“Running God’s Race”

Dan 3 and Selected

“Going for the Gold” series Part 2

Quotes from Michael Phelps… (who won 7 gold medals, maybe 8)

	I always thought, it would be neat to make the Olympic team.
	If I didn't swim my best, I'd think about it at school, at dinner, with my friends. It would drive me crazy.
	I want to be able to look back and say, 'I've done everything I can, and I was successful.' I don't want to look back and say I should have done this or that. I'd like to change things for the younger generation of swimmers coming along.
	I wouldn't say anything is impossible. I think that everything is possible as long as you put your mind to it and put the work and time into it.
	You can't put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.

·        Going for the gold… running the race called life… we’re all in it.

·        Last week we looked at “Capturing the Crown”, 1Co 9 tying it with Heb 11…

·        Winning the race of life capturing the crown that will last forever, finishing strong

·        God has a plan for your life…Relationship with Christ…Secret of spiritual winners

·        What will you be doing a year from now?  Where will you be with the Lord?

·        God has a perfect will / plan / race custom designed for you…

Hebrews 12:1-2a ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” 

God’s Hall of Faith Hero’s for this morning: Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego

Hebrews 11:34 “who quenched the fury of the flames…”

·        God marked out the race of life for these three young God fearing Hebrew’s

·        Hananiah “Yahweh has been gracious” to (Shadrach) “I am fearful”

·        Mishael “who is what God is” to (Meshach) “I am despised, contemptible”

·        Azariah “Yahweh has helped” to (Abednego) “servant of Nebo” (Babylonian god)

·        In Babylonian captivity groomed as court officials… God has plans for their lives 

Running God’s Race (He marked out for you personally, are you in it?)…

I.  Will Bring Real Challenges Dan 3:1-12 (Pew Bible page #627)

Daniel 3:12 But 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."

·        There is no immunity from storms of life, no free pass… there will be trials

Trials…

1 Peter 1:6-7 ⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

 James 1:2-4 ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴ Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Trials…

·        Designed for our good

·        Reveals our true character

·        Provide opportunities for growth

“There will always be confrontation with unbelief for

anyone willing to do great things for God”

II.  Requires Personal Choices Dan 3:13-15

Daniel 3:15 Now 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?"

During China’s Boxer Rebellion of 1900, insurgents captured a mission station, blocked all the gates but one, and in front of that one gate placed a cross flat on the ground. Then the word was passed to those inside that any who trampled the cross underfoot would be permitted their freedom and life, but that any refusing would be shot. Terribly frightened, the first seven students trampled the cross under their feet and were allowed to go free. But the eighth student, a young girl, refused to commit the sacrilegious act. Kneeling beside the cross in prayer for strength, she arose and moved carefully around the cross, and went out to face the firing squad. Strengthened by her example, every one of the remaining ninety-two students followed her to the firing squad.  Today in the Word, Feb. 89, p. 17

·        Choice of bowing to an idol and live or refusal and die… choice is yours

·        Their parents did a good job raising them… strong in faith & character

·        Conviction versus preference… the choice was clear long before the event

“Momentary compromise leads to long

and lasting consequences”

I read about where seemingly “harmless” compromise may lead… Many years ago a small Jewish boy asked his father, "Why must we surrender our Jewish faith and start to attend Lutheran services here in Germany?”

The father replied, "Son, we must abandon our faith so that people will accept us and support our business adventures!"

The young lad never got over his disappointment and bitterness. His faith in his father and in his Jewish roots were crushed. When the young boy left Germany he went to England to study at the British Museum where he formed his philosophies for life. From those intensive investigations he wrote a book that changed the world called, "The Communist Manifesto”.

From that book one-third of the world fell under the spell of Marxist-Lenist ideology. The name of that little boy was Karl Marx. He influenced billions into a stream that for 70 years ruined, imprisoned and confused many lives. Today, that system still lives on in China, Russian & other countries around the world with tragic consequences.

Compromise… make the right choice

I read about a New York family who bought a ranch out West where they intended to raise cattle. Friends visited and asked if the ranch had a name.

“Well,” said the would-be cattleman, “I wanted to name it the Bar-J. My wife favored Suzy-Q, one son liked the Flying-W, and the other wanted the Lazy-Y. So we’re calling it the Bar-J-Suzy-Q-Flying-W-Lazy-Y.”

“But where are all your cattle?” the friends asked… “None survived the branding.”

III.  Grows our Confidence in Him Dan 3:16-18

Daniel 3:17-18 ¹⁷ If 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. ¹⁸ But 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."

·        God is able… He will rescue us from you… But even if He does not…

·        WE WILL NOT SERVE / WORSHIP your gods!

·        They were adamant, steadfast… deep conviction rather than preference

·        Their faith / trust / confidence matures, grows & develops… (like a muscle)

·        Remember Peter getting out of the boat… remember times in your life…

Faith is not a blind leap in the dark, but a transfer of trust to a person who is credible, powerful and alive!... Jesus!

IV.  Assures God’s Intervention Dan 3:19-27

Daniel 3:25-27 ²⁵ 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." ²⁶ Nebuchadnezzar 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, ²⁷ and 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.

·        Possibly a Theophany (O.T. appearance of Jesus Christ)… four men!

·        No harm, no hair singed, no appearance of fire, no smell of smoke!

·         With God the impossible become possible… dream incredible, do impossible

·        God tells us without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to PLEASE God…

·        When we are pleasing God, He will fight for you, He will part the sea, He will heal the lame, He will still the storm, He will feed the multitudes, He will help / intervene in your life as well… He honors our faith in Him.

“God is in control when everything ‘seems’ to be out of control”

V.  God’s Glorified, You’re Blessed Dan 3:28-30

Daniel 3:28-30 Then 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… ²⁹ Therefore 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."³⁰ Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

·        God is praised & glorified… Many people hear truth… Hebrew children promoted

Fireproof your Life…

·        Refuse to Compromise

·        Resolve to Live Christlike

·        Remember God is in Control

·        Remain Faithful in all Situations

Learn to run faithfully in God’s race, finish strong, capturing the crown