Notes

God does not always spare us from pain, but His Presence NEVER leaves us.

1. The presence of God is ALWAYS greater than the presence of evil.
2. The presence of God is experienced best in the context of community.
3. The Presence of God is a solid rock!

God rescued them not from the flames but He rescued them through His presence in the flames!

Verses

{“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:2-3 NLT}{Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, WE do not need to defend ourselves before you. If WE are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom WE serve is able to save us. He will rescue US from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, WE want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that WE will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18 NLT}{“So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.” Daniel 3:23 NLT}{But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied. “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!” Daniel 3:24-25 NLT}{“Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.” 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 NLT}{“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!” Daniel 3:26-27 NLT}{“Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.” 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 NLT}{“Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!” Daniel 3:29 NLT}

Quotes

Larry Osborne : “He chose to be with them in their trials rather than delivering them from their trials.” (Thriving In Babylon ); Kyle Idleman : “Anything in the world can be hammered into an idol. We replace God with statues of our own creation.” (gods at war); Timothy Keller : “If we embrace the Christian teaching that Jesus is God and that he went to the Cross, then we have deep consolation and strength to face the brutal realities of life on earth. We can know that God is truly Immanuel – God with us – even in our worst sufferings.”
(The Reason for God);