We Need the Fire

Daniel 3:19-23, 24-25

19Then 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.

20And 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.

21Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

22Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.


Note: When the Hebrew boys were thrown into the furnace they were bound.

24Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

25He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

When the king looked into the furnace he saw the men loose and walking around. Let this encourage those of you who may be going through and wondering why you are in such a fiery (hot) situation. There are many reasons God allows us to face trials. One reason is the burn away the things that have us bound. In the fire the Hebrews boys were not burned. As a matter of fact if you continue reading, you find that they didn't even SMELL like smoke! However the ties that had them bound were burned in the fire. Fire is a purifier. We need are fiery trials to free us from things and/or people who have us bound. Once we have entered into the fire and trust God, as the Hebrew boys did, the fire can actually free us!

WARNING: This process produces a great end result, however it does not feel all that great. Sometimes we are bound by our relationship with certain people and the fire will burn those people away. Sometimes we are bound by our own attitude and we can be down right stubborn. In those cases the fire may have to be turned up seven times or we may have to stay in the fire a little longer. Sometimes we are bound by our feelings. When are feelings that have us bound are burned, our feelings get hurt.

The key point to remember is that when you have gone through the fire, you will be free!