Let's turn to Daniel chapter 3. Daniel chapter 3. I will begin
reading in verse 13. But before I read, remember,
Nebuchadnezzar has set up a golden image and demanded that his golden
image be served and worshiped. And he basically told all the
people of Babylon, the people who were there, gathered there
at Babylon, when you hear the music, strike up and you bow
down to worship my God. Now this is not my message this
morning, but you remember in the book of the revelation, when
it talks about the beast that was, and is not and yet is. And that beast is said to be
connected with what? Mystery Babylon. Does not religion
today tell men and women as a general practice when you hear the music
strike up you come forward and you bow to our God? That's Babylon. That's Babylon. Now, I will preach
that, not that message, but I'll mention that on the radio, God
willing, maybe in January, maybe it's March, I forget. But when
it does, if the proverbial stuff hits the fan, that's going on
the tape, ain't it? If it does, then be ready. Because that's
what it is. It's Babylon. Remember, Nebuchadnezzar
has had this image erected. And he demands, with the threat
of death, you bow down and worship my God. Now Nebuchadnezzar is
told that there are three Jewish boys who haven't bowed down to
his image. Now he had set these three Jewish
boys up over the province of Babylon. This is what it reads
in verse 13. Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage
and fury, don't forget that. Don't forget that. Then Nebuchadnezzar,
in his rage and fury, commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego. Then they brought these men before
the king. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true,
O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? Do not ye serve my gods, nor
worship the golden image which I have set up? If you be ready,
this is what all religion wants this. I heard the preacher say,
I forget who it was, I believe it was Cunningham, say this.
Everybody wants a second chance. Everybody thinks that salvation's
about second chances. Well Nebuchadnezzar was giving
them a second chance. Now, if you be ready, that at
what time you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sacrament,
psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, You fall down
and worship the image which I have made. Well, but if ye worship
not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning
fiery furnace. And who is that God? Here's one
of his. Now, everything he said thus
far has been error. But now he begins to tread on
ground he should not tread on. And who is that God that shall
deliver you out of my hands? I will say this and I hope you
understand what I mean when I say it. He crossed the line here. God suffers lots of things. He
is long suffering. But there comes a time when men
and women cross the line. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not
careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God,
whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning, fiery furnace,
and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king. But if not,
Be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods,
nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Now I'll read just the first
part of the next verse. Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury,
and the form of his visage was changed. He liked these three
boys. He had set them up over Provence. He had gave them position in
His kingdom, but now they've crossed the line. Now they've crossed the line.
Now, verses 16 through 18, this is going to be some deep stuff,
is the response of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Ain't
that deep? That's deep, right? The verses
16 through 18 is the response of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
to Nebuchadnezzar's self-centered, government-sponsored madness. Now listen to me. I want to give
you something this morning. Nothing, no kind of worship ever
sponsored by any human government has ever been God-honoring. Never. Never. Now listen to me. I know the
Constitution gives us the freedom of religion. And I am grateful
for such a thing. But let me tell you this. That
very same constitutional right makes some men and women think
that they have the right to worship God as they want to worship God. And God does not give us that
right. God says you worship me and my
son or you don't worship me at all. That is God's Constitution. That is God's Word. So, this
self-centered, government-sponsored religious madness is responded
to by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. But this text, nor
the Bible as a whole, neither are about men. rebellious or
faithful. Nebuchadnezzar was an idolatrous
ruler. His religious madness and his
pride, God Almighty turned on him. Look at the next chapter.
It took at least a year before this happened, but God turned
it on him. And God brought this proud rebel
down. But this book is not about Nebuchadnezzar. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
were faithful Jewish believers. They were looking for the consolation
of Israel, Joe. God advanced them under Nebuchadnezzar. Go back and read chapter 3 and
verse 30. You'll see. After all this is
over, He advances them. But I want you to think about
this. Had he not advanced them in the first place, they wouldn't
have been in his spot. But he advanced them in the first place
and that put them in the tight spot. We often think when things go
well or smooth, oh, what a blessing from God. It may be a test from
God. You understand? Boy, God gave me this. Yeah,
He may have given you this to see which will be first and which
will be second or last in your life. This book is not about
men and women. It includes the subject of men
and women. This book, one lesson is sure
from the preponderant testimony of Scripture. One lesson is sure. This book is about God Almighty.
That's what this book's about. And there are two things that
I can give you from this text. There's another lesson here that's
sure from the preponderant testimony of both Scripture and experience. There are two things that are
not the end or the goal of this life. It's not about God bringing down
proud rebels. because not every proud rebel
is brought down in this life. As a matter of fact, the greatest
majority of proud rebels, God will leave as proud rebels to
die in their sin. When God brought down Nebuchadnezzar,
it didn't change all of Babylon, did it? It did not become a state
that worshiped God, did it? Not only that, here's another
lesson, another part of it. Not every believer will find
advancement in this world in lieu of their fidelity to God.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were placed over more province
once this happened. Yes they were. But do not take
that that God owes you anything in lieu of your fidelity to Him.
Your fidelity to Him is required no matter whether you find advancement
or death. That's my title this morning,
Fidelity to God. Well, the word simply means faithful.
That's fidelity. Faithful, devoted, loyal. And I'm here to say this morning,
sadly, sadly, even amongst professed Christianity, there is very little
faithfulness, there is very little devotion, there is very little
loyalty, there is very little fidelity to God, if any at all. Men give great lip service to
God, but when push comes to shove, they abandon God in a heartbeat. And it's time. for God's people,
for us, even our small group, to stand up and say, you either
serve God and God only, or you don't serve Him at all. This whole book is a book about
the only true and living God and His Son. From beginning to
end, it is this, who He would send, who He has sent, and who
He is sending again. That's what it's about, from
beginning to end. Who he would send, who he has sent, and who
he is sending again. Pseudo-Christianity touts advancements. It's supposed to be the proof
of your fidelity to God. Not necessarily so. Go back and
read Hebrews 11. By faith, some conquered kingdoms,
wrought righteousness, subdued other kingdoms, did they not?
But others didn't accept deliverance. burned with fire, stoned to death,
lived in caves. Pseudo-Christianity touts advancements. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
touted their God. Pseudo-Christianity touts double
portions. Go back and read the book of
Job. You get to the last chapter of Job, and the last thing mentioned
about Job is this. He basically got a double portion.
He had twice as much as he had before. And religion says, woo,
thank God. That's not the point. Look at
the first part of that chapter. There's the point. And Job, you
mentioned it. And I was glad you stayed away
from my part of that, because this is what he said. I've heard
of you with the hearing of my ear, but now my eye sees thee. Wherefore, I hate myself, and
I repent in dust and ashes. There's the goal of everything
that happened to Job. That's the whole goal. He began
that statement, his response back to God was this, I know
that nothing, no thought of thine can be withholden from thee.
He came to, I've heard of you. I've heard the preacher preach,
I've heard the preacher preach. I believed what the preacher
said. God's bound me to what the preacher said, the truth
of the Lord Jesus Christ. I've heard of you with the hearing
in my ears, but then you experienced the sovereign God. And you said,
but now mine eye sees you. Therefore, I hate myself, and
I repent of ever and any time I didn't hate myself before.
So again I say, pseudo-Christianity touts double portions. Job touted
his God. Job 42 verses 1 through 6. Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego praised God's authority. Right here in
these, just this very short brief, I mean it wasn't, they said just,
what is it, 15, 20, 30, 40 words, next thing you know they're being
cast into the fiery furnace. Yet Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
praised God's authority. It's not about how much you say.
It's about what you say. They praised God's authority.
They praised God's will. Is that what so-called Christian
religion does today? No, they're always talking about
man's will. And they exalt and tout man's will and they put
God's will down. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
praise God's will. They praise God's power. They
praise God's ability. They praise God's sovereignty.
If it be so, but if not, doesn't matter. He's sovereign. We bow to Him and Him only. Be careful about where you are.
Because where you are is designed by God to test what you claim
you've got in here. Where you're at out here is designed
by God to test what you claim you've got in here. Where does
your loyalty lie? Where does your devotion lie? To what or whom are you faithful
when the fire comes along? The glory. The glory of Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego's fidelity. And they had fidelity. They were
faithful. They were devoted. They were
loyal. But the glory of their fidelity,
yea, the glory of every believer's fidelity to God is based on the
matchless majesty of our God. Not on our fidelity. The glory
is in God, not in the fidelity. He's due the fidelity. Isn't
that the first commandment? The first commandment of what
we call the Ten Commandments, that's the first one. And Christ
said that's the most important one. The second one's like unto
it. Isn't that what he said? He said, what's the most greatest
commandment? He said, the first one's this. The second one's
like unto it. The very beauties of God, the
very glory of God gives credence to every believer's fidelity,
not vice versa. Our fidelity doesn't give credence
to God. If we deny Him, yet He remains
faithful. Joe said it, He is light whether
men see it or not. He is light whether men deny
it or not. He is light. He is glory. He
is majesty. He is sovereign. All those things. Let me give you five reasons
or five statements here concerning this fact. The very beauties
of God, the very glories of God give credence to every believer's
fidelity and not vice versa. Number one, our refusal, any
refusal of a believer to cower in shame. and or fear at personal
threats and insults toward our God. The glory of that is in
our God, not in us. That's the glory of it. Look at it. Shadrach, verse 16,
Meshach and Abednego answered and said to the king, O king,
Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful. In other words, we don't have
great care. We're going to answer you straight up. We put it in
modern day language. We're going to put this right
to you. They knew that their lives were in Nebuchadnezzar's
hands. They didn't have the power nor
the might to deliver themselves from his madness, did they? That's
right. And what's the first thing they
say? If it be so, we will be faithful. Huh? No. If it be so, here it
is, our God. before they ever said, whom we
serve. Yes, they served Him. But what
comes first? Our God. His beauty, His glory,
His majesty, His authority, His will, His power, His ability,
His sovereignty, that is the glory and the majesty of fidelity
to God. The Apostle Paul in Acts chapter
24 verse 15 said this, after the way they call heresy, That's
the way I worship the living God. Amen. Henry Mahan, I heard him say
this years ago. Others have said it. He didn't
come up with it, I don't figure, but he's the one I heard it from.
And I thank God for it. He said this, you could have
Baptists and a Methodist, a Presbyterian, a Church of God, and they disagree
with one another. They'll argue about what each
other believes. But you let one free sovereign
grace believer come into their midst and who is not careful
to answer in a matter, who will speak up for the matter and they'll
all join together against that one individual. That's just the
way it happens. It's the way it is. Now the reason
we're not assaulted like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is the reason
is because lots of times we probably are too careful to answer. Afraid
to say something. I might lose a family member.
So be it. I might lose a friend. So be
it. I might lose a job. And I know
some preachers can stand back and say that quite easily because
they're getting their check every month from the church and they
tell everybody else, put God before your job. When their job
is to put God first, Joe, that's quite easy. But I know what I'm
talking about, still yet. What is it? Fidelity, God is
first before everything. I might lose my spouse. God is
first. That's what fidelity's about.
After the way they, who's the they? He's talking about his
own kinfolk. And I don't know all that, but
I think, you know, a mother, a father, a brother, a sister, a cousin,
an aunt, an uncle. Could it not be, possibly? But
he said, after the way they call heresy, that's the way I worship
the living God. So our refusal to cower in shame,
the glory is not of us. The glory is due God. Secondly,
true fidelity bows to the sovereign purpose of God, if it be so. but if not. You see it? And if it be so, he'll deliver
us. Why? Because he is able. The question,
if it be so, is not concerning his ability, it's concerning
his willingness. That's the question. If it be
so, but if not, still doesn't matter. We will not bow to your
gods. We will serve him and him only.
So true fidelity bows to the sovereign purpose of God. If
it be so, But if not. You see, true fidelity is not
presumptuous. True fidelity does not demand
of God, it depends upon God. As a matter of fact, even further,
it believes God. But it believes God concerning
His promise. Turn to Romans chapter 4 sometime
and read it. That's what true, that's what
unstaggering faith is. That's what true, strong, but
was strong in faith, giving glory to God. In what way? That what
God had promised, God was able to perform. Now had God promised
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you won't go into the fiery furnace?
No. But they know this. God promised
this. Thou shalt worship me only. And there's blessing in that.
And they knew that's the course to take. Even if we faultedly
do it, that's the course we take. Even if we can't attain unto
it, Mason, as it ought to be attained unto, that's the course
we take. So again, I say true fidelity
is not presumptuous. Well, God's got to get me out
of this jam. No, He don't. No, He don't. Unless He promised
you specifically, He'd get you out of that jam. All you can
say is, If it be so, but if not, it still doesn't change anything.
Do you see that? It still doesn't change anything. Number three,
true fidelity acknowledges God's superiority over all other religion. Our God, whom we serve. You see it? Not just any old
God. Our God, whom we serve. In other words, let me put it
in our modern day language. Bring it home to us. As Don Fortner
likes to say, put some shoe leather under it. True fidelity is not
ecumenical. That's right. We're not trying
to get along with everybody. These men not only were about
to lose their jobs, They were about to lose their very life.
But they said, we're not careful to answer to this matter. We're
going to serve God. We're going to serve God. How
many of our brothers and sisters in time past, and maybe even
some now in the present day, how many have been burned at
the stake because they refused to bow down to other gods? Sadly,
we're so far removed from that we don't comprehend We don't
comprehend. And yet, folks, I'm no prophet,
but if things continue on as they are, it may come back to
that. It may come back to that. And
you think losing your job is going to be the worst thing?
Go read Fox's Book of Martyrs. They can do a lot of really bad
stuff to us. Really bad stuff. So again, true fidelity is not
ecumenical, did not Paul say. And Paul didn't come up with
this, because God had already said it in the Old Testament.
Come ye out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord.
God Almighty can't be joined up to an idol. Unbelief cannot
be joined up with belief. In particular, unbelievers cannot
be joined up with believers. It just won't work. It won't
work come you out from come you out from among them and be you
separate saith the Lord and I will receive you Is that what God
says? Well, that is Old Testament.
No, that's repeated in the New Testament So much so and I want
to be sure I get it right second Corinthians chapter Chapter six,
actually chapter seven. Seven, look at it, look at it.
Go back and read it. Look, verse seven, come ye out
from among them, and be a separate, saith the Lord. Touch not the
unclean thing, and I will receive you, and I will be a father unto
you, and you shall be sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty,
having therefore these, what's that next word? Promises. So in other words, we have a
reason to expect this. If we by his grace are enabled
to come out from among them, Mason, then we have his promise
of what? That he will be a God unto us. Do you see that? You will be
my sons and my daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. The same one
that delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is give us this
promise. Having therefore these promises,
dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness
of the flesh, and everybody says amen to that. Quit your drinking,
quit your smoking, quit your going to movies, unless it's
Noah, you know. Oh, that's right. What else though? That's true. I'm making a little
fun of it. It says cleanse yourself of all filthiness of the flesh.
But what else? And spirit. It's not just outward. It's inward as well. Perfecting,
that means you gotta work on it. It is a matter of struggle. And let me tell you, you think
that wasn't difficult for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to do what
they did? That was real. Look, perfecting
holiness. How? How? In the fear of God. So that's number three. True
fidelity is not ecumenical. They tell us, well you've got
to respect all religions. Have you ever looked up what
the word respect means? to give honor and praise and dignity
to. I cannot do that. I cannot do that. God help me
not to do that. Number four, true fidelity confesses
God's absolute ability. Our God is able. You see it? He's able. The question
is never, never His ability. The question is His will. Do
you remember the leper? Matthew chapter 8? The leper
who came running up to Christ. And you know what? The law said
he wasn't supposed to do that. But Mason, he didn't do what
the law said. He came running up to Christ.
And what did he say? Lord, if thou wilt, can't make me clean. There's true fidelity. There's
true faith. It wasn't a question of Christ's
ability. It was a question of Christ's
willingness to. And yet those who profess to
be Christians maul people like us for declaring that very truth.
And they say, no, it all depends upon your will. Then God is able
if you're willing. That's a false God. You might
as well erect Nebuchadnezzar's giant golden statue and bow down
to it when they play Just As I Am. Might as well. It's all still Babylon. It's
all still error. Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst. And what did the Lord say to
him? I like that. Think of that. I will. I will. Be thou clean. And bless God,
he was clean. All it took was the will of Christ. That man didn't even have to
ask for it if Christ was willing. But he made him willing to ask
Christ and beg Him. Lord, I know you can do it. I
just, I pray you're with me. But religion doesn't tell people
to be like that today. They tell God's up there begging,
just waiting. Oh, God's pleading. Uh-uh. Bow,
they says he came and he worshipped him. That leper did, he worshipped
him. So that's number four, true fidelity
confesses God's absolute ability. Again, go back to Romans four.
What is strong faith? It is believing that what God
has promised, God is able to perform. Number five, true fidelity
remains faithful and willingly devoted even if death is the
end of its reward. If it be so, Our God whom we
serve is able to deliver us from the burning fire and furnace.
And he will deliver us out of thy hand, O King. And God would
one way or the other, even if death, that would have been deliverance
out of his hand. They wouldn't have had to suffer
from the hand of Nebuchadnezzar Joe ever again. But look, but
if not, be it known unto thee, O King, that we will not serve
thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. So true fidelity. remains faithful
and willingly devoted even if death is the end of its reward.
Turn back to Acts chapter 20. We have in Acts chapter 20 the
account of the apostle Paul meeting with the elders of Ephesus. And
he actually met them at Miletus. He called for them. They came
to Miletus to meet him. And this is what Paul said in
verse 24. I'll just deal with one part.
But, verse 24, but none of these things move me. What kind of
things? Even the threat of death. You
see it? Go back and look at what it says.
He says bonds, the Holy Ghost has already witnessed bonds and
afflictions. That's what I got in store. That's
what's coming. That's not a maybe. The Holy
Spirit made this testimony. But, none of these things move
me. Neither count I my life dear
unto myself. Well, I might die doing this.
Since God put me here, so be it. What if it kills me? So be it. But none of these things move
me. Neither count I my life dear unto myself so that I might finish
my course with joy and the ministry which I have received of the
Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Even if
it kills me preaching the gospel, that's what it'll be. I will
not back up. I will not bow down to anyone
other than Jesus Christ. That's what it's all about. Now
let me sum all of this up in these words. True fidelity to God finds its
honor in God himself, not in itself. Now did you hear what
I said? I said true fidelity to God finds
its honor in God himself, not in itself. Paul didn't say I'm
gonna do this because I'm so faithful No, it is. I'm gonna
do this because there's something far more important than my comfort
and even my life Something far more important what's that the
truth of the person of work of the Lord Jesus Christ well think
about it How much truth is the world in which we live How much
truth? is the country in which we live. How much truth in the state in
which we live? How much truth in the community
in which you live? How much truth are they getting?
How much? I say apart from a few handfuls
here or there, they're getting none. They're getting none. But God's ordained that those
few handfuls are the ones that are sent out to gather in the
other handfuls, Mason. That's how it works. It pleased
God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. This
is what we ought to do with everything we are. Everything we should be concerned
about is what? The gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Because it's the only truth.
It's the only truth that will ever save a man's soul. The law
is true, but it won't save you. Righteousness, personal right,
being right, doing right, living right, that's true, but it won't
save you. Morality is a lie. Morality is a lie. Ain't none
of us moral any more than any of us are righteous. The only
truth that benefits the soul of man is the truth of the person
and work of Jesus Christ. And may it be that we hear, here's
how important it is. You remember John the Baptist?
Those Pharisees came to his baptism. He said, you bunch of snakes. That's the way you win folks
over. He said, you bunch of snakes, who warned you to flee from the
wrath to come? He said, let me tell you something.
You show me you mean business first, then I'll baptize you,
but not until. You know what he teaches you? Tell them? Bring
forth works, meet for repentance. But you know what? Don't think
within yourself to say, we got Abraham to our father. Oh, I
believe this, or I got that. He says, God is able of these
stones to raise up children unto Abraham. See, God will get it
done. But He will get it done because
He raises up somebody to say what they're supposed to say.
To do what they're supposed to do. To be where they're supposed
to be. If it ain't me, it'll be somebody
else. But you know what I want? I want to be a part of that group.
Don't you? I want to be a part of that group
that has to say. That has to say through the restraint
and the constraint of the love of Christ. If it be so, But if
not, I will serve no one else other than Jesus Christ. Father,
not only teach us these things, but make them a reality in our
hearts and minds and souls. And may it truly be a reality
based upon the glories of the person of work, of our matchless,
glorious Savior Jesus Christ. Lord, give us devotion to Him,
fidelity to Him, by Your grace. Amen.