Under the Influence

Context

Context

Nebuchadnezzer is the king of Babylon and has just built a 90 foot statue of himself and issued a decree that requires everyone to stop what they are doing to bow down when the music plays. There are 3 young men that refuse to bow because it violates their beliefs. The king hears of this and is understandably irate because people in positions of authority who aren’t used to hearing “no” go through great lengths to show their power to cover egos and insecurities. He summons the young men and interrogates them...

Scriptures

(NKJV) — 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

Illustration

We all have things that influence us. To influence means the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something. a person or thing with the capacity or power to have an effect on someone or something. It means to impact, shape, control. We all have things that influence us, right? We are influenced by parents; advertisement; social media; media; co-workers. One thing that I am easily influenced by is BBQ. No matter how fiscally responsible I try to be, the mention of burgers or BBQ will take me into the 3rd heavens. I love BBQ and burgers. I love to cook BBQ on my grill and smoker. I recently put some food on and had to go to the store to get a few items I forgot. When I was checking out, I she said, “you smell good, I want some of whatever you are cooking”. I heard her say, “you smell good you fine specimen of a man and I want some of that”. You don’t know embarrassment until when you tell someone that you are married and they are not the least bit interested.

Transition

Isn’t interesting how what’s around you influences what’s on you? What’s around you eventually gets in you and what gets in you eventually comes out of you. As a parent have you ever said these words, “what’s gotten into you”? That means, what has influenced you behavior? What have you been around that has gotten into your actions. We live in a world where confirmative is normalize and rebellion is unthinkable. We see all through out the Bible where people were influenced and how it led to compromise. Aaron was influenced into making a golden calf. What’s around you, gets on you and what’s on you gets in you. Pontus Polite, the Roman Governor that would sentence Jesus to death, said he saw no fault in Christ, but he was influenced to kill Jesus by the people. Peter cut a man’s ear off when he was around his brothers, but when he got around doubters, he denied Christ.

Background

Normal. Babylon was a brutal godless environment, but employed a unique approach when it came to indoctrinating those they took captive. They would impress them with wealth, food, drinks, and acceptance for the time period of 3 years and change their names. Daniel’s name literally means “God is judge.” Hananiah means “The Lord is gracious.” Mishael means “None is like God.” Azariah means “The Lord is my help.” These were all godly names given by godly parents. New names were provided that were rooted in idolatry and self exaltation. We can exalt our wins and losses. Only the creator can label you. That’s not who you are. You are not what you have done. They had to fight the tension of making sure what they heard didn’t get in their heart. Labels can become normal. Before long, being captive wasn’t bondage, it was convenient. We see this with the children of Israel. Bondage became normal. When freedom is subjective, you are subject to bondage. Setbacks become normal. Burden becomes normal. The struggle ceases because of total surrender to the status quo. We often have pressure to just blend in at work. Blend in with friends.

We all just want to be normal, don’t we? Who doesn’t want a normal day? A normal marriage, normal finances? We even try to sanitize church, we want our spirituality to be...normal. In an effort to reach the world, we impersonate it. It is hard to change what you mimic. Normal is overrated. Division is normal. Hate is normal. Shootings are normal. Divorce is normal. Bullying has become normal. Pain has become normal. Suicide has become normal. Cancer has become normal. I think normal is overrated. God hasn’t called us to be normal, He has called us to make a difference. Don’t be impressed by the world we are called to change. The Hebrew crew stood out because an excellent spirit was on them. Stand out at work, home, marriage, family. Don’t conform, transform. These young men, though under political pressure, made up in their hearts that they would not normal. What’s around you eventually gets in you and what gets in you eventually comes out of you.

(HCSB) 7 The chief official gave them other names: he gave the name Belteshazzar to Daniel, Shadrach to Hananiah, Meshach to Mishael, and Abednego to Azariah.

(HCSB) 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises, of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

(HCSB) 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Observations

Stand Up: When you hear the sound...Nebby created a monument in his honor and commanded that when people heard the sound, they were to drop everything they were doing and bow down. It’s far more psychological than one would think because after enough repetition the sound would be so synonymous with surrender that when heard, the person would instinctively, bow down, surrender, or...don’t put up a fight. Sound is funny like that. There are certain sounds that when I hear it to this day, it’ll bring me back. Certain songs can just do that to you. Triumph is one of those songs. My wife, whenever she hears anything, she just can’t help her self. Certain sounds just demand a reaction. However, I can’t help but to wonder if there are times we hear things we have been conditioned to react. Conditioned to bow down. Conditioned to not to put up a fight. Maybe we’ve been submitting to the melody of mediocrity. Dancing to the symphony of suffering. Perhaps we need to spend less time reacting and more time responding. Reaction is cause and effect; responding is causing an affect. Are we busy reacting to the world instead of responding to God? Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. The Israelites reacted to Pharaoh, but Moses had a response. Stand Still. We need to update our playlist with truth. When Blind Bart HEARD that Jesus was near, he responded by lifting up his voice. Let’s not react, let’s respond.

(HCSB) 5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.

(HCSB) Isn’t this what we told you in Egypt: Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation He will provide for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you must be quiet.”

(HCSB) 7 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.,

(HCSB) 47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, “Son of David, Jesus, have mercy on me!” 48 Many people told him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, “Have mercy on me, Son of David!”

Speak Up: Even If...The 3 young men responded with what could arguably be in the top 5 lines in the entire bible. They boldly say, we don’t answer to you but since you asked, we will say this; the God we serve can rescue us from the fire and from you, but EVEN IF, he doesn’t, we will not bow down and worship. Even if is a response that is build on the foundation of maturity and truth. Even if it doesn’t work out, God is still working it together. Even if I lose my job, God is a provider. Even if the divorce is finalized, God is still a reconciler. Even if the sickness ends in death, God is still a healer. I was with my childhood best friend just a couple of days ago. I was attending his sisters funeral and it occurred to me in the past 6 months, he’s lost his father, nephew, and sister. Yet, they still had a faith that says, God is good. Even if the place we get to when we say my faith isn’t predicated on outcomes because I have an eternal outlook. Stephen was being stoned to death and yet he kept his eyes on heaven. Even if says, though He slays me, yet will I truth Him. It’s not easy. Even Jesus didn’t want to die as He felt the weight of sin in the garden and cried in anguish but he said, never the less, not my will, you’re will be done. The young men made a statement that could undeniably cost them their very lives. Faith means obeying God regardless of the feelings within us, the circumstances around us, or the consequences before us.

(HCSB) 17 If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king. 18 But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.”

(HCSB) 55 But Stephen, filled by the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw God’s glory, with Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, 56 “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

(NKJV) 15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.

(HCSB) 39 Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Freedom in the Flames.

Nebby had a reaction. When opposition results in outrage, it’s often because an insecurity has been exposed. Nebby is so angry he has the heat turned up 7 times hotter; so much so that even the bystanders fell victim to the fire. The text says that they were tied up and tossed in fully dressed. When there were public executions they would often strip the person to add shame prior to death. This was the ultimate walk of shame. However, in this instance, these men were still covered, even though they were in the flame. Even though they were in the flame, there was no shame. If you are in a season where it feels like all hell is breaking lose, keep your head up. Jesus took shame to the cross. There is no condemnation to those in Christ. Keep your head up. Half time allows the coach to tell his team, you may take a loss but you are not defeated. You may be down but don’t let it deflate you. It’s not over yet. Nebby is surprise to see that the men are alive, free, and not alone. Some scholars think that the men recited a prayer/praise while in the fire and that is what alerted the king. He heard the sound of praise even in the flames. They were free, even though they were in flames. They weren’t alone even though they were in the flames. There is freedom in the flames if your praise remains. When 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, there I AM in the midst. God is a consuming fire. When you are on fire for God, the flames of the world can’t touch you. We see this pattern of God showing up in the flames. Moses (bush/wilderness); with the Assyrian army (185,000). I have discovered that there are times when God doesn’t deliver me from the flames, He delivers me in the flames.

(HCSB) 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times more than was customary,

(HCSB) 10 And he said, “I heard You in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” 11 Then He asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

(HCSB) 28 After Moses removed Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar, Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

(HCSB) 1 Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus,, 2 because the Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

(HCSB) 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.

(HCSB) 36 Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.

(HCSB) 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose.

(HCSB) 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them.”

(HCSB) 2 Then the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed.

(HCSB) 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never left its place in front of the people.

(HCSB) 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

(HCSB) Defeat and Death of Sennacherib 35 That night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning — there were all the dead bodies!

Closing

The Hebrew boys were tossed in the fire but when they came out, you couldn’t even smell the smoke on them. After my debacle at the grocery store, I changed my ways. I changed where I stand when I open the door to my smoker. I now wear an apron that absorbs the smoke. Where you stand and what you wear determines if the smoke of culture gets embedded in the fabric of your faith. You are in the world, but not of it. When you are under the influence of grace, the smoke of culture will not find a home on you.

Hebrew boys. After my debacle at the grocery store, I changed my ways. I changed where I stand when I open the door to my smoker. I now wear an apron that absorbs the smoke. Where you stand and what you wear determines if the smoke of culture gets embedded in the fabric of your faith. The Hebrew boys were tossed in the fire but when they came out, you couldn’t even smell the smoke on them. You are in the world, but not of it. When you are under the influence of grace, the smoke of culture will not find a home on you. The Hebrew boys were tossed in the fire but when they came out, you couldn’t even smell the smoke on them. After my debacle at the grocery store, I changed my ways. I changed where I stand when I open the door to my smoker. I now wear an apron that absorbs the smoke. Where you stand and what you wear determines if the smoke of culture gets embedded in the fabric of your faith. You are in the world, but not of it. When you are under the influence of grace, the smoke of culture will not find a home on you.

Whether you’re in Babylon or the fire; stand firm in Christ and see the salvation of God.

(HCSB) 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

(NLT) 27 Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!

(NLT) 27 Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!