TEXT: Daniel 3
TITLE: “Till we are united by death…”
SERIES: Lessons Learned from God’s people (part 5)
TOPIC: Lesson learned: FAITHFULNESS TO GOD
OCCASION: Burnside Christian Church, May 10, 2009
PROP.: One of the things we learn from God’s people is faithfulness to God!
INTRODUCTION: We are in a sermon series called: Lessons learned from God’s people. The first lesson we studied was: Holiness. The second lesson I want us to study is: Faithfulness.
I have always admired loyalty. Maybe that’s why I’m a fan of Joe Dumars. For 14 seasons he played for the Detroit Pistons. A Pistons uniform is the only uniform he ever wore! Michael Jordan played for the bulls for 13 seasons. He spent the final two years of his basketball playing career playing for the Washington Wizards. And it just didn’t look right to see Michael Jordan in a Washington Wizards uniform did it? We wanted Michael Jordan to finish his career as a Chicago Bull.
How many of you are married? How many of you have been to a wedding? Ok. Good. Then maybe you can relate.
In every wedding I’ve been to or been apart of there is a special time of the service where the couple will exchange wedding vows. Promises they make to one another in the presence of witnesses and in the presence of God.
Those of us who are married, made a vow to our spouse which simply said, “Till we are separated by death”
This is why we celebrate those who have been married for several years! This is it looks weird to have Michael Jordan wear a Wizards uniform. Because deep down, I believe we all appreciate faithfulness.
Today, I want us to be faithful to God. And the sermon title I have for us today is: Until we are united by death.”
Because that’s really what faithfulness is all about. We are living this life as faithfully as possible until we leave this world and are forever united with God in heaven!
Today, I chosen a familiar text. But you’ll soon see why. It is the perfect story that encourages me to live faithfully…and I pray that it will encourage you to live faithfully as well!
It comes from Daniel 3.
CONTEXT OF THE STORY: SO God’s chosen people were slaves in Egypt…
have been freed from Egypt, (because of the 10 plauges)
crossed the red sea,
lived at the foot of Mt. Sinai for a year…
wandered in the dessert for 40 years, (as punishment)
finally entered the promised land…
and have been invaded and taken captive by the Babylonians.
And in the midst of this King Nebuchadnezzar is going to challenge the faithfulness of God’s people. And this story is all about the FAITHFULNESS of God’s people.
So please allow this story to encourage you…
I. First, let’s talk about the challenge they faced (VS. 1-7)
You cannot talk about faithfulness without talking about challenges. Faithfulness means that you are going to encounter some difficulties or challenges. If there were no challenges, then you wouldn’t need to be work at faithfulness, would you? If there were no challenges, we wouldn’t have to talk about faithfulness, would we?
In fact, James chapter 1 verse 2 makes this assumption very clear. “Consider it pure joy WHEN you encounter trials of many kinds…” WHY? Why would I be delighted or glad (that’s what the word for joy means) when I am facing a health crisis? Or money problems? Or difficulties in my family? Has James lost it? He goes on to explain himself.
Verse 3: “Because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
Notice, it’s not “IF” you face trials. It’s “WHEN” you face trials. If you are a follower of God almighty, you WILL face challenges! Let’s look at the challenge that these three friends faced…
(verses 1-7)
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. 2 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. 3 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.
4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: 5 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. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."
7 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 worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
The challenges that they faced are also…
THREATS TO FAITHFULNESS
A. Peer Pressure - Everyone else was doing it
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were facing what we call: Peer Pressure. Verse 7 makes it pretty clear: “ALL the people, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped…” I am sure that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego saw some of their friends…maybe even some of their family members fall to their knees and worship this idol. What made these three different from everyone else?
We’ve preached on it for the last couple of weeks.
The REASON these 3 men were able to resist peer pressure is because they had BOUNDARIES! Some definite lines in the sand they would not cross! And because they established some boundaries, and because God had established some boundaries, they were going to live separate, holy lives!
See how it all ties together? Neat huh?
So take heart. Have you ever felt alone in your stand for what’s right? Don’t look around at what everyone else is doing, stand up for you know to be right!
2nd threat to faithfulness:
B. Suffering Injustice
Have you ever been in the middle of a difficult situation and wondered, “why me?” That’s a dangerous question. Not a wrong question. But a dangerous one. Because people who ask that question, realize that what’s happening to them is unfair. And when you are in the middle of something un-fair, you can begin to think, “Well if God isn’t going to be faithful to me…I’m not going to be faithful to Him.”
And what was happening to these three friends certainly wasn’t fair. They were in a foreign land, taken captive. They were given new names. And they were forced to learn the culture of this foreign land. Who would have blamed these three for turning their back on God? After all, God had apparently turned His back on them!
Some of you are Suffering injustice in your life. You have chronic illness. You have a boss that treats you unfair. You have been abandoned by friends or family members. Who could blame you for turning your back on God? After all, God apparently turned His back on you.
Ahhhh but wait. The story isn’t over for shadrach Meshach and Abednego, and might I say…the story isn’t over for you either! Wait and see what God has in store! His plans have purpose. His presence has power.
3rd threat to faithfulness is
C. Man’s laws
These three men had a choice to make: Do we do what the government says to do? Or do we do what God has commanded us to do? Listen, the Bible says to obey the laws of the land. And we should…unless they directly contradict what God says!
ILLUSTRATION: We had the national day of prayer where we spent time praying for our leaders. It’s important for us to pray for our national leaders. They need wisdom to pass laws that will make things go well for us!
Will it one day be illegal to pray? To carry your Bible? Man’s laws could potentially be a threat to our faithfulness to God.
These are just three challenges you could face that will make faithfulness. But can I encourage you with Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet without sin.
Jesus faced every challenge that you and I will face in this life and yet remained faithful to God, His purposes and plan!
Next, Let’s read about the…
II. The compromise they refused (VS. 14-15)
14 and 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? 15 Now 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?"
Romans 12:1,2 reminds us: To not be conformed to the image of this world, but be transformed…
It’s a reminder to have…
A. Christian stubbornness
The thing I admire about these three is their flat out refusal to compromise. Even when the threat was real! We’re not just talking being asked to change your Christian T-Shirt, or being made fun of at work for praying before you eat your lunch…we’re talking BEING PUT TO DEATH! And yet, these three FAITHFUL men, didn’t fold!
B. Self Justification
It would have been really easy to give in and bow down. They could have justified their actions:
1. They could have said, “we don’t have to mean it.” We’ll just do it, but God knows our heart.
2. They could have also said, “What good will I do God if we’re dead? So we’ll just go ahead and bow down to save my life.”
God‘s plans are perfect! If he wants you to live, you‘ll live! God knows the number of days every man has to live. It‘s what we do with the days we have on this earth…and so I pray that if it would come down to dying for what I believe in, I would hope I would be able to do that. It‘s just as Paul wrote to the Philippians in chapter 1 verse 21: “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain!” If I live, it’s going to be as though christ were the one making the decision. If I die, I’ll just be that much better off!
3. They could have also said, “God will forgive me.” So I’ll just bow down and then turn and ask God’s forgiveness. True, God is faithful to forgive if we will but ask. Time and time and time and time again, God is willing to forgive you and me.
But the Bible says that God desires obedience not sacrifice. God would rather you were obedient rather than have to forgive you.
But instead of excuses they offered faithfulness!
Listen to Paul’s encouragement 1st Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore my brothers, stand firm. Let NOTHING move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. Because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
If you and I want to be faithful, we must refuse to compromise our boundaries!
Let’s next read about the….
III. The confidence they possessed (VS. 16-18)
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If 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. 18 But 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."
Can you sense their confidence? Where did their confidence come from?
A. Confidence comes from Faith
Their confidence came from their trust that God would look after them and provide for them and fulfill His promises! If not in this life, certainly in the life to come!
Hebrews 11:1 puts it this way:
“Now faith is being SURE of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Your faith in God should give you confidence!!!!
B. What is your confidence in?
--Money? Do I need to remind you we’re in a recession? Do I need remind you of the financial condition of our country at the time?
--Your Abilities? Maybe you’ve always been able to overcome and do whatever you’ve wanted. I promise you that you will one day face a challenge or struggle that will be bigger than your abilities. And when that time comes, I pray your confidence is in God!
--Good health? Life is so fragile. And life can turn upside down and inside out just as quick as that! This body is temporary. It can’t and won’t last forever! I think the swine flu hysteria is evidence that we can’t put our confidence in good health.
--People? People are imperfect. They will let you down. They will fail. You will at some point be disappointed with people!
Put your confidence in God!
--His Word! This Bible is 100% true because it comes from a 100% true God who inspired it into existence!
--His plans!
--His Purposes!
--His Power!
God knows what He’s doing. He’s bigger than we are. He doesn’t think like we think. He Knows all. Sees all. And can do all!
The confidence that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego experienced can also be experienced by you! Put your confidence in God!
The last two points of this morning’s sermon deal with the blessing of being faithful!
Let’s quickly talk about…
IV. The Companionship they enjoyed (vs. 23-25)
23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then 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."
25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."
God didn’t save them from being thrown into the furnace, he was with them while they were in the furnace.
--WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE MISSED:
If they wouldn’t have been faithful to God in the way they were, they would have never experienced God’s presence in the rich way that they did! The Bible doesn’t tell us what their reaction to this fourth person in the furnace with was, but I’m guessing it’s a safe assumption to say that shadrach, Meshach and Abednego really really really enjoyed having that fourth figure in the furnace with them!
If we took the time here to go around and ask each person here to name one time in your life where you were faithful to God even when everyone else wasn’t, I am guessing you would hear stories about how God was with them!
And finally, I want to make you aware of…
V. The confession they witnessed (vs. 28-30)
28 Then 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. 29 Therefore 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."
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
If these three men wouldn’t have been faithful to the God they served, they would have missed out on some neat blessings! They would have never known God’s presence. King Nebuchadnezzar would have never put his faith in God. They would have never received the promotion that they did. God would have never been glorified!
I wish I could say that if you will be faithful to the God you will have an ending such as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. I can’t promise you that. But I tell you what will happen…you will be blessed! If not in this life, CERTAINLY in the next!
Revelation 1:10: “Be faithful even to the point of death and you will receive the crown of life.”
Or to hear our master say:
Matthew 25:21 “Well done good and faithful servant!”
CONCLUSION: I hope this morning that you will take seriously your commitment to follow Christ. And maybe you’re here this morning, and you’re wondering: “Why would I want to be faithful to God? Come back next week and you’ll soon figure out why.
For the invitation, I want to do something a little different, I want to play a song and as this song is played, won’t you consider how you can better be faithful to Christ. This is a time of rededication. As this song is played, would you consider re-dedicating yourself to the purposes, plans and promises of God? If so, please come forward and sit next to me in the front row.
(PLAY BURN US UP - BY SHANE AND SHANE)
