Faithfulness - Even if | Daniel 3:8-18
Faith Stands UP- Even If Others Accuse It
Proverbs 3:5
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
The Accusation of Faith (vs 8-12)
The Confrontation of Faith (vs 13-15)
The Affirmation of Faith (vs 16-18)
Daniel 3:6
6 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.”
The Accusation of Faith
Daniel 3:8
8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews.
Revelation 12:10
10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers[a] has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
Daniel 3:9-11
9 They declared[a] to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 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. 11 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:12a
12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Daniel 3:12b
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.”
Exodus 20:1-5
20 And God spoke all these words, saying,
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before[a] me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
Faith Stands UP- Even If Others Accuse It
Matthew 5:11-12
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
1 Peter 3:15-17
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.
The Accusation of Faith
The Confrontation of Faith
Daniel 3:13-14
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. 14 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?
Matthew 10:22
22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Daniel 3:15a
15 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.
Daniel 3:15
15 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.[a] 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?”
The Biggest Danger to Your Faith Is Living for The Approval of People
Galatians 1:10-11
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant[a] of Christ. 11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel.[b]
Many Churches have Become So Sensitive That They Have Become Insensitive to The Holy Spirit
Faith Speaks OUT- Even If Others Confront It
The Accusation of Faith
The Confrontation of Faith
The Affirmation of Faith
Daniel 3:16
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
Faith Sustains ON- Even If Others Threaten It
Daniel 3:17
17 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.[a]
Daniel 3:18
18 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.”
Faith is Trusting in God’s Power- They Knew God Could
Faith is Trusting in God’s Purpose- They Knew No Matter the Outcome, It would be For His Purpose and His Glory
Faith is Trusting in God’s Plan – Faith Doesn’t Depend On Outcomes- It Depends on Obedience- They Remained Obedient
Faith Stands UP- Even If Others Accuse It
Faith Speaks OUT- Even If Others Confront It
Faith Sustains ON- Even If Others Threaten It
Prayer Guide
Adoration - Reflect on the ways God reveals His glory and greatness.
Lord, You are the only true God. You are my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. (Take a moment to praise God.)
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
John 17:3
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:2
Confession- Faith in God stands firm even when it is accused; it speaks out even when confronted; it endures even when threatened. Confess to God where the fear of man has taken over.
Lord, I confess that I have not honored You by failing to be prepared to defend my faith. I have sought the approval of man and fallen into people-pleasing. (Confess to God any specific ways you’ve traded conviction for compromise.)
but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
1 Peter 3:15
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant[a] of Christ.
Galatians 1:10
Thanksgiving - Thank God for His forgiveness and unchanging love.
Lord, thank You that in Christ we have forgiveness for our trespasses. Thank You God for being the same yesterday, today and forever. I give You thanks for Your steadfast love that endures forever. (Thank God for specific ways He has demonstrated His grace and unconditional love.)
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Ephesians 1:7
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8
Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Psalm 136:26
Supplication- Call on God to help you stand firm in your faith.
Lord, help me to be steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in Your work. Enable me to be watchful, standing firm in the faith. (Pause to ask God specific areas you need to obey Him.)
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
1 Corinthians 15:58, 16:13
Reflection
Are you living out a casual faith, or a firm faith that stands up, speaks out and endures?
Weekly Prayer Spotlight:
GBC Members: Pray for a deeper relationship with God and a hunger for His Word. Also pray for unity in the church, that members would be one in Christ and love one another.
Spiritual Warfare: Pray for wisdom to recognize the enemy’s schemes and for your thoughts to be brought into obedience to Christ.