

PRAISE GOD NOT EVEN A HAIR, NOT EVEN SINGED, NOT EVEN A SMELL OF SMOKE, MY GOD CAN DELIEVER FROM THE FIRE, AND NOT ONLY THAT HE CAN DELIEVER SO WELL YOU WON'T EVEN BE TOUCHED BY THE FIRE, NOT EVEN A SMELL OF THE FIRE. MY GOD CAN DELIEVER COMPLETELY, ABSOLUTELY, WITH OUT HARM.

HE IS NEVER LATE, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW DEEP INTO THE FIRE YOU GO, HE CAN PULL YOU OUT. SO DON'T WORRY HE CAN CHANGE, MOVE, DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO SAVE YOU FROM YOUR FIRE IT YOU JUST STAND FOR HIM.

(Dan 3:28 KJV) Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants 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.

(Dan 3:29 KJV) Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.

(Dan 3:30 KJV) Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

WHEN GOD WORKS OUT YOUR PROBLEMS THEY WILL WORK OUT FOR THE VERY BEST, EVEN BEYOND YOUR OWN DREAMS, HE BLESSES THOSE THAT COMPLETELY TRUST IN HIM. THOSE THAT MAKE A STAND FOR HIM HE TAKES CARE OF.

B. THE FIRE WORKS A WORK FOR US THAT IS ETERNAL.

(1 Pet 1:7 KJV) That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

(Mat 19:28 KJV) And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

(Mat 19:29 KJV) And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

a. Gods promises go beyond this world, just for this time, thats why Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would serve God even if God did not deliever them in this one situation, because they new the real reward for those that serve God comes in Heaven when we live with him for eternity.

b. God promises those that really trust Him even in the firey trials of this life and serve Him for who He is, they shall receive an hundredfold and shall inherit everlasting life.

C. We have to learn that we are only strong when we realize that in our own weaknesses when we realize that we can't do anything anyway and turn lose and let God take over we become strong.

(2 Cor 12:7 KJV) And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

(2 Cor 12:8 KJV) For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

(2 Cor 12:9 KJV) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

(2 Cor 12:10 KJV) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

D. WHEN THE DEVIL SEES THAT THE TRIAL OF FIRE HE IS TRYING TO PUT YOU THROUGH IS JUST MAKING YOU STRONGER HE WILL LET YOU ALONE, IN FACT HE WON'T EVEN MESS WITH YOU.

A. The three hebrew men walked in the midst of the fire with Jesus, not worry, not complaning, not running here and there winning to everyone how bad it is, not sitting at home feeling sorry for ourselves, not allowing the devil to push us into works, but simply walking with Jesus, praising Jesus, standing their ground for the God they loved and served.

B. When Nebuchadnezzar saw that the fire was not consumming them and Jesus Christ was in their midst, he had to turn them out. Praise God.