Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRO: Romania Trip//Communism

You may not recognize the name Richard Wurmbrand, but you may recognize the ministry he started - Voice of the Martyrs.

Wurmbrand was a pastor imprisoned and tortured in communist Romania during the late 1940’s.

He was released and warned never to preach again.

While he had been in prison, Wurmbrand was warned not to preach the gospel to other prisoners or he would be beaten.

Listen to what he said: “It was strictly forbidden to preach to other prisoners.

It was understood that whoever was caught doing this received a severe beating.

A number of us decided to pay the price for the privilege of preaching, so we accepted their [the communists' ] terms.

It was a deal; we preached and they beat us.

We were happy preaching.

They were happy beating us, so everyone was happy.”

After 8 and a half years, he was released and told never to preach the gospel again.

Wurmbrand said, “From now on a fire burned within us, as it did in the disciples on the road to Emmaus.

“Snowflakes cannot fall on a hot stove,” says an Indian proverb.

The coldness of this world could no longer harm us, although we had to pass through bitter times.”

Exiled from Romania in 1965, Wurmbrand appeared traveled to America and appeared before a U.S. Senate Internal Security Subcommittee where he stripped to the waist revealing 18 deep torture wounds.

It was the first time the Western world got a real glimpse at religious persecution under the Communist regime.

We look at the story of Richard Wurmbrand and other persecuted believers around the world and we marvel at their faith…at their boldness, don’t we?

Take your bibles and turn to as we look at the story of 3 young men who stood firm against the pressure of compromise.

Daniel 3:11-13

Bowing to the world is much easier than standing firm on truth.

{QUICKLY elaborate}

So…how do we stand firm?

Unquestioned Allegiance

Look at verse 16, again… “we don’t need to answer you.”

In other words, “Nebuchadnezzar, our allegiance is not ultimately to you!

You can torture us, you can kill us, but we will not bow!”

Why? It’s very simple - God is King.

Nebuchadnezzar, you may think you hold our fates in your hand, but you don’t.

I want you to remember week one - the “pre-decision.”

If Jesus is Lord…if God is king…this changes everything.”

Book of Acts - the disciples said, “We must obey God rather than man.”

Listen to what Jesus said:

How easy is it to cave, though?

Really?

The question is, “Who is my Master?”

There are two words that NEVER go together - “No, Lord.”

Unwavering Boldness

This is just amazing to me.

In all likelihood, these are teenagers (or not much older).

But look at their boldness!

tells us that the righteous one is as bold as a lion.

How do you explain their boldness?

They’re standing before the most powerful man on earth and they’re speaking with such clarity, such determination and boldness!

What would give them such courage to say, “No!

We will NOT compromise!”

They didn’t have a plan B!

Their boldness, their assurance was rooted/grounded in the power of God and HIS supremacy!

“HE is able to rescue us!”

This is what they rested in!

Barney Fife - standing behind the badge

When you are a child of God & He is your Father, what do you have to fear?

Unquenchable Witness

This CAN’T be missed…look at vs. 4 & vs. 7 again.

There are people gathered from every nation, people group, and language around this great statue - this idol/false god.

But, here, God would use these 3 young men - he would put them on display to be used to declare His greatness/His majesty to all nations.

They are serving as HIS WITNESSES!

This is an issue of who is greater/who is god - who will the nations worship?

Think about this in your life - as you are following Jesus, you will come up against the world - STUDENTS & ADULTS (compromise) - what you are doing is testifying to the greatness of God and HIS Lordship - YOU ARE A WITNESS!

So…UNQUESTIONED ALLEGIANCE, UNSHAKABLE BOLDNESS, UNQUENCHABLE WITNESS...

Daniel 3:

Obedience does not always ensure my safety.

Sometimes the fire will get hotter.

We like the sitcom way of life - 30 minutes & a bow.

Jesus never promised it…in fact, he said that since the world hated him, it would hate his followers even more!

Jesus will ALWAYS walk through the fire with me.

&

You will never walk through the fire alone!

Ever!

The fire is necessary for my sanctification.

Only their bonds were burned.

Don’t miss that detail.

The things that held them were the only things burned.

My witness to the glory of God outweighs my comfort.

That they might be made worshippers of the one true God!

Piper & Revelation 5