Under Pressurev- Freezer Burn

Opening

Welcome

Let them know what they are in for

Rules explanation

We are going to have fun, but we need to be respectful of others and the building

Locations

During Free time the two rooms will be open for various things but at a time they will be closed off

Bathrooms are meant for your gender only

Cafe

Offices

Outside

No PDA

No solo boy girl adventures

Clothes will be on at all times during activities

No fights

I dont want to see unsanctioned wrestling

We all want to have a good time so lets make that happen!

Message

So Who knows what peer pressure is?

It is when you do something that you wouldn't normally do but since there is someone or a group around you, you do it

Some examples in my life

Tell story about how me and my friend were supposed to stay inside but we went out and broke my wrist

Tell story about how I felt I needed to wear a hoodie no matter what the temp was because my friends were doing it

Tell story about how I pressured my sister to do different things like be cringy or do stupid stuff

Point of the story is this. We will all face peer pressure. Its not uncommon, and as a Christian going to school and living in the world, we will feel the tug at our flesh to do what is opposite of God

What I mean by that is. We read the Bible and we read what it says to be true

But our friends who don’t will invite us to do things that the Bible says is wrong

They will invite us to that party where you know there will be drinking or smoking

They will encourage you to use language that isn’t very Christian

they will want you to listen to music that you know you shouldn't be listening to.

Tonight I want to talk about a couple of guys who were pressured into doing something that they know God wouldn't want them to do.

We are going to be diving into Daniel Chapter 3 tonight

The title of my message tonight is Under Pressure

So we are going to walk through this whole Chapter

To give it a little context, we are in the OT so we are with the Israelites. Jews

The Israelites at this point are in captivity by the Babylonians

We are going to hang out with radshack meschack and abendigo

These 3 have been faithful to God and in doing so have found favor-ish with the king

We pick up with them about to make a decision that will impact so many different things

Daniel 3:1–3 (NIV)

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

In the religious culture of this day, statues were often worshiped.

Neb hoped to use this huge image (90ft tall 9ft wide) to unite a nation

Neb thought himself a god

Lets continue reading

Daniel 3:4–7 (NIV)

Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

This blazing furnace was not a small oven for cooking dinner or heating a house. it was a huge industrial furnace used for smelting metal or baking bricks

2552f

1799.6f for bones to turn to ash

The temps were hot enough to ensure that no one could survive

the roaring flames could be seen leaping form its top opening, and a fiery blast killed the soldiers who went up to the opening

Talk about peer pressure.

when the music plays bow down and worship or burn alive

Daniel 3:8–12 (NIV)

At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever! Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”

We don’t know if there were other jews standing against this rule but in this story these 3 were singled out for standing up for what they belive in

why didn't they just bow to the image and tell God they they didn't mean it?

Becuase they had determined not to set any other god before God

as a result they were condemned and took away to be executed

They didn't know exactly what was going to happen to them expect they were going into a furnace for sticking up for the Lord

Are you ready to take a stand for God no matter what?

When you stand for God you will stand out

It may be painful and it may not always have a happy ending

be prepared to say if he rescues me, or if he doesn't I will only serve him

Luke 22:42 (NIV)

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

If you cant stand for God in front of your friends how can you expect to in front of the furnace?

Daniel 3:13–15 (NIV)

Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

The three men were given 1 more chance to renounce God

We will fall down but not actually worship the idol

We wont become worshipers, but just this time and ask God for forgiveness

The king has power and we must obey him because he is in authority like scripture says

The king appointed us, we owe him

This is a foreign land, so God will excuse us for following the customs of the land

We aren't hurting anybody

our ancestors set up idols in the temple, this isn't nearly as bad

if we get ourselves killed then non believers will take our place and wont be any help!

Man these are a lot of outs they could have taken. but instead they honored

Ex. 20:3 ““You shall have no other gods before me.”

So they could have done this but how does this apply to me.. I mean im not being asked to bow down before a God

Fair enough, lets re-write those excuses to be more applicable

I can swear and listen to that kind of music but just the beat

Well I’ll drink just this one time because I don’t want to be left out… I’ll ask for forgiveness tomorrow

Well scripture doesn’t say anything about smoking weed so I’m technically not sinning

My friend worked so hard to get me invited to this party, it would be rude for me to not go

well this Isn’t my house so I cant say I wont act like my friend

we aren't hurting anybody

i only make inappropriate comments I’m not like that other guy

I have to be a witness, and the only way they will listen to me is if I am close to them.. that why I smoke with them

It is easy to make excuses, it is hard to stand up

Call Team Up

Daniel 3:16–25 NIV

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

Shadrach meshach and Abendego were pressured to deny God, but they chose to be faithful to him no matter what happened

they trusted God to deliver them

but they were determined to be faithful regardless of the consequences.

If God always rescued those who were true to him Christians would not need faith

Their religion would be a great insurance policy and there would be lines of selfish people ready to sign-up

We should be faithful to serve God whether he intervenes on our behalf or not

Our eternal reward is worth any suffering we may have to endure first

I go back to the prayer Jesus prayed

not my will but yours be done

Are you willing to pray that with your friends

Standing up for God may cause you to lose friends

Are you willing to see people you thought loved you walk away because of what you belive in

Happened to me.

Look at what happened there at the end… they were not burned.. as a matter of fact they were joined by another

much debate as to weather this was Jesus or just an angel.

regardless. the three had faith in God to see them through this trial, weather it be a miriacal or otherwise

Ending

It’s time to stop with the half baked excuses and choose to trust god whole heartedly!

God is looking for a generation of christians who will stand up for him even when faced with the furnace

There is revival happening across america because people are done putting up excuses

You want to see your friends saved. Stand up for christ