The Bible tells us, "In
the beginning was the Word,
00:00:01.36\00:00:03.90
and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God."
00:00:03.93\00:00:08.04
It says, "To receive with
meekness the implanted Word,
00:00:08.07\00:00:11.97
which is able
to save your souls.
00:00:12.01\00:00:14.34
And to be diligent
to present yourself
00:00:14.38\00:00:16.61
approved to God,
00:00:16.64\00:00:18.25
rightly dividing
the Word of truth."
00:00:18.28\00:00:21.22
Join us now for the
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
00:00:21.25\00:00:25.05
Our study today is
the Book of Daniel.
00:00:25.09\00:00:28.19
Hello, and
welcome to another edition
00:00:32.43\00:00:34.00
of 3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
00:00:34.03\00:00:36.23
We are so excited
that you have been able to
00:00:36.26\00:00:38.03
join us again for another
week of study as we are...
00:00:38.07\00:00:40.90
We're trucking along
in the Book of Daniel.
00:00:40.94\00:00:43.20
And this week is
our fourth study.
00:00:43.24\00:00:46.07
And we're gonna be talking about
00:00:46.11\00:00:47.71
From Furnace to Palace.
00:00:47.74\00:00:49.71
We're gonna be
looking at Daniel Chapter 3,
00:00:49.74\00:00:51.68
and the great image
that was set up there.
00:00:51.71\00:00:53.92
And we just wanna
remind you at this moment
00:00:53.95\00:00:55.72
if you want to have a
free copy of this study,
00:00:55.75\00:00:58.75
go to ABSG.Adventist.org.
00:00:58.79\00:01:03.73
Again, that's
ABSG, it stands for
00:01:03.76\00:01:05.99
AdultBibleStudyGuide.
Adventist. org,
00:01:06.03\00:01:10.23
almost let that one get
away from me for a moment.
00:01:10.27\00:01:12.83
But go there, you can get
a free copy of this lesson,
00:01:12.87\00:01:14.87
but I always suggest
00:01:14.90\00:01:16.24
that you go to your local
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:01:16.27\00:01:17.94
because there
you'll find fellowship
00:01:17.97\00:01:19.67
and a small group to study with,
00:01:19.71\00:01:21.24
hear from
different views and ideas to
00:01:21.28\00:01:23.75
be able to
collaborate together as a group.
00:01:23.78\00:01:25.48
I love studying
from a small group,
00:01:25.51\00:01:27.38
but it's so good to have
each and every one of you again
00:01:27.42\00:01:29.15
this week with us.
00:01:29.18\00:01:30.52
And before we go any
further, I wanna go ahead
00:01:30.55\00:01:31.89
and introduce
our wonderful panel,
00:01:31.92\00:01:34.46
this great Sabbath School Panel
00:01:34.49\00:01:36.02
that I have the
privilege of studying with
00:01:36.06\00:01:37.39
each and every week.
00:01:37.43\00:01:38.76
To my left is
Miss Jill Morikone.
00:01:38.79\00:01:40.13
It's good to have you.
00:01:40.16\00:01:41.50
Thank you so much, Pastor Ryan,
00:01:41.53\00:01:42.86
privilege to be here.
00:01:42.90\00:01:44.23
Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:01:44.27\00:01:45.60
Of course, my pastor,
00:01:45.63\00:01:46.97
Pastor John
Lomacang, how are you, Brother?
00:01:47.00\00:01:48.34
I'm doing well,
and I'm ready to go.
00:01:48.37\00:01:49.70
Praise God. Praise the Lord.
00:01:49.74\00:01:51.07
And, of course, our
dear Sister Shelley Quinn,
00:01:51.11\00:01:52.44
how are you?
00:01:52.47\00:01:53.81
I am so excited to be here.
00:01:53.84\00:01:55.18
You know, the fun
thing about studying
00:01:55.21\00:01:57.91
things you're familiar with
00:01:57.95\00:01:59.28
when you're deep
studying to present,
00:01:59.31\00:02:01.48
you learn
something new every time.
00:02:01.52\00:02:03.59
Absolutely. Amen. I love it.
00:02:03.62\00:02:05.42
And, of course,
Brother Kenny Shelton.
00:02:05.45\00:02:08.86
I love it. Love to be here.
00:02:08.89\00:02:10.23
Love to study the Word of God,
00:02:10.26\00:02:11.59
especially this book
'cause it's so prevalent
00:02:11.63\00:02:13.43
to the days
that we're living in.
00:02:13.46\00:02:14.80
Amen. Amen.
00:02:14.83\00:02:16.16
Absolutely. I
agree with you 100%.
00:02:16.20\00:02:17.53
And, of course,
00:02:17.57\00:02:18.90
before we dive
deep into this study,
00:02:18.93\00:02:20.27
it's important that
00:02:20.30\00:02:21.64
we go to the
Lord in prayer first.
00:02:21.67\00:02:23.00
Miss Shelley, would
you have a prayer for us?
00:02:23.04\00:02:24.37
Absolutely.
00:02:24.41\00:02:26.27
Oh, glorious Heavenly Father,
00:02:26.31\00:02:27.91
how we are come to You
00:02:27.94\00:02:30.45
with hearts that are overflowing
00:02:30.48\00:02:32.18
with Thanksgiving for
Your plan of salvation.
00:02:32.21\00:02:35.68
And, Lord, we
praise You for Jesus
00:02:35.72\00:02:38.85
and Your Holy
Spirit and Your Word.
00:02:38.89\00:02:41.79
Thank You, Father,
00:02:41.82\00:02:43.16
You did not leave us as orphans.
00:02:43.19\00:02:44.76
Thank You that we
don't have to guess,
00:02:44.79\00:02:47.90
but that You reveal Yourself
00:02:47.93\00:02:51.57
in a progressive
manner in Your Word.
00:02:51.60\00:02:54.34
And we pray now as we
study the Book of Daniel.
00:02:54.37\00:02:57.11
Open our eyes,
00:02:57.14\00:02:58.47
send the Holy Spirit to be
our teacher in Jesus' name.
00:02:58.51\00:03:01.81
Amen. Amen.
00:03:01.84\00:03:03.51
Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:03:03.55\00:03:05.11
I'm so excited about this study.
00:03:05.15\00:03:06.58
This is one of my favorite
stories in all the Bible.
00:03:06.61\00:03:08.78
You know, while many
people consider this story to be
00:03:08.82\00:03:11.79
kind of one of
those Sunday school,
00:03:11.82\00:03:13.69
you know, Sabbath
School, elementary type stories,
00:03:13.72\00:03:16.39
which we all heard
growing up in church.
00:03:16.42\00:03:18.99
You know, this has very
much a very sophisticated,
00:03:19.03\00:03:23.50
mature adult
application in the last days.
00:03:23.53\00:03:26.27
And we're gonna see that
as we're making a comparison
00:03:26.30\00:03:29.30
from what is
happening in Daniel Chapter 3,
00:03:29.34\00:03:31.27
which from our perspective
is history, but of course,
00:03:31.31\00:03:34.24
we see a last day
events application as well.
00:03:34.28\00:03:37.58
In fact, I wanna
start with a quote
00:03:37.61\00:03:39.31
that I found on
Sabbath afternoon study
00:03:39.35\00:03:41.82
comes from in
Heavenly Places, page 149.
00:03:41.85\00:03:45.19
And I love how this
was beautifully put.
00:03:45.22\00:03:46.72
Notice what it says here.
00:03:46.76\00:03:48.32
"Thus these youth,
imbued with the Holy Spirit,
00:03:48.36\00:03:52.59
declare to the
whole nation their faith,
00:03:52.63\00:03:56.40
that He whom they worshiped
00:03:56.43\00:03:57.97
is the only true and living God.
00:03:58.00\00:04:01.07
This
demonstration of their own faith
00:04:01.10\00:04:03.27
was the most
eloquent presentation
00:04:03.30\00:04:05.41
of their principles.
00:04:05.44\00:04:07.04
In order to impress idolaters
with the power of greatness
00:04:07.08\00:04:10.45
and the living God,
00:04:10.48\00:04:12.15
His servants must reveal
their own reverence for God.
00:04:12.18\00:04:16.72
They must make it
and manifest it that
00:04:16.75\00:04:22.72
He is the only object
of their honor and worship,
00:04:22.76\00:04:25.99
and that no consideration,
00:04:26.03\00:04:27.43
not even the preservation
of life itself, can induce them
00:04:27.46\00:04:32.13
to make the least
succession to idolatry
00:04:32.17\00:04:35.47
or concession to idolatry.
00:04:35.50\00:04:37.61
These lessons have a
direct and vital bearing
00:04:37.64\00:04:40.78
upon our experience
in these last days."
00:04:40.81\00:04:43.58
Amen.
00:04:43.61\00:04:44.95
And I love our
memory text for today
00:04:44.98\00:04:46.31
because it comes
directly from Daniel 3:17.
00:04:46.35\00:04:49.62
And the Bible says,
00:04:49.65\00:04:50.99
"Our God whom we
serve is able to deliver us
00:04:51.02\00:04:53.89
from the burning fiery furnace,
00:04:53.92\00:04:55.92
and He will deliver us
from your hand, O King."
00:04:55.96\00:04:59.69
We serve a mighty God indeed.
00:04:59.73\00:05:01.20
And, you know, as
I'm studying through,
00:05:01.23\00:05:03.97
and I'm recognizing, you know,
00:05:04.00\00:05:05.60
as I'm reading back through
this third chapter of Daniel,
00:05:05.63\00:05:08.50
I'm recognizing
just how powerful it is
00:05:08.54\00:05:11.44
and how much of these events
00:05:11.47\00:05:13.07
that we see
happening at Daniel Chapter 3
00:05:13.11\00:05:15.11
are going to manifest
itself on a greater global scale
00:05:15.14\00:05:18.91
in the last days.
00:05:18.95\00:05:20.28
And it's vitally important that
00:05:20.32\00:05:21.65
we understand
these stories like this
00:05:21.68\00:05:23.42
and what is happening
in this particular book.
00:05:23.45\00:05:25.89
And so I wanna start
with Daniel Chapter 3
00:05:25.92\00:05:28.09
start right there in verse 1-7
00:05:28.12\00:05:30.63
because there's
so much happening
00:05:30.66\00:05:31.99
in this opening segment
00:05:32.03\00:05:33.36
of the chapter
that is foundational
00:05:33.40\00:05:34.73
for understanding the rest.
00:05:34.76\00:05:36.26
And so the Bible
says in Daniel 3:1,
00:05:36.30\00:05:39.53
it says, "Nebuchadnezzar,
the king made an image of gold,
00:05:39.57\00:05:42.90
whose height was sixty
cubits and its width six cubits.
00:05:42.94\00:05:47.24
He set it up in
the plane of Dura,
00:05:47.28\00:05:49.61
in the province of Babylon.
00:05:49.64\00:05:51.35
And King
Nebuchadnezzar sent word
00:05:51.38\00:05:53.68
to gather together the satraps,
00:05:53.72\00:05:55.62
and administrators, the
governors, the counselors,
00:05:55.65\00:05:58.15
the treasurers, the
judges, the magistrates,
00:05:58.19\00:06:01.59
and all the
officials of the provinces,
00:06:01.62\00:06:03.99
to come to the
dedication of the image
00:06:04.03\00:06:06.19
which King
Nebuchadnezzar had set up."
00:06:06.23\00:06:09.20
And it goes on
to say in verse 3,
00:06:09.23\00:06:10.67
"So the satraps,
the administrators,
00:06:10.70\00:06:12.53
the governors, the
counselors, the treasurers,
00:06:12.57\00:06:14.64
the judges, the magistrates,
and all the officials
00:06:14.67\00:06:17.11
of the provinces
gathered together
00:06:17.14\00:06:18.94
for the dedication of the image
00:06:18.97\00:06:21.04
that King
Nebuchadnezzar had set up,
00:06:21.08\00:06:23.78
and they stood before the image
that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
00:06:23.81\00:06:28.25
Then a herald cried
aloud, 'To you it is commanded,
00:06:28.28\00:06:32.15
O peoples,
nations, and languages,
00:06:32.19\00:06:34.62
that at the time you
hear the sound of the horn,
00:06:34.66\00:06:37.03
flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery,
00:06:37.06\00:06:39.69
in symphony with
all kinds of music,
00:06:39.73\00:06:42.73
you shall fall down and
worship the golden image
00:06:42.76\00:06:45.47
that King
Nebuchadnezzar has set up,
00:06:45.50\00:06:47.90
and whoever does not
fall down and worship
00:06:47.94\00:06:49.94
shall be cast
immediately," notice,
00:06:49.97\00:06:53.11
"into the midst of a
burning fiery furnace.'
00:06:53.14\00:06:56.48
" And then verse
7, "So at that time,
00:06:56.51\00:06:58.08
when the people heard
the sound of the horn, flute,
00:06:58.11\00:07:00.52
harp, and lyre, in symphony
with all kinds of music,
00:07:00.55\00:07:03.45
all the people,
nations, and languages fell down
00:07:03.49\00:07:05.65
and worshiped the golden image
00:07:05.69\00:07:07.09
which King
Nebuchadnezzar had set up."
00:07:07.12\00:07:10.93
And so it's...
00:07:10.96\00:07:12.29
I think it's vitally important
that we first establish that
00:07:12.33\00:07:14.66
there is a clear
connection and flow between
00:07:14.70\00:07:17.73
Daniel Chapter 2
and Daniel Chapter 3.
00:07:17.77\00:07:19.83
And so these are while obviously
00:07:19.87\00:07:21.40
the Bible is set up
in chapters and verses,
00:07:21.44\00:07:23.54
many times we can have
a kind of a disconnection
00:07:23.57\00:07:27.64
between these passages
00:07:27.68\00:07:29.01
that sometimes are
very much linked together.
00:07:29.04\00:07:31.65
I found this particular quote
00:07:31.68\00:07:33.01
in Prophets and Kings, page 504,
00:07:33.05\00:07:35.05
which helps us
further see this clearly.
00:07:35.08\00:07:36.72
It says, "The
wise men of his realm,
00:07:36.75\00:07:39.49
taking advantage of this
and his return to idolatry."
00:07:39.52\00:07:43.39
So speaking of the
wise men of Babylon,
00:07:43.43\00:07:45.36
they took advantage of
the king and his idolatry
00:07:45.39\00:07:48.00
that he had fallen back
into, and notice what he says,
00:07:48.03\00:07:50.83
"They proposed
that he makes an image
00:07:50.87\00:07:53.13
similar to the one
seen in his dream,"
00:07:53.17\00:07:57.01
that is from Daniel Chapter 2,
00:07:57.04\00:07:58.91
"and set it up
where all might behold
00:07:58.94\00:08:00.94
the head of gold,
which had been interpreted
00:08:00.98\00:08:03.51
as representing his kingdom."
00:08:03.55\00:08:06.15
And so, even furthermore,
00:08:06.18\00:08:08.02
when you go back to Daniel 2:44,
00:08:08.05\00:08:10.52
Pastor done a wonderful job
00:08:10.55\00:08:11.95
last week
talking about that stone
00:08:11.99\00:08:14.06
because the stone represents
Christ in His Kingdom,
00:08:14.09\00:08:16.59
which again,
the words used there
00:08:16.62\00:08:18.56
in that particular
chapter and in verse says that
00:08:18.59\00:08:20.90
Christ would set up His kingdom.
00:08:20.93\00:08:24.53
Now what is the
one two words you see
00:08:24.57\00:08:27.84
often repeated
in the seven verses
00:08:27.87\00:08:29.70
that I just read?
00:08:29.74\00:08:31.17
Set up. Yeah.
00:08:31.21\00:08:32.54
Except this time,
it's not in connection
00:08:32.57\00:08:33.91
with what Christ is setting up,
00:08:33.94\00:08:35.28
but in direct rebellion,
King Nebuchadnezzar it says,
00:08:35.31\00:08:38.75
more than a total of nine times
00:08:38.78\00:08:40.95
in verses 1, 2,
3, 7, which I read.
00:08:40.98\00:08:44.02
And, of course,
you'll see this again
00:08:44.05\00:08:45.39
in verse 12,
verse 14, 15, and 18,
00:08:45.42\00:08:47.62
where it says,
"Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
00:08:47.66\00:08:49.92
Nebuchadnezzar had set up."
00:08:49.96\00:08:51.43
So you see that
there's a clear connection
00:08:51.46\00:08:53.29
between what is
happening in Daniel 2,
00:08:53.33\00:08:55.40
and then the response
that King Nebuchadnezzar gives
00:08:55.43\00:08:58.03
in rebellion to what he saw
00:08:58.07\00:09:00.17
in Daniel
Chapter 2 in this vision,
00:09:00.20\00:09:02.17
he's sending a clear
message that the Lord,
00:09:02.20\00:09:04.81
even though you have said
that my kingdom will not last,
00:09:04.84\00:09:07.71
I'm gonna show to you
that my kingdom will last.
00:09:07.74\00:09:10.31
And so he erects
this 90 foot image of gold
00:09:10.35\00:09:14.02
complete head to toe in gold.
00:09:14.05\00:09:16.45
And that brings
me to my next point,
00:09:16.48\00:09:18.19
which is quite interesting.
00:09:18.22\00:09:20.22
And so we see that
this image of gold,
00:09:20.26\00:09:23.19
it's an image, and we know that
00:09:23.22\00:09:24.56
in the Ten Commandments,
what does God tell us?
00:09:24.59\00:09:26.80
"Thou shalt not bow
down to any graven images,"
00:09:26.83\00:09:29.06
which we know, this is
not just an enforcement,
00:09:29.10\00:09:32.27
a civil
governmental enforcement.
00:09:32.30\00:09:34.04
This is an
enforcement of religion.
00:09:34.07\00:09:35.90
And so we see that church
and state is coming together
00:09:35.94\00:09:38.74
in this particular instance,
00:09:38.77\00:09:40.71
and it's
enforcing religious worship.
00:09:40.74\00:09:43.55
And so we see
that in Daniel 3:14,
00:09:43.58\00:09:47.05
notice what it says here.
00:09:47.08\00:09:48.42
It says, "It is true,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
00:09:48.45\00:09:50.89
that you do not serve my gods
00:09:50.92\00:09:52.85
or worship the
gold image which I,"
00:09:52.89\00:09:55.32
there it is
again, "have set up?"
00:09:55.36\00:09:56.69
So we know that
00:09:56.73\00:09:58.06
this is an
enforcement of worship,
00:09:58.09\00:10:00.03
but I wanna go back
00:10:00.06\00:10:01.40
and just kind of
highlight a few things
00:10:01.43\00:10:02.76
that I think is foundational
to the understanding
00:10:02.80\00:10:04.90
of why it's so important that
00:10:04.93\00:10:06.40
we understand
this in the context
00:10:06.43\00:10:08.10
of what is happening
here in the story as well as
00:10:08.14\00:10:10.44
what will repeat
itself on a global scale
00:10:10.47\00:10:12.77
in the last days.
00:10:12.81\00:10:14.14
Consider verse
1, as it says here,
00:10:14.18\00:10:15.98
"Nebuchadnezzar the
king made an image of gold,
00:10:16.01\00:10:18.71
whose height was sixty
cubits and its width six cubits.
00:10:18.75\00:10:23.25
He set it up in
the plain of Dura,
00:10:23.28\00:10:24.82
in the province of Babylon."
00:10:24.85\00:10:26.55
Now I was
studying and I ran through
00:10:26.59\00:10:29.06
a note by our good friend
00:10:29.09\00:10:30.89
and theologian Ranko
Stefanovic in his book,
00:10:30.93\00:10:33.36
Revelation of
Jesus Christ, page 417.
00:10:33.40\00:10:35.70
And notice what he says here.
00:10:35.73\00:10:37.20
He says, "Babylonian mathematics
00:10:37.23\00:10:39.80
was based on the
sexagesimal system,
00:10:39.83\00:10:43.10
and which the
basic counting units
00:10:43.14\00:10:45.77
were the numbers six and sixty."
00:10:45.81\00:10:48.98
Which is why you see
sixty cubits, six wide?
00:10:49.01\00:10:53.72
"The sexagesimal system
has been accepted universally
00:10:53.75\00:10:56.85
for the
measurement of arcs and angles
00:10:56.89\00:10:58.95
and for divisions of time."
00:10:58.99\00:11:01.02
And so this sexagesimal
system which is basically
00:11:01.06\00:11:04.06
it finds its
foundation on the number six,
00:11:04.09\00:11:06.49
it was foundationed in Babylon.
00:11:06.53\00:11:08.06
Its origins go all
the way back to Babylon.
00:11:08.10\00:11:10.77
Now if what the
famous and popular ancient,
00:11:10.80\00:11:15.14
I guess you could say here,
00:11:15.17\00:11:16.50
historian Herodotus was correct.
00:11:16.54\00:11:18.97
Notice what he says here,
00:11:19.01\00:11:20.48
"The image that
was again erected
00:11:20.51\00:11:23.75
which would be
about 90 feet high
00:11:23.78\00:11:25.95
and about 9 feet wide,
00:11:25.98\00:11:28.18
would weigh in at
800 talents of gold."
00:11:28.22\00:11:31.95
Mercy.
00:11:31.99\00:11:33.32
"Which would be the
equivalent of over 30 tons."
00:11:33.36\00:11:36.29
This thing was
huge and big. Wow.
00:11:36.32\00:11:39.49
Okay, so in antiquity,
this is historical, actually,
00:11:39.53\00:11:42.20
you can do some
research and find this.
00:11:42.23\00:11:43.73
"In antiquity, gold was
called the dew of the sun
00:11:43.77\00:11:46.40
because it was believed
that it would have dripped down
00:11:46.43\00:11:49.30
from the sun onto the earth.
00:11:49.34\00:11:51.07
Gold was used to
represent the sun god
00:11:51.11\00:11:53.94
because gold is
the color of the sun."
00:11:53.98\00:11:57.85
And so when we
consider all of this
00:11:57.88\00:11:59.71
as what is happening and
you do your historical research,
00:11:59.75\00:12:01.95
you will find that based
on this sexagesimal system,
00:12:01.98\00:12:05.52
which again finds
its origin in Babylon,
00:12:05.55\00:12:08.59
the most sacred number...
00:12:08.62\00:12:09.96
And I get this, I
don't have a lot of time
00:12:09.99\00:12:11.33
to unpack this, but
the most sacred number
00:12:11.36\00:12:13.09
that represented
all of their pagan gods,
00:12:13.13\00:12:15.06
and points back all
the way to the sun god
00:12:15.10\00:12:18.63
of Marduk was the number 666,
00:12:18.67\00:12:22.34
which we see this come
up in Revelation Chapter 13,
00:12:22.37\00:12:25.01
which is a parallel chapter
00:12:25.04\00:12:26.37
to what we're
reading here in Daniel 3.
00:12:26.41\00:12:28.41
So if these
three Hebrew children
00:12:28.44\00:12:30.35
would have bowed
down to this image,
00:12:30.38\00:12:32.68
they would have
violated God's Ten Commandments.
00:12:32.71\00:12:35.15
And furthermore, in
bowing down to this image,
00:12:35.18\00:12:37.65
they would have been
giving their allegiance
00:12:37.69\00:12:39.49
to Babylon's
number one god Marduk,
00:12:39.52\00:12:42.96
which is the sun god.
00:12:42.99\00:12:44.66
And so we see here
00:12:44.69\00:12:46.03
through all of this, my friends,
00:12:46.06\00:12:47.40
we learned an awesome
lesson, in the sense that,
00:12:47.43\00:12:50.03
you know, ultimately it was
00:12:50.07\00:12:51.40
the sinful pride and selfishness
00:12:51.43\00:12:52.90
that led the king to
revert back to idolatry.
00:12:52.93\00:12:55.64
And ultimately
unleashed an act of rebellion
00:12:55.67\00:12:57.81
against the one
true God, of course,
00:12:57.84\00:12:59.51
and his actions and choices,
00:12:59.54\00:13:01.51
of course, affected
everyone around them.
00:13:01.54\00:13:03.08
But praise the Lord as
we're gonna see through
00:13:03.11\00:13:04.71
the rest of this story that
there were three Hebrew boys
00:13:04.75\00:13:08.75
that were full
of the Holy Spirit.
00:13:08.78\00:13:10.59
And they gave
their hearts to the Lord
00:13:10.62\00:13:12.05
and they stood on the truth
while everyone else was bowing.
00:13:12.09\00:13:14.92
They said, "We will not bow,
00:13:14.96\00:13:16.46
we will stand on the
truth of God's Word."
00:13:16.49\00:13:18.19
And I think Jill's gonna take us
00:13:18.23\00:13:19.56
into the rest of this story.
00:13:19.59\00:13:20.93
Amen.
00:13:20.96\00:13:22.30
Thank you so much, Pastor Ryan,
what a wonderful foundation.
00:13:22.33\00:13:24.83
And I could say set
up, not the way you meant,
00:13:24.87\00:13:28.30
an image been set up,
but it's a perfect set up
00:13:28.34\00:13:30.54
for what comes next I
have The Call to Worship,
00:13:30.57\00:13:33.64
but I have renamed my day
00:13:33.68\00:13:35.74
on Monday to the
attack from others
00:13:35.78\00:13:38.88
'cause that's
really what's taken place
00:13:38.91\00:13:40.98
is this attack against
00:13:41.02\00:13:42.35
the three Hebrew
worthies as we call them.
00:13:42.38\00:13:44.92
Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego, Daniel's friends.
00:13:44.95\00:13:48.96
So this is Monday's
lesson. We're in Daniel 3:8-15.
00:13:48.99\00:13:53.80
But before we jump in
and actually read that,
00:13:53.83\00:13:56.60
we have the structure of Daniel,
00:13:56.63\00:13:58.83
I know, Pastor John,
you talked about that,
00:13:58.87\00:14:00.54
I think in the
opening lesson that we had,
00:14:00.57\00:14:03.24
and maybe some others
have referenced it since then.
00:14:03.27\00:14:05.77
But the structure of Daniel
00:14:05.81\00:14:07.14
is very
fascinating to me, you know,
00:14:07.18\00:14:08.58
we have the Aramaic portion.
00:14:08.61\00:14:10.68
Right now we're in the
Aramaic portion of Daniel.
00:14:10.71\00:14:13.45
We have Daniel
Chapter 2, which is of course,
00:14:13.48\00:14:15.48
Nebuchadnezzar's
dream, the image.
00:14:15.52\00:14:17.92
And that correlates
with Daniel Chapter 7,
00:14:17.95\00:14:20.16
which is Daniel's
dream of the four beasts.
00:14:20.19\00:14:22.72
And both of those dreams
00:14:22.76\00:14:24.09
represent the
kingdoms of the world.
00:14:24.13\00:14:27.06
Then we have Daniel Chapter 3,
00:14:27.10\00:14:28.50
which is Daniel's three
friends in the fiery furnace.
00:14:28.53\00:14:31.63
Three friends being tested,
00:14:31.67\00:14:33.17
and Daniel Chapter 6
where Daniel's faith is tested
00:14:33.20\00:14:37.94
when he's thrown
in the lions' den.
00:14:37.97\00:14:39.97
And then, of course,
00:14:40.01\00:14:41.34
sandwiched in the
middle is Daniel 4 and 5.
00:14:41.38\00:14:43.35
Daniel 4 is Nebuchadnezzar
00:14:43.38\00:14:44.71
being humbled by
the divine sentence.
00:14:44.75\00:14:47.82
And Daniel 5, of course,
00:14:47.85\00:14:49.18
is Belshazzar being
humbled by the divine sentence
00:14:49.22\00:14:52.69
by the judgment of God.
00:14:52.72\00:14:54.19
In Daniel 3, Daniel's
three friends are tested.
00:14:54.22\00:14:56.69
Are they gonna be loyal to God,
00:14:56.73\00:14:58.19
amidst
persecution from a pagan king,
00:14:58.23\00:15:01.00
from a gentile king.
00:15:01.03\00:15:02.50
And Daniel 6,
Daniel himself is tested.
00:15:02.53\00:15:05.27
Will he be loyal to God,
00:15:05.30\00:15:07.17
not from
persecution from the king
00:15:07.20\00:15:08.84
but from a pagan court.
00:15:08.87\00:15:11.01
And Daniel 3, we see that
00:15:11.04\00:15:12.47
Daniel's three
friends remain loyal to God.
00:15:12.51\00:15:16.04
The king is exposed as arrogant,
00:15:16.08\00:15:19.31
but God delivers His people.
00:15:19.35\00:15:22.18
And Daniel 6, we see that
Daniel remains faithful to God.
00:15:22.22\00:15:26.82
The king's counselors are
exposed as being arrogant,
00:15:26.86\00:15:30.73
but God again
delivers His servant.
00:15:30.76\00:15:34.53
So let's look at
this attack from others.
00:15:34.56\00:15:36.70
We see the accusation,
then we see the threat,
00:15:36.73\00:15:39.90
and then the king's ultimatum.
00:15:39.93\00:15:41.77
And that's
where my portion ends.
00:15:41.80\00:15:43.44
So let's look at the accusation.
00:15:43.47\00:15:44.81
We're in verse 8.
00:15:44.84\00:15:46.17
"Therefore at that time
certain Chaldeans came forward
00:15:46.21\00:15:48.81
and accused the Jews."
00:15:48.84\00:15:51.38
Now in Aramaic
that word accused means
00:15:51.41\00:15:53.92
to maliciously slander,
00:15:53.95\00:15:57.35
literally to eat
the pieces of flesh
00:15:57.39\00:16:00.39
torn from someone's body.
00:16:00.42\00:16:02.62
So in other words,
00:16:02.66\00:16:03.99
they were going
to chew them, him,
00:16:04.03\00:16:06.19
them up figuratively as
it were and spit them out.
00:16:06.23\00:16:09.86
They accused the Jews.
00:16:09.90\00:16:11.77
Now the Chaldeans owe
their lives to Daniel, right?
00:16:11.80\00:16:15.24
Because in Daniel Chapter 2
00:16:15.27\00:16:16.71
if he hadn't
interpreted the king's dream,
00:16:16.74\00:16:18.61
they would have all been killed.
00:16:18.64\00:16:20.18
They owed their lives to them,
00:16:20.21\00:16:21.98
but yet, they saw
Daniel's three friends
00:16:22.01\00:16:24.38
as outsiders and they didn't...
00:16:24.41\00:16:26.28
They were maybe
jealous against them.
00:16:26.31\00:16:28.45
This is an attack against,
00:16:28.48\00:16:29.88
you could say the Jewish people,
00:16:29.92\00:16:31.95
attack against the religion
00:16:31.99\00:16:33.36
and most definitely
against the Lord God.
00:16:33.39\00:16:36.59
So let's look at their
threats. We're in verses 9-12.
00:16:36.62\00:16:39.46
"They spoke and said
to King Nebuchadnezzar,
00:16:39.49\00:16:41.30
'O king, live forever!
00:16:41.33\00:16:42.76
You, O king, have
made a decree that everyone
00:16:42.80\00:16:45.43
who hears the sound of the horn,
00:16:45.47\00:16:46.94
flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery,
00:16:46.97\00:16:48.97
in symphony with
all kinds of music,
00:16:49.00\00:16:51.07
shall fall down and
worship the gold image,
00:16:51.11\00:16:53.21
and whoever does not fall
down and worship shall be cast
00:16:53.24\00:16:56.24
into the midst of a
burning fiery furnace.
00:16:56.28\00:16:58.78
There are certain
Jews whom you have set
00:16:58.81\00:17:01.38
over the affairs of the province
00:17:01.42\00:17:02.95
of Babylon, Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego,
00:17:02.98\00:17:05.99
these men, O king,
00:17:06.02\00:17:07.36
have not paid due regard to you.
00:17:07.39\00:17:09.76
They do not serve your gods
00:17:09.79\00:17:11.29
or worship the golden
image which you have set up.'
00:17:11.33\00:17:14.73
" Now notice the
threefold accusation
00:17:14.76\00:17:17.07
that the Chaldeans made
against these three Hebrews.
00:17:17.10\00:17:21.24
First of all, they said,
00:17:21.27\00:17:22.60
these men disregard
the king's authority.
00:17:22.64\00:17:26.54
Second, they said,
00:17:26.57\00:17:27.91
these men do
not serve your gods.
00:17:27.94\00:17:30.45
And then third, they said,
00:17:30.48\00:17:31.88
these men refuse to
bow down to the image,
00:17:31.91\00:17:35.98
as you have commanded.
00:17:36.02\00:17:38.35
As you mentioned, Ryan,
and brought out so beautifully.
00:17:38.39\00:17:40.56
The issue in Daniel
Chapter 3 is all about worship.
00:17:40.59\00:17:44.63
Worship actually is mentioned
11 times in this chapter.
00:17:44.66\00:17:50.37
The image of gold
was in the plain of Dura.
00:17:50.40\00:17:53.87
And Dura means walled place.
00:17:53.90\00:17:56.47
It almost gives the
impression of a vast sanctuary
00:17:56.50\00:18:00.54
where everyone had
assembled together.
00:18:00.58\00:18:02.94
And here is an image that
they're supposed to worship.
00:18:02.98\00:18:06.48
We have fire and a
furnace set up there
00:18:06.51\00:18:09.48
which could almost
evoke images of an altar
00:18:09.52\00:18:12.45
or a sacrifice that's
going to be taking place.
00:18:12.49\00:18:15.62
Then there's
music and we know that
00:18:15.66\00:18:17.69
oftentimes in a worship service,
00:18:17.73\00:18:19.86
music is part of worship.
00:18:19.89\00:18:21.70
Now there can be godly
music and not so godly music.
00:18:21.73\00:18:25.67
Here they listed
seven instruments,
00:18:25.70\00:18:29.27
some are Greek,
some are Persian,
00:18:29.30\00:18:31.24
indicating that the
instruments are coming
00:18:31.27\00:18:33.44
from around the world.
00:18:33.48\00:18:35.58
Three times the command
is given to bow and worship
00:18:35.61\00:18:38.81
when the music is sounded.
00:18:38.85\00:18:40.35
Now there's
also three references
00:18:40.38\00:18:42.32
within this
chapter to all nations
00:18:42.35\00:18:44.95
and all people
being gathered together.
00:18:44.99\00:18:48.82
And there's also reference
00:18:48.86\00:18:50.33
three different
times to political leaders,
00:18:50.36\00:18:53.33
all the big shots
being gathered here together.
00:18:53.36\00:18:57.50
So at this worship service,
00:18:57.53\00:18:59.33
you have a vast sanctuary people
00:18:59.37\00:19:01.74
from all over the world,
including political leaders,
00:19:01.77\00:19:04.61
you have a false
idol, you have a sacrifice,
00:19:04.64\00:19:07.71
or you could say an
altar, you have music,
00:19:07.74\00:19:10.25
and you have the threat of force
00:19:10.28\00:19:13.08
by the political
leadership to worship
00:19:13.11\00:19:16.35
or you're going to be destroyed.
00:19:16.38\00:19:18.62
We see the king's ultimatum,
00:19:18.65\00:19:20.42
Nebuchadnezzar in
the next verses 13-15.
00:19:20.46\00:19:23.56
He flies into a rage.
00:19:23.59\00:19:26.56
And he brings the
three Hebrews before him.
00:19:26.59\00:19:29.40
And he says,
again, here's the decree,
00:19:29.43\00:19:31.37
when you hear all this
music, bow down and worship.
00:19:31.40\00:19:33.74
I'm gonna give
you another chance.
00:19:33.77\00:19:35.67
"But if you do not worship,
00:19:35.70\00:19:37.17
you should be cast immediately
00:19:37.21\00:19:38.94
into the midst of a
burning fiery furnace.
00:19:38.97\00:19:41.21
And who is the god
00:19:41.24\00:19:42.68
who will deliver
you from my hands?"
00:19:42.71\00:19:44.68
It reminds me of Pharaoh.
00:19:44.71\00:19:46.05
Remember, right
before the children of Israel
00:19:46.08\00:19:48.12
were delivered, who is this God?
00:19:48.15\00:19:50.09
Well, Nebuchadnezzar
said the same thing,
00:19:50.12\00:19:51.69
he was about ready to
find out who this God is?
00:19:51.72\00:19:54.36
And that God can hear and
God can deliver His people.
00:19:54.39\00:19:58.09
In my remaining time, I
wanna make eight comparisons.
00:19:58.13\00:20:02.56
Ryan, you talked
about the comparison between
00:20:02.60\00:20:04.70
Daniel Chapter 3 and
Revelation Chapter 13.
00:20:04.73\00:20:08.27
So we're gonna
make eight comparisons.
00:20:08.30\00:20:09.64
We won't look up
the scriptures now,
00:20:09.67\00:20:11.57
but you can read it later,
00:20:11.61\00:20:12.94
Daniel 3 and
Revelation Chapter 13.
00:20:12.97\00:20:16.28
Specifically, we're
talking Revelation Chapter 13,
00:20:16.31\00:20:18.91
with the land beast
who enforces worship
00:20:18.95\00:20:23.05
and this image is set up
to worship the first beast,
00:20:23.08\00:20:27.22
the sea beast.
00:20:27.26\00:20:28.59
So this is when
the political power
00:20:28.62\00:20:29.96
of the United States of America
00:20:29.99\00:20:31.33
that political power
apostate Protestantism,
00:20:31.36\00:20:33.73
begins to force that
worship to the Roman power.
00:20:33.76\00:20:37.90
So let's look at
the similarities.
00:20:37.93\00:20:39.73
Similarity number one,
00:20:39.77\00:20:41.10
in Daniel the
central issue was worship.
00:20:41.14\00:20:43.54
In Revelation 13,
00:20:43.57\00:20:44.97
the central
issue will be worship.
00:20:45.01\00:20:48.51
Similarity number two,
in Daniel the image was
00:20:48.54\00:20:52.28
90 foot statue on
the plain of Dura,
00:20:52.31\00:20:55.25
there was an image.
00:20:55.28\00:20:56.62
In Revelation 13,
there is another image.
00:20:56.65\00:20:59.85
This is called the
image to the beast.
00:20:59.89\00:21:04.29
Third comparison.
00:21:04.33\00:21:05.66
In Daniel, the image
didn't have any authority.
00:21:05.69\00:21:08.73
The image was imposing,
but it didn't have authority.
00:21:08.76\00:21:11.13
The authority came from the king
00:21:11.17\00:21:13.84
who gave power to the image.
00:21:13.87\00:21:17.61
In Revelation,
the image's authority
00:21:17.64\00:21:19.67
comes from the second beast.
00:21:19.71\00:21:22.44
And verse Revelation 13:15.
00:21:22.48\00:21:24.51
"He was granted
power to give breath
00:21:24.55\00:21:27.08
to the image of the beast."
00:21:27.12\00:21:28.45
So the image doesn't have power,
00:21:28.48\00:21:29.82
but the beast,
00:21:29.85\00:21:31.19
the second power
gave the image the power.
00:21:31.22\00:21:34.22
Fourth comparison.
00:21:34.26\00:21:35.59
In Daniel, we see fire
00:21:35.62\00:21:37.03
and the threat
of the fiery furnace
00:21:37.06\00:21:38.93
and death if you don't worship.
00:21:38.96\00:21:41.06
In Revelation,
we see fire again.
00:21:41.10\00:21:42.83
Here fire comes
down from heaven,
00:21:42.86\00:21:44.77
and there's the threat of
death if you don't worship.
00:21:44.80\00:21:48.47
Fifth comparison.
00:21:48.50\00:21:49.84
In Daniel, all the people
of the world are involved.
00:21:49.87\00:21:52.81
We talked about all the
peoples gather together.
00:21:52.84\00:21:55.14
In Revelation 13:12,
00:21:55.18\00:21:58.41
"The land beast
exercises all the authority
00:21:58.45\00:22:00.52
of the first
beast in his presence,
00:22:00.55\00:22:02.15
and causes the earth
and those who dwell in it."
00:22:02.18\00:22:05.09
All the people of the earth
00:22:05.12\00:22:06.92
are supposed to
worship the first beast.
00:22:06.96\00:22:09.56
Sixth comparison.
00:22:09.59\00:22:10.93
In Daniel, the political powers
00:22:10.96\00:22:12.29
of the world
are forcing worship.
00:22:12.33\00:22:15.30
In Revelation,
the political power
00:22:15.33\00:22:17.67
of the world again
is forcing worship.
00:22:17.70\00:22:21.20
Number seven.
00:22:21.24\00:22:22.57
In Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar,
we see in the next chapter
00:22:22.60\00:22:25.71
will be cut
down from the throne,
00:22:25.74\00:22:28.74
then he will later be restored.
00:22:28.78\00:22:30.95
He had as it were a deadly wound
00:22:30.98\00:22:33.35
that was healed.
00:22:33.38\00:22:34.72
In Revelation, we see a beast
00:22:34.75\00:22:37.45
that was wounded by
the sword and yet lived.
00:22:37.49\00:22:41.39
Finally, last
comparison number eight.
00:22:41.42\00:22:43.73
In Daniel, and Ryan
already talked about this.
00:22:43.76\00:22:45.69
We've seen the
significance of the numbers six,
00:22:45.73\00:22:49.50
the image was sixty
cubits by six wide, cubits wide.
00:22:49.53\00:22:53.37
In Revelation, we see again,
00:22:53.40\00:22:54.74
the significance
of the number six.
00:22:54.77\00:22:57.64
In fact, in Revelation 13:16,
00:22:57.67\00:22:59.84
"He causes all, small and great,
00:22:59.87\00:23:01.28
rich and poor, free and slave,
00:23:01.31\00:23:02.64
to receive the
mark in the right hand
00:23:02.68\00:23:04.31
or on their foreheads."
00:23:04.35\00:23:06.01
You notice there are six groups
of people mentioned there.
00:23:06.05\00:23:08.22
Small, great, rich,
poor, free, and slave.
00:23:08.25\00:23:11.85
And then, of course,
00:23:11.89\00:23:13.22
there's the
number of the beast 666.
00:23:13.25\00:23:15.72
So it's fascinating to
me that we see in Daniel 3,
00:23:15.76\00:23:18.66
this whole issue of
worship is almost a precursor
00:23:18.69\00:23:21.50
or an illustration
of what will happen
00:23:21.53\00:23:24.33
in the end time with Babylon.
00:23:24.37\00:23:27.34
Nice, that was
beautifully communicated, Jill,
00:23:27.37\00:23:29.00
thank you so much.
00:23:29.04\00:23:30.37
Well, we're gonna
take a short break.
00:23:30.41\00:23:31.74
Don't go anywhere.
00:23:31.77\00:23:33.11
We'll be right back. Amen.
00:23:33.14\00:23:38.38
Ever wish you could watch
a 3ABN Sabbath School Panel
00:23:38.41\00:23:41.32
again, or share it on
Facebook, Instagram or Twitter?
00:23:41.35\00:23:45.12
Well, you can by visiting
3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com.
00:23:45.15\00:23:50.13
A clean design makes it easy
00:23:50.16\00:23:52.49
to find the
program you're looking for.
00:23:52.53\00:23:54.70
There are also links to
the Adult Bible Study Guide
00:23:54.73\00:23:58.10
so you can follow along.
00:23:58.13\00:23:59.83
Sharing is easy.
00:23:59.87\00:24:01.20
Just click share and choose
your favorite social media.
00:24:01.24\00:24:04.47
Share a link, save
a life for eternity.
00:24:04.51\00:24:07.61
Hello, and welcome back
to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
00:24:10.95\00:24:13.62
We're gonna pass it on
to Pastor John Lomacang
00:24:13.65\00:24:15.95
for Tuesday's lesson.
00:24:15.98\00:24:17.32
Thank you, Ryan.
00:24:17.35\00:24:18.69
You know, Tuesday's lesson
is entitled The Test of Fire.
00:24:18.72\00:24:22.72
And you really never know
00:24:22.76\00:24:24.09
what you're made
of until your feet
00:24:24.13\00:24:25.99
are in the fire
or fire is a threat.
00:24:26.03\00:24:29.20
You'll notice that the
structure of this lesson
00:24:29.23\00:24:31.37
is one that
establishes a comparison between
00:24:31.40\00:24:34.90
who the Hebrews are and
what Babylon is all about?
00:24:34.94\00:24:38.77
Now we found out in future
00:24:38.81\00:24:40.71
or prior lessons
that the patterns
00:24:40.74\00:24:43.35
in the Hebrew's
lives were set from young.
00:24:43.38\00:24:46.41
And so being in
a new environment,
00:24:46.45\00:24:48.02
it didn't really
shake their faith
00:24:48.05\00:24:50.39
because they had already had,
00:24:50.42\00:24:52.32
as the Bible says they
were trained up in the way
00:24:52.35\00:24:54.26
that they should go and
now that they are older,
00:24:54.29\00:24:56.52
they're determined
not to depart from it.
00:24:56.56\00:24:58.39
Exodus Chapter
20 is a foundation
00:24:58.43\00:25:00.83
of what they knew
before they were led
00:25:00.86\00:25:02.63
into the captivity of Babylon.
00:25:02.66\00:25:04.73
Exodus 20:3.
00:25:04.77\00:25:06.94
And this was the
foundation which they stood
00:25:06.97\00:25:09.74
which was not only truth,
00:25:09.77\00:25:11.94
obviously they
stood on the Lord,
00:25:11.97\00:25:14.18
but it says, "You shall
have no other gods before Me."
00:25:14.21\00:25:17.15
So when Nebuchadnezzar
set up this image,
00:25:17.18\00:25:19.71
it was a no-brainer to them.
00:25:19.75\00:25:21.08
They knew from childhood
that they would not worship
00:25:21.12\00:25:24.39
other gods.
00:25:24.42\00:25:25.75
He said in verse,
the Lord said in verse 4,
00:25:25.79\00:25:27.96
"You shall not make for
yourself a carved image,"
00:25:27.99\00:25:31.19
or any graven
image as the King James,
00:25:31.23\00:25:33.50
"any likeness of anything
that is in heaven above,
00:25:33.53\00:25:35.93
or that is in the earth beneath,
00:25:35.96\00:25:37.63
or that is in the
water under the earth."
00:25:37.67\00:25:39.83
Because they were really
fish gods that existed also.
00:25:39.87\00:25:42.77
"You shall not bow down
to them nor serve them."
00:25:42.80\00:25:46.14
And the reason is,
"For I, the Lord your God,
00:25:46.17\00:25:48.74
I'm a jealous God,"
I'm not sharing you.
00:25:48.78\00:25:51.21
And I'm not, don't
let anybody force you
00:25:51.25\00:25:54.75
to share your allegiance
that belongs to Me with them.
00:25:54.78\00:25:58.75
So they had a
stern allegiance to God
00:25:58.79\00:26:01.16
that was not going to be
modified or shaken at all.
00:26:01.19\00:26:03.86
And then it says obviously,
00:26:03.89\00:26:05.23
"Visiting the
iniquity of the Father,"
00:26:05.26\00:26:06.59
I'm not gonna go
that far, that far but,
00:26:06.63\00:26:09.30
one of the points I wanna
make is partial allegiance
00:26:09.33\00:26:11.47
is paramount to
no allegiance at all.
00:26:11.50\00:26:14.37
So to be partial in
your application to God
00:26:14.40\00:26:18.14
when He says, "Love the
Lord your God with how," much?
00:26:18.17\00:26:20.71
All your heart.
"All your heart."
00:26:20.74\00:26:22.08
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
is an illustration
00:26:22.11\00:26:25.68
of this very point.
00:26:25.71\00:26:27.65
Verse 4, "Here, O
Israel, the Lord our God,
00:26:27.68\00:26:32.12
the Lord is one!
00:26:32.15\00:26:34.29
You shall love the Lord your God
00:26:34.32\00:26:36.32
with all your
heart, with all your soul,
00:26:36.36\00:26:40.00
and with all your might."
00:26:40.03\00:26:42.76
Now the three Hebrews were
told to bow down, and this is...
00:26:42.80\00:26:45.37
I'll go in a different angle
00:26:45.40\00:26:46.74
than Jill and
Pastor Ryan did so far.
00:26:46.77\00:26:49.30
They were told to bow
down at the sound of music.
00:26:49.34\00:26:52.51
Let's look at
verses 4 and 6 in Daniel 3.
00:26:52.54\00:26:56.54
"Then a herald cried aloud,
00:26:56.58\00:26:58.61
'To you it is
commanded, O peoples,
00:26:58.65\00:27:00.12
nations, and languages,
that at the time you hear
00:27:00.15\00:27:02.15
the sound of the horn,
00:27:02.18\00:27:03.85
flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery,
00:27:03.89\00:27:06.32
in symphony with
all kinds of music,
00:27:06.35\00:27:09.22
you shall fall down and
worship the golden image
00:27:09.26\00:27:11.19
that the King
Nebuchadnezzar has set up."
00:27:11.23\00:27:13.19
And by the way, I couldn't miss
00:27:13.23\00:27:14.93
that phrase set up,
set up, set up, set up.
00:27:14.96\00:27:17.07
But this was a
set up for take down.
00:27:17.10\00:27:20.07
They were setting themselves
up for God to take them down.
00:27:20.10\00:27:23.24
And it says in verse 6,
"And whoever does not fall down
00:27:23.27\00:27:27.48
and worship shall
be cast immediately
00:27:27.51\00:27:30.25
into the midst of a
burning fiery furnace."
00:27:30.28\00:27:32.38
Now it says, whosoever meaning,
00:27:32.41\00:27:34.22
the allegiance that
Nebuchadnezzar expressed
00:27:34.25\00:27:36.22
to these three Hebrews,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah
00:27:36.25\00:27:39.09
or Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego.
00:27:39.12\00:27:40.46
He said, all bets are off
00:27:40.49\00:27:41.82
because this law applies
to everyone including you,
00:27:41.86\00:27:45.66
in spite of the
fact that you are not
00:27:45.69\00:27:47.16
a part of us naturally.
00:27:47.20\00:27:48.96
But what I've noticed
is at the sound of music,
00:27:49.00\00:27:51.27
and I could not help as
a person whose background
00:27:51.30\00:27:54.17
and life has a
lot to do with music.
00:27:54.20\00:27:56.24
I couldn't help but to consider
00:27:56.27\00:27:58.17
music is used in
the same way today.
00:27:58.21\00:28:00.18
That's right.
00:28:00.21\00:28:01.54
Music is a
substitute for true worship.
00:28:01.58\00:28:03.68
That's right.
00:28:03.71\00:28:05.38
We live in a day and age
00:28:05.41\00:28:06.75
where Christian
music is highly popular.
00:28:06.78\00:28:08.92
And you know 3ABN loves music,
00:28:08.95\00:28:10.55
we have all of
our music projects.
00:28:10.59\00:28:12.25
But one commitment we have made
00:28:12.29\00:28:13.62
is to proclaim an undiluted
three angels' messages.
00:28:13.66\00:28:17.53
Music is acceptable to God
when the message following it
00:28:17.56\00:28:21.43
does not compromise God's Word.
00:28:21.46\00:28:23.80
But music is not
acceptable to God
00:28:23.83\00:28:26.43
when it is
preferred above God's Word
00:28:26.47\00:28:29.37
or it is a byproduct.
00:28:29.40\00:28:30.74
Some people say,
I said to somebody
00:28:30.77\00:28:32.34
once who was
talented with me on this issue
00:28:32.37\00:28:34.14
of why don't we have more music?
00:28:34.18\00:28:35.51
I said, "When Jesus was
in the garden of temptation,
00:28:35.54\00:28:37.65
he didn't say it was sung.
00:28:37.68\00:28:39.35
He said it is
written." That's right.
00:28:39.38\00:28:41.28
And the devil, you know,
the devil was a chief musician.
00:28:41.32\00:28:44.55
So he didn't come
to the Lord with song
00:28:44.59\00:28:46.62
in the Garden of Eden.
00:28:46.65\00:28:47.99
Eve wasn't tempted
by a humming a tune.
00:28:48.02\00:28:50.13
He asked her, has God said.
00:28:50.16\00:28:52.69
And today we
have to keep in mind,
00:28:52.73\00:28:54.06
music as wonderful as it is,
00:28:54.10\00:28:55.96
when it becomes a
substitute for true worship,
00:28:56.00\00:28:58.87
it's false worship.
00:28:58.90\00:29:01.20
John 4:23-24.
00:29:01.24\00:29:04.21
Notice as you go there,
00:29:04.24\00:29:05.57
worship is the focus in Babylon.
00:29:05.61\00:29:08.58
The music is the
tool he's using them
00:29:08.61\00:29:12.08
to offer false worship.
00:29:12.11\00:29:15.38
Unity is the goal and
corrosion is the force.
00:29:15.42\00:29:18.25
John 4:23.
00:29:18.29\00:29:19.62
"But the hour is
coming, and now is."
00:29:19.65\00:29:21.82
That is when that
hour came for the Hebrews,
00:29:21.86\00:29:23.99
this is the hour that
I have to show you that
00:29:24.03\00:29:26.16
true worship is
my focus, not music.
00:29:26.19\00:29:28.53
And I wanna make a
point to those of you
00:29:28.56\00:29:30.07
who are musicians
because music can take you off
00:29:30.10\00:29:32.67
into this ethereal cloudy
path of meandering Christianity
00:29:32.70\00:29:37.47
that has no foundation
and is not acceptable to God.
00:29:37.51\00:29:40.64
The music in Babylon
was not acceptable to God.
00:29:40.68\00:29:43.55
It didn't say whether
it was religious music,
00:29:43.58\00:29:45.51
it didn't say
whether it was contemporary
00:29:45.55\00:29:47.22
or traditional,
00:29:47.25\00:29:48.72
it didn't say it if
we had a lot of rhythm,
00:29:48.75\00:29:50.59
it didn't say
any of those things.
00:29:50.62\00:29:51.95
It just simply said, it
was in the court of Babylon.
00:29:51.99\00:29:54.62
And today, a lot of the music
that is even termed Christian
00:29:54.66\00:29:59.59
is leading people
to the wrong altar,
00:29:59.63\00:30:01.86
to the Babylonian altar.
00:30:01.90\00:30:03.30
Notice what it says,
00:30:03.33\00:30:05.33
"The hour is coming, and now is,
00:30:05.37\00:30:06.70
when the true worshipers
will worship the Father
00:30:06.74\00:30:08.90
in spirit and in truth,
00:30:08.94\00:30:10.61
for the Father is
seeking such to worship Him.
00:30:10.64\00:30:12.87
God is Spirit, and
those who worship Him,"
00:30:12.91\00:30:14.81
what's the next word?
00:30:14.84\00:30:16.18
"Must worship in
spirit and truth."
00:30:16.21\00:30:19.35
Music ceases to
be acceptable to God
00:30:19.38\00:30:21.68
when it leads you to
bow to the wrong god.
00:30:21.72\00:30:26.09
You guys set up
wonderfully, the sun god Marduk.
00:30:26.12\00:30:30.33
If they had bowed to that god
00:30:30.36\00:30:33.86
because of the
chorus of effective music,
00:30:33.90\00:30:37.63
then it would not
be acceptable to God.
00:30:37.67\00:30:39.00
That's right.
00:30:39.03\00:30:40.37
And music is not a substitute
00:30:40.40\00:30:41.74
or music doesn't
make it acceptable.
00:30:41.77\00:30:43.51
You know, you find today
00:30:43.54\00:30:44.87
and I'd just be
very candid about it
00:30:44.91\00:30:46.24
because I'm a
musician and I sing,
00:30:46.27\00:30:47.98
but, you know,
frankly, I am sickened
00:30:48.01\00:30:50.81
when Christians use
music to say God's Word.
00:30:50.85\00:30:53.72
It doesn't
really matter or well,
00:30:53.75\00:30:55.08
we love the Lord anyway.
00:30:55.12\00:30:56.45
That's a poor excuse
for a false allegiance
00:30:56.48\00:31:00.22
to the true God.
00:31:00.26\00:31:01.92
And music also, that leads
you to bow at the wrong altar,
00:31:01.96\00:31:06.26
ceases to be
worshiped to the true God.
00:31:06.29\00:31:08.53
So the reason why
they did not bow is
00:31:08.56\00:31:10.17
because they were
at the wrong altar.
00:31:10.20\00:31:11.67
And as Jill did a brief study
00:31:11.70\00:31:13.44
on the origin
of the instruments,
00:31:13.47\00:31:15.94
many of these instruments
00:31:15.97\00:31:17.31
were also used in Israel
so it wasn't the instruments.
00:31:17.34\00:31:20.08
So some people now they
argue, "Well, is it the drum,
00:31:20.11\00:31:22.14
is it the base,
is it the keyboard,
00:31:22.18\00:31:23.58
is it the saxophone?"
00:31:23.61\00:31:24.95
It's not the instruments.
00:31:24.98\00:31:26.41
If the music leads you
to bow to the wrong god
00:31:26.45\00:31:30.09
and lead you to the wrong altar,
00:31:30.12\00:31:32.05
it ceases to be
worshiped to the true God.
00:31:32.09\00:31:34.82
That's a very important point.
00:31:34.86\00:31:36.46
What about the trials?
00:31:36.49\00:31:37.89
Well, Nebuchadnezzar thought
if I heat the furnace up,
00:31:37.93\00:31:40.50
it's gonna make a difference.
00:31:40.53\00:31:42.20
1 Peter 4:12, says, "Beloved,
00:31:42.23\00:31:45.03
do not think it strange
concerning the fiery trial
00:31:45.07\00:31:47.37
which is to try you, as
though some strange thing
00:31:47.40\00:31:50.31
happened to you."
00:31:50.34\00:31:51.71
And I made a point
in the very beginning.
00:31:51.74\00:31:53.38
You never know what
kind of faith you have
00:31:53.41\00:31:55.11
until that faith
is tried in the fire.
00:31:55.14\00:31:56.91
Yeah. Revelation 3:18.
00:31:56.95\00:31:59.01
This was an
example, Jill as it were,
00:31:59.05\00:32:01.28
a reflection of
the kind of faith
00:32:01.32\00:32:02.85
that they exhibited
in the moment of trial.
00:32:02.88\00:32:06.02
"I counsel you to
buy from Me," what?
00:32:06.05\00:32:08.06
"Gold." Gold.
00:32:08.09\00:32:09.42
The image was set up of gold.
00:32:09.46\00:32:11.13
At a golden moment,
"Let the gold in your life
00:32:11.16\00:32:14.76
be seen above the golden image,
00:32:14.80\00:32:16.77
that you may be
rich and white garment
00:32:16.80\00:32:18.67
that you may be clothed,
00:32:18.70\00:32:20.20
that the shame of your nakedness
00:32:20.24\00:32:21.57
may not be revealed."
00:32:21.60\00:32:22.94
If they bowed, their
nakedness spiritually
00:32:22.97\00:32:25.81
would have been revealed.
00:32:25.84\00:32:27.18
In other words, you
say you're religious,
00:32:27.21\00:32:28.58
but you're bowing
at the wrong altar.
00:32:28.61\00:32:30.25
At a time that God is
calling for allegiance,
00:32:30.28\00:32:32.48
your nakedness just appeared.
00:32:32.51\00:32:34.35
In other words, your
religion has no clothing,
00:32:34.38\00:32:37.25
or no righteousness
from God, that's covering it.
00:32:37.29\00:32:40.66
And finally, anoint
your eyes with eye salve
00:32:40.69\00:32:42.72
that you may see.
00:32:42.76\00:32:44.09
They had clear
eyesight at the moment
00:32:44.13\00:32:45.59
when everybody's eyesight
was clouded by the music.
00:32:45.63\00:32:48.13
I'm gonna make a point here.
00:32:48.16\00:32:49.80
Music that's
even religious clouds
00:32:49.83\00:32:53.13
the eyesight of
religious people.
00:32:53.17\00:32:56.97
Today, we live
in a Christian world
00:32:57.01\00:32:58.57
that's giving out
awards and, you know, plaques,
00:32:58.61\00:33:01.68
you know, number
one song of the year.
00:33:01.71\00:33:03.78
It could be the
number one song of every year
00:33:03.81\00:33:05.71
if it does not
lead you to worship God
00:33:05.75\00:33:07.92
in spirit and in truth.
00:33:07.95\00:33:09.38
Number one song
is not the foundation
00:33:09.42\00:33:12.32
on which God is gonna reward us.
00:33:12.35\00:33:13.82
He's gonna reward
us if we worship Him
00:33:13.86\00:33:15.49
in spirit and in truth.
00:33:15.52\00:33:16.99
So in the time I have left,
let me give you these points
00:33:17.03\00:33:19.79
and I'll give you
the scriptures later on.
00:33:19.83\00:33:21.43
Don't put the preservation
00:33:21.46\00:33:22.80
of position above
allegiance to God.
00:33:22.83\00:33:25.83
Secondly, don't
choose temporary prosperity
00:33:25.87\00:33:29.67
to avoid temporal persecution
because it's temporal.
00:33:29.70\00:33:33.98
Thirdly, don't be
envious of prosperity.
00:33:34.01\00:33:38.11
You know, Asaph in
his psalm, he said,
00:33:38.15\00:33:39.55
"I was envious of the boastful
00:33:39.58\00:33:40.92
when I saw the
prosperity of the wicked."
00:33:40.95\00:33:42.92
Babylon was a prosperous nation,
00:33:42.95\00:33:44.72
a golden kingdom.
00:33:44.75\00:33:46.35
At that moment, he said,
00:33:46.39\00:33:47.72
I could be a part
of this golden kingdom,
00:33:47.76\00:33:49.79
or at this very odd
and very trying moment,
00:33:49.82\00:33:52.26
I could show my
allegiance to God.
00:33:52.29\00:33:55.03
Thirdly, don't
trade your birthright
00:33:55.06\00:33:57.60
for temporary gratification.
00:33:57.63\00:33:59.77
Fourthly, choose the fear of God
00:33:59.80\00:34:02.20
over the friendship of man.
00:34:02.24\00:34:04.31
Number six,
worship the only true God
00:34:04.34\00:34:07.24
that truly delivers.
00:34:07.28\00:34:08.61
Number seven, don't serve
God because it is rewarding.
00:34:08.64\00:34:11.28
Serve Him because of who He is.
00:34:11.31\00:34:13.21
And finally, God will
not withhold His blessing
00:34:13.25\00:34:16.28
to those who remain loyal.
00:34:16.32\00:34:18.25
Amen. Wow! Oh, that is fabulous.
00:34:18.29\00:34:20.56
Okay, mine is
Wednesday, it is The Fourth Man.
00:34:20.59\00:34:24.33
It's supposed to
begin with Daniel 3:19.
00:34:24.36\00:34:26.39
But I wanna back up to...
00:34:26.43\00:34:28.40
Let's look at verse 18
'cause the king has said,
00:34:28.43\00:34:32.10
"Hey, I'm gonna give you
one more chance to bow down."
00:34:32.13\00:34:34.90
And Shadrach, Meshach
and Abednego in verse 16,
00:34:34.94\00:34:38.47
answered the king
and say, "Nebuchadnezzar,
00:34:38.51\00:34:40.81
we have no need to
answer you on this matter.
00:34:40.84\00:34:44.11
If this is the case,
our God whom we serve
00:34:44.15\00:34:46.72
is able to deliver us
from the burning fiery furnace,
00:34:46.75\00:34:50.02
He will deliver us
from your hand, O king.
00:34:50.05\00:34:53.05
But if not," now get this,
"if not let it be known to you,
00:34:53.09\00:34:58.39
O king, that we do
not serve your gods,
00:34:58.43\00:35:02.90
nor will we
worship the golden image
00:35:02.93\00:35:06.03
which you have set up."
00:35:06.07\00:35:08.34
Even if God does not deliver.
So now let's look, Daniel 3:19.
00:35:08.37\00:35:13.68
"Nebuchadnezzar is full of fury,
00:35:13.71\00:35:16.68
and the expression of his
face changed toward Shadrach,
00:35:16.71\00:35:20.15
Meshach, and Abednego."
00:35:20.18\00:35:21.98
These guys were
10 times brighter
00:35:22.02\00:35:24.45
than everybody else.
00:35:24.49\00:35:25.82
He put them in high position,
00:35:25.85\00:35:27.62
but now they
defied him to his face.
00:35:27.66\00:35:30.69
And, boy, he is filled
with narcissistic pride.
00:35:30.73\00:35:33.96
I mean, that's all you can say.
00:35:34.00\00:35:35.46
"He spoke and commanded
that they heat the furnace
00:35:35.50\00:35:38.23
seven times more than
it was usually heated."
00:35:38.27\00:35:42.64
He was so upset,
00:35:42.67\00:35:44.01
he wanted to
increase their torture.
00:35:44.04\00:35:45.67
Now seven times
more is just an idiom.
00:35:45.71\00:35:48.28
It means as hot
as it can get, okay?
00:35:48.31\00:35:52.08
So he wanted their
torture to be awful.
00:35:52.11\00:35:57.32
The furnace was
made of brick and stone.
00:35:57.35\00:36:00.16
And they built it on a mount,
00:36:00.19\00:36:01.96
and it had an
opening at the top,
00:36:01.99\00:36:04.36
which served as an air shaft,
00:36:04.39\00:36:06.63
and it had an
opening on this side.
00:36:06.66\00:36:09.36
So to heat it
seven times hotter,
00:36:09.40\00:36:11.27
what they would do
00:36:11.30\00:36:12.63
is they go up
the ramp to the top,
00:36:12.67\00:36:15.30
dump more shaft
down the air shaft,
00:36:15.34\00:36:18.27
and then they go
out and get more oil
00:36:18.31\00:36:20.24
from the open oil
fields of Mesopotamia.
00:36:20.28\00:36:23.48
And they would dump
that in there to heat it up.
00:36:23.51\00:36:25.65
So verse 20, "He commanded
certain mighty men of valor
00:36:25.68\00:36:30.82
who were in his
army to bind Shadrach,
00:36:30.85\00:36:33.66
Meshach, and Abednego,
00:36:33.69\00:36:35.32
and cast them
into the burning fire."
00:36:35.36\00:36:39.96
These were military
men of great strength.
00:36:40.00\00:36:43.26
And, boy, I mean, he
chose them for the task
00:36:43.30\00:36:46.90
of binding and carrying them up.
00:36:46.94\00:36:50.64
So it says, "Then these
men were bound in their coats,
00:36:50.67\00:36:53.58
their trousers, their turbans,
and their other garments,
00:36:53.61\00:36:56.58
and they were cast
00:36:56.61\00:36:58.18
into the midst of
the burning fire."
00:36:58.21\00:37:00.02
This was a fast
and furious action,
00:37:00.05\00:37:01.88
they didn't take time to put
on some kind of a robe on them,
00:37:01.92\00:37:06.39
they just bound them up.
00:37:06.42\00:37:08.26
"Therefore, because the
king's command was urgent,
00:37:08.29\00:37:11.49
and the furnace exceedingly hot,
00:37:11.53\00:37:14.86
the flame of the fire
kill those men who took up.
00:37:14.90\00:37:20.34
They'd gone up
the ramp to the top
00:37:20.37\00:37:22.74
of the air shaft, Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego."
00:37:22.77\00:37:27.74
So here are these
guys go up the ramp
00:37:27.78\00:37:31.08
with these
bounds Hebrew worthies,
00:37:31.11\00:37:34.28
they throw them in from
the top of the air shaft.
00:37:34.32\00:37:37.72
And what happens
is, the fire is so hot,
00:37:37.75\00:37:42.36
it incinerates them.
00:37:42.39\00:37:45.06
It incinerates them.
00:37:45.09\00:37:46.66
"All these three men
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
00:37:46.70\00:37:49.73
fell down into the
midst of the burning fire."
00:37:49.76\00:37:53.97
So just think, if
this fire was so hot
00:37:54.00\00:37:56.04
that just the
proximity to it at the air shaft
00:37:56.07\00:37:59.01
would incinerate the king's men.
00:37:59.04\00:38:01.94
This is one hot furnace.
00:38:01.98\00:38:05.11
Now, King Nebuchadnezzar
has seen it himself
00:38:05.15\00:38:10.59
outside this furnace.
00:38:10.62\00:38:12.42
He's watching
from the side opening,
00:38:12.45\00:38:15.02
as he wants to make
sure that this is carried out
00:38:15.06\00:38:19.06
as he commanded.
00:38:19.09\00:38:20.56
So it says, verse
24, where Daniel 3:24,
00:38:20.60\00:38:26.13
"Then King
Nebuchadnezzar was astonished,
00:38:26.17\00:38:30.41
he rose in haste and spoke,
00:38:30.44\00:38:33.41
saying to his counselors,
00:38:33.44\00:38:35.51
'Did we not cast three men
00:38:35.54\00:38:38.81
bound into the
midst of the fire?'
00:38:38.85\00:38:41.95
And they answered
and said to the king,
00:38:41.98\00:38:44.02
'True, O king.'
00:38:44.05\00:38:45.85
'Look!' he answered,
00:38:45.89\00:38:47.82
'I see four men loose,"
00:38:47.86\00:38:51.66
in other words, they
were no longer bound,
00:38:51.69\00:38:53.83
"walking in the
midst of the fire,
00:38:53.86\00:38:55.86
and they are not hurt,
00:38:55.90\00:38:58.57
and the form of the fourth
00:38:58.60\00:39:02.04
is like the Son of God.'
00:39:02.07\00:39:06.88
" Now some translators will say,
00:39:06.91\00:39:10.78
like the son of the gods.
00:39:10.81\00:39:15.05
Either way it's
actually a correct translation.
00:39:15.08\00:39:18.35
If you don't,
00:39:18.39\00:39:19.72
if you just pull
it out of context,
00:39:19.75\00:39:21.92
we believe, because in verse 26,
00:39:21.96\00:39:25.36
Nebuchadnezzar is talking about
00:39:25.39\00:39:28.00
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
00:39:28.03\00:39:30.33
being the servants
of the Most High God,
00:39:30.37\00:39:33.70
never translate something
00:39:33.74\00:39:37.14
when it can go
one way or the other.
00:39:37.17\00:39:39.21
You always have
to look in context.
00:39:39.24\00:39:41.61
We believe 100%
that Nebuchadnezzar
00:39:41.64\00:39:45.31
has seen Jesus Christ
00:39:45.35\00:39:48.18
in his pre-incarnate form.
00:39:48.22\00:39:52.49
And that's what
most early Christians
00:39:52.52\00:39:54.06
did believe by the way.
00:39:54.09\00:39:55.66
So he is puzzled.
00:39:55.69\00:39:58.83
He knows they've thrown them
in bound, now they're loose.
00:39:58.86\00:40:02.56
He threw in
three. Now there's four.
00:40:02.60\00:40:05.03
And he identifies the
presence of the fourth one,
00:40:05.07\00:40:10.14
as being the Son of God.
00:40:10.17\00:40:12.51
So now this is, by the
way, the same Son of God,
00:40:12.54\00:40:17.38
the pre-incarnate
Christ, who wrestled with heat.
00:40:17.41\00:40:21.02
He was appeared to Abraham
00:40:21.05\00:40:22.52
before the destruction
of Sodom and Gomorrah.
00:40:22.55\00:40:24.52
He wrestled with Jacob
at the brook of Jabbok.
00:40:24.55\00:40:29.82
He revealed himself to
Moses in the burning bush.
00:40:29.86\00:40:34.36
It was Jesus Christ
coming to demonstrate
00:40:34.40\00:40:39.00
that God stands with His
people when you're in trouble.
00:40:39.03\00:40:42.80
Amen.
00:40:42.84\00:40:44.17
So verse 26, says,
00:40:44.21\00:40:46.11
"Then Nebuchadnezzar went near
00:40:46.14\00:40:47.94
the mouth of the
burning fiery furnace
00:40:47.98\00:40:50.18
and he spoke, saying,
00:40:50.21\00:40:51.88
'Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego,
00:40:51.91\00:40:54.58
servants of the Most High
God, come out, and come here.'
00:40:54.62\00:41:00.56
Then Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego
00:41:00.59\00:41:02.32
came from the midst of the fire.
00:41:02.36\00:41:04.09
And the satraps,
00:41:04.13\00:41:05.46
the
administrators, the governors,
00:41:05.49\00:41:06.83
and the king's
counselors gathered together,"
00:41:06.86\00:41:08.66
and I know their
eyes were this big around,
00:41:08.70\00:41:11.60
"and they saw these men
00:41:11.63\00:41:14.60
on whose bodies
the fire had no power,
00:41:14.64\00:41:18.04
the hair of their
head was not singed
00:41:18.07\00:41:22.04
nor were their
garments affected,
00:41:22.08\00:41:24.38
the smell of
fire was not on them."
00:41:24.41\00:41:29.75
You know, in the New Testament,
00:41:29.78\00:41:32.62
Book of Hebrews, so we
call Hebrews Chapter 11,
00:41:32.65\00:41:36.69
the call of faith, if you will.
00:41:36.73\00:41:39.89
In 11:34, it
talks about those who,
00:41:39.93\00:41:44.27
"Quenched the raging of fire."
00:41:44.30\00:41:46.77
Wow, this is something else,
this was a miracle of faith,
00:41:46.80\00:41:49.50
was it not?
00:41:49.54\00:41:50.87
I mean, absolutely.
00:41:50.91\00:41:52.24
And it reminds
me of Psalm 129:4,
00:41:52.27\00:41:54.38
this is, "The Lord is righteous,
00:41:54.41\00:41:56.18
He will cut us free
from the cord that binds us."
00:41:56.21\00:42:00.12
So what happened is God
showed His supernatural power,
00:42:00.15\00:42:03.75
their destiny was
not in man's hands.
00:42:03.79\00:42:06.39
Their destiny
was in God's hands.
00:42:06.42\00:42:09.02
That's right.
There's, but I wanna say this.
00:42:09.06\00:42:12.39
Not all servants of the Lord
00:42:12.43\00:42:16.06
had a miracle deliverance.
00:42:16.10\00:42:19.63
Think about Isaiah, Zachariah,
00:42:19.67\00:42:22.37
John the Baptist,
they all went to the...
00:42:22.40\00:42:25.71
All the apostles
except for John were martyred.
00:42:25.74\00:42:30.51
And when we look
throughout sacred history,
00:42:30.55\00:42:33.85
even today, we
find faithful Christians
00:42:33.88\00:42:37.75
who go through fiery trials
and they aren't delivered.
00:42:37.79\00:42:42.56
And you think, "Oh, why, Lord,
why would you deliver Shadrach,
00:42:42.59\00:42:46.73
Meshach, and Abednego
00:42:46.76\00:42:48.10
and you're not
delivering these people."
00:42:48.13\00:42:50.90
You know, if God
miraculously delivered us
00:42:50.93\00:42:54.84
in every situation,
we would need faith.
00:42:54.87\00:42:58.17
In fact, people would serve him
00:42:58.21\00:42:59.77
just out of selfish
reasons, will they not?
00:42:59.81\00:43:01.71
That's true.
00:43:01.74\00:43:03.08
I mean, when you
think about that,
00:43:03.11\00:43:04.85
God has your
eternal interest in mind.
00:43:04.88\00:43:08.72
And everything
that He allows to happen
00:43:08.75\00:43:10.49
is for your eternal benefit.
00:43:10.52\00:43:12.22
Sometimes temporary trials
00:43:12.25\00:43:15.26
are making
eternal benefits for us.
00:43:15.29\00:43:19.63
So we've just got
to be like Shadrach,
00:43:19.66\00:43:22.63
Meshach and Abednego.
00:43:22.66\00:43:24.40
And say, "I know
my God can deliver me,
00:43:24.43\00:43:28.47
but even if He doesn't,
00:43:28.50\00:43:31.21
I'm not gonna bow my
knee at the wrong altar."
00:43:31.24\00:43:34.04
I'm gonna be
faithful. I know He loves me.
00:43:34.08\00:43:36.91
And we just have to hold on.
00:43:36.95\00:43:38.71
You know, in 1
Corinthians 15:26.
00:43:38.75\00:43:43.25
The Bible tells us that,
00:43:43.28\00:43:45.15
"The last enemy that
will be destroyed is death."
00:43:45.19\00:43:51.09
And when we think about that,
00:43:51.13\00:43:54.63
your future is as a believer,
00:43:54.66\00:43:57.60
when Christ
returns and you hear...
00:43:57.63\00:44:00.04
if you're in the grave
and you hear His voice,
00:44:00.07\00:44:01.97
you get to come up,
00:44:02.00\00:44:03.34
you get to be co-heirs with Him,
00:44:03.37\00:44:04.91
live with Him
eternally, face-to-face.
00:44:04.94\00:44:08.38
And there'll be no more death,
00:44:08.41\00:44:11.21
no more tears,
and no more sorrow.
00:44:11.25\00:44:14.98
So just know that
God is always with you.
00:44:15.02\00:44:19.52
And if God's with you,
you don't need anybody else.
00:44:19.55\00:44:22.72
That's right.
Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:44:22.76\00:44:24.89
I got excited about that one.
00:44:24.93\00:44:26.53
It's hard to keep quiet
sometime isn't to see now,
00:44:26.56\00:44:28.96
I got the hand
of God is working,
00:44:29.00\00:44:31.13
how He works with His people,
00:44:31.17\00:44:32.57
how much He cares for us,
00:44:32.60\00:44:34.07
and what each
one of you presented,
00:44:34.10\00:44:35.64
praise God, it's been so good
00:44:35.67\00:44:37.11
because it just
leads to Thursday's lesson,
00:44:37.14\00:44:38.97
we're gonna talk about
The Secret of Such a Faith.
00:44:39.01\00:44:42.31
None of these
things could have happened
00:44:42.34\00:44:43.78
unless there's faith
that had been exercised.
00:44:43.81\00:44:46.72
And sometimes people
will get a little confused
00:44:46.75\00:44:48.55
about faith and
the operation of faith.
00:44:48.58\00:44:50.19
So I praise God that
we have an opportunity
00:44:50.22\00:44:52.35
just to spend a
few moments on it,
00:44:52.39\00:44:53.72
may be simple to some,
00:44:53.76\00:44:55.09
but I think
it'd be a good study.
00:44:55.12\00:44:56.49
Our lesson said,
00:44:56.52\00:44:57.86
what is the secret
of such a strong faith?
00:44:57.89\00:45:01.10
And so I want us to contemplate
on that for just a few moments,
00:45:01.13\00:45:03.47
what is the secret?
00:45:03.50\00:45:04.83
So in order for us
to develop such a face,
00:45:04.87\00:45:08.67
we need to
understand what faith is.
00:45:08.70\00:45:10.21
To me that would be kind
of go back to the beginning.
00:45:10.24\00:45:12.21
And you could spend an
awful lot of time on that.
00:45:12.24\00:45:14.44
But we always go
back to Hebrews 11.
00:45:14.48\00:45:16.98
You mentioned
there in the past part,
00:45:17.01\00:45:18.35
but I'm gonna mention verse 1
00:45:18.38\00:45:20.02
because it just
simply talked about
00:45:20.05\00:45:21.38
the definition of biblical
definition of what faith is.
00:45:21.42\00:45:24.69
Hebrews 11:1 starts with,
"Now faith is the substance..."
00:45:24.72\00:45:29.22
Because we're looking at
why and how they could have
00:45:29.26\00:45:33.09
withstood the onslaught
of what was taking place.
00:45:33.13\00:45:37.07
They were the,
seemed be only ones
00:45:37.10\00:45:39.13
that the whole world
as it were was against Him
00:45:39.17\00:45:41.34
like we're talking about,
00:45:41.37\00:45:42.70
we're here in the last
days, it's going to happen,
00:45:42.74\00:45:44.74
and we need this kind of faith.
00:45:44.77\00:45:46.47
So it must be established
of that kind of faith
00:45:46.51\00:45:49.18
and how it can be
developed in each one of us.
00:45:49.21\00:45:51.45
If faith is the substance,
or faith is the ground,
00:45:51.48\00:45:55.15
faith is the confidence,
the Bible talks about,
00:45:55.18\00:45:58.79
"of things that are hoped for,
00:45:58.82\00:46:00.16
the evidence of
things that are not seen."
00:46:00.19\00:46:03.02
Maybe elementary,
00:46:03.06\00:46:04.39
but this word faith
is very, very powerful.
00:46:04.43\00:46:06.73
It's something that we need
00:46:06.76\00:46:08.10
to delve into a little bit more.
00:46:08.13\00:46:09.46
Romans 5:1, I
jotted down, it says,
00:46:09.50\00:46:11.30
"Therefore, being
justified by," what?
00:46:11.33\00:46:12.73
Faith.
00:46:12.77\00:46:14.10
"By faith, we
have peace with God
00:46:14.14\00:46:16.37
through our Lord Jesus Christ."
00:46:16.40\00:46:18.54
So to be justified,
00:46:18.57\00:46:19.91
those who are
justified by faith,
00:46:19.94\00:46:21.61
that's how it comes
about that we have a peace,
00:46:21.64\00:46:24.08
a peace that
passes all understanding
00:46:24.11\00:46:26.01
in the midst of a
storm, or if we're gonna
00:46:26.05\00:46:27.92
get ready thrown
into the fiery furnace.
00:46:27.95\00:46:30.22
If the death decree goes out,
00:46:30.25\00:46:31.75
we need to have
this kind of a peace
00:46:31.79\00:46:34.12
that passes all understanding,
00:46:34.16\00:46:35.72
knowing that whatever
00:46:35.76\00:46:37.33
if God sees fit
to work a miracle,
00:46:37.36\00:46:39.09
if He sees fit that
we must go through it,
00:46:39.13\00:46:41.23
that He will enable us.
00:46:41.26\00:46:42.86
I know people say sometime,
00:46:42.90\00:46:44.23
"Well, I wanna be
a martyr for God."
00:46:44.27\00:46:45.60
I'll say, "Well,
not necessarily."
00:46:45.63\00:46:47.04
I don't necessarily wanna be,
00:46:47.07\00:46:48.60
but well, let's
be honest about it.
00:46:48.64\00:46:50.87
But if God sees
fit, and He chooses you,
00:46:50.91\00:46:53.68
He will enable you
and give you what you need
00:46:53.71\00:46:56.04
during that time to
rightly represent Him.
00:46:56.08\00:46:58.95
So it's clear that faith
is then not the foundation
00:46:58.98\00:47:03.08
of our salvation.
00:47:03.12\00:47:04.75
Faith is what?
00:47:04.79\00:47:06.12
Not the
foundation of our salvation,
00:47:06.15\00:47:10.23
for we are saved by, what?
00:47:10.26\00:47:11.83
Ephesians 2:8, "We're
saved by grace through faith."
00:47:11.86\00:47:14.86
So faith then
would be our eyes to see,
00:47:14.90\00:47:18.87
it would be our ears to hear,
00:47:18.90\00:47:21.40
it would be our
feet then to walk,
00:47:21.44\00:47:24.21
this is faith.
00:47:24.24\00:47:25.57
So we see, so faith is the means
00:47:25.61\00:47:27.94
or faith is the what?
00:47:27.98\00:47:29.58
The vehicle. Yes.
00:47:29.61\00:47:31.31
It's not the
end, a simple resting,
00:47:31.35\00:47:34.58
and believing,
and trusting in God
00:47:34.62\00:47:37.12
what He says in His Word.
00:47:37.15\00:47:38.49
You know, how many...
00:47:38.52\00:47:39.85
We all say and when we
do, do we really believe?
00:47:39.89\00:47:42.76
Well, oh, yes,
yes, yes, we believe.
00:47:42.79\00:47:44.23
But do we really believe?
00:47:44.26\00:47:45.59
Do we really have
full confidence in God
00:47:45.63\00:47:48.13
what He says in His Word?
00:47:48.16\00:47:50.57
Let me give you just some
fruit for thought right here.
00:47:50.60\00:47:52.37
I thought about
00:47:52.40\00:47:53.74
what is the
opposite maybe of faith?
00:47:53.77\00:47:56.24
If you just throw faith
out, what are you gonna get?
00:47:56.27\00:47:58.61
The only known alternative
to faith in God is fear,
00:47:58.64\00:48:03.35
and resentment, and despair.
00:48:03.38\00:48:06.82
Think about it.
00:48:06.85\00:48:08.18
Faith is wonderful, it's good,
but the alternative to faith.
00:48:08.22\00:48:11.39
None of us want that fear.
None of us want that despair.
00:48:11.42\00:48:14.12
None of us want the resentment.
00:48:14.16\00:48:16.26
We would say and
that you might ask
00:48:16.29\00:48:17.63
the question very
elementary, is faith necessary?
00:48:17.66\00:48:20.16
Does the Bible say that?
00:48:20.20\00:48:21.53
It is, Hebrews 11:6,
"Without faith, it is," what?
00:48:21.56\00:48:23.97
The Bible said,
00:48:24.00\00:48:25.33
"It's impossible to please God."
00:48:25.37\00:48:26.87
Or it's impossible to measure up
00:48:26.90\00:48:29.10
to His requirements and
He does have requirements.
00:48:29.14\00:48:33.44
It'd be impossible
to measure up to those
00:48:33.48\00:48:35.34
because we are
children of faith, are we not?
00:48:35.38\00:48:38.45
"And we walk by
faith and not by my sight,"
00:48:38.48\00:48:42.28
2 Corinthians 5:7.
00:48:42.32\00:48:44.89
And any act, anything that
00:48:44.92\00:48:46.72
we do at giving
whatever it might be,
00:48:46.76\00:48:49.89
if it's not performed in faith,
what does the Bible call it?
00:48:49.92\00:48:53.96
Romans 14:23,
00:48:54.00\00:48:55.60
"Whatsoever is
not of faith is sin."
00:48:55.63\00:48:59.27
I mean, that's
pretty heavy duty,
00:48:59.30\00:49:00.64
whatever is not of faith.
00:49:00.67\00:49:02.00
So is faith important?
00:49:02.04\00:49:03.37
It was certainly important
in the life of the Hebrews,
00:49:03.41\00:49:05.77
what they were
going through in Daniel
00:49:05.81\00:49:07.38
and those who are
going to be, you know, alive
00:49:07.41\00:49:10.18
and well at the
time of coming of Jesus,
00:49:10.21\00:49:12.11
what they're gonna go through,
our faith must be strong,
00:49:12.15\00:49:14.62
maybe stronger
than it is right now.
00:49:14.65\00:49:16.45
I believe it's
gonna be a lot stronger.
00:49:16.48\00:49:17.82
That's right.
00:49:17.85\00:49:19.19
We're going to have to have that
00:49:19.22\00:49:20.56
latter rain experience for sure.
00:49:20.59\00:49:21.92
Bible said, and you will
say, "Well, I need more faith."
00:49:21.96\00:49:24.43
I hear people all the
time and I'm sure you do too.
00:49:24.46\00:49:26.49
My faith is just
not what it needs to be.
00:49:26.53\00:49:28.53
And then the question
we come back was, why not?
00:49:28.56\00:49:31.43
You know, if
you want more faith,
00:49:31.47\00:49:32.80
Romans tells us
that, doesn't Romans 10:17.
00:49:32.83\00:49:35.34
"Faith cometh by hearing,
00:49:35.37\00:49:37.51
and hearing by the Word of God."
00:49:37.54\00:49:39.34
So I say, "Oh, my, put yourself
00:49:39.37\00:49:41.28
where you can
hear the Word of God,
00:49:41.31\00:49:43.14
or where you can
read the Word of God."
00:49:43.18\00:49:45.35
You know, come to
the services, right?
00:49:45.38\00:49:46.85
Come to where
even songs are sung.
00:49:46.88\00:49:49.92
We know institutions
where they're studying
00:49:49.95\00:49:53.32
the Word of God,
00:49:53.36\00:49:54.69
to where our
faith can be increased
00:49:54.72\00:49:56.39
by just hearing it.
00:49:56.42\00:49:57.76
Hebrews 12:2 says,
00:49:57.79\00:49:59.33
"We see Jesus is
the author and the..."
00:49:59.36\00:50:02.56
I love this passage.
00:50:02.60\00:50:03.93
"He's the author and
the finisher of our faith."
00:50:03.97\00:50:06.90
So that seem He is the leader.
00:50:06.94\00:50:10.21
He is the organizer.
00:50:10.24\00:50:12.44
He's the
originator of our, what?
00:50:12.47\00:50:15.38
Finisher.
00:50:15.41\00:50:16.75
That means perfection.
00:50:16.78\00:50:18.11
And if you go on to that,
00:50:18.15\00:50:19.48
you go on to Hebrews 11:6, says,
00:50:19.51\00:50:22.02
"Let us go on to perfection."
00:50:22.05\00:50:24.65
Perfection.
00:50:24.69\00:50:26.02
Notice that,
Hebrews 11:6, last part,
00:50:26.05\00:50:27.89
"He is a rewarder of
them who diligently seek Him."
00:50:27.92\00:50:32.56
So it's much
more than just saying,
00:50:32.59\00:50:34.43
well, I hear people say,
"Just believe, just believe."
00:50:34.46\00:50:37.40
It's much deeper than that.
00:50:37.43\00:50:38.77
And the Bible goes on
and says, only believe.
00:50:38.80\00:50:40.84
Well, the devil's
also believe and tremble.
00:50:40.87\00:50:42.94
So there's more
and it follows up,
00:50:42.97\00:50:44.47
Jesus said, "He
is a rewarder of them
00:50:44.51\00:50:46.91
that diligently seek Him."
00:50:46.94\00:50:49.44
That means those
who respond to Him,
00:50:49.48\00:50:52.48
those that seek Him,
00:50:52.51\00:50:53.92
we notice, seek
to understand God,
00:50:53.95\00:50:57.29
they seek to become like Him.
00:50:57.32\00:51:00.86
See, if you're looking and
say, I wanna have more faith,
00:51:00.89\00:51:04.86
we need to seek to
understand God more fully
00:51:04.89\00:51:07.53
and the love that He has for us.
00:51:07.56\00:51:09.30
And all these beautiful things
00:51:09.33\00:51:10.80
that's coming out
in the Book of Daniel
00:51:10.83\00:51:12.40
here to where, to me
it increases my faith.
00:51:12.43\00:51:15.74
My faith cometh
by... We said hearing.
00:51:15.77\00:51:17.11
That's right.
00:51:17.14\00:51:18.47
And so we're
hearing these things,
00:51:18.51\00:51:19.84
and my faith is
increasing to say,
00:51:19.87\00:51:21.21
if God sees fit for me to
go through the fiery furnace,
00:51:21.24\00:51:24.08
He's gonna be there with me.
00:51:24.11\00:51:25.65
You know, He might bring
me to that point and may say,
00:51:25.68\00:51:27.35
"Well, we're gonna, you know,
00:51:27.38\00:51:28.72
not gonna have you
do that or He might say,
00:51:28.75\00:51:30.09
you're gonna
have to go through it,
00:51:30.12\00:51:31.45
but He will be with us."
00:51:31.49\00:51:32.95
Can we measure our faith?
00:51:32.99\00:51:34.72
Is it possible that
we can measure our faith?
00:51:34.76\00:51:37.29
Well, what about
the three Hebrews?
00:51:37.33\00:51:39.66
You know, it wasn't the quality
of their relationship with God,
00:51:39.69\00:51:44.03
their absolute
confidence in God.
00:51:44.07\00:51:47.44
You see, they were
not trying to change
00:51:47.47\00:51:49.74
and I think we
have to come to this,
00:51:49.77\00:51:51.21
not try to change God's will,
but to conform to His will.
00:51:51.24\00:51:55.21
Not try to change God's mind
00:51:55.24\00:51:56.58
because He knows everything
and what is best for us.
00:51:56.61\00:51:59.71
Jesus did that and
gave us a good example
00:51:59.75\00:52:01.38
when He was in the garden,
00:52:01.42\00:52:04.49
you know not My
will but Thine be done.
00:52:04.52\00:52:06.59
We need to pray that.
00:52:06.62\00:52:08.49
Now some people look at
faith and they measure by
00:52:08.52\00:52:11.26
what they seem to get.
00:52:11.29\00:52:13.36
Our lesson gives us
quickly illustrations
00:52:13.40\00:52:15.23
our lesson brings this out.
00:52:15.26\00:52:16.60
People judges
their faith like this.
00:52:16.63\00:52:19.47
If for instance, that
you go shopping at a mall,
00:52:19.50\00:52:22.24
you might read through, I
thought it was interesting,
00:52:22.27\00:52:23.61
you go to the mall.
00:52:23.64\00:52:24.97
It's very busy, busy
00:52:25.01\00:52:26.34
and you pray
for a parking place.
00:52:26.37\00:52:27.71
Oh, Lord, give
me a parking space.
00:52:27.74\00:52:30.01
And make that parking
space just really close-up there
00:52:30.05\00:52:32.85
because the weather's bad.
00:52:32.88\00:52:34.22
And I want the best
one and I gets involved
00:52:34.25\00:52:37.15
and I need this.
00:52:37.19\00:52:38.52
And if I get this
space upon arrival, I'll say,
00:52:38.55\00:52:41.86
God has heard and
He's answering my prayers.
00:52:41.89\00:52:45.09
But if you don't
get the parking spot,
00:52:45.13\00:52:46.90
how do you respond?
00:52:46.93\00:52:48.26
Then they'll say, all my prayers
00:52:48.30\00:52:49.63
and my faith is
weak and I didn't get it.
00:52:49.66\00:52:51.80
Now I don't know
what I'm going to do.
00:52:51.83\00:52:53.27
God's not listening to me.
00:52:53.30\00:52:54.77
This is faulty may I say
00:52:54.80\00:52:56.44
and this is a dangerous approach
00:52:56.47\00:52:58.84
and an attempt to work God.
00:52:58.87\00:53:01.48
You'll notice the three
Hebrews says what, Daniel.
00:53:01.51\00:53:03.18
They did not try to work God,
they let God work through them.
00:53:03.21\00:53:07.65
That's right.
00:53:07.68\00:53:09.02
That's what we
need to learn to do.
00:53:09.05\00:53:10.65
We forget who God is? We
forget that He's sovereign.
00:53:10.69\00:53:13.66
We forget that He's
on top of everything.
00:53:13.69\00:53:16.32
The Bible says in Psalms 136:5,
00:53:16.36\00:53:18.89
"All wisdom talks
about for by His wisdom,
00:53:18.93\00:53:21.90
He made the
heavens and the earth."
00:53:21.93\00:53:24.67
We rely upon God,
there's no doubt about it.
00:53:24.70\00:53:27.47
Faith and
feelings are wide apart.
00:53:27.50\00:53:30.04
Those of you, bless your heart,
00:53:30.07\00:53:31.87
if you're living
on feelings today,
00:53:31.91\00:53:33.84
you're in trouble.
00:53:33.88\00:53:35.68
Remember, faith and feelings are
00:53:35.71\00:53:37.15
as far away as
you can possibly get.
00:53:37.18\00:53:39.11
And now you say, "Well, I got up
00:53:39.15\00:53:40.55
and I felt like I
need to do something.
00:53:40.58\00:53:42.38
I was praying and I
was crying out to God
00:53:42.42\00:53:44.55
in faith and it seems like
nothing is going to happen."
00:53:44.59\00:53:48.06
Listen, whether you have feeling
00:53:48.09\00:53:49.46
or whether you
don't have feeling,
00:53:49.49\00:53:50.89
when you pray in
faith believing get up off
00:53:50.93\00:53:53.26
of your knees and get up and go
00:53:53.29\00:53:55.36
and live out
that prayer as though
00:53:55.40\00:53:57.43
it is already actually,
been already been answered.
00:53:57.47\00:54:00.57
That's right.
That's what you do.
00:54:00.60\00:54:01.94
You get up and you,
that's faith is to believe
00:54:01.97\00:54:03.41
that God's gonna do it
00:54:03.44\00:54:04.77
when everything's
against you, right?
00:54:04.81\00:54:06.14
When the armies behind
you, and the waters before you,
00:54:06.17\00:54:08.18
and the
mountains are on each side,
00:54:08.21\00:54:09.81
what are we looking at?
00:54:09.84\00:54:11.18
That's right.
00:54:11.21\00:54:12.55
Go ahead and live it out
00:54:12.58\00:54:13.92
because God's going
to be there with you.
00:54:13.95\00:54:15.28
If your hands get
a little bit weak,
00:54:15.32\00:54:16.65
somebody's gonna be
there to lift them up.
00:54:16.69\00:54:18.45
Isn't that what
we should be doing?
00:54:18.49\00:54:19.82
Amen. Praying one for another.
00:54:19.85\00:54:21.49
Continue to live
and act as though God
00:54:21.52\00:54:23.73
has answers those prayers.
00:54:23.76\00:54:25.36
You know, I'm feeling thankful
that we have this example.
00:54:25.39\00:54:28.23
Be sure and read
some more on study on this
00:54:28.26\00:54:30.00
and God will bless your heart.
00:54:30.03\00:54:31.37
Amen. Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:54:31.40\00:54:32.83
You know, as we're
going through this study,
00:54:32.87\00:54:34.20
I just can't help
but think to myself,
00:54:34.24\00:54:36.64
"What if these three
brothers had not obeyed God?
00:54:36.67\00:54:42.21
What if they had actually
bowed down to that image?"
00:54:42.24\00:54:44.71
You know, I was thinking Christ
would not have been revealed.
00:54:44.75\00:54:46.75
Come on.
00:54:46.78\00:54:48.12
And He would not
have been glorified.
00:54:48.15\00:54:49.52
And that's powerful.
00:54:49.55\00:54:50.89
It's a powerful
lesson to us then,
00:54:50.92\00:54:52.35
you know, when we obey,
00:54:52.39\00:54:53.82
you know, we set up the reality
00:54:53.86\00:54:56.83
that Christ can be
revealed through us
00:54:56.86\00:54:58.86
and, of course, glorified.
00:54:58.89\00:55:00.23
Let's go back through the panel
00:55:00.26\00:55:01.60
and let's give some
final thoughts on this study.
00:55:01.63\00:55:03.40
Based off of your
question, Ryan, I would say
00:55:03.43\00:55:05.37
what if they had
not been delivered?
00:55:05.40\00:55:08.00
What if they had stood for right
00:55:08.04\00:55:10.67
and been cast
into the fiery furnace
00:55:10.71\00:55:12.84
and they had lost their lives.
00:55:12.87\00:55:14.91
Christ would
still be on the throne.
00:55:14.94\00:55:17.45
Amen.
00:55:17.48\00:55:18.81
An in charge and sovereign
and He would still have walked
00:55:18.85\00:55:21.88
with them even in the
midst of that difficulty.
00:55:21.92\00:55:25.05
I think of Isaiah 43.
00:55:25.09\00:55:26.45
"When you pass
through the waters,
00:55:26.49\00:55:27.99
I will be with you,
and through the rivers,
00:55:28.02\00:55:30.96
they will not overflow you."
00:55:30.99\00:55:32.86
So no matter
00:55:32.89\00:55:34.26
what you are
going through today,
00:55:34.30\00:55:36.30
the Lord Jesus is
walking right beside you.
00:55:36.33\00:55:38.90
That's right.
00:55:38.93\00:55:40.27
And I think Shelley
asked a question earlier
00:55:40.30\00:55:42.60
about sometimes
God chooses to deliver,
00:55:42.64\00:55:44.91
sometimes He chooses not to,
00:55:44.94\00:55:46.27
but I think in
the time of trouble,
00:55:46.31\00:55:47.74
which we find in
the time of trouble.
00:55:47.78\00:55:49.74
This was a time of
trouble that exemplified
00:55:49.78\00:55:52.41
what the whole
world is gonna go through,
00:55:52.45\00:55:54.28
at that hour
Michael will stand up
00:55:54.32\00:55:55.75
and deliver His people.
00:55:55.78\00:55:57.12
That's right.
00:55:57.15\00:55:58.49
And there's another
portion I want to bring out.
00:55:58.52\00:56:00.79
Psalm 34:15-17,
00:56:00.82\00:56:03.09
"The eyes of the
Lord are on the righteous,
00:56:03.12\00:56:05.53
His ears are open to their cry.
00:56:05.56\00:56:07.56
The face of the Lord is
against those who do evil,
00:56:07.60\00:56:09.93
to cut off the remembrance
of them from the earth.
00:56:09.96\00:56:12.47
The righteous cry
out, and the Lord hears,
00:56:12.50\00:56:14.90
and delivers them out
of all of their troubles."
00:56:14.94\00:56:17.31
Amen.
00:56:17.34\00:56:18.67
You know, I had
Isaiah 43:2 as well,
00:56:18.71\00:56:21.38
I just wanna finish it off.
00:56:21.41\00:56:22.74
It says, "When
you pass the waters,
00:56:22.78\00:56:24.11
I will be with you,
00:56:24.15\00:56:25.48
through the rivers,
they shall not overflow you.
00:56:25.51\00:56:27.35
When you walk through the
fire, you shall not be burned,
00:56:27.38\00:56:30.89
nor shall the flame scorch you."
00:56:30.92\00:56:32.65
This is a covenant promise,
but as we've seen, you know,
00:56:32.69\00:56:36.36
God was with Moses,
they went through the waters
00:56:36.39\00:56:39.46
in the He parted the Red Sea.
00:56:39.49\00:56:41.46
He was with
Joshua when they cover,
00:56:41.50\00:56:43.97
went through the Jordan River.
00:56:44.00\00:56:46.30
But when you think
about Shadrach, and Meshach
00:56:46.33\00:56:50.81
and Abednego,
00:56:50.84\00:56:52.17
they were there
in the fiery trial.
00:56:52.21\00:56:54.74
And you may find
00:56:54.78\00:56:56.11
a fiery trial
going on right now.
00:56:56.14\00:56:58.05
Just remember 2
Corinthians 12:9,
00:56:58.08\00:57:00.65
"His grace is
sufficient for you.
00:57:00.68\00:57:03.59
He will make His power
perfect in your weakness."
00:57:03.62\00:57:06.25
Amen.
00:57:06.29\00:57:07.62
It's a quick one,
Manuscript 42, 1901.
00:57:07.66\00:57:09.42
It says, "Faith
can be maintained
00:57:09.46\00:57:11.29
only by bringing into
the Christian religion
00:57:11.33\00:57:14.20
to the test of practice,
00:57:14.23\00:57:16.13
thus demonstrating
its transforming power
00:57:16.16\00:57:19.27
to the faithfulness of promise."
00:57:19.30\00:57:21.07
The word makes the proud
humble and the stubborn meek
00:57:21.10\00:57:25.11
and contrite and the
disobedient obedient.
00:57:25.14\00:57:28.64
Amen.
00:57:28.68\00:57:30.01
Man, that is
powerful, that is powerful.
00:57:30.05\00:57:31.48
I think Romans 6:16,
00:57:31.51\00:57:33.62
reminds us that we
are servants to the person
00:57:33.65\00:57:36.65
or to whom we obey.
00:57:36.69\00:57:38.02
Amen.
00:57:38.05\00:57:39.39
And right there
on the plain of Dura,
00:57:39.42\00:57:40.76
we saw the incredible
example of these three men
00:57:40.79\00:57:42.72
who are willing to and
in the face of adversity
00:57:42.76\00:57:45.39
against
popularity, stand for Jesus,
00:57:45.43\00:57:47.86
stand for the truth.
00:57:47.90\00:57:49.23
And I just praise the
Lord for this powerful study
00:57:49.26\00:57:51.47
on the Book of Daniel.
00:57:51.50\00:57:52.83
We hope that you
join us next week
00:57:52.87\00:57:54.20
because next week's
lesson, we're gonna jump into
00:57:54.24\00:57:55.97
Daniel Chapter 4,
and we're gonna study
00:57:56.00\00:57:57.81
the conversion
of Nebuchadnezzar.
00:57:57.84\00:57:59.94
Thank you for
joining us. God bless you.
00:57:59.97\00:58:01.64
See you next week.
00:58:01.68\00:58:03.01