Don McClain 1 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

 Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- Nego... Four young men of uncompromising faith - Dan 1:6-7  What gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- Nego their strength to defy a king and the fiery furnace in Daniel 3? Don McClain 2 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

 We too live in a world where we are constantly encouraged to “compromise”....  How can we be strengthened in our faith to the point we can consistently resist the temptation to surrender our faith to compromise? Don McClain 3 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

 They understood the seriousness of idolatry –  They had a healthy fear of the Lord –  They trusted in their God –  They had experienced previous victories over temptation –  It was worth it - Don McClain 4 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

 They knew that it would be wrong for them to bow down to ANY graven image Don McClain 5 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

Exodus 20:3-5 (NKJV) 3 You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; Don McClain 6 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

 They knew that it would be wrong for them to bow down to ANY graven image  They knew that God was a jealous God... Don McClain 7 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

Exodus 20:3-5 (NKJV) 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, Don McClain 8 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

 They knew that it would be wrong for them to bow down to ANY graven image  They knew that God was a jealous God...  They knew that if they did not obey the king they would die – this was a choice of life or death - (Dan 3:6) Don McClain 9 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

 Man will worship something! – (Either true or false)  Idolatry is the corruption of true worship – (EX. 20:3,4; Rom. 1:18-25; Col. 3:5)  Possessions – Pleasure – Power – People -  Do we understand the seriousness of idolatry?  Are you an idolater? Don McClain 10 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego feared God – NOT the king - (Dan 3:12,16- 18; Mat. 10:28)  They understood that God said what He meant and meant what He said!!  They were committed to serving God no matter what! – (Acts 4:17-20; 5:28-32) Don McClain 11 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (NKJV) 12 "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good? Don McClain 12 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

Proverbs 1:7 (NKJV) 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. Don McClain 13 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

Psalms 111:10 (NKJV) 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever. Don McClain 14 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NKJV) 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. Don McClain 15 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

 We too need a healthy fear of God! – (Acts 5:11; Mat 10:28)  We need to make the same commitment that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego made – to serve the Lord – no matter what! – (Ps. 37:5; 1 Peter 4:19)  People who compromise with evil demonstrate that they lack a healthy fear of the Lord! – (Job 28:28; Jer 32:40) Don McClain 16 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

Daniel 3:16-18 (NKJV) 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." Don McClain 17 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

 For we KNOW that God will do what He has said!! – (Rom. 4:19-21; Acts 27:25; 2 Tim 1:12; Gal 1:6-9)  Therefore those who trust the Lord will keep pure - (1 John 3:3; 2 Cor 7:1; 2 Pet 3:14)  How can we be prepared to resist compromise if we are NOT GROUNDED in the word of God? -(Rom 10:17; Hos 4:6) Don McClain 18 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

 They had refused to defile themselves with the kings food – thus God blessed them - Dan. 1:8-20  Those who are faithful in little matters will be faithful in larger matters – (Luke 16:10,11; 19:17; Mat 25:21) Don McClain 19 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

 How can I face the big battles if I have failed to be victorious in the smaller ones? (Jer. 12:5)  Trials will come!! Young people need to begin now to develop a strong faith in God! Don McClain 20 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

 Notice the result of  Notice the result of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego’s refusal to compromise – (Dan 3:24- 30)  Saved by the Lord – (24,25)  Convinced  Convinced Nebuchadnezzar – (26-29)  Exalted by  Exalted by Nebuchadnezzar – (30) Don McClain 21 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

 The faithful will receive the crown of life – (Rev 2:10)  Like Paul – if we fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith – (2 Tim 4:6-8)  Eternal life if we patiently continue in doing good – seeking for glory, honor & immortality – (Rom 2:7)  NO such thing as accidental salvation!! – (Mat 7:13,14) Don McClain 22 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

 Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- Nego... Four young men of uncompromising faith - Dan 1:6-7  What gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- Nego their strength to defy a king and the fiery furnace in Daniel 3? Don McClain 23 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

 We too live in a world where we are constantly encouraged to “compromise”....  How can we be strengthened in our faith to the point we can consistently resist the temptation to surrender our faith to compromise? Don McClain 24 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

 We MUST understand the seriousness of idolatry –  We MUST have a healthy fear of the Lord  We MUST trust in our God –  We MUST grow spiritually–  It WILL BE worth it - Don McClain 25 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008

Don McClain 26 W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008