Daniel 3 - Modern Day Idolatry

Introduction:

Context - Bring them to where we are.

Strangers in a foreign land = they are different from everyone else. Daniel 1 - wouldn’t defile himself with the kings food and drink - purposed in his heart not to sin (1:8) Daniel 2 - Daniel interprets Nebechunezzar’s dream. Statue of Gold, silver, bronze, iron, iron and clay - then the rock cut not by human hands but by God = the church. Daniel 3 - Nebechunezzar has commanded all to bow down and worship giant golden image he has set up. Explain and define idol - we don’t worship giant golden statue today Idol is anything we put above God Nebuchadnezzar asks who is this God who is able to deliver you from my hands?

Satan today asks the question who is the god who can save you? He is a God who delivers those who….. (28) A God who delivers those who trust in Him

They refused to bow with the many and instead to stand with the few.

Refused to bow and worship the giant golden image of Nebuchadnezzar. They refused to do what everyone else was doing in order to do what was right. Today do we bow with the many or stand with the few?

Entertainment - Watch what everyone watches?

Proverbs 4:23 Proverbs 23:7 Garbage in = Garbage out What are we to watch/listen to? Philippians 4:8 Status/Social Media (How many likes)

We are defined by the Bible not social media Genesis 1:26-27 Romans 5:8 - God shows His love in that…. No amount of likes will ever compare to the love God has for us. Modesty

Do we dress like the world? Matthew 5:13-15 - we are salt and light….but do we hide our light to fit in? Romans 12:2 - Either being made more like the world or more like Christ. We are in the world everyday but are we in the word everyday? A God who delivers those who deny themselves and live for Him. (28)

They denied themselves are were willing to pass through the fire (16-18) No fire persecution today but how about general persecution? How about peer pressure?

Luke 9:23 - deny self and live for Christ Matthew 10:28 - Fear God and not man If we deny Jesus by our words our actions(by living like everyone else to fit in) He will deny us (Matthew 10:32-33) whoever confesses me before men/whoever denies me before men. They made Nebechunezzar angry by living for God. (3:19) We are told we will be hated sometimes because of living for Christ. (John 15:18) God was with them in the fire. (24-25) God is with us during persecution. (Hebrews 13:5-6) - “Make sure that your way of life is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”

Blessed are the persecuted (Matthew 5:10-12)

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (NASB 95) Look at examples of Paul - 2 Corinthians 11:23-28)

He said this 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Paul was living for Christ and focused on heaven. A God who delivers those who worship Him alone (28)

They would worship no other gods. (18) Do we worship different gods today? How about the god of self?

Do we put what we want above what God wants? If we love God we will do what He says. (1 John 5:3, John 15:14, 14:15) Do we miss worship? (Sports, too tired, fishing etc.) Hebrews 10:24- 25 - And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Shows we love those things more than God and assembling with the saints. Well I don’t have to be there on Wednesday or Sunday night - Friends it’s a privilege we get to worship together and we should want to be together. When we put things above assembling together for worship it shows where our priorities lie. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego loved God more than their own lives and would bow to no other god. (Pause… this is a question we all have to answer) Do we love God more than everything?

Is He our chief desire and pursuit in life? (Matthew 22:37-39) Nothing and no no one can compare for the love God has for you and me.

1 John 4:8-9 - He is love and look what He did for us all… no greater love has ever been known. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 it’s no longer about me but about Him and living for Him everyday. Don’t you want to live for Him who died for you?

Conclusion:

1. Will we bow with the many or stand with the few?

2. Be more like world or more like Christ?

3. Take the easy way = many or hard way = few Matthew 7:13-14 one way leads to heaven and the other leads to hell.

4. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were strangers in a foreign land.

- We are too (Hebrews 11:13-16)

- We sing this world is not my home do we believe it and live like it? (Philippians 3:20)

- Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people…. Are you prepared?

Preached -

Hillbrook Camp, Tennessee Crystal Springs, Mississippi Englewood, Tennessee Bridgeport, Alabama Cherokee, North Carolina Spring Creek, TN Kosciusko, MS