Faith

Intro:

Good evening. I continue to pray for God’s protection for each of us. Over the last few weeks we have been looking at God’s Word for perspective during these trying times. It’s very easy to lose perspective during times of difficulty, thats why it is imperative that we look to God and His Word continually.

I say that because I know that social media and media in general can quickly change our perspective. Once our perspective has changed is easy to distance ourselves from God without even knowing it. Again I encourage you to seek God and His wisdom. Social media and the media are not necessarily bad in of themselves, however if they are causing you anxiety, frustration, and stress, then I urge to take a break from them.

That being said I have seen on social media and the news of all the frustrations and anger of folks that don’t like the way the government is handling things. Last week I encouraged us to let go of entitlements and rights. If we are able to let go and lean into God and trust Him, I know we will have peace and I know we will have strength to go through this difficult time. During my devotional time I have begun reading Daniel.

Turn in your Bibles to Daniel 3:24-30.

Let me give you a little background information on Daniel. For years God’s prophets had warned that if the Israelites that their idolatry, immorality, and injustice towards the poor would lead to the nations ruin. In the first chapter of Daniel the prophets warnings became a reality. The Israelites were taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzer and the Babylonians. During the captivity King Nebuchadnezzer has dream in which none of his wise men can interpret. However Daniel interprets the dream. Which brings us to chapter 3. King Nebuchadnezzer constructs an idol of the image in his dream and commands everyone in Babylon to worship it. Then Daniels 3 friends are brougth before the King accused of not worshipping the image. King Nebuchadnezzer was so angry he had them thrown into a fiery furnace that he heated 7 times more than ususal.

Daniel 3:24–30 NIV

Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

So over the last few weeks we have been talking about being treated unfairly. I had said that life isn’t fair. Hopefully you and I never have to face a fiery furnace because we won’t worship an idol.

Tonight I want to discuss our faith. The question is at what cost would you or I exchange our faith for acceptance or comfort? In the account we just read these 3 mighty men of God wouldn’t trade their faith, or should we their relationship with God, even when faced with what seemed like certain death.

When I was a teenager, I found Jesus by accident really or maybe it was false pretenses. I was invited to youth group. I said whats youth group and I was told there would be girls there. And just like that I went to youth group. But it wasn’t a relationship with a girl that night that I found, I found a relationship with Jesus. It’s too bad that my relationship with Jesus was easily exchanged for acceptance. You see if I thought I would be rejected because of my faith I would easily deny I was a Christian. Now I didn’t deny my faith boldly, I really did want a strong relationship with Jesus, but I would deny my faith passively. I would passively deny my faith at anytime I thought I wouldn’t be accepted.

Here is something that is very concerning to me right now. I don’t think I am the exception by any means. I believe many people, many Christians struggle with acceptance. We are created for relationship. God created Adam the way he did because he wanted to have relationship with his creation. I am concerned right now because many of us are quarantined and isolated, this is not the environment that many of us thrive in. My concern is that some may trade their faith for acceptance. What do I mean by that statement? I don’t know how much you have seen on the news or social media. But you don’t have to look very far to see protesting. And to be honest, I have protested, not in public of course, but passively by airing my frustrations to my wife. Trying to figure things out on my own. While many may sympathize or even empathize with me, thats not what I am called to and neither is that what you are called to. So whats the solution. I would encourage you to remember God’s grace. Remember when He saved. Recall that time when it looked like things were going to end terribly. Remember the time when you got a bad report from the doctor but then a miracle happened. Remember the time you didn’t know how you were going to pay a bill but the money somehow showed up. Why do I tell you to remember these things, because that will encourage your faith. That help you to realize you are accepted, and not just by anyone, you are accepted by Almighty God. We are called to be holy. Holy means to be set apart. For you and I we are called to be different. That doesn’t just mean to appear different to others. That means to be different on the inside. Different in the way you think about things. It is very important to renew your mind with the word of God. Of course there will be times that we slip up and get frustrated or try to figure things out on our own. But its your relationship with Jesus, its the Holy Spirit, and the word of God that will reveal to you and I when we need correction.

Some will trade their faith for comfort. Many addictions start with a simple trade of identity and faith. I can tell you first hand how easy it is to make this trade to numb the pain for some comfort. During this time of quarantine it can be hard to find comfort. Again we were created for relationship. We were created for relationship with God. True comfort is found in Jesus, not a brown bottle, not a pill bottle, not in a pack of tobacco, comfort is found in Jesus. Fair warning what I am about to say might not feel good but its the truth and it needs to be said. If something, whether that be a pill, a cigarette, a bottle of boose, a tv, social media whatever it is comes first in your life or is the first thing you turn to numb the pain or for comfort, then you have problem. Your problem has names, addiction, a vise, weakness, but more than any of those it’s name is idolatry. Anytime something takes precedence over our relationship with God it becomes idolatry. When we need comfort our first resort is Jesus.

So, tonight I challenge you to engage your faith. For Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego even the fiery furnace was enough to get them to compromise their faith. What is the takeaway from their story. As they continued to trust God, even though what was happening to them was unfair, God was with them. The same is true for us today. In our most difficult of circumstances God is with us. If I feel distanced from God it’s not because He moved. God is with us. God has made a way for us to be accepted, that way is Jesus. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are our true comfort. I encourage you tonight to meditate on a couple of questions.

What is faith? Define faith. Take a look at these Scriptures to help you define faith: Hebrews 11:1, Hebrews 11:6, 1 Peter 1:8-9, Romans 10:9-10.

Where do you find comfort and acceptance? Really take some time to answer this question. Do you go to God in prayer when a crisis arises? Do you turn to Jesus when you are feeling depressed or lonely?

What idols are in your life? Ask yourself what comes first in your life? God or something else? You will find the answer to those questions in things that come first.

How can I strengthen my relationship with Jesus. Maybe by reading the bible. Maybe by praying and having a consistent prayer life. Maybe by studying the Bible with someone else. Right now study the Bible over the phone or through technology like Zoom.

Lets Pray.

Please join us this Sunday on our Facebook page as we continue our series “Philippians: The Lives We Are Called To Live.” God Bless you and have a goodnight.