"Living With The Expected;

Dealing With The Unexpected"

Daniel 3:1, 4-6, 8, 12-14 and 16-18

Pray

Introduction: My wife’s supervision, being young and full of wisdom, prompted this message. Last week when we had the over-night snow and they closed the schools, we were concerned about getting Sharil to work. We passed one major wreck and was almost involved ourselves. When I finally got Sharil to work, her boss sum of the whole problem was, as her Daddy told her, if everybody would drive slow there would be no problem. So if everybody was a teetotaler we wouldn’t need AA, we don’t anyway. The point is in the title; we live expecting the normal and deal with the un-expected when it arises.

I want us to look at the three Hebrew children Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego. See what they expected and what they did.

I. GOD WILL DELIVER (v 16)

A. S, M, and Abednego made choices

1. They had two expectations (v 17)

a. God would deliver or

b. They would burn up

B. It Took Courage To Take A Stand

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

1. Be Strong

2. Of a good courage

3. Fear not

4. God will go with thee; He will not forsake you.

John 19:10-11 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? ¹¹Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

C. These Three Lived With Their

Expectations.

1. They understood the consequences of a moral strong stand.

2. They didn’t deal with the unexpected, they expected the expected.

II. NEBUCHADNEZZAR WAS ASTONIED (v 24)

A. What Happened?

1. I see four

2. One looks as the Son of God

B. The King Is Now Dealing With The Unexpected.

1. He was told God would deliver

2. He didn’t believe

C. Does He Now Believe?

1. Not for another ten or so years.

2. In chapter four we see the King succumbing to the Lord.

III. TODAY, WHERE ARE YOU AND I LIVING?

A. Are We Living With The Expected, and Dealing With the Unexpected?

1. Living with the expected

a. Knowing God is in control

b. Knowing all that you are is God’s

c. Knowing regardless

i. God will protect

2. Or are you dealing with the unexpected?

a. Not knowing God is in control.

b. Fighting all the unexpected

i. Bills

ii. Illnesses

c. Allowing others to control your life.

d. Does Satan have control of your life?

IV. THERE ARE CHOICES TO BE MADE

If you and I can say we live like the three Hebrew children, then we have made SOME right choices.

1. The choice of eternal life (salvation)

2. The choice of separation

3. The choice of growth in the Lord. (sanctification)

But the question lingers, we have made some choices, but

What Does God Expect Of Us?

There are three things that came to my mind that I believe are essential to meet God’s expectations.

1. Trust and Obey

a. Tithing

i. He will meet you needs

2 Corinthians 9:9-10 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. ¹⁰Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

b. Giving to missions

i. We either send or go

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

c. Baptism

i. A good conscience toward God.

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

d. Meet with the assembly

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

You say “I love Jesus,” but, you don’t trust Him enough to tithe, give and meet with the assembly??

2. Be separated

2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

a. Not associate with non-believers

b. Do not honor their idols

c. Do not listen to their worship

d. Do not listen to their music

3. Lead others

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

a. Benton, Saline County = Jerusalem

CONCLUSION: How do you live life?

Expecting God’s Blessings Daily.

Or does the unexpected things of life rule you.

Do you Trust God, then Obey Him in your walk of life?

Are you separated, do walk with the ungodly or the Godly?

Do you witness to others concerning your Lord and Saviour.