- “Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
- And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
- So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
- Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,
- “that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up;
- “and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” ”
Daniel 3:1-6 (NKJV)
• God will allow your faith, loyalty, and commitment to be tested.
YOU must be convinced about the God you serve.
- Any gathering where God would not be absolute should not be attended by a Minister.
- As a Minister, if a political leader invites you to a function which God would not be totally honoured, do not go.
- We reveal the greatness of God to the world through our standing on the truth—the Word of God.
• Nebuchadnezzar the king wanted his greatness to be seen by the world.
- Any political leader that would not acknowledge God and worship Him will soon lose and crash in their political Careers (Acts 12:20-23).
- Prophets give direction to Kings, not the King giving direction to prophets.
- Your calling is important than whatever any politician will give you.
• Nothing should separate you from Christ:
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35).
NOTE: Some ministers have sold their birthright, they have sold the call of God on their lives because of money.
- A Minister should not be greedy for money (1 Timothy 3:3).
- “Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews.
- “There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. THEY DO NOT SERVE YOUR GODS OR WORSHIP THE GOLD IMAGE WHICH YOU HAVE SET UP.” ”
Daniel 3:8,12 (NKJV)
• If you actually lead your life according to the Word of God, you will suffer persecution.
- The System of the world is against God's principles: “YES, AND ALL WHO DESIRE TO LIVE GODLY IN CHRIST JESUS WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION" (2 Timothy 3:12).
- The three Jews mentioned, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, did not compromise their stand.
THEY knew who they are! - Serving in any political office does not mean you should join them to do what they are doing that are not right (1 Peter 4:3,4).
- God has called us to stand for him wherever we are.
• Truth: To be committed to God and His Word means to stand against the world (James 4:4)..
- If you are not convinced of your stand in God, you will see yourself joining people to do what they are doing—rebelling against God (Ephesians 2:3).
- “Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king.
- Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?
- “Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
Daniel 3:13-15 (NKJV)
• Nebuchadnezzar challenged the God of the trio, he said who is that God that will deliver them from his hand.
- One thing every minister or leader should know is that God cannot forsake His owns.
- If you are called by God and you are on an assignment for Him, He is by your side.
- The answer given to Nebuchadnezzar by the three Hebrews jolted him and aggravated his annoyance:
16 “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
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”” (Daniel 3:16-28 NKJV).
• The trio told Nebuchadnezzar the king to know that they were not going to serve his gods. It was said in affirmative.
TRUTH: Your stand for God would be tested.
- You may not be required to bow to any image, worship any object, however, what you claimed to believe would be challenged.
- Some ministers have subscribed to the idea that sex outside marriage is a norm.
- There are many social vices that the Church is condoning and contemporary ministers are giving credence to.
- YOU compromise your stand as a leader, you bow to the devil, the god of this world.
- “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, GIVING HEED TO DECEIVING SPIRITS AND DOCTRINES OF DEMONS,
- speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.”
1 Timothy 4:1,2 (NKJV)
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED