August 10, 2008
Morning Worship
Text: Daniel 3:1-30
Subject: Faithfulness
Title: I Won’t Back Down – Four Steps to Great Faith
How strong is your faith? You have probably heard the hypothetical question before, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would the be enough evidence to convict you?” That’s a good question. The reason I brought this up is because Jesus said that there would come a time when Christians would be persecuted. We will suffer tribulation. Paul says that in the last days that the real church will become irrelevant to the world and that people will gather to themselves preachers that will tickle their ears. From all indications we are in the last days because that is exactly what is happening. Preachers are preaching a feel good gospel and those who preach heaven and hell and holiness and righteousness are considered out of date and narrow-minded. So I guess that is what I am.
Let’s go back to my original question. How strong is your faith? Is it strong enough to stand against the attacks of the world? Is it strong enough that you will hold on to it until the end? Will you allow your friends to laugh at you and make fun of you for your faith and you will still hold on? That’s the kind of Christian God wants each of you to be.
One of my favorite singers from the 80’s was Tom Petty. Some of you know whom I’m talking about. He had a song that was titled “I Won’t Back Down” and here are some of the lyrics.
Well I won’t back down, no I wont back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I wont back down
Gonna stand my ground, wont be turned around
And Ill keep this world from draggin me down
Gonna stand my ground and I wont back down
Hey baby, there aint no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground
And I wont back down.
That sounds like it could be a Christian song doesn’t it? As far as I know Tom Petty isn’t a Christian, but those lyrics really say everything about what a Christian should be.
So let me ask you one more time. How strong is your faith? Are you able to say, “I won’t back down”?
Let’s look at four steps to having great faith.
Read - 16Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Lord, open my eyes to see and my ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church…
I. CONSIDERATION (Daniel 1:3-5, 8, 15-17) 3Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility—4young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. 5The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. Here were four young men of God taken away from their homes and being thrust into the service of the enemy. Now they were being placed in about as good a position as one could be in considering they were in captivity – being held against their wills. How tempting it would have been to give in and do what everyone else was doing. But God had a different plan for their lives. Do you see what was happening here? These young Jewish men (probably teenagers) were being placed in a position where they had to make a decision. Do I take life easy and enjoy life like the king wants me to do, or, do I hold on to God’s ways and consider what He wants for my life? 3 points of consideration: 1) consider whether or not you will let God into your life. 2) Consider the consequences of your decision. 3) Consider to what degree you will abide by your decision. Verse 8, But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 15At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. These four men decided to alienate themselves from all that the world said was good, but was against what God wanted for them. This was in accordance with the dietary laws of their religion. You see, that is one of the great lies of the enemy. Things of the world taste better than things of God. At the end of Joshua’s life he challenged Israel to make up their minds – to consider what God they would serve. Joshua 24, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” And their response is found in verse 21, 21And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the LORD!” 15At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. Because of their obedience, God blessed them. 17To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning.
II. COMMITMENT 8At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. 9They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.” In verse 8 the word that is translated “denounced,” in the KJV is translated “accused”. It is the word “akal” and it literally means , “to accuse or devour.” That tells us where the opposition is really coming from. 1 Peter 5:8, Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Isn’t it cool to see how the NT and the OT are so closely tied together? Now here is what I want you to see. It is pretty easy to make a commitment to live for God. Even knowing the threats that are going to come against you, it is still a relatively easy thing to say, “I’m going to live my life for Jesus and I won’t back down.” In Matthew 24 Jesus told His disciples, “9“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” Committed Christians are able to stand up even when the threat of persecution is upon them. When I was in high school and the Viet Nam war was reaching its climax (I’m not saying this as something I’m proud of now) I was among a group of students that really thought that war was wrong. Maybe it was because I possibly was going to be one of the next groups to be drafted. Anyhow, there was a group of us who decided that we were going to protest the war at school in our own limited way. We wore black armbands. So you can get a picture of me in 1969, wearing bell-bottom pants, a flower shirt and a blue Nehru jacket with a black armband. We can laugh at that now but I was serious – until the opposition and ridicule came. At that point I found out what the level of my commitment was. I think the armband came off the next day! You see it was easy to say I’m going to stand against this or I going to do that regardless of what happens. But when you have to face the consequences of your decisions everything changes. Jesus said, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
III. CONVICTION. I want you to see a difference in the level of a person’s relationship with God. Commitment is what we say we will do under the threat of oppression. Conviction shows us what we really have and who we really are as we actually face that oppression. 13Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” You see this is moving beyond a mere threat? 16Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had considered their options. Then they made a commitment to stand for God. Now they are about to face the consequences. You see, they are able to do this not because of the commitment that they made in their own power, but in the conviction that they have that their God is greater than any threat that can come against them. Unfortunately too many Christians are not able to respond like they did. Yet the Bible tells us in Ephesians 6, 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. And in James 4:7, Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
IV. COMPLETION. 19Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 24Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, O king.” 25He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” There is a line that we cross all the time – whether it is good or bad – that is called the point of no return. At all three of the previous steps, consideration, commitment, and conviction, the Hebrews had the opportunity to back up and think the situation over and change their minds. I can only imagine the thought process of many who might say to themselves, “What good will I be to anyone if I am thrown in prison or put to death? I would be of more value alive than dead or imprisoned!” But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego considered what the Lord wanted, they committed themselves to Him and then stood in the conviction of their commitment. Now they let God be God. The book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and forever. He is no respecter of persons. What He has done for one He will do for another. We just have to be willing to allow Him to be Lord and to take us through the fire. So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. You see the young Hebrews waling in satan’s domain – fire and unbearable heat – and they walked out of it without even the smell of smoke, no physical damage, completely unharmed. Isaiah 43:2-3, When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior… That is the kind of faith that makes you complete in the Lord.
Hebrews 11 gives us a whole chapter full of the names of people who walked by faith and not by sight. Most of them never received the promise that God had given them but they never faltered in their faith. They had made up their mind to trust in the Lord with all their hearts. They committed themselves to Him and His word. The strength of their conviction led many of them to a martyr’s death. Yet at the end of it all they could say, “I won’t back down.” They were complete in the Lord.
Today the Lord is speaking to each one of you. He may be speaking in different ways.
1. He is speaking to you to consider the eternal life He has so freely offered. Jesus died on a cross so that you would not have to pay the penalty of your sinful life. He took away your sin and now God is asking you to come to Him through the cross of Jesus Christ.
2. For some He is asking you to fully commit yourself to a life in Christ. Playing church games won’t do. You know that you need to be in church on a regular basis. You know that you need to change some things in your life. You know that you have fallen away from where you once were in the Lord. He is saying, “Come back to your first love”.
3. To others He is asking you to live your life with the full conviction that being a Christian requires. Make up your mind that you are going to be a Christian even when it brings persecution and separation from the world around you. Be fully persuaded that God wants you to bring others to his table to receive the grace that He has poured out for all mankind. At this point you won’t care what anyone thinks about you. Your mind is totally on Jesus and eternity. No amount of ridicule or persecution will turn you around. The conviction of your calling will lead many lost souls to the Lord.
Finally, He is asking you to be complete in Him. Trust in Him alone and not on your own understanding. Stand in His strength. Receive His power. The Lord is ready to pour out the anointing of His Holy Spirit upon you today. The power that is available to you will carry you to completion if you just seek him. Do you see what the completion of your faith will bring?
28Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” 30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
I won’t back down!
