The Time In Which He Lived...
Some key dates to remember
612 B.C. - Babylon takes Nineveh, capital of
Assyria
609 B.C. - Josiah killed at Megiddo by Pharaoh
Neco
605 B.C. - Daniel & friends taken captive shortly
after
Battle of Carchemish (Nebu vs. Neco)
597 B.C. - A second remnant taken to Babylon
586 B.C. - Fall of Jerusalem, temple destroyed
The PRESSURE They Faced Fear of Physical Harm - Nebuchadnezzar had
the power to demand and get anything he
wanted.
Fear of Backlash from Peers - when the
orchestra played, everyone did as the king
commanded.
• People were afraid to speak openly of Jesus – Jn.
7:13
• People were afraid to state obvious truth – Jn.
The EXCUSES They Might Have Offered We are not being asked to reject our God.
We will lose our chance to influence.
We can do more good by staying alive.
The image is merely a political symbol.
All the other exiles are doing it.
It’s only this one time, and not for long.
We are being forced; God will understand.
Really, this is more than can be expected of
us.
The CONFIDENCE They Possessed -
First…
“We are not careful (full of care) how
to answer you.”
We are not troubled by this – we are not
anxious.
“We do not need to answer you.”
Your challenge is against God – He will
The CONFIDENCE They Possessed -
Second…
“our God whom we serve is able to deliver
us.”
BUT HOW?
What if they first have to enter the furnace?
The CONFIDENCE They Possessed -
Third…
“and He will deliver us out of your hand, O
king.”
Nebuchadnezzar had asked, “what god is there who
can deliver you out of my hands?”
Jehovah CAN, and HE WILL!
(one way or another!)
The RESOLUTION They Voiced -
“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.”
The RESOLUTION They Voiced -
First…
Their loyalty to God was not based on
His deliverance of them from the trial.
Second…
They resolved that they would obey
God no matter the cost.
“He who loves his life shall lose it; and
he who hates his life in this world shall
keep it unto life eternal.” (John 12:25)
Faith to withstand the gods of . . .
•
physical security (when persecutions
come)
•
job security (when wrong-doing is
required)
•
family (when pressured to disobey
God)
•
appealing false doctrine (when truth
is
Faith to withstand the gods of . . .
•
entertainment (when everyone else
is)
•
drugs/alcohol (when friends offer)
•
pornography (when access is easy)
•
sexual impropriety (when pressures
come)
•
material comforts (when it’s easier to
do nothing)
Will You Become A Christian?
Hear the Gospel (Rom. 10:17)
Believe in Jesus as the Son of God (Mark
16:16)
Repent of Your Sins (Acts 17:30)
Confess Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-10)
Be Baptized for Forgiveness of Sins (Acts
2:38)
Live Faithfully until You Die (Rev. 2:10)
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