Standing Firm for God in a World of Compromise

Standing Firm for God in a World of Compromise

Text: Daniel 3

Thesis: To look at the rewards of an uncompromising faith.

Introduction:

(1)   Imagine being away from home as a teenager and being promoted to a management level by a boss who is able to make your wildest dreams come true.

(2)   However, your boss asks you to do something that goes against your religion.

(3)   How do you respond?  Let us note how 3 Hebrew teenagers responded:

Discussion:

I.                   The King’s Decree: Worship an Idol God (vv. 1-7)

A.    King Nebuchadnezzar was lifted up with pride and made a golden idol that stood at 90’ tall and 9’ wide.

1.      Possibly, this is a result of being told that he and his kingdom was the head of God from his vision in Daniel 2.

2.      One cannot be certain whether the idol was made in the image of himself or in the image of some idol god, possibly Murdok.

B.     The King declared that everyone would bow down and worship this idol when they heard the music play and those who refused would be put to death.

II.                The Hebrew Teenagers’ Decision: We Will Not Bow (vv. 8-18)

A.    Some jealous Chaldeans report to the King that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were not bowing before the idol.

B.     Therefore, King Nebuchadnezzar calls the Hebrews before him to see if this report was true.

C.     The Hebrews respond by saying that they haven’t bowed and will never bow because their God is Jehovah, who is able to deliver them.

III.             The Lord’s Deliverance (vv. 19-27)

A.    After hearing this response, the King is enraged and commands them to be thrown into the fire, which was to be made seven times hotter just for them.

B.     However, the three are not consumed by the fire and are joined by a heavenly being (Jesus?) who delivers them unharmed.

IV.             The King’s Declaration (vv. 28-30)

A.    The King is impressed with their God and declares that they are to worship their own God from here on out because only this God can truly deliver.

B.     Also, the King further promotes them in the kingdom.

Conclusion:

(1)   Many people compromise because everyone is doing it and they don’t want to face the consequences of taking a stand.

(2)   However, God is calling men and women who have an uncompromising faith that will lead to their ultimate deliverance and exaltation.