The Cost of Visibility

 

1 Kings 18:1 - “And it came to pass after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.”

 

Daniel 2:49 - “And Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.”

 

Daniel 3:4 - “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 [idol] 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.”

 

> What you bow to owns you. 

 

What You Need To Keep Standing

 

1. Support - They had the support of each other. None stood alone.

Verse 16: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to king...

 

Daniel 2:16-18 - “So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation. 17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.”

 

2. Discernment - The three Hebrew boys recognised the entrapment of the Kingdom darkness.

Verse 16: O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter....

 

Ephesians 6:11 - “Put on God’s whole armour [the armour of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.”

 

3. Boldness and courage

Verse 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.

 

Joshua 1:7-8 - “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.”

 

4. Conviction

Verse 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.

 

5. Stand

Ephesians 6:13-14 - “Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore…”