EVEN IF GOD DOES NOT DELIVER US, WE STILL WILL NOT BOW (PT 3) COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM AND BE YE SEPARATE
1. Daniel 3: 1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, ¡§Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe 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 nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 8 At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, ¡§May the king live forever! 10 Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But 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, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.¡¨ 13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 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, pipe 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?¡¨ 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, ¡§King 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 deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty¡¦s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.¡¨ 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The 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, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
2. 2 Corinthians 6:17: Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. (Solomon: The King Who Became A Fool)
INTRO: EVEN IF GOD DOES NOT DELIVER US, WE STILL WILL NOT BOW (PT 3). Come Out From Among Them And Be Ye Separate (Teach & Talk) Smile! Happy July 4th.
Illustration: A camel and his owner were traveling across the desert sand dunes when a wind storm came up - negotiation to compromise begins. Compromise with undesirables, they overthrow you.
LET ME BEGIN TODAY BY ASKING YOU SOME QUESTIONS. IS IT ALRIGHT:
1. For A Christian To Use Foul Language?
2. For A Christian To Drink Alcoholic Beverages?
3. For A Christian To Commit Adultery Or Fornication?
4. For A Christian To Lie Or Steal?
5. For A Christian To Commit Abortion ¡V Out Of Convenience?
6. For A Christian To Cheat Men Or God?
7. For A Christian To Go Clubbing?
8. For A Christian To Be A Lesbian Or Homosexual?
9. For A Christian To Consistently Possess Anger Problem?
10. Should Euthanasia Be Allowed Among Christians?
11. For A Christian To Harbor Hatred / Grudge For Other People?
12. For Two Christians Of The Same Church To Take Each Other To Court?
13. For A Christian To Owe Someone And Refuse To Pay?
14. For A Christian To Get Into Fist Fights?
15. For A Christian To Marry Multiple Women?
16. For A Christian To Sexually Abuse Young Boys And Girls?
OUR CONTEMPORARY WORLD IS IN A MESS.
Many People In Our World And Churches Find Nothing Wrong With Any Of These Things. They say we are in modern society. ¡§When In Rome, Do As The Romans Do.¡¨ People must be accepted. The Bible is old-fashioned. If this is what you believe about the Bible, you are treading on dangerous grounds. The Last Time I Read The Word Of God, it still had, ¡§heaven and earth will pass away but my Word shall not pass away.¡¨ It still had, ¡§anyone who adds to this Word or takes away from it will add to his many punishments.¡¨ I still read that ¡§we should not be conformed to this world, but allow ourselves to be transformed by the word of God.¡¨ The last time I read this Word, it warned us that ¡§there will come a time when truth will be trampled on the streets.¡¨ It said that ¡§there will come a time when the world will attempt to enter into the church and the church into the world.¡¨ Jesus said: ¡§You are in the world, but not of the world¡K¡¨
WE NEED SELF-DISCIPLINE / SELF-CONTROL FOLKS.
1. What Comes To Mind When You Think Of The Word ¡§Discipline?¡¨
ľ Child: Getting a spanking for doing something wrong.
ľ Soldier: Conforming to the regulations, obedience to orders.
ľ Student: A class with a lot of work and exams.
ľ Christian: Disfellowshiping someone who has been unfaithful.
2. Kinds Of Discipline
ľ Imposed Discipline: Those are Imposed Discipline in which one person or group forces or pushes another person to follow or obey. This discipline is only limited.
ľ Self-Discipline: This is more important to Christians. The Bible uses "self-control" and "temperance" - one of the Fruits of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control".
We Need Discipline & Self Control Because It Means No One Has To Tell Me How to live the Christian life. No one is telling me how many hours a week to read my Bible, attend worship services, pray, invite others to church, how much to give to the Lord, etc. Only Self-Discipline makes me do these things. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27: "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate (exercises self-control) in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." Days Of Adversity Are Coming and we must develop the discipline needed to survive. Proverbs 24:1 "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small." It Takes Discipline To Achieve And Realize Dreams: Many people have ambitions that will never be realized, goals that will never be reached, and visions that will never materialize simply because they have no discipline. Want To Become A Doctor, musician, etc., it takes hard study. The Christian Life Is No Different. The church is filled with people who would love to be mature Christians but they¡¦re not willing to pay the price.
LISTS OF CRITERIA FOR CIVILIZATION TO SURVIVE
1. A Large, Centralized Population
2. An Availability Of Food
3. A Centralized Government
4. Religious Unity
5. A Complex Division Of Labor
6. Money Collected Through Taxes
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FACTORS IN THE COLLAPSE OF A CIVILIZATION?
War, Drought, Natural Disaster, Disease, Overpopulation, Underpopulation, Economic Disruption, Political Struggles, Moral Bankruptcy, Religiosity. 2 Timothy 3:5 In The Last Days They Will Have A Form Of Godliness But Deny The Power Thereof.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO DISCIPLINE IN OURSELVES?
1. We Need To Discipline Our Minds, To Train Ourselves To Think. In Christianity Today, People Don¡¦t Think. They don¡¦t raise questions or search for answers. They simply listen to and accept people¡¦s words as truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2. We Need To Discipline Our Bodies. I Timothy 4:8 Bodily Exercise Profits A Little. Our bodies are all we have to serve God with, and certainly it makes sense that the better we care for these bodies, the better we can serve God.
3. We Need A Disciplined Moral Character. I Timothy 4:8"For Bodily Exercise Profits A Little, But Godliness Is Profitable In All Things." A disciplined body is of some value, but a disciplined character is of greater value. For instance, suppose a man determines to become a doctor, studies long, graduates and sets up a practice. Drunkenness and immorality can derail him.
4. We Need To Discipline Our Appetites / Desires. We Need To Learn To Make Our Body Do The Things We Tell It To. Proverbs 25:16 "Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, lest you be filled with it and vomit."
5. We Also Need To Discipline Our Speech. No Matter How Self-Controlled You Are, If You Haven¡¦t Bridled Your Tongue, you¡¦ve still got a way to go. James 1:26 "If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this one¡¦s religion is useless." Swearing, using God¡¦s name in vain, lying / gossip, the solution is self-discipline. Some People Pride Themselves On crudeness. "I just say what I think." But the Proverbs 29:11 A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.
6. We Need Discipline In Arranging Our Priorities. I think all of us as Christians recognize that God and his church should hold first place in our lives. Matthew 6:33 Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BABYLONIAN SYSTEM
Babylon Is Mentioned 260 Times In Scripture, and is 2nd in importance only to Jerusalem. Biblically it is viewed as the Devil¡¦s city while Jerusalem is viewed as God¡¦s city. They are always seen in opposition to each other. Jerusalem is the result of God¡¦s call of a man to perpetuate His plan of salvation for the world (Genesis 12). Babylon is a result of man¡¦s Rebellion (Genesis 11).
IN THE BIBLE, BABEL / BABYLON IS A SYMBOL AND A PLACE OF:
Rebellion, Pride, Idolatry/Ancestral Worship, Self-Indulgence, Dispossessing Israel, Apostasy, Economic In Nature, Political In Nature, Catalyst Behind Social Change, Military In Nature, Philosophical And Religious In Nature, Totalitarian In Nature, Universal In Nature (Satan everywhere), The Coming Destruction of Babylon.
DANIEL 3: WHAT WILL BABYLON (A CONTRARY LIFESTYLE) TRY TO CHANGE IN YOU?
The 3 Years Of Training In Babylon Was An Attempt To Brainwash Them. Nebuchadnezzar wanted them so indoctrinated in Babylonian culture that they would think and act like Babylonians.
1. It Will Try To Change What You Say - Their Language - Daniel 1:4. In ancient Babylon, 3 languages were used ¡V Aramaic for ordinary business and diplomacy; A Shemitic Tongue - the language of historic and legal documents; Accadian, a sacred tongue in which most magical formulae and ritual directions of Babylon were written.
2. It Will Try To Change What You Read - Their Literature - Daniel 1:4: Nebuchadnezzar sought to fill their minds with Babylonian philosophy, science, astrology and religion. He would reeducate them and replace the things of God with the value system of Babylon.
3. It Will Try To Change Your Lifestyle - Daniel 1:5: Nebuchadnezzar appointed them to be given a portion of the royal delicacies of Babylon that he indulged in along with the wine, which he drank - wine that had been offered to idols.
4. It will try To Change What You Stand For - Their Loyalty - Daniel 1:7: The 4 young men had names which reflected their Hebraic heritage and ties to God. Daniel = God is Judge. Hananiah = God is Gracious. Azariah = God is my Help. Mishael = Who is like God? He changed their names to gods of Babylon: Belteshazzar - Bel will protect. Shadrach - inspired of Aku (the moon god). Abednego - servant of Nebo (Venus). Meshach - who is like Aku.
5. It Will Try To Change Your God: The Babylonians worshipped many gods including the King. It has been proven over and over that the God of the Hebrews was powerful and this posed a threat to the King. The image was designed to test the loyalty of the Hebrews.
WE ALL MUST TAKE A STAND FOR GOD: SERVE GOD OR SERVE BAAL.
1. Daniel 3: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego Faced A Law. Everyone bowed, but not them.
2. Daniel 6: Daniel Faced A Law ¡V pray to no other god but the king.
3. Paul - I Cor. 9: The Early Church Faced Laws That Led Them Into Dens To Fight Lions.
4. Acts 12:22: Killed James the brother of John - Roman Empire Killed Christians.
5. Elijah: Took A Stand And Said: ¡§How long will you stand between two opinions? Choose¡K
6. Joshua - Took A Stand And Said: ¡§As For Me And My House, We Will Serve The Lord.
7. Peter & John ¡V Acts 3: Took A Stand In When They Said: ¡§We Rather Serve God Than Men.
8. Moses: Took A Stand And Said: ¡§We Rather Live Under God¡¦s Law Than Pharaoh¡¦s Law¡¨.
9. Jesus Said: Render To Caesar What Belongs To Caesar And To God What Belongs To God...
10. Jesus Told His Disciples: ¡§Seek Ye The Kingdom Of God First And All¡K
11. David Said: I rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God than to dwell in the tent of evil men¡¨
12. Micaiah (1 Kings 22): Ahab (Israel), Jehoshaphat (Judea) - Syria. He¡¦s slapped & imprisoned.
13. Jeremiah: Most prophets in Jeremiah¡¦s days were preaching lies. He was cast into a well.
14. Lot: Saw Himself In Sodom And Became One Of The Elders.
15. Achan: Sacrificed the lives of his fellow soldiers for a Babylonian garment.
CONCLUSION: WARNINGS I LEAVE YOU WITH.
1. Christ And The Apostles Contended With Babylonian Concepts.
After the time of Christ, the Apostles encountered the same Satanic system: It came in the form of persecution and, later, in the Gnostic heresies. Within the lifetime of most of the original Apostles, apostasy crept into the Church, and by the middle of the 2nd Century, took on a new appearance.
2. Four Brief Points About Babylon
Psalms 137 1 By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept When we remembered Zion. 2 We hung our harps Upon the willows in the midst of it. 3 For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, And those who plundered us requested mirth, Saying, ¡§Sing us one of the songs of Zion!¡¨ 4 How shall we sing the Lord¡¦s song In a foreign land?
ƒæ Babylon Is A Place Of Weeping: ¡§¡Kthere we sat down, yea, we wept¡K¡¨ once you are in Babylon you automatically get into a crying mode. If you are not crying on the outside, you are crying on the inside. We have experienced some sadness.
ƒæ Babylon Is A Place Of Regret: ¡§¡Kwhen we remembered Zion.¡¨ They remembered Zion; they remembered how good it was when they were in a right relationship with God. When you arrive in Babylon it causes you to remember the goodness of God. You remember when life was not like it is now. You regret you allowed sin to get you in this situation.
ƒæ Babylon Is A Place Of Surrender: ¡§We hanged our harps upon the willows¡K¡¨ In other words they quit! That¡¦s what kind of place Babylon is. It¡¦ll make you want to throw in the towel. Some folk give up so easily when things are not going their way. They quit coming to church, singing in the choir, ushering, etc.
ƒæ Babylon Is A Place Of Captivity: ¡§For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song¡K¡¨ The devil wants to control you. 2 Corinthians 2:11 ¡§Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.¡¨ He wants to control you. He wants power over you that you¡¦ll do what he tells you to do. In other words, he wants to take you into captivity, he wants to blind you from the fact that God is the One in control.
3. How To Get Out Or Survive In Babylon
ľ They Purposed In Their Heart Not To Defile Themselves With The Royal Food And Wine. (Daniel 1:8) This was a decision made beforehand out of a strong conviction. The food given them was offered to idols. They would not defile themselves before God.
ƒæ They Proposed A Compromise. (Daniel 1:9-10) Daniel approached the head official and explained that because of deeply held religious convictions they would not eat the royal food. He even gave a counter-offer ¡V ¡§Give us vegetables for 10 days and then see how we look, and ¡§treat your servants according to what you see.¡¨
ľ They Prospered Physically And Socially. (Daniel 1:15-20) While the rest of the Jewish boys ate Babylonian delicacies, the 4 Hebrew boys ate regulated diets. In 10 days, others looked paler, but Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah looked healthier, were blessed with wisdom 10 times greater than any of the wise men in Babylon.
4. Closing Verses
ľ Ephesians 5:3-7 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
ƒæ 2 Corinthians 6: 14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ¡§I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.¡¨ 17 Therefore ¡§Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.¡¨ 18 ¡§I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.¡¨
ľ 2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a complete and pure devotion to Christ.
PRAYER FOCUS
1. Prayer Against Lukewarmness: 2 Timothy 4: Time comes when they will not endure sound doctrine, but will heap unto themselves teachers having itching ears.
2. Prayer Against Compromise: Numbers 25: Israel committed whoredom with the Moabites.
3. Prayer Against Not Taking A Stand: How long will you halt between 2 opinions?
4. Lord Make The Church Strong: Speak with one voice.
