“A faith must be tested to be trusted. If it’s false, it will wither away, but if it’s true, it will take deeper root, grow, and bring glory to God.”

– Warren Wiersbe

 

  • Faith – trust, confidence, and firm reliance upon God
  • The devil tempts us to destroy our faith, but God tests us to develop our faith.

Daniel 3:17-18, 17 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. 18 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.

 

True Faith . . .

1) Confronts the Challenge. (Daniel 3:1-12)

True faith obeys God regardless of:

  • The feelings within us.
  • The circumstances around us.
  • The consequences before us.

John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you WILL have trouble. But TAKE HEART! I have overcome the world.”

  • True faith does not look for loopholes, it simply obeys God and trusts.

Isaiah 12:2, Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.

 

2) Confesses the Lord. (Daniel 3:13-18)

  • Times of adversity are usually times of opportunity for us as believers.

1 Peter 3:15, But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

True faith trusts in:

  • His Omnipotence.
  • His Love.
  • His Sovereignty.

Habakkuk 3:17-19, 17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. 19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength . . .

  • True faith recognizes that God is the source regardless of how things play out.
  • Presumptive faith is one where we say, “we will obey God IF He rewards us for doing it.”

 

3) Confounds the Enemy. (Daniel 3:19-25)

  • If God always prevented us from ever having to go through the hard and difficult things, how would the world ever see His faithfulness?

Isaiah 43:2-3, 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior . . .

  • God always rewards faith, but He doesn’t always do it the way we think.
  • Deferring to the will of God is not a WEAK prayer, but a MEEK
  • When we align our will with God’s, we do His good work in our lives and see His Kingdom advanced.

 

4) Confirms the Promises. (Daniel 3:26-30)

  • One act of true faith will always reach much farther than expected.

Romans 15:4, For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Our lives should send the message that:

  • God is still on the throne.
  • He has not forsaken us.
  • He will fulfill His promises to His people.

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