WRESTLING WITH GOD: SHADRACH, MESHACH & ABEDNEGO
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Wrestling with God
Deuteronomy 30:19-20
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days;”
a) There are times in life when we are faced with situations that seem dark; Situations that cause us to question our faith in the promises that we have received from God’s Word. Sometimes we struggle with circumstances in the world that cause us to be distracted away from God as we try to battle and win by our own efforts. Even struggles with our own flesh can become a battle that causes us to focus more on our internal war than on God. But our struggle should not be with these things for the battle is the Lord’s. Our struggle should be focused on holding on to God and His Word no matter how dark, and no matter how hopeless, the situation seems. Clinging to God with all perseverance is a part of loving Him.
2. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
a) The book of Daniel tells the story of three young Hebrew men that were commanded to worship an idol or be thrown into the blazing fire of a furnace. They told the king...
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18 NIV)
b) They knew God would deliver them one way or another because even if God allowed them to be burned up by the fire they would instantly be receiving their reward in heaven.
c) But God chose to save them through the fire.
Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. (Daniel 3:26-28 NIV)
d) The greater the sacrifice that we go through and endure by clinging to God, the greater the blessing will be. The greatest blessing is to those who fully give up their whole life to cling to their Creator, through perseverance and obedience. These are the things that prove our love for our God. Jesus says,
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (John 14:21 NIV)
e) The greatest blessing is when God reveals Himself to us.
In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalms 16:11)
The End ...
1. Wrestling with God Deuteronomy 30:19-20
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days;”
a) There are times in life when we are faced with situations that seem dark; Situations that cause us to question our faith in the promises that we have received from God’s Word. Sometimes we struggle with circumstances in the world that cause us to be distracted away from God as we try to battle and win by our own efforts. Even struggles with our own flesh can become a battle that causes us to focus more on our internal war than on God. But our struggle should not be with these things for the battle is the Lord’s. Our struggle should be focused on holding on to God and His Word no matter how dark, and no matter how hopeless, the situation seems. Clinging to God with all perseverance is a part of loving Him.
2. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
a) The book of Daniel tells the story of three young Hebrew men that were commanded to worship an idol or be thrown into the blazing fire of a furnace. They told the king...
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18 NIV)
b) They knew God would deliver them one way or another because even if God allowed them to be burned up by the fire they would instantly be receiving their reward in heaven.
c) But God chose to save them through the fire.
Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. (Daniel 3:26-28 NIV)
d) The greater the sacrifice that we go through and endure by clinging to God, the greater the blessing will be. The greatest blessing is to those who fully give up their whole life to cling to their Creator, through perseverance and obedience. These are the things that prove our love for our God. Jesus says,
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (John 14:21 NIV)
e) The greatest blessing is when God reveals Himself to us.
In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalms 16:11)
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