Today on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. Don't compromise your internal convictions. when faced with external pressures. That's the first lesson. Here is the second now.
Trust God. who is able to do the impossible. Lesson one, don't compromise your internal convictions. when faced with external pressures. Secondly, trust God.
who is able to do the impossible. Welcome to the Verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe. Do you realize that taking a stand for God may have consequences? You might be seen differently, lose friends, or it might impact your chances for a promotion. But what if it meant losing your life?
Today we're learning from three godly young men who refuse to compromise their faith even in the face of death.
Now, here's Pastor John Monroe with today's message. Our God is able. Today, we come to one of the most famous and inspiring stories in the book of Daniel. It's very easy to compromise, isn't it? When the majority is against it, we can find it difficult to take a stand for what we know is right.
And before we know it, we've taken one step Then another. and then another down the slippery slope of compromise. In the book of Daniel, these three young Israelis in Babylon are faced with a tough decision. If they don't bow to a huge image of King Nebuchadnezzar, they will die. Yet the commandments state that you shall have no other God before the one true God.
You shall not bow down to idols. What will they do? How will they handle this situation? Listen. as we look at Daniel chapter 3.
Daniel 3 is one of the most thrilling and most amazing stories in all of the Bible. as a model of courage and a model of faith. A model of trust in God, this story is breathtaking. Faced with a decision to either bow to Nebuchadnezzar's image of gold Or to be thrown into a fiery furnace, these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, refused to bow. Faced with a choice To bow or to burn.
They choose. To burn. Rather than bow to the image of a pagan king, They choose Tabal to the King of Kings who is sovereign over the whole universe. Because those who are made in the image of God must never bow to any man-made Image. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to march to the beat of a different drum.
We are called to be lights. Penetrating. the moral darkness and salt permeating the corruption. To stand apart from the compromise and mediocrity of so much of cultural Christianity, to be. And make disciples of Jesus Christ who are displaying and proclaiming Christ.
Our text this morning is Daniel chapter 3. We're going to read the first 12 verses of Daniel 3. and learn our first Here is the word of God to us then. Daniel chapter 3. Verses one.
Through twelve. King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold whose height was six cubits. and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent together the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the councillors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Then the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the councillors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. and he stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And the Herald proclaimed aloud, You are commanded, O peoples, nations and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you're to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. Therefore, as soon as all of the peoples heard the sound of the hornpipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down.
and worshipped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Therefore, at that time, certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever. You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the hornpipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music shall fall down and worship the golden image. And whoever does not fall down and worship, shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace.
There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. Fascinating story, isn't it? We want to learn the first lesson this morning, and it is such an important one.
Don't compromise your internal convictions when faced with external pressures.
Now that is an important principle. that we see from this passage, but also throughout the scripture. We are all faced with external pressures. We're all faced to do things that we know are wrong. And so often we yield to these external pressures from other people, from our family, from society, from what is normal, we are told.
But we'll learn this morning. We are never. never to compromise our internal convictions when faced with external pressure. When you're faced with doing something that you know is wrong, don't do it. Irrespective.
of the pressure on you confirm.
Now what's the situation here? In Daniel 3. Nebuchadnezzar, as we've read, builds this huge image and commands everyone to worship it. Got a bit of an ego problem, doesn't he, Nebuchadnezzar? In Daniel 2, verse 38, Nebuchadnezzar, you will remember.
in the vision that Daniel interprets. Nebuchadnezzar is described as the head of gold of the statue.
Now in the next chapter, Nebuchadnezzar builds an image entirely of gold. Nebuchadnezzar had been told by Daniel in Daniel 2 that one day Babylon would fall. It seems as if Nebuchadnezzar is now building this image in defiance of Daniel's prophecy and Daniel's God. In effect, Nebuchadnezzar is saying, my kingdom shall stand forever. And all of you, all of the peoples, all of the languages, everyone in the world must bow down and worship my image.
There is no iron or clay in me, I'm strong. I'm going to last. I'm the head of gold. I will never fall. He symbolizes the pride of Babylon.
Now as we see in verse 1, this was a huge image. Sixty cubits high. by six cubits wide. That's ninety feet high. By nine feet wide.
The Babylonian system of measurement was based on six. We have a decimal system based on ten. Babylon had a system based on six. In the Bible, seven Is the number of perfection. It's God's number, as it were.
Six. Is the number of man. Nebuchadnezzar's favorite number is six. He is, in fact, a precursor of the Antichrist, who, according to Revelation 13, verse 18, is going to have in the last days a number. And if you remember the number of the Antichrist?
Six. Six, six. Nebuchadnezzar, as it were, Is in the spirit of the Antichrist and his favorite number Is six and he commands everyone to bow down. His command is for worship But it's also for political advantage. But it is religious as well.
He's saying, my God. Is the highest, the most powerful God in the universe. We are victorious over all of our enemies. All of you, whoever you are. Native Babylonians, but those who are captive, you must all bow down and submit to my God.
Nebuchadnezzar is going to be the center. of worship. It's also a political act. He also wants everyone to recognize that he is the supreme king and lord of all. It's his way of unifying the Babylonian Empire.
Irrespective of your language, irrespective of your nationality, everyone must bow to his. Image verse 7. As soon as all of the peoples, notice that, heard the sound of these various instruments, all the peoples, nations and languages fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. In fact, to create the right environment, he brings out the Babylonian Symphony Orchestra. including incidentally bagpipes which probably terrorized the people.
It was all there. And everyone bows down. Can you imagine the pressure? Here is the king. The superpower of the day.
And his command must be obeyed by all peoples, no exceptions. are but three men. Defy the king's command and refuse To bow verse twelve. These men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, O king, these Jewish men. pay no attention to you.
They disregard you, King. And they don't serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. Can you imagine the pressure on these men to conform? Far away from home. in a pagan culture commanded by the most powerful Man in the universe.
Facing a huge, impressive image, ninety feet high. Listening to that powerful music. everyone around them. All nationalities, all of the peoples bowing down. No mention incidentally is made of Daniel.
Perhaps he's out of town on business, we just don't know. But they are surrounded by the atmosphere of Babylon. The political pressure The religious pressure, the social pressure on these men was almost unbearable. Because What is going to happen? to those who do not bow down.
they're going to be thrown into a fiery Furnace. But these three men Refuse. To bow. In the face of tremendous external pressure, they do not compromise their internal convictions. That's what makes them different.
This is what makes them great men of God. This is what makes them great men of faith. They know this principle. We will never ever compromise what we know what is right. Irrespective of the pressure on us to get us to do what is wrong.
We will not compromise our internal convictions. When faced with external pressure.
Now what gave them such strong internal convictions? They will have memorised as good Jewish boys brought up in Israel, they would have memorized the Ten Commandments. The first two commandments of the Decalogue of the Ten Commandments is that we never ever worship an idol. That is contrary to the word of God. Those made in the image of God, must never ever bow to a man-made image.
For these three men. Shadrach, Mishach, and Abed-Nego Compromise is impossible. Don't you love these men? They must obey God rather than men. Even though they're told they'll be thrown into the fiery furnace, they do not bow.
They don't compromise. their internal convictions. when faced with external pressure. Can you imagine if this had happened today? These three men would have been told today in our society, I think here in the United States, that the worship of Nebuchadnezzar's image is just as valid as worshiping their God.
What is our great God today in our society? Tolerance. Tolerance. We bow at the idol of tolerance. Every individual's beliefs, values, lifestyle and truth claims we are told today are equally valid.
Chadrak, Meshach, and Abednego, you're taking a stand for nothing. You're showing what narrow-minded bigots you are, how judgmental you are. Who are you to tell the king that it's wrong? You are showing no respect to the king. Oh, we know you've got your own little worship style.
You can do that privately in your home. But do it out of sight. Why are you making such a fuss? You know, if you've got no internal convictions, you will bow. to all and any external pressures.
Daniel and these three men throughout The book of Daniel always show respect to the king. They always are very gracious and respectful as they interact with the king of Babylon and the officials of Babylon and the other kingdoms, but they never. compromise their faith. In the one true and living. God.
How about you? How about me? You say, Well, I don't bow to any idols. Oh, really? That's nice to hear.
In the New Testament, the Apostle John tells us to keep ourselves from idols. What do you love? And what are you trusting? An idol, a god in our life, is anything or anyone that drives our life, that sets our agenda. That drives our ambition, our energy.
Anything in our life, anyone in our life, that to lose would mean that we would think life is just not worth living. That's an idol in your life. And we are certainly not. Exempt. from idolatry.
Today. Think of the love Of money. I have this little. Story during the week that this man Ken and his wife Edna went to the state fair every year. And every year Ken would say to his wife, Edna, I'd like to ride in that helicopter.
And Nedna always replied, I know Ken. But the helicopter ride is fifty bucks and fifty bucks is fifty bucks. Every year they would go to the fair. He would admire the beautiful helicopter and say to his wife, Edna, I would like to go in the helicopter. And she would say, I know Ken.
But it would it costs fifty bucks and fifty bucks is fifty bucks. One day he goes and he's 75 years old, and he says to his wife, listen, this may be the last time. Can I not go in a helicopter this year? She says no. It costs fifty bucks.
And fifty bucks is fifty bucks. But the pilot hears them arguing and he says to them, Folks, I'll make you a deal. I'll take both of you for a ride. And if you can stay quiet and don't argue for the entire ride, And I don't hear one word from you. I won't charge you.
But if I hear one word... I will charge you fifty bucks. They take off. And they go in the helicopter. The pilot does all kinds of fancy maneuvers.
Not a word is heard. He tries his daredevil tricks over and over again and still not a word. When they land, the pilot turns to Ken and says, Whoa, I did everything I could to get you to well out, to yell out, but you didn't. I'm very, very impressed. And Ken said, Well, to tell you the truth, I almost did say something when Edna fell out.
But as Edna says. Fifty bucks is fifty bucks. We laugh. But let's face it, how much have we driven? By the fifty bucks.
Money. is surely one of our most common Idols. We think we have more money, life would be worth living. When we don't have money, we think life is not worth living. Or think of the idol of pleasure.
But all of your thoughts All of your efforts are directed to that next thrill. whether that comes from alcohol or drugs or sex or whatever. Or what about the gods of power, of sport, of achievement, of beauty, and so on? Even our family can become an idol. What external pressures in your life are such?
that threaten to compromise Your faith. Peer pressure students at school. college, you're more concerned With what? You're ungodly. fellow students think of you.
when it comes to it than when what God thinks. You're certainly more concerned about them than what your parents think. Or think of the idol of popularity. to fit in. For people to think how wonderful we are to be seen to have a lot of friends.
Think of greed, think of lust. Any of these idols that we're clinging to, which drive us, which control us. These men are telling us never. Compromise your internal convictions when faced with external pressures. These three men don't.
They resist the idolatry. They resist the external pressures. To the point. of death. In 1596, Andrew Melville in Scotland took a stand.
Against King James VI of Scotland, who was to become King James I of England, the King James of the King James Bible. King James and the Stuart Kings believed, as some of you know, in the divine right of kings. That the crown was supreme over everything, including the church. And Andrew Melville. This godly man and a great scholar.
Believing that King James was seeking to usurp the authority of God, said this: Sir, We will always humbly reverence your majesty in public. But since we have this occasion to be with your majesty in private, we must discharge your duty or else be traitors both to Christ and to you. Therefore, sir. At diverse times I've told you, so now again I must tell you. There are two kings and two kingdoms in Scotland.
There is King James, the Lord of the Commonwealth, and there is Christ Jesus, the King of the Church, whose subject King James VI is. And of whose kingdom he's not a king, nor a lord, nor a head. We will yield to you your place and give you all due obedience. But again I say, you are not the head of the church. You cannot give us that eternal life that we seek for even in this world.
And you cannot deprive us of it. Can you imagine speaking to a king? And saying that. Can you imagine speaking to a Prime Minister or a President and talking like that? That thinking of Andrew Melville, of course, can I say incidentally, was to have a tremendous impact on the founding documents of the United States.
Where it was said in the Constitution that the state and the government was not supreme over the church. And for his stand against the king, Andrew Melville was imprisoned in the Tower of London from 1607. To sixteen eleven. and then exiled to France for the rest of his life. A great example.
of not compromising our internal convictions. When faced with external pressures. Do you think we need Andrew Melville's today? Do you think we need people in our society To talk to our government, to talk to our politicians, to talk to our media, our educators, our intellectuals, and remind them of God's eternal truths that we will not compromise what we know what is right irrespective of all of the power of external pressure. This is the verdict featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe.
There's still more to hear when John returns in just a moment, so stay with us. From matters of truth and identity, to the subjects of love and grace, our world seems more confused than ever. but to find truth and certainty about who we are and find peace, we must turn our attention away from the world and look to the Word of God. To help you do that, John wrote a booklet titled Eternal Security, Finding Certainty in a Chaotic World. Through this special resource, John shares his personal testimony, along with a careful examination of Scripture, to offer us clarity on matters of eternity.
Get your copy today by visiting our website at theverdict.org. While you're there, consider making an investment in this Bible teaching ministry. Whether it's $5, $50, or more, your gift today helps cover the cost of sharing these gospel messages to listeners around the world. And if you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to the Verdict Podcast, featuring John's weekly podcast exclusive called Avizandam. It's available wherever you get your podcasts, or simply go to our website.
Again, that's theverdict.org. The verdict is a ministry of Calvary Church in South Charlotte. We're located on the corner of Highway 51 and Ray Road. If you've been looking for a church home or a community to help you grow in your walk with Christ, We invite you to join us for our Sunday services. For more details about Calvary and our service times, visit theverdict.org.
Now, here's Pastor John Monroe.
Well, what's your verdict? Look back over your life. How often have you compromised? Are there times when you wish you had taken a strong stand, but the noise of the crowd made you compromise? How we need followers of Jesus Christ to be strong and courageous, not harsh or loud-mouthed.
but humbly taking a stand for God and His Word. as these three young men did. I know you won't want to miss the broadcast next time as we continue to look. At this fascinating story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict.
I'm Michelle Davies. Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
