WEBVTT

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 Now friends, welcome back to our time of worship together, of hearing God and his word, of prayer and of singing praise to him.

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 I want to begin reading from 1 Peter. Peter was writing to Christians who were suffering, beginning to face persecution.

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 And as we think about the experience of Daniel, Daniel's three friends, it's helpful for us to hear.

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 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.

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 So Peter says to us, here's our hope as Christians, that through the resurrection of Jesus, we have a living hope and an inheritance that can never be taken from us.

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 And he goes on to say, he talks about suffering, but in all this, you greatly rejoice.

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 Though now for a little while, you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

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 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire, may result in praise, glory and honour.

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 When Jesus Christ is revealed, we will see three friends whose faith was tested through the fire and it brought praise, glory and honour to the one true God.

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 So let's sing praise to our God now.

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 Daniel chapter 3.

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 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, 60 cubits high and 6 cubits wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

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 He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisors, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up.

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 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisors, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up and they stood before it.

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 Then the herald loudly proclaimed,

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 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, lither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music,

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 all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshipped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

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 At this time, some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews.

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 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar,

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 May the King live forever.

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 Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, lither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold.

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 And that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace.

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 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty.

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 They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.

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 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

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 So these men were brought before the king and Nebuchadnezzar said to them,

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 Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up?

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 Now then, you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music.

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 If you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good.

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 But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace.

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 Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?

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 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him,

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 King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.

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 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the god we serve is able to deliver us from it,

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 and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand.

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 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty,

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 that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.

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 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,

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 and his attitude toward them changed.

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 He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual

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 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army

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 to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.

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 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes,

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 were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.

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 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot

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 that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

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 And these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

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 Then king Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisors,

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 Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?

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 They replied, Certainly, Your Majesty.

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 He said, Look, I see four men walking around in the fire,

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 unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.

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 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted,

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 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, come here.

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 So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire

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 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisors crowded around them.

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 They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was the hair of their heads singed.

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 Their robes were not scorched and there was no smell of fire on them.

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 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, Praise be to the god of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

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 who has sent his angel and rescued his servants.

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 They trusted in him and defied the king's command

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 and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god

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 except their own god.

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 Therefore, I decree that the people of any nation or language

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 who say anything against the god of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

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 be cut into pieces and their house be turned into piles of rubble

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 for no other god can save in this way.

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 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

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 in the province of Babylon.

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 So thanks to both of you for your help.

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 Now let's think together about those words that Darius read for us

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 in Daniel chapter 3 and thinking about a fear to overcome our fears.

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 Some of God's people are remembered through history

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 for their courage and bravery.

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 Perhaps you've heard of Polycarp, the Bishop of Smyrna in the second century

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 who was facing execution for his faith

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 but was given an opportunity to reject Jesus.

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 And he said, eighty and six years have I served him

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 and he never did me any injury.

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 How then can I blaspheme my king and my saviour?

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 Or we can think perhaps of Martin Luther in the 16th century

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 at the diet of worms surrounded by all the powerful figures

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 of the Catholic Church threatened with excommunication

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 because of his new understanding of what the Bible taught,

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 the truth about justification by faith,

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 the life of repentance and other things.

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 And Martin Luther said,

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 It's true for these three friends, isn't it?

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 When we think of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,

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 we think of them facing the fiery furnace

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 with courage and seeking to honour God.

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 But it's not the case for most of us as Christians.

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 We don't find ourselves confronted by those life or death scenarios.

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 But each one of us in our own different way

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 will come under pressure to conform,

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 whether that's our behaviour,

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 whether that's our patterns of thought or words.

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 And we will, I am sure, find at times a physical fear

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 that stops us talking to someone about Jesus, perhaps.

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 We will feel a fear

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 that will make us want to blend in with our actions.

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 So that fear is something that we all have to wrestle with.

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 The question then becomes,

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 how can you and I, if we are Christians,

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 how can we take our stand

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 to seek to live for the honour and glory of God,

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 set against the backdrop of the furnace

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 of public opinion,

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 which can be ruthless at times?

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 And the answer is, like these three friends,

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 we need a greater fear.

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 We need the fear of the Lord

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 by which we are willing to submit to him,

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 to trust in him,

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 to obey him as king,

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 to stand in awe of his glory,

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 of his grace and of his love

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 so that he would have the loyalty of our hearts.

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 So we're going to think about that today.

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 So let's learn from these three friends

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 who find themselves facing the furnace.

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 The first thing to draw our attention to

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 is the image,

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 Nebuchadnezzar's image.

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 Now, if you were listening in last week,

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 you'll remember that in chapter two,

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 Nebuchadnezzar had a dream,

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 a dream representing different empires.

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 And at the top,

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 there was a statue,

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 it was the centre of his dream.

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 And this statue had the head of gold,

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 which represented Nebuchadnezzar.

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 And now, what do we see?

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 We see Nebuchadnezzar making an image of gold,

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 about 27 metres high

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 and almost 3 metres wide.

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 This is a defiant statement.

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 Saying, my glory will not end.

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 Here is pride.

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 Nebuchadnezzar is not someone

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 who is going to bow to the superior glory

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 of the God who revealed

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 the meaning of the dream.

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 Rather, he wants to assert his own glory,

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 and greatness.

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 And so what we see in verses two and three,

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 the great and the good are summoned

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 to this dedication of the image.

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 It's unclear exactly what's going on.

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 Perhaps Nebuchadnezzar has the idea

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 of his whole empire

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 being united together under one religion.

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 And some of us,

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 we know this in our countries,

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 that there is,

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 and we know around the world,

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 there is the pressure

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 from certain governments,

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 one country,

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 one religion,

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 and it leads to persecution for Christians.

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 But certainly what's going on here

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 is that Nebuchadnezzar

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 is putting his power on display.

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 He is the one who sets up the image,

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 it's his,

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 and he is the one who commands worship.

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 And so what happens?

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 Verses four to seven,

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 and the music begins to play,

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 and the nations,

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 and the people,

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 bow the knee.

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 There is a total and immediate response.

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 Because here is a test of loyalty

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 from the most powerful man

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 on the earth.

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 And in a sense,

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 there's a very great incentive given

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 in verse six.

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 Whoever does not fall down and worship

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 will immediately be thrown

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 into a blazing furnace.

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 So perhaps there's no great surprise

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 when the summons comes,

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 bow or burn,

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 that the nations and the peoples

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 bow the knee.

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 Two related ideas to notice.

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 First of all,

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 where is this image built?

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 Verse one,

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 he's set up on the plain of Jura.

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 This is the same place

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 where the tower of Babel was built.

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 Genesis chapter 11.

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 And what is the goal of this image?

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 It's worship.

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 It's God-like status.

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 For Nebuchadnezzar.

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 Do we see what's going on here?

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 Way back in the Garden of Eden

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 that the sin of Adam,

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 pride,

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 overreaching,

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 seeking to be God-like,

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 not content to be an image bearer,

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 wanting to be God-like.

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 The sin of Babel.

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 Let's make a name for ourselves.

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 Let's show our glory without God.

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 It's exactly the same sin

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 that we see in Nebuchadnezzar.

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 A desire that the self be the centre.

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 Desire that he have worship

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 and he have glory.

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 It's pride.

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 We've also got a contest of the gods going on.

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 We've got a battle for worship.

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 We've got the one true God who deserves worship

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 and Nebuchadnezzar who doesn't,

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 but he demands worship.

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 And so we'll see it with these friends.

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 Who should we fear?

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 When we think about stories like this,

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 it helps us to think

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 and to pray for the persecuted church as well

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 because they have a pressure to conform

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 that is enormous.

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 There are some of our brothers and sisters in Christ

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 where the power of an emperor or a ruler

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 or local authorities or a police

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 that are trying to demand

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 that everybody can form a dominant religion

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 that would seek to quell Christianity.

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 I wonder if we are aware of

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 those pressure points for us

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 when it comes to conforming.

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 I was listening to a short podcast this week

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 on a thing called toxic productivity.

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 And the psychologist on that,

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 she was saying that,

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 you know, there is such an,

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 she didn't use the word idle,

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 but success is so important.

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 She says there's a huge pressure on people,

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 even during lockdown,

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 to think that unless I've learned a new language,

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 developed a new skill,

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 achieved huge amounts in work

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 or in personal life,

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 then we are some kind of failure.

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 And she calls it toxic productivity

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 because it means people are very stressed.

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 People find it hard to rest.

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 And it's a really unhealthy motivation.

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 But that's one way that we can feel the pressure

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 to conform and to look to show a successful life.

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 And there is, of course,

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 being highlighted for us,

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 the battle that we all have with pride.

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 The sin of pride that we look to remove God

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 from his rightful place of worship,

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 the central place in our hearts,

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 to replace God with self,

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 where we're thinking about our plans

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 and our priorities.

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 And we have to deal with that sin.

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 So we all feel the heat of the furnace in some way,

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 the experience of Daniel's three friends in some way.

00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:11.319
 Let's see how they deal with it.

00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:15.519
 Let's look at the stand that they take.

00:17:15.619 --> 00:17:18.099
 So while all the nations are bowing down,

00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:20.299
 you've got in verse eight,

00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:22.960
 some astrologers who come forward

00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:26.259
 and denounce the Jews.

00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:30.940
 And it seems like this is an extreme example

00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:32.460
 of workplace rivalry.

00:17:33.339 --> 00:17:36.099
 They are jealous that Nebuchadnezzar

00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:39.039
 has promoted these foreigners.

00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:42.200
 And so they want to take down the competition

00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:46.299
 that they most likely would then be raised up.

00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:48.299
 Verse 12,

00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:51.039
 There are some Jews whom you have set

00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:53.599
 over the affairs of the province of Babylon

00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:57.139
 who pay no attention to you, your majesty.

00:17:57.899 --> 00:17:59.559
 They neither serve your gods

00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:03.899
 nor worship the image of gold you have set up.

00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:06.519
 They are rejecting your gods.

00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:08.700
 They won't worship your image.

00:18:09.099 --> 00:18:10.919
 They keep their own faith.

00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:13.099
 Nebuchadnezzar, you need to deal with these guys.

00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:15.659
 And so in verses 13 to 15,

00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:17.640
 we see a furious king again.

00:18:18.380 --> 00:18:21.700
 He was furious that his wise men

00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:24.000
 couldn't give him the dream and its meaning.

00:18:24.100 --> 00:18:25.340
 Now he's furious again.

00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:29.160
 So he calls the three friends to him

00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:32.720
 and he demands their total loyalty.

00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:34.820
 He gives them an ultimatum.

00:18:34.940 --> 00:18:36.440
 He says, this is your last chance.

00:18:36.580 --> 00:18:37.680
 When the music starts playing,

00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:40.700
 you better bow or you'll go into the furnace.

00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:44.980
 Verse 15 is another one of those great verses

00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:47.279
 in the book of Daniel.

00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:50.220
 When we think about that contest of the gods

00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:51.319
 and for worship.

00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:53.759
 Towards the end it is,

00:18:53.819 --> 00:18:54.819
 if you don't worship it,

00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:57.360
 you'll be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace.

00:18:57.900 --> 00:19:01.500
 Then what God will be able to rescue you

00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:03.779
 from my hand.

00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:09.500
 This verse again is going to allow us to lift the roof off

00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:13.079
 so that we get to see the one true God,

00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:16.220
 the only one that King Nebuchadnezzar,

00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:16.839
 the three friends,

00:19:16.920 --> 00:19:19.480
 everybody should bow down to.

00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:21.480
 You know,

00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:22.839
 he sets the context,

00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:25.859
 what God will be able to rescue.

00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:27.299
 He's saying,

00:19:27.399 --> 00:19:28.359
 your life and death,

00:19:28.399 --> 00:19:29.559
 it's in my hands,

00:19:29.659 --> 00:19:31.259
 not your God's hands.

00:19:33.299 --> 00:19:35.359
 Look at the power of the empire.

00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:39.339
 Give yourself to the dark side.

00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:42.279
 It is the challenge being put

00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:46.319
 to these three men.

00:19:46.979 --> 00:19:48.979
 Let's pause for a moment.

00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:52.579
 Here we have three friends

00:19:52.579 --> 00:19:57.019
 confronted by the force of a furious emperor

00:19:57.019 --> 00:20:00.480
 who's quite happy to issue death sentences

00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:01.319
 here and there.

00:20:02.420 --> 00:20:05.299
 The power of the greatest empire in the world

00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:06.819
 is behind him.

00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:10.200
 And they're standing for God.

00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:14.779
 And that reminds us that standing for God

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:16.019
 sometimes can be lonely

00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:18.980
 in our school or university,

00:20:19.099 --> 00:20:19.799
 in our workplace,

00:20:19.900 --> 00:20:20.799
 even in our family,

00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:21.680
 it can be lonely.

00:20:22.779 --> 00:20:23.839
 Standing for God

00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:25.700
 can be costly.

00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:29.519
 We see the cost involved

00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:30.660
 for these three men.

00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:32.720
 They were certainly going to lose their positions.

00:20:32.819 --> 00:20:33.400
 They were going to lose

00:20:33.400 --> 00:20:35.240
 all their comfort and security.

00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:36.960
 They were going to lose

00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:39.700
 their lives

00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:43.160
 except for God's miraculous intervention.

00:20:43.160 --> 00:20:46.380
 So here are three friends

00:20:46.380 --> 00:20:50.519
 confronted by the greatest physical fear

00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:53.180
 we can probably imagine.

00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:56.300
 But how do they respond?

00:20:58.080 --> 00:20:58.980
 Verse 16.

00:20:59.660 --> 00:21:00.820
 King Nebuchadnezzar,

00:21:01.320 --> 00:21:03.500
 we do not need to defend ourselves

00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:05.940
 before you in this matter.

00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:08.640
 They're not going to try and defend themselves.

00:21:08.820 --> 00:21:10.100
 They have made their choice.

00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:12.380
 They will take their stand.

00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:14.880
 They have two certainties.

00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:18.460
 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace,

00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.880
 the God we serve

00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:23.320
 is able to deliver us from it.

00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:25.760
 And here's their other certainty.

00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:28.020
 We will not serve your gods

00:21:28.020 --> 00:21:30.060
 or worship the image of gold

00:21:30.060 --> 00:21:31.080
 you have set up.

00:21:31.880 --> 00:21:34.380
 So they're not going to participate in idolatry

00:21:34.380 --> 00:21:37.840
 and their God is mighty to save.

00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:41.619
 But they do not know

00:21:41.619 --> 00:21:44.059
 if saving them now

00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:46.159
 is part of God's plan.

00:21:46.959 --> 00:21:48.359
 God is able to save

00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:49.519
 but they don't presume

00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:51.379
 that God will save.

00:21:53.459 --> 00:21:55.079
 But they take their stand.

00:21:56.679 --> 00:21:58.459
 How are they able to do that?

00:21:58.919 --> 00:22:01.059
 When life for them

00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:02.599
 hangs in the balance,

00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:05.599
 we can almost imagine

00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:08.059
 them weighing their fears

00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:10.000
 in the balance.

00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:13.500
 So it would be unnatural

00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:15.119
 if they didn't have

00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:16.879
 the fear of death.

00:22:18.159 --> 00:22:20.799
 But yet there is a greater fear

00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:21.719
 in their lives,

00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:23.759
 the fear of the Lord.

00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:26.180
 that sense of awe

00:22:26.180 --> 00:22:27.500
 at who he is

00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:29.200
 and what he has done

00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:30.319
 for them.

00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:32.200
 His greater truth

00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:33.019
 and reality

00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:34.960
 so that they would sooner die

00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:36.859
 than stop trusting

00:22:36.859 --> 00:22:37.680
 and obeying

00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:38.839
 their God.

00:22:40.900 --> 00:22:42.079
 They feel the call

00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:43.019
 to bow

00:22:43.019 --> 00:22:44.500
 to the idol

00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:47.039
 and the risks involved

00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:47.799
 for saying no

00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:49.799
 but they have a greater call

00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:50.579
 in their heart

00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:51.839
 to bow

00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:52.819
 to their Lord.

00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:54.879
 to listen

00:22:54.879 --> 00:22:56.759
 to his promises

00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:58.700
 to trust

00:22:58.700 --> 00:23:01.140
 in his salvation.

00:23:02.879 --> 00:23:04.240
 That rather than

00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:06.480
 placing their lives

00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:07.259
 in the hands

00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:08.559
 of King Nebuchadnezzar

00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:11.539
 they place their lives

00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.579
 and their honour

00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:13.799
 and their identity

00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:15.240
 in the hands

00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:17.099
 of God the King.

00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:20.400
 Faced with the pressure

00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:22.400
 to give glory

00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:24.280
 to Nebuchadnezzar

00:23:24.280 --> 00:23:25.519
 and the fear

00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:27.000
 of denying him

00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:28.380
 that glory he demands.

00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:30.740
 Weighed in the balance

00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:31.300
 they choose

00:23:31.300 --> 00:23:32.620
 the greater glory

00:23:32.620 --> 00:23:35.620
 the eternal weight

00:23:35.620 --> 00:23:36.420
 of glory

00:23:36.420 --> 00:23:37.400
 offered

00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:38.600
 by God

00:23:38.600 --> 00:23:40.340
 in his word

00:23:40.340 --> 00:23:41.840
 to those who love

00:23:41.840 --> 00:23:43.200
 and fear him.

00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:46.140
 so that greater fear

00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:46.980
 the fear of the Lord

00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:47.840
 is always tipping

00:23:47.840 --> 00:23:48.480
 the scales

00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:49.160
 of their heart

00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:49.759
 they choose

00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:51.000
 what lasts

00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:52.539
 they choose loyalty

00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:54.400
 placing themselves

00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:55.720
 in God's hands

00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:57.019
 trusting in their

00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:57.860
 Saviour God

00:23:57.860 --> 00:24:00.120
 come what may.

00:24:02.920 --> 00:24:05.140
 It's a wonderful model

00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:07.480
 an example to us

00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:08.779
 to think about

00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:10.399
 how to weigh

00:24:10.399 --> 00:24:11.240
 our fears

00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:12.180
 in the balance

00:24:12.180 --> 00:24:14.960
 because we recognise

00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:16.460
 of course

00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:17.319
 fears come

00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:18.740
 pressures come

00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.680
 challenges

00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:20.799
 and temptations

00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:21.920
 come

00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:23.579
 to fold

00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:24.139
 rather than

00:24:24.139 --> 00:24:25.019
 to take a stand

00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:26.740
 and in those moments

00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:28.859
 we need to consider

00:24:28.859 --> 00:24:30.700
 who our God is

00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:32.779
 what our God promises

00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:34.460
 as being greater

00:24:34.460 --> 00:24:34.819
 bigger

00:24:34.819 --> 00:24:35.319
 higher

00:24:35.319 --> 00:24:36.599
 more lasting

00:24:36.599 --> 00:24:37.899
 than

00:24:37.899 --> 00:24:39.539
 what

00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:40.460
 any king

00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:41.179
 or idol

00:24:41.179 --> 00:24:43.119
 or friend

00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:44.759
 or promotion

00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.859
 promises.

00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:48.919
 Now let's think

00:24:48.919 --> 00:24:49.240
 about

00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:50.279
 the Saviour

00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:51.779
 in verse

00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:52.899
 19

00:24:52.899 --> 00:24:53.759
 onwards

00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:55.139
 here is

00:24:55.139 --> 00:24:56.339
 King Nebuchadnezzar

00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:57.159
 he's even

00:24:57.159 --> 00:24:57.919
 more

00:24:57.919 --> 00:24:58.819
 furious

00:24:58.819 --> 00:25:00.240
 we see

00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:00.980
 the king

00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:02.000
 doing his

00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:02.799
 worst

00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:04.019
 to really

00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:04.639
 punish

00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:05.540
 these

00:25:05.540 --> 00:25:06.360
 men

00:25:06.360 --> 00:25:07.680
 super

00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:08.100
 heating

00:25:08.100 --> 00:25:08.800
 the furnace

00:25:08.800 --> 00:25:10.860
 flinging

00:25:10.860 --> 00:25:11.360
 them in

00:25:11.360 --> 00:25:12.520
 and it's

00:25:12.520 --> 00:25:12.900
 made clear

00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:13.440
 the details

00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:14.280
 make clear

00:25:14.280 --> 00:25:16.940
 that there

00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:17.240
 is no

00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:17.580
 human

00:25:17.580 --> 00:25:18.040
 prospect

00:25:18.040 --> 00:25:18.800
 for escape

00:25:18.800 --> 00:25:21.080
 so

00:25:21.080 --> 00:25:21.740
 in verse

00:25:21.740 --> 00:25:22.120
 21

00:25:22.120 --> 00:25:22.420
 they're

00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:22.840
 bound

00:25:22.840 --> 00:25:23.820
 and thrown

00:25:23.820 --> 00:25:24.300
 into the

00:25:24.300 --> 00:25:24.560
 furnace

00:25:24.560 --> 00:25:25.320
 we see

00:25:25.320 --> 00:25:25.960
 it's so hot

00:25:25.960 --> 00:25:26.259
 that the

00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:26.700
 soldiers

00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:28.180
 are killed

00:25:28.180 --> 00:25:29.620
 verse 23

00:25:29.620 --> 00:25:30.240
 these three

00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:30.540
 men

00:25:30.540 --> 00:25:31.480
 firmly tied

00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:31.900
 fell

00:25:31.900 --> 00:25:32.440
 into

00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:33.960
 the blazing

00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:35.220
 furnace

00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:36.440
 but then

00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:38.080
 comes the

00:25:38.080 --> 00:25:39.240
 amazement

00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:41.059
 of Nebuchadnezzar

00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:41.580
 fury

00:25:41.580 --> 00:25:42.740
 turns to

00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:43.460
 wonder

00:25:43.460 --> 00:25:46.460
 weren't there

00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:47.120
 three men

00:25:47.120 --> 00:25:47.740
 that were tied

00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:48.480
 up and

00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:49.299
 thrown into

00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:49.820
 the fire

00:25:49.820 --> 00:25:50.500
 certainly

00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.160
 your majesty

00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:52.840
 look I see

00:25:52.840 --> 00:25:53.920
 four men

00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:55.320
 walking around

00:25:55.320 --> 00:25:56.080
 in the fire

00:25:56.080 --> 00:25:57.240
 unbound

00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:58.660
 and unharmed

00:25:58.660 --> 00:25:59.539
 and the

00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:00.079
 fourth

00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:01.599
 looks like

00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:01.920
 a son

00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:02.180
 of the

00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:02.680
 gods

00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:04.819
 a son

00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:05.299
 of the

00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:05.940
 gods

00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:08.140
 this figure

00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:08.779
 who has a

00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:09.339
 god-like

00:26:09.339 --> 00:26:09.839
 appearance

00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:10.400
 even though

00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:10.980
 in human

00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:11.519
 form

00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:12.359
 comes

00:26:12.359 --> 00:26:13.599
 and brings

00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:14.859
 this amazing

00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:16.059
 rescue

00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:17.359
 so that when

00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:17.960
 they're brought

00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:18.500
 out

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.620
 in verse 27

00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:20.480
 I love the

00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:20.920
 details

00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:21.460
 the fire

00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:21.819
 had not

00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:22.180
 harmed

00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:22.779
 their bodies

00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:23.200
 nor was a

00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:23.380
 hair

00:26:23.380 --> 00:26:23.599
 of their

00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:23.819
 head

00:26:23.819 --> 00:26:24.220
 singed

00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:24.720
 their robes

00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:24.980
 are not

00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:25.380
 scorched

00:26:25.380 --> 00:26:25.539
 and there

00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:25.779
 was no

00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:26.220
 smell of

00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:26.500
 fire

00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:26.940
 on them

00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:28.420
 it's been

00:26:28.420 --> 00:26:28.980
 nice weather

00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:29.420
 so we've

00:26:29.420 --> 00:26:30.019
 had some

00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:31.019
 barbecues

00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:31.279
 and if

00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:31.700
 you've ever

00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:32.460
 cooked a

00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:32.880
 barbecue

00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:33.480
 just to be

00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:34.160
 near the

00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:34.600
 fire

00:26:34.600 --> 00:26:35.940
 means that

00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:36.539
 everything

00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:37.680
 is going to

00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:38.039
 stink of

00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:38.299
 smoke

00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:39.160
 isn't it

00:26:39.160 --> 00:26:40.620
 but for

00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:41.080
 these three

00:26:41.080 --> 00:26:41.440
 friends

00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:41.840
 they're not

00:26:41.840 --> 00:26:42.400
 singed

00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:42.960
 they're not

00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:43.759
 scorched

00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.759
 there's not

00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:45.180
 even the

00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:45.799
 smell of

00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.259
 smoke

00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:47.400
 on them

00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:49.600
 and the

00:26:49.600 --> 00:26:50.360
 impact on

00:26:50.360 --> 00:26:50.580
 King

00:26:50.580 --> 00:26:51.460
 Nebuchadnezzar

00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:52.120
 is striking

00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:52.740
 again

00:26:52.740 --> 00:26:54.039
 we have

00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:55.059
 a pagan

00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:55.680
 king

00:26:55.680 --> 00:26:57.299
 who turns

00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:58.900
 to praise

00:26:58.900 --> 00:27:00.039
 God

00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:01.960
 verse 28

00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:03.440
 praise be

00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:03.700
 to the

00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:04.039
 God of

00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.580
 Shandrach

00:27:04.580 --> 00:27:05.120
 Meshach

00:27:05.120 --> 00:27:05.279
 and

00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:05.799
 Abednego

00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:07.120
 who sent

00:27:07.120 --> 00:27:07.799
 his angel

00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:09.120
 and rescued

00:27:09.120 --> 00:27:10.840
 his servants

00:27:10.839 --> 00:27:13.579
 he issues

00:27:13.579 --> 00:27:14.000
 a new

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.699
 decree

00:27:14.699 --> 00:27:17.099
 very fierce

00:27:17.099 --> 00:27:17.740
 language

00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:18.759
 people of

00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.539
 any nation

00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:20.099
 or language

00:27:20.099 --> 00:27:20.459
 who say

00:27:20.459 --> 00:27:20.779
 anything

00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:21.319
 against the

00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:21.759
 God of

00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:22.199
 Shandrach

00:27:22.199 --> 00:27:22.639
 Meshach

00:27:22.639 --> 00:27:23.259
 and Abednego

00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:23.819
 be cut

00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.500
 into pieces

00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:24.899
 and their

00:27:24.899 --> 00:27:25.500
 houses be

00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:26.139
 turned into

00:27:26.139 --> 00:27:26.699
 piles of

00:27:26.699 --> 00:27:27.000
 rubble

00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:28.179
 for no

00:27:28.179 --> 00:27:28.919
 other

00:27:28.919 --> 00:27:29.699
 God

00:27:29.699 --> 00:27:31.240
 can save

00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:32.480
 in this

00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.339
 way

00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:35.559
 he recognises

00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:36.099
 the God

00:27:36.099 --> 00:27:36.799
 who delivers

00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:37.980
 the God

00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:39.039
 who uniquely

00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:40.519
 saves

00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:42.019
 and where

00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:42.420
 does that

00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:43.000
 recognition

00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:43.879
 come from

00:27:43.879 --> 00:27:45.379
 why

00:27:45.379 --> 00:27:46.099
 does he

00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:46.460
 end up

00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:46.940
 praising

00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:47.859
 God

00:27:47.859 --> 00:27:49.779
 it's because

00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:51.720
 in verse 28

00:27:51.720 --> 00:27:53.960
 of the stand

00:27:53.960 --> 00:27:54.639
 of these three

00:27:54.639 --> 00:27:55.180
 friends

00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:56.400
 they trusted

00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:56.960
 in him

00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:58.259
 and defied

00:27:58.259 --> 00:27:58.859
 the king's

00:27:58.859 --> 00:27:59.259
 command

00:27:59.259 --> 00:28:00.200
 and were

00:28:00.200 --> 00:28:00.720
 willing to

00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:01.079
 give up

00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:01.619
 their lives

00:28:01.619 --> 00:28:02.079
 rather than

00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:02.599
 serve or

00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:03.220
 worship any

00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:03.539
 God

00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:04.059
 except

00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:05.639
 their own

00:28:05.639 --> 00:28:06.460
 God

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:08.039
 their testimony

00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:09.579
 matching up

00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:10.059
 to that

00:28:10.059 --> 00:28:10.839
 of

00:28:10.839 --> 00:28:12.599
 Peter's

00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:12.980
 letter

00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:13.720
 in 1 Peter

00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:15.379
 faith being

00:28:15.379 --> 00:28:16.279
 seen through

00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:17.039
 trials

00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:18.819
 and shining

00:28:18.819 --> 00:28:19.940
 like

00:28:19.940 --> 00:28:20.940
 gold

00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:22.039
 leading

00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:22.879
 Nebuchadnezzar

00:28:22.879 --> 00:28:23.680
 to realise

00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:25.099
 the one

00:28:25.099 --> 00:28:25.740
 true God

00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:26.659
 offers

00:28:26.659 --> 00:28:27.440
 unique

00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:28.599
 salvation

00:28:28.599 --> 00:28:30.700
 and this

00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:31.159
 leads us

00:28:31.159 --> 00:28:31.579
 to the

00:28:31.579 --> 00:28:32.059
 hope

00:28:32.059 --> 00:28:33.259
 of the

00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:33.759
 gospel

00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:35.379
 now there's

00:28:35.379 --> 00:28:36.039
 a danger

00:28:36.039 --> 00:28:37.579
 here

00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:38.579
 you know

00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:39.319
 we must

00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:39.900
 say

00:28:39.900 --> 00:28:41.660
 be like

00:28:41.660 --> 00:28:42.700
 these three

00:28:42.700 --> 00:28:43.319
 friends

00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:45.420
 live

00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:46.460
 with the

00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:47.140
 fear of

00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:47.799
 the Lord

00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:49.759
 that overcomes

00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:51.059
 all other

00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:51.879
 fears

00:28:51.880 --> 00:28:53.840
 but the

00:28:53.840 --> 00:28:54.300
 danger

00:28:54.300 --> 00:28:56.340
 is if

00:28:56.340 --> 00:28:57.020
 we only

00:28:57.020 --> 00:28:57.780
 say that

00:28:57.780 --> 00:29:00.220
 our own

00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:01.020
 failures

00:29:01.020 --> 00:29:02.380
 will most

00:29:02.380 --> 00:29:02.920
 likely

00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:03.580
 crush

00:29:03.580 --> 00:29:04.240
 us

00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:06.260
 because

00:29:06.260 --> 00:29:06.660
 if your

00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:07.320
 past is

00:29:07.320 --> 00:29:07.700
 anything

00:29:07.700 --> 00:29:08.500
 like

00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:09.160
 mine

00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:10.680
 you can

00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:11.420
 think about

00:29:11.420 --> 00:29:12.140
 times where

00:29:12.140 --> 00:29:12.880
 you compromise

00:29:12.880 --> 00:29:13.820
 your beliefs

00:29:13.820 --> 00:29:15.460
 to fit in

00:29:15.460 --> 00:29:17.200
 at times

00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:17.540
 where you

00:29:17.540 --> 00:29:18.300
 didn't talk

00:29:18.300 --> 00:29:19.100
 to a friend

00:29:19.100 --> 00:29:20.100
 about

00:29:20.100 --> 00:29:20.760
 Jesus

00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:22.879
 times when

00:29:22.879 --> 00:29:23.299
 you gave

00:29:23.299 --> 00:29:24.079
 your heart

00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:25.160
 to an

00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:25.480
 idol

00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:26.079
 and that's

00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:26.379
 not just

00:29:26.379 --> 00:29:27.119
 restricted to

00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:27.700
 our past

00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:28.200
 that's also

00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:28.599
 part of

00:29:28.599 --> 00:29:29.220
 our present

00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:30.500
 reality

00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:32.859
 so if all

00:29:32.859 --> 00:29:33.279
 we had

00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:34.039
 was be

00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:34.400
 like

00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:34.940
 Daniel's

00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:35.640
 friends

00:29:35.640 --> 00:29:37.240
 we'd

00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:37.740
 probably

00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:38.680
 be

00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:39.519
 despairing

00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:41.539
 so let's

00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:42.259
 finish

00:29:42.259 --> 00:29:44.379
 while hearing

00:29:44.379 --> 00:29:45.019
 that that we

00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:45.680
 are to

00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:46.619
 fear the

00:29:46.619 --> 00:29:46.900
 Lord

00:29:46.900 --> 00:29:47.740
 let's finish

00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.240
 with two

00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:49.000
 truths

00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:49.799
 about

00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:50.279
 Jesus

00:29:50.279 --> 00:29:51.960
 to give

00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:52.160
 us

00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:52.500
 hope

00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:53.639
 first of

00:29:53.639 --> 00:29:53.899
 all

00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:55.279
 Jesus

00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:57.000
 perfectly

00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.960
 resisted

00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:59.059
 this

00:29:59.059 --> 00:29:59.660
 temptation

00:29:59.660 --> 00:30:01.160
 Matthew

00:30:01.160 --> 00:30:02.079
 chapter 4

00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:03.720
 tempted in

00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:04.240
 the wilderness

00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:05.119
 by Satan

00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:05.539
 Satan

00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:06.019
 comes to

00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:06.200
 him and

00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:06.539
 says I

00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.019
 will give

00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:07.359
 you the

00:30:07.359 --> 00:30:07.740
 kingdoms

00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:08.160
 I will

00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:08.539
 give you

00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:09.440
 all glory

00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:10.279
 if you

00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:10.700
 will bow

00:30:10.700 --> 00:30:11.299
 down to

00:30:11.299 --> 00:30:11.559
 me

00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:12.259
 here's

00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:12.680
 your way

00:30:12.680 --> 00:30:13.240
 to kingdom

00:30:13.240 --> 00:30:13.779
 and glory

00:30:13.779 --> 00:30:14.240
 and power

00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:14.839
 without the

00:30:14.839 --> 00:30:15.299
 cross

00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:15.759
 Jesus

00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:17.339
 how did

00:30:17.339 --> 00:30:17.680
 Jesus

00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:18.359
 respond

00:30:18.359 --> 00:30:19.960
 worship

00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:20.559
 the Lord

00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:21.279
 your God

00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:22.400
 and serve

00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:23.000
 him

00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:23.879
 only

00:30:23.879 --> 00:30:25.519
 he

00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:26.339
 resisted

00:30:26.339 --> 00:30:27.240
 temptation

00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:28.879
 and the

00:30:28.879 --> 00:30:29.259
 fear of

00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:29.740
 the Lord

00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:32.660
 and that

00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:34.799
 concern for

00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:35.460
 the glory

00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:36.019
 of his

00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:36.519
 father

00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:38.039
 that concern

00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:38.839
 for loving

00:30:38.839 --> 00:30:39.619
 obedience

00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:40.720
 would lead to

00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:41.240
 his active

00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:42.099
 obedience all

00:30:42.099 --> 00:30:42.599
 through his

00:30:42.599 --> 00:30:43.139
 life and

00:30:43.139 --> 00:30:44.019
 would lead

00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:45.079
 him to

00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:45.819
 the cross

00:30:45.819 --> 00:30:46.939
 where Jesus

00:30:46.939 --> 00:30:47.779
 would then

00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:49.359
 die for

00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:50.699
 sinners and

00:30:50.699 --> 00:30:51.719
 for sin

00:30:51.719 --> 00:30:52.599
 he would

00:30:52.599 --> 00:30:54.779
 die for

00:30:54.779 --> 00:30:55.159
 all the

00:30:55.159 --> 00:30:55.619
 times that

00:30:55.619 --> 00:30:56.259
 we cave

00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:56.980
 in and

00:30:56.980 --> 00:30:57.500
 fold

00:30:57.500 --> 00:30:58.759
 instead of

00:30:58.759 --> 00:30:59.459
 bringing him

00:30:59.459 --> 00:31:00.219
 honour

00:31:00.219 --> 00:31:01.959
 so that by

00:31:01.959 --> 00:31:03.000
 trusting in

00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:03.419
 Jesus

00:31:03.419 --> 00:31:05.039
 that sin

00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:06.740
 is removed

00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:07.740
 and we

00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:09.240
 are regarded

00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:10.159
 when we are

00:31:10.159 --> 00:31:10.980
 in Jesus

00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:11.559
 as if we

00:31:11.559 --> 00:31:12.339
 are perfectly

00:31:12.339 --> 00:31:13.460
 righteous

00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:14.500
 so there

00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:15.000
 is hope

00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:16.220
 beyond failure

00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:17.539
 in the

00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:18.240
 gospel of

00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:18.619
 God's

00:31:18.619 --> 00:31:19.519
 great grace

00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:21.299
 and here's

00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:21.899
 the second

00:31:21.899 --> 00:31:24.039
 way that

00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:25.019
 Jesus gives

00:31:25.019 --> 00:31:25.460
 hope

00:31:25.460 --> 00:31:26.700
 because we

00:31:26.700 --> 00:31:27.379
 remember that

00:31:27.379 --> 00:31:28.619
 Jesus went

00:31:28.619 --> 00:31:29.899
 into another

00:31:29.899 --> 00:31:31.500
 furnace to

00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:32.460
 save us

00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:36.099
 Jonathan

00:31:36.099 --> 00:31:36.679
 Edwards

00:31:36.679 --> 00:31:38.399
 in one of

00:31:38.399 --> 00:31:39.059
 his sermons

00:31:39.059 --> 00:31:40.480
 compares the

00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:41.039
 cross

00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:42.279
 with the

00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:43.259
 fiery furnace

00:31:43.259 --> 00:31:45.359
 and he

00:31:45.359 --> 00:31:46.579
 thinks about

00:31:46.579 --> 00:31:47.799
 Gethsemane as

00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:48.759
 Jesus receiving

00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:49.619
 a preview

00:31:49.619 --> 00:31:51.099
 of the

00:31:51.099 --> 00:31:51.659
 divine

00:31:51.659 --> 00:31:53.339
 wrath that

00:31:53.339 --> 00:31:54.039
 he's going

00:31:54.039 --> 00:31:55.319
 to face

00:31:55.319 --> 00:31:57.480
 on behalf

00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:58.720
 of his

00:31:58.720 --> 00:31:59.099
 people

00:31:59.099 --> 00:32:00.899
 and Edwards

00:32:00.899 --> 00:32:02.319
 says that

00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:02.799
 God the

00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:03.259
 Father

00:32:03.259 --> 00:32:04.379
 as it were

00:32:04.379 --> 00:32:05.059
 set the

00:32:05.059 --> 00:32:06.299
 cup down

00:32:06.299 --> 00:32:07.139
 before him

00:32:07.140 --> 00:32:08.340
 which was

00:32:08.340 --> 00:32:09.280
 more terrible

00:32:09.280 --> 00:32:10.200
 than

00:32:10.200 --> 00:32:11.360
 Nebuchadnezzar's

00:32:11.360 --> 00:32:11.900
 furnace

00:32:11.900 --> 00:32:14.040
 when he

00:32:14.040 --> 00:32:14.780
 took that

00:32:14.780 --> 00:32:15.200
 cup

00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:16.520
 knowing what

00:32:16.520 --> 00:32:17.020
 he did

00:32:17.020 --> 00:32:18.520
 so was his

00:32:18.520 --> 00:32:19.400
 love to us

00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:20.560
 infinitely more

00:32:20.560 --> 00:32:21.220
 wonderful

00:32:21.220 --> 00:32:22.580
 and his

00:32:22.580 --> 00:32:23.440
 obedience to

00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:23.820
 God

00:32:23.820 --> 00:32:25.000
 infinitely

00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:26.200
 more

00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:27.140
 perfect

00:32:27.140 --> 00:32:30.040
 Jesus

00:32:30.040 --> 00:32:31.800
 who was

00:32:31.800 --> 00:32:32.600
 with those

00:32:32.600 --> 00:32:33.460
 friends in

00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:33.980
 the fiery

00:32:33.980 --> 00:32:34.580
 furnace

00:32:34.580 --> 00:32:36.200
 would again

00:32:36.200 --> 00:32:37.120
 go into

00:32:37.120 --> 00:32:38.120
 a furnace

00:32:38.120 --> 00:32:38.640
 this time

00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:39.600
 the furnace

00:32:39.600 --> 00:32:40.300
 of God's

00:32:40.300 --> 00:32:40.740
 judgment

00:32:40.740 --> 00:32:41.640
 against sin

00:32:41.640 --> 00:32:42.500
 this time

00:32:42.500 --> 00:32:43.400
 not with

00:32:43.400 --> 00:32:44.120
 us

00:32:44.120 --> 00:32:46.100
 but for

00:32:46.100 --> 00:32:46.780
 us

00:32:46.780 --> 00:32:48.140
 in our

00:32:48.140 --> 00:32:48.740
 place

00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:49.820
 as our

00:32:49.820 --> 00:32:50.480
 substitute

00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:51.600
 as our

00:32:51.600 --> 00:32:52.640
 sacrifice

00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:55.060
 and Jesus

00:32:55.060 --> 00:32:56.220
 doesn't come

00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:57.740
 out unharmed

00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:59.700
 Jesus

00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:00.840
 dies

00:33:00.840 --> 00:33:01.620
 on the

00:33:01.620 --> 00:33:02.080
 cross

00:33:02.080 --> 00:33:03.259
 and he

00:33:03.259 --> 00:33:03.759
 does that

00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:04.360
 to secure

00:33:04.360 --> 00:33:04.900
 our

00:33:04.900 --> 00:33:06.100
 rescue

00:33:06.100 --> 00:33:08.560
 that we

00:33:08.560 --> 00:33:08.940
 might

00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:10.320
 stand before

00:33:10.320 --> 00:33:11.540
 the judgment

00:33:11.540 --> 00:33:12.000
 seat of

00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:12.480
 God and

00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:13.080
 come through

00:33:13.080 --> 00:33:13.640
 that

00:33:13.640 --> 00:33:14.980
 unharmed

00:33:14.980 --> 00:33:16.380
 if our

00:33:16.380 --> 00:33:16.800
 faith

00:33:16.800 --> 00:33:17.700
 is in

00:33:17.700 --> 00:33:18.100
 Jesus

00:33:18.100 --> 00:33:20.360
 the eternal

00:33:20.360 --> 00:33:20.960
 life

00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:22.240
 is ours

00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:24.299
 if we

00:33:24.299 --> 00:33:24.859
 are trusting

00:33:24.859 --> 00:33:25.220
 him

00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:27.120
 and now

00:33:27.120 --> 00:33:28.500
 this Jesus

00:33:28.500 --> 00:33:29.000
 who went

00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:29.380
 through the

00:33:29.380 --> 00:33:29.700
 furnace

00:33:29.700 --> 00:33:30.460
 for us

00:33:30.460 --> 00:33:31.440
 now he

00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:32.039
 is God

00:33:32.039 --> 00:33:33.220
 with us

00:33:33.220 --> 00:33:34.759
 in our

00:33:34.759 --> 00:33:35.779
 fiery

00:33:35.779 --> 00:33:36.460
 trials

00:33:36.460 --> 00:33:37.940
 that strength

00:33:37.940 --> 00:33:38.799
 to stand

00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:39.259
 does not

00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:39.680
 come from

00:33:39.680 --> 00:33:40.079
 ourselves

00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:40.700
 it comes

00:33:40.700 --> 00:33:41.400
 from Jesus

00:33:41.400 --> 00:33:43.940
 so let

00:33:43.940 --> 00:33:44.579
 the fear

00:33:44.579 --> 00:33:45.039
 of the

00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:45.599
 Lord

00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:47.079
 drive out

00:33:47.079 --> 00:33:47.900
 other fears

00:33:47.900 --> 00:33:49.259
 and trust

00:33:49.259 --> 00:33:50.700
 in this

00:33:50.700 --> 00:33:51.279
 Lord who

00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:51.839
 is with

00:33:51.839 --> 00:33:52.200
 us

00:33:52.200 --> 00:33:53.500
 who is

00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:54.299
 mighty to

00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:54.559
 save

00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:54.840
 and who

00:33:54.840 --> 00:33:55.299
 has shown

00:33:55.299 --> 00:33:55.640
 that

00:33:55.640 --> 00:33:57.100
 in sending

00:33:57.100 --> 00:33:57.559
 Jesus

00:33:57.559 --> 00:33:58.000
 forth

00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:59.880
 within

00:34:00.420 --> 00:34:00.460
 what

00:34:00.460 --> 00:34:01.940
 means

00:34:01.940 --> 00:34:02.180
 to

00:34:02.180 --> 00:34:03.299
 for

00:34:03.299 --> 00:34:03.920
 the

00:34:03.920 --> 00:34:05.200
 session

00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:14.659
 the

00:34:14.659 --> 00:34:14.920
 end