Sunday, July 11, AM

Sunnyside this morning.

We're so glad that you can be with us to worship our Lord and Savior this morning together.

A few announcements as we get started this morning.

Come back for our evening service tonight.

Be sure to hear from Jeff Howe and his family and be able to fellowship with them tonight in our

evening service.

That's at 530 and then directly following that we get to share in a reception for Norman Loretta Nelson

as they prepare to head off to Bocheeto, Oklahoma just a little bit south of us.

Gone but not forgotten and I'm hoping that we see them often back here visiting with us but

we want to be able to honor them tonight and all that they've done in their many years of service here at

the church and just as good brothers and sisters in Christ to us.

So come back tonight for that reception for Norman Loretta.

Also this Wednesday at 545 we'll have dinner in the fellowship hall and then Bible

study and prayer at 630 following that and then coming up on Sunday July 25th we'll have

the Lord's Supper on that Sunday and then truth group for the young adults that evening after the

evening service then.

This week's fighter verse comes from Ephesians chapter 6.

We're kind of beginning the fighter verses that really kind of personify fighter verses and that's the

armor of God says, stand therefore having fastened on the belt of truth

and having put on the breastplate of righteousness and a shoes for your feet having put on the readiness

given by the gospel of peace.

Ephesians 6 for was Ephesians 6 14 through 15.

Operation Christmas Child there's some needs there we do have back -to -school season sales that are

possibly going on so there are some suggestions as far as like pens and pencils and little pencil sharpeners and colored

pencils that you could help pack and then regular size scissors not kind of the toddler safety scissors

those would be helpful as well.

We still need some nursery volunteers for the month of July so if you can help fill in there in the nursery see Marla

about that.

The sewing ministry has some needs you can see there in the bulletin and then if you can give blood there's

still a blood shortage going on Tommy McGarry in particular will would benefit from that as he continues

to undergo treatment as well and then finally we do have that church baseball game

at the Dodgers I think it's on the 24th of July there are a few extra

tickets available for that now so if you did not get some tickets and you're interested in going see

Patty Hines about signing up for those tickets.

All right any other announcements before we begin worship.

Yes

sir.

We're going to prepare our hearts for worship now and then after Michael will come and open us in

prayer.

Father we come before you today and we thank you for this great and precious treasure.

We may meet together in the unity the fellowship of your Holy Spirit.

We've come together in the name of Jesus Christ to give him praise today we rejoice that he is risen from

the dead and he is at your right hand even now.

He is our Savior and our Sovereign.

And what a joy it is.

What a what a provision it is that we are able to come together

and worship you.

To give you praise and glory and honor.

To speak as you speak in your word of your glory of your goodness of your righteousness of your truth.

Thank you for this wonderful gift of Christian fellowship.

Thank you for this wonderful gift of coming together

in this place to freely proclaim your your worthiness.

To ascribe glory and honor to you.

And Lord we.

We do so in our weakness.

We come needing your help your aid your power your Holy Spirit.

So I ask that you would fill us with your spirit and that the worship that we render

would be that which you desire that which would honor you that which would be fitting

given all who you are and all that you have done.

So we ask for these mercies looking to Jesus Christ the one with.

Whom you are well pleased.

Amen.

If you're able would you stand with me for our call to worship.

Our passage this morning is found in Psalms chapter 67 excuse me 68.

We'll be reading verses 17 to 19.

Read with me together.

The chariots of God are twice 10 ,000 thousands and found thousands.

The Lord is among them.

Sinai is now in the sanctuary.

You ascended on high leading a host of captives in your train and

receiving gifts among men even among the rebellious that the Lord God

may dwell there.

Blessed will be the Lord who daily bears us up.

God is our salvation.

Our first song this morning is on page 8 praise to the Lord the Almighty.

And then

we'll

go

into

page

350.

Tis

so

sweet

to

trust

in

Jesus.

Amos.

We're continuing in Amos this morning.

In Amos chapter 6 verses 1 through 14.

The entirety of the chapter.

This is the word of the Lord.

Amos 6 verse 1.

Woe to those who are at ease in Zion and those who feel secure on the

mountain of Samaria.

The notable men of the first of the nations to whom the house of Israel comes

pass over to Calna and see.

And from there go to him off the great and then go down to Gath of the Philistines.

Are you better than these kingdoms or is their territory greater than your territory.

Oh you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence.

Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches

and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall

who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for

themselves instruments of music.

Who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils

but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph.

Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile.

And the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away

the Lord God has sworn by himself declares the Lord the God of hosts.

I abhor the pride of Jacob and hate his strongholds.

And I will deliver up the city and all that is in it.

And if ten men remain in one house they shall die.

And when one's relative the one who anoints him for burial shall take him up to bring the bones out of

the house and shall say to him who is in the innermost parts of the house.

Is there still anyone with you.

He shall say no and he shall say silence.

We must not mention the name of the Lord.

For behold the Lord commands and the great house shall be struck down into fragments and

the little house into bits.

Two horses run on rocks.

Does one plow there with oxen.

But you have turned justice into poison.

And the fruit of righteousness into wormwood.

You who rejoice in low to bar who say have we not by our own strength captured car

name for ourselves.

For behold I will raise up against you a nation.

Oh house of Israel declares the Lord the God of hosts.

And they shall oppress you from Lebo.

Hamas.

To the brook of the Arabah.

Would you pray with me

gracious Heavenly Father.

We thank you for these sobering words.

We thank you for words of warning.

They are a grace to us that we might hear and take

heed lest we fall into judgment and destruction.

For we're no different than Israel.

We are blessed beyond measure by your

hand.

And yet we do not acknowledge you as our God as a nation.

And because of that judgment is at hand father

pray that we as a church might preach repentance and confession of our sins before you

that we might turn back to you both individually in our own lives

in our families in this church in our city in our state in our nation.

Father you are our God there is no other.

And by your word we have fullness of joy and life everlasting.

Thank you for the work of Christ that makes our worship acceptable to you.

Be with brother Michael as he brings your holy word to us this morning.

Help it to penetrate our hearts cutting to the flesh

that we might be healed.

Father we ask these.

Things in the name of Jesus you can be seated.

The various empires of this world pass away but the one true

living God Jehovah God he's eternal he's holy and his kingdom does not

pass away.

Turn with me if you would.

In our blue little black and those modern ancient.

Page 63 we'll sing in this rebel world and then we'll finish up again.

Was so sweet

to

trust

in

Jesus

gathering

us together.

Today

is to gather on the first day of the week and consider

Christ risen from the dead

fruits

fruits of the new creation.

We praise you heavenly father.

Through your son and by your spirit you are making all things new.

We ask today that you would bless us with ears to hear

eyes that see that eagerly

to the truth of your word.

We ask for these graces trusting that

you delight in your son Jesus Christ.

And so do we.

And by your grace we ask that you would do your work in us have your way in us

advance your kingdom through us.

That we would be the amen on earth of your will that is in heaven.

We pray these things in Jesus name.

Amen.

I invite you to open your Bibles to Daniel 3.

Daniel chapter 3 title.

The sermon is by me Kings.

Last week we began talking about statism.

Statism is for

a while it has been quite

manifest since the days of the Tower of Babel

since the days of Nimrod.

Statism is nothing new but it is of course

quite prominent.

What is statism.

Statism to use the words of Christ.

Statism entails rendering unto Caesar that which belongs to God.

Rendering unto Caesar that which belongs to the church.

Rendering unto Caesar that which belongs to the family.

That's statism where the state takes upon

the roles of prophets and priests as well

as King.

Not just to be King not just to bear the sword to punish evildoers but to also take on

the profit of the role of profit.

We will tell you what is true and right and priest.

We will show you the way of salvation.

Statism seeks to solve all problems and save all peoples.

How are we going to fix the problems in the world.

How are we going to rescue and deliver and save the people's in the world.

Well the state will do it.

That's what statism is.

Statism seeks Christ's own position at the right hand and more

now Daniel's friends.

Daniel's friends are facing off with a statist

ruler facing off with a statist culture.

And indeed so are we Daniel's friends long before.

It's important to note long before they are thrown into the burning fiery furnace

they stand unmelting in the heat of pagan tyranny

in the fear of God.

They are unbound by the fear of man and the fear of death.

And while Nebuchadnezzar in his statist approach seeks to consume their

bodies he cannot consume their souls.

Now we have an obvious need to think carefully about these matters.

We have an obvious need to think about statism and its role in the world.

Today in our own culture we have a need to go to the scriptures

and let the Bible be the standard of our lives.

Wherein we are making our evaluations wherein we are considering

our expectations and making our exhortations from the Word of God.

The Word of God is the standard the Bible is the is the standard by which we would assess anything in

our world including the claims of the state.

Now let's consider what's going on with Daniel and his friends.

We're going to begin reading in Daniel chapter 3

verses 8 through 30 you may remember that

Nebuchadnezzar has built a golden image and he has crafted a religious ceremony to

ordain his image to adorn his power.

And so he's called everybody together to worship the golden image.

So I invite you to stand with me as I read Daniel chapter 3 verses 8 through 30 the words of our Savior and

Sovereign Jesus Christ through his Holy Spirit in the prophet Daniel

verse 8.

Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews.

They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar Oh King live forever.

You Oh King have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn flute harp lyre and psaltery and symphony with all

kinds of music shall fall down and worship the gold image.

And whoever does not fall down in worship shall be cast from the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon Shadrach Meshach and

Abednego.

These men Oh King have not paid due regard to you.

They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.

Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and fury gave the command to bring Shadrach Meshach and Abednego.

So they brought these men before the king.

Nebuchadnezzar spoke to them saying is it true Shadrach Meshach and Abednego that you do not serve my gods or worship

the gold image which I have set up.

Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn flute harp lyre and psaltery and symphony with all kinds of

music and you fall down and worship the image which I have made good.

But if you do not worship you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning

fiery furnace.

And who is the God who will deliver you from my hands.

Shadrach Meshach and Abednego answered and said to the king Oh Nebuchadnezzar

we have no need to answer you in this matter.

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 Oh King.

But if not let it be known to you Oh King that we do not serve your gods nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.

Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury and the expression on his face changed toward

Shadrach Meshach and Abednego.

He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.

And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach Meshach and Abednego and

cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

Then these men were bound in their coats their trousers their turbans and their other garments and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery

furnace.

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.

And these three men Shadrach Meshach and Abednego fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery

furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and he rose in haste and spoke saying to his counselors did we

not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire.

They answered and said to the king true Oh King look he answered I see four men loose

walking in the midst of the fire and they are not hurt.

And the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

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.

Then Shadrach Meshach and Abednego came from the midst of the fire and the satraps administrators governors and the king's counselors

gathered together and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no

power.

The hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected and the smell of fire was

not on them.

Nebuchadnezzar spoke saying blessed be the God of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego who sent his angel

and delivered his servants who trusted in him and they have frustrated the king's word and yielded their bodies that

they should not serve nor worship any God except their own God.

Therefore I make a decree that any people nation or language which speaks anything amidst amidst

against the God of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego shall be cut in pieces and their houses shall be made an

ash heap because there is no other God who can deliver like this.

Then the king promoted Shadrach Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon says the

word.

Of the Lord thanks be to God.

You may be seated

some government officials.

Ruling is just a matter of printing your own money and owning all the nukes and f -15s

because you give your money to those who cooperate and then you have the rest for those who don't.

But in that case truth is nothing but a bribe and morality is

simply a club.

This is how people think that the state works at ruling

works.

Some think Kings reign by the strength of will of wealth or

warriors.

But in Proverbs 8 wisdom says by me Kings reign.

Wisdom says by me reign.

And rulers decree justice by me princes rule and nobles all the judges of the earth

by wisdom Kings reign.

You see folly cannot continue indefinitely.

Folly is like a wildfire that eventually after doing all of its damage burns

itself out.

Perhaps it can get flared up again but the end of a wildfire is that it burns

itself out after horrendous destruction laid in its path

and so also folly.

Folly cannot continue indefinitely.

Those who roll stones will have them rolled back upon them.

Those who dig pits will fall into them.

Those who embrace anti -christ philosophy will be strangled by it.

Wisdom or folly those are the choices.

And wisdom or folly are expressed in our worship expressed in our worship.

Worship is the key word here in Daniel 3.

Who will you worship.

What will you worship.

Why do you worship.

Worship is all important.

Worship determines our values our thinking our vocabulary our actions.

Worship has everything to do with who we are.

We are made in the image of God or made in the image of God which means our worship switch is hardwired

on.

We never stop worshiping.

Question is who do we worship.

What do we worship.

We is wisdom present in our worship or is folly present in our worship.

The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.

The fear of the Lord that we worship God that we are reverent before him and we recognize his supremacy.

We think of him first and we think of him most fear the Lord that

leads to freedom that leads to Liberty.

But the fear of man and the fear of death which comprise

paganism the fear of man and the fear of death.

The Bible tells us that these ensnare that these enslave.

The choice of course is wisdom versus folly is the same in ancient Babylon is the same today.

Mankind is not fundamentally changed.

Everyone worships.

Nothing is neutral.

And the rhythms of worship the rhythms of worship which are inevitable.

We will worship and the rhythms of our worship sift all of our loyalties.

And we do have loyalties unavoidable.

We are either for Christ or we are against him.

There is no neutrality.

Last time we looked at verses 1 through 7 the politics of worship at state is a mandated at

all the officials are forcibly gathered together.

And verse 12 and verses 16 through 18 we looked at the faithful disobedience

of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego.

They were faithful to God and so they disobeyed the state.

This is statism resisted.

And now in verses 8 through 15 in verses 19 through 23 we're gonna watch death.

Cults do their thing as statism gets enforced.

All the government officials have been forcibly gathered.

They are there irrespective of their language their class their religion and they are all to bow

down in this great unifying moment.

They're to bow down to the state idol.

Daniel's friends cannot comply.

This will be breaking the first and the second commandments to have no other gods before

God the one true God.

And to and to not make for yourself nor use any grave image to worship.

So they cannot comply.

They do not comply.

They keep standing when other people bow.

They do not worship when the music plays they do not dance according to the tunes of the

foolish children in the marketplace.

And unfortunately for them

some Chaldean equity ambassadors spot their

microaggression of standing.

And if you see something you've got to say something because mandates were not made to be broken.

So verse 8.

Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews.

They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar Oh King live forever.

You Oh King have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn flute harp lyre and psaltery and symphony with all kinds of music

shall fall down and worship the gold image.

And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon and they are Shadrach Meshach and

Abednego.

These men Oh King have not paid due regard to you.

They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.

See.

And when statism is enforced statism is enforced by everyone being hawkishly watched.

Are you complying.

Are you complying.

Are you complying.

Everyone is hawkishly watched for compliance.

And these Chaldeans use this opportunity to accuse the Jews before Nebuchadnezzar.

And the word accused in the Aramaic is an idiom which translated very

literally means ate their pieces.

In other words they use their words to cut them to

shreds and then feast upon them.

The Chaldeans were were slicing and dicing the Jews their character.

They are there.

These are verbal cannibals and they're very happy to report these Jews in a very malicious

fashion.

So Daniel's friends Hananiah Azariah Mishael here they are.

They are sheep in the midst of wolves and the wolves are hungry

and they are snarling.

Why.

Why do they report them.

Why they turn them in.

Could it be that they're jealous.

Could it be that these Chaldeans are jealous.

After all Daniel and his friends were promoted above them in chapter 2.

And these just recently graduated from Babylonian Academy.

And yet they get promoted and elevated over the Chaldeans.

And these are foreigners.

They're not.

They're not from around here.

Perhaps they're jealous.

But it's remarkable when you think about it.

These Chaldeans you'll notice from chapter 2 are part of the group that were slated for execution.

They were they were going to be done away with in the great purge they were about.

I mean they had their hands tied behind their back on their knees facing a big pit.

And they were about to be killed and thrown into a mass grave.

But Daniel Hananiah Azariah and Mishael were on their knees

interceding before the one true God asking God to reveal the meaning of the dream and the dream

itself to them so that they could go to King Nebuchadnezzar and interpose and save the lives

of these ungrateful sorcerers.

And so they did.

These Chaldeans still hate them.

Remarkable.

These Chaldeans are seeking their death.

They still want them gone.

They hate those who are a blessing to them.

If the state or the members of the state hate and condemn

Christians it rages against the very ones that keep the whole

thing solvent.

Jesus said just after he said blessed are you.

When you are persecuted men were vile.

You say hateful things about you.

Right after he said about that persecution you said you know you're the salt of the earth.

You're the light of the world.

You're.

You're the you're the good by the mercies and grace of God.

You you are the good that is on planet earth.

Any any state any nation any any polity any city any

tribe any group that has Christians among them are blessed because

of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Because of the light of Christ because of the commitment to truth because of the proclamation of the Word of God because of the praise

of the Lord being offered in their midst.

And yet and yet still hated still hated

still persecuted.

Jeremiah had the same experience.

Jeremiah 1820.

The Prophet is praying to the Lord.

And and and how many Christians suffering for the Lord seeking to do to to

live right and do good to all that around them to love their neighbors and so on have had the same kind of prayer.

Should good be repaid with evil.

Yet they have dug a pit for my life.

Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them to turn away your wrath from them.

Jeremiah's interceding for those who are trying to kill him asking

God's mercies upon them.

Prayers should be made on behalf of all men.

We should be praying for those.

Even that's even those who hate us who would seek to end

us.

We should pray on behalf of all men.

Those who hawkishly watch for compliance.

Now consider how these Chaldeans approach the king.

Notice how they flatter him.

And they entreat action against their rivals by appealing to Nebuchadnezzar's pride.

Oh King live forever.

Well he's not gonna live forever.

That's very silly.

They're.

They're flattering him.

They do not really seek his good.

They don't really seek his continuance.

What they want from him is an opportunity to control his favor and thus and thus be able

to exercise some sort of advantage over their opponents over their enemies.

So so they comment that these Jews whom the king had given these positions I

mean how ungrateful are these Jews.

I mean you're the one who set them up in these wonderful positions.

Oh King.

And just look how ungrateful they are.

They do not give due regard to you.

Oh King.

I mean you gave him these positions.

You set them up here.

But they don't give you due regard.

They say they don't worship your gods.

They must think you're fool Nebuchadnezzar to worship the gods you worship because they don't worship your gods.

And they don't worship the image which you have set up.

We just thought you'd like to know.

We thought you should be aware of the situation.

Whatever you want to do about it is fine.

Statism does not as it promises.

Statism does not create altruistic social justice.

It fuels its own kind of corrupt power games.

That's how it.

That's what it looks like.

And and in statism one proves their loyalty to the state.

And not by not by doing good but by having

others punished for perceived disloyalty.

That's how it works.

Dale Ralph Davis tells a story from the late 1930s in the heyday of Stalin's adulation in the Soviet

Union.

And in a provincial meeting Stalin's name was was spoken out loud which of

course triggered a standing ovation.

Oh they said the name Stalin.

It's all stand and clap.

Everybody in the whole provincial meeting stood and clapped.

And Dale Ralph Davis says the standing ovation caused a standing dilemma.

Because when we gonna sit down who

will be the first to sit.

Whoo.

No one better stop clapping.

No one better start.

No one better sit down.

That would look bad.

And finally an elderly man it's weak couldn't keep standing and he

lowered himself gently into his chair.

They noted his name and arrested him the next day.

You see all virtue signaling all of it.

Whether it is in this in the realm of the economy in the realm of

a local church or the church at large.

All virtue signaling in the state works this way.

All virtue signaling only is virtue signaling is only meritorious

if it has others that it cancels.

It has to work that way.

Thank you Lord that I'm not like one of those

Shadrach Meshach and Abednego are about to get canceled because they did not bow down to the golden image.

They did not worship the state which claimed to solve all problems and save all people.

And you see in in statism there is no room for dissent.

There is no room for dissent wherever repressive tolerance is is the the philosophy

of the day.

So they get reported.

Now notice what happens.

How Nebuchadnezzar responds.

Verse 13 of Daniel 3.

The Nebuchadnezzar in rage and fury gave the command to bring Shadrach Meshach and

Abednego.

So they brought these men before the king.

Nebuchadnezzar spoke saying to them is it true Shadrach Meshach and Abednego that you do not serve my gods or

worship the image which I have set up the gold image which I have set up.

Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn flute harp lyre and psaltery and symphony with all

kinds of music.

And you fall down and worship the image which I have made good.

But if you do not worship you shall be cast immediately into the midst of

a burning fiery furnace.

And who is the God who would deliver you from my hands.

So Nebuchadnezzar is furious but he keeps his face in place.

It's like okay.

I'm gonna I'm gonna play the role of the magnanimous Emperor here.

I'm gonna call my rebellious servants before me.

I'm gonna give them another chance.

I mean before banning them he generates a warning message.

Right.

Because I mean with the proper education these Jews can still be saved by the state.

Shadrach Meshach and Abednego have been flagged for non -compliance for extremism.

But consider Nebuchadnezzar is concerned for them and so he seeks to prevent

this from getting too far out of hand.

He offers them support.

They can take action right now to protect themselves.

They can comply with the mandate and bow to the state's idol.

Should they refuse Nebuchadnezzar has planned their immediate

execution.

They will immediately be canceled or their resistance will be expunged from the public scene.

No one will see anyone continuing to resist his state.

He must allow anybody to convey any message that is not in compliance with the

state.

So they're going to go away.

But notice that there is.

There's no no room for careful reasoning.

There's no room for any kind of discussion.

No.

You're done immediate compliance that the state has determined what is good and

right.

Nebuchadnezzar taunts the Jews.

Hey what.

God is going to deliver you from my hands.

He's claiming.

Notice that Nebuchadnezzar in terms of all the gods and goddesses of his pagan world.

He is claiming high throne atop the Pantheon.

No.

God is going to deliver you from my hands.

He says he's got the nukes and he's got the f -15s to launch them.

Who's gonna stop me.

Right.

No one's gonna save you.

The state is your Savior.

If you turn your back on the state you're done.

Well this shows us what Nebuchadnezzar thought of the God of the Jews.

Remember in chapter 2 he was very impressed with the God of the Jews.

Very impressed with the God of Daniel Hananiah Azariah Mishael.

Why was he impressed with God.

He was impressed because he thought God was a great solver of riddles.

Yeah.

He can reveal dreams and reveal the meaning of dreams.

How useful is that.

Great welcome to the Pantheon.

So glad to have you in our pluralistic society.

Welcome.

You've earned your right to sit at the table.

But he does not consider God one who would get involved.

Oh he's.

He's great for solving certain problems.

But he is certainly not going to involve himself in matters of state.

I hope that that is not your conception of God.

Oh God is good to solve certain problems.

But other than that Daniel chapter 3

verse 19.

After the response of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego.

How does Nebuchadnezzar then feel.

Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury and the expression on his face changed toward

Shadrach Meshach and Abednego.

He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually

heated.

And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach Meshach and

Abednego and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

Then these men were bound in their coats their trousers their turbans and their other garments

and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

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.

And these three men Shadrach Meshach and Abednego fell down bound into the

midst of the burning fiery furnace.

The dam of Nebuchadnezzar's rage and the net.

The dam of Nebuchadnezzar's rage and fury had been at the breaking point.

His face is just barely keeping it back.

But then his face changes.

You see that in the text his face his expression all of a sudden changed.

He was already furious he was already angry.

But he had kept his tolerant face in place.

And then it went away.

It went away at the faithful response of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego.

The dam broke his face changed and all the rage and fury which he had held back now

breaks through.

And this ruler of nations loses control of his own spirit.

He thinks he is so high and mighty so powerful what God can stand

against me.

But as Proverbs reminds us greater is he who maintains control of his own

spirit than he who takes a fortified city.

Where is true strength.

Where is true control seen.

Proverbs 21 24 describes Nebuchadnezzar rather well.

A proud and haughty man scoffer is his name.

He acts with arrogant pride.

This is Nebuchadnezzar.

And he orders the furnace to be fueled seven fold.

He wants a fire seven times as hot.

Why was the burning fiery furnace lacking in flames.

Was it not gonna get the job done.

No of course it was.

He had already constructed it for the purpose of enforcing the whole matter.

I mean what good is having a whole unification worship service unless you have a significant threat to

make sure everybody's unified.

So this thing's gonna kill whoever he puts into it.

But no he's mad.

He's furious.

He's lost all control of his spirit which is where all of us look really intelligent.

So he wants this thing seven times more fuel.

Because he wants a fire seven times as hot.

Because he wants the burning fiery furnace to have extra flames.

This is just foolish.

It reminds me of a scene from the remake of true grit Maddie Ross.

The girl has been tasked by Marshal Rooster Cogburn to climb a 40 -foot tree and cut loose a

hanged corpse.

And on the way up there she's.

She asked why did they hang him so high.

And he answered I do not know.

Possibly in the belief it would make him more dead.

And that's what Nebuchadnezzar is doing here.

I want them extra crispy like it matters.

But he's lost all control of his spirit.

He's furious.

And so he looks and plays the part of a great fool.

Why is he so angry.

Because his image has been profaned.

That's why he's angry.

His image has been profaned.

So he lashes out with his God -ordained sword to punish.

Does he have a sword.

Yes.

Who gave him that sword.

God did.

Why does he have this sword from God.

To punish evildoers.

To punish evildoers.

That's why the state has a sword.

But notice here Nebuchadnezzar because he wants all to worship him.

Because he's a statist.

Because he believes that the state is the Savior.

He uses his sword to assault the doers of good

not evildoers.

He uses the sword to terrify the doers of righteousness.

He's flailing about.

He seeks their immediate punishment.

And so he works on righteousness.

This is a very unrighteous and immoral thing that Nebuchadnezzar is doing.

And he has his people to do it for him.

Notice who he orders.

He selects out of his military out of his enforcers he selects mighty men of valor

men of strength men of renown men.

He will he knows will do his job do his orders.

And he orders these mighty men of valor to take Daniel's friends into custody.

They arrest them they bind them and

immediately cast them into the raging inferno.

This was an unjust immoral act.

Now Nebuchadnezzar was as the king as the authority has the greater sin as Jesus

would clarify.

But notice that these enforcers these men of valor who did this deed.

Did you see in the text that they were judged.

They were judged for their participation in this wickedness and in this corruption.

These men of valor had no spine.

These men of valor did not know what the truth was.

These men of valor if they had been interviewed prior to casting these

three righteous men.

So so such a blessing to the state such a blessing to all that knew them having so

valued these intercessors who prayed for this for the saving of even their enemies these good

men.

If these men of valor had been interviewed prior to them taking these men to the fiery furnace to cast them in to be

burnt alive.

Someone may have asked them and said so why are you doing this.

And what would their answer be.

I'm just doing my job.

I'm just doing my job.

That does not serve as any kind of heat shield protecting anyone from the judgment

of God.

That is no no cloak of righteousness that is no shroud of innocence

anybody committing and carrying out immoral unjust unrighteous acts.

If they say I'm just doing my job that does not square you with God.

As Christians we should reckon with that as well.

If the state if your employer if some authority figure in your life tells you you've got to do X Y Z thou

shout when the Bible says thou shalt not.

Or some authority figure in your life thou shalt not.

When the Bible says thou shalt you don't get to walk

away and say well I just I have to comply I'm just doing my job.

This is not what pleases Christ.

This is not valor.

This is not courage.

And that is not faithful what shattered at Meshach and Abednego did that was faithful.

They could have said they could have said well we're just bound to the golden obelisk because that's that.

We're just doing our job.

We're just doing.

We don't really believe in it.

But we don't even agree with it.

But we know we're just doing our job.

Now consider that Nebuchadnezzar has the greater sin.

And it's unsurprising that Nebuchadnezzar sent these men of valor to their deaths.

It is unsurprising that he sought the death of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego.

It is unsurprising that the whole statist worship service was motivated by the fear of

death because statism enshrines the fear of man

and enforces it by the fear of death.

That's how it works.

That's why only in the fear of the Lord can there be any form of civil government that has

any kind of liberty.

The father of lies has been a murderer from the beginning.

Jesus has told us this.

The father of lies has been a murderer from the beginning and states crafted in his image steal

kill and destroy.

And death cults just go on doing their thing.

This flame should catch our attention names.

Matthew Henry writes.

It makes one's flesh tremble to think of it and horror to take

hold on one.

Think about those flames the the raging fiery furnace seven times hotter.

But then he asks the question.

But what is this.

To the second death.

What is this.

What is Nebuchadnezzar's furnace compared to that furnace into which all the

tears shall be cast in bundles to that lake which burns eternally with

fire and brimstone.

Let Nebuchadnezzar heat his furnace as hot as he can.

A few minutes will finish the torment of those who are cast into it.

But hellfire tortures and does not kill.

The pain of damned sinners is more exquisite in the smoke of their torment as sins forever and ever.

And they and those have no rest no intermission no cessation of

their pains.

Who have worshipped the beast and his image whereas

their pain would soon be over that were cast into this furnace for not

worshipping this Babylonian beast and his image.

Consider that the holy judgment of God which is righteously heeded by his offended glory

has fallen upon Christ has fallen upon Christ.

You will take hold of Christ.

Say in my place and for my sake here is my Savior.

And he has suffered the deserved judgment of God I that I deserved.

He has suffered the holy judgment of God.

The fires of God's offended glory in my place and for my sake.

And so no matter what horrific punishment any state

or any man may try to inflict upon the people of Christ the very

worst thing that could possibly happen to us has already

happened to us in Christ.

Sunday's is a great day somebody's amazing day.

The world beginning at the International Dateline

our faithful brothers and sisters in Christ have got up and gathered and

they've brought out their copies of the Word of God.

They've opened it up and they've read aloud the Word of God.

And they've sung praises.

They've sung psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.

Sermons have been preached people all over the world

their faith has been strengthened.

Men women and children have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ preached to them.

New life has happened in this world today.

New birth has occurred in the under the preaching of the Word of God.

Today on this planet this great day Sunday first day of the week

already for hours and hours before we gather here in places where it is

illegal to gather.

Places like Australia.

Places in places in Malaysia where

radical Muslims and radical Hindus seek to burn churches

and take away the freedoms of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Places in China.

Should the state know where they were.

They'd be done for places all across this land

and some places in in great light and great freedom and great zeal as the Word of God is exploding

forth in revivals.

In places in Asia and Africa where Christ's name is lifted on high

in the gospel of Jesus Christ is flowing forth in a great river.

Rhythms of worship even under persecution even in places where it is difficult.

Rhythms of worship even while we're being persecuted.

They sift our loyalties.

They sift our loyalties.

We have no need to fear the state.

We have no need to fear the state.

If you don't fear man.

And we don't fear death.

Let us fear God.

Let us fear God.

We are surrounded with neighbors with friends with relatives with all kinds of people

who are caught up in statism.

Every time the music plays they bow.

Every time they're ordered to do something.

They do it just doing my job.

The state is not their Savior.

This if they try to worship the state it will turn out to be a death cult.

If you're worried and concerned about them tell them about Jesus Christ.

Tell them about Jesus Christ.

Exhort them to fear God not man.

Fear God not death.

Otherwise we leave them to it.

Let's be like Shadrach Meshach and Abednego that let the state know that let others know that the worship of

the Lord worship of the Lord was what was needful not the fear of the state.

Let's pray.

Father I thank you for the time you've given us in your word.

What a good reminder.

Lord is what you said to us.

What you said to us that we should not fear man who kills the body.

But we should fear God who has control of both body and soul for all of eternity.

Lord help us not to fear.

It's so easy to be afraid and so easy to be afraid.

But Lord even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death we have no need to fear

evil.

For you are with us.

You are with us.

We give you praise and glory for this.

So encourage us give us all the more that great hope.

May your word your word.

Continue to teach us to fear the Lord and pray all these things for Christ's sake.

Amen.

Did you stand with me for our song of benediction.

I'm gonna sing again we sang last week Jesus shall

reign

where

the

Sun and

the

fellowship

of the Holy.

Spirit be with us all.

Come back tonight.

We're gonna meet in the fellowship hall.

Blessings with the house and the Nelson's looking forward to it.

Don't miss it we're dismissed.