Devoted (Session 3)
Notes
Transcript
What is up FBC New Braunfels. Let me ask you a question. Have you ever heard someone claim a promise from God? Something like:
Isaiah 41:10 “10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 “8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.””
Jeremiah 29:11 “11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Everyone likes to claim those promises but how about promises like this:
Job 30:22 “22 You lift me up on the wind; you make me ride on it, and you toss me about in the roar of the storm.”
John 16:33b “In the world you will have tribulation…
2 Timothy 3:12 “12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”
And there are many many more promises that are highly positive and promises that will remind us that the walk of a believer is not a easy, non-committal walk. It is an all-in kind of walk.
Luke 9:23–24 “23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”
Very simply stated, here is the main point for tonight:
Main point: True devotion will draw persecution. Will you remain devoted?
Main point: True devotion will draw persecution. Will you remain devoted?
However, just like in the morning session, I want to remind you of the background of the story, because its the same than before.
Daniel 1:8 “But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.”
We already saw the three young man and their devotion to God but now we look at Daniel. The statement still stands true.
Your preparation in private will define your testimony in public.
I never realized this but Daniel was probably close to mid 80’s years old when this happened. For over 70 years, he was devoted to God and not to the Babylonian kingdom.
But the reality is that as believers we are call to be the best citizen, student, son/daughter, best human being… why? because that is what God commands. Look at Dan 3.
Daniel 6:3–5 “3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.””
Can that be said of you? That you are so devoted to God that your only downfall would be your love and commitment to God?
Now you may ask, why does God allow us to go through hardships? There are two main reason i’ve found out through experience:
God develops his people through hardships.
God encourages others through testimonies.
Even then most tragic situation that may not make sense today, can make an impact that goes beyond our understanding.
The butterfly effect
Beyond the point, the idea is that we will face hardships. Is there is something the Bible is clear, is that we will experience pain, suffering and God can and will use such events for our benefits and for His glory.
Romans 8:28“28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Let’s continue in the story. Here are 4 principles that we find in this story.
Principle 1: Persecution is inevitable
Principle 1: Persecution is inevitable
Daniel 6:6–9 “6 Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 7 All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.”
This is unfortunate, but the culture will continue to persecute those who believe in Christ. I was listening to a podcast that talk about how younger generations do not like the exclusivity of Christianity. The fact that we talked about Jesus being the only way and how there is no other way to be saved. The problem is that not that the church says that… Jesus himself said it
John 14:6 “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Imagine, the fact that Jesus, being the son of God. Perfect, kind, pure, relational, did not lie, never acted in unjustified anger, never stab someone in the back, never said something unnecessarily mean or use bad words. That same Jesus was persecuted by the culture. The same Jesus that preached to love our neighbor, to repay evil with good, to be a servant. That same Jesus was persecuted.
And it was not cultural, because the apostles- who had the same message were also persecuted and killed.
In the same way, those are devoted to Christ will find themselves in persecution.
Does that mean that we go out looking for a fight? No, but when the persecution comes…
Principle 2: Boldness is imperative
Principle 2: Boldness is imperative
Daniel 6:10 “10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.”
I love this passage, because Daniel understood what he was doing.
There is a classic story about a father who told his little four year old son to sit down, but the son didn’t sit down. So the father said a second time, “Son, I said sit down.” The boy still didn’t sit down. Finally, the father took him by the shoulders and forcefully placed him in the chair. He said, “Now, Son, sit there!” The little boy answered, “I may be sitting down on the outside, but—” he added defiantly, “I’m standing up on the inside!”
This was not a defiant- I am going to do the opposite you tell me.
Daniel had his priorities straight and did what was normal and routine. Daniel prayed. Daniel worshipped. Daniel remained devoted.
I love Bible stories because of the details. Notice that this decrees was only for 30 days.
Daniel 6:7 “establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.”
How easy would have been to not worship Yahweh openly for 30 days. How easy would’ve been to stop going to church, to no pray, ready your Bible or think anything God related for 30-days… but that is the idea. Daniel was so devoted to His God, that He could not just stop.
When you meet someone who is truly devoted to something, the thought of leaving that behind is unthinkable.
There is a common phrase “if it was easy, everyone would do it.” The same applies to our faith. Jesus also said:
Matthew 7:13–14 “13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
Because sooner or later I am convinced that your devotion to God will be tested.
Principle 3: Devotion is tested.
Principle 3: Devotion is tested.
Daniel 6:16–19 “16 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17 And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. 19 Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions.”
What happens if the story ended here?
What happens if the story ended here?
At some point in your life you may face what it looks like a lion’s den.
It may be divorce in your home.
It may be sickness and even death.
It may be a natural disaster and the list can go on.
You will be face with a test that could very well risk everything you love on this earth and the questions will be… is God worthy of your devotion?
We go back to this morning’s thought. Your devotion will through be tested in the midst of uncertainty.
In apologetics- which means to give a defense, evidence for our faith- there is a huge peace of evidence for Christianity because…
Many people die for what they believe. Many die for a lie, if they believe is true, but no one willingly dies for a lie they know is a lie.
Jesus and the Apostles, including Paul, are a prime examples. All of them except one, die proclaiming that Jesus is the messiah.
They were so devoted because they believe that God was worthy of their whole-hearted commitment.
Now this is not the only piece of evidence but does tell me that the disciples were devoted to Christ despite the culture (roman empire) forcing them away from it.
Let’s go ahead to our last principle, which is the same as this morning’ session.
Principle 4: Devotion emotes Praise
Principle 4: Devotion emotes Praise
Daniel 6:20–23 “20 As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.”
What would it take to break away your faith?
It does not take many people to make a difference, it takes the right people.