Another new year has arrived. A year someone has said that they’re not going to make as many mistakes as they did last year. A year someone has decided to cut their calorie intake in half, holla if you hear me. A year someone has decided they’re going to make a career change, or perhaps shake off laziness and just simply find a job. Some student wants this to be a year of better grades. Maybe there is a young person who wants to be obedient to their parents this year, so that the spankings will cease, or at least be temporarily suspended.
Somebody wants to eat healthier, somebody wants to finish their college degree, somebody wants a better marriage, somebody wants a positive attitude, somebody wants a successful career, and somebody wants closer relationship with God! These are all good areas to improve in or things to strive for, but you have to do more than make these New Year resolutions, you need to make a fiery commitment.
Well, what’s the difference between a resolution and a commitment? You see a resolution is when a person determines or makes a decision to do something. They’re not joking around, but they have given careful consideration to what they want to do, and have purposed to do it. That sounds good right? It’s good that they have made up their mind to do something, so what’s the problem with making a resolution?
Before we ask that question, let’s look at a commitment. A commitment is when a person not only makes a decision to do something, but they obligate, bind, and entrust themselves in what they have determined to do, and they actually do it and see it through to the end.
• In other words, a commitment runs deeper than a resolution. A resolution is when you make up your mind that you’re going to eat healthier, but a commitment is when you go to Wal-Mart, pass up the gummy bears and pick up some grapes. A resolution is when you decide to finish your college degree, but a commitment is when you stand in the registration line in January, and take your final examination in May.
Do you want one more example? This one is for my young people, are you in the house this morning? A resolution is when you decide that you want to be successful and have a good job when you grow up, but a commitment is when you put up your cell phone in class so it doesn’t distract you, sit in the front of the classroom so that you can pay attention, and do your homework first before playing outside, watching cartoons, or talking on the phone, so that one day you can walk across the stage and not worry about getting paid minimum wage.
So you see a commitment is more than saying words and making up your mind, it involve actions. A commitment is kin to the phrase, “Actions speak louder than words.” It is my hope, that after this message we are not only encouraged to be committed to something, but that we have a fiery commitment.
• A fiery commitment is like food with Louisiana hot sauce, it adds flavor and spice. It’s not just plain food, but it has some fire to it. A fiery commitment is when we are passionately committed to something.
• We’re enthusiastic about what we’ve committed to, it gives us joy when we think about our commitment, and the fire and passion we have gives us the energy to see our commitment through to the end.
This is the kind of commitment we find in our text about three Hebrew boys who were taken captive and brought into the foreign land of Babylon. Israel’s failure to keep their covenant with Jehovah resulted in numerous warnings, as well as judgments from God’s hand, as predicted in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28.
• You see throughout the long history of Israel, God told them that He was their God and His commands must be obeyed, and just like us they got out of hand at times, but when it seemed like they couldn’t find their way back to God, He had to discipline them.
• One way God dealt with them was by allowing other nations to come in and attack them, bringing them back under submission to another nation. God knows how to get our attention, and He knows how to get His children back in line.
At this time in history, Babylon had grown into a powerful nation led by Nebuchadnezzar. The children of Israel had been a divided nation for years. The northern kingdom was called Israel and the southern kingdom was Judah. Israel, the northern kingdom, had already fallen to Assyria, but now the southern kingdom was being attacked and taken captive by Babylon.
• In the Babylonian attack some people were brought back to be slaves, but the Bible says that the king requested that those men who were of royal families in Judah, and who were without blemish should be brought into the king’s court to be trained and taught the language and customs of the Babylonians.
• Among those who were brought into the king’s court were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Some of you may be saying, “I heard of Daniel before, but these other guys I don’t know.”
You see when nations ruled over other nations, they brainwashed many of the captives, and changing one’s name was key in the ‘brainwashing” process. So Daniel, whose Hebrew name means “God is my judge,” Babylonian name became Belteshazzar. Hananiah, whose name means “the Lord is gracious,” became Shadrach. Mishael, whose name means “who is like the Lord?” became Meshach, and Azariah, whose name means “the Lord is my helper,” became Abednego.
• Now I bet these names sound familiar. They’re names were changed from names that were associated with God, to names that were associated with Babylonian gods.
I know names today don’t have deep meanings like biblical names did, but when people see your name what comes to mind? When they see your name, do they think lover or liar? Helper or hater? Encourager or instigator? Some of us need our names changed.
But God had His hands on Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, because they found favor in King Nebuchanezzar’s eyes. Here they are in a strange land, full of strange gods, they were brought over as captives, but now they’re in the king’s personal service.
• This is the kind of God we serve, a God who can take you from the bottom and raise you to the top, even when those around you don’t want you there. And here is the shouting part, they can’t touch you!
God began putting His plan into action, a plan that would elevate Daniel and the three Hebrew boys. We need not worry about where we’re standing in life, whether we’re going through a storm, or having prosperous times. You may be around familiar faces, or surrounded by strangers. It doesn’t matter what the circumstance, God will work His plan for your life no matter where you are.
But one day, King Nebuchanezzar had a dream. Soon we’ll be celebrating Martin Luther King’s birthday, but this dream King Nebuchanezzar did not know what it meant. So he called in his magicians, conjurers, and sorcerers to interpret his dream.
• We don’t give much thought to it today, but witchcraft is real, and many are being deceived by tricks of satan. Madam so and so can’t tell your future by reading your palm, but because they’re playing with witchcraft, satan will allow you to hear something that sounds good and now you’re hooked.
• That horoscope may sound like it’s describing you to a “T”, but that’s just a trick of the devil to get you to put your trust in a newspaper, rather than God. But look, Nebuchanezzar brings these men in to interpret the dream that troubled him.
He tells them that if his dream can’t be interpreted, then he’ll give orders for all the wise men to be executed, in which Daniel and the Hebrew boys were among. Now, if I was given the task of trying to interpret a dream, I would make up something, just so I wouldn’t die, and Nebuchanezzar knew that someone might try this.
• So, Nebuchanezzar told the wise men that they had to not only interpret the dream, but they had to tell him what he dreamt about.
• Now how difficult was that? The king’s wise men didn’t even attempt to interpret or tell the king what his dream was, they simply told him that his request was impossible. Of course, this made Nebuchanezzar furious and so he ordered that all the wise men be killed.
Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were a part of the king’s personal service; so their lives were in danger as well. Without delay, Daniel told the Hebrew boys what was happening and he asked them to pray to God, so that he could interpret the king’s dream and save their lives.
Since all of this was a part of God’s plan, God gave Daniel the dream and its interpretation, and he went before the king to share what God shared with him. And after Daniel finished revealing Nebuchanezzar’s dream and interpretation, he fell on his face and gave praise to Daniel.
• He showered Daniel with gifts and promoted him to chief officer over all the wise men in Babylon. When God shows you favor, He shows you favor.
• Here Daniel is, brought in as a captive, but now he’s in charge of people who aren’t even his skin color. I tell you, God knows how to elevate you.
Daniel didn’t forget about his friends either, he made a request of the king, and had Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon. When God elevates you and shows you favor, don’t forget to reach back and bring someone else along with you. God blesses us so that we may be a blessing to others.
Some of you may be curious about what Nebuchanezzar’s dream was about, so in your spare time this week, read chapter 2 of Daniel and learn more about this dream.
But as a result of this dream, Nebuchanezzar made a golden image that paid tribute to himself. This wasn’t just any old golden image, but this golden image was 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide, this thing was huge. We may not build golden images, but some of us pay tribute to ourselves when we must see our name in every program that is printed. Everybody else’s name is in size 12 font, but you want yours to be size 18, bolded, and italicized.
So, King Nebuchanezzar had this golden image erected and requested that all of the governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and those of power be present at the dedication of this golden image. And at this dedication, everyone present was told to bow down and worship this image whenever they heard the sound of music. Just a question for you to think about, what does the sound of music make you do?
The king’s decree stated that anybody who refused to bow down and worship the golden image would immediately be cast into a furnace of blazing fire, and this is where we find, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego make a fiery commitment!
Remember, a fiery commitment is a commitment that is full of passion, power, and dedication. It’s a commitment that you stand behind 100%, and give much energy to. This is the kind of commitment that these Hebrew boys made on the day that they were to bow down to the golden image.
• And I believe many of us are tired of half stepping in our commitments. I believe that somebody here wants to be serious when it comes to making commitments. I know that this year somebody is going finally get this thing right.
• So let’s see if we can’t get some help from the Hebrew boys, so that we’ll know how to make a fiery commitment.
The music sounded, and all the people present bowed down to the golden image, except for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Everybody was bowing down, but the Hebrew boys were still standing. Of course, they stood out from the crowd and were quickly spotted by the king’s men. The message was brought to King Nebuchanezzar that the men you appointed, O King, have disobeyed and disrespected you, and refuse to serve your gods or worship the golden image you set up. The first principle in making a fiery commitment is found in verses 7-13, we see that if we’re going to make a fiery commitment, we must make a decision to be committed and commit.
It’s one thing to decide to make a commitment to do something, but it’s another thing to actually do it by committing. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t just make the decision not to worship the golden image, but they committed when they remained standing while everyone else bowed.
• Earlier we mentioned the difference between a resolution and a commitment. A resolution is just making up in your mind that you’re going to do something, but those thoughts and words become a commitment when you actually do it.
• Don’t just say I’m going to study my Bible more, but make a commitment and read your Bible every day. Young people don’t just say you want to do better in school, but make a commitment and study hard.
God is pleased when we don’t just resolve to do something, but when we commit and do it. Some of us have been saying for years, “I’m going to join the usher board, or sing in the choir,” but what are you waiting for, hell to freeze over? And look at verse 7, it says when the people heard the music, all people and nations of every language fell down and worshipped.
• The Hebrew boys weren’t the only ones from the land of Judah who were present at this dedication, yet they were the only ones that made a fiery commitment.
• There are going to be other Christians who aren’t going to commit to some things like they should, but don’t worry about them, you take a stand and make a commitment, and pray that they see your actions and are encouraged to follow in your footsteps one day.
Young people I know Christianity isn’t popular, but commit yourself to the Lord, and I guarantee you that in the end you’ll still be standing while those around have fallen. A commitment involves a decision and an action. So, we see that in making a fiery commitment, we must make a decision to be committed and commit.
King Nebuchanezzar is furious now, because the Hebrew boys that he appointed to powerful positions, and who he thought would obey his every command have now refused to worship the golden image. He gave orders for them to be brought before him and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image?”
• Now I like you fellas, and I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship when you hear the music, but if you don’t I will have you cast into a fiery furnace, and personally I don’t know of any god who will deliver you from that.
But the Hebrew boys simply told Nebuchanezzar, “We’re not going to try to defend ourselves, our mind is made up and we’re not going to worship this golden image.” Look at verse 17 & 18, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. “But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
These verses reveal the second principle in making a fiery commitment, which is, a fiery commitment has to have faith as its fuel. In other words, the commitments we make are impossible to maintain without faith in God. Every week you stop by Chevron, Valero, or some type of gas station so that your vehicle can continue to run.
• Well, in order for us to see our commitments through to the end, and to be passionately involved in what we’re committed to, then we need faith. When you have faith behind your commitment, you’re saying, “God I don’t know how I’m going to finish this college degree, I have kids, a full-time job, and a spouse who doesn’t help clean up the house, but I’m committed to finishing school, so Lord I trust in you and I know you’ll see me through until I get my degree in my hand.”
Without faith, it’s impossible to please God and maintain a fiery commitment. The Hebrew boys committed to not worshipping the golden image, and trusted that God would deliver them from the consequence for not doing so. There was no fear found in them, because their faith in God was so strong, that fear had no room to occupy.
• We should be filled with so much faith that fears to commit doesn’t have an opportunity to grip us. There is no reason not to have faith in our commitments when what we’re committed to is associated with, or support by God.
• God has to be behind our commitments, and pleased with what we’re committing to in order for them to be blessed by Him. In other words, don’t commit to being the best gambler you can be, because God won’t bless that.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego commitment to not worship the image was made stronger by their faith in God. They were ready to face the fiery furnace, because they knew that God would deliver them, they didn’t know how, but they knew God would somehow. This is the attitude we need. “Lord I’m committing to this, and I don’t know how I’m going to get through, but I do know somehow you’ll bring me through.
So Nebuchanezzar gave the orders for them to be cast into the furnace, and because he was so angry from the disobedience of the Hebrew boys not to worship the image, he ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual. He commanded some of his strongest soldiers to tie up the Hebrew boys to make sure that they wouldn’t get loose.
• And when they went to throw them into the fire, it was so hot that the men who threw them in were burned and died. The Bible says that the Hebrew boys fell into the middle of the fire, which is the hottest part of the fire. They were still tied, in other words they couldn’t move. Although they couldn’t move, God moved, and took the heat out of the fire.
Nebuchanezzar was so anxious to see what had happened that he peeped in the furnace and was surprised by what he saw. He saw first of all that Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego weren’t tied up anymore, and then he saw a fourth person in the fire walking around.
• He was confused and asked his men, “Didn’t we throw in three men into the fire, so why then do I see four men, and one looks like a divine being.
• He told the Hebrew boys to come out of the fire, and when they examined them, their skin wasn’t burned, their hairstyle was still in place, and they smelled like they had just stepped out of the shower, in others words there was no smell of smoke on them.
On my way to my seat, where I’m going to be happy all by myself, I won’t to leave you with this last principle of a fiery commitment, and that is, when you have a fiery commitment, it helps to promote our God.
• Verse 28 says, “Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God.”
• When others see how we made it through our commitments, then its shows them the kind of God we serve.
When they see that your plate is full, but you’re still committed to being a devoted parent, then it shows them that God is able. When you lose your job, but you’re still committed and tithe off your unemployment check, it shows them that God will provide.
• When you commit to go back to school after all these years, it shows them that God is a way maker. Our commitments in the Lord may not always change people’s lives, but at least they see the kind of God we serve.
• It’s also up to us, to share with them, that this isn’t anything we’ve done by ourselves, but I serve a God who is able.
Nebuchanezzar was so amazed how God delivered the Hebrew boys that he gave praises to God, and made a decree that if anybody spoke against their God, they would be torn into pieces, and their families would die too. Not only that, but Nebuchanezzar promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in Babylon, I tell you God is good.
I don’t know about you, but there are some things I need to do, and make a fiery commitment. But thanks to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s fiery commitment, because I now know what it takes to be committed.
• I know that first I must make a decision, and make up my mind to do something, and actually do it by committing.
• I know that if I’m going to maintain in what I’m committed to, that faith in God will fuel my commitment.
• And I know that when I’m committed totally, that it promotes and shows off the God I serve.
Is there anybody here, who wants to commit to something in 2008? Is there anybody here, who is tired of starting and stopping, and never really commit to doing something to the end? Is there anybody who needs faith, so that you can commit totally to something?
