Who you gon call when you have to make big decisions

Daniel 3:16  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

To begin with brothers and sisters Christian Friends, Well wishers and Saints of God, As we glint, gleam, and gaze at this glorious text we see some pretty intense images of idolatrous worship and praise to the pagan god marduk. The Babylonian king was full of himself. King Nebuchadnezzar was full of arrogant pride and self aggrandizement Nebuchadnezzar was the second king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. He reigned for 43 years from (605- 562 BC) But what Nebuchadnezzar is best known for, is how he conquered Jerusalem and initiated Babylonian exile.

In modern times this kind of seige would be like what Russia is doing to the Ukrainian people;

Brothers and sisters when explaining this text it’s important to note that the Chaldean and Babylonians took the best and the brightest and the smartest Hebrews that were in exile with them and made them learn Their customs, laws and culture. And on this occasion They put a few Hebrews in high positions of authority. They put people like old man Daniel, and young men like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These three Hebrew boys got in big trouble with king Nebuchadnezzar.

Can I tell the story? It all started when King Nebuchadnezzar had the bright idea to make the idol god marduk. King Nebuchadnezzar being the king of Babylon, imposed his will on everybody else. and that’s a problem. Listen to me real good (If you want to do wrong don’t go demanding that everybody else do wrong with you just because you’re in charge). It’s got people that feel like if it ain’t their way it’s the highway, and sometimes they are dead wrong… And king Nebuchadnezzar is dead wrong in this case and can’t nobody tell him nothing.

Somebody who don’t know the story may ask Well Pastor what exactly did he do? Well the bible say that Nebuchadnezzar had a 9ft high by 9ft wide golden statue of the idol god marduk built and put in the plains of Dura. A historical fact worth noting is that the idol god Marduk was the chief idol god of Mesopotamia and the city of Babylon. So king Nebuchadnezzar called all of the important officials together. Look at Daniel 3:2 it says Then he called for the leaders: the governors, assistant governors, captains of the soldiers, people who advised the king, keepers of the treasury, judges, rulers, and all other officers in his kingdom. He wanted them to come to the special service for the statue he had set up.

Everybody that was anybody was there in there Sunday go meeting clothes because the king has a big ordeal going on, they are honoring their god marduk. They have an announcer and they even have the band ready to play. The herald-er or announcer said in verse 5 “When you hear the sound of the horns, flutes, lyres, zithers, harps, pipes, and all the other musical instruments, you must bow down and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.

Here comes the problem for the persons who believe in Elohim, Meaning God the Father God the Very Son Jesus and God the Holy Ghost. Because our Ten Commandments say thou shalt not have any gods before Me nor worship any graven image that may come in the imagination of humankind. That’s the core belief system of people who believe in the reality of our Monotheistic God.There will come a time in your life that you’re going to be faced with a major decision bow down or walk away.because the bible says that everybody bowed down to the golden image (marduk) that king Nebuchadnezzar had set up. !But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not bow down to marduk.

The Chaldeans were watching them, because of jealousy, envy, and hatred.

1. They were jealousy because these Hebrews boys have come and gotten high positions in our governmental structure.

2. they were envious because of the natural innate ability that God had given the Hebrew boys in administration.

3. and they hated them because they were of a different race, creed, culture, and color. The Hebrews were a shade or two darker. Somebody say teach me pastor.

So the Chaldean leaders went and told king Nebuchadnezzar that the Hebrew boys whom he had appointed to high positions didn’t bow down to Babylonian idol god marduk, Nebuchadnezzar’s signature golden image. When Nebuchadnezzar heard that! boy was he hot behind the collar! Nebuchadnezzar said What!!! Where they at!!! Go get em!! Go get em Now!!! If you don’t believe me look at 13 in the ESV bible “Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king”.

The king was red hot mad, so much so until his face changed to a permanent hateful frown. Nebuchadnezzar was furious and said Boys is it true that you don’t serve my gods or worship marduk the golden god image that I set up. Listen to me, nobody in their right mind goes against the king!!! For after all the king Nebuchadnezzar is a warrior king, he’s a conquering king, he’s a prideful king, he’s an arrogant king and he’s full of self aggrandizement . And the king said in essence I’m going to give you’ll another chance Look at Daniel 3:15  Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

Listen to me, I tell my family and now I’m going to tell you, “You don’t have to sell your soul to make it”. That golden image is from the devil. Listen to me if it’s not Elohim meaning God the Father God the Very Son Jesus Christ and God the Holy Ghost, I’m not bowing down to it. “I don’t mind compromising but I will not be compromised”. Women if they are putting you in uncomfortable positions on your job, walk away, go get you a good lawyer and sue their pants off. True story 2x there was a man who they said worked offshore on the rig and some fellows kicked him in his behind and he just said aw fellows quit clowning and it went on so long until the boss fired him for not standing up for himself ! Your integrity is more important that bowing down to some dumb idol named marduk that mankind has made up for you. Man, people will treat you bad when they think you can’t do without them.

King Nebuchadnezzar was surprised at the Hebrew boys’ answer.Yeah yeah yeah because he had already taken the matter to the cliff.what do you mean pastor?

1. He said if you don’t bow down I’m going to put you in the fiery furnace that’s heated up 7 times hotter than ever before and then

2. On top of that king Nebuchadnezzar said and your God can’t deliver you out of this situation. What!!! Oh but listen to the title of this sermon today “When you’re in Big trouble, who you gon call?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, saying, “Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves to you.17 If you throw us into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from the furnace. He will save us from your power, O king. Wow! brothers and sisters that’s liberating and empowering and justifiably holy. Because It puts you in the driver’s seat when you know that you know that you know that you have God on your side. And if God is on our side then the devil in hell can’t do us no harm.

From the NCV Bible Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said 18 But even if God does not save us, we want you, O king, to know this: We will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”