Christ's Glory Cannot Be Hidden
Christ's glory cannot be hidden, and He is able to rescue and deliver us from any crisis we face.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that Christ's glory is undeniable and cannot be concealed, as illustrated by the miraculous deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace. Despite the threat of death from King Nebuchadnezzar, these three men stood firm in their faith, and in their moment of crisis, Jesus appeared with them, showcasing His power and presence. The sermon encourages believers to have unwavering confidence in Christ's ability to rescue them from their own crises, whether they be spiritual, financial, or personal. Wilkerson reminds us that in our darkest moments, Christ walks alongside us, illuminating our path and providing deliverance. Ultimately, the message is one of hope and assurance that no situation is beyond the reach of God's saving grace.
Text
"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" (Daniel 3:25).
We are all familiar with this story. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had summoned every leader from his far-flung empire for one purpose only and that was to bow down before a huge, golden image and honor the gods of his choice. And if anyone in the land refused to bow, it meant certain death! It was common practice in those days to punish violators of any sort by casting them into a burning oven. When three young men took a stand for righteousness and refused to obey the king's decree, Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage. He ordered his soldiers to stoke the furnace seven times hotter than usual and prepare to roast the dissenters (read this account in Daniel 3:1-19).
These three Hebrew men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were bound and thrown into a furnace so hot that the soldiers assigned to throw them into the fire began to fall over dead. However, when the king looked in at the three, he was amazed at what he saw. "Didn't we throw three men into the fire? I see four men walking about and one of them has the appearance of the Son of God!" (see Daniel 3:25).
Now, how could a heathen king recognize the Son of God? It was because Christ's glory cannot be hidden! Whenever angels appear in Scripture, they are dressed in white and shine with a heavenly brightness. Yet this bright One was no seraphim, this was Jesus himself -- and he was brighter than the flame from that seven-times-hot fire.
Beloved, this testimony of Christ's presence came from heathen lips. And talk about a life-and-death situation. This was the crisis of a lifetime -- but Christ walked right into the furnace with these men and delivered them.
What brings Christ into your crisis? It is having full confidence that He is able to rescue and deliver you no matter what you are facing. A confidence that no matter what happens, you are in his hands. Are you facing a crisis -- spiritual, financial, mental, physical? In your marriage? Your job? Your business? When only a miracle can get you out of your hopeless situation, Jesus will come and walk through it with you. The Son of the Living God can solve your problem and rescue you out of your furnace of affliction.
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction to the Story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
- II. The Crisis of the Furnace
- III. The Appearance of the Son of God
- IV. Christ's Glory Cannot Be Hidden
- V. The Crisis of Faith
- VI. Conclusion: Christ in Our Crises
Key Quotes
“Christ's glory cannot be hidden!” — David Wilkerson
“This was the crisis of a lifetime -- but Christ walked right into the furnace with these men and delivered them.” — David Wilkerson
“The Son of the Living God can solve your problem and rescue you out of your furnace of affliction.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We can have confidence in Christ's ability to deliver us from any crisis by trusting that we are in His hands.
- Christ can solve our problems and rescue us from our furnace of affliction.
- We must have faith and trust in Christ's ability to rescue and deliver us.