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W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
1Uncompromising Faith
Don McClain
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
2Uncompromising Faith
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
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
3Uncompromising Faith
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
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
4Uncompromising Faith
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
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
5Uncompromising FaithThey Understood The Seriousness Of
Idolatry They knew that it
would be wrong for them to bow down to ANY graven image
Don McClain
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
6Uncompromising FaithThey Understood The Seriousness Of
IdolatryExodus 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
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
7Uncompromising FaithThey Understood The Seriousness Of
Idolatry 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
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
8Uncompromising FaithThey Understood The Seriousness Of
IdolatryExodus 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
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
9Uncompromising FaithThey Understood The Seriousness Of
Idolatry 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
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
10Uncompromising FaithThey Understood The Seriousness Of
Idolatry 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
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
11Uncompromising FaithThey Had A Healthy Fear Of The
Lord 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
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
12Uncompromising FaithThey Had A Healthy Fear Of The
LordDeuteronomy 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
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
13Uncompromising FaithThey Had A Healthy Fear Of The
LordProverbs 1:7
(NKJV) 7 The fear of the Lord
is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and
instruction.
Don McClain
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
14Uncompromising FaithThey Had A Healthy Fear Of The
LordPsalms 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
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
15Uncompromising FaithThey Had A Healthy Fear Of The
LordEcclesiastes 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
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
16Uncompromising FaithThey Had A Healthy Fear Of The
Lord 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
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
17Uncompromising FaithThey Trusted In Their God
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."
Faith in the POWER of
God –
Faith in the WILL of
God
Don McClain
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
18Uncompromising Faith
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)
They Trusted In Their God
Don McClain
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
19Uncompromising Faith
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)
They Had Experienced Previous Victories Over Temptation
Don McClain
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
20Uncompromising Faith
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!
They Had Experienced Previous Victories Over Temptation
Don McClain
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
21Uncompromising Faith
Notice the result of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego’s refusal to compromise – (Dan 3:24-30) Saved by the Lord –
(24,25) Convinced
Nebuchadnezzar – (26-29)
Exalted by Nebuchadnezzar – (30)
It Was Worth It
Don McClain
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
22Uncompromising Faith
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)
It Will BE Worth It
Don McClain
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
23Uncompromising Faith
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
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
24Uncompromising Faith
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
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
25Uncompromising Faith
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
W 65th St church of Christ / January 20, 2008
26
Don McClain