Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / We will Not Serve Your gods

Transcript

We will Not Serve Your gods · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

0:00
chapter 3 looking at verses 16 to 18.
0:05
Let us read through these three verses again.
0:30
Well, I'm sure this is a chapter or part of it that we've heard and known from childhood.
0:41
Most of us know the story of Daniel.
0:44
We were brought up with these sort of passages in the Bible made very familiar to us.
0:51
And for most of us, we would turn perhaps to the end of the chapter more so than other parts of it,
0:58
where we find the incident of the burning fiery furnace,
1:01
where these three were cast in and where they were preserved by the power of God
1:06
and where Nebuchadnezzar then came to express his astonishment,
1:11
as he saw not just three figures, but four figures in that burning fiery furnace.
1:18
Anticipating the New Testament age,
1:21
anticipating the way in which the Lord is with his people in all the circumstances of their lives,
1:28
however much beyond themselves these circumstances may be.
1:34
Now, these events are repeated in the history of God's people,
1:39
in the history of the world, in the history of the church.
1:42
They're also very much relevant to our own day.
1:46
And in fact, this passage itself, verses 16 to 18, you might say,
1:50
is bristling with relevance for the circumstances today in which we find ourselves,
1:55
in our own nation and other places throughout the world.
2:01
Because they set out what is a very deliberate and arrogant challenge to the authority of God,
2:08
to the rule of God, to the way in which these three men represent
2:12
God as against the paganism represented by Nebuchadnezzar and his people.
2:20
And the passage sets out for us not only how that challenge came to these three men,
2:27
but also how they responded to it, the manner of their responding,
2:31
and also how they actually stated the matter for Nebuchadnezzar,
2:36
though he, of course, was such a tyrannical ruler himself.
2:41
But they didn't actually in any way feel intimidated by his presence,
2:46
because they knew that there was a presence with them much greater than he was.
2:53
So it tells us the challenge facing us, the challenge faced by the faithful.
2:59
These three, as they represent the faithful of God,
3:02
you might say down through all the generations, including our own day,
3:05
in Shedrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we find ourselves,
3:09
and we find ourselves facing the challenges of the age in which we live,
3:13
the challenges to our standing in the gospel, to our presenting of the gospel,
3:18
to our witness to the gospel, the standing of our insistence on the truth of God being relevant,
3:24
as we find it in the Bible, presented to the world of our day,
3:28
as it was in ages before us.
3:30
That's the first thing to look at, the challenge faced by the faithful.
3:35
And that's going to be taking account of the golden image that was set up,
3:40
but also the confidence of Nebuchadnezzar and those who governed with him,
3:47
their confidence in their own authority, in their own status, in their own power.
3:53
Second thing we'll look at is the positive response that the faithful of God gave to this challenge.
3:59
How did they face this challenge?
4:02
What was their response to it?
4:03
How do we find in their response to it matters which are relevant to our own place today?
4:11
Well, you can see the account, of course, of the golden image earlier in the chapter,
4:16
and there is undoubtedly a representation in that golden image.
4:21
It is emphasized a number of times that Nebuchadnezzar set it up.
4:26
He speaks of it as the image that I have set up, the image that I have created,
4:32
what I have actually set before the people, not just of his immediate environment,
4:38
but right, everybody over whom he at that time had sway in the Babylonian government.
4:44
He is emphasizing, this is the image that I have made,
4:48
and therefore you must bow down to it.
4:52
What did that image represent?
4:53
It wasn't just the arrogance and the grandeur of Nebuchadnezzar himself.
5:00
The image undoubtedly was intended to convey a sense of the power and authority of his rule
5:06
and of his government.
5:08
The image really, you might say, is a representation of supreme state authority,
5:15
or a state that seeks to have supreme authority over all its citizens.
5:20
That is what this image really represents.
5:24
Now, that can be either by a government such as Nebuchadnezzar had,
5:30
dictatorship, all of those types of government,
5:34
but it can also happen with a democracy that a government,
5:39
even elected by democratic means,
5:42
can still use oppressive ways by which to stem or seek to stem the truth of God,
5:48
and people living by that truth of God,
5:50
and that truth having an influence in society amongst human beings in that particular location.
5:57
And that is more likely the more you find the Bible put aside,
6:03
the more you find replacements for the teaching of the Bible in human philosophies,
6:09
in other religions,
6:11
whatever places are given to other ways of thinking,
6:14
of conclusions, of ways of looking at the world,
6:19
other than in the Christian faith.
6:21
The more you find the Christian faith put aside,
6:25
or not actually in any way given an influence in society,
6:30
the more that type of thing is going to actually be set up.
6:34
The more you're going to find the supremacy of state authority
6:38
coming to show itself more and more in the works of such governments.
6:44
Now you notice the size of this image.
6:50
We're told at the beginning of the chapter,
6:53
he made an image of gold,
6:54
whose height was 60 cubits,
6:57
and its breadth 6 cubits.
7:01
That was something like 90 feet high,
7:06
something like 30 meters high,
7:08
and around 3 meters wide.
7:10
We're not told that it was an image of a human figure.
7:15
Might have been different to that,
7:17
but others think that it would have been a human shape
7:21
or something similar to that.
7:23
But in any case, that was the size of it.
7:25
It was an enormous thing.
7:27
It was a massive construction.
7:31
And undoubtedly, that was intended to be very intimidating,
7:35
to represent the authority,
7:37
the supreme authority of Nebuchadnezzar,
7:40
and the government that he presided over,
7:43
and to represent that to the people,
7:45
so that as soon as they saw the image,
7:47
they would think,
7:47
this is such a massive authority.
7:49
We have to bow to this.
7:51
We have no option.
7:52
We've got to actually let this be our master.
7:57
And of course, you find that down through history.
8:00
You can still go to places like North Korea today,
8:02
and you'll find huge statues there,
8:06
according to photos at least you've seen.
8:08
You'll find huge statues of the present leader,
8:11
the former leader, the leader before that,
8:13
who are, of course, revered as gods.
8:17
And the gigantic proportions of these great statues
8:22
are intended just to keep people's minds focused
8:26
on their need to bow to the leader,
8:29
to actually give all due place to his authority,
8:33
the authority of his government, or else.
8:37
And or else is the case with Nebuchadnezzar's figure as well.
8:42
Because not only did he erect this gigantic edifice,
8:47
he accompanied it with laws
8:51
that really are pretty much to do with persecuting anybody
8:55
who refused to comply with his instructions.
8:59
Laws that are reinforced, you might say, with persecution.
9:03
Anybody who does not bow down to this image that I have built
9:07
shall be cast into a burning, fiery furnace.
9:11
That is the threat.
9:12
That is the intimidatory word and declaration
9:16
of the supreme leader.
9:19
You have got to do this, or if not, this will be the result.
9:27
And you'll note that in the list that are given there,
9:32
when he sent word out to gather,
9:34
the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the councillors,
9:37
a few times these various official figures are mentioned.
9:42
And the reason for that is that the political
9:45
and the judicial officers of the nation
9:49
of the empire are actually all there
9:52
so that they're all gathered here
9:54
so that everybody will understand
9:56
this is the official policy.
9:59
This is what all of these figures
10:01
are themselves vowing to uphold.
10:06
That is why they're chosen.
10:08
That's why they're there.
10:09
Now you can step from that into our present age.
10:17
And you might say, well, there's no gigantic figures like that
10:21
on the streets of London or in Glasgow or Edinburgh.
10:24
Yes, but remember, these are representations.
10:28
And the principle of this is really what you must take with you.
10:31
And you see it down through the ages.
10:33
You don't just look at this as something relevant
10:35
to Nebuchadnezzar's day.
10:37
And because there's no such giant figure
10:39
erected now in our particular society,
10:43
it doesn't mean these things are not relevant anymore.
10:47
State authority is still very much a thing
10:50
to be watched and to be feared
10:53
when it's used excessively.
10:54
And there are arguments and inducements,
11:00
as you very well know today,
11:01
to try and present the state's power to us
11:07
in a way that seeks that we comply with it.
11:11
In a way that would cast its shadow over us, if you like,
11:16
so that we would actually feel obliged
11:18
to bow to the authority of the state,
11:21
even when it means that we are required
11:24
or so-called required to do things
11:27
which we know are against our conscience
11:28
or against our Christian knowledge, particularly.
11:35
I'm not suggesting in any way
11:37
that our situation is really in any way
11:40
at the level of which it was here
11:43
or in North Korea or something like that.
11:45
We value the freedoms that we have.
11:46
We value the liberties that we still enjoy in our society.
11:51
We value the things that we very much take for granted
11:54
sadly every day, myself included,
11:56
but that have been bought for us at such great price.
11:59
Even people, as we remember recently,
12:01
going to war and giving their lives in war
12:04
to protect these freedoms.
12:08
However, there are very many inducements
12:11
and pressures brought to bear,
12:13
even by the state and by figures of the state
12:16
and by proclamations and laws of the government
12:20
that are themselves contrary to what you and I
12:23
as Christians believe in
12:25
and would want to see upheld
12:27
and would want to see as the policy of the government,
12:31
certainly on religious and moral issues,
12:34
particularly moral and spiritual matters.
12:37
Arguments such as, you know,
12:40
it's fine for people who want to follow their own religion.
12:44
The state will not bother with that.
12:46
If you want to keep your own religion,
12:48
you can actually do that as long as you do it in private.
12:52
But of course, the argument following on from that
12:54
is that you have to keep religion out of public life.
12:58
You have to keep the Christian religion,
13:00
especially out of public life,
13:02
the Christian faith,
13:03
even to the extent sometimes,
13:05
and it's happened on this island,
13:07
where people who are church officers,
13:10
by that I mean elders in the church particularly,
13:13
are really regarded as disqualified from public office
13:20
because they have that office in the church.
13:23
Now that has happened in recent times,
13:26
in our own locality.
13:28
And the argument being,
13:29
not only are you a Christian,
13:31
but you're an elder in the free church,
13:33
and the free church is against same-sex marriage,
13:36
seeking to uphold the teaching of the Bible,
13:38
which excludes that.
13:39
The free church is against many other aspects
13:43
of immoral lifestyles.
13:47
And therefore you,
13:48
because you're an elder or a minister in that church,
13:50
you shouldn't actually be given a place
13:53
in any council chamber
13:56
or in any organization
13:57
that wants to present things politically.
14:02
Thankfully, that's all too rare,
14:05
certainly in our own locality,
14:06
but let's not in any way imagine
14:09
that it can't occur again
14:11
and even more forcibly.
14:14
So state religion,
14:17
keep it out of public life,
14:21
keep it out of our education,
14:23
keep it out of schools,
14:25
keep it out of universities,
14:27
keep it out of all of those areas of public life,
14:31
keep it to yourself,
14:32
keep it private,
14:34
follow it by yourself,
14:35
whatever religion you have,
14:36
but don't let it actually in any way
14:38
appear in public life
14:41
or have to do with
14:42
how you carry out your public office.
14:44
That's the situation we're facing.
14:46
And I don't need to tell you
14:47
that state legislation has
14:50
and is continuing to propose
14:52
legislation,
14:54
which you and I know is very contrary
14:57
to the teachings of Scripture,
15:00
to the Christian ethic,
15:02
to our Christian standards
15:05
on which this nation,
15:07
this Christian state,
15:08
is largely founded.
15:12
And of course,
15:14
not only that,
15:15
but persecution
15:16
takes many different forms.
15:20
You don't actually have to have
15:21
a burning, fiery furnace
15:23
threatening you
15:26
before you can think of it
15:28
being persecuting.
15:32
Discrimination
15:34
is persecution.
15:37
Denial of justice
15:38
is persecution.
15:41
Laws that are enacted
15:42
contrary
15:43
to Christian liberty
15:45
is persecution.
15:48
Just last week,
15:49
a candidate for
15:51
Liberal Democrats
15:53
and constituency in England,
15:55
just last week,
15:58
he said that
15:58
he had faced
15:59
what he called
16:00
direct harassment
16:02
and hostility
16:03
from activists
16:05
in his own constituency party,
16:07
the Lib Dem constituency party
16:08
in that particular constituency.
16:11
Now,
16:11
he's a former BBC journalist,
16:15
a man called David Campanal,
16:17
and he has himself
16:21
reported from places
16:22
where there has been war
16:24
in Europe in recent times.
16:26
But he said that
16:27
in facing this direct harassment,
16:30
he's now facing
16:31
the very strong possibility
16:33
of removal
16:34
as a Liberal Democrat candidate
16:36
because of his Christian views.
16:40
We're supposed to be a country
16:41
of liberty of speech
16:43
and liberty of thought
16:43
and liberty of religion.
16:44
This is the reality.
16:47
This is what you get
16:48
when that is pushed aside.
16:50
And he went on to say
16:51
that there is a movement
16:53
in Britain
16:54
that wants to undermine
16:56
the Christian foundations
16:57
of our constitution,
17:00
that wants to remove
17:01
all references
17:02
to Christianity
17:03
from the way
17:05
in which our national life
17:06
is guided and built.
17:08
It's happening in education.
17:11
It's happening
17:11
in the council culture
17:13
at work in universities.
17:14
It's there in business.
17:16
It's in the law
17:18
and in schools.
17:19
So he said,
17:21
I want to rally all people.
17:24
Step up.
17:25
Now is the time
17:26
to engage.
17:29
Well, there's a man
17:30
who knows
17:31
the Nebuchadnezzar situation.
17:36
There's a man
17:37
who can actually relate
17:38
directly in his own experience
17:39
to verses 16 to 18
17:42
of Daniel 3.
17:43
There's a man
17:44
who doesn't look at that
17:45
as just a fact of history.
17:47
There's a man
17:48
who knows that
17:49
that opposition,
17:52
that attitude
17:52
is alive
17:54
and well
17:55
in our present society.
17:58
And he's calling on people
17:59
to stand up,
18:01
to get real,
18:03
to realize
18:03
that this is a movement
18:05
that's underway,
18:07
that has been underway
18:08
for some time.
18:09
And that if we don't
18:11
actually stand up
18:12
for our Christian values
18:13
and our Christian ethic
18:15
and our Christian principles,
18:17
then we're going to be swamped
18:18
one of these days
18:19
if this movement
18:21
and these similar movements
18:23
are allowed
18:24
to carry on.
18:25
So there's the challenge
18:28
facing the faithful.
18:31
Here is the command.
18:33
Fall into line
18:34
with these proposals.
18:37
Fall into line
18:38
with our view of marriage.
18:40
Fall into line
18:41
with our view
18:42
of the sanctity of life
18:43
or otherwise
18:43
abortion on demand.
18:47
Fall into life
18:48
with our policies
18:49
on whatever else
18:50
subjects they may be,
18:52
even if they're contrary
18:53
to our Christian understanding.
18:57
And if you don't,
18:58
then we'll make it
18:59
really difficult for you
19:02
and your work,
19:03
your employment,
19:05
your access to justice,
19:06
all of these things.
19:08
These are real things.
19:10
That is the real situation.
19:12
And I'm not using
19:14
this pulpit, God forbid,
19:15
as a political platform.
19:17
Far be it.
19:18
I have never taken
19:19
the view
19:20
that I should
19:21
in any way
19:22
align myself
19:23
with any political party,
19:25
even if there was
19:26
a political party
19:27
that I might be strongly
19:28
inclined to support,
19:28
which there isn't.
19:31
This is something
19:32
that the preaching
19:32
of the gospel
19:33
has always sought
19:35
to include
19:35
when injustices abound,
19:38
when there are threats
19:39
to liberty of conscience,
19:41
to liberty of speech.
19:42
That is part
19:43
of the gospel message
19:44
by which we counter that.
19:49
And you can see
19:49
the arrogant confidence
19:52
that's in Nebuchadnezzar's
19:55
insistence
19:57
on bowing to this image.
20:00
See the last part
20:01
of verse 15 there.
20:05
If you do not worship,
20:08
you shall immediately
20:09
be cast into a burning,
20:11
fiery furnace.
20:12
And then he says,
20:12
and who is the God
20:14
who will deliver you
20:16
out of my hands?
20:20
Who is the God
20:21
who will deliver you
20:22
out of my hands?
20:26
And that's the same,
20:27
pretty much the same feature
20:29
that you find
20:30
in anti-gospel movements
20:32
today,
20:32
especially when they gain
20:33
in political influence
20:34
and political power.
20:36
You see,
20:38
when you lose
20:38
things like
20:39
biblical humility
20:41
and a biblical attitude
20:43
to the views
20:44
of other people,
20:45
when you lose
20:46
that freedom
20:47
that's given
20:48
to people's choice
20:49
of who they follow
20:51
and what they believe,
20:53
not talking about
20:54
freedom just now
20:54
in terms of relationship
20:56
with God,
20:56
but freedom
20:57
in a free society,
21:00
once you lose these,
21:01
you don't set up
21:02
a vacuum.
21:02
You set up things
21:05
such as arrogance
21:07
and pride
21:08
and self-assertion
21:10
and even subversion.
21:14
And you'll find them all
21:15
in our society
21:17
around you today.
21:19
The threat,
21:20
the challenge
21:20
faced by the faithful.
21:24
And you don't have
21:24
to go very far
21:25
in the world
21:25
in our day and age
21:28
before you come across
21:29
that thing
21:29
challenging you
21:31
to your views.
21:33
Challenging you rights
21:34
as a Christian.
21:37
Challenging why it is
21:38
that you think
21:39
you're right
21:40
and not other people.
21:43
The challenge
21:44
faced by the faithful.
21:46
But look at,
21:46
secondly,
21:47
the positive response
21:49
of those faithful
21:51
to God.
21:52
Ch'adrach, Meshach,
21:53
and Abednego
21:53
answered and said,
21:55
O Nebuchadnezzar,
21:56
we have no need
21:57
to answer you
21:58
in this matter.
21:59
And it didn't mean
22:00
that they weren't
22:00
going to answer.
22:01
They were refusing
22:02
to answer.
22:03
These words really mean
22:04
that the matter
22:05
is plain enough.
22:06
They didn't need
22:06
to think too much
22:07
about it.
22:09
They didn't need
22:10
to really think
22:10
how they were going
22:11
to respond
22:14
to this.
22:15
It was actually
22:16
there already
22:17
in their minds.
22:17
They were so firmly
22:18
in their view
22:21
of their God
22:22
that that's what
22:24
really immediately
22:24
came to the fore.
22:25
So the first thing
22:27
you find here
22:28
on that part
22:29
is a deep
22:31
knowledge
22:32
of God.
22:33
How do you face
22:34
this movement
22:36
in our society?
22:37
How do you face
22:37
ungodliness?
22:39
How do you face
22:40
movements that seek
22:41
to usurp
22:42
the Christian principles
22:43
on which this nation
22:44
and our society
22:45
was founded?
22:46
How do you face
22:47
that arrogance?
22:48
How do you face
22:48
that pride,
22:49
that self-assertion,
22:50
that subversion,
22:52
that challenge
22:52
to authority itself?
22:54
How do you face
22:54
it?
22:55
First of all,
22:55
you face it
22:56
by a deep
22:57
knowledge of God.
22:59
These men
22:59
had a deep
23:00
knowledge of God.
23:01
You cannot go out
23:02
and face that world
23:03
without having
23:04
a deep knowledge
23:05
of God,
23:05
without seeking
23:06
that your depth
23:07
of understanding
23:08
of the Bible
23:09
is something you
23:10
add to day by day,
23:11
something that you
23:12
actually find
23:13
increasing day by day.
23:14
You don't actually
23:15
set out as a Christian
23:16
to face the things
23:17
in the world
23:18
without really thinking
23:19
too hard about
23:20
where you are
23:21
in your Christian
23:21
knowledge,
23:22
where you are
23:22
in your relationship
23:23
to God
23:24
or to Jesus.
23:26
The more you
23:27
and I are
23:27
schooled in the
23:28
things of God,
23:30
the more you
23:31
will actually
23:31
be then prepared
23:32
as these men
23:33
were to face
23:34
and to respond
23:36
to the challenges
23:37
that they faced
23:39
and we face
23:39
in our age.
23:42
And that's why
23:43
our place
23:46
in the church
23:47
is so important.
23:48
The value we place,
23:50
I should say,
23:50
on what the church
23:51
is to us,
23:52
what the teaching
23:52
of the Bible
23:53
is to us,
23:54
what Christian
23:54
fellowship is to us,
23:56
what worship is to us,
23:57
what the preaching
23:58
of the gospel is to us,
23:59
what sharing together
24:01
and understanding
24:02
and discussion
24:02
on the Bible
24:03
is to us.
24:04
All of that,
24:05
you see,
24:06
is part of the
24:08
strengthening program
24:09
by which God
24:10
deepens our understanding,
24:12
deepens our relationship
24:13
to himself,
24:15
deepens our relationship
24:16
to one another.
24:16
You couldn't put
24:18
a wedge
24:19
between Shadrach,
24:20
Meshach and Abednego
24:21
as three believers
24:23
in God.
24:25
They were bound
24:27
together closely
24:28
by the truth
24:29
which they believed,
24:31
by the God
24:32
in whom they believed.
24:34
Not only that,
24:35
but you couldn't put
24:36
a wedge between them
24:37
and their God either.
24:39
Because here they are
24:41
facing this great challenge.
24:43
Here they are
24:43
facing this intimidation.
24:45
Here they are facing
24:46
this threat,
24:47
this threat of persecution.
24:49
All the things
24:50
we've mentioned.
24:51
And what do they do?
24:52
They express,
24:53
firstly,
24:54
their knowledge of God.
24:56
They tell
24:56
this pagan,
24:58
authoritative king
25:00
about their God.
25:03
O king,
25:04
Nebuchadnezzar,
25:05
if this be so,
25:07
our God,
25:09
whom we serve,
25:10
is able to deliver us.
25:12
But if not,
25:13
O king,
25:14
we will not serve
25:15
your God.
25:16
So that's the first thing,
25:17
the deep knowledge
25:17
they have of God.
25:18
They have no doubts
25:20
whatsoever
25:20
about God's ability
25:23
to do the impossible.
25:25
What they would regard,
25:25
maybe,
25:26
or we would regard
25:27
as the impossible.
25:28
That is to deliver them
25:29
out of a burning,
25:30
fiery furnace
25:31
if it so happened
25:32
that they were thrown
25:33
into it.
25:34
We have no doubts
25:34
whatsoever
25:35
of God being able
25:36
to keep us,
25:38
to maintain us,
25:39
to protect us
25:40
in that environment.
25:41
We know
25:41
he can do that.
25:43
He's our God.
25:43
We know
25:44
what he's like.
25:47
But then,
25:48
you see,
25:48
they said,
25:50
well,
25:51
even if that is not
25:54
the case,
25:56
we are still
25:56
going to serve him.
25:59
And they make it
26:00
very clear
26:00
that whatever happens,
26:02
our God,
26:03
whom we serve,
26:05
is able
26:06
to deliver us
26:07
and to deliver us
26:08
from your hand
26:10
or out of your hand
26:11
also,
26:12
O King.
26:12
Not only do they have
26:13
this unashamed confidence
26:15
in God,
26:16
but they're carrying it
26:17
through
26:17
into facing
26:19
the threat
26:20
of Nebuchadnezzar
26:21
and facing
26:22
the authority
26:23
of Nebuchadnezzar.
26:24
They're really presenting
26:25
the authority
26:26
of their God
26:27
as vastly superior,
26:30
supreme,
26:30
in fact.
26:31
Now,
26:34
it is important
26:36
that we
26:36
regard
26:38
that they are
26:39
actually
26:39
respecting
26:41
the king
26:42
to a certain extent
26:44
as the king.
26:45
That itself
26:46
is rather
26:47
important,
26:49
I think,
26:50
in the context.
26:52
They actually
26:54
speak respectfully
26:55
to him
26:56
and
26:58
the old
27:02
Puritan commentator
27:02
Matthew Henry
27:03
has some very
27:04
significant words
27:06
to say on that.
27:07
I'll just read to
27:07
what you find
27:09
in his commentary
27:09
on Daniel.
27:10
This is what he says.
27:12
They did not speak
27:13
out into any
27:14
intemperate heat
27:15
or passion
27:16
against those
27:18
that did worship
27:18
the golden image.
27:20
They did not
27:21
insult
27:21
or affront
27:22
them,
27:24
nor did they
27:24
rashly
27:25
thrust themselves
27:26
upon the trial
27:27
or go out
27:28
of their way
27:29
to court
27:29
martyrdom.
27:31
But when they
27:31
were duly called
27:32
to the fiery trial,
27:34
they acquitted
27:34
themselves bravely
27:35
with a conduct
27:37
and courage
27:38
that became
27:39
sufferers
27:39
for so good
27:40
a cause.
27:41
They keep
27:42
their temper
27:43
admirably.
27:45
They do not
27:45
call the king
27:46
a tyrant
27:47
or an idolater.
27:49
The cause
27:50
of God
27:50
needs not
27:51
the wrath
27:51
of man,
27:52
but with
27:53
an exemplary
27:54
calmness
27:55
and sedatedness
27:56
of mind,
27:57
they deliberately
27:58
give in their
27:59
answer,
28:00
which they resolve
28:01
to abide
28:02
by.
28:03
And Matthew Henry
28:04
is reminding us
28:05
of whenever we
28:07
respond to
28:08
even such
28:09
arrogancy,
28:11
such
28:11
self-presentation
28:14
of grandeur
28:15
as you find
28:15
with Nebuchad
28:16
Neser
28:17
or others
28:17
in this world,
28:18
even when you
28:19
find self-confident
28:21
secular
28:21
pronouncements,
28:23
whether it's
28:24
from government
28:24
or whatever,
28:25
we don't
28:26
actually respond
28:27
in kind,
28:28
even if they
28:28
are unkind
28:29
to us.
28:31
What
28:32
Matthew Henry
28:34
was reminding
28:34
us of
28:35
is that
28:36
there is a
28:37
great need
28:37
to maintain
28:38
respect,
28:39
respectful
28:40
language,
28:42
temperate
28:42
language,
28:44
tactful
28:44
language,
28:45
loving
28:46
language,
28:46
all the
28:48
things that
28:48
will really
28:49
in many
28:49
ways disarm
28:50
the person
28:51
who really
28:51
wants to
28:52
be provocative,
28:53
who wants
28:54
you to be
28:54
provocative
28:55
back in
28:55
response,
28:56
who wants
28:57
you to
28:57
actually lose
28:58
the plot,
28:59
so they
28:59
can then
29:00
say,
29:00
well,
29:00
if that's
29:01
your
29:01
Christianity,
29:01
look at
29:02
what it's
29:02
doing to
29:02
you.
29:04
You have
29:05
to pray
29:05
that God
29:06
will keep
29:07
you calm,
29:09
keep you
29:09
in every
29:11
way as a
29:13
Christian should
29:14
be and
29:14
facing,
29:15
whether it's,
29:15
and I'm just
29:16
talking here,
29:16
of course,
29:17
about direct
29:20
speech between
29:21
us and
29:22
those who
29:22
are against
29:24
the gospel.
29:25
There was no
29:25
social media
29:26
in Nebuchadnezzar's
29:27
Day, of
29:27
course,
29:28
many, many
29:29
generations
29:29
afterwards.
29:30
There is
29:31
nowadays,
29:32
and it is
29:33
not against
29:34
social media
29:35
as such,
29:36
but its
29:38
misuse is
29:40
obvious to
29:41
us all,
29:43
and one of
29:44
the things
29:44
that very
29:44
much lends
29:45
itself to
29:46
is
29:47
disrespectful
29:48
language,
29:50
disrespect of
29:51
other people's
29:52
views,
29:53
talking people
29:54
down,
29:55
treating them
29:55
with contempt,
29:57
all kinds of
29:58
nasty language
30:00
presented to
30:01
them, and
30:01
sometimes you
30:02
don't even
30:02
know a face,
30:03
you don't even
30:03
know who's
30:04
doing it.
30:04
people's
30:05
people's
30:06
and we
30:06
have to be
30:08
careful with
30:08
all that,
30:09
especially our
30:09
young people,
30:10
we have to be
30:10
careful and
30:11
train them
30:12
into how
30:13
dangerous social
30:14
media can
30:14
be if we
30:16
allow it to
30:17
actually get on
30:17
top of us.
30:18
Anyway,
30:18
that's by the
30:19
way, but
30:19
hopefully not
30:21
an unimportant
30:22
by the way.
30:23
But of course,
30:24
Nebuchadnezzar,
30:25
they were facing
30:25
face to face,
30:26
and this is
30:28
nevertheless how
30:28
they actually
30:29
respected,
30:31
in one sense,
30:32
his own place
30:33
as king
30:34
over the
30:36
whole of
30:37
the empire.
30:39
So the
30:39
Shandarugan
30:39
confidence
30:40
met by a
30:43
deep response,
30:44
a deep
30:45
knowledge of
30:46
God.
30:48
But finally,
30:49
in the
30:49
positive response,
30:50
you find a
30:51
determined
30:52
commitment to
30:53
God in
30:54
verse 18.
30:55
You see,
30:56
this is really
30:57
so important,
30:57
so interesting,
30:58
how it's put
30:59
and how they
30:59
put it.
31:01
He's saying,
31:02
they're saying,
31:03
if this is so,
31:05
if our God,
31:06
whom we serve,
31:07
is able to
31:08
deliver us from
31:09
the burning,
31:09
fiery furnace,
31:11
and he will
31:11
deliver us out
31:12
of your hand,
31:14
O king.
31:16
That is something
31:16
we absolutely
31:17
believe in,
31:18
they're saying.
31:19
But if he
31:21
doesn't,
31:23
if he doesn't
31:24
believe,
31:24
if he doesn't
31:25
actually deliver
31:26
us from the
31:27
burning,
31:28
fiery furnace,
31:29
if he doesn't
31:29
deliver us out
31:30
of your hand,
31:31
and in his
31:32
wisdom and
31:32
providence,
31:33
I'm just adding
31:33
to the words,
31:34
but this is the
31:35
sense of them,
31:35
in his wisdom
31:36
and providence,
31:37
he does himself
31:38
allow this to
31:39
go ahead,
31:40
and we be
31:40
thrown into
31:41
the burning,
31:41
fiery furnace,
31:42
be it known
31:44
to you,
31:44
O king,
31:45
we still will
31:46
not serve
31:47
your gods
31:47
or worship
31:49
them,
31:49
the golden
31:50
image that
31:52
you have set
31:52
up.
31:52
In other
31:53
words,
31:53
they're taking
31:54
the worst
31:55
case scenario
31:56
and they're
31:57
saying about
31:58
the worst
31:58
case scenario,
32:00
they're saying
32:00
this is not
32:01
going to make
32:02
any difference
32:03
to our
32:03
allegiance,
32:05
it's not
32:05
going to make
32:06
any difference
32:07
whatsoever to
32:07
our view
32:08
of this image
32:10
or change
32:11
our view
32:12
of our
32:12
God.
32:13
We will do
32:14
what we've
32:15
always done,
32:16
we will
32:17
honour
32:17
our God.
32:18
it made
32:24
no difference
32:24
whatsoever
32:25
to them,
32:26
whatever
32:26
threats they
32:27
were faced
32:27
with,
32:29
and it
32:29
made no
32:30
difference
32:30
whatsoever
32:31
who was
32:32
making the
32:33
threats,
32:33
even king
32:34
Nebuchadnezzar.
32:36
They knew,
32:36
you see,
32:36
that the
32:37
king could
32:38
issue a
32:39
command there
32:40
and then
32:40
that their
32:41
life be
32:42
terminated.
32:42
but the
32:46
one thing
32:47
he could
32:47
not compel
32:48
them to
32:49
do was
32:49
to worship
32:50
the image.
32:52
He could
32:52
take their
32:52
life,
32:53
he could
32:54
not take
32:54
their
32:54
conscience.
32:56
He could
32:57
take their
32:57
life,
32:58
but he
32:58
could not
32:58
take their
32:59
allegiance
32:59
to their
33:00
God.
33:02
And that's
33:02
one of the
33:02
great lessons
33:03
of the
33:03
story.
33:04
Whatever
33:05
that world
33:06
out there
33:06
will do
33:07
to you,
33:08
whatever
33:08
it threatens
33:09
you with,
33:10
whatever
33:11
finally it
33:11
may actually
33:12
impose upon
33:13
you,
33:14
the one
33:15
thing it
33:15
cannot do
33:16
is remove
33:16
your Christ,
33:18
your Jesus,
33:20
your allegiance
33:20
to him
33:21
and his
33:23
care for
33:24
you.
33:28
The cost
33:29
of resistance
33:30
to oppression
33:33
and persecution
33:34
and ungodliness
33:37
is always
33:39
set fairly
33:40
high.
33:42
and the
33:43
more the
33:44
persecution
33:44
increases,
33:46
the greater
33:47
the cost
33:47
inevitably
33:48
is going
33:49
to be.
33:52
But denying
33:53
God is
33:54
catastrophic.
33:59
Denying
33:59
God is
34:00
catastrophic
34:01
to any
34:01
individual,
34:02
to any
34:03
society,
34:04
to any
34:04
group of
34:04
people,
34:05
to any
34:06
church
34:06
group,
34:06
whatever it
34:07
might be.
34:08
God
34:09
is
34:10
going to
34:11
be.
34:11
And all
34:12
the way
34:13
through the
34:15
days of
34:15
the apostles,
34:16
when they
34:17
were threatened
34:17
by the
34:18
religious
34:19
authorities of
34:19
that time,
34:21
and they
34:21
were told
34:22
not to
34:23
say anything
34:23
or preach
34:24
again in
34:24
the name
34:25
of Jesus.
34:27
They said
34:28
to them,
34:28
whatever is
34:28
right in
34:29
your eyes,
34:30
we cannot
34:31
but speak
34:33
the things
34:34
which we
34:35
have seen
34:35
and heard.
34:36
we are
34:38
not going
34:38
to be
34:40
untrue
34:40
to our
34:40
God,
34:42
despite
34:43
whatever,
34:44
despite what
34:44
you may
34:45
say to
34:45
us.
34:45
That was
34:46
their view
34:47
as well,
34:47
very much
34:47
the same
34:48
in principle
34:49
with Daniel's
34:50
views.
34:51
Now,
34:52
this really
34:55
is so
34:55
relevant and
34:57
significant,
34:58
as I said
34:58
at the
34:58
beginning
34:59
today,
35:00
tonight,
35:01
on this
35:01
particular
35:02
passage.
35:04
And as
35:04
you try
35:05
and bring
35:06
into your
35:06
own mind
35:07
the relevance
35:07
of this
35:08
for today,
35:08
it really
35:09
raises a
35:09
lot of
35:10
questions,
35:10
doesn't it?
35:11
How do
35:11
we respond
35:12
to any
35:14
threats?
35:14
And it's
35:14
not just
35:15
a matter
35:15
of our
35:15
own life
35:16
personally.
35:17
You may
35:17
never
35:17
personally
35:18
feel the
35:19
bite of
35:19
opposition
35:20
as others
35:20
do.
35:21
You may
35:22
never
35:22
actually
35:22
feel
35:23
what's
35:24
happening
35:25
in our
35:25
society
35:26
to other
35:27
Christians
35:27
elsewhere,
35:28
such as
35:28
this man
35:29
David
35:29
Campanel
35:30
that I
35:30
mentioned
35:30
that was
35:31
in the
35:31
Christian
35:32
Institute
35:32
reports
35:33
last week.
35:33
We may
35:34
never have
35:35
that personally
35:36
to stand
35:36
against.
35:37
We may
35:37
never have
35:38
to experience
35:38
that personally,
35:39
but we are
35:41
bound up
35:42
together as
35:43
Christians with
35:43
the Lord's
35:44
cause and
35:46
with such
35:46
people who
35:47
stand true
35:48
to the
35:48
Lord.
35:49
That's why we
35:50
pray for
35:50
them and
35:51
we remember
35:52
them and
35:53
even if
35:55
possible send
35:56
messages to
35:56
them for
35:57
their
35:57
encouragement.
35:58
all of
35:59
that is
36:00
so significant,
36:01
so important.
36:03
But the
36:03
principle is
36:04
this.
36:06
Whatever
36:06
happens in
36:07
our own
36:08
experience,
36:09
in our
36:10
own nation,
36:11
our own
36:11
society,
36:13
our own
36:14
locality,
36:15
the one
36:15
thing we
36:16
must never
36:18
ever even
36:19
think of
36:19
doing is
36:20
being untrue
36:20
to God.
36:22
How we
36:23
express that,
36:24
the language
36:25
we use,
36:26
all of that
36:27
is so
36:27
important.
36:29
But the
36:29
truth itself
36:30
is the
36:30
most important
36:31
thing of
36:31
all.
36:33
And as
36:34
we live
36:34
out the
36:35
truth,
36:36
and as
36:37
we seek
36:37
to promote
36:38
the truth,
36:39
as we
36:40
seek to
36:40
witness to
36:41
that truth,
36:43
may it be
36:44
so that
36:44
you and
36:45
I,
36:46
together and
36:47
as individuals,
36:48
will find
36:48
increasingly
36:49
that spirit
36:51
of Shedrach,
36:52
Meshach,
36:53
and Abednego,
36:55
who said,
36:56
in their
36:56
days we
36:57
must say
36:57
devourge.
36:59
Even if
37:00
it's the
37:01
case that
37:01
God will
37:03
not keep
37:03
us from
37:03
the persecution
37:04
from the
37:05
fiery furnace,
37:06
be it
37:07
known,
37:08
we will
37:09
not bow
37:10
down to
37:10
these images
37:11
or worship
37:13
your gods.
37:16
And that's
37:16
not being
37:18
legalistic,
37:20
that's not
37:21
just being
37:21
thrown
37:22
religiously,
37:24
simply
37:25
being
37:26
true to
37:26
God,
37:28
simply
37:28
standing
37:29
on the
37:30
foundation
37:30
he has
37:31
given
37:31
us,
37:32
his own
37:33
truth.
37:35
Because
37:35
when truth,
37:36
as Isaiah
37:36
puts it,
37:37
has fallen
37:38
in the
37:38
street,
37:40
somebody's
37:41
got to put
37:41
it back
37:41
on its
37:42
feet.
37:43
And if
37:44
you and I
37:44
don't do it
37:45
as Christians,
37:47
well,
37:48
we shouldn't
37:49
be surprised
37:50
if no one
37:50
else does
37:51
it.
37:52
So here's
37:53
the Bible's
37:54
appeal to
37:55
us tonight.
37:56
Know what's
37:57
going on
37:57
around you,
37:58
know what's
37:59
going on
37:59
in government
38:01
and proposals
38:01
for legislation,
38:03
know what's
38:04
going on
38:04
and the
38:05
events that
38:05
take place
38:06
in our
38:06
land,
38:07
check out
38:08
all the
38:08
websites,
38:09
the Christian
38:09
Institute,
38:10
Christian
38:10
Concern,
38:12
all of
38:12
those that
38:12
you give
38:13
where you
38:13
get access
38:14
to what's
38:14
going on
38:15
and good
38:15
advice and
38:16
all sorts
38:18
of things
38:18
that help
38:19
you as a
38:19
Christian to
38:20
face up
38:20
to the
38:21
reality of
38:22
what's
38:22
happening.
38:23
And as
38:23
you do
38:24
so,
38:25
be inspired
38:26
by these
38:28
three faithful
38:29
men and
38:31
be inspired
38:32
so that
38:33
their stand
38:34
will also
38:35
remain our
38:36
stand in
38:38
our day as
38:38
well.
38:38
Let's pray.
38:41
Lord,
38:42
we thank
38:42
you that
38:42
your word
38:43
has its
38:44
own way of
38:45
making an
38:46
appeal to
38:46
us to
38:48
be faithful
38:48
to you in
38:49
our day
38:50
as so
38:50
many
38:50
were in
38:51
days gone
38:52
by.
38:53
Lord,
38:54
we pray
38:54
that you
38:55
would empower
38:55
us and
38:56
equip us
38:56
with the
38:58
right knowledge,
38:59
with the
38:59
right spirit
39:00
and attitude,
39:02
but especially
39:03
with that
39:03
deep understanding
39:04
of your
39:05
word that
39:06
these three
39:06
men had in
39:07
their generation.
39:09
Lord,
39:10
we ask that
39:10
every effort
39:11
that we make
39:11
to stand
39:13
for your
39:13
truth,
39:14
to promote
39:14
your glory
39:15
and your
39:15
praise in
39:16
our society,
39:18
that you
39:18
would be
39:18
pleased to
39:19
accompany that
39:19
with your
39:20
power and
39:20
blessing.
39:21
We do
39:22
pray for
39:23
those in
39:23
authority over
39:24
us,
39:24
Lord.
39:24
You have
39:24
given us
39:25
that command
39:26
in your
39:27
word to
39:28
pray for
39:29
those who
39:29
are set
39:29
over us.
39:30
We would
39:30
want to
39:31
do it,
39:31
oh Lord,
39:32
not out of
39:33
a mere
39:33
sense of
39:34
duty,
39:35
just because
39:35
it's required
39:36
of us,
39:36
but out of
39:37
a true
39:37
and a
39:40
true and
39:40
spiritual
39:41
concern for
39:43
their
39:43
well-being,
39:44
for the
39:45
well-being of
39:45
your church
39:46
in our
39:46
land,
39:47
for the
39:47
well-being of
39:48
our fellow
39:48
citizens,
39:50
who may be
39:51
bowing down
39:51
to other
39:52
gods or
39:53
none at
39:53
all.
39:55
Grant these
39:55
mercies to
39:56
us, we
39:56
pray now.
39:57
Hear the
39:58
prayers of
39:58
your people,
39:59
hear silently
40:00
and also
40:01
spoken,
40:02
for Jesus
40:03
sake.
40:04
Amen.