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Good morning.

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It's good to see all of you here.

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It's a pleasure and a joy and an honor to be with you every time that we have the
opportunity to do so.

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We're grateful for our visitors that are with us today.

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We appreciate your presence and we hope that you will come back and see us again every
opportunity that you have.

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This morning, I wanna spend some time discussing a tested faith.

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In the Old Testament we find an example of three young individuals who their faith was
tested.

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Their willingness to obey God instead of obeying men was tested.

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Take your Bibles, if you will, and open them to Daniel chapter 3.

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The background of Daniel chapter 3 could be stated like this.

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There were four young men, Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, or Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego, as their Babylonian names were given to them, who were captured along with

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many of the other young people from the families of royalty and those who were educated
out of the southern kingdom of Judah and Jerusalem.

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They were captured by Nebuchadnezzar.

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and carried away into captivity because the alternative was Nebuchadnezzar destroying the
nation.

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And so Nebuchadnezzar carried them away into captivity to be taught and trained in the
ways of the Babylonians, to serve in his courts, to serve in his house, and they were

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placed in that role.

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They were taught, they were trained, they were educated over a period of years and

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These three individuals, Hananiah, Azariah, Michiel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Bendigo, were
those who excelled above all the others, even of their own countrymen, in that they did

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not waver from the commands of God.

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But as a result of being faithful to the commands of God, were blessed and prospered in
their roles.

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They were advanced into roles of leadership within the nation, as we find in Daniel
chapter two, occurs to Daniel and the other three as well.

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In Daniel chapter three, you find an event where Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the
Babylonians, has called together a great number of the leaders in the nation.

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Daniel chapter three opens with these words.

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Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold whose height was 60 cubits and its width six
cubits.

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He set it up in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

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And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the
governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the

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officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image which King
Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

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The idea here that is being described is Nebuchadnezzar used most likely the bounty
carried away from these other nations to erect this great image made of gold.

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This image that stood 60 cubits high, it six cubits wide.

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This image that described in its actions, the making of it and the work of it.

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the skills of Nebuchadnezzar's nation, but also the glory and the power that existed in
the person of Nebuchadnezzar.

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Some have suggested that the image itself was an image of Nebuchadnezzar.

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The text doesn't say.

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But Nebuchadnezzar calls the leaders of the provinces, the leaders of the regions that are
around Babylon, because as Babylon would take over a region, as they would take over a

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land, their practice was to carry the people away, to put other people in that land on
some occasions, and then to install a ruler over that land.

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And Nebuchadnezzar's going to bring those rulers, those

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significant people, those judges, those treasurers into Babylon, into the plain of Dura to
observe this great thing that he has erected.

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But then consider as well, we read verse 3, so the sate traps, the administrators, the
governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the

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officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King
Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

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and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

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And then a herald cried aloud, to you it is commanded, O peoples, nations and languages.

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Notice that all those gathered together weren't all Babylonians.

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They weren't all originally from the nation that they're being brought there to point out
we're in charge.

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We're ruling over you and look at and glory in our greatness.

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So he says, it is commanded, O peoples, nations and languages, that at the time you hear
the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre and sultry in symphony with all kinds of music,

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you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.

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And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a
burning fiery furnace.

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So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, the flute, the harp, the
lyre and symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations and languages fell down

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and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

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The herald comes forth from the king with the instructions.

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This is how this is going to occur.

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This is how this event is going to proceed.

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When you hear the music, you're going to fall down and you're going to worship the image.

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But notice that the conveyance of the message was not, you're going to fall down and
worship this God.

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Did you notice that?

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You're going to fall down and worship this image which Nebuchadnezzar has created.

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This was to make clear that their allegiance, their worship, their submission was to be to
Nebuchadnezzar.

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That their obeisance was to Nebuchadnezzar, for he was the creator.

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of the image.

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He was the one with the power to demand their presence and to demand their worship.

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So when the sultries and the harps and the flutes and the lyres begin to play in symphony
and all kinds of music with it, what do the people do?

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They bow down and they worship the image which Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

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But then we read verse eight.

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Verse eight says, therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused

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the Jews.

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They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, King, live forever.

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You, O King, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, the flute,
the harp, the lyre, and the psaltery, and symphony, with all kinds of music, shall fall

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down and worship the gold image.

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And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast in the midst of burning fiery
furnace."

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There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

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These men, O King, have not paid due regard to you.

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They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.

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There are those from the nation, those from the Chaldeans, these are the people

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who were part of the Babylonian nation to begin with.

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These were the individuals whose ancestors were part of this nation that came out of the
uh subservience to uh the Assyrian Empire and has overthrown the Assyrian Empire and now

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as they've been inundated with all these other people.

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They point out that there's this group, this nationality, these Jews...

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that when you gave the command, they didn't obey.

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You you remember from childhood, especially young childhood, there would be times where a
group of children were all told to do something.

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And as they're told to do something, there's one child that doesn't do it.

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And they might have gotten by with it, except little Tommy over there, he's a rule
follower.

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And he looks and sees Susie didn't do it.

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And he's not about to keep it to himself.

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After all, little Susie made him mad just the other day.

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Teacher, teacher, teacher!

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Did you see that little Suzy, she didn't do what you said?

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The Chaldeans.

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If you follow through the text of the book of Daniel, we're not at all happy with these
young Jewish men being brought out of captivity and being placed in positions of authority

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or power.

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So when they observe that these three individuals, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, did
not fall down and worship as the king commanded, they not only brought

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it.

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But they brought word of it so as to make it incredibly clear to Nebuchadnezzar, these
people haven't done it and this is an affront to you.

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But you see here in verses 1-12

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that faith stands firm even under threat of death.

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when it is a tried, tested, and healthy faith.

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when the command came from the king.

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It didn't come with exclusions.

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It didn't come with cutouts.

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It didn't come with a if everybody's agreeable.

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It didn't come with a we understand there may be some of you with personal thoughts and
opinions or different ideas about what you should do, but

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We encourage you, no, it came with, you will do this, or you know that furnace of fire
that we use to melt all this gold so as to be able to cast this great image?

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Guess what, it's still here, it's still lit, and it's ready.

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And if you don't obey, that's where you're headed.

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the Chaldeans, when they inform on these three Jews, they are sure to point out.

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There was a consequence for not obeying your command.

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and that is that you would be thrown into the fiery furnace.

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And yet, we observe that for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they did not misunderstand
the command.

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There was no point at which they were uncertain of what they were being told to do.

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They were not oblivious to the consequences.

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You know, it's one thing if you're not quite sure how it's going to go, you're not quite
certain if everyone's serious, you don't know for sure if they're going to carry out the

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consequences.

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I mean, all you've got to do is look at the justice system in Memphis and discover that
not all the time are judgments actually carried out.

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But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not of the opinion that Nebuchadnezzar was
bluffing or that they would somehow skirt aside from the consequences of their decision.

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Rather, their faith demanded of them that no matter the cost, they would be faithful to
God.

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The challenge to us is to look at this example and to realize that this example didn't
happen in a vacuum.

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This example didn't happen just by circumstance.

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That this was already their practice in life.

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When you go back to Daniel chapter one,

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You're first introduced to these individuals.

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Verse 6, now from among those of the uh sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Michiel, and
Azariah.

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To them the chiefs of the eunuchs gave names.

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He gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar, to Hananiah Shadrach, to Michiel Meshach, and to
Azariah Abednego.

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But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with a portion of the
king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank.

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Therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

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Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.

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And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, I fear my lord the king who has appointed
your food and your drink, for why should he see your faces looking worse than those young

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men who are your

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then you will endanger my head before the king.' So Daniel said to the steward, whom the
chief of the eunuchs had said over Daniel, Hananiah, Michiel, and Azariah,

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Please test your servants for 10 days and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to
drink.

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Then let our appearance be examined before you and appearance of the young men who eat the
portion of the King's delicacies as you see fit.

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So deal with your servants so he consented with them in this matter and tested them 10
days and at the end of 10 days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all

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the young men who ate the portion of the King's delicacies.

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back when they first arrived in the land, when they were first put into these positions in
training, they were given a portion of the king's food and they were told to eat it,

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except it did not accord with the commands of the law of Moses.

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And so they asked for permission to not eat it, but rather to be fed something different,
and the one who they asked said, do you know you are endangering my life?

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This chief of the eunuchs makes it clear to these young Jews, if this goes wrong, I'm
dead.

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He knew Nebuchadnezzar.

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He knew the consequence of violating the king's command and what could come from it.

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Over in Daniel chapter 2,

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when you find the king has had a vision and he desires to know what the vision means.

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He calls upon his Chaldeans to tell him what it means and to tell him what the vision was
and they cannot do it.

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And you'll notice down in verse 14, after Daniel has told the king that he will declare to
the king these things, then with counsel and wisdom, Daniel answered Ariok, the captain of

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the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon.

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He answered and said to Ariok, the king's captain, why is the decree from the king so
urgent?

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Then Ariak made the decision known to Daniel, so Daniel went in and asked the king to give
him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation.

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Then Daniel went to his house and made the decision known to Hananiah, Michiel, and
Azariah, his companions, that they might seek mercies from God, the God of heaven,

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concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest
of the wise men of Babylon.

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Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision, so Daniel blessed the God of
heaven.

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You see, these events didn't transpire in a vacuum.

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Rather, this was the character of these three young men.

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That their determination from day one in Babylon was they were going to be faithful to
God.

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That they were going to be reliant upon God.

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And there was nothing the king could do, no threat of death.

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that He could issue no possibility of their demise that would change their heart and mind
from faithfulness to God.

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A tested faith does not begin when someone has to choose whether or not to give up their
life for what they believe.

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It begins every day when they choose to live for what they believe.

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but their faith stood firm even under threat of death.

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But then consider verses 13 through verse 18.

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You learn that when it comes to attested faith, obedience to God outweighs loyalty to men.

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In verse 12 of chapter 3, we read concerning those who came and said, there are certain
Jews whom you have said over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach,

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and Abednego.

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These men, O king, have not paid due regard to you.

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They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.

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Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego.

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So they brought these men before the king.

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Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that
you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?

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Now, if you are ready at the time,

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You hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and sultry in symphony with all kinds
of music and fall down and worship the image which I have made good.

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But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery
furnace.

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And who is the God who will deliver you from my hands?

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Nebuchadnezzar in his rage, in his fury, when he hears concerning what has occurred, that
someone has dared to defy his authority and power.

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calls them into his presence.

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And if I could sum it up this way, he says, I'll give you one last chance.

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You fix it now.

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You do it right this time.

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And we'll forget the first thing ever occurred.

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But if you don't.

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then you better believe that I was serious, that I meant what I said.

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And there's not a God that can save you out of my hand.

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so they give the command.

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and you'll notice verse 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king,
O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.

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Now these individuals are the individuals who have their position because the king gave it
to them.

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They have their authority because the king gave it to them.

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They have their rights and they have their opportunities because the king gave it to them.

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They're still alive because he kept them alive.

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And yet they have the audacity to say, we have no need to answer you in this matter.

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to act and to believe that they have no responsibility to Nebuchadnezzar at all?

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Actually, that's not what they said, is it?

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They said in this matter, they didn't say, Nebuchadnezzar, we don't recognize your rule
over the land of Israel.

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We don't recognize your authority as King of Babylon.

191
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They didn't say any of that.

192
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They said in this matter, we have no need to answer you.

193
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But notice what they did say.

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They said, if it is the case, or sorry, if that is the case, our God whom we serve is able
to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us from your hand, O

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King.

196
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But if not, let it be known to you, O King, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we
worship the gold image which you have set up.

197
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Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answer the king in clearness.

198
00:24:22,947 --> 00:24:25,650
And they make it a point to say...

199
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We actually do serve a God who can deliver us from your judgment.

200
00:24:34,627 --> 00:24:39,770
We actually do serve a God who can deliver us out of your hand.

201
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And he will.

202
00:24:47,062 --> 00:24:59,114
Now, it's clear from the text that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not know for
certain that they would not die that day.

203
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For they say in verse 18, but if not...

204
00:25:08,632 --> 00:25:16,549
but they also readily understood that if God chose not to deliver them, it wasn't because
He was incapable.

205
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It wasn't because He was not able to deliver them out of Nebuchadnezzar's hands as
Nebuchadnezzar had claimed.

206
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but rather that it didn't matter.

207
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rather that they should know and that Nebuchadnezzar should know that there's exactly one
God who you ought to worship.

208
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And it is the one.

209
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who Nebuchadnezzar should have been worshipping.

210
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It is the one that he should have been following, that he should have recognized, and the
one who could deliver them out of the fiery furnace.

211
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as we consider attested faith.

212
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We understand and we should realize.

213
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that all the relationships that we have in this world.

214
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don't amount to anything in comparison to our relationship to God.

215
00:26:28,790 --> 00:26:39,358
that if we are willing to trade our relationship with God for our relationship with any
person on this earth.

216
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You know, Shadrach, Nishan, and Bendigo could have said, well, King, we do understand that
we're only in this position of power and glory and greatness and authority over the very

217
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region of Babylon where we are brought as captives.

218
00:26:55,022 --> 00:26:57,294
We're only in this position because of you.

219
00:26:57,294 --> 00:26:58,625
And you know what?

220
00:26:59,126 --> 00:27:03,370
In honor of you, we'll do it your way.

221
00:27:04,170 --> 00:27:15,713
in recognition and gratefulness to you, realizing that you could have just as easily
killed us the day we got here and instead you've put us in this position of authority.

222
00:27:15,833 --> 00:27:17,374
King, you know what?

223
00:27:17,374 --> 00:27:18,594
We'll do it.

224
00:27:18,814 --> 00:27:23,595
Now, just to be clear, we don't agree with it, but we'll do it.

225
00:27:24,876 --> 00:27:26,476
No, that's not what they said.

226
00:27:27,697 --> 00:27:33,748
They were not willing to follow men to do evil.

227
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They were not willing to bow the knee to the demands of someone who said they could do
this without offending their God.

228
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The challenge that we have sometimes is the question of whether or not we will just say
nothing so we don't cause a scene.

229
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We'll just say nothing so that we don't disrupt other people in their beliefs, so that we
don't get looked upon by others as, yeah, there's those Christians again.

230
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But that wasn't Shadrach, Nishek, and Abednego.

231
00:28:24,428 --> 00:28:26,981
they would not disobey.

232
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Now, did Chad, Rack, Meshach, and Obendigo run up to the musicians and try and stop them
from playing?

233
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No.

234
00:28:35,778 --> 00:28:41,140
Did they try to disrupt the entire event so that it never transpired?

235
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No.

236
00:28:44,002 --> 00:28:46,322
they simply refuse to comply.

237
00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:49,875
and accepted the consequence.

238
00:28:51,446 --> 00:28:54,241
one of the challenges that we often face.

239
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is that we want the stance of being faithful to God without the consequences of being
faithful to God.

240
00:29:06,198 --> 00:29:12,788
We want to make sure everybody's still okay with it while still being faithful to God.

241
00:29:16,852 --> 00:29:32,112
Jesus would point out to his disciples that as he departed from this earth, as he would
leave them with their mission to carry out the opening of the kingdom, he says, the world

242
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hated me and they'll hate you too.

243
00:29:38,072 --> 00:29:39,355
For my sake.

244
00:29:41,196 --> 00:29:54,995
Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew before they ever arrived at Babylon, before
they ever arrived and were put in this scenario, that they weren't walking into a friendly

245
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environment, that they weren't walking into a situation where everyone would be thrilled
about the commands and the ordinances and the statutes of their God.

246
00:30:08,652 --> 00:30:09,985
But guess what?

247
00:30:11,331 --> 00:30:13,918
That's the same situation they were leaving.

248
00:30:15,704 --> 00:30:33,323
For the very reason why Nebuchadnezzar was being allowed by God to overthrow Jerusalem and
Judah is because the nation that they came from also no longer followed the will of God.

249
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They no longer worshiped the God of heaven.

250
00:30:38,764 --> 00:30:44,381
they no longer bow down exclusively to the God who actually exists.

251
00:30:44,381 --> 00:30:49,046
So whether they were in Judah or whether they were in Babylon didn't matter.

252
00:30:51,106 --> 00:30:58,024
They were going to be surrounded by those who would pressure them to not be faithful to
God.

253
00:31:01,036 --> 00:31:07,774
They had determined that their obedience to God would never be outweighed by their loyalty
to men.

254
00:31:09,656 --> 00:31:11,371
but then you see number three.

255
00:31:13,292 --> 00:31:18,144
you see that God honors those who refuse to compromise.

256
00:31:21,185 --> 00:31:26,586
The politicians of the world will tell you that politics is the art of compromise.

257
00:31:28,186 --> 00:31:31,326
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were very bad politicians.

258
00:31:32,746 --> 00:31:35,266
They didn't believe in compromise.

259
00:31:35,946 --> 00:31:39,646
Not when it came to matters of God.

260
00:31:40,286 --> 00:31:49,398
Consider verse 19, then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury and the expression on his face
changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

261
00:31:49,398 --> 00:31:55,583
He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually
heated.

262
00:31:55,583 --> 00:32:02,707
You know, there's a temperature at which you need to melt gold, and it's sufficient to
kill humans.

263
00:32:03,488 --> 00:32:08,191
But Nebuchadnezzar was not satisfied with that temperature setting.

264
00:32:08,652 --> 00:32:13,075
Nebuchadnezzar said, you take that and you exceed it seven times.

265
00:32:13,996 --> 00:32:17,378
So he commanded certain men of valor.

266
00:32:17,378 --> 00:32:23,583
who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and cast them into the
burning fiery furnace.

267
00:32:23,583 --> 00:32:32,870
Then these men were bound in their coats and their trousers, their turbans and their
garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

268
00:32:32,911 --> 00:32:42,580
Therefore, because the king's command was urgent and the furnace exceedingly hot, the
flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

269
00:32:42,580 --> 00:32:49,014
And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell downbound into the midst of the
burning fiery furnace.

270
00:32:49,895 --> 00:33:04,045
The heat was so exceedingly hot, the lack of care and concern concerning this command was
so urgent, it was so immediate that even those who were putting them into the fiery

271
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furnace were killed.

272
00:33:09,474 --> 00:33:13,116
And so they fall down, bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

273
00:33:13,116 --> 00:33:15,776
Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished.

274
00:33:16,557 --> 00:33:24,440
And he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, Did we not cast three men bound
into the midst of the fire?

275
00:33:24,980 --> 00:33:28,542
They answered and said to the king, True, O King.

276
00:33:29,242 --> 00:33:38,880
Look, he answered, I see four men, loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are
not hurt.

277
00:33:38,880 --> 00:33:42,194
and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

278
00:33:44,566 --> 00:33:51,190
Nebuchadnezzar is not sufficed with killing these men.

279
00:33:51,291 --> 00:33:54,593
He wants to watch them die.

280
00:33:55,794 --> 00:33:58,475
So he's staring into the furnace.

281
00:33:59,477 --> 00:34:03,820
He's looking to see their corpses burning.

282
00:34:03,820 --> 00:34:07,762
He is enraged with these men.

283
00:34:10,730 --> 00:34:18,950
And yet, as he stares into the furnace, he finds something he was not at all expecting.

284
00:34:20,736 --> 00:34:23,723
Not three corpses burning to a crisp.

285
00:34:26,242 --> 00:34:35,058
but four men standing up, walking around, seemingly entirely unfazed by the fire.

286
00:34:37,260 --> 00:34:41,141
And Nebuchadnezzar says there's one of them that doesn't look like the others.

287
00:34:43,298 --> 00:34:46,970
He looks like the offspring of God.

288
00:34:49,901 --> 00:35:01,219
Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here.

289
00:35:02,061 --> 00:35:05,823
Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came from the midst of the fire.

290
00:35:05,923 --> 00:35:09,927
And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the kings, counselors gathered together.

291
00:35:09,927 --> 00:35:14,720
They saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power.

292
00:35:15,084 --> 00:35:21,817
The hair of their head was not singed, nor were their garments affected, and the smell of
fire was not on them.

293
00:35:22,478 --> 00:35:31,202
When they observed these men, when they witnessed them coming out of the fire and out of
the furnace, they didn't smell like smoke.

294
00:35:31,983 --> 00:35:33,653
They weren't singed.

295
00:35:33,653 --> 00:35:39,276
They were entirely untouched by the fire whatsoever.

296
00:35:44,824 --> 00:36:03,399
When you see the behind the scenes from the movies where they light someone on fire, you
see the precision and the care of those who know they have a certain number of seconds to

297
00:36:03,399 --> 00:36:04,390
film.

298
00:36:06,220 --> 00:36:09,383
before they've got to put that fire out or that person's going to be burned.

299
00:36:13,898 --> 00:36:23,688
I would suggest that there was no timeline upon which Nebuchadnezzar could have waited and
been satisfied with having killed these men.

300
00:36:25,218 --> 00:36:31,772
There was no point at which the power of God would have run out and they finally would
have been consumed.

301
00:36:33,922 --> 00:36:42,547
But Nebuchadnezzar, having witnessed the power of God, did an immediate about face in his
decision-making process.

302
00:36:43,309 --> 00:36:46,291
He calls for them to come out.

303
00:36:46,511 --> 00:36:50,964
As they come out, the people witness that they're entirely untouched.

304
00:36:53,174 --> 00:37:07,404
Then Nebuchadnezzar spoke, verse 28, saying, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, who sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him.

305
00:37:08,466 --> 00:37:20,394
And they have frustrated the king's word and have yielded their bodies that they should
not serve nor worship any god except their own.

306
00:37:21,890 --> 00:37:35,866
Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss
against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be cut in pieces and their houses

307
00:37:35,866 --> 00:37:43,554
shall be made an ash heap because there is no other God who can deliver like this.

308
00:37:45,410 --> 00:37:51,954
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babel.

309
00:37:56,398 --> 00:38:00,896
And God honors those who refuse to compromise.

310
00:38:02,860 --> 00:38:18,044
You say, Aaron, ah that's great, but if I'm ever tested in my faith to the point of death,
I'm pretty sure that God is not showing up to keep me from burning in the fire.

311
00:38:19,726 --> 00:38:23,808
to which you will not hear any disagreements from me.

312
00:38:25,986 --> 00:38:28,956
but I encourage you to turn to Romans chapter 6.

313
00:38:34,488 --> 00:38:37,103
Sorry, Revelation chapter 6, I said Romans.

314
00:38:38,007 --> 00:38:40,070
Revelation chapter 6.

315
00:38:48,450 --> 00:38:52,918
You have pictured those who are dying.

316
00:38:54,808 --> 00:38:56,297
for the cause of Christ.

317
00:38:58,146 --> 00:38:59,787
They're Christians.

318
00:39:00,748 --> 00:39:06,072
They're faithful to God, and they will not bow the knee to Caesar.

319
00:39:06,653 --> 00:39:09,635
They will not bow the knee to Rome.

320
00:39:10,156 --> 00:39:15,880
They will not worship the gods that these individuals proclaim.

321
00:39:17,162 --> 00:39:18,683
And they're dying.

322
00:39:19,704 --> 00:39:22,550
But you read in Revelation chapter 6,

323
00:39:22,550 --> 00:39:33,914
And in verse 9, when he opened the fifth seal, saw under the altar the souls of those who
had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.

324
00:39:34,354 --> 00:39:43,578
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, until you judge
and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?

325
00:39:43,578 --> 00:39:45,314
But notice verse 11.

326
00:39:46,528 --> 00:39:57,304
Then a white robe was given to each of them, and it was said to them that they should rest
a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren

327
00:39:57,304 --> 00:40:00,896
who would be killed as they were was completed.

328
00:40:04,660 --> 00:40:07,231
as John sees the vision.

329
00:40:08,454 --> 00:40:28,021
And God presents to John this vision of those who are willing to die for the testimony of
the Word of God, who are uncompromising in their faith, whose faith was tested and stood

330
00:40:28,021 --> 00:40:32,064
firm even if it meant their life.

331
00:40:34,456 --> 00:40:44,150
We see the picture of them standing beneath the altar, crying out to God and them being
told, it's time for you to rest.

332
00:40:45,451 --> 00:40:47,131
Your trials are over.

333
00:40:48,092 --> 00:40:50,633
But there's others who still have to follow you.

334
00:40:51,713 --> 00:40:53,614
In Revelation chapter two,

335
00:40:57,262 --> 00:40:59,043
to the church at Smyrna.

336
00:40:59,644 --> 00:41:09,813
The angel of the church in Smyrna, verse 8, writes, These things says the first and the
last, who was dead and came to life.

337
00:41:10,354 --> 00:41:14,637
I know your works, tribulation, and poverty, but you are rich.

338
00:41:14,758 --> 00:41:20,722
And I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue
of Satan.

339
00:41:21,043 --> 00:41:24,424
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer.

340
00:41:24,424 --> 00:41:30,920
Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and
you will have tribulation ten days.

341
00:41:30,920 --> 00:41:46,955
Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." Jesus, as he writes
through John to the church, informs the church at Smyrna, some of you are going to die for

342
00:41:46,955 --> 00:41:50,668
the testimony of God and the Word.

343
00:41:53,346 --> 00:41:54,926
But don't worry.

344
00:41:55,769 --> 00:41:57,651
Do not fear.

345
00:41:59,113 --> 00:42:12,950
As Jesus had already taught His disciples, do not fear those who can kill the body, but
rather fear Him who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

346
00:42:14,894 --> 00:42:24,837
As we examine our lives and as we examine our faith, let us learn what a tested faith
really is.

347
00:42:25,517 --> 00:42:32,499
It is not a faith that just shows up one day and begins and is tested.

348
00:42:33,599 --> 00:42:44,242
It is a faith that is tested every single day and determines every single day not to
depart from God.

349
00:42:45,044 --> 00:43:05,910
not to turn away from Him, but to speak the truth, to stand for the truth, to never bow
the knee to falsehood, to be diligent in service, knowing that someday that may cost us

350
00:43:05,910 --> 00:43:06,780
our life.

351
00:43:08,514 --> 00:43:15,772
But until that day, our life will be used up in praise, honor, and glory to God.

352
00:43:18,808 --> 00:43:26,223
But that we never outweigh our allegiance to men over our allegiance to God.

353
00:43:27,304 --> 00:43:36,050
And that there is honor due to those who will not turn back against God.

354
00:43:39,106 --> 00:43:46,910
But in order for you to have a tested faith, you first must have an obedient faith.

355
00:43:48,586 --> 00:43:50,783
It was not enough.

356
00:43:52,632 --> 00:43:57,488
for Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to say, believe in God.

357
00:43:58,650 --> 00:44:00,572
They had to keep His commandments.

358
00:44:01,534 --> 00:44:08,082
If you're here this morning and you're outside the body of Christ, you're outside of a
relationship with God.

359
00:44:09,846 --> 00:44:15,516
The world does not hate those who do not oppose the world.

360
00:44:17,890 --> 00:44:22,694
but God does not offer salvation to those who will not obey His commandments.

361
00:44:24,226 --> 00:44:26,882
You're here this morning and you're outside the body of Christ.

362
00:44:26,882 --> 00:44:29,537
Why not change that today?

363
00:44:30,822 --> 00:44:34,890
Why not be among those who the world will hate?

364
00:44:37,344 --> 00:44:41,736
And Jesus says, and count the cost before you make the decision.

365
00:44:42,377 --> 00:44:50,421
If you're here this morning and you're outside the body of Christ, you can change that by
hearing the word of God and believing that Jesus Christ is the son of God.

366
00:44:50,481 --> 00:44:59,426
By repenting of your sins and confessing the name of Christ and being immersed in water,
dying to yourself to be resurrected to Christ.

367
00:45:00,627 --> 00:45:06,558
And having the blood of Christ wash away your sins in the water and grave of baptism
rising

368
00:45:06,558 --> 00:45:19,846
in newness of life, knowing that this life is not all there is and that someday if you
make that commitment it may cost you everything.

369
00:45:20,627 --> 00:45:24,989
If you're here this morning you have need of that opportunity, it's available to you.

370
00:45:25,490 --> 00:45:32,084
If you're a member of the body of Christ and you say, you know what, my faith has been
tested and has been found wanting.

371
00:45:33,934 --> 00:45:35,395
It's failed the test.

372
00:45:36,276 --> 00:45:38,217
It's time to change.

373
00:45:38,558 --> 00:45:43,222
You don't wait until it will cost you your life to be faithful to God.

374
00:45:43,222 --> 00:45:52,390
You, as Revelation 2 verse 10 says, be faithful up to and including death.

375
00:45:54,200 --> 00:45:59,596
The cost that God requires isn't your death, it is your life.

376
00:46:00,598 --> 00:46:07,237
If you've departed from God, why not come back, repent, and be faithful to Him?

377
00:46:07,237 --> 00:46:12,053
If you have need of the invitation, why not come forward now as we stand and as we sing?