Will All the Real Men please stand up?
Daniel 3:8-12
Prayer
(Repeat title)
Our world is in desperate need of men who are strong mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Our world needs men who are willing to stand though the heavens may fall. Men who are willing to stand for what’s right no matter the circumstances. God wants men, real men who are willing to stand up for him. Are you willing to stand up no matter what?
My favorite Christian author EGW says in the book Adventist Home pg 38: “The world is not so much in need of great minds as of good men who will be a blessing in their homes.”
Will all the real men please stand up?
A real man is a man who is willing to stand up for what’s right.
A real man is a godly man.
A real man takes care of his responsibilities.
Even in questionable situations real men stand up for what’s right.
-An invitation comes from Mrs. Jones (me and Mrs. Jones) inviting you to come over for a midnight rendezvous at the no-tell-motel because she says she needs some Bible studies. A real man knows how to handle that situation and stand up for Jesus.
You friends on the job invite you to go to happy hour after work. A real man knows how to stand up for Jesus in that situation.
Your tempted by all the sexual images that bombard you on a daily basis- a real man knows how to stand up for Jesus in that situation.
Your boss is offering triple overtime if you work on Saturday- a real man knows how to stand up for Jesus in that situation.
God is calling for some real men who are willing to stand up for Him . Are there any real men at the Grace Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church?
In reading the book “The Man God Uses” By Henry Blackaby, he mentions Crisis is often mistaken to mean tragedy or threat. A truer understanding is that crisis means a turning point. For the believer, a crisis of belief is a point at which that person either trusts and obeys God or places his own wisdom or interests above God’s. A crisis of belief equals a moment of decision.
In our scripture lesson we meet some men who hand to stand up and make a decision. They could either follow the crowd or follow the true and living God. It was a time to show where their allegiance lied. If it belonged to God then they could say Lord whatever you will have me to do I will do it.
Lord if you want me to be a better husband or father I’ll do it with your help.
Lord the only way I can be a real man is by having you in my life. Being a man has nothing to do with how many babies I can make across town or out of town but has everything to do with my relationship with the God of the universe.
King Nebuchadnnezar renamed the three Hebrew boys if you remember in Daniel chapter 1. There previous names Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
Hananiah meant=
Mishael meant=
Azariah meant=
Then their names were changed to Shadrach (Hananiah) meant=
Meshach (Mishael) meant=
Abednego (Azariah) meant=
Daniel Chapter 3 opens with the image made by king Nebuchanezzar. This image stood some 90 feet and was erected on the plain of Dura. It was time that Nebuchadnezzar gathered people from all over his empire to bow down and worship this image. Every decided to follow the kings degree except some little Adventist men from Grace Temple, oops I mean three Hebrew boys. There were some others, however that also didn’t bow down. They were quick to go and give their accusations to the king. There will be folks that will “hate” on you because:
you decide to live for God
because you’re being a good man and handling your business
they will say to you, “I remember when you used to_____________.
They will hate on you because you don’t prostitute your God given gifts anymore because of your relationship with God.
I’m here to tell you that folks will “hate” on you.
Let’s read v12
I. There will always be folks ready to accuse you. I never understood something about this story if everybody is bowing to the image how did those brothers catch the three Hebrews not bowing down? Just an observation.
The very language of Dan 3:12 is indicative of the spirit which prompted the accusation. Three faithful Jews so exalted, a likely slap in the face of envious idolatrous natives.
It happens all the time. It happens on the job too. Don’t act like you don’t know:
“Mr. Man, why is Elder Shaw getting promoted when he doesn’t even work the same schedule as the rest of us?
Mr. Man why is Pastor Batiste getting promoted when he doesn’t even work on Saturday. He’s part of some strange church that doesn’t go to church on Sunday. Aren’t they some kind of cult? Wasn’t David Koresh on of their members? Folks will hate on you and not even know all the facts. They will hate on you for standing up for what’s right.
ILL: Sabbath’s off at Verizon (Cust Care G. ST(Alethia Jackson)- moved to L Street (Trish). I was top sales rep in pagers every month for the whole year. In a store of 4 sales reps I sold over 100% of quota and was top sales rep 4 months out of the year. When you stand up for what’s right and you are a man for God He will bless you. He will be there for you in your situation. He will bless you for standing firm for Him and doing what’s right. God is waiting to bless us if we only stay faithful to Him.
II. Even though folks will hate on you. You must still stand up for what’s right. Just because something is culturally acceptable doesn’t make it right. Everybody around them decided they would bow down and worship this image the king had constructed.
(Let me stop right there for a moment)
What is the central theme in the great controversy between Christ and Satan?
WORSHIP
The central theme in the great controversy is worship.
Isaiah 14:13, 14 says for thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of
God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Is 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Satan desires our worship but God is the only one worthy of our worship.
Revelation 14:9,10 says: And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, if any man worship the beast and his
image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10 the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy
angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
The only one worthy of our worship is the one who is able to create some-thing out of no-thing. Did you get that? Let me repeat that.
The only one worthy of our worship is the one who is able to create some-thing out of no-thing.
McPhaull how do you know that? Well the Bible is it’s own best interpreter when it comes to Biblical questions. I know that because of Revelation 14:6,7: It says, and I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them
that dwells on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and
worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Even way back then Satan was trying to get men of God to bow down and worship him or his image. He doesn’t care if we don’t worship him, he just doesn’t want us to worship God. He knows that we either worship God or we worship him by default.
There is no statue on the plain of Dura today but there are things the devil wants us to worship.
We worship our cars, women, jobs, financial status, homes, and vacation villas.
Help us Holy Ghost we worship our positions in the church. Amen bench and walls.
My name is not bro. Smith its deacon smith. No, no sister it’s not brother Jackson it’s Elder Jackson to you. We get all caught up and end up worshiping the titles and things of life instead of worshipping the one who gives us the ability to have these things.
We need to get to a point where we can stop trippin over trivial things and start living for the kingdom of God.
Read v. 13-14
The king asks, “Is it true you were not bowing to my image when you heard the music start playing?”
Since I like you, I’m going to give you another chance. This time when you hear the music go ahead and bow down to my image. If you don’t this time I will throw you into that fiery furnace over there.
The charge, true itself, made with evil intention, answered with meekness, firmness, and faith. The answer was calm, dignified and courageous.
Personally I love their response.
Let’s read Dan. 3:16,17 Da 3 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the furnace
Da 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the
breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Da 3:2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains,
the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to
the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Da 3:3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, and counselors, the
sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image
that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar
had set up.
Da 3:4 then a herald cried aloud, to you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
Da 3:5 that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all
kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
Da 3:6 and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning
fiery furnace.
Da 3:7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut,
psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and
worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Da 3:8 wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
Da 3:9 they spoke and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live-forever.
Da 3:10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp,
sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
Da 3:11 and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery
furnace.
Da 3:12 there are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor
worship the golden image, which thou hast set up.
Da 3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
Da 3:14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said unto them, is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not
ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image, which I have set up?
Da 3:15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery,
and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well:
but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who
is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
Da 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not
careful to answer thee in this matter.
Da 3:17 if it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will
deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
A real man stands up and makes decisions based on God’s will for his life. These men could’ve bowed down and kept their place in the palace. Their high position. Many of us in that same situation would’ve acted like we had to tie our shoes or trying to take a nap. We would’ve found a compromise in this situation. But these men were willing to die for Christ then to live for the devil.
King we’re not going to serve your gods nor worship your image. Because we know king that worship only belongs to God, the maker of heaven and earth.
These brothers could speak with confidence because they knew that God would be in their situation and bring them through all right. But they said even if He doesn’t bring us through we will still be faithful to Him.
III. When you stand up for what’s right you are bound to experience some consequences.
“All who live Godly shall suffer persecution”
At this point the king was irate. He ordered the fire be heated seven times hotter than usual. He then had these men thrown into the fiery furnace. The king had forgotten about the three Hebrew men’s faithfulness to him. He had forgotten the wise counsel they had given him. He had forgotten the commendations he himself had placed upon them. His pride and passion had shut off all ability to reason.
As if to deny the God of heaven and make escape impossible, the furnace is heated seven times more than usual. The strongest men in the army were employed to bind the three men. So great was the heat of the furnace and the haste of the king that the death designed for the accused at once overtook their executions.
The bonds that held them were consumed by fire. Their clothes were not or the fire did not affect bodies. Their hair was not singed; neither did they smell like smoke.
The king must have calmed down by at this point.
Let’s look at v.24-26 it says; Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his
Counselors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said
Unto the king, True, O king.
Dan 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
Dan 3:26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither.
Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
When you stand up for God He will stand up for you. Even if you must stand in a lions den or in a fiery furnace GOD WILL STAND RIGHT THERE WITH YA. Even if they try and make fire 7 times hotter HE WILL BE THERE TO COOL OUT THE FLAMES SO THAT YOU WILL NOT BE BURNED. FOR HE IS, THE ONE WHO MADE THE FIRE. AND IF HE IS STANDING WITH YOU, YOU ALSO CAN STAND!
I. People will hate on you for being a real man for God.
II. As men we must be willing to stand for what’s right
III. Even when we are going through difficult situations and may experience consequences for our actions God will not leave us standing by ourselves.
What a joy to know that we are not alone. What a joy to know that we serve a God who sits high but stands low down here with us.
God is asking the Grace Temple SDA Church Oct. 18, 2003, Will all the real men of God please stand up?
We need men today that are willing to stand up for what’s right no matter what happens.
We need men like Daniel, Noah, Moses and Abraham.
We need men like Elijah, Elisha, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
We need men like Isaiah, Jeremiah and David.
We need men like Gandhi, Cryspus Atticks, Booker T Washington, George Washington Carver, and Martin Luther King Jr.
WE NEED MEN WHO ARE WILLING TO STAND UP!
If you don’t stand up our families will be torn apart. REAL MEN STAND UP!
If you don’t stand up:
The church will be debilitated
The community will be devastated
The world will be disintegrated
Children will be destroyed
Stand UP REAL MAN STAND UP. GOD IS LOOKING FOR SOME MEN WHO ARE WILLING TOS TAND THOUGH THE HEAVENS MAY FALL.
HE WANTS MEN THAT WILL GLORIFY THE CHURCH!
FORTIFY THE RACE!
RECTIFY THE WRONG!
PURIFY THE COMMUNITY!
SANCTIFY THE FAMILY!
SATISFY THE NEED!
QUALIFY THE CHILDREN!
BEAUTIFY THE WORLD!
DIGNIFY YOURSELF!
MAGNIFY THE LORD!
STAND UP REAL MAN, STAND UP.
IF IT’S A PROBLEM, YOU CAN SOLVE IT.
IF IT’S A BURDEN YOU CAN BEAR IT.
IF IT’S A MOUNTAIN YOU CAN CLIMB IT.
IF IT’S A STONE YOU CAN MOVE IT.
IF IT’S A PROBLEM OR A RACE YOU CAN RUN IT.
STAND UP REAL MAN STAND UP.
WILL ALL THE REAL MEN OF GOD PLEASE STAND UP?
