Standing for God | Daniel 3:1-7
Bowing Down To The World- Or Standing Up For God
Daniel 3:1-7
3 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits[a] and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 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.3 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. 4 And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 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. 6 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.”7 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.
The Dedication (vs 1-3)
The Obligation (vs 4-6)
The Adoration (v 7)
Satan Is Always Trying to Deceive Us by Keeping Us Comfortable and Selfish, by Keeping Us Focused On the Things of This World, and by Perverting Christ In Our Minds
The Dedication
Daniel 2:47
47 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.”
Daniel 2:49
49 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 3:1-2
3 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits[a] and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 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.
Isaiah 40:8
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.
Daniel 3:1
3 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits[a] and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Genesis 3:5
5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Bowing Down To The World- Or Standing Up For God
Daniel 3:2
2 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.
Daniel 3:3
3 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.
The Dedication
The Obligation
Daniel 3:4-5
4 And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 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.
Bowing Down To The World- Or Standing Up For God
Daniel 3:6
6 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.”
Revelation 13:15
15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.
The Dedication
The Obligation
The Adoration
Daniel 3:7
7 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 3:5 & 7
5 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.
7 Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music,
Romans 12:2
2 Do not be conformed to this world,[a] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.[b]
The World DEMANDS Our Worship, But God DESERVES Our Worship
Bowing Down To The World- Or Standing Up For God
Prayer Guide
Adoration - Remember the greatness and goodness of God.
Great are You Lord, and greatly to be praised. Your greatness is unsearchable. You are the everlasting God. (Pause to render Him reverence and honor.)
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.
Psalm 145:3
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
Isaiah 40:28
Confession - Anything that captures your heart more than God becomes an idol. Bring those things honestly before Him in confession.
Lord, I confess that I have set up idols in my heart. I have bowed down to them and served them. (Confess to God any specific ways you’ve bowed to the things of the world - wealth, possessions, power, etc.)
“Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them?
Ezekiel 14:3
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,
Deuteronomy 5:9
Thanksgiving - Thank God for His forgiveness and mercy.
Lord, thank You for being faithful and just to forgive my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Thank You for being merciful and gracious. (Thank God for specific ways He has demonstrated His faithfulness to you.)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Psalm 103:8
Supplication - Invite God to renew your mind so that you are not shaped by the world but transformed by His truth.
Lord, by Your Spirit, enable me not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. Help me to set my mind on things above, not on earthly things. (Pause to pray that God would help you identify specific ways you need to grow in obedience to Him.)
Do not be conformed to this world,[a] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Colossians 3:2
Reflection
Are you obeying the world or are you obeying God?
Weekly Prayer Spotlight:
Community Groups: Pray for stronger bonds between group participants, including perseverance, self-sacrifice, and honesty.
Outreach: Pray for unity and a shared purpose among our church body for the mission of evangelism and outreach.