15 1st Peter chapter 3 verse 15 1st Peter 3 verse 15 it says here but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. Be ready to give an answer always to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you. We think of that word hope, and we think, oh, I hope this happens, or oh, maybe I don't hope this happens. But that's not what this word in our text means. Here, hope is translated as a joyful and confident expectation, something that you know, something that you will joyfully and confidently know will happen. And if we're to give an answer to what the hope is within us, I think there's three questions that we first need to answer. The first one, why do I need a hope? The second one, who or what is my hope? And then the third one, what's the result of this hope? So why do I need a hope? Who or what is my hope? And then what's the result? And we'll find the answers to these questions in God's word. Romans 15 verse four says this, for whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Might have hope. So our text this morning is gonna come from Daniel chapter three. Daniel chapter three. And here at Daniel 3, we have a well-known account. It's of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And Daniel chapter 3 is a written record of something that actually happened. It's not a made-up story. It's a true and it's a factual account. And we know that because it's recorded in God's Word. inspiration of God. And this account is given to show us how God saves sinners. So my first question, why do I need a hook? Let's start reading here in Daniel chapter three, verse one. It says, Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold whose height was threescore cubits and the breadth thereof six cubits. That's 90 feet tall and 10 feet wide. It says, and he set it up in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Everybody and anybody who was somebody Nebuchadnezzar invited to come to the dedication of this huge golden image. Verse three says, then the princes, the governors, the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces were gathered together under the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up and then in herald, an official messenger cried aloud, to you it is commanded, Notice how this isn't a request. Nebuchadnezzar is the almighty king. To you it is commanded. He's not asking him to do anything. This is the law. It says, to you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, that at what time you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sacrament, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. and whoso falleth not down and worshipeth shall at the same hour be cast in the midst of a burning, fiery furnace." Here we see the punishment for breaking the king's law. And imagine that, in our day, if you break the law, maybe you get a speeding ticket or you go to court or maybe you go to jail, but in this day, the punishment for breaking the law was to be cast in that same hour into a burning, fiery furnace. Let's read on here. Verse seven said, therefore, at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackcloth, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people and the nations and the languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Verse eight, wherefore, at that time, certain Chaldeans came near and accused the Jews, and they spake and said unto the king, O king, live forever. Now, O king, it is made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sounds of the cornet, flute, harp, saxophone, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. And whoso falls not down and worshipeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning, fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, have not regarded thee, they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. So here we see these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that didn't obey the king's law. They broke the king's law. And as a result, they will face harsh consequences. The punishment, as said, was to be cast into the burning, fiery furnace. These men need a hope. Can you see the picture here? My first question, why do I need a hope? Consider God's law. Unlike Nebuchadnezzar's law, which was foolish, God's law is holy. And his commandment is just. And God's law not only requires outward obedience, but inward perfection. Absolute perfection. To approach unto God by the law, you have to be as perfect as God himself. And men and women that think they can do that, how foolish. Think about the course of your lives. When in your life, even for a moment, have you been absolutely perfect? That's foolish, no, none of us can do that. Turn with me to Romans chapter three. Romans chapter three, starting in verse 10, says, As it is written, there is none righteous. No, not one. There is none that understandeth. There is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way. They are together become unprofitable. There is none that doeth good. No, not one. Who is it that doeth good? No, not one. Verse 13, their throat is an open sepulcher. With their tongues they have used to seat. The poison of asps is under their lips, whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and misery are in their ways. In the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that what thing soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God. All the world. That includes all of us here. All the world may become guilty before God. Look just a few verses down in verse 23 of Romans chapter three. It says, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All have sinned. Not some, not most. All have sinned. Ask again, why do I need a hope? All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We have broken God's law and the punishment for which is eternal death and damnation. Look here, Romans 6, 23 says, for the wages of sin is death. Ezekiel 18, verse 20 says, the soul that sinneth, it shall die. Not it might die, it shall die. And we need to hope because we have broken God's law and the punishment for which is eternal death and damnation. My second question, who or what is my hope? Turn back with me to Daniel chapter three. Who or what is my hope? We'll pick up here in verse 13. It says, then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego And then they brought these men before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do you serve not my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now, if ye be ready, that at the time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sacred, psalter, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made, Well, it'll be good for you if you do that. He gives him a second chance here. But if you worship not, you 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? Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? Nebuchadnezzar said, what hope could you possibly have of being delivered out of my hands? Let's read on here. Daniel 3 verse 16, it says, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said unto the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. What that means is they said, O king, we don't need time to think about our answer. Some might have thought, you know, with the consequences, Sirius is being cast into a fiery furnace, that maybe these men would have wanted some time to think about this, but they said, no, King, we don't need time to consider your offer. Let's read on here. It says, 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 thy hand, O King. 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. O for this kind of faith, these men said, Our hope is in God, and if it be so, He is able to deliver us. It says, These three men's hope was in God for protection, for provision, and for deliverance from the hand of King Nebuchadnezzar. They said, God is able. Scripture says, Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? Who is he that condemneth? Yea, it's Christ that died. They said, Lord, if thou wilt, thou art able to save us. It says, but if not, if that's not your will, Lord, it says he will deliver us out of thy hand. Okay, scripture says this. Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul, but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and bodies in hell. They feared almighty God who has power over all things. And just as these three men need deliverance, We also need deliverance. When we consider our condition of sin in the sight of Almighty God who is holy, who said he will punish sin, what hope could we possibly have? Who or what is our hope that can deliver us from this eternal death to come? Turn with me to Galatians chapter four. Who or what is my hope? Galatians chapter four. Start here in verse four. Galatians chapter four, verse four says this. But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth his spirit of his son into your hearts, crying out, Father, wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son. And if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ, he is our hope. In Isaiah 36 verse 15, it says this, it says, the Lord will surely deliver us. Turn with me over a few pages to Ephesians chapter two. Ephesians chapter two, we'll look here at these first four verses. It says, and you, happy Quicken, who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh on the children of disobedience, among whom also we all had our conversation in times past, and the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. rich in mercy, for his great love, wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, have quickened us together with Christ. For by grace are you saved. That word saved there translates to delivered. By God's grace, you are delivered. Listen to a couple of these scriptures here. In Psalms 71 verse 5, David knew something about this hope. He says, for thou art my hope, O Lord God, thou art my trust from my youth. In Psalms 18, he says this, the Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my strength in whom I will trust. Just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the believer's hope, is in the Lord, the Lord God Almighty for deliverance. And then lastly, my third question, what's the result? So let's go back to our text in Daniel chapter three. Daniel chapter three, we'll pick up here in verse 19. It says, then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And therefore he spake and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated." The old writers say when these men, when they heated the furnace seven times what it was, they said that the flame arose out of that furnace 75 feet up into the air. Think about how hot that must have been. Ben and Sam, we had that fire yesterday, and it was five or six feet off the ground. You couldn't hardly get around that thing without being hot. This was 75 feet in the air. Over seven basketball rings up in the air. What a huge flame. Let's read on here. And 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. And then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Therefore, because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego." That fire was so hot that it even burned up the men that just threw them in the fire. And it says, and these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning, fiery furnace. And if the story just ended here, it wouldn't be a whole lot of comfort and assurance in this, but it doesn't. With man, this deliverance was Impossible. How could these men be delivered from a fire so hot that it slew the men who even threw them into the fire? But aren't we thankful that scripture says with God, all things, all things are possible. Let's read on here in verse 24. It says, then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished and he rose up in haste and he spake and he said unto his counselors, did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire. And they answered and said unto the king, true of the king. And he answered and said, lo, I see four men, loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no herd. And the form of the fourth is like unto the Son of God. A few things to point out here. He said, I see four men loose. Those things, those ropes that bound them, they burn off. Those men that accused them, they were burned up in the fire. The only thing that the fire destroyed was those men that accused them and those chains that bound them. We sing that song, when through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, my grace all sufficient shall be thy supply. The flame shall not hurt thee. I only design thy dross to consume and my gold to refine. It says they were walking in the midst of the fire. I never really thought about this before, but four men walking. Look, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in that furnace, they walked with God. Think about that. They walked with God. Like Enoch mentioned way back in the Old Testament, they walked with God. And it says, and they have no hurt. And the form of the fourth is like unto the sun. of God. The Lord wouldn't appear on this earth for a thousand years yet, but yet Nebuchadnezzar says the form of the fourth is like unto the Son of God. How could he have possibly known that? Scripture says this in Proverbs 16 verse 1, it says the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. Even a king, even King Nebuchadnezzar, his answer came from the Lord. Philippians 2 verse 11 says this, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Every tongue, even King Nebuchadnezzar. Let's read on here, verse 26. It says, then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fire and furnace and spake, and he said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the Most High God, come forth and come hither, Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth out of the midst of the fire. that never really occurred to me before. And this has been a blessing to me. It says that Nebuchadnezzar saw four men in the fire, but only three men came out of the fire. And that's because one stayed in. The Lord Jesus Christ stayed in the fire so that those three men could go free. The Son of God came to bear the wrath and the fiery furnace for his chosen people. Jason, you read this in your scripture reading, but he was wounded for our transgression. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace is upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. Because of that fourth man in the fire, who bore the wrath of the furnace, we're healed. Not because of our faith. Some would use this scripture to point out, oh, the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. You know, their faith, that's what delivered them. And while it would be good for all of us to have that same faith as these three men, that's not what delivered them. It wasn't their faith. It wasn't their works. What could they possibly do? They were about to be burned up in a furnace. What good are your works then? It's not by faith, not by works, but because of the fourth man who was in the furnace with them. Scripture says this, when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. If you read the book of Revelation, there's proof of this. John had a lot of things to say about the Lord Jesus Christ. But one thing he pointed out was his feet. And let's turn over there real quick to Revelations chapter one. Revelations chapter one. Look here, starting in verse 13. It says, in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one like unto the son of man, clothed with the garment down to the foot, and gird about the path with a golden girder. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire. And his feet, like on the fine brass, as if they had burned in a furnace. And his voice is the sound of many waters. His feet, as if they had been burned in a furnace. He was actually in the furnace with these three men. God the Father sent God the Son to bear the fire and wrath of the furnace for his chosen people. Notice when we opened up the text, it said that all the nations bowed down except for three men. God's mercy, and it's not for everyone. It wasn't for all the people that bowed down, but it was for his three chosen people. and he sent God the Son to bear the fire of wrath for those three men. Romans 8 verse 32 says this, he that spared not his son, but delivered him up for us all. The Lord bore the punishment of wrath, do these men. Because of that, we go free. Let's go back to our text and finish this account. We'll pick up in Daniel chapter three verse 27. It says, and the princes, and the governors, the captains, and the king's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was a hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed upon them. Verse 28, then Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any other God except their own God. Therefore I make a decree that every people, nation, and language which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut down in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunhill, because there is no other God that can deliver after this sword. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. In the elect sinner's salvation, God is glorified, and sinners are blessed. He delivered these three men and he will deliver us. Listen to just a few of these scriptures. Matthew 1 verse 21 says this, and she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. Isaiah 45 verse 22 says this, look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God and there is none else. Hebrews 7.25 says this, wherefore, he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Turn with me over to Psalms 130. Psalms 130. What is the result of this hope? Psalms 130, starting with verse seven. What's the result of our hope? It says, let Israel hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. Verse eight, and he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. What's our result? He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. Turn with me just a few more scriptures over to Lamentations chapter three. Lamentations chapter three. Start here in verse 21. It says, this I recall to my mind Therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, sayeth myself. Therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. What's the result of our hope? It's of the Lord's mercies we're not concerned. His compassions fail not. The Lord's our portion. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him. And one last scripture, Psalms 146, verse five. Psalms 146 verse 5, David here says, happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord. What's the result of this hope? Happy is he, happy is the man. So my three questions again, why do I need a hope? Because I've sinned against Almighty God, and the punishment for that sin is eternal death, Number two, who or what is my hope? Just like these three men we read about today, the Lord Jesus Christ, he's the sinner's hope. And number three, what's the result? Deliverance for his people. Believe on him, trust in him, hope in the Lord. Hope that's been a help.