Who Are You Part 2 Series

Who Are You Part 2

5/28 GNLCC Isaiah 49 :8-17 Acts 3:1-10 Text Daniel 3

In last week’s message, we saw that we need to know who we are for several reasons. The first being that we will know which messages that come to us or for us and which ones are not, the second being that we will know when someone is attempting to change our name, and why, and the third being so that we can determine in advance not to defile ourselves by things that come to us in nice looking packages but are contrary to the will of God.

We saw how four men, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah took a stand for God, and God exalted these foreigners into places of very high position. The Babylonians gave them the names of Beltshazzer, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The four of them prayed together and God revealed the king’s dream to Daniel so that all of the wise men, magicians, astrologers and enchanters lives were spared by the king. When King Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel the ruler of the province of Babylon, Daniel had asked for his three friends to be appointed over the province of Babylon as well.

Now don’t you think for one moment that everybody was glad to see these guys in their positions. Foreigners had the position that many Babylonians felt were rightfully theirs. What would be the reaction in our own country if all of a sudden the vice-president was black, the speaker of the House was black and the leader of the Senate were Black all from Haitian origin. A lot of people would get a little nervous.

Well the first chance that came along to get rid of those three Hebrews was going to be eagerly seized upon. You better know who you are, because somebody may be looking to replace you when the time comes. You see serving God is going to be an asset at times, but it will be a liability at others if you don’t remember who you are.

Christianity is not lived in a single moment in which you take a stand for Jesus Christ at one point in your life and from there on you are assured of never failing God again. No, Jesus said if anyone would follow me, let him or her pick up his or her cross daily and follow Him.

In a way ,a relationship with Jesus Christ is like getting married. When you say I do, the possibility for a wonderful relationship and life exists, but if you don’t put some hard work and sacrifice into the relationship, you discover that that relationship can go from one of joy to one of frustration and disappointment. No sooner than you have past one test in your life, Satan is coming back at you from another angle. But if you know who you are, you face each struggle knowing that you are a child of God, and your name has been engraved on the palms of Jesus Christ.

Let’s look at Daniel chapter 3 verses 1-7 Dan 3:1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace." Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshipped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

This was a simple religion and everybody could understand it. There is a statue. There is a song or music. When you hear the music bow down and worship the statute. If you do not bow down, you burn up. You either bow or burn. The same rule applied to everybody.

King Nebuchadnezzar represents a type of the world. The world is always building some statue, and then saying bow down and worship this or else. Anytime you are placed in a situation in which others are encouraging you to do something or participate in which you know is against God’s will for you, you’re standing in front of this same statue. Others are telling you, go ahead and bow, it won’t hurt you this one time. On the other hand if you don’t bow, you can’t be one of us, and we’ll have to burn this relationship we have with you. We’re going to cut you out. You’re going to have to stand all alone.