Saints Together Week 3 - Confidence In An Ungodly Culture
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Daniel 3
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to give you an answer to this question. 17 If the God we serve exists, then he can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he can rescue us from the power of you, the king. 18 But even if he does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.” 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times more than was customary, 20 and he commanded some of the best soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 So these men, in their trousers, robes, head coverings, and other clothes, were tied up and thrown into the furnace of blazing fire. 22 Since the king’s command was so urgent and the furnace extremely hot, the raging flames killed those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell, bound, into the furnace of blazing fire. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm. He said to his advisers, “Didn’t we throw three men, bound, into the fire?” “Yes, of course, Your Majesty,” they replied to the king. 25 He exclaimed, “Look! I see four men, not tied, walking around in the fire unharmed; and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and called, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God—come out!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire. 27 When the satraps, prefects, governors, and the king’s advisers gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men: not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted in him. They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I issue a decree that anyone of any people, nation, or language who says anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb and his house made a garbage dump. For there is no other god who is able to deliver like this.” 30 Then the king rewarded Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue, ninety feet high and nine feet wide. He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue the king had set up. Then they stood before the statue Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 A herald loudly proclaimed, “People of every nation and language, you are commanded: 5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, you are to fall facedown and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 But whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire.” 7 Therefore, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and every kind of music, people of every nation and language fell down and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.8 Some Chaldeans took this occasion to come forward and maliciously accuse the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever. 10 You as king have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music must fall down and worship the gold statue. 11 Whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. 12 There are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men have ignored you, the king; they do not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” 13 Then in a furious rage Nebuchadnezzar gave orders to bring in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar asked them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you don’t serve my gods or worship the gold statue I have set up? 15 Now if you’re ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, fall down and worship the statue I made. But if you don’t worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire—and who is the god who can rescue you from my power?”
Summary
This week in our Saint’s Together series, we look at a trio of saints. This trio stood together in the midst of an ungodly culture. They stood firm in who they would and would not worship. Their lack of worship to an earthly god was seen as an act of defiance. It was not a boast of arrogance, but rather a boast of faithfulness. They were confident in the Character of God. Their faith did not come from the cultures proclamations, it came from what God proclaimed. Opportunities to disobey God are opportunities to prove our confidence in God. They stood together in faith. Not faith in themselves but faith in their God.
The trio of saints we speak of are Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. We find their story in Daniel chapter 3. It Reads:
In verses 1-7 we see that king Nebuchadnezzar was tricked into building a statue of himself so that the whole kingdom would worship him. Those that asked him to do this knew it would bring trouble upon our trio of saints.
Stand Confident When Called Out (v. 8-12)
In verses 8-12 we see the plan for their demise begin to unfold. The opposition happily came to the king and informed him that three of his officials, jews, would not bow down to the statue. In the following verses Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are brought before the king and are reminded of what will happen to they should they choose not to bow down and worship the statue.
Stand Confident In God’s Character (v. 16)
Verse 16 says: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to give you an answer to this question.” In other words, we will not discuss this any further. We have drawn the line in the sand and we aren’t budging!
Stand Confident In God’s Standard (v. 17-18)
After hearing his angry rants and his treat of death, they stood firm and confidents and delivered their response. 17 “If the God we serve exists, then he can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he can rescue us from the power of you, the king. 18 But even if he does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.”
Stand Confident With God’s Presence (v. 24-25)
The king was true to his threats and threw them into the furnace. I don’t know what the three men expected to happen, but I know that what did happen shook the king to his core. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm. He said to his advisers, “Didn’t we throw three men, bound, into the fire?” “Yes, of course, Your Majesty,” they replied to the king. 25 He exclaimed, “Look! I see four men, not tied, walking around in the fire unharmed; and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” God’s presence was literally with them in the fire. God met them in the midst of their struggle and walked through it with them.
Stand Confident In God’s Plan (v. 28-29)
Their adversaries were hoping for a different outcome, but we know that the only outcome that matters is God’s outcome. They stood firm, drew their line, and waited for God to do the rest. The results were what God had planned all along. His plan, His results, His glory. And he used the very king who wanted the glory for himself, to proclaim His glory to all. 28 Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted in him. They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I issue a decree that anyone of any people, nation, or language who says anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb and his house made a garbage dump. For there is no other god who is able to deliver like this.”
So, what are our next steps:
Catch fire in community
Respond to attacks in faithful worship
Trust that God is with you
Trust Jesus
Discussion
How do you react when called out for your faith? Explain
How does God’s character give you confidence? Explain?
How do you make God’s standard your standard? Explain
How do you respond when God’s presence is visible in your situation? And when it is not?
Are you always open to God’s plan for your life? What do you do when you are not open to it?
Announcements
We are already beginning to plan for next year, please help us pray as we week God’s leading in His CG Ministry.
We will be starting to implement CG Coordinators this year. Each Coordinator will be providing support for their CG and four others. Please pray for our future Coordinators.
Let’s continue to pray for each other and send prayer requests through our WhatsApp thread. If you are a CG Leader and are not on our WhatsApp thread please contact Meichelle at meichelle.vasquez@bt.church
Pastor Isuaro Medina
Isauro.medina@bt.church
Cell: (956) 984-9380
