SEE NO ONE HIGHER THAN

GOD

What major accomplishment(s) in life have you achieved that you can be truly proud of?

…who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouth of lions…quenched the power of fire…

Hebrews 11:33-34a

THREE BRAVE MEN

(Daniel 3:1-18)

Many years passed. King Nebuchadnezzar soon forgot what he said about Daniel’s God being the only one.

Instead he built a giant statue of gold. He called this his god.

He sent out an order, “Whenever the royal music is played, everyone must fall to the ground and pray to the statue…

…Anyone who doesn’t, will be thrown into a blazing furnace to die.”

Before long the king’s men noticed that the three best friends of Daniel were not praying to the golden statue.

If they had, they would have broken God’s law. The law said, “I am the Lord your God. I will be your only God. Do not make statues and worship them.”

When Nebuchadnezzar heard this, he sent for Daniel’s friends. He called them by their Babylonian names.

“Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, is it true you will not worship my statue?”

The three men stood firm. “We can never worship your god. Even if we are thrown into the blazing furnace, our God is able to save us from it.”

THE BLAZING FURNACE

(Daniel 3:19-30)

Nebuchadnezzar burned with anger. He ordered his soldiers to tie up the three men. “Take them away! And see that the fire is seven times hotter than usual!”

The soldiers threw Daniel’s friends into the furnace.

When they did, though, it was so very hot, the soldiers were the ones who died!

Then the king saw something which was even more amazing.

The three men were no longer tied up! They could walk between the flames. They did not suffer at all.

But even more astounding, a fourth man was with them. He shone brighter than the fire itself.

Could this have been Jesus Himself, sent by His Father to comfort the three men?

The king ordered the men to come out. When they walked out of the fire, the fourth man had disappeared. Daniel’s friends were safe!

The king shook his head. “Incredible! Surely your God is the greatest. He protects those who trust Him.”

Was it possible for the proud king to say the following words?

“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants…

…who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their God…

…Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, …

…Meshach and Abed-Nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, …

…inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way!”

(Daniel 3:28-29)

Furthermore, Nebuchadnezzar made the three Jews prosperous.

What made the three heroes ready to die that even if the Lord would not deliver them, they would not have served any idol?

Why were they confident to face the fiery rage and the fiery furnace?

The answer is that they saw God higher than anyone or anything. They saw the king as puny before God.

And their lives? Dispensable. Because the honor of God is more important than life.

And perhaps, like all true believers, they believed it is God who rewards and punishes after death.

That is faith!

Attitude of true humility:

1) Deals with who is the final authority in life

Pride resists the reality of God’s right to unconditionally call the shots in life.

A humble heart is an obedient heart. It recognizes God’s right to rule.

Attitude of true humility:2) Is the recognition that I am what I am, not by my own scheming, skill, and intellect, but solely by the goodness and grace of God.

A proud heart wants to make the credit of our achievements.

But God’s Word teaches us that position, wealth, health, goods, and abilities are ultimately gifts from God.

Humility gives credit where credit is due.

How did/would you show others that there is no one higher than God?

Father, there is no one higher than You. Give me boldness to proclaim this even in the face of those who think they are the greatest…