The Choice Of A Lifetime Or Image Breakers

Title: The Choice of a life time, The Choice of Commitment

Theme: To show the importance of trusting in God no matter the circumstances.

Text: Daniel 3

Daniel 3:1“Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits (90 feet tall & 9 feet wide). He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps (princes), the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.”

Verse “8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! 10 "You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 11 "and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 "There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up."

Verse 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 "If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 "But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."”

Introduction

We read through this story so quickly. So many times have we heard it expounded and preached on. Not many preachers that I have met have not preached on this. It is so powerful so moving. But it is easy to think and miss what God is trying to say.

I want you to remember one thing from the time that the decree was made that all in the Babylonian kingdom must bow down to this golden image, Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-nego did not know what God would do. They did not know that he would deliver them from the fire. They did not know that the king would give a command that all of Babylonia had to now serve the true God they did not know.

I. The Temptation vs. 3-5

A. Give in to save their position-Compromise

These men held high and lofty positions in the Babylonian kingdom.

Da 2:49 “Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.”

How easy it would be to just give in a little to hold this position. Oh how much it seemed they could do for returning Israel back to their homes.

How easy it would be to just kneel. God would know that they would not mean it in their heart but they were doing it for his cause.

B. They could have easily just given in and give up on God

Or how easy it would be to forsake God and just give in to the world. The king had recoginized them they were going places, they could really be somebody in this world. Paul tells us that this is what happened to Demas in 2 Tim 4:10

“for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica––Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.”

But they realized it was more than just a thing that is done in the prayer closets of our lives. That being a servant of the most high God is living in this world and overcoming temptation.

C. Trust God

The third choice they had was to trust God.

II. Their Testimony vs. 16-18

“16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.

Modern Language “O Nebuchadnezzar we would not make any defense in this matter”

NIV “ O Nebuchadnezzar we do not need to defend ourselves in this matter”

Living Bible “O Nebuchadnezzar we are not worried about what will happen to us”

Daniel 3:17 "If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 "But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."”