rec0503-113023<\/a><\/p>\n \n Hebrews 12:28-29 (NIV) \nDaniel 3:1-18 (NIV) \nPhilippians 3:7-11 (NIV) \n \n Four Issues<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 1 – Faith (or Focus)\u00a0versus Fear<\/strong><\/p>\n 2 – Prayerfulness versus Paralysis<\/strong><\/p>\n 3 – Accept God’s ways and God’s boundaries<\/strong><\/p>\n 4 – Keep perspective<\/strong><\/p>\n \n \n Daniel 3:19-30 (NIV) \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Message by Eric Colson rec0503-113023 Hebrews 12:28-29 (NIV) 28 \u00a0Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 \u00a0for our “God is a consuming … Continue reading
\n<\/strong>28 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
\n29 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0for our “God is a consuming fire.”<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>1 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
\n2 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up.
\n3 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, 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.
\n4 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language:
\n5 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
\n6 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”
\n7 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
\n8 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews.
\n9 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever!
\n10 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold,
\n11 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace.
\n12 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0But 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, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”
\n13 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,
\n14 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up?
\n15 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”
\n16 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
\n17 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.
\n18 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>7 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
\n8 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
\n9 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
\n10 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
\n11 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>19 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual
\n20 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
\n21 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.
\n22 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,
\n23 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
\n24 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, O king.”<\/span>
\n25 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
\n26 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire,
\n27 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
\n28 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
\n29 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”
\n30 <\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n