Wide Open Doors – 2

Wide Open Doors – 2 

Subject – A Furnace with a Door

By Rick Welborne

1 Corinthians 16:9 (NLT2) ⁹ There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me. 

John 10:10 (NKJV) 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 

–Many of us would have never believed that we would live long enough to see such an attack on the Jewish people and on Christianity.

–Manger scenes forbidden, crosses removed from veteran memorials, the ten commandments are challenged because they are in our judicial buildings. Universities in lock down.

–On the other hand the United States seems to be very accommodating to other religions even though they may seem hostile to our system of beliefs...our founding principles.

–Jesus appears to be so offensive and God seems to be so controversial that one of our political parties tried to have them excluded from their platform.

–If you watched the actual vote the moderator actually said the vote passed in favor of God when that was not evident in the response. The anger was evident on the faces.

–I believe we may be moving into a time of Daniel where it may be against the law to worship our Christian God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

–Tonight I want to talk about being thrown into the fire and what our God can do! Open a door!

Isaiah 43:1‑2 (NIV) 

1 But now, this is what the LORD says‑‑ he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 

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.  

–Now is not the time to fear what is coming but to understand our God can take us thru the wide open doors even if He has to take you through the fire.

–Everything we hold dear to us is going to be challenged but understand our God holds us in His hand and He will glorify His Name in the midst of great tribulation and persecution.

--Nebuchadnezzar has set up a golden image and says everyone has to bow when the call is put out to the people. Three Hebrew young men decided not to bow. They were faithful to God.

Daniel 3:13‑15 (NIV) 

13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 

14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 

15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" 

1. We Must Face the Fire to Go Through the Wide Open Doors.

 

–Do not think that you are going to be given right of passage thru the doors without a fight...Satan is furious because his time is short and we are storming his gates.

--Nebuchadnezzar was furious with rage...have you noticed how angry people get when speak about biblical principles and defending Israel?

--If you attempt to stand against principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness get ready for the fire to be seven times hotter than usual.

Daniel 3:16‑19 (NIV) 

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 

17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 

18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." 

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual

 

–O King, there is no need for us to answer you. Faith is alive in these boys.

–Our God is able to deliver from you and the fire.

–Faith says whether God delivers us or not we will not bow or compromise.

–This kind of faith causes the enemy to turn up the fire seven times.

--If you attempt to stand against the principalities, powers, and rulers get ready for strong men to come against you. 

Daniel 3:20‑22 (NIV) 

20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 

21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 

22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 

–Not everyone will be thrilled that you are going against the flow - going after God!

–The strong Pharisees will lose control if the Holy Spirit takes over.

–They want to bind you up, shut you up, and throw you out. The fire will get them!

2. Trust God in the Fire and He Will Open the Door.

Daniel 3:23 (NIV) 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 

–These three fell down bound right in the middle of the fire. Humility and Trust.

–Humble yourself because you may be right where God wants you to be.

–You may not have chosen to be in the situation you are in... trust that God is there. If you are cast into the fire you may find yourself in a close encounter of the God kind. 

Daniel 3:24‑25 (NKJV) 

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying 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." 

25 "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." 

–Your unwillingness to compromise may have set you up with a visitation from God. An open door.

–What may have seemed like your destruction may prove to be your deliverance. Your trust will cause God to be glorified as others see Him deliver you.

3. Go Through the Wide Open Door Without the Smell of Smoke.   

Daniel 3:26‑29 (NIV) 

26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego 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 Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 

–People will acknowledge that we are servants of the Most High God. People will be amazed at your deliverance and gather to see living testimonies. A wide open door in a furnace.

–People will see your sincerity and dedication and give God the glory. If you are cast into the fire and come out victorious you will see God glorified and His Kingdom expanded!  

Daniel 3:29‑30 (NIV) 

29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way." 

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. 

–God’s Name is exalted above all other names (authority). 

–Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were promoted in the Kingdom. A wide open door.

–Do not fear the fire because our God is a consuming fire. He wants to baptize us in Holy Ghost fire. When this happens (like the day of Pentecost) many will be saved into the Kingdom. 

  

–Jesus says, Behold I stand at the door...even in the middle of the fire! He says, I am the Door!