Standing Up in a Fallen World - Part 1
Daniel 3, 6 & Acts 4, 5
This morning, I just want to walk through three great events in the Bible (two in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament). We’ll start in Daniel Chapter 3.
Daniel 3:1 (NLT)
1 King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar was the King of Babylon, and this was a statue of himself. The foundation of this statue still exists today, and you can still see it.
And then, all the people in Babylon (including the Jews who had been taken there in captivity) were told in Daniel 3:5-6,
Daniel 3:5–6 (NLT)
5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue.
6 Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”
Then, in verses 8-12, some of the “political leaders” of Babylon went to the King and told him Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to follow the order of the State that dictated their right to worship.
And so, in verse 13, the Governor (I mean the King) flew into a rage and had these three brought to him. And then the Governor says to them in verse 14 (my paraphrase), “is it true that you have refused to worship in the way I have dictated that you must?”
Then the Governor gives them one more chance to bow to his dictates regarding their worship. And then, we see the response from these God-followers, and this would be the correct response if a governor were to remove our rights and dictate how WE should worship.
Daniel 3:16–18 (NLT)
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O [Governor] Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.
17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.
18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
We kneel to, we bow to, and we worship one God only, and it is not a political or an anarchist organization. We kneel to, bow to, and worship the Lord of Heaven and Earth, Jesus Christ alone.
And if you don’t know the story, these three Hebrews were thrown into the fire, and Jesus met them in the fire. Jesus carried them safely through the fire, which seems to be pretty clear support from God for these three God-fearing men who humbly refused to obey the Government’s dictates regarding their worship.
I am praying you see a subtle connection in these three events today. Are you starting to see it?
Next, turn over to Daniel Chapter 6. Some years later, there’s a new King in charge, and Daniel holds a government position, and the King respected Daniel. But, others in the government were out to get Daniel – at any cost. (Does that sound like any government you know?) So, the competing political party tricks the King into issuing a royal decree that can’t be changed. Guess what the royal decree was about? It was about HOW people were allowed to worship.
Here are the connivers convincing the King.
Daniel 6:7(b) (NLT)
7 We are all in agreement . . . that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions.
Notice, this law dictated HOW people were allowed to worship for the next thirty days. It’s almost like there was a pandemic or something that made the King feel he could make such a law.
And so, what did Daniel do when he heard about this law that dictated HOW he was allowed to worship?
Daniel 6:10 (NLT)
10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
And so, Daniel’s political opponents (of course) were watching, and they ran merrily to the King with this news. And, although the King didn’t want to, he had no choice but to throw Daniel into the Lion’s den.
The King had been duped by these political snakes. Aren’t you glad things like that never happen in our political system?
The King was actually pulling for Daniel, so after a night in the Lion’s den, the King ran to the den. And we read in Daniel 6:20,
Daniel 6:20 (NLT)
20 When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”
Then, Daniel responds. And I want you to look very closely at the last words Daniel says.
Daniel 6:21–22 (NLT)
21 Daniel answered, “Long live the king!
22 My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
Wait a minute. Daniel had disobeyed a written law of the government of the land, and yet we read here Daniel was found innocent in God’s sight. And not only that, but Daniel was able to say to the King, And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.
How do we balance this – that Daniel broke the law but was not found wrong in either God’s sight or the King’s sight?
Here is what Warren Wiersbe says about this verse. This means that the king’s law about prayer was rejected in heaven and that Daniel was right in disobeying it. By suggesting such a law, the scheming officers disobeyed the true and living God and robbed Him of the glory He deserved.
Now, listen to me, please. Daniel did not organize a political anarchist movement and start destroying people’s lives and property. He didn’t demand to defund or threaten to kill the police, and he didn’t promise to burn the system down if he didn’t get what he wanted. Daniel chose to quietly embrace his freedom to worship that was given to him by God, and because of the way he went about it, he was found innocent in the eyes of God – and the King.
But, let’s not miss one critical truth we see in both of these events in Daniel. In both events, these God-followers were willing to quietly and humbly die for their right to worship God. They didn’t confront the government. They didn’t attack the system. But, with quiet resolve, and prepared to die, they refused to allow the State to tell them how to worship. And in both cases, God was with them in the midst of it.
So, how about some New Testament truth? Let’s head over to Acts Chapter 4. As Acts Chapter 4 opens, Peter and John had just healed a man AT the Temple, and now they were teaching the people. And we pick it up in Acts 4:1-3.
Acts 4:1–3 (NLT)
1 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees.
2 These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead.
3 They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning.
In the following verses, the Sanhedrin Counsel brought them in to question them, and the Jewish Sanhedrin Counsel had civil and criminal jurisdiction, as well as religious, at that time. And in verse 7 the counsel demanded, By what power, or in whose name, had the Apostles healed a man the previous day
And in verse 10, filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter responded,
Acts 4:10 (NLT)
10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.
Then, quite a dust-up occurs within the Sanhedrin Counsel. And finally, Acts 4:18 says,
Acts 4:18 (NLT)
18 So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.
And then, we read the response in Acts 4:19-20, which are our key verses.
Acts 4:19-20 (NLT)
19 But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?
20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”
Then, in verse 21, the counsel threatens them further but lets them go.
Then, the believers pray for courage because they know their lives are on the line. And then we read in Acts 4:31,
Acts 4:31 (NLT)
31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.
Which means they defied the civil and criminal jurisdiction of the time, because the government (as it were), tried to stop them from preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus
.
And the more they preached and taught; the more people came to believe in Jesus. Then, we read in Acts 5:17-18,
Acts 5:17–18 (NLT)
17 The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.
18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.
They were put in jail for defying a government mandate about preaching in the name of Jesus. The question is, did God support them in their decision to continue to preach Jesus when the government told them not to?
Well, let’s see, (so the Apostles are in jail for proclaiming the Gospel), and then we read in Acts 5:19-20,
Acts 5:19–20 (NLT)
19 But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them,
20 “Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!”
Well, that seems pretty supportive on God’s part, doesn’t it?
So, the Apostles do what the Angel of the Lord tells them to do, and so the Sanhedrin arrests them again, and says to them in Acts 5:28,
Acts 5:28 (NLT)
28 “We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him . . .
And then, Acts 5:29,
Acts 5:29 (NLT)
29 But Peter and the apostles replied (to the governing authority), “We must obey God rather than any human authority.
Again, no protests, no riots, no abusing police officers, or burning businesses. Just a humble, gentle response – “We must obey God rather than any human authority.”
And the Apostles knew what the consequences of that statement would be, and they were ready to face those consequences with faith and courage.
And so, in Acts 5:33, the High Counsel decides to kill the Apostles, and God uses one Pharisee to talk them out of it (Paul’s teacher, Gamaliel). And in Acts 5:40-42,
Acts 5:40–42 (NLT)
40 The others accepted his advice. (and instead) They called in the apostles and had them flogged (no small consequence). Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.
41 The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.
42 And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”
Humbly, respectfully and willing to die, the Apostles continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.” I want to be counted with them!!
So, three great events in the Bible, all with the same (not so subtle) point.
But, maybe you’re familiar with Romans Chapter 13, or maybe you’ve heard that scripture reference thrown around during these times. Let’s head over to Romans 13 and read the first two verses just to get the context of the chapter.
Romans 13:1–2 (NLT)
1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.
2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.
How can we reconcile these verses in Romans 13 with everything we have looked at so far? Please, listen to me very carefully. Everything we’ve read prior to Romans 13 has had the same subject, which is the government mandating – or dictating – how we can, or cannot, worship God or preach in the name of Jesus.
Guys, in all matters, we are called to (and we must) respect the law and the governing authorities. If we do not, then anarchy will be the result, which is exactly what we are seeing in our country today. However, there is a time when we are called to respectfully and humbly lay claim to our “right to worship” and to our “right to proclaim” the name of Jesus. Let me read a quote by a famous Bible scholar from 1989.
William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary
In every ordered society there must be authority and submission to that authority. Otherwise you have a state of anarchy . . . There is an exception, of course. A Christian is not required to obey if the government orders him to sin or to compromise his loyalty to Jesus Christ. No government has a right to command a person’s conscience. So there are times when a believer must, by obeying God, incur the wrath of man. In such cases he must be prepared to pay the penalty without undue complaint.
Which is exactly what we’ve seen in our three separate events this morning. We want to be counted among those who respectfully and humbly lay claim to our “right to worship” and our “right to proclaim” the name of Jesus.
We want to humbly be prepared to pay the penalty without undue complaint. We want to stand up for Jesus in a world that is falling down.
Daniel 3:1 (NLT)
1 King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar was the King of Babylon, and this was a statue of himself. The foundation of this statue still exists today, and you can still see it.
And then, all the people in Babylon (including the Jews who had been taken there in captivity) were told in Daniel 3:5-6,
Daniel 3:5–6 (NLT)
5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue.
6 Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”
Then, in verses 8-12, some of the “political leaders” of Babylon went to the King and told him Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to follow the order of the State that dictated their right to worship.
And so, in verse 13, the Governor (I mean the King) flew into a rage and had these three brought to him. And then the Governor says to them in verse 14 (my paraphrase), “is it true that you have refused to worship in the way I have dictated that you must?”
Then the Governor gives them one more chance to bow to his dictates regarding their worship. And then, we see the response from these God-followers, and this would be the correct response if a governor were to remove our rights and dictate how WE should worship.
Daniel 3:16–18 (NLT)
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O [Governor] Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.
17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.
18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
We kneel to, we bow to, and we worship one God only, and it is not a political or an anarchist organization. We kneel to, bow to, and worship the Lord of Heaven and Earth, Jesus Christ alone.
And if you don’t know the story, these three Hebrews were thrown into the fire, and Jesus met them in the fire. Jesus carried them safely through the fire, which seems to be pretty clear support from God for these three God-fearing men who humbly refused to obey the Government’s dictates regarding their worship.
I am praying you see a subtle connection in these three events today. Are you starting to see it?
Next, turn over to Daniel Chapter 6. Some years later, there’s a new King in charge, and Daniel holds a government position, and the King respected Daniel. But, others in the government were out to get Daniel – at any cost. (Does that sound like any government you know?) So, the competing political party tricks the King into issuing a royal decree that can’t be changed. Guess what the royal decree was about? It was about HOW people were allowed to worship.
Here are the connivers convincing the King.
Daniel 6:7(b) (NLT)
7 We are all in agreement . . . that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions.
Notice, this law dictated HOW people were allowed to worship for the next thirty days. It’s almost like there was a pandemic or something that made the King feel he could make such a law.
And so, what did Daniel do when he heard about this law that dictated HOW he was allowed to worship?
Daniel 6:10 (NLT)
10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
And so, Daniel’s political opponents (of course) were watching, and they ran merrily to the King with this news. And, although the King didn’t want to, he had no choice but to throw Daniel into the Lion’s den.
The King had been duped by these political snakes. Aren’t you glad things like that never happen in our political system?
The King was actually pulling for Daniel, so after a night in the Lion’s den, the King ran to the den. And we read in Daniel 6:20,
Daniel 6:20 (NLT)
20 When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”
Then, Daniel responds. And I want you to look very closely at the last words Daniel says.
Daniel 6:21–22 (NLT)
21 Daniel answered, “Long live the king!
22 My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
Wait a minute. Daniel had disobeyed a written law of the government of the land, and yet we read here Daniel was found innocent in God’s sight. And not only that, but Daniel was able to say to the King, And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.
How do we balance this – that Daniel broke the law but was not found wrong in either God’s sight or the King’s sight?
Here is what Warren Wiersbe says about this verse. This means that the king’s law about prayer was rejected in heaven and that Daniel was right in disobeying it. By suggesting such a law, the scheming officers disobeyed the true and living God and robbed Him of the glory He deserved.
Now, listen to me, please. Daniel did not organize a political anarchist movement and start destroying people’s lives and property. He didn’t demand to defund or threaten to kill the police, and he didn’t promise to burn the system down if he didn’t get what he wanted. Daniel chose to quietly embrace his freedom to worship that was given to him by God, and because of the way he went about it, he was found innocent in the eyes of God – and the King.
But, let’s not miss one critical truth we see in both of these events in Daniel. In both events, these God-followers were willing to quietly and humbly die for their right to worship God. They didn’t confront the government. They didn’t attack the system. But, with quiet resolve, and prepared to die, they refused to allow the State to tell them how to worship. And in both cases, God was with them in the midst of it.
So, how about some New Testament truth? Let’s head over to Acts Chapter 4. As Acts Chapter 4 opens, Peter and John had just healed a man AT the Temple, and now they were teaching the people. And we pick it up in Acts 4:1-3.
Acts 4:1–3 (NLT)
1 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees.
2 These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead.
3 They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning.
In the following verses, the Sanhedrin Counsel brought them in to question them, and the Jewish Sanhedrin Counsel had civil and criminal jurisdiction, as well as religious, at that time. And in verse 7 the counsel demanded, By what power, or in whose name, had the Apostles healed a man the previous day
And in verse 10, filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter responded,
Acts 4:10 (NLT)
10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.
Then, quite a dust-up occurs within the Sanhedrin Counsel. And finally, Acts 4:18 says,
Acts 4:18 (NLT)
18 So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.
And then, we read the response in Acts 4:19-20, which are our key verses.
Acts 4:19-20 (NLT)
19 But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?
20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”
Then, in verse 21, the counsel threatens them further but lets them go.
Then, the believers pray for courage because they know their lives are on the line. And then we read in Acts 4:31,
Acts 4:31 (NLT)
31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.
Which means they defied the civil and criminal jurisdiction of the time, because the government (as it were), tried to stop them from preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus
.
And the more they preached and taught; the more people came to believe in Jesus. Then, we read in Acts 5:17-18,
Acts 5:17–18 (NLT)
17 The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.
18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.
They were put in jail for defying a government mandate about preaching in the name of Jesus. The question is, did God support them in their decision to continue to preach Jesus when the government told them not to?
Well, let’s see, (so the Apostles are in jail for proclaiming the Gospel), and then we read in Acts 5:19-20,
Acts 5:19–20 (NLT)
19 But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them,
20 “Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!”
Well, that seems pretty supportive on God’s part, doesn’t it?
So, the Apostles do what the Angel of the Lord tells them to do, and so the Sanhedrin arrests them again, and says to them in Acts 5:28,
Acts 5:28 (NLT)
28 “We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him . . .
And then, Acts 5:29,
Acts 5:29 (NLT)
29 But Peter and the apostles replied (to the governing authority), “We must obey God rather than any human authority.
Again, no protests, no riots, no abusing police officers, or burning businesses. Just a humble, gentle response – “We must obey God rather than any human authority.”
And the Apostles knew what the consequences of that statement would be, and they were ready to face those consequences with faith and courage.
And so, in Acts 5:33, the High Counsel decides to kill the Apostles, and God uses one Pharisee to talk them out of it (Paul’s teacher, Gamaliel). And in Acts 5:40-42,
Acts 5:40–42 (NLT)
40 The others accepted his advice. (and instead) They called in the apostles and had them flogged (no small consequence). Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.
41 The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.
42 And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”
Humbly, respectfully and willing to die, the Apostles continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.” I want to be counted with them!!
So, three great events in the Bible, all with the same (not so subtle) point.
But, maybe you’re familiar with Romans Chapter 13, or maybe you’ve heard that scripture reference thrown around during these times. Let’s head over to Romans 13 and read the first two verses just to get the context of the chapter.
Romans 13:1–2 (NLT)
1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.
2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.
How can we reconcile these verses in Romans 13 with everything we have looked at so far? Please, listen to me very carefully. Everything we’ve read prior to Romans 13 has had the same subject, which is the government mandating – or dictating – how we can, or cannot, worship God or preach in the name of Jesus.
Guys, in all matters, we are called to (and we must) respect the law and the governing authorities. If we do not, then anarchy will be the result, which is exactly what we are seeing in our country today. However, there is a time when we are called to respectfully and humbly lay claim to our “right to worship” and to our “right to proclaim” the name of Jesus. Let me read a quote by a famous Bible scholar from 1989.
William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary
In every ordered society there must be authority and submission to that authority. Otherwise you have a state of anarchy . . . There is an exception, of course. A Christian is not required to obey if the government orders him to sin or to compromise his loyalty to Jesus Christ. No government has a right to command a person’s conscience. So there are times when a believer must, by obeying God, incur the wrath of man. In such cases he must be prepared to pay the penalty without undue complaint.
Which is exactly what we’ve seen in our three separate events this morning. We want to be counted among those who respectfully and humbly lay claim to our “right to worship” and our “right to proclaim” the name of Jesus.
We want to humbly be prepared to pay the penalty without undue complaint. We want to stand up for Jesus in a world that is falling down.