SERMON NOTE

Stand

... in the fire

Text: Daniel 3

Jesus  with us...no matter what. 

Most often, when you and I face death, it is , nothing we can do - whether it is because of illness or age or accident. 

But for those three, death is . 

Life or death, and these guys chose death. Though this kind of devotion to God is rare, it is possible for . 

Often we  Jesus in the fire! 

Jesus sometimes delivers people from the fire, but sometimes Jesus  with people in the fire. 

And meeting with Jesus, wherever it might be, is always a . 

Some of us are praying to know Jesus more and experience more of His fullness - to know . 

Those are awesome and right prayers, but sometimes they will only be answered in the . 

Let's stop asking God for less heat. Stop asking for a life that is easier, or richer, more pleasant, or secure. There is something !

The golden statue in our world tends to involve gods with names like comfort, ease, security, and success. 

Does not Jesus say, " , and you're going to have a great big God and outrageous joy, and you're going to be in the fire some and see me work powerfully in the midst of it?"

Ironically, the fire that looked to be the place of death turned out to be the place of  because Jesus met them in the fire.  

NOTE: This sermon was greatly influenced by a sermon I heard decades ago by John Ortberg. The message deeply impacted my life, and i'm grateful he allowed me to steal his ideas.