Standing For God

Standing For God

Text: Daniel 3:17-18 - 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. But if not, be it known unto the, O king, that we will not serve thy god’s nor worship the golden image, which thou hast set up.

Introduction: Life is a series of choices and the consequences that follow that choice. Constantly we are making choices about what to do from one minute to the next. You made the choice to come to service, you choose what you ate or if you ate this morning, you choose what you are wearing. But after making choices, we should always wonder if this choice was the right choice, if this road was the right road, if this was choice God would have made? Because some choice can and will lead us into situations that we aren’t prepared for, and that can place us in awkward and dangerous positions that can harm us. Here in this third chapter of Daniel, these three young people demonstrate, quite clearly, the right choice is always in the will of God. They assure us by this presentation that regardless of the circumstances God will deliver you.

I. Is It True? Daniel 3:14-16 - Nebuchadnezzar space 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? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were the talk of the town. They were Israelites and captives to the king, and they were still under his authorization. The king had made a decree that everybody had to worship the golden idol that he had erected. Nevertheless, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship the idol. This news spread around the entire kingdom liked greased fire in dry grass!

Perhaps, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego told someone in confidence that they were not going to worship any god’s saving the only true God. That person told another person, and so on, until the story became a rumor. Many people spend all their time dipping into other people’s business. In the dense corridors of the schools, in the hallow cubicles of the workplace, we hear bits and pieces of information about certain people that turns from facts, into rumors, to plain out juicy gossip. Then something inside of us longs for confirmation, and when we see that person the first question we want to ask is: ’Is it true?’

The king then confronts these young men with the rumor that has so quickly spread throughout the land. He asks them ’Is it true that won’t worship the god I have erected? Is it true t hat you don’t agree with my teachings? What’s going on?’ These young people responded : ’ we aren’t careful to answer you in this matter.’ They knew that the rumorwasn’t true. But they understood also that they didn’t owe any explanations concerning their faith, and neither do we.

II. Truth or Dare Daniel 3:17-18 - 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. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

The game of truth or dare presents to us the rare opportunity to find out whether or not something is true. In deciding whether or not something is true. In deciding whether or not to choose truth or dare, the player must look over their lives, and determine whether any truth would be detrimental than taking a dare. It is a game of self-evaluation. The basic question is: Do I have more to lose by choosing the dare or by choosing the truth? These young people show us how sometimes choosing the dare makes the truth unfold more clearly than that of speaking the truth.

These young men, told the king it was none of his business whether or not they choose to worship the idol. They knew by not answering, that the choice they had made would result in them being thrown into the fiery furnace. In other words, the king was asking the boys "truth or dare". They in essence of the situation told the king "Go on and throw us into the Fire. For our God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we can ask or think!" It was true, they refused to worship the idol. They showed unwavering faith, they chose to stand for God. They would only worship the true God. Do you love him enough to take a risk for his sake. Unwavering faith is the faith that we have in the good times and in the bad times. No matter what comes you got to stand!