WEBVTT 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:05.280 Thank you for joining us on the CCW podcast. 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:11.039 Make sure you connect with us on social media to stay up to date on ministries and events happening at CCW. 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:14.960 We hope you're encouraged, inspired, and motivated by today's message. 00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:19.120 To find out how to connect with us, keep listening after the message ends. 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:24.000 Turn your Bibles to Daniel chapter 3. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:30.480 I couldn't hear all that Pastor Dave was saying, but it sounded like he was celebrating last night's events. 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:33.119 So I want to say again, just thank you. 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:34.640 Thank you, those who served. 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:37.359 Thank you, those who showed up, brought your kids out. 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:39.280 We love that opportunity. 00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:40.880 And God has opened that door. 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:52.719 If you'd been here 10 years ago and seen the 11 trunks around the pavilion and the 250 people here, you'd understand why it's such a big thing in our hearts. 00:00:52.799 --> 00:00:54.079 So praise God. 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:55.679 And uh thank you. 00:00:55.759 --> 00:01:01.039 If you're visiting today and you're a part of our friend day, thank you, those who invited, thank you for being here. 00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:04.719 You are an honored guest, and we do not take that for granted. 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:09.439 So we hope that the first time is good, but we always take the second time's better, I promise. 00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:11.760 And then the third, fourth, fifth, tenth. 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:13.519 Daniel chapter three. 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:15.439 This is, you can write this down if you want. 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:18.000 This is the longest title I've ever titled a message. 00:01:18.159 --> 00:01:20.079 So this is groundbreaking for me. 00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:23.680 A fraud, a friendship, a fire, and a fourth man. 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:34.959 And the Bible says that as we jump into chapter 3, verse 1, the first point this morning is this that I want you to get thinking on before we pray and everything, is a pride problem. 00:01:35.680 --> 00:01:36.799 A pride problem. 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:40.879 There's a true story about two ducks and a frog. 00:01:41.120 --> 00:01:50.400 And they were fast friends, and they were playing in the pond day and night all the time, and all of a sudden, the pond started to dry up. 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:54.159 And they knew what that meant with the pond drying up. 00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:57.439 They would have to get together and fly off to another place. 00:01:57.599 --> 00:01:59.200 They would have to find another pond. 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:04.319 Well, they didn't know how they would do this and bring their friend the frog along. 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:12.960 So they devised a plan that they would put a stick in between their two bills and carry the frog on the stick. 00:02:13.199 --> 00:02:16.319 He could put his mouth around it and they would fly off to a new pond. 00:02:16.479 --> 00:02:18.159 Well, they got their plan together. 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:19.680 They took off in flight. 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:22.639 It was a magical thing as they were flying through the sky. 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:28.719 And a farmer was nearby and he was watching what was happening, and he said, That is unbelievable. 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:32.560 I mean, who was so clever to think up an idea like that? 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:38.719 Just then the frog opened his mouth and said, Me! Splat. 00:02:41.199 --> 00:02:44.719 Proverbs 29, 23 says, Pride brings a man low. 00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:45.759 That was a true story. 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:47.439 That was a true story. 00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:57.120 Benjamin Franklin said this way perhaps no one of our natural passions is so hard to subdue like pride. 00:02:57.360 --> 00:03:02.319 He said, Beat it down, stifle it, mortify as much as one pleases. 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:04.319 It still lives on. 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:13.439 Even if I could conceive that I could completely overcome pride, I shall then be proud of my effort. 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:18.479 I want to read verses one through four, and then let's pray together. 00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:25.919 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits, and its width six cubits. 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:44.560 He set it up in the plain of Dorah in the province of Babylon, and King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, administrators, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all of the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:51.039 So the satraps, administrators, all them people came together for that dedication. 00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:54.319 And then a herald would cry aloud before music played. 00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:55.599 Pray with me. 00:03:56.560 --> 00:04:01.680 Father, we thank you today for your goodness, for your presence here. 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:05.759 And God, we ask that you would fill us what we need from your word. 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:08.080 We don't need anything else but you. 00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:13.199 And God, we ask that you would rebuke any act of Satan, any distraction. 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:17.120 And God, just meet with us for these next few moments. 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:23.199 God, open our hearts to what you would have for us to do with your word today. 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:24.800 In Jesus' name. 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:25.759 Amen. 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:30.319 Letter A this morning is this a conceded dedication. 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:34.079 You could skim through that scripture and miss some important details. 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:46.480 This statue that King Nebuchadnezzar wanted to have built by the qubits, the actual measurements, 90 feet tall, nine foot wide, self-statue made of gold. 00:04:46.639 --> 00:04:51.439 Just for a point of reference, the Vulcan down here in Birmingham is about 52 feet. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:55.600 The Statue of Liberty is 150 feet off the pedestal. 00:04:55.759 --> 00:04:58.399 So we're talking a 90 foot-tall statue. 00:04:58.639 --> 00:05:03.680 Nine basketball goals erected of himself. 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:10.160 And then he says in verse 2 not only do we want to build this image, we're going to have a dedication service. 00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:13.839 Y'all ever been to church and seen a child dedication service? 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:17.360 Like people come out, grandparents, everybody for this baby? 00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:19.279 We're talking a statue. 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:23.439 And King Nebuchadnezzar says, I want everybody, everybody important. 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:28.160 I want all the magistrates, all the sages, administers, anybody who's anybody. 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:29.759 I want all the influencers. 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:33.040 I want everybody to come to my dedication of me. 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:43.519 Heather and I, right before getting married, we went to the Bed Bath and Beyond store to register for the wedding. 00:05:43.680 --> 00:05:46.800 This is quite an experience, not that great for the guy. 00:05:47.279 --> 00:05:52.879 I think we got one thing on our registry, a set of one or two sets of plates. 00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:58.959 And so, anyways, we register at this place, and they said, How many people do you believe will be at the wedding? 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:01.360 I piped in, not even, I don't even know. 00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:03.759 I don't even think I spoke before or after doing the whole thing. 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:05.519 I said, I think about 700. 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:08.240 And the man said, Are you guys famous? 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:14.959 I just thought my mind, anybody I had ever met in my life to that point would probably come to my wedding. 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:17.360 Why wouldn't they want to celebrate us? 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:23.360 And Heather's like, well, and she tried to help me because I was so exaggerative and she exaggerated, but not as much. 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:24.959 She said, Oh, maybe like 300. 00:06:25.040 --> 00:06:27.839 And she later said, We might have 150, Rick. 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:31.519 And I'm like, I just thought everybody would be there, right? 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:34.879 And so this is King Nebuchadnezzar's conceit. 00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:39.360 He says, I need everybody to be at the me party. 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:40.720 That's all about me. 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:44.240 Well, you'd think, well, maybe that's enough. 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:45.920 They all gathered the king's word. 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:47.600 I want you to look down at verse 5. 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:49.439 It gets a little deeper. 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:53.519 Alright, so verse 4, he talks about the herald's gonna cry aloud. 00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:54.800 To you it is a command. 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:58.800 This is gonna be what he says to set up the stage for the ceremony. 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:10.319 Oh, people, 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, then you shall worship. 00:07:11.040 --> 00:07:12.560 Don't miss this, y'all. 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:21.040 The man has a 90-foot-tall statue, nine-foot-wide statue, he's got a dedication service, and he's got a theme song for the statue. 00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:23.680 Y'all seeing the conceit here? 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:28.879 When I played high school basketball, my coach made a promise to us. 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:33.360 He said, if y'all go hard for two weeks strong, I mean you gotta go hard. 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:39.600 He said, the next time you come out to a home game, I'll have a theme song mix for you guys. 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:49.839 And man, let me tell you, we practiced hard because we knew it was gonna be so awesome when we came out from the back and all the fans were there, all 27 of them, and they all cheered. 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:51.759 Man, our theme song hit. 00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:56.079 And we came out that first game, we practiced hard. 00:07:56.240 --> 00:08:00.319 And this is what we heard from the theme song. 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:11.439 There's a mix. 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:12.560 Just wait. 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:24.720 Can you imagine? 00:08:25.680 --> 00:08:27.120 Running number dribble. 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:34.240 Listen, I'm from Delaware. 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:38.879 And when that wam wam wam hit, we were all like, no. 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:42.080 I was dribbling all the stuff and I couldn't dribble. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:43.360 My right hand went limp. 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:44.480 I went to do a layup. 00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:46.480 My left hand, I'm like, what is he doing? 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:48.000 We were in Delaware. 00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:51.039 We didn't grow up in the wild, wild ones, wam, wam, wahma. 00:08:51.279 --> 00:08:53.759 All 27 of the fans are looking at us like, ugh. 00:08:54.080 --> 00:08:55.840 The other team's like, it's over. 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:57.840 We got it in the bag. 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:00.159 The theme song, man. 00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:01.120 It wrecked me. 00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:03.200 Wrecked my 10th grade year. 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:07.360 Like, coach, coach, DJing ain't your thing. 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:09.360 We're gonna try something else. 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:13.519 So, 90-foot-tall statue. 00:09:13.679 --> 00:09:16.559 He's got a song, he's got a song leader. 00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:17.600 I'm not kidding. 00:09:17.679 --> 00:09:19.200 He called his name Harold in there. 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:21.039 He said, a Harold's gonna cry out. 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:29.919 And when he says hit it, he said, psultry, dulcimer, flute, and the song leader hits the song for the statue. 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:33.519 I mean, this is an absolute me party. 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:37.200 Nebuchadnezzar's conceit is deep. 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:43.600 I mean, he was IT it, and he didn't think anybody else should think any other way. 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:46.000 He's got a conceit issue. 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:50.320 He was in love with him, and he thought you should be just as in love with him. 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:52.480 You ever met somebody like this? 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:59.600 The word conceit defined as excessively proud of oneself. 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:07.440 And within it, there's some synonyms of the word, and one of them that you're hearing a lot today is narcissism. 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:16.480 Narcissism says excessive interest in oneself or topics of oneself or your own physical appearance. 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:18.159 The mirror is your friend. 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:22.000 Let me give you some signs of narcissism. 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:25.200 I think Nebuchadnezzar is dealing with it deep. 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:28.639 First sign of narcissists is entitlement. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:32.000 I deserve, I am owed, I don't earn. 00:10:32.320 --> 00:10:33.200 Entitlement. 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:36.159 Second is manipulation to get their way. 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:43.200 He'll cry, he'll pout, he'll bring out the big words, he'll bring out whatever it takes to get his way. 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:44.159 Manipulation. 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:48.799 Number three, needs, needs the admiration of others. 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:51.840 Has to have those words. 00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:53.679 Must be admired. 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:57.120 For difficulty being empathetic. 00:10:57.200 --> 00:10:57.919 You've got a problem. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:10:59.600 I really don't got time for it. 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:01.200 That was Nebuchadnezzar. 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:03.120 I don't got time to hear your problem. 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:05.759 My problem is that you're my problem talking about your problem. 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:08.879 Somebody get rid of this guy. 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:14.559 Another one cannot stand to be called wrong. 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:17.519 Correcting, ready to correct. 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:18.480 No, no, no, no, no. 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:20.080 You, you, no, no, not me. 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:24.320 You cannot stand to be wrong and disputes correction. 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:26.559 Narcissism, man. 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:28.799 Nebuchadnezzar had a pride problem. 00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:30.639 Well, letter B is this. 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:33.120 It didn't stop with a conceited dedication. 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:35.360 There would be a costly demand. 00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:39.919 Look at verses 5 through 7. 00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:51.360 I told you the music that was at the time that you hear the sound of the horn, harp, lyre, psaltery, and the symphony of it all, it would be time for you to worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:51.919 Verse 6. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:12:04.559 And whoever hear this does not fall down in worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:06.559 So this is what happens. 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:13.919 He says, Not only do I have this ostentatious display, not only the dedication service theme song, that's not enough. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:19.120 When my music hits, if you don't bow down, you will burn. 00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:26.799 I will have you killed if you don't dare to bow your knee at my statue. 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:30.559 Can you imagine the immensity of this pride? 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:35.039 Now the Bible, listen to me, you might be hearing his pride and going, Well, I ain't like that. 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:36.000 Well, praise the Lord. 00:12:36.080 --> 00:12:42.799 But listen, pride's a problem all through the Bible, and we see several examples of forms of it. 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:46.399 Paul, who was formerly Saul, was a self-righteous man. 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:48.320 He was in love with his knowledge. 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:50.720 The Pharisee of Pharisees. 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:54.000 He was a person who was self-righteous. 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:56.879 Had a student one time in youth ministry said this. 00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:58.000 I never have forgotten. 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:00.080 I thought, I can't even believe what I just heard. 00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:01.600 She said these words. 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:07.840 She said, one of my favorite things about myself, which I'd never heard that line before from anybody. 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:12.000 One of my favorite things about myself is my humility. 00:13:14.799 --> 00:13:16.720 I thought, this has got to be a joke. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:18.080 This has got to be a line. 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:21.120 She was dead serious and she continued on. 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:22.720 This was Paul. 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:28.399 He was deep in the law and proud of it, proud of his knowledge. 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:30.480 Jonah was entitled. 00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:32.960 He said, I don't deserve, I'm a pastor. 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:34.960 I don't deserve to have to go that way. 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:37.279 That's not the way that I need to go. 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:39.360 The prodigal son was entitled. 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:43.440 He said, Give me what is owed to me, and I'm done. 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:44.159 I'm out of here. 00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:45.679 I want to go live my life. 00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:47.279 He said, Give me what is owed to me. 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:50.080 Goliath was overconfident and lost his head. 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:52.000 Literally lost. 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:53.679 Cut it up right off. 00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:56.879 Peter was overconfident. 00:13:57.039 --> 00:14:01.200 He said, I'll never, ever deny you Jesus denied Christ three times. 00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:06.960 Pharaoh thought himself to be a God, and Lucifer thought he deserved to be equal with God. 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:11.039 I want to tell you the picture that's in this story that you might miss. 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:12.799 There's a lot of things going on in the world today. 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:22.559 And when you look at end time prophecies about what's coming, this picture of Nebuchadnezzar is a picture of something that happens in the Jewish temple one day. 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:34.480 The Antichrist, who is filled with pride, it's a pride issue, comes to the Jewish temple, removes all the furniture, and sets up a statue of worship to himself. 00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:35.919 And he too has a herald. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:37.279 It's called the false prophet. 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:41.840 And when he comes, he incites a battle with lots of armies. 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:45.120 And as you're watching things today, I want you to understand. 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:49.919 I don't know, we don't know the Bible doesn't say the time of the hour, but we know this. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:51.200 There are signs. 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:56.720 There's people coming against things, and there's a time where a battle is incited, but this is what I do know. 00:14:56.879 --> 00:15:02.320 When that battle rages and they all come against Christianity and Jesus, Jesus comes to that battle. 00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:04.000 You know what he brings as a weapon? 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:04.879 His breath. 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:06.320 It says the breath of God. 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:13.679 And the armies of Satan and the Antichrist dissipate from that breath. 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:16.639 I want to tell you, the Bible says this. 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:22.720 All these people dealing with pride, pride comes before destruction, and one day it's going to have its end. 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:31.360 Nebuchadnezzar said, if you don't bow to my statue, you will experience hell on earth. 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:38.799 The thing that keeps a person sometimes from God, church, is giving up on being God. 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:42.399 Nebuchadnezzar had a problem. 00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:46.320 He had seen already the dream and interpretation that happened. 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:50.159 He had seen the challenge with the meat and the pulse in chapter one. 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:52.879 And he had seen the works of the Hebrew God. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:55.840 But he was having a problem with the God within. 00:15:56.720 --> 00:16:02.960 And what keeps people from a decision for Christ, from a decision from heaven and going to hell sometimes is inches. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:04.960 It's here, I understand that that is a God. 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:07.440 I understand that that is something that God can do. 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:10.480 But right here is my God. 00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:14.960 And I don't want to give that up to serve that one. 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:20.559 If I serve that God, Pastor, then I'm going to have to do these things and stop these things. 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:24.000 And it's all this, what do I have to surrender? 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:29.440 And I don't think people understand the vastness of the offer that God gives us. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:41.919 Imagine with me at Christmas time, your kids, you've wrapped the presents, you've gotten them ready, and it's time to send them, say you have an upper floor, and all the presents are downstairs and they're ready to come down. 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:43.200 And there they are. 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:50.080 They come to the edge of the steps, and there's the Christmas tree in presents, and you say, All right, guys, it's time to come open the presents. 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:54.559 And the kids stop there, they put on the brakes and said, I'm not doing it. 00:16:56.639 --> 00:17:03.279 First, after you pick your wife up off the floor from the heart attack, what do you mean you're not doing it? 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:07.440 I will not be receiving these gifts. 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:09.920 You say, What in the world are you talking about? 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:11.599 What do you mean, Pastor? 00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:20.400 You see, for a person to receive the free gift of salvation that Jesus brings, you have to look in the mirror of yourself. 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:24.160 Romans 3.23 says, For all have sin. 00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:29.839 Every person you know, the best person that you've ever come across, has sin and fall short of the glory of God. 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:31.839 I've got to face that to receive the gift. 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:38.720 Then Romans 6.23 says, the wages of my sin, myself, Nebuchadnezzar's self, is death. 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:40.720 One day we've got a death appointment. 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:44.640 That's true, whether you want to accept it or not. 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:47.279 The death door is marching in. 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:52.480 And God sent Jesus Christ and He took hell. 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:53.920 That's the great exchange. 00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:57.440 He took hell if you'll realize the truth. 00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:59.039 He is Lord. 00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:01.200 Nebuchadnezzar is not Lord. 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:02.400 You are not Lord. 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:03.920 You have to realize that truth. 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:06.400 Repent of your sin and surrender. 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:09.680 A lot of people in church not surrendered. 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:11.680 They've accepted it here. 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:14.160 Believe that yes, God is a real thing. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:15.680 I am in Alabama, pastor. 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:16.799 Of course, God is real. 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:19.119 God football in country. 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:29.680 Nebuchadnezzar was blinded so much by his pride, he could not see the need to acknowledge God as Lord. 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:36.400 He acknowledged him as their Lord, your Hebrew God, and chapter 2, and we're going to see it continue to unfold. 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:41.839 So my question for you as we move on this morning is it's a hard question. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:43.119 Are you Lord? 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:50.000 You see, Nebuchadnezzar had a pride problem, but number two this morning. 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:53.039 These three guys had a posture problem. 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:55.440 He had a pride problem. 00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:56.640 They had a posture problem. 00:18:56.799 --> 00:19:00.960 I want you to go to verses 12 through 15 and we'll unpack. 00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:08.240 All of the music, everything goes off. 00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:09.599 The herald calls for it. 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:13.599 They play what sounds like the beginning of the Little Mermaid movie, everything going. 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:16.000 And verse 12. 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:23.200 Here comes all of the jealous guys who are not in the position that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have been put in. 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:38.240 They say, There are certain Jews whom you, Nebuchadnezzar, have set over all the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:43.279 They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image with you have set up. 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:48.400 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:50.240 So they brought these men before the king. 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:58.720 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:07.680 Now, if you're ready, at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery and symphony with all kinds of music, you fall down and worship the image which I have made. 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:08.960 But listen to this. 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:14.480 If you do not, you'll be cast immediately into the midst of a fiery furnace. 00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:15.519 Hear this. 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:21.359 And who is the God who will deliver you from my hands? 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:24.559 So letter A, we see this is a minority stand. 00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:31.279 Three, a minority of a whole nation that's called for this big ceremony. 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:38.640 And all of a sudden, these guys that were stolen, brought in, are taking a stand when everyone else is bowing. 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:44.960 These jealous Chaldeans say, Nebuchadnezzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will not bow. 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:49.839 I want you to know, you see, bow or not bow was a choice to bow. 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:54.640 If they bowed to Nebuchadnezzar, they were bowing to him and his beliefs and his God. 00:20:54.720 --> 00:21:01.920 They'd be breaking Exodus chapter 22 that says, There shall not be any other gods before their God, the Hebrew God. 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:04.000 There shall not be any craven images. 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:08.640 By the way, church, the kings of culture always demand a bow. 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:18.480 They demand it of your life right now, and you can see within your checkbook, your day planner, what culture is saying to you to bow. 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:25.440 You will be immeasurably inconsistent with culture if you choose to stand. 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:27.519 Only three. 00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:30.480 Only three in this crowd. 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.440 A minority. 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:35.359 And I want to tell you, as a teenager, man, I bowed. 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:38.880 I bowed to the God of sports. 00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:41.920 I bowed to the God of making money and spending it. 00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:43.839 I didn't keep it, but I bowed. 00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:48.799 And I bowed and I bowed to the God of popularity, whatever would make my name great to people. 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:50.880 And I bowed to getting my trophy. 00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:54.079 I bowed to the three P's pleasure, possessions, and power. 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:55.440 And I bowed. 00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:57.920 I took a knee as a teenager. 00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.599 God got a hold of my heart. 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:01.519 And he changed me. 00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:03.440 I'm so thankful for that day. 00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:08.000 But I bowed, and let me tell you, it is very consistent with culture. 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:11.359 Just look at your time, look at your days. 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:13.599 Look at your checkbook. 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:18.400 Hear me, Mark 16, 15 says this church. 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:21.920 You can gain the whole world. 00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:25.839 You can gain all of it and lose your soul. 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:28.240 You can gain the whole world. 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:37.119 You see, 80 years, 90 years, in exchange for eternity, our God is a jealous God. 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:41.920 The first of the four commands there in Exodus are all about relationship with Him. 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:46.240 So, no other gods, no idols, don't take His name in vain, honor His day. 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:49.519 The majority today are on a knee. 00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:53.200 But don't you want to stand, Church? 00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:54.640 Don't you want to stand? 00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:58.799 You see, Shabbrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they had a posture problem. 00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:00.480 Everything went off. 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:02.799 They had this problem and they're looking around at each other. 00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:04.000 How about you, Shadrach? 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:08.480 And he's like, Nope, not flexible. 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:10.720 And he said, How about you, Meshach? 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:13.440 I don't think I can. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:15.759 Not haven't been doing my stretches. 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:17.119 How about you, Abednego? 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:19.039 They had a posture problem. 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:21.759 The knees would not flex. 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:24.400 No, they couldn't budge. 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:26.400 They hadn't been doing their stretches. 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:28.559 The big moment happens. 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:30.160 The music hits. 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:31.200 The dedication. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:38.799 And now, in the midst of all this important stuff that Nebuchadnezzar has set up for his meat party, three defectors. 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:41.680 And he, look at verse 13. 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:45.759 In a rage and in fury. 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:47.200 He says, Bring them back. 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:48.640 Bring these guys back in. 00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:49.680 This is kind of funny. 00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:50.799 He says, bring them back in. 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:52.720 He's in a rage and he's mad. 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:57.039 And I think he thinks, well, maybe being Hebrew, they didn't quite understand it. 00:23:57.200 --> 00:24:02.960 And so in front of everybody, he's about to cut the ribbon, and everybody should be bowing at this moment. 00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:06.559 And there's these three guys, they didn't get the picture, they didn't get the cue. 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:08.640 The music went off and they didn't bow. 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:13.359 And so he brings them in and he has a talk with them as if they don't get it. 00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:15.279 He's like, okay, guys, listen. 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:24.480 I said, when the harp and the troop tree and the flute and all the music goes off, it is then. 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:26.000 Listen to me, Hebrews. 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:27.680 I know you don't understand. 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:30.079 That's when you bow your knee. 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:34.160 He goes off on them. 00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:36.160 And then he gives them a little. 00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:42.799 And let me tell you, if you don't, you are going in the furnace. 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:47.839 And what will your God do that can deliver you from me then? 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:50.319 Oh, God. 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:52.400 Then he turns his back. 00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:54.960 He's going to give it one last chance. 00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:57.680 He goes over, I believe, he found his seat. 00:24:57.920 --> 00:25:00.240 He gives the herald the cue. 00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:05.759 And just as it's getting ready to go off again, and then listen to me. 00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:10.000 And then, letter B, you're going to see the mighty spirit. 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:11.680 Look at what happens. 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:13.039 He turns his back. 00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:14.640 He's going to give him another chance. 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:16.720 What will your God do if you don't? 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:26.000 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answers after that and said, Oh King, O Nebuchadnezzar, listen to this line. 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:27.039 You need to underline it. 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:30.400 We have no need to answer you in this matter. 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:38.079 If that is the case, our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace. 00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:41.200 And he will deliver us from your hand, O King. 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:45.440 Oh, maybe one of my favorite audacious Bible verses. 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:56.240 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. 00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:57.599 Wow. 00:25:58.160 --> 00:26:00.559 The minority with a mighty spirit. 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:08.000