Staying Cool When Things Get Hot | Modern Day Idol Worship

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Pastor Greg Laurie says that could be a form of worship.

Everybody worsens Christians worship that worship atheists worship. I did not say we don't worship God will worship something.

Whatever you gobble for will end up being the God that you serve the careful one moment at the altar can lead to a lifetime of idol worship was a real problem in those days are over.

Right will wait a minute whatever captures more of our attention.

Then God is maybe modern day idol worship.

The TV are smart phone/today on a new master Greg Laurie rings respect C-3 routines based my retrial to help develop your faith. It was vital to stay in. Let's grab our Bible turned to Daniel chapter 3 in James chapter 1 Daniel three in James chapter 1 were in our new series at recalling end of days from the book of Daniel and the title of my message today is staying cool when things got hot.

Let's pray father I know there are some people here right now that are going through a time of trial hardship. There are other people here Lord that are going through it yet, but they will be soon in your word is so much to say about this. I pray that we will be strengthened that we will be comforted that we will be reminded that were not alone in our trials and difficulties. So speak to us from your word. We look at it now in Jesus name we pray. They met again the title of my message is staying cool when things get hot and some of you might be going to a fiery trial right now just in the Bible uses that phrase fiery trial, there's trials, and then there's fiery trial a little bit worse. First Peter 412 says dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trial you're going through is it something strange were happening to you. Be happy if you're insulted for being a Christian than the glorious spirit of God will come upon you. God allows different kinds of trials and test teams to come to the life of the Christian you might want to write this down for several attempts to to destroy your faith. Again, the devil tempts you to destroy your faith. In contrast, God tests you can develop your faith so the devil will tempt you to destroy your faith God will test you to develop your faith.

But remember of faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted to bring that up because sometimes people have something that happen in life and it might be a tragedy. It might be their parents divorced or loved one died or or they were fired from a job, they got very sick or something happened in the might be a pretty big deal though, so you know what, I lost my faith through that.

I just lost my faith will you know what good get rid of that faith because of faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted.

Real faith in a real God will not grow weaker through difficulty.

It will only get stronger. You see, that's the kind of faith we all need as Christians because fiery trials will come our way and in the case of Shadrach, the check in the Bendigo that was a metaphorical that was literal, there's going to be times in our lives where our faith will be tested. People are going to challenge what we believe the be temptations to do the wrong thing that we might wonder what while if that happens, will I have the strength to stand spiritually when that day comes and here's my answer.

That's entirely up to you.

You like to know that something God no, actually that's up to you not know this God won't give you more than you can handle it will put you in a situation where there's not either a way out or away through.

Having said that, will you stand on that day. That's up to you and that comes down the choices that you make.

See, here's the story Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo who wouldn't gobble for a golden image. But you see, they laid the foundation, they have that strength in their life much earlier. When you remember they were taken into captivity by the Babylonian and they were hand chosen to be in the palace of the king and serve as counselors and that they did a good job they would get promoted in one of the first test was what they said that the king's table and eat all the awesome food of Babylon was on that table and yet we read Shadrach me shack a Bendigo in their buddy Daniel would not eat of the fruit of the king's table. We don't know why. Maybe it's because if it was just bad. There is that. But I doubt it. Maybe it's because the food was unclean under Mosaic law. More likely the food was offered to idols, and they didn't want to eat food that was dedicated to false gods. Whatever the case, I made a principled stand and of course you remember that they said the guy in charge of the king's food they were going to just eat vegetables what you guys eat all that fine food and I will be just fine that the annual seating of please don't get sick, lose my head okay will they came through the test very well and actually there were stronger then everybody would been eating at the king's table, reminding us that whatever we give up her Christ will be more than made up for later so they were exalted they were elevated they were promoted one night Nebuchadnezzar has a crazy dream. Probably too much pepperoni on his pizza. By the way, I put that theory to the test.

It's true either pizza pizza with pepperoni and I have the craziest dreams ever. But I don't think these were pepperoni dreams. This was a dream given to him by God and in this training. He saw this great image and he didn't understand it in so he called in all of his soothsayers and clairvoyants and astrologers and palm readers and all the rest of the guys you dabbled in all this wickedness some black magic. If you want to call it that. That's an okay you guys if you're worth anything. Tell me what I just read and tell me what it means there's an old you teleport you drop them will interpret it all you right in other words, you'll just make up something if you're worth anything, you'll know the dream and the interpretation. So what is it so we there's no way you could know this all really then you're all dead men unhappy all put to death. So another, only to be executed and so they show up at the house of Daniel Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo and say the Kings really ticked off. It all of you advisors are all gonna die Daniel so far. What is happening. Well, he had this dream and he does know the dream means all give me some time. Let me pray about it, so Daniel praise and the Lord revealed to him the dream of the king and the interpretation he shows up in front of the king says here's what you dread inside giant image and it had a head that was made out of gold and it had arms of silver belly and thighs of brass legs, a barn in feet of clay in a rock came out of a mountain encrusted toes that your dream yes it will to.

Here's the interpretation Daniel went on to explain and then the king sent a response in Daniel 247 your God is a God of gods in the Lord's overall king sees a revealer of mysteries for you been able to reveal the secret. After this, she would've thought that Nebuchadnezzar would've believed in the Lord, not in your life apparently knew about God, but he didn't know God is chapter 3. Open around 16 to 20 years have passed and the king is erected on 90 foot statue of himself covered in goal you could see it from miles away. This gleaming gold statue of the king.

He further missed the point of the whole image which was to show that one day his kingdom would be overthrown with a Meetup urgent.

They would be overthrown by the Greeks, etc. all he heard was had a goal when I have a whole statue of gold make the statute of me right. It was the ultimate Sophie. There was then he said okay and I want everybody to fall down and worship this image, it was the number one showing Babylonian TV. It was called Babylonian idol. There were three judges and you would sing is no wrong show number that was similar to American Idol. It is far as music was involved with the been cranked up the idle theme song, you better bow you're going to be that Esther Greg Moore will have the second half of this message in just a moment at harvest ministries we hear from people all around the country and in places that are sometimes hard to reach. Dear Pastor Greg read about in the wilds of Idaho, but are able to enjoy your Harvest at Home broadcast re-: our home church away in our 13-year-old son even gave his heart to Jesus by watching harvest at all. Praise the Lord and blessings to you, it's so great to know the Harvest at Home. Broadcast is impacted this family in this way you have a story to tell if so, would you let Pastor Greg know just drop him an email greg@harvest.org again, greg@harvest.org now.

Pastor Gray continues his message from Daniel chapter 3 called staying cool when things get hot and so here now are all these people gathered before this image and some commentators think there were as many as 300,000 people there think of 300,000 people in front of a 90 foot gold statue, gleaming in the sun and there were probably many Jews there because they were taken into Babylon and apparently they bow so that man strikes up a song. Everyone's bowing before the Madison gold statue standing out like three sort Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo their teenagers. They got black leather motorcycle jackets on sunglasses hands in their pockets.

I know I made that part up at you get the idea. They stood out they were two rebels in the best sense of that phrase. There was no way they were going to Bell.

Here's the funny thing funny but something really. There were rounded out for the king's advisors don't you hate people that write you out tattletale Chino snitches and the irony is after Daniel correctly interpreted the king's dream. He said spare the lives of these other counselors because they said they're all fraud kilo you let them live. These are the very guys around about being can make me kick in the been doing it now. By the way, we don't know where Daniel was. He does not appear in chapter 3, and he was away in a trip of some kind so he is not in this narrative, so the rounded out the makings as well.

Why I know these kids will bow I'll give them another chance, bring them in to see me picks up our story. Daniel three starting verse 14 and reading from the new living translation.

Nebuchadnezzar said to them, truly Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo that you refuse to serve my gods are worse of the gold statue.

I've set up.

I'll give you one more chance and if you bow down the words of the statue. I've made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments all will be well. But if you refuse you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace notice now how Nebuchadnezzar effectively chooses off God.

He challenges God do a fight.

He says what God will yield a rescue you from my power then verse 16 Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo replied all Nebuchadnezzar. We do not need to defend ourselves before you overthrown into the blazing furnace. The God whom we serve is able to save us still rescue us from your power and your majesty but even if he doesn't, your majesty can be sure we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up. It's never a good idea to challenge God do a fine you know why you're going to lose.

Sometimes he will had been wrestling with God in prayer, wrestling with wrestling really. I hope you're losing God's ideas are better than your idea Jacob wrestled with God and loss.

That's a good thing.

He went from fighting to trustee from resisting to resting. Sometimes were fighting with God I'm mad at God really, how dare you say you're mad I got. Who were you to say you're mad at God. You can see I don't understand God I don't like the situation I'm in right now. I wish it were different, but don't say I mad at God, so the thing that is been formed by God say to the one who made him or her. Why did you make me this way the Bible asked no don't be mad at God trust God and Nebuchadnezzar were sent, I'm Nebuchadnezzar, man. I will Babylon where the most powerful kingdom on the face of your I've got a gold statue to prove it. Yeah things are going to change in one chapter is will see Internet message from Daniel is Nebuchadnezzar is laid low want you to notice how many times the word worship is used in the narrative. How many times Shadrach the second, the Bendigo were told to worship. It was worship.

It wasn't just the mere act. It was actual worship before an image and there's no way Shadrach me shack in the been the gardener worship the golden image.

They wouldn't even need food at the king's table offered to idols.

You think they're going to bow down before a false God. The way by the way, the Scripture told him clearly that they were never to do that, they were never to have any other gods before him, but this reminds us of something that's very important. The reason they wouldn't bow down was because they knew that you'll end up serving what you worship will end up serving what you worship. Remember when Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time in the temptation in the wilderness the devil said, all of these kingdoms are mine, and I can give them to whomever I wish. And all will be yours if you will just worship me. What is Jesus saying that also worship the Lord God in him only shall you serve way doubled in saving about service.

He said worship know but Jesus understood, you'll end up serving what you worship.

Listen everybody worships everybody worships Republicans worship Democrats worship human libertarians worship atheists worship agnostics worship Christians worship. My point is, everybody worships.

I did not say we all worship God, but will worship something we all bow before some kind of God, whatever you bow before will end up being the God that you serve. Be careful because one moment at the altar of sexual promiscuity can lead to a lifetime of regret it would just do one time will never do the kids one time and then the one time leads to a venereal disease and STD and unwanted pregnancy will just terminate the pregnancy is terminated when it's also called murdering an unborn child, hope you don't do that okay will will carry the child to term with put the child up for adoption good.

That's a good decision.

Under the circumstances, but the point is one decision can lead to a lifetime of regret and then you start living in the world of chasing after all the sexual things up today and pretty soon you're not satisfied with what you're doing. Let's explore this new thing. Let's try this other thing. What else can we deal with. Although pornography and junk out there that promote this kind of agenda people get themselves and all kinds of trouble. It started with one thing and it turned into another careful what altar you bow down to a moment at the altar of drugs can lead to a lifetime of addiction and for many upstarts of marijuana. I think we should legalize marijuana is very good for the economy and has medicinal purposes always had is that what it's all about medicinal purposes and maybe there are some situations where it could be of help to certain people but by and large, this is open the floodgates up to people having access to pot like never before and I can tell you from personal experience as a stupid pot smoking kid for about three years of my life is going to lead to things that are far worse. You don't want to go down that road, but it start so it's okay.

It's innocent or a moment at the altar of drinking lots of little drinks molding for drinks only this big juicy it's okay little bit more little bit more little bit more way I wake up one day.

How did I become an alcoholic. One of this up and see my point is it. Start small and it always gets big so draw the line right now and say, they make a stand in the small things then I'll have the strength to make the stand in the big things that will come later.

That would Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo they took their stand was right getting Pastor Greg Laurie in our study of the fiery trial Shadrach me shack and Abednego there's more to come in this message. Called staying cool when things get hot and then have you check out pastor Greg new book, Lenin, Dylan, Allison, Jesus, you can get the details right now@harvest.org is a look at the lives of so many rock 'n' roll icons whose lives went from the top to the bottom and often to despair at lightning speed is an important cautionary tale yesterday. What are you hoping the reader takes away from this book again called Lenin, Dylan, Allison, Jesus, I hope they take away this simple thought. No one is beyond the reach of God.

I don't care how famous they are. I don't care how powerful they are or what they've accomplished. Everyone needs Jesus or something to keep in mind everybody is empty. The Bible says that the creation was made subject to emptiness as King James for her sort of a hole in our life. The Bible says God is put eternity in our hearts which means were on a search for God. Listen, you may see a person drive by and Rolls-Royce there empty another person drives by in a previous there empty. One person has a beautiful home there empty.

Someone has a simple little shack they live in there empty everybody's empty number two.

Everybody's lonely no matter how many fans you have or how many friends you think you have how many followers you have on social media, you're lonely and really there's a loneliness in your heart for God himself.

Thirdly, everyone's afraid to die. All I know some people say oh I'm looking forward to die know they're not there afraid to die. And lastly I would say everybody just needs Jesus so rock stars, movie stars, billionaires, unknown people.

People that can play two cords in the guitar. Everybody needs Jesus, so this book shows that those who been there and done that and bought the T-shirt have still found that's not the answer and some of them made wrong decisions and reap the consequences. Some of them made right decisions and got on the road that leads to life and started following Jesus Christ is my hope is when you read this book you will say this gives me hope for my son or daughter.

This gives me hope for my husband or wife.

This gives me hope for that crazy neighbor that's always giving me a hard time. All this gives me hope for my boss or my coworker or my friends from my past, but also I would encourage you this would be a great book after you've read it to share with someone that's not yet a believer at the end of the book as always I present the gospel and I even have a prayer that a person can pray to accept Jesus Christ as such an important tool in sharing the hope of Christ and of the great commission was given to all of us, not just pastors and after someone in your circle of influence who needs hope. We hope you'll share a copy of this book with them again.

It's called Lenin, Dylan, Alice and Jesus. The subtitle is the spiritual biography of rock 'n' roll and were sending it to say thank you for your partnership.

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We are here around the clock to take your call. That's 1-800-821-3300 or write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or go online to harvest.org header know if you know about this, but we have a weekend service called Harvest at Home exclusively for people that are tuning in literally from around the world listen to this. We even have harvest groups where you can get into a small group with folks from all around this planet of ours study the word of God. So join us this weekend Saturday and Sunday for Harvest at Home@harvest.org will next time or from our study. In Daniel chapter 3 of the fiery trial and three strong Hebrew team join us here on the new beginning past revival Greg Moore will buy harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God learn how to become harvest partner sign up for daily devotions and find resources to help you grow in your faith harvest.org