Be Amazed: Hope in the Fiery Furnace
Devotional
Day 1: God's presence sustains believers amid the flames.
In exile and under threat, three young men refused to bow and trusted that God was with them in the fire; their courage shows that hope is not the absence of struggle but the reality that God walks in the flames beside his people, sustaining and freeing them even when circumstances are dire. [57:44]
Daniel 3 (NIV)
1 King 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.
2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the advisers, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
3 So the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the advisers, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before the image.
4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed: “To you the command is given, O peoples, nations, and languages,
5 that when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
6 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a blazing furnace.”
7 Therefore, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8 At that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews.
9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever!
10 You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music shall fall down and worship the golden image,
11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a blazing furnace. Now there are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, O king. They do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
12 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.
13 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?
14 Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music and you fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a blazing furnace. Who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”
15 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
16 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
17 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
18 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He answered and ordered that the furnace be heated seven times more than it was usually heated.
19 And he ordered some of the mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
20 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
21 Because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who lifted up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
22 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell into the burning fiery furnace bound.
23 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste; he declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
24 He answered and said, “Look! I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
25 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace; he declared and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the midst of the fire.
26 The satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw these men that the fire had not had any power on their bodies, nor was a hair of their head singed, nor were their coats changed, nor had the smell of fire come upon them.
27 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and they disobeyed the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.
28 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language that speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses shall be made a dunghill; because there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.”
29 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Reflection: Name one “furnace” you are facing now; write it down and, each morning this week, speak a short prayer acknowledging God’s presence in that struggle and take one concrete step (call a friend, attend a prayer time, or refuse a compromising shortcut) that demonstrates trust in God even amid the fire.
Day 2: Mary's yes resists earthly power through trust.
Mary’s response to the angel models Advent-shaped courage: a humble, faithful yes that refuses to let Roman occupation or cultural expectation determine her allegiance, trusting that God’s promise will stand even when human authorities claim ultimate power. [59:22]
Luke 1:26-38 (NIV)
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.
37 For no word from God will fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Reflection: Is God inviting you to say a risky “yes” that contradicts cultural expectation (a choice of service, reconciliation, or a new step of faith)? Tell one trusted person what that “yes” looks like and take one visible first step this week (send an introductory email, sign up, or make the phone call) to obey.
Day 3: Good news goes to the humble and unexpected.
The shepherds’ story reminds that God announces his arrival to those on the margins, calling ordinary people to witness and to spread the news of peace and hope rather than the palaces or powers that think they rule the world. [01:00:16]
Luke 2:8-20 (NIV)
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Reflection: Who in your neighborhood or life feels overlooked or outside the circle of “important” news? This week choose one person to intentionally contact (a call, a visit, or a simple note) to share practical care or an encouraging word about Jesus’ hope, and schedule the time to do it before Sunday.
Day 4: Earthly rulers proclaim power, yet God reigns.
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and the golden image show how empires claim ultimate authority, but God is the true ruler; remembering this restores courage to resist false loyalties and to live with allegiance to the Most High. [52:55]
Daniel 2:36-38 (NIV)
36 “This was the dream, and now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king.
37 You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory;
38 and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, He has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over them all—you are the head of gold.
Reflection: Name one idol—comfort, consumerism, political identity, or self-sufficiency—that vies for your ultimate loyalty; choose one concrete practice this week to visibly counter that idol (a fast from news/social media, a gift toward the needy, a prayer each morning) and carry it out for three days.
Day 5: Obedience chooses God's word over cultural shame.
Like Joseph who obeyed God rather than public opinion, faithful living often looks like small, courageous choices: daily prayer, forgiveness offered again, patience, and other humble acts that resist the idols of convenience and fear. [01:02:33]
Matthew 1:18-25 (NIV)
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,
25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
Reflection: Is there a small act of obedience you've been postponing out of fear or shame (an apology, a hard conversation, a step toward service)? Tonight pray briefly and then take one concrete initial step—send a brief message, make one phone call, or sign up for a single commitment—and report back to one person for accountability.
Sermon Summary
We began Advent with the invitation to “be amazed” at the way God shows up—especially in places we’d rather avoid. Hope is not an escape hatch from hardship; hope is the assurance of God’s presence in it. That is why we stood with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the furnace. God did not remove the fire. He entered it. This is Advent hope: God-with-us, not just at the manger’s glow, but amid heat, pressure, and uncertainty.
We stepped back into Babylon to see the contours of that world—a ruler intoxicated with power, an empire insisting that loyalty to the state was loyalty to the divine, and a people of God pressed to bow to an image. Daniel’s repetition mimics Babylon’s excess: a furnace overheated, an instrument list long and loud, and a demand that seems total. Yet three exiles answer with quiet, courageous clarity: “Our God is able to deliver us, but even if he doesn’t, we will not bow.” That “even if” is the marrow of Advent faith. It refuses to confuse outcomes with God’s goodness. It entrusts the future to the One who stands in the flames.
Advent has always been lived in the shadow of empires. Mary’s yes, Joseph’s obedience, Zechariah and Elizabeth’s persistence, and the shepherds’ surprise—each is a refusal to let earthly power author the story. And it is our call, too. Today’s statues don’t shine with gold, but they do glitter: convenience, nationalism, greed, fear, the illusion of self-sufficiency. They whisper, “Just bow a little.” Advent trains us to say no with love and yes with courage: to choose truth over convenience, generosity over scarcity, compassion over apathy, and fidelity to God over allegiance to lesser lords.
Most days, the resistance looks small: daily prayer, forgiveness offered again, patience when the world is impatient, hope when the horizon is dim. These practices form us for the larger fires. As we light more lanterns each week, we are training our eyes to see light that is already here. Christ steps into our furnace and our neighborhood. So we wait actively—standing firm, living faithfully, and shining as people of hope.
Key Takeaways
- 1. Hope walks with us in the fire God did not airlift the three friends out of the furnace; He joined them there. Real hope isn’t denial of heat but confidence in companionship. God’s nearness reframes suffering—not by shrinking flames, but by assuring we are not consumed. Presence becomes the miracle. [49:27]
- 2. Faith that says, “Even if not” “God is able to deliver us… but even if he doesn’t” frees us from bargaining with outcomes. This is worship that loves God more than His gifts. It loosens fear’s grip and makes courage possible, because fidelity—not success—becomes the measure of faith. [57:44]
- 3. Resist today’s subtle golden statues Idols now are sophisticated: convenience, nationalism, greed, fear, and self-sufficiency. They don’t demand a temple visit; they shape our loves through habits and headlines. To refuse them we must re-order desire—allegiance to Christ first, even when it costs comfort or approval. [61:03]
- 4. Choose small practices of courage Big moments are sustained by hidden faithfulness. Daily prayer, undeserved forgiveness, patient presence, and honest truth-telling train the soul to stand when heat rises. These habits are the Spirit’s slow work, forming a life that will not bow. [62:33]
- 5. Advent courage under empire’s shadow Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, Elizabeth, and the shepherds trusted God in a world bent on control. Their obedience becomes a template for us: humble yeses that dethrone fear and enthrone God’s reign in ordinary life. Advent is resistance made gentle and strong. [59:22]
Youtube Chapters
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [37:39] - Choir thanks and joy of singing
- [39:09] - Christmas project: supporting pregnancy center
- [42:23] - Live Nativity float invitation
- [45:42] - Pastoral prayer for peace and presence
- [49:27] - Advent theme: Be Amazed, Hope
- [52:55] - Daniel 3: the golden statue
- [56:32] - Exile, identity, and faithful refusal
- [57:44] - Our God can deliver—Even if not
- [59:22] - Advent courage: Mary, Joseph, shepherds
- [60:16] - God with us in the fire
- [61:03] - Naming today’s subtle idols
- [61:41] - Practicing resistance in daily life
- [63:57] - Sending prayer and Advent commission
- [65:59] - Closing hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Bible Study Guide
Bible Reading
Read Daniel 3:13-28 aloud together before you start discussing. — 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abed‑nego. He spoke and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed‑nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 14 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image I made, well and good. But if you do not worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” 15 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed‑nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 16 If 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. 17 But 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.” 18 Then Nebuchadnezzar was enraged with Shadrach, Meshach and Abed‑nego, and his attitude toward them changed; he ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 19 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed‑nego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 20 So these men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace with noose and cords. 21 Because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace so hot, the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed‑nego, 22 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 23 But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace with Azariah and his companions and they walked around in the fire unharmed; and the fourth person was like a son of the gods. 24 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and said, “Wasn’t there three men tied up and thrown into the fire?” He answered, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” 25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” 26 Nebuchadnezzar then came close to the mouth of the furnace and said, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abed‑nego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abed‑nego came out of the fire, 27 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. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed‑nego, who sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
Observation Questions
- What reasons do Shadrach, Meshach and Abed‑nego give for refusing to bow? What words show both confidence and refusal in their answer?
- In verses 24–25 the king sees “four men” in the fire. What details are used to describe that fourth figure, and how do the witnesses react?
- The preacher says, “Hope is not an escape hatch from hardship; hope is the assurance of God’s presence in it.” What images or lines in Daniel 3 support that statement? [49:27]
- The sermon notes Daniel’s repetition (the long list of instruments, the heating “seven times,” the repeating of the three names). How does that repeated, over‑the‑top detail shape your sense of Babylon’s claim to power? [52:55]
Interpretation Questions
- What might it mean for someone to hold the conviction “Our God is able to deliver us, but even if he does not” (Dan 3:17–18) while living through prolonged suffering? [57:44]
- How should the “fourth figure” in the furnace (Dan 3:24–25) inform the group’s understanding of God’s presence amid danger rather than God’s removal of danger?
- In what ways does Daniel’s rhetorical exaggeration of Babylon’s ceremony (music, instruments, heat) highlight the difference between political spectacle and the quiet faithfulness of God’s people?
- The sermon links Daniel’s story to first‑century Advent figures (Mary, Joseph, shepherds) who refused imperial logic. How might a person today distinguish lawful civic allegiance from idolatrous loyalty to the state or culture? [56:32]
Application Questions
- Name one “golden statue” that most tempts you right now (convenience, nationalism, greed, fear, self‑sufficiency, or another). Where do you notice yourself “bowing” to it in daily decisions? What specific, measurable step will you take this week to resist that temptation (e.g., unsubscribe from a feed, give away money, set a boundary)? [01:01:03]
- Identify a current “furnace” in your life (job insecurity, illness, relationship strain, anxiety). How would choosing Advent hope — expecting God to be with you in the heat — change one practical decision you make this week (who you call, how you spend time, a petition you bring to God)? [49:27]
- Write an “even if” sentence about a real fear (for example: “Our God can heal my marriage, but even if he doesn’t, I will trust him”). Read it aloud to the group and say how it alters your dependence on outcomes. Commit to saying that sentence in prayer twice this week. [57:44]
- Which of the “small practices of courage” mentioned in the sermon do you most struggle to keep (daily prayer, offering undeserved forgiveness, patient presence, honest truth‑telling)? Pick one practice, set a concrete plan for when and how you will do it this week, and name one accountability partner who will check in with you. [01:02:33]
- Is there a person, online space, workplace, or neighborhood where cultural pressure makes it easy to treat others as enemies? Name one loving action you will do in that setting this week to resist division (a phone call, a public correction framed in grace, a meal shared, a handwritten note). [01:01:41]
- Think of someone who models Advent courage (a friend, elder, or public figure who says yes to God despite cost). What specific quality in them do you want to cultivate? How will you ask them to pray with you or to mentor you this Advent season? [59:22]
Sermon Clips
``Our theme is be amazed and each week we're going to invite you to notice the surprising and powerful ways in which God shows up especially when God shows up when we don't expect it. So today we begin with the theme of hope in the fiery furnace. God is present with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He doesn't offer an escape from suffering but he's right there in the middle of it, walking in the flames beside them. Hope is not the absence of struggle. Hope rather is the trust that God's presence is always with us even in the fire. [00:48:42] (43 seconds) #HopeInTheFire
And yet these three young men quietly, but firmly and faithfully, said no. Their refusal was not fueled by arrogance or rebellion just for rebellion's sake. It was an act of Advent-shaped hope. Trust that the God of Israel still reign, even in Babylon. Trust that God would remain faithful, even when they couldn't see the evidence with their own eyes. And trust that deliverance would come, whether at life or at death. [00:57:21] (35 seconds) #AdventShapedHope
This, friends, is the heart of Advent faith. Believing in God's promises while living in a world that does not yet reflect them. Trusting that God will come even when our present circumstances may feel like exile. Advent teaches us to look at the world as it is, full of injustice, suffering, and misplaced loyalty. But to hold fast to the conviction that God is still breaking in, still writing the story, and still standing faithful in the fire. [00:58:24] (40 seconds) #AlreadyNotYetFaith
And yet, each one responded with faithful courage. Just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they trusted that God was not absent. And just as God entered a fiery furnace with those three exiles, God, too, entered our world through Jesus Christ to stand with humanity and its suffering, its oppression, its longing, and its hope. It means that God is not distant from the fiery places of our world. God walks in the flames right beside us. [01:00:16] (39 seconds) #GodWalksWithUs
But it also reminds us that we, like those young exiles, must choose whom we will serve. Nebuchadnezzar's statues may be long gone, but the idols of our age are no less seductive. They invite us to bow to convenience, nationalism, to greed, to fear, for that illusion of self-sufficiency. They ask us to pledge allegiance to whatever promises power, control, or comfort. They whisper, just bow a little. It won't cost you that much. [01:00:56] (36 seconds) #ResistModernIdols
But Abednego calls us to journey back to the God who alone deserves our worship. So what does it look like to look back to God and to resist bowing to the cultural and political dictates in our own daily lives? Well, sometimes it just looks like refusing to treat people as enemies, simply because our culture insists that we have to be divided. Sometimes it looks like choosing generosity instead of scarcity, truth over convenience, compassion rather than apathy. [01:01:32] (39 seconds) #LiveCounterCulturally
Sometimes it looks like standing with those who suffer even when it draws criticism, or speaking the word of justice when silence would just be easier. And sometimes it simply looks like faithfulness in the small things. Daily prayer, forgiveness offered again. Patience when the world is impatient. And hope when everything feels uncertain. Patience when it invites us to look honestly at the exiled places of our own lives. [01:02:11] (36 seconds) #SmallActsBigFaith
The moments when we feel dislocated, discouraged, or overshadowed by forces beyond our control. And it invites us to remember that God is with us in those places. Just like the figure in the furnace whose presence freed the three men from fear, here Jesus comes to walk with us through every fire that we face. [01:02:47] (23 seconds) #PresenceInExile
So as we wait, and as we anticipate in this season of Advent, may we be people who refuse to bow to the false gods around us. May we be people who trust, just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that God is able to deliver us. And even if he does not, may we remain faithful as we prepare our hearts to receive the coming King. Not with fear or with compromise, but with courage that's rooted in hope. [01:03:11] (33 seconds) #CourageRootedInHope
For the God who once entered the flames now enters our world again in Christ. And he calls us to stand firm, to live faithfully, and to shine as people of hope. Here, in our own time, in our own daily living, wherever we are. [01:03:44] (22 seconds) #StandFirmShineHope
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Be Amazed: Hope in the Fiery Furnace
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