A Test of Faith pt. 1

Introduction

If you have your Bibles, you can take them and open them to Daniel chapter 3. So far in the book of Daniel, we have worked through the initial test for Daniel and his companions pertaining to the food and drink that they were offered when they arrived to Babylon. This was indeed a hospitable approach extended by Nebuchadnezzar as he indeed has the power to force them to submit fully to Babylon through whatever means he saw necessary. This would ultimately lead to what we worked through over the last handful of weeks, Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream. A dream that revealed the future of Babylon, and if the dream itself wasn’t troubling enough, the interpretation was enough, as we will see today, to cause Nebuchadnezzar to start making some desperate decisions. Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom is for sure to fall, but he is desperate to do what he can to preserve it, so we get to this second test, and while the first test of faith was indeed hospitable, as sin and temptation can often present itself, this second test is the polar opposite. Nebuchadnezzar is now insecure and desperate and willing to do what it takes to see Babylon persevere. So if you will, stand with me as we read Daniel 3:1-7.

Body

(1) The Command

a. The Gold Image

i. Nebuchadnezzar’s foolishness

ii. Israel’s History

- The Golden Calves in the wilderness

- The Golden Calves of King Jeroboam

b. The Gathered Leaders

i. A Strategic Plan

ii. A Bold Statement

c. The Given Command

i. The command to worship

(2) The Call

a. A call to conform

b. A call to bow down

Application: Brothers and sisters, understand that we are living in a time where conformity and allegiance will always be the temptation that we face. We see it in our politics, social media, news outlets, and so on. We live in a time where landing in a camp whether it be religious, political, and/or ethical will call for you to buy fully into that camp and have little to no toleration for others. We live in a time where hospitality is not the popular form of convincing people to conform to progressive ideas, and bow down to corrupt leaders, but rather it is much more hostile, and although we have not reached the full extent of what that looks like here in America, it does not take long to look to our brothers and sisters around the world and see them being threatened, imprisoned, and killed for their faith in Christ.

(3) The Compliance

a. The Pressure of Influence

b. The Pressure of Coercion

c. The Pressure Consequence

Application: How will you respond to the pressures of this life to worship someone or something other than God.

Conclusion