Talk

Faith Under Fire

Ben Stuart
September, 22, 2024

Through studying Daniel 3, Ben Stuart shows how the believer lives in culture yet stands firm when faced with persecution. We see that when we live differently, we can influence those around us for the good of His Kingdom.

Key Takeaway

We're a part of the culture but different from the culture for the good of the culture.

Nebuchadnezzar begins Daniel 3 by claiming that religion will have no hold on him, creating a gold image to declare that he is the captain of his fate. He presides over the expanding Babylonian empire and realizes he needs to solidify control. To do that, he calls them to a higher ideal—an absolute.

Human beings instinctively need an absolute that gives their lives cohesion and meaning. We're built to look for something greater than ourselves. We're meant to look for the ultimate to give our lives meaning.

But Nebuchadnezzar didn't want the Babylonians to worship a God greater than him, so he created a god/religion that agreed with him. He couldn't reason with them based on virtues, so instead, he appealed to their senses with a display of power. Nebuchadnezzar used intimidation, social pressure to conform, and an appeal to pagan emotion rather than truth to force people into compliance.

What happens in a political environment like this with enormous pressure? Do you see people rise or see the nations fold in conformity? No, they bow and conform.

Whenever you see pressure to conform to a godless society, there will always be a remnant that stands up and says no.

Rise in the system. Stay faithful in the system. Be good, Babylonians. But if you're asked to compromise your faith—stand.

What did these believers (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) do when they were pressured to deny their allegiance to God? They didn't rage. They answered respectfully, and they did not bow. They believed in their God. They were okay with losing their lives but not okay with not being faithful to Him.

We will thrive in the culture and seek the benefit of the culture, but if someone calls a believer to deny allegiance to the King, we will refuse. The God of heaven is our God, and He has the power to save us. No matter the outcome, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego believed in God.

When you seek unbridled power, it's the youngest among us who suffer.

Sometimes, God will not immediately rescue you from the trial, but He wants to save you through it. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched. He will let you go far, but in your hour of need, He will show up. He is Emmanuel—God with us.

He will stand with you, whether by your miraculous deliverance or honorable death, you don't know. But what you do know is we stand because the one that stands with us will ultimately establish a kingdom that will never fade.

When we are persecuted, God is with us, and when we live with an unwavering commitment to God, it forces others to take God seriously.

God is not here to destroy His political opponent; He's here to save them.

When the world watches us live out our convictions, it will force them to take our Christ seriously.

By risking and experiencing rejection from the culture, we can have more influence on the culture.

"Live in such a way that it forces people to take your God seriously. "
Ben Stuart

Discussion Questions

  1. How has social pressure tempted you to conform to the culture?

  2. Ben Stuart encourages us to stand when asked to compromise our faith, just as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did. If you were facing persecution today, would you stand?

  3. Have you ever responded to accusations about your faith in rage or responded disrespectfully? If yes, how did that conversation go? If not, have you seen others respond in this manner? What was the result?

  4. Are you praying that God would rescue you immediately from a trial? How does it make you feel knowing that He may take a while to save you from your circumstances?

  5. What does the name "Emmanuel" or "Immanuel" mean?

  6. How do you feel knowing that no matter what you're going through, that God is with you?

  7. How have you shown unwavering commitment to God in your life?

Scripture References

The Image of Gold and the Blazing Furnace

1King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. 3So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

4Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: 5As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

7Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

8At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. 9They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever! 10Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”

13Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

16Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

19Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

24Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”

They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”

25He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

26Nebuchadnezzar 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, 27and 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.

28Then 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. 29Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”

30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.


Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart is the pastor of Passion City Church D.C. Prior to joining Passion City Church, Ben served as the executive director of Breakaway Ministries on the campus of Texas A&M. He also earned a master’s degree in historical theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Donna, live to inspire and equip people to walk with God for a lifetime.