Choices (Romans 12 :1,2)
Intro: The three dudes who wouldn’t get down to the devils sound
Or the three hunks that wouldn’t bow low; when the devil
Got on his horn and began to blow.
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.
Dan 3:2 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.
Dan 3:3 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.
Dan 3:4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language:
Dan 3:5 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.
Dan 3:6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."
Dan 3:13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,
Dan 3:14 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?
Dan 3:15 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?"
Dan 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
Dan 3:17 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.
Dan 3:18 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."
Dan 3:19 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
Dan 3:20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
Dan 3:21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.
Dan 3:22 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,
Dan 3:23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
Dan 3:24 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."
Dan 3:25 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."
Dan 3:26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire,
Dan 3:27 and 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.
Dan 3:28 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.
Dan 3:29 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."
Dan 3:30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
We are often faced with choices
Right or wrong
God or the devil
Text : Rom 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.
Rom 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Choices : Which way to go What to do
The choices we make effect what happens in our lives
And they effect people in our realm of influence
Choices of people in the past and the results of their choice
Adam and Eve
Noah---people knocking on the ark door
Samson -laying in Deliahs lap didn’t know God’s glory
Was gone
Israelites in the wilderness
King Saul
King David
Jews -accept or reject Jesus
These people made choices and either received reward for their choice or paid the price for making the wrong choice
God is not sitting on a cloud just waiting for you to make the wrong choice so He can zap you with a lighting bolt ; but He expects you to read His word and pray so you can make the right choices .
B : How about you ? Are you making the right choices for your life ?
school
drugs
alcohol
sex
friends
music
t.v.
You are responsible for the choices you make
Text: 1 Pet 1:14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
1 Pet 1:15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
A/C : Are you willing to stand for what’s right or will you just follow the crowd ,and when the devil’s band begins to play get up and dance to the devil’s music ?
