“Worship is WHAT we do, and WORSHIP is WHO we are.”
Sermon #3: 3 Admins Survive Furnace! King Backs Down on Worship Decree
Sermon Series: In Exile: Living with purpose in the days of Daniel
Scripture Text: Daniel 3
Sermon Notes:
DANIEL 3:16-18 NIV
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.
18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
- AUGUST LANDMESSER
- (1919-1949)
- “The Man Who Refused to Give a Nazi Salute”
“Worship is what we do, and worship is who we are.”
THEY WOULD NOT BOW
DANIEL 3:8 NIV
8 At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews.
DANIEL 3:12-14 NIV
12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon--Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego--who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”
13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,
14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up?
DANIEL 3:15 NIV
15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good.
But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”
THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF GOD
“God does what he wants, not what we expect him to do.”
THEY WOULD NOT BEND
DANIEL 3:16-18 NIV
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.
18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
DANIEL 3:17 LITV
17 If it is so that our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning, fiery furnace, then He will deliver out of your hand, O king.
DANIEL 3:18 NIV
18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
“Their worship was not dependent on whether or not they got their miracle.”
THEY WOULD NOT BURN
DANIEL 3:25 NIV
25 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.”
“We go through no experiences where God is not there.”
“Sometimes God protects us from the fire, sometimes He protects us through the fire.”
DANIEL 3:28-30 NIV
28 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.
29 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.”
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
“Worship is what we do, and worship is who we are.”
- “ORDER COMMUNICATES PRIORITY”
If order communicates priority, then it means putting God first.
- Our Time
- Our Resources
- Our Gifts
“Worship is what we do, and worship is who we are.”