“Take a Stand” Sunday, 07 November ( turn back your clock)
This Sunday we will be continuing our series “Kingdoms in Conflict.” Last Sunday we spoke about the passage where Nebuchadnezzar decides to set up an image in his honor. Nebuchadnezzar brings all of his officials and administrators out to the plain of Dura; and at the sound of the music, commands them all to bow down and worship it. Which they all did; except for the three Hebrew children.
These 3, took a stand while others bowed the knee. Why? Because they were men of conviction. They were fully convinced and persuaded in their faith and would be willing to take the consequences; which was the fiery furnace, because of it. A Christian apologist puts it like this: “Conviction is not merely an opinion. It is something rooted so deeply in the conscience that to change a conviction would be to change the very essence of who you are.” The convictions of these 3 put them in the line of fire.
Daniel 3:8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”
There always has been, is presently, and will be till Jesus returns, people who will be in open rebellion against the things of God; and will be more than willing to betray and accuse those who have Christian conviction. Jesus said that it was one of the signs of His coming in Matthew 24. But He also said this: Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven.
These three Hebrew children understood the words of Jesus 600 years before he spoke them. For them, following God meant that they may be called upon to give their lives for the sake of their convictions. And if they tried to save their lives, they would lose them but if they gave their lives for the sake of their devotion to God, they would keep them for eternity.
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: “Take a Stand.”
(Social distancing and face covering requirements are in effect)
Take heart and be blessed!
Pastor Kevin