“I Won’t Back Down” Sunday, 14 November
This Sunday we will be continuing our series “Kingdoms in Conflict.” Last Sunday we spoke about the three Hebrew children who took a stand while others bowed the knee. Why? Because they were men of conviction. They lived their lives by believing in a higher authority; that of God Almighty, and when they had to make a choice, they chose to stand with the Lord. They were fully convinced and persuaded in their faith and would be willing to take the consequences; which was the fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:15b (Nebuchadnezzar) 15 Now if you are ready…., 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?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 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 king. 18 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.”
Christ's rulership and authority is universal; unlimited; it is all- powerful; there is nothing in the world that will overcome it or supersede it. He's got the whole world in his hands. Everything runs on His clock. People are promoted to positions of power based on His desires. He gives power and authority to political leaders and governments; He raises them up and lets them rule, but it's limited; it's subject to His authority; no one claims absolute authority in this world. To do so puts you at odds with Jesus because He is the supreme authority.
The three Hebrew children gave this response to the king:” We have no need to answer you in this matter.” This says so many things in a short phrase. It says that they had appealed to a higher Court; we don't have to give an answer to you king, because ultimately, we’ve got to answer to God first and foremost. It reminds us of Martin Luther who stood in the face of powerful clergy and councils and was told to recant; and his response is immortalized in history: “My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. “Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.”
Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for: “I Won’t Back Down.”
(Social distancing and face covering requirements are in effect)
Take heart and be blessed!
Pastor Kevin