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