The message was preached by Rev. Tim Powers on April 12, 2026.
Daniel 3 is the background scripture. King Nebuchadnezzar had an image made that people were required to bow down and worship at the sound of the music. Three Hebrew boys, taken into captivity when Babylon conquered Israel, were among the people. They wouldn’t bow. Most of us know the story; we love this one. We see their great faith. They believed God can deliver His people. He is able to do all things. We get a miracle. We see a person healed or delivered from…xyz. Salvation does indeed deliver us from sin. There is no condemnation because of what God can do. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t hesitate in their declaration. This king was the most powerful man in the world, probably the most powerful ruler ever. Yet, they held fast to God.
15 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? 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 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. 18 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 the king threw them into the fiery furnace. After a time, he wanted to see the ashes. He got worried over what he saw. The Bible tells us that the men who were bound and thrown in were walking around freely. He asked did we not bind three men and cast them in. But….he saw four and said that fourth was like the Son of God. Jesus himself came down to rescue them. Fire did not touch them. They didn’t even smell like smoke. He delivered them!
God is able to shut mouths of lions, save from the fiery furnaces. These examples may be “the exception to the rule.” Look back at verse 18’s first three words: but if not. There will be times God doesn’t work the miracle, that he doesn’t deliver from the fire. The boys said even if God didn’t deliver them, they still were not going to bow. BUT, God will help. They went into that fire knowing they could die, but they knew if that happened, they would be with God. He can do it! Faith to realize that he may not is hard. Let’s look at a few examples.
Zechariah boldly told Joash he was doing wrong. He was killed. Isaiah wrote about seeing the suffering servant (Jesus), foretelling his death on the cross. He was a faithful man. The book of Hebrews tells us Isaiah was sawn in half because of his prophecies. Jeremiah proclaimed the word of the Lord telling the people they had sinned. They beat him. God didn’t deliver him from it. John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ. He preached to the Jews, baptizing many of them. The Pharisees hated him. He was faithful to tell the truth. Yet, even as the cousin of Jesus, he was imprisoned and beheaded. John got down and out. He believed, but he was not delivered. The Deacon named Stephen in the book of Acts preached and made the people so angry they stoned him to death. As he was dying, he saw Jesus standing in heaven to receive him, and he asked that this sin not be laid to the people’s charge. Maybe stones of some sort are being hurled at you. Look up. Keep the faith. Stephen knew it was over and he still believed in God. Imagine the welcome in heaven as this New Testament martyr came in its gates. Peter, James, and John were the inner circle of the disciples, closer to Jesus than the others. They saw and heard things the others did not. James was killed by the sword early on in church history. Peter was set to be killed, but because the church prayed an angel delivered him from prison. That doesn’t mean Jesus loved him more.
We may see others delivered while we are not. James was delivered by seeing Jesus. The struggles make us strong. We can have faith. Jesus may not answer when or how we ask. Keep the faith anyway. When my dad was sick and we expected him to die, I knew God was able to heal him. But I knew “IF NOT” my dad would be with Jesus. I was ok with that. I was able to accept that if it was God’s will. It’s legitimate to ask, “why is this happening?” Go ahead. Ask God. It may not be what we want. We may wonder why now and years from now find out why it was that way. We may be weary and tired. Press on! Keep the faith!
Jesus, the very Son of God, wasn’t delivered in the Garden of Gethsemane. He prayed so hard his sweat became drops of blood. He asked if there was another way, yet to do the Father’s will he went to the cross. He was delivered into the hands of the enemy. God will deliver. One day it will all be over. It may be hard now. As we age, we do suffer more. Don’t bow and you won’t burn. You’ll be with Jesus one day. One day, it will be ok.
Imagine how those three Hebrew boys felt. What a trial, but then they heard something, felt something. Jesus was in there with them. Right in the fire. One day you’ll be in heaven and see the Savior face to face. You’ll talk with him face to face. On that day you won’t care why. He will welcome you in. Jesus was in the midst with those boys. HE IS ABLE to deliver, but IF NOT, he’ll walk through it with you!
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 