Facing the Fire
Pastor Thomas P. Schaller graduated in 1975 from Northeast School of the Bible, based then in South Berwick, Maine. He began serving as pastor for a missionary team to Helsinki, Finland, that same year. He spent more than six years in Finland, made a brief stop in Stockholm, Sweden, and then returned to the United States for nearly a decade. In 1990, he began leading the Greater Grace World Outreach team in Budapest, Hungary. He served there until he returned to America in 2003 to assist in the work at GGWO’s home base at Baltimore. Since April 2005, Pastor Schaller has served as Pastor of GGWO in Baltimore and ministers with a team of servant-leaders who compliment the vision and work of GGWO churches worldwide. He is also a teacher at Maryland Bible College and Seminary. Steve Andrulonis entered full-time ministry in 2006 after spending more than 25 years as a journalist, including nearly 20 years with the Baltimore Sun newspaper as a reporter, editor, and page designer. He has been a teacher with Maryland Bible College and Seminary since 2001. He is also the assistant to the senior pastor of Greater Grace World Outreach and GGWO’s editorial director. He and his wife, Jean Marie, live in Baltimore. They are the parents of two sons and one daughter and have one grandson. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the King James Version. Italics for emphasis are ours.
Grace Publications 6025 Moravia Park Drive BALTIMORE, MD 21206 Printed in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. Copyright © 2010 From a message preached in July, 2010 Grace Publications is a ministry of Greater Grace World Outreach, Inc. www.ggwo.org ISBN # 1-57907-574-6
Table Of contents
Introduction................................................ 5 Chapter 1.....................................................6 The Power of Principalities Chapter 2................................................... 13 Sounds and Furies Chapter 3................................................... 18 The Glory of the Lord Conclusion................................................. 23
INTRODUCTION The three Hebrew boys of Daniel 3 stand out in our Bibles. They are testimonies of Finished Work courage; men who refused to forsake their convictions in the face of certain death. They believed that they could face the fire. Secure in who they were as worshippers of God, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood fast in their faith when faced with a choice of idolatry or the fiery furnace. These pages reveal the power of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, to make Himself known in the midst of worldly opposition. Christ said He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is also the resurrected Savior. He defeated death so that no one need fear its power any more. Read and learn how we can stand fast in the glory of God when facing great enemies of the faith.
Chapter One
THE POWER OF PRINCIPALITIES “Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. “Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. “Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. “Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, “That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: “And whoso falleth not down and worship
peth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace” (Daniel 3:1-6). Nebuchadnezzar ruled the Babylonian empire that stretched across the Middle East region from present day Iran to Egypt, an area that included the Promised Land of Israel and its capital city Jerusalem. After conquering a territory, Babylon instituted a resettlement program. Peoples were forcibly removed from their lands and brought to other places in the empire. Many were taken captive and marched to the city of Babylon itself. This included many from the kingdom of Judah who were assigned duties in service of Nebuchadnezzar’s government. Daniel the prophet and these three Hebrew boys distinguished themselves with their good looks and good minds. Soon, these four were prime counselors to the king. Daniel 2 relates the account of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The vision haunted him, but he could not remember just what was in it. So he went to his panel of wise men, which included magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and others—among them these four young men from Judah. Nebuchadnezzar, as we will see, habitually made irrational and immediate demands. His condition was this: “Meet my demands or… die.” The dream being gone from him, the king wanted his counselors to first tell him the dream
he could not remember and then provide an interpretation. Probably, several among the magicians and sorcerers could have spun elaborate and flattering definitions upon hearing some of the details. They approached him with a request: “King, tell us what you saw and we will tell you what it means.” He was having none of it. “I told you that I forgot the dream,” he said. “You will tell me what I saw and then tell me what it means. Or, you die.” Now, the heathen counselors grew nervous. “The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. “And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. “For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. “And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain” (Daniel 2:10-13). The prayers of Daniel and the three Hebrew boys were answered, however. The prophet pre
sented the dream and the interpretation from the Lord to Nebuchadnezzar, whose kingdom and his throne were cast in a most favorable light. The excellent, bright image in the king’s dream had a “head of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay” (Daniel 2:32-33). In a vision, God had presented the king with an exposition of the succession of world empires that continues to this day. “You are this head of gold,” Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar. The Babylonian age would be a golden one and its king would go unchallenged. Nebuchadnezzar felt very good about himself and about Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Soon, these four Hebrew men were large and in charge, made great men with great authority in the empire. This put them in high places and also in the crosshairs of those seeking their positions. We see the effect of this promotion on others in Daniel 3. Some time later, perhaps after pondering afresh on the interpretation of his golden status, Nebuchadnezzar sets up a towering golden image. The image, standing some 90-feet tall, may have been of the king himself. C.I. Scofield describes this as an attempt to unify the various religions of the Babylonian empire through “selfdeification,” something the Beast of Revelation
will also attempt as the final leader of the Gentile world. At the sound of music, all the people were to fall on their faces and worship the image. “Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?� (Psalm 94:20). In Babylon, the sense of security and superiority flowed from the top down. The city was a mammoth architectural wonder. A massive wall more than 300 feet tall, 25 feet wide and 56 miles in length, formed a square around Babylon. It was dotted with 250 guard towers that stood 450 feet and fronted by a wide moat. Inside the wall, 2 million resided and there was enough food stored for the city to survive a siege lasting several months. Naturally, Nebuchadnezzar could feel very good about himself, his throne and his realm. It was very easy for him to create a religious icon and expect absolute adherence to his program. He was the head of gold, who would dare challenge his authority? We can make a point here about the demon influence in the world system. Ephesians speaks of the principalities and powers and the rulers of darkness that populate the cosmos. They are unseen, but they are at work. These forces employ projections. Oppression can be introduced to an atmosphere and people can fall into obses10
sion. In extreme cases, unbelievers open their minds to demonic possession. We see it in the Bible. Mark 5 and Luke 8 describe a man with an unclean spirit who roamed around the tombs of Decapolis, a region near the Sea of Galilee. This spirit identified Jesus as the Son of God and also identified itself as “Legion,� for it was comprised of many demon forces. Jesus delivered this man and sent the demons away to a nearby herd of pigs, which at once became so agitated that they charged en masse to their destruction in the sea. More prevalent, perhaps, are the subtle, insidious manipulations Satan organizes in our world. Things done in the name of human good and earth preservation carry weight among the general population. Save the cities, save the whales, save the institution, save the jobs, save the planet. These words mean something to so many. It points out to us how easily mischief can be framed in a law. Nebuchadnezzar was just trying to bring everyone together. What could be wrong with that? What’s the harm in being part of nationwide program? We sense the rationalization in such statements because we hear similar things. The king saw himself as the unifying figure in a diverse empire. Who or what introduced this concept? I think we can say that demon forces targeted a powerful, but sometimes insecure 11
man and aimed their darts with the goal of destroying God’s people. Demons and insecure leaders fabricate systems for mischief. In arrogance, programs and processes are placed strategically. In the case we are looking at, the new system of oblation was connected to music. People unsure of their identities are open to such influence. They are searching for security and significance. The pressure from the peer group pushes them to fit in. There is safety in numbers. The majority of people had no problem with the new law. Generally, people go with the flow. The pride of being part of the program carries an appeal. The idea and the control it exudes over the emotions are powerful. The people heard the music and dropped to the ground. Three Hebrews stayed on their feet.
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Chapter Two
SOUNDS AND FURIES “Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. “They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. “Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: “And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. “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” (Daniel 3:8-12). The music aspect of this story should interest us. Music was given from God to accompany our praises and worship. In the context of the Church, songs and hymns and spiritual songs remain powerful elements. They help us remember. Truth penetrates deeper into our souls when 13
swept along by a tune. A song was sung at the close of the Last Supper before Christ led His disciples to Gethsemane: “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives” (Matthew 26:30). Music is a part of the system of worship, and God has ordained it to bless His people. Satan perverts everything from God. Perversity really speaks of twisted words. God’s vehicle of creation is His Word. God speaks, Satan twists what God says and the results are deceptive and disastrous. Music has become tied to so much in our society. Theme songs—every TV show, every commercial enterprise, every political campaign carries one nowadays. With the preponderance of portable electronic devices, everyone is encouraged to create a soundtrack for his life and to carry it along. Notice the earphones the next time you walk through a mall or down the street. As the movie of your life rolls by, you have to have your background music to provide the right ambience. Nebuchadnezzar recognized music’s power and combined it with idol worship. It became of tool for control in Babylon. Centuries later, Adolf Hitler would do the same thing, establishing Reich Chamber Music in the Nazi Propaganda Ministry. German composers and performers were used to promote the policies and plans of 14
the “Fatherland.” Soldier songs were written to send off the armies with pride and passion. The record of history shows the devastating effects these policies had on German society. People either allowed themselves to be carried along by the torrent of ambition and brutality or they were swept aside by it. In Babylon, there were men of another spirit who served the most high God. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to be controlled. The sound reached their ears, but the convictions in their hearts would not let them move. They stood firm, even in the face of fury. “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? “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 musick, 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? “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to 15
deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. “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. “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. “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” (Daniel 3:14-20). Oh, the irrationality of evil! Nebuchadnezzar was a man unaccustomed to hearing the word, “No.” The answer of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego brought a change of face to the king. He probably looked like one of those old angry cartoon characters. His face reddened, his eyes bulged out, and smoke pouring from the ears. The furnace was ready, but Nebuchadnezzar commanded that it be made seven times hotter. What was the point of that? Fire is fire—it burns. It will do its work. Nebuchadnezzar had reached a point of insanity. What he was now doing made no sense. The real losers in the whole scenario were some of Babylon’s best soldiers who were 16
tasked with binding the three Hebrews and tossing them into the fire. The extra-hot furnace fried these mighty men. Irrational, emotional leaders are dangerous to themselves and to those around them. Nebuchadnezzar’s actions cost him and his army more than is evident at this point in time. Years later, during the reign of the king’s grandson, Belshazzar, Babylon will be invaded and overthrown by the Medes and the Persians. Belshazzar will be assassinated. Could those mighty military men who perished by the furnace have made a difference? A leader’s poor decisions often carry long lasting implications. Nebuchadnezzar’s outburst may have cost him two or three field generals. Those missing minds could be the reason for Babylon’s swift defeat. Neither the sound, nor the fury moved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Their hearts were fixed. They stood fast. Theirs was a civil disobedience. When questioned, they answered with dignity, not defiance. When railed against, they refused to respond with railing of their own. God was with them and they knew it. They understood the consequences of their decision and made no effort to flee. They offered no resistance and were summarily cast into the flames.
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Chapter Three
THE GLORY OF THE LORD “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. “For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour” (Isaiah 43:2-3a). “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: “Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me” (Job 19:25-27). The heart attitude of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego was evident in others who went before them and in those who came after them. Consider Job. He, like these three, endured suffering and situations that came through no fault of his own. The tests weighed heavily on Job. He struggled with his emotions, but clung to the great twins of hope—redemption and resurrection. 18
Think about Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22. This son of promise came to Abraham and Sarah during the late, late season of their lives. He was 100 years old, she was 90 when the lad was born to them. God told Abraham that this son would come. He had waited years and weathered heartache and mistakes before he could laugh with joy, holding the son through whose seed all the nations of the world would find blessing. Then, came the morning when God said to Abraham, His friend, “Go, take Isaac to Mount Moriah and offer him as a burnt sacrifice.” This man of faith obeyed in the fear of the Lord and he fully intended to offer up Isaac, but the voice of the Angel of the Lord called from heaven and stopped him. The most telling statement made in this account is in Genesis 22:5: “Abraham said to his young men, Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you” (New King James Version). It was statement of faith in the reality of the redemption and the reality of resurrection. Abraham knew what God had commanded him to do, although had yet to tell Isaac, probably a teen-ager at the time. Isaac had questions about the missing sacrifice and Abraham answered, “God will provide a lamb.” Paul wrote in Romans 4:20 that 19
Abraham “staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.” Like the three Hebrews, he was not “careful” regarding obedience to the Word of God. He told the traveling company, “The boy and I will go to the mountain, we will worship and we will come back to you.” There was no doubt in the heart that God would work this all together in His purpose and for His glory. Also, let’s not forget Stephen in Acts 6 and 7. One of the Church’s original deacons, this man possessed power from God and spoke wisdom from the Spirit that many found irresistible. His face was seen as the face of an angel. Leaders in the Jewish synagogue grew envious, disputed with Stephen and conspired to have him stoned to death, but not before he delivered an amazing sermon using nearly 50 Old Testament references. Stephen also was not careful to answer those who stood against him. He spoke the Word and cut to the heart of those who listened. Rage filled the mob and they dragged Stephen out of the city and killed him. Before he “fell asleep,” Stephen related his vision of Christ standing at the right hand of God, asked forgiveness for his murderers, and committed his spirit to the Lord Jesus. This is an important point for us to recognize. There are different ways God uses to deliver His 20
servants. Job got a double portion of prosperity; Abraham heard the Angel of the Lord, pulled back the knife from Isaac and found a ram in the thicket for his offering; and, Stephen was swept up from this earth and welcomed into eternity by Christ Himself. As their bodies fell into the furnace, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego believed wholeheartedly that they would be alive somewhere, somehow. Bound and tied up in their clothes by the command of the king, the three Hebrew boys were soon freer than ever. They found the Friend who sticks closer than a brother waiting for them in the flames. The public execution became an exhibition of the power of God. They were alive and in fellowship with their Redeemer, walking about the furnace to the astonishment of Nebuchadnezzar. “Come out,” Nebuchadnezzar said to the three Hebrews. It would have made for an even more interesting story if they had responded, “The fire’s fine with us, King. Why don’t you come in?” Alas, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did come out and everyone took note that not a hair of their heads was singed and that the smell of fire was not upon them or their clothes. “Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and deliv21
ered 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� (Daniel 3:28).
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CONCLUSION The fury of Nebuchadnezzar melted into humility. It was the visitation of Christ that did it. The king recognized that the Fourth Man in the furnace was like the Son of God (Daniel 3:25). The glory of the Son shined brighter than the flames. This, to us, sounds strangely similar to Stephen’s testimony in Acts 7:55 when he gazed into Heaven and saw the glory of God, even the Son of Man. On the Mount of Transfiguration, apostles Peter, James, and John witnessed the glory present in the person of Christ. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” The glory of God is the face of the Lord Jesus. We are the face of Christ in the world today. God is with us: as He was with Daniel, as He was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, as He was with Stephen. We have our challenges. The Spirit of Jesus has sent us forth as lambs among wolves (Luke 10:3). Friends, governments, even families shall stand against some of us. It happened in Communist Europe and it’s happening in places such as China, Iran, Sudan, and India today. The fires of persecution continue, but 23
Christ gives us words of comfort and triumph, words that fuel hearts made courageous by the reality of His Finished Work. Let us think on these things. “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
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