Scripture: Daniel 3:1-7

C.I.: Bowing to the World’s Gods?

Last week – we saw how God teaches His people to relate to a world as strangers in a strange.
The theme of the Book of Daniel, is, “God Rules,” Nations – Relationships – Individuals!

I. What Choices Do We Make When Others Bow (Daniel 3)

A. “You do not serve my gods or worship the golden image I have set up,” (vs. 8-18)

1. We know there will always be those who believe their job is to criticize/defame others, (vs. 8-12).
a. (v. 8), “At that time certain Chaldeans came and brought charges against the Jews.”
1) Notice that these people are left nameless – they should be … unworthy to be remembered!
2) Yet how often do God’s people “knuckle under” for fear of what “certain” others might say?
3) We need to ask, (Gal. 1:10) “Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”

b. The Charge: (v. 12), “There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration
of the province of Babylon, namely S., M., A. – These men, O king, have disregarded you; - they
do not serve your gods – or worship the golden image which you have set up.”
1) In chapter 1, we saw these 3 – stood up against the Politically Correct attitudes of the day!
2) P.C. says tolerance be given to any belief – except for those who believe in absolutes.
a. Tolerance demands all beliefs, behaviors, lifestyles & truth claims are EQUAL!
b. “Law of Non-Contradiction” = 2 contradictory ideas cannot both be true – Jn. 14:6.
c. ILLUST.: Alice in Wonderland, as quoted in, “The New Tolerance,” p. 71

2. When believers won’t bow to the world’s gods, the world will seek to destroy us.
a. (vs. 14-15), “Neb. said, ‘Is it true, S., M., A., that you do not serve or worship the golden image I have set up? Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of… fall down and worship the image I have made, very well. – But if you do not worship, you will be immediately cast into the furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?’
1) Thru the years many believers have “faced the fire” (Huss, Wycliffe…) – Recent examples…
a) Dr. Jim Ainst as quoted in, “The New Tolerance,” pgs. 73-74.
b) Principal Bishop Knox from Jackson, Miss., as quoted in, “The New Tolerance,” p. 76.
c) Father of 6 yr old jailed when he objected to son’s homosexual curriculum in kindergarten.

b. Faith comes with a price tag. – The only question is, “Are we willing to pay the price?”
1) Some people want a “discount faith,” they want one that won’t cost them too much!!
2) Note how these could have justified their bowing by saying: “We’re just bowing on the outside, but on the inside…” –– “We could lose our job” - “We could lose our lives!!”
3) (Quote II Tim. 3:12; I Pt. 2:21-23), “All who desire…” – “You have been called for this….”
4) Where are the believers today – who have enough courage to say, “ENOUGH!!!”

3. They have been given a choice, “Bow or Burn!” – What decision must a believer make?
a. (vs. 16-18), “O Neb., we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. - If it be so,
our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver
us out of your hand, O king. – But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will
not serve your gods nor worship the golden image that you have set up”
1) God had spoken, (Ex. 20:3, 5), “You shall have no other gods before me … you shall not worship or serve them.”
2) Is your faith in a “What” or in a “Who”? – Their trust was in the “Who” - no matter the “what” happened. - (Ever act out of a hope for a reward & were upset if it didn’t happen?)

B. “Cast them into the furnace of blazing fire,” (vs. 19-30)

1. The world’s response to the believers’ message is not always conversion - but wrath, (vs. 19-27)!
a. (vs. 19, 22), “Then Neb. was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was altered towards S., M., A. – He gave orders to heat the furnace 7x more than it was usually heated … Because the king’s command was urgent – and the furnace had been made extremely hot, - the flame of the fire slew the men who carried up S., M., A. – But these 3 men, S., M., A., fell into the midst….”
1) God’s people need not fear the fire – for it is often through the flames that we find freedom!
2) Too many long for holiness w/o suffering – sanctification w/o a cross – growth w/o tears!
3) Spiritual life does not come without struggles – (I Pt. 4:1-2), “Since Christ suffered in the
flesh, - arm yourselves also with this same purpose, - because he who has suffered in the flesh
has ceased from sin, - so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lust of
men, - but for the will of God..”

b. (vs. 24-25), “Then Neb. stood up in haste & said, ‘Was it not 3 men we cast bound into the fire? –
Look! I see 4 men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, - and the
appearance of the 4th is like a son of the gods.”
1) God takes care of His own – (Isa. 43:1-2), “You are Mine! – When you pass thru the
waters I will be with you, and the rivers will not overflow you, when you walk through the
fire, you will not be scorched!” – This is not about “fire-walking” – but the presence of God!
2) For Jesus promised His ever-abiding presence with us, - (quote Matt. 28:20).

c. (v. 26-27), “Neb. came near to the door of the furnace & said, ‘S., M., A., come out, you servants
of the Most High God, and come here.’ The S., M., A., came out of the midst of the fire. - …the
fire had no effects on the bodies of these men nor was their hair singed, nor were their trousers
damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.” (Notice a change in tone??!)
1) We are the children of these men – others tried to get them to bow – yet God magnifies!!!
2) We come from their same spiritual heritage – yet do we com with their moral courage? – Will we say, “No!” when the world demands that we accept – what God finds unacceptable?!

2. The now convicted king forgets his golden god and glorifies the God of heaven (vs. 28-30)
a. (v. 28), “Blessed be the God of S., M., A., who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God.”
1) One day all the decrees of men – as well as the men who made them will bow (Phil. 2:10-11), “At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those in heaven, on earth, or under the earth, & every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”
2) Quote Matthew 28:19-20