Fear of Intimidation

Zachery Klundt

Faith Over Fear • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

Daniel 3

Fear

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Faith Over Intimidation

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Fear of Intimidation

Daniel

Introduction

Hello all!

I want to talk about faith over fear, as this is now our second week in this series.

Last week we talked about having faith over our physical weaknesses.

We looked at Moses and we learned how he was able to overcome this shortcomings and that was mainly due to God saying, look Moses I got you, I am will be with you.

So tonight we are going to be looking at another familiar story to many, do not feel bad though if this is a new story to you however.

We are going to be looking at the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

But before we do, have you ever been intimidated?

Before we answer that, we must ask, what does the word intimidate mean?

frighten or overawe (someone), especially in order to make them do what one wants.

Has anyone here been intimidated before?

Have you intimidated someone before?

The good news is that if you go to planet fitness, you will not be intimidated there, as they have a no judg

You can see "timid" in the middle of intimidate.

And to be timid is to be frightened or to pull back from something.

When you intimidate, you frighten or make someone afraid.

An animal might intimidate a smaller animal by bearing its teeth, and a person can intimidate another by threatening to do something harmful.

Intimidation is how many people today get things done, it is not a right or proper course of action.

If you are a passive person you probably have been intimidated at some point in your life.

If you are an aggressive person you have probably intimidated someone at some point in your life.

Andrew Vachss, author of many fiction crime book said,

“Life is a fight, but not everyone is a fighter. Otherwise bullies would be an endangered species.”

This is an unfortunate truth, that we are going to wrestle with tonight.

So lets dive into what is going in Daniel 3.

Let’s set up what is happening here in this story.

The first two chapters are about this guys named Daniel.

Now Daniel was a Jew and he served the one true God, Yahweh.

The king at the time over Babylon was King Nebuchadnezzar.

And King Nebuchadnezzar had just attacked and besieged Jerusalem— The promise land.

King Nebuchadnezzar and his army was literally surrounding the city to take it by force they wanted to capture it.

And they did— In the process of them defeating Jerusalem, King Nebuchadnezzar took some prisoners.

And this dude Daniel was one of them.

Daniel was a wise and great man, who could interpret dreams.

Daniel and his padres’ were going to be feed pretty well, by being given the kings food.

Which Daniel refused to drink or eat it, and challenged the person who was over him, that he and his buddies would only eat veggies and drink water.

Guess what Daniel was right, his food was better, as they were healthier than everyone else.

This earned Daniel and his guest some credit.

Which they were going to need, as King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that no one could interpret for the King.

This troubled the king.

Daniel 2:2–4 ESV

Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.”

Daniel 2:2-

These Chaldeans were tricky fellows.

They tried to take their time, but the King was not having that, he tried to kill all of the wise people in the land, but that did not work either.

Because as kings guard was coming for Daniel, Daniel was requesting a chance to see King Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel 2:24 ESV

Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.”

Daniel 2:

Daniel goes and tells the king, look someone is going to raise up against you.

If you want all the details there read the first two chapters of Daniel.

But really at this moment all you need to know is that Daniel is now like in-charge of lots of stuff, which he then appoints three of his pardres to deal with the affaires of Babyalon.

Daniel 2:49 ESV

Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.

Daniel 2:

The king did:

Just a quick remark before we dive into chapter three, if you were the people who were fighting for a spot at the top at the Kings table so to speak.

How would you feel about an outsider coming and taking your spot?

Probably not going to be very happy!

Keep that in mind as we read the first little bit of .

Daniel 3:1–7 ESV

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.” Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Daniel 3:1-

Nebuchadnezzar has this massive image made.

It was most likely made of Gold with like a bronze base, but covered in gold at the end, as this was common for statues in this time.

This statue was about 90 feet tall and the width was 9 feet.

The Statue was enormous.

It is possible that this statue was made in the image of Nebuchadnezzar, however because Nebuchadnezzar wanted/made all of this top officials bow down and worship the statue it is likely it was one of his gods.

Most likely the deity Marduk— who was the god of thunderstorms.

The command came down from Nebuchadnezzar that pretty much when you hear any type of music you are to stop what you are doing and worship the statue.

I mean look at this list: when you hear:

Horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every king of music.

AND this was for all people everywhere.

and if you did not follow this command from the king?

You would be thrown into the furnace.

That is a punishment with some blazing consequences.

This was very common in this time, that kings of foreign lands, foreign in this case is those not associated with Isreal.

Heck you did even see this in Isreal.

Now if you were to put yourself here what would you have done?

Answer that as in your mind as we read this next section.

Daniel 3:8–12 ESV

WELL WE GOT OURSELVES SOME HATERS!

Haters are gonna Hate

Haters gonna Hate

Daniel 3:8–18 ESV

Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Daniel 3:8–12 ESV

Daniel 3:8-

The Chaldeans are these people who lived in this region but yet they never grew strong enough to take on other nations.

Daniel 3:8-

However, they are present right now because King Nebuchadnezzar was most likely a Chaldean

They were strongly known for this dealing in astrology and witchcraft.

We have these guys that if you look back in chapter 2 were given the task of interpreting the dream of Nebuchadnezzar however after the threat of:

Daniel 2:5 ESV

The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins.

It is a bold strategy to threaten your people who are just trying to interpret a dream for you but hey.

So because of this threat, they did not interpret the dream— leaving the door open for Daniel to do it.

Now reward was great for someone to properly interpret that dream and the Chaldeans wants those rewards, but fail to do so.

I am sure we all got haters in our life and when you have been slighted and someone else get the glory you wanted, you can image they were watching Daniel like a hawk.

And they got their chance to tattle to the King.

That term they came forward and maliciously accused the Jews.

It means they basically they were taking bites out of them, chewing the up, devouring them, they we slandering them.

Now they were not going to go after Daniel first, but when Daniel had properly interpreted the dream King Nebuchadnezzar Daniel was raise up.

Daniel 2:46–49 ESV

Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.

Daniel 2:

The Chaldeans knew not to come after Daniel so they went after the people Daniel put in charge.

Daniel and his three friends had received leadership positions in this group, and some of the native Babylonian astrologers resented it. At the first opportunity they attempted to rid themselves of these foreign intruders.

Stephen R. Miller, Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 116.

There will be people in your life that will resent you.

Daniel did nothing wrong, he was faithful to God.

God’s law which is what Daniel and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were all under say very clearly in:

Exodus 20:3 ESV

“You shall have no other gods before me.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Exodus 20:

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

This was going against what they believed.

Back to that question from earlier, if you decided to stay standing in the face of haters and death— what would be your response to when the king come to you?

Because you know that we you make a ripple it will be felt but many others.

And when we stand for truth, people will come out from all over to knock you down.

We see this happen quite often.

We do not see much here in the USA, but we certainly see people who believe in God being put in jail, and executed in our parts of the world because of what they believe.

And when the tattle tails get to those in charge—

Intimidators will push their own agenda

Daniel 3:13–18 ESV

Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Daniel 3:13–15 ESV

Daniel 3:13-

The King is ticked off!

HE WANTS TO SEE Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego right that moment.

Nebuchadnezzar was giving them a chance to speak, and answer this ling of questioning.

He questions but he throws on the intimidation.

If you don’t do this and bow before the statue and worship this idol— then you will be thrown into the blazing furnace.

And did you catch what the king said at the end of verse 15?

And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hand?

Nebuchadnezzar was giving them a chance to make things right in his eyes.

And he knew that they were beyond rescuing if they refused to bow before the statue.

Nebuchadnezzar tries to intimidate his people by penalty of death, for anyone who does not obey what he says.

To quote William Author Wood who speaking on leadership, he says;

“Leadership is based on inspiration not domination, on cooperation, not intimidation.”

He was trying to get them to obey by threats, but listen again to their reply.

Daniel 3:16–18 ESV

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Danile 3:16

We don’t have to answer you Nebuchadnezzar but just know that our God will deliver us from your hand, but if not know that if we still burn up we will never bow to you.

This was not some proud response as take it to the man, but it was firm.

They knew who they believed in and what their God was capable of.

They would not bow.

Now for the best part!

Jesus will walk with us through our fires

Daniel 3:19–30 ESV

Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. Because the king’s order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

To the Chadians talk about your all time backfire!

Nebuchadnezzar turned up the heat to 7X the usually, it was so hot that the people who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace, they burned up!

Which is crazy because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not upon first arrival into the furnace.

God was already protecting them outside of the furnace.

God was already with them.

Most likely the furnace would have been on the side of a hill or a man made mound.

It would have had an opening at the top which is where they would have thrown Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

And there would have been an opening on the side, in which King Nebuchadnezzar would been able to look in and see the three men who he ordered thrown in.

Expect he did not see three but four people in the furnace, and not only were they alive, but they were walking around!!!!

That fourth person something is different about him!

HE IS LIKE A SON OF THE gODS.

This miracle broke Nebuchadnezzar.

Nothing was wrong with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego— they were perfectly healthy!

The fire had no power over their bodies!

The King who was literally throwing people in the furnace because of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not bend the knee to his statue turns a 180 flip and goes, okay we are all following the GOD of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

And anyone who doesn’t will be torn limb from limb!

Here is the deal.

No matter what fires are going on in your life, no matter who or what is intimidating you— Christ will walk through fires with you and for you!

Many in this room are struggling to find their voice, instead let us focus on hearing God’s voice in the fires and let us trust Him to save us.

BUT as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stated even though God has to the power to save does not mean that He will always save.

Even if we still get torched, that even in the face of standing up for what we believe in, God is still with you.

Continue to lean into God, trust Him, the best way to shake our fears of intimidation is by increasing our faith to the one who walks through our fires with us!