WEBVTT

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 As we said at the beginning of this service, the Easter vigil was originally a preparation

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 for baptism, an all-night vigil kept by candidates before they would be baptized at first light

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 on Easter morning.

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 And as part of that preparation, candidates would read passages like we're reading tonight.

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 They would read passages like Daniel 3, the passage that we just heard read, very well

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 done, by the way, as they prepared for their new life.

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 Daniel chapter 3 is the story of three young Israelites who have been taken into captivity

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 with many of their people and forced to live in Babylon.

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 But this does not mean that God has abandoned his people, as many thought had happened.

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 Through the prophet Jeremiah, God reveals that he has actually sent his people into exile

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 in Babylon to seek its welfare, to be in the city but not of the city, that God might bless

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 the city through their presence there.

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 And God has given the same mission to his people all around the world, to live like exiles

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 in captivity, to be in the world but not of the world, to be an extension, a vehicle of

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 God's blessing to the nations.

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 And so this passage, as we look at it, shows us, for those of us who are Christians, three

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 things about living this life faithfully.

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 For those of us who are here who are not Christians, it helps us understand why the world needs to be rescued,

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 why God needs to send his blessing out to the nations.

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 The three things we'll see are this, the danger of captivity, the way to freedom,

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 and the God of the furnace.

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 Let's pray.

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 Lord, we ask that as we have unfolded your story, as we have opened your word, that you would be true to your promise,

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 to be the God who speaks through your word.

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 This is not mere ink and paper.

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 Lord, this is your voice that we seek to hear.

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 And we pray that as we hear your voice, that we would come face to face with the living word, Jesus Christ.

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 And it's in his name that we pray.

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 Amen.

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 The danger of captivity.

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 The Babylonians had a very innovative approach to conquest.

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 They would conquer a people with their military, and then they would take the best and the brightest of those people into Babylon,

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 and there they would assimilate them into Babylonian culture.

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 It was subjugation through assimilation.

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 It was quite a brilliant tactic.

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 But it makes one wonder, how do you bring many people from many different cultures and traditions and religions into your city,

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 and then assimilate them?

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 And here's where King Nebuchadnezzar's brilliance really shines,

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 because he understands something about human nature that many of us don't.

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 He understands this.

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 He says,

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 So Nebuchadnezzar sets up a great tower, a 90-foot golden idol,

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 a representation of all the glory, all the values of Babylonian society,

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 a monument to human greatness.

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 And he tells the people,

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 you can have your own religion in private.

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 Believe whatever you want in your own home.

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 But when you're in public,

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 you must bow to this idol.

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 When you hear the music,

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 you will bow,

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 and if you do not,

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 you will be cast into a burning,

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 fiery furnace.

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 The spiritual conquest has begun.

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 If you want to control people,

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 you have to control what they worship.

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 Because whatever we worship ultimately controls us.

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 So he builds a statue,

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 and he ascribes divine value to this statue.

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 And this is how anything might become an idol in our lives.

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 We take some created thing.

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 It could be anything,

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 such as an object,

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 or another person,

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 or a relationship,

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 or an ideology.

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 And we imbue it with divine significance.

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 We set our whole heart on it.

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 We say to this thing,

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 or to this person,

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 or to this ideology,

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 my life's not worth living

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 unless I have this thing.

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 If I lose this thing,

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 my life is no longer worth living.

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 You set your whole heart on it.

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 And it becomes more important to you

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 than anything.

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 Even God.

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 We look at this society,

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 and we can't imagine

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 listening to music

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 and bowing to a great golden statue.

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 We say,

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 I would never do such a foolish thing.

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 Think about our lives here in D.C.

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 Those of us who live in the metro D.C. area,

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 we don't bow to a golden statue, do we?

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 But many of us do bow to other idols.

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 Perhaps the idol of achievement.

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 We set our hearts on being respected.

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 On being successful.

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 So we begin to elevate our grades,

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 and our college admissions,

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 and our jobs,

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 and our careers above everything else.

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 We drive ourselves,

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 and we drive our children to succeed.

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 We're willing to sacrifice friendships.

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 We're willing to sacrifice time

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 with our friends,

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 with our children.

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 We're willing to sacrifice our own health.

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 We're willing to work all the time

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 through nights and weekends,

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 which, by the way,

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 is much easier to do

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 now that many of us work from home.

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 I saw a thread on Reddit

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 a few years back

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 about the best places

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 in Washington, D.C.

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 to cry.

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 And it became wildly popular.

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 Now, why would people

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 want to swap secret places

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 to cry

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 in Washington, D.C.?

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 It's because of the pressure.

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 People say living here

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 is like being in a pressure cooker.

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 You're living in a meritocracy

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 where you're constantly struggling

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 to prove your worth.

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 And so people need to know

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 that if they

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 feel the urge

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 to run out of their office

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 weeping,

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 they can find a place

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 where they won't be disturbed.

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 Right?

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 So for those of us

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 who are Christians,

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 we may be Christians

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 in private.

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 We may believe in

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 and talk about

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 and teach Sunday school classes

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 on the value of Sabbath

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 and the value of rest

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 and a balanced life,

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 the priority of friendship

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 and family and community.

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 But in public,

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 we bow like everyone else.

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 And there's no difference

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 between our priorities

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 or work habits

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 and those around us.

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 Or consider the example

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 of politics.

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 Many of us can tend

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 to make politics

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 more important

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 than anything else.

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 And that begins to define

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 our view of other people.

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 Surveys show that

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 we on both sides of the aisle

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 tend to view

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 those on the other side

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 of the aisle,

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 not merely as people

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 with whom we might

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 disagree on policy,

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 but as evil,

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 as immoral,

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 as unintelligent,

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 as representing

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 an existential threat

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 to the future

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 of our society.

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 And again,

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 for those of us

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 who are Christians,

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 we may be Christians

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 in private.

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 We may believe

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 that we're all part

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 of Christ's body,

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 that we're all one

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 in Him,

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 but in public,

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 we tend to bow.

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 There's been a big

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 reshuffling of Christians

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 over the last three years

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 who are changing churches,

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 not for theological reasons,

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 but for political reasons.

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 Wanting to be in churches

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 where their political views

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 are going to be supported

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 rather than critiqued.

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 There are many Christians

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 who have changed their church

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 because of their politics.

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 How many Christians

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 have changed their politics

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 because of their church?

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 The point of these examples

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 is this.

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 Everybody worships something.

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 Even if you consider yourself

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 non-religious,

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 and by the way,

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 if you consider yourself

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 non-religious

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 and you're at a three-hour

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 Easter vigil,

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 I'm so delighted

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 that you're here.

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 And I would love

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 to talk to you

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 after the service

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 and to know

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 what got you to come.

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 Did somebody trick you?

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 But if you consider yourself

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 to be non-religious,

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 I guarantee you,

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 with all due respect,

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 you are still

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 worshiping something.

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 It could be achievement

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 or politics.

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 It could be affirmation.

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 It could be security.

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 It could be comfort.

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 Whatever makes your life

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 worth living,

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 whatever you can't imagine

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 living without,

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 that is your idol.

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 For those of us

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 who are Christians,

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 that doesn't make us

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 immune to idols.

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 When we bow

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 to the same idols

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 as everyone else,

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 it means we are in

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 spiritual captivity.

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 And we don't have

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 Nebuchadnezzar to contend with,

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 but great politicians,

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 great influencers,

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 great leaders,

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 great advertising companies

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 know this spiritual truth.

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 If you can control

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 what people worship,

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 you can control them.

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 The real danger

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 is not physical captivity.

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 It is spiritual captivity.

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 That's the danger of captivity.

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 Now, what is the way to freedom?

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 This brings us to the climax

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 of the story.

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 The music plays,

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 but these three young men,

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 Shadrach, Meshach,

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 and Abednego,

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 they refuse to bow.

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 You need to understand,

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 they were surrounded

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 by Israelites,

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 all prostrate,

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 and they're standing tall.

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 Some of their co-workers

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 tell Nebuchadnezzar,

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 who brings them up front

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 of everyone,

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 and he says,

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 if you do not worship,

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 you shall be immediately

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 cast into a burning,

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 fiery furnace.

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 But look at what they say.

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 Oh, Nebuchadnezzar,

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 we have no need

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 to answer you in this matter.

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 If this be so,

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 our God,

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 whom we serve,

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 is able to deliver us

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 from the burning,

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 fiery furnace,

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 and he will deliver us

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 out of your hand,

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 O king.

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 But if not,

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 be it known to you,

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 O king,

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 that we will not serve

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 your gods

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 or worship the golden image

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 that you have set up.

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 Now, we know how the story goes.

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 We know that when they're thrown

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 into the furnace,

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 God miraculously saves them,

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 but they had no idea.

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 They had no idea

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 this was going to happen.

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 This is the Holy Saturday moment

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 of Daniel chapter 3.

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 And they're staring

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 into the unknown,

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 and they have no idea

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 what's going to happen.

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 But if not,

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 signifies a single-minded

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 devotion to God.

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 We know God has the power

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 to deliver us,

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 and He might.

00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:44.120
 But if not,

00:12:44.200 --> 00:12:45.379
 we will serve Him

00:12:45.379 --> 00:12:45.879
 and Him alone.

00:12:49.179 --> 00:12:50.600
 The Reverend Dr. Martin

00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:52.779
 Luther King Jr.'s sermon

00:12:52.779 --> 00:12:54.279
 on this passage

00:12:54.279 --> 00:12:55.419
 is by far

00:12:55.419 --> 00:12:57.399
 one of my most favorite sermons

00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:58.399
 he ever preached.

00:13:01.080 --> 00:13:03.340
 And he talks in that sermon

00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:04.559
 about the difference

00:13:04.559 --> 00:13:06.179
 between an if faith

00:13:06.179 --> 00:13:08.879
 and a though faith.

00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:11.960
 And an if faith says,

00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:13.600
 if God saves me

00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:14.320
 from the furnace

00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:16.340
 or helps me get this job

00:13:16.340 --> 00:13:17.679
 or makes sure

00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:18.679
 I have enough money

00:13:18.679 --> 00:13:20.820
 or helps me feel fulfilled,

00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:22.480
 then I will worship Him.

00:13:23.439 --> 00:13:25.899
 It's faith that is contingent

00:13:25.899 --> 00:13:27.639
 on God holding up

00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:29.080
 His end of the bargain.

00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:30.399
 It's transactional.

00:13:32.139 --> 00:13:33.620
 A though faith says,

00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:35.299
 though God may allow me

00:13:35.299 --> 00:13:35.799
 to suffer,

00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:37.859
 though God may refuse

00:13:37.859 --> 00:13:39.039
 to answer my prayers

00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:39.779
 the way I want,

00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:41.740
 I will still worship Him

00:13:41.740 --> 00:13:43.719
 and Him alone.

00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:44.699
 That is a faith

00:13:44.699 --> 00:13:46.339
 with no contingencies

00:13:46.339 --> 00:13:48.099
 where we're worshiping God

00:13:48.099 --> 00:13:49.799
 for God's sake alone.

00:13:50.559 --> 00:13:50.859
 Now you say,

00:13:50.939 --> 00:13:51.740
 what does this have to do

00:13:51.740 --> 00:13:52.519
 with idolatry?

00:13:54.059 --> 00:13:54.859
 Well, remember,

00:13:54.979 --> 00:13:55.799
 Nebuchadnezzar allowed

00:13:56.319 --> 00:13:58.399
 his people to worship

00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:00.439
 their own God

00:14:00.439 --> 00:14:02.459
 as long as they also

00:14:02.459 --> 00:14:04.439
 worshiped his idol.

00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:07.200
 That way he could still

00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:08.180
 control them.

00:14:08.880 --> 00:14:10.420
 And this is the real problem

00:14:10.420 --> 00:14:11.820
 with an if faith.

00:14:12.800 --> 00:14:14.140
 With an if faith,

00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:15.600
 you're not actually

00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:17.600
 worshiping and serving God.

00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:19.920
 You are co-opting God

00:14:19.920 --> 00:14:21.600
 in service to your idol.

00:14:22.740 --> 00:14:23.860
 When you say,

00:14:24.740 --> 00:14:26.260
 if God makes me successful,

00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:27.780
 then I will worship Him,

00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:29.440
 then the thing that you're

00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:31.380
 worshiping is actually success.

00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:33.539
 And you're trying to force God

00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:35.360
 to serve your idol.

00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:37.539
 And if your true idol

00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:38.279
 is success,

00:14:38.539 --> 00:14:40.639
 then success is your master.

00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:41.379
 And guess what?

00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:43.000
 Whoever holds the keys

00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:44.080
 to your success

00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:47.159
 is in control of you.

00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:49.759
 So if your boss

00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:52.399
 asks you to do

00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:53.779
 unethical things

00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:57.279
 in order to be successful,

00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:59.939
 you'll do them.

00:15:01.839 --> 00:15:02.720
 That's captivity.

00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:06.600
 But when you are able

00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:07.179
 to say,

00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:09.000
 though God may allow me

00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:09.399
 to fail,

00:15:09.740 --> 00:15:10.879
 though I may miss

00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:11.459
 the promotion,

00:15:11.659 --> 00:15:13.299
 though I may lose my job,

00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:16.100
 I will still serve Him

00:15:16.100 --> 00:15:16.879
 and Him alone,

00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:19.600
 then the idol of success

00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:21.659
 no longer has any power

00:15:21.659 --> 00:15:22.379
 over you.

00:15:22.439 --> 00:15:23.259
 And you, my friend,

00:15:23.299 --> 00:15:23.939
 are free.

00:15:23.940 --> 00:15:27.560
 The only way to be free

00:15:27.560 --> 00:15:29.520
 is to worship God alone.

00:15:30.060 --> 00:15:31.500
 If we try to worship God

00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:33.140
 plus anything else,

00:15:33.300 --> 00:15:35.180
 we will be taken captive.

00:15:36.660 --> 00:15:37.780
 So how do we get

00:15:37.780 --> 00:15:39.000
 a though faith

00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:41.680
 that leads us to freedom?

00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:45.220
 Only in the God of the furnace.

00:15:47.040 --> 00:15:48.880
 We think of this story

00:15:48.880 --> 00:15:50.200
 as a story of God

00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:52.160
 miraculously saving these men.

00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:54.600
 But look what he does.

00:15:55.559 --> 00:15:56.360
 He could have hurled

00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:58.240
 a meteor down

00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:00.019
 and destroyed Nebuchadnezzar

00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:00.799
 and the idol

00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:01.659
 and the furnace.

00:16:03.319 --> 00:16:05.120
 But he does not prevent them

00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:05.899
 from going in.

00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:08.319
 He allows them

00:16:08.319 --> 00:16:08.959
 to be thrown

00:16:08.959 --> 00:16:10.059
 into the furnace.

00:16:11.139 --> 00:16:11.500
 And yet,

00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:12.480
 when Nebuchadnezzar

00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:13.100
 looks in,

00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:14.500
 to his astonishment,

00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:15.719
 he sees four men

00:16:15.719 --> 00:16:16.600
 walking around

00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:17.159
 unharmed.

00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:18.659
 The first three

00:16:18.659 --> 00:16:19.439
 he recognizes

00:16:19.439 --> 00:16:20.699
 is Shadrach, Meshach,

00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:21.139
 and Abednego.

00:16:21.139 --> 00:16:22.580
 But he is awestruck

00:16:22.580 --> 00:16:23.580
 by the fourth man

00:16:23.580 --> 00:16:24.419
 who looks like

00:16:24.419 --> 00:16:25.299
 a son of the gods.

00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:28.759
 This has such a profound

00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:30.759
 impact on the king

00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:32.659
 that at that moment

00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:33.759
 and for a time,

00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:36.399
 for a time

00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:37.340
 in the story of Daniel,

00:16:37.419 --> 00:16:38.379
 he's willing to worship

00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:38.879
 and honor

00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:40.559
 the God of Israel.

00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:47.279
 Christians look at this story

00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:48.519
 and recognize this

00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:49.899
 as a foreshadowing

00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:50.439
 of the coming

00:16:50.439 --> 00:16:51.359
 of Jesus Christ.

00:16:52.059 --> 00:16:53.339
 And what we recognize

00:16:53.339 --> 00:16:54.299
 is that when Jesus

00:16:54.299 --> 00:16:55.479
 died on the cross,

00:16:55.479 --> 00:16:56.599
 he went into

00:16:56.599 --> 00:16:57.319
 the ultimate

00:16:57.319 --> 00:16:58.279
 furnace

00:16:58.279 --> 00:17:00.099
 of God's wrath.

00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:02.359
 But he went alone.

00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:05.019
 And this begins

00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:06.259
 to open our eyes

00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:07.000
 to the way,

00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:07.960
 the only way,

00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:09.360
 that we might be able

00:17:09.360 --> 00:17:11.299
 to have a though faith.

00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:13.120
 It's in realizing

00:17:13.120 --> 00:17:13.900
 that Jesus

00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:15.900
 is the only one

00:17:15.900 --> 00:17:16.620
 who's willing

00:17:16.620 --> 00:17:17.500
 to go into

00:17:17.500 --> 00:17:18.079
 the furnace

00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:19.140
 for us.

00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:21.200
 See,

00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:21.840
 no idol

00:17:21.840 --> 00:17:22.460
 would ever do

00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:23.100
 that for you.

00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:25.360
 Whatever other

00:17:25.360 --> 00:17:26.500
 thing we worship

00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:28.360
 gives us

00:17:28.360 --> 00:17:29.240
 nothing in return.

00:17:30.840 --> 00:17:31.960
 Never delivers

00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:32.779
 on the promise

00:17:32.779 --> 00:17:33.720
 it makes.

00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:36.259
 but Jesus

00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:36.799
 is willing

00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:37.559
 to plunge

00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:38.620
 into the furnace

00:17:38.620 --> 00:17:40.860
 on our behalf.

00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:42.120
 And because

00:17:42.120 --> 00:17:42.819
 of the cross,

00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:43.620
 Christians know

00:17:43.620 --> 00:17:44.440
 that we have

00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:45.819
 nothing to fear.

00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:48.240
 Because if you are

00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:48.980
 in Christ

00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:49.779
 by faith,

00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:51.039
 then you know

00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:52.640
 the worst thing

00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:53.680
 that could possibly

00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:54.600
 happen to you

00:17:54.600 --> 00:17:55.980
 has already happened.

00:17:58.620 --> 00:17:59.539
 It will never

00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:00.240
 happen to you.

00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:05.759
 And because

00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:06.720
 Jesus went

00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:07.339
 into that

00:18:07.339 --> 00:18:07.960
 furnace

00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:08.759
 of sin

00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:09.440
 and death

00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:10.120
 and then

00:18:10.120 --> 00:18:11.180
 rose again,

00:18:12.539 --> 00:18:14.720
 he transformed

00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:15.279
 death

00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:16.000
 into a

00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:16.920
 mere doorway.

00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:19.759
 See,

00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:20.440
 eventually

00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:21.120
 Shadrach,

00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:21.620
 Meshach,

00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:22.099
 and Abednego

00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:22.680
 died.

00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:25.120
 They were

00:18:25.120 --> 00:18:25.500
 preserved

00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:26.299
 this time,

00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:27.299
 but eventually

00:18:27.299 --> 00:18:27.980
 they died.

00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:29.839
 And one day

00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:30.500
 we will all

00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:30.859
 die.

00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:32.759
 God does

00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:33.559
 not promise.

00:18:33.720 --> 00:18:34.139
 He never

00:18:34.139 --> 00:18:34.859
 promises to

00:18:34.859 --> 00:18:35.359
 save us

00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:36.359
 from death.

00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.099
 God promises

00:18:37.099 --> 00:18:37.959
 to save us

00:18:37.959 --> 00:18:39.139
 through death.

00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:41.740
 The furnace

00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:42.220
 is really

00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:42.799
 a metaphor

00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:43.379
 for the

00:18:43.379 --> 00:18:43.779
 suffering

00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:44.379
 that Christians

00:18:44.379 --> 00:18:44.859
 face

00:18:44.859 --> 00:18:45.559
 throughout

00:18:45.559 --> 00:18:46.699
 our lives.

00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:49.879
 You know,

00:18:49.939 --> 00:18:50.299
 we read

00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:50.939
 this passage

00:18:50.939 --> 00:18:51.679
 and we wonder,

00:18:52.119 --> 00:18:53.199
 will I ever

00:18:53.199 --> 00:18:53.779
 have to go

00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:54.159
 into the

00:18:54.159 --> 00:18:54.419
 furnace?

00:18:55.939 --> 00:18:56.759
 Will I

00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:57.279
 ever be

00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:57.819
 plunged

00:18:57.819 --> 00:18:58.199
 into the

00:18:58.199 --> 00:18:58.459
 furnace?

00:18:58.460 --> 00:19:01.480
 not if

00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:01.920
 you have

00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:02.360
 an if

00:19:02.360 --> 00:19:02.900
 faith.

00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:05.299
 With an

00:19:05.299 --> 00:19:05.819
 if faith

00:19:05.819 --> 00:19:06.160
 you have

00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:06.660
 a shot

00:19:06.660 --> 00:19:07.240
 at living

00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:07.880
 a long

00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:08.680
 and reasonably

00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:09.900
 pain-free

00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:10.340
 life.

00:19:11.579 --> 00:19:12.160
 With an

00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:12.680
 if faith

00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:12.940
 you have

00:19:12.940 --> 00:19:13.340
 a shot

00:19:13.340 --> 00:19:13.660
 at being

00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:14.160
 relatively

00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:15.220
 reasonably

00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:15.700
 comfortable.

00:19:16.840 --> 00:19:17.180
 With an

00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:17.620
 if faith

00:19:17.620 --> 00:19:17.880
 you have

00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:18.279
 a shot

00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:18.720
 at fitting

00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.079
 in,

00:19:19.880 --> 00:19:20.240
 at being

00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:20.960
 well-liked,

00:19:21.620 --> 00:19:21.980
 at being

00:19:21.980 --> 00:19:22.600
 esteemed

00:19:22.600 --> 00:19:22.880
 even.

00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:24.059
 With an

00:19:24.059 --> 00:19:24.460
 if faith

00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:24.940
 you'll have

00:19:24.940 --> 00:19:25.700
 a religion

00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:26.400
 that is a

00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:26.740
 source of

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.220
 encouragement

00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:27.720
 to you

00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:28.440
 when you're

00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:29.140
 feeling down,

00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:30.259
 that gives

00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:30.700
 you a sense

00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:31.360
 of meaning

00:19:31.360 --> 00:19:32.360
 and direction

00:19:32.360 --> 00:19:33.120
 that provides

00:19:33.120 --> 00:19:34.299
 some structure

00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:34.759
 for your

00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:35.180
 children

00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:36.960
 and a

00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:37.400
 source of

00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:37.779
 friendship

00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:38.940
 for you.

00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:42.880
 But someone

00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:43.559
 else is calling

00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:43.980
 the shots

00:19:43.980 --> 00:19:44.539
 in your life.

00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:47.500
 And you

00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:47.900
 will never

00:19:47.900 --> 00:19:49.259
 really experience

00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:50.160
 closeness

00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:51.519
 with Jesus

00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:54.200
 because Jesus

00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:55.380
 is in the

00:19:55.380 --> 00:19:55.759
 furnace.

00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:57.920
 And you

00:19:57.920 --> 00:19:58.400
 will live

00:19:58.400 --> 00:19:59.019
 your whole

00:19:59.019 --> 00:19:59.840
 life standing

00:19:59.840 --> 00:20:00.240
 on the

00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:00.680
 outside

00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:01.580
 looking in.

00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:03.960
 If you

00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:04.420
 want to be

00:20:04.420 --> 00:20:04.920
 free

00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:05.960
 and if you

00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:06.580
 want to be

00:20:06.580 --> 00:20:07.740
 with Jesus

00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:08.680
 you have

00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:09.039
 to go

00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:09.360
 into the

00:20:09.360 --> 00:20:09.720
 furnace.

00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:11.319
 And that

00:20:11.319 --> 00:20:12.160
 means following

00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:12.860
 Jesus no

00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:13.380
 matter what

00:20:13.380 --> 00:20:13.840
 it might

00:20:13.840 --> 00:20:14.900
 cost you.

00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:15.220
 And that

00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:15.759
 means a

00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:16.660
 hard life

00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:17.180
 where you

00:20:17.180 --> 00:20:17.960
 most certainly

00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:18.640
 will suffer.

00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:20.340
 But in

00:20:20.340 --> 00:20:21.039
 that furnace

00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:21.519
 you will

00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:22.019
 never be

00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:22.360
 alone.

00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:24.279
 because Jesus

00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:25.119
 Christ is

00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:26.240
 already there

00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:27.179
 and he

00:20:27.179 --> 00:20:28.099
 will always

00:20:28.099 --> 00:20:28.539
 be there

00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:29.119
 with you

00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:30.559
 until he

00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:31.199
 leads you

00:20:31.199 --> 00:20:31.500
 out the

00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.079
 other side.

00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:33.679
 And because

00:20:33.679 --> 00:20:34.279
 of the cross

00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:34.759
 you know

00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:35.159
 you have

00:20:35.159 --> 00:20:35.639
 nothing to

00:20:35.639 --> 00:20:35.939
 fear.

00:20:38.379 --> 00:20:39.059
 See for

00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:39.879
 those early

00:20:39.879 --> 00:20:40.479
 Christians

00:20:40.479 --> 00:20:41.240
 in those

00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:42.119
 early Easter

00:20:42.119 --> 00:20:42.919
 vigils as

00:20:42.919 --> 00:20:43.599
 they prepared

00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:44.039
 for their

00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:45.019
 own baptisms

00:20:45.019 --> 00:20:45.559
 they were

00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:46.339
 clear on

00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:46.839
 the meaning

00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:47.299
 of what

00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:47.639
 they were

00:20:47.639 --> 00:20:48.179
 about to

00:20:48.179 --> 00:20:48.519
 do.

00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:49.579
 Baptism

00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:50.279
 my friends

00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:50.759
 is a

00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:51.179
 death.

00:20:52.359 --> 00:20:53.159
 But it

00:20:53.159 --> 00:20:53.479
 is a

00:20:53.479 --> 00:20:54.059
 death that

00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:54.979
 leads to

00:20:54.979 --> 00:20:55.659
 new life.

00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:57.759
 That's

00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:58.199
 why the

00:20:58.199 --> 00:20:58.519
 early

00:20:58.519 --> 00:20:59.339
 baptistries

00:20:59.339 --> 00:20:59.979
 looked like

00:20:59.979 --> 00:21:00.719
 mausoleums.

00:21:00.859 --> 00:21:01.099
 They looked

00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:01.959
 like tombs.

00:21:02.379 --> 00:21:02.719
 That was

00:21:02.719 --> 00:21:03.279
 intentional.

00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:04.899
 You're going

00:21:04.899 --> 00:21:05.599
 to die a

00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:06.719
 death and

00:21:06.719 --> 00:21:07.599
 then emerge

00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:08.259
 into new

00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:08.639
 life.

00:21:08.719 --> 00:21:09.199
 A life

00:21:09.199 --> 00:21:10.479
 that is

00:21:10.479 --> 00:21:10.939
 free.

00:21:12.219 --> 00:21:12.699
 And a

00:21:12.699 --> 00:21:13.319
 life that

00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:14.299
 is fireproof.

00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:15.659
 A life

00:21:15.659 --> 00:21:16.199
 that no

00:21:16.199 --> 00:21:16.839
 amount of

00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:17.559
 suffering can

00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:18.899
 ever diminish.

00:21:19.639 --> 00:21:20.379
 Because it

00:21:20.379 --> 00:21:20.779
 will be a

00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:21.259
 life that

00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:22.179
 will go on

00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:23.180
 into glory

00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:24.980
 in eternity.

00:21:26.560 --> 00:21:27.080
 Let's

00:21:27.080 --> 00:21:27.340
 pray.

00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:30.880
 Lord, we

00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:31.500
 thank you for

00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:32.000
 your word.

00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:36.259
 We thank you

00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:36.660
 that you went

00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:36.980
 into the

00:21:36.980 --> 00:21:37.320
 furnace.

00:21:39.600 --> 00:21:40.519
 We thank you

00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:40.779
 for the

00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:41.440
 example of

00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:41.860
 these

00:21:41.860 --> 00:21:43.500
 exiles

00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:45.539
 who in

00:21:45.539 --> 00:21:46.200
 their holy

00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:46.720
 Saturday

00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:49.299
 staring into

00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:50.039
 those flames.

00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:52.240
 Not knowing

00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:52.619
 what would

00:21:52.619 --> 00:21:52.960
 come.

00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:54.700
 Nevertheless

00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:55.559
 trusted you.

00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:57.099
 And we

00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:57.700
 pray that as

00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:58.319
 we sit here

00:21:58.319 --> 00:21:58.879
 in our

00:21:58.879 --> 00:21:59.659
 holy

00:21:59.659 --> 00:22:00.079
 Saturday

00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:02.319
 staring into

00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:02.799
 the emptiness

00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.200
 of the

00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:03.500
 tomb.

00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:05.980
 Wondering

00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:06.359
 what we

00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:07.019
 might find

00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:07.299
 on the

00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:07.819
 other side.

00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:09.460
 I pray

00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:09.680
 that you

00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:09.919
 would give

00:22:09.919 --> 00:22:10.240
 us the

00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:10.500
 same

00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:11.159
 reassurance.

00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:13.440
 I pray

00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:13.640
 that you

00:22:13.640 --> 00:22:14.320
 would galvanize

00:22:14.320 --> 00:22:14.660
 us and

00:22:14.660 --> 00:22:15.040
 strengthen

00:22:15.040 --> 00:22:16.779
 us to

00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:17.080
 have a

00:22:17.080 --> 00:22:17.600
 single-minded

00:22:17.600 --> 00:22:18.360
 devotion to

00:22:18.360 --> 00:22:18.660
 you,

00:22:19.560 --> 00:22:20.100
 knowing that

00:22:20.100 --> 00:22:20.640
 you already

00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:21.060
 have a

00:22:21.060 --> 00:22:21.519
 single-minded

00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.140
 devotion to

00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:22.440
 us.

00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:23.860
 And we

00:22:23.860 --> 00:22:24.340
 pray this

00:22:24.340 --> 00:22:24.700
 in your

00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:25.360
 holy name.

00:22:25.360 --> 00:22:26.360
 Amen.