FLAMEWORTHY
Ignite #4
February 25, 2007
Mike Matijevich
mmatevich@aol.com

Intro:
- Three weeks now a series "Fanning the flames of faith"
Last week "Conviction"
- When you have convictions = you stand for something.
When you have convictions = you are on fire for God
Convictions have to be tethered to truth- (God is truth) then can we have true convictions.
- Today convictions have given way to "Tolerance"…
- Tolerance used to mean "respect"…
- Today= (decaffeinated) today means acceptance & APPROVAL.
- Accept & approve your BELIEF systems.
- " " " " LIFESTYLES.
*** If I DON"T & I stand up & say in LOVE "This is RIGHT & this is WRONG…
* We are called Bigots, Homophobics, Fundamentalists, Ultra-right wing conservatives.
* It is a joke- our CULTURE has taken the term & totally transformed it.
* If I have CONVICTIONS what is going to happen?

* Today I will talk @ convictions in a DEEPER level.
Here is what is going to happen to you… you will enter the fire!
God will allow it.
God wants us to be FLAMEWORTHY!
* In this culture of TOLERANCE - God wants us to STAND up for truth - in Love.
He wants us to stand strong in the flames of life.

* If we could see into our lives here today we all have fires happening right now.
- God allowed them (not necessarily caused them)…
* With that in mind - go back to 605B.C.
King Nebuchadnezzar- flexed his muscles- took Jerusalem. Took the best back to Babylon.

* Three guys Shadrack - Meshach, Abednego…
God allow flames to come into our lives:
- Sickness, loss of job, teenager off drugs- what do you do?

Today some FIRE FACTS… (You plan BEFORE the fire, not when you're in the fire!) Da!

I. RISE ABOVE YOUR VERBAL FLAME THROWERS Dan. 3:4-8, 13

Dan. 3:4-5, 6 Nebuchadnezzar built 90' x 9' statue - ego maniac gave a command.
- When you hear… then you respond
Dan. 3:8 Here's what happened The Jews
Dan. 3:13 The "Palace plotters" have envy, jealousy against those Jews- so they go to the King &…
* What do you do when verbal flame throwers at the OFFICE, neighborhood, cut you down?
Chase them, argue with them- what do you do?
* When you stand for truth- they will come against you…
Nehemiah & his accusers… did he stop & come down- no PRAYED.
Dan. 3:4, 5 think about the peer pressure- they had to change their name, etc. all around them fell down…
* They could have said, "Well Lord you know my heart… I wouldn't normally do this & I am not really worshipping the Image…"
Some excuses:
1. Just this one time - there is peer pressure, what's wrong with it this once?
* Think about Adam- once was enough
* Think about Esau - just one time birthright G O N E gone.
* Just one sin- starts a tailspin & settles for 2nd, 3rd, or 4th best in your life.

II. DEVELOP A DISPOSITION OF CONFIDENCE Dan. 3:16-17

A. Dan. 3:16 they had a fire plan- ready for the test (before the flames came) they will come.
That gave them confidence!
They were close to God & one another.
* You & I need others (close) to help us go through the fire. Small groups!
* The fires will come- why? (He allows some & He sends some)
1. For our good.
2. For His glory.
B. Know WHO you are confident in. They knew He had their best interests at heart.

III. DON'T ALLOW YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES TO CAUSE YOU TO COMPROMISE Dan. 3:18, 20-23

- Get around a group and act like them, another act like them…
A. Dan. 3:18 their faith was NOT based on God's performance.
1. Some tell us you have to have faith & it leverages God to perform for us.
NOTE: God does what He pleases & He is pleased with what He does! So we need to see where He is doing something & get in on it!

B. Dan. 3:20-21 God never promised to keep us out of the fiery furnace- but He did promise to go in there with us!
C. Dan. 3:22-23

IV. GRASP GOD'S HAD AS YOU'RE WALKING THROUGH THE FIRE Dan. 3:24-25

A. Dan. 3:24a-The world is watching to see how you react to the fires in your life.
1. They watch because they want to see if this "God stuff" works.
2. Some want to see us burn- because they hate Christians- (Hollywood crowd)
Down deep they know they are empty inside.
B. Dan. 3:25 The "fourth" the Son of God. (Jesus appearing as in the Tribulation)
Jesus left Heaven above & came to them- burned off the ropes & no smell of smoke.

NOTE: Maybe something has you bound up…
- A habit
- Destructive behavior
- A family conflict
- At work… whatever it is & you feel bound… He will let you go in the fire… but He will allow that trial to burn off the ropes - then you can grab Jesus' hand.

V. REALIZE THAT GOD HAS A PROMOTION FOR YOU Dan. 3:30

A. Promotion can take many forms- more money, better job, etc.
1. The real promotion comes in understanding God's grace, & direction.
Note: We should pray for those in distress but what about those who blessed- do we pray for them?
Shadrach & the boys were blessed & still went through a great fiery trial.

CONCLUSION:
Are you flame worthy?
Where is your Plain of Dura?
Do you feel peer pressure circling you like a Tiger shark?
Are you into the "tolerance" thing- I'm not going to stand- just accept the wrong stuff?

Where are you???