Even If Faith: Standing Firm in Adversity
Summary
### Summary
This Sunday, we delved into the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from Daniel chapter 3, exploring the theme of "Christ Followers in a Babylonian Culture." We discussed the kind of faith required to stand firm as citizens of heaven amidst a culture that often opposes God's ways. This faith is bold, tenacious, and overcoming, and it does not fear the future. We reflected on the importance of having an "even if" faith, which remains steadfast regardless of circumstances, much like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who refused to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar's golden statue even under the threat of death.
We examined how the voice of the Lord must be louder than the sounds of culture, which often tries to lure us into apathy and conformity. The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego teaches us that even in the fire, Jesus is with us, providing comfort and strength. This was illustrated by their miraculous survival in the furnace, where a fourth figure, believed to be Jesus, appeared with them.
We also discussed the ultimate purpose of our trials and faithfulness: to bring glory to God. King Nebuchadnezzar's acknowledgment of the Most High God after witnessing the miracle in the furnace serves as a powerful reminder that our steadfast faith can lead others to recognize God's sovereignty and goodness.
In conclusion, we are called to live with an "even if" faith, trusting in God's presence and power regardless of our circumstances. This faith not only sustains us but also serves as a testimony to the world around us, inviting others to experience the glory and goodness of God.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Voice of the Lord Must Be Louder Than the Sound of Culture: In a world filled with distractions and conflicting messages, it is crucial to prioritize and recognize God's voice above all else. This requires intentionality in seeking Him through prayer, scripture, and quieting the noise around us. The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego illustrates the importance of knowing God's commands and standing firm in them, even when pressured by cultural norms. [45:23]
2. Even in the Fire, Jesus is With Us: The presence of Jesus with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the furnace is a powerful reminder that God does not abandon us in our trials. He is Emmanuel, God with us, and His presence provides comfort and strength. This truth encourages us to seek Jesus in our difficult moments, trusting that He is always near, even when we cannot see or feel Him. [51:55]
3. No Matter the Outcome, He Gets the Glory: Our faithfulness in trials can lead others to recognize and glorify God. King Nebuchadnezzar's transformation from demanding worship of his statue to acknowledging the Most High God demonstrates the impact of steadfast faith. Our lives, when surrendered to God, can become powerful testimonies that draw others to Him, regardless of whether we see immediate deliverance or not. [56:47]
4. Living with an "Even If" Faith: An "even if" faith remains steadfast regardless of circumstances. It trusts in God's goodness and sovereignty, even when outcomes are uncertain. This kind of faith is not conditional on God meeting our expectations but is rooted in the assurance of His character and promises. It challenges us to worship and serve God wholeheartedly, knowing that He is worthy of our trust and devotion. [43:36]
5. Stepping on the Gas in Times of Opposition: When faced with cultural pressures and spiritual opposition, we are called to intensify our pursuit of God. This means increasing our commitment to prayer, worship, and service, rather than retreating in fear or apathy. By stepping on the gas, we demonstrate a bold and tenacious faith that refuses to bow to the prevailing currents of the world, thereby ushering in God's glory and presence in our lives and communities. [01:02:28]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[36:26] - Introduction and Prayer
[36:58] - Citizens of Heaven
[37:39] - The Kind of Faith Needed
[38:19] - Personal Story: Summer Camp
[40:17] - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
[41:04] - Nebuchadnezzar's Statue
[42:29] - The Test of Faith
[43:36] - Even If Faith
[45:23] - The Voice of the Lord
[51:55] - Jesus in the Fire
[56:47] - God Gets the Glory
[01:02:28] - Stepping on the Gas
[01:04:42] - Invitation to Know Jesus
[01:06:52] - Closing Prayer and Dismissal
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Daniel 3:16-18 (NIV)
> Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
2. Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)
> When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
3. Philippians 3:20 (NIV)
> But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
#### Observation Questions
1. What was King Nebuchadnezzar's command to the people regarding his statue, and what were the consequences of disobedience? ([41:04])
2. How did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego respond to King Nebuchadnezzar's threat of being thrown into the furnace? ([43:36])
3. What miraculous event occurred when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the furnace? ([51:55])
4. How did King Nebuchadnezzar react after witnessing the miracle in the furnace? ([56:47])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does the response of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to King Nebuchadnezzar reveal about their faith and understanding of God's power? ([43:36])
2. How does the presence of a fourth figure in the furnace (believed to be Jesus) impact our understanding of God's promise to be with us in trials? ([51:55])
3. In what ways does King Nebuchadnezzar's acknowledgment of the Most High God after the miracle serve as a testament to the power of steadfast faith? ([56:47])
4. How does the concept of "even if" faith challenge the cultural norm of conditional faith, and what implications does this have for modern believers? ([43:36])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt pressured by cultural norms. How did you respond, and what might you do differently now to ensure the voice of the Lord is louder than the sound of culture? ([45:23])
2. When facing a difficult situation, how can you remind yourself that Jesus is with you, even if you cannot see or feel His presence? ([51:55])
3. Think of a recent trial you have faced. How did your response to this trial bring glory to God, or how could it have done so? ([56:47])
4. What does living with an "even if" faith look like in your daily life? Identify one specific area where you can practice this kind of faith. ([43:36])
5. When you encounter opposition or cultural pressures, what practical steps can you take to "step on the gas" in your pursuit of God? ([01:02:28])
6. How can you create space in your life to hear the voice of the Lord more clearly amidst the noise of culture? ([49:55])
7. Identify one person in your life who might be influenced by your steadfast faith. How can you intentionally share your testimony with them this week? ([56:47])
Devotional
Day 1: Prioritizing God's Voice Over Culture
Description: In a world filled with distractions and conflicting messages, it is crucial to prioritize and recognize God's voice above all else. This requires intentionality in seeking Him through prayer, scripture, and quieting the noise around us. The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego illustrates the importance of knowing God's commands and standing firm in them, even when pressured by cultural norms. They refused to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar's golden statue, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to God's commands. This kind of faith requires us to be deeply rooted in our relationship with God, ensuring that His voice is the loudest in our lives. [45:23]
Isaiah 30:21 (ESV): "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."
Reflection: What are some specific ways you can quiet the noise of culture in your daily life to better hear God's voice? Consider setting aside dedicated time for prayer and scripture reading today.
Day 2: Jesus' Presence in Our Trials
Description: The presence of Jesus with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the furnace is a powerful reminder that God does not abandon us in our trials. He is Emmanuel, God with us, and His presence provides comfort and strength. This truth encourages us to seek Jesus in our difficult moments, trusting that He is always near, even when we cannot see or feel Him. The miraculous survival of these three men in the furnace, accompanied by a fourth figure believed to be Jesus, illustrates that God is with us in our most challenging times, providing the strength and comfort we need to endure. [51:55]
Psalm 46:1-2 (ESV): "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea."
Reflection: Think of a recent trial or difficult situation you faced. How did you experience God's presence during that time? If you didn't, how can you seek His presence more intentionally in future trials?
Day 3: Glorifying God Through Our Faithfulness
Description: Our faithfulness in trials can lead others to recognize and glorify God. King Nebuchadnezzar's transformation from demanding worship of his statue to acknowledging the Most High God demonstrates the impact of steadfast faith. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's unwavering commitment to God, even in the face of death, led to a powerful testimony that drew others to recognize God's sovereignty and goodness. Our lives, when surrendered to God, can become powerful testimonies that draw others to Him, regardless of whether we see immediate deliverance or not. [56:47]
1 Peter 2:12 (ESV): "Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when your faithfulness to God impacted someone else. How can you continue to live in a way that brings glory to God and draws others to Him?
Day 4: Embracing an "Even If" Faith
Description: An "even if" faith remains steadfast regardless of circumstances. It trusts in God's goodness and sovereignty, even when outcomes are uncertain. This kind of faith is not conditional on God meeting our expectations but is rooted in the assurance of His character and promises. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego demonstrated this faith by refusing to bow to the golden statue, declaring that even if God did not save them from the furnace, they would still not serve other gods. This challenges us to worship and serve God wholeheartedly, knowing that He is worthy of our trust and devotion. [43:36]
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV): "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it difficult to trust God fully? How can you practice an "even if" faith in that area today?
Day 5: Intensifying Our Pursuit of God in Opposition
Description: When faced with cultural pressures and spiritual opposition, we are called to intensify our pursuit of God. This means increasing our commitment to prayer, worship, and service, rather than retreating in fear or apathy. By stepping on the gas, we demonstrate a bold and tenacious faith that refuses to bow to the prevailing currents of the world, thereby ushering in God's glory and presence in our lives and communities. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's refusal to conform to the king's decree, even under the threat of death, exemplifies this kind of bold faith. [01:02:28]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: In what ways can you "step on the gas" in your spiritual life today? Consider specific actions you can take to deepen your commitment to God amidst opposition.
Quotes
1. "This morning, I wanna talk to you about the kind of faith required to be a citizen of heaven in a Babylonian culture. It is a great faith that is needed in this hour so that we would not conform to the culture around us. It's a bold faith. It's a tenacious faith. It's an overcoming faith. And it's a faith that does not have fear of the future." [37:39] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You will find yourself in places and spaces where you have to choose. Am I going to succumb to the temperature of this culture, or am I going to rise up to a level of greater faith as a citizen of heaven in God's kingdom?" [40:17] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Standing firm in Babylon requires an even if faith in the middle of an only if culture. So culture would say serve God only if it serves you. Worship God as long as you're comfortable. Give God your best. Give him the first of your tithe. Give him what is costly to you. Only if you know that he's going to give it back to you. But even if faith says my God does not owe me anything. My Jesus died on the cross for me. My God is able. He is faithful. My experience does not dictate who God is. My God is who he says he is. He is the I am. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He was there before time and he will be there at the end of time. He is eternal. He is faithful. He is able to deliver me. But even if he does not, I will not bow. I will not conform to the current of the state around me. I will serve a higher way. I will worship only my God. That is even if faith." [44:42] (77 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The voice of the Lord must be louder than the sound of culture. Verse five says, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, anyone play the zither? You do? Okay. Who lies? Liar. Liar on the camera. Zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments bow to the ground to worship King Neb's gold statue. Anyone who refuses to obey will be immediately thrown into a blazing furnace. So at the sound of the musical instruments, all the people, whatever they're raising, voice, or nation, or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Culture has a sound, and you're like, totally, I know. It's like my uncle arguing on Facebook. That's the sound of culture. It's annoying. It's loud. No. Not necessarily. There were many instruments used that day, and the enemy has many instruments to lure you into apathy and settling into the ground. The current of Babylon." [46:11] (64 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The voice of the Lord called to Zacchaeus and said, get out of that tree. We're having dinner today. The voice of the Lord called to Gideon and said, get out of hiding. You are a mighty warrior. If you're feeling encouraged, if you're feeling uncomfortable, if you're feeling called out, it just might be the voice of the Lord. Psalm 29 says this of God's voice. The voice of the Lord is over the waters. The God of glory thunders. The Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful. The voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars. The Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the Lord shakes the desert. The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forest bare, and in his temple all cry glory. John 10 says, my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." [48:14] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Even in the fire, Jesus is with me. Verse 23 says, so Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego securely tied. Fell into the roaring flames, then King Nebuchadnezzar leapt to his feet in amazement and asked his advisors, weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire? They replied, certainly your majesty. He said, look, I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed. And the fourth looks like a son of the gods. Neb is shook. Because scholars and all the smart people across the board will agree, this was not just a son of the gods. This was the son of God. This was Jesus in the fire physically with them." [51:55] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "He does not guarantee that you won't face a trial free life. He, in fact, he guarantees the opposite. He says, when you face trials of many kind, don't be shocked as if some strange things were happening to you. He says, expect it. But he promises this. I will be with you. I will be with you. In Matthew 28, before Jesus leaves the planet, he tells his disciples, this is the amplified version of this. I am with you always remaining with you perpetually, regardless of circumstance and on every occasion, even to the end of the age." [53:31] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "When you feel the opposition, step on the gas church. When you feel the opposition, step on the gas. When you feel the tension, when you feel the current of the culture, I encourage you to step on the gas, lead harder, speak louder, give greater, step on the gas, wake earlier, stay up later, seek his face harder, read longer, worship louder, step on the gas. These are not times to bow down. Everyone older than me, smarter than me. I keep hearing them say, these are interesting times and I haven't been around a long enough to know what kind of times we're in, but I hear them and I go, okay, these must be a lot of interesting times. These are interesting times. It's not time to fall asleep and get lulled into the sounds of culture. It's time to step on the gas. It's time to live bolder. It's time to live with an even if faith that says, I will serve one God. I will attune my ear to the voice of the Lord and I will not bow even if he doesn't. I will worship him." [01:02:28] (77 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "We don't get out of here alive. When we see Jesus, we don't need to be polished and perfect and self-preserved with all our baggage of comfort on our back. Like thanks for an easy life, Lord. Have you read the words of Paul in the New Testament? He's like, I'm not going to bow. He's like, I die daily. I pour myself out as a drink offering. I consider all else as loss for the sake of knowing Jesus. To live is Christ and to die is gain. I am wasting away on the outside, but inside I am being renewed day by day by day. Church, let us be a tenacious people that say we might be singed. We might smell like smoke. We might be bruised and we might be battered, but we are going to see a glory like we have never seen before. It is going to be worth it. On the other side, we will press in. We will dig. We will pray. We will serve. We will give. We will worship. I will not bow. I will not bow to the culture around me." [01:04:11] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Every time the enemy lies to you and says, sit back, lie down, just forget about it. You tell him there is a coming glory and I am going to be a part of it. And I am going to do my part to usher it in the here and now I'm going to bring hope to my workplace. I am going to bring faith to my family. I will not settle to the current of the culture around me by ushering God's glory with my praise, with my sacrifice, with laying my comfort down at the altar. We get to be partakers of that. We get to be partakers of that glory here on earth that's happening in heaven." [01:00:20] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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