??Intro：Look over there! Thousands of important looking men just standing out there in that big open field. What is going on？And look at that man standing tall and proud in his royal robe and shining gold crown! That must be Nebuchadnezzar himself, the king of Babylon. Speaking of gold, can you believe what you're seeing in the middle of this crowd of people! Look at that statue!
??Daniel chapter 3, verse 1 tells us that Nebuchadnezzar had an image of gold made that was 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide, as tall as an 8-story building! Nebuchadnezzar had ordered every political and military leader to attend the dedication of this statue. So those important people you might have seen that day were princes, governors, captains, judges, sheriffs and all kinds of rulers.
??Suddenly the king's herald cried out, "To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of all the horns, flutes, harps, and other musical instruments, that you fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not bow down to this statue will immediately be cast into a burning furnace." Perhaps some eyebrows went up in shocked surprise, as the people realized that this was more than just a dedication of some statue. This was a commandment to fall down and worship an idol! And they had better be ready to do it, no matter what they thought, or they would die in a burning furnace!
??Gospel：But wait, what is God's commandment about making and worshipping idols？Exodus 20：3-5 says, "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make any graven image (for the purpose of worship). You shall not bow down to them, nor serve them：for I the LORD your God am a jealous God." Why would God be jealous？Because God is the One Who created the world, and everyone in it! He made you! He not only made you, but He has a great love for you. How could God love us so much when the Bible says we are born as sinners, selfish and wanting our own way. God's Word says that sin must be punished by everlasting death and separation from God. You and I sin everyday and we deserve that punishment for sin. But did God give us what we deserve？No, to prove His love for us, God sent His perfect Son, Jesus Christ. Galatians 2：20 tells us that Jesus loved us and gave himself to take our punishment for sin. Jesus allowed cruel men to nail His hands and feet to the cross, and then after much suffering, He died. We celebrate Easter as the day that the Lord Jesus came alive again, 3 days after He died! Now the Lord Jesus is alive forever in Heaven, and when you call on Him to save you from your sin, He will! Jesus will give you His everlasting life. Link：After all God has done for you, can you see why He would be jealous that you would forget about Him and worship some lifeless piece of wood, or stone, or even gold？
??But out in the field of Dura, not far from the palace in Babylon, people were being commanded to fall down and worship a lifeless statue of gold, or they would be immediately burned to death in the king's furnace. What would you do？Please men and bow, or please God and burn？Daniel 3：7 says that at the time the people heard the sound of all the musical instruments, "all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up." All the people, every one？Is there no one who loved the true and living God enough to risk their life for Him？The God Whose Son had given His life for them？But wait, look over there! Do you see those Chaldeans running to the king？Let's see if we can hear what they're saying! Oh! They are telling the king that there are 3 Jewish men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who refused to bow down to worship the image! Can you see the king's face？He is furious! The Bible says that the king immediately sent for the three young men.
??While they are coming, let me ask you：Who did the right thing, the thousands who bowed, or the three who did not？Would you do the right thing even if it meant you might get in serious trouble'shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were willing to stand for God, no matter what!
??Main Teaching：If you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, you should be willing to stand for God, no matter what happens to you. What does it mean to "stand for God？" It means to stand up for the truth of the Bible, to obey what God says rather than what people want you to do. For example, God says He created the world and He made man in His image. Standing for God means you believe His account of creation in the Bible, not man's ideas of evolution. People may make fun of you or even hate you for standing for God. It may not be easy in this world to stand for God, but remember He is the true and living God, and He has promised a day when He will reward those who stand for Him! God says to love and serve Him with all your heart. Taking time away from computer games and sports to pray and read your Bible is a personal way to stand for God. It is not easy to stand for God, for many times you may feel you are the only one! But remember our Bible verse for today：Deuteronomy 31：6 "Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them：for the Lord your God, he it is that goes with you; he will not fail you nor forsake you." With the Lord on your side, you should be willing to stand for God, no matter what happens to you.
??Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were standing for God and refusing to bow down and worship the king's statue. Are they in trouble？It surely looks like they are in the worst kind of trouble! Can you just hear the people whispering as the 3 young men were led to the king："Are they crazy？Don't they know what is going to happen to them？Why didn't they just bow and make the king happy？After all, in their heart they could really worship their own god. Just one little bow, and they could save their lives!"
??The king knew these 3 young men very well, for they had served wisely in his government. In fact, the Bible said King Nebuchadnezzar had found Daniel and these 3 young men 10 times wiser than all his other leaders. Where Daniel was at this time, the Bible does not tell us. But we know he was not in that crowd or there would have 4 men who did not bow! The king decided to give Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego another chance to bow. So he repeated the warning："At the sound of the instruments of music, you will either bow and worship the image, or you will be immediately cast into the furnace." The king added, "And who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hand？"
??To everyone's surprise the young men were ready with their answer："O King Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer you 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 your hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up."
??Main Teaching：What a bold stand they were taking! Didn't they know what would surely happen to them in the next minute？Yes, they knew very well, but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had already decided that no matter what, they would stand for God. If you are a child of God, you should be willing to stand for God, no matter what.
??What is the worst thing that could happen to you because you stood boldly for God？Matthew 10：24 says, "The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord." Jesus is explaining that as He Himself had to suffer much mocking, shame, hatred, and even death, we as His followers could also expect the same. But our memory verse reminds us that the Lord Jesus will be with us even as we suffer for Him! God promises also that we will be rewarded for standing for Him! This life is very short compared to spending a wonderful eternity with the Lord Jesus! Remembering that you should be willing to stand for God, no matter what.
??No matter what, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had decided they must stand for God. So they didn't even have to think about what to say to the king. In front of the entire crowd of people, they boldly but respectfully answered：" ...we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up, " You can imagine how angry that made the proud king, to think that these foreigners would insult him in front of all his important leaders! Daniel 3：19 says, "Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego：therefore he ...commanded that they should heat the furnace ...seven times more than it was (usually) heated. And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace." So the 3 young men were quickly tied up in their clothes, and with even their hats still on, they were thrown into the middle of the burning fiery furnace. The Bible says that because the fire was so hot, it killed the strong warriors that threw the young men in. So can you imagine what it did to our 3 brave boys？But wait, let's imagine we are standing beside King Nebuchadnezzar as he watches in anger. But suddenly the king jumps up in astonishment! He shouts! "Didn't we cast 3 men bound into the midst of the fire？" The counselors answered, "True, O king." "Well then, why do I see 4 men loose, walking around in the middle of the fire, and they are not even hurt, or seeming to mind the fire？And the form of the 4th man is like the Son of God!" Who was that 4th man？It was the Lord Jesus, Who promised he would never fail us nor forsake us! Remember our Bible verse？The Lord did not spare them from the fire, but He was with them in the fire!
??Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the opening of the furnace and spoke："Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, you servants of the most high God, come out!" The 3 young men came out and stood before the king and all the crowd. Everyone gathered close, staring at Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in complete amazement. Not one hair of their head was even singed! Not even a faint odor of smoke from their bodies or their clothes!
??Do you see what the true and living God had done, boys and girls？Nebuchadnezzar had gathered all these people to bring glory to himself, but because 3 young men stood for God, the true and living God got the glory! The proud king who had been so full of self-importance now worshipped the true and living God and said to everyone present："Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him and changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own god." Then the king made a decree that if anyone spoke against the true and living God, they should be destroyed. And the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, giving them even higher positions in the kingdom of Babylon.
??If you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, are you willing to stand for God, no matter what？He is the true and living God, and remember, your promotion, or reward, will come some day! This week you will be faced with deciding whether you will tell your friends about Jesus, about whether you will spend time in prayer with God and His Word, or play. Maybe you will have to make a choice to stand for God's Word or go along with what the world says. If you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, be willing to stand for the true and living God, no matter what ! And remember He promises to give you the strength to do that!
??If you have never believed on the Lord Jesus, you will probably never be persecuted or suffer for Him here on earth. But the Bible says there is an everlasting punishment and separation from God, and that is worse than anything we would suffer here for Jesus. God loves you and longs to have you safely in His forever family, but because He loves you He allows you the time to choose for yourself if you will come to Him. Why not go to "How to Be a Child of God
??引子：快来看啊！成千上万的大人物都聚集在一个大的开阔地上。发生了什么事呢？快看，有一个人站在高处，傲气十足，身穿皇袍，头戴金光闪闪 的皇冠！那一定是尼布甲尼撒，巴比伦的王吧！说实话，你能相信你正在这样的一群人中间观望吗！快看那个像！
??但以理三章，第一节告诉我们尼布甲尼撒王造了一个金像，高六十肘，宽六肘，足有八层楼那么高！尼布甲尼撒王命令所有的政治和军事领袖都来参加像的开光大礼。所以，你那天可能看到的大人物就是 王子，官员，军长，法官，警官和其他各首领。
??突然，王的传令官大声喊着说：“各方、各国、各族的人哪，有令传与你们：??你们一听见角、笛、琵琶、琴、瑟、笙和各样乐器的声音，就当俯伏敬拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。凡不俯伏敬拜的，必立刻扔在烈火的窑中。” 可能一些人都惊诧地瞪着眼睛，这些人意识到这不只是一个像的开光大礼。这是一个俯伏敬拜偶像的命令！而且他们最好马上就那样做，不管他们心里怎么想，否则，他们将葬身于烈火的窑中！
??福音：但是请等一下，关于制造和敬拜偶像，神的诫命是什么呢？出埃及记20：3-5 说, "除了我以外，你不可有别的神。 不可为自己雕刻偶像；也不可做什么形像彷佛上天、下地和地底下、水中的百物。不可跪拜那些像；也不可事奉它，因为我耶和华你的神，是忌邪的神."为什么神是忌邪的呢？因为神是宇宙万物的创造者!他也造了你!他不仅造了你, 他还以大爱来爱你.圣经说我们生下来就是罪人, 自私, 任意而行。圣经说罪的刑罚就是永远的死和与神隔离。你我每天都在犯罪，我们是配受罪的刑罚 的。但是神是让我们受了我们应当受的吗？没有，正相反，神为了向我们证明他的大爱，差遣了他那完美的儿子---耶稣基督。
??加拉太书2∶20告诉我们耶稣爱我们, 并为我们舍己受了罪的刑罚。耶稣允许那些残忍的人钉他的手和脚，并把他钉在十字架上，受了很多苦后死了。我们今天庆祝复活节是因为耶稣在死后三天又复活了！现在主耶稣永远地住在天上。如果你求告他的名并求他救你脱离罪，他一定会的！耶稣将给你他永远的生命。结合上面：当看到神为你做的一切，你能明白当你忘记他并去敬拜那些无生命的木头，石头甚至金子时，神为什么会是忌邪的吧。
??但是在杜拉平原上，离巴比伦 的王宫不远的地方，众人被命令跪倒敬拜一个没有生命的金像，否则他们将马上被烧死在王的火窑里。你会怎样做呢？去取悦人而敬拜，还是取悦神而被烧死？
??但以理3：7 说那些人一听见各样乐器的声音，“各方、各国、各族的人都俯伏敬拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。”所有的人吗？每一个都是？就没有人因为爱又真又活的神而不惜生命吗？神的儿子可是已经把生命给了他们哪. 等一下, 看那边!你看见一些迦勒底人正奔向王吗？看我们是否能听见他们说什么!哇!他们正在告诉王有三个犹太人, 就是沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌，他们拒绝跪倒敬拜金像!你能看见王的脸色吗？王大大发怒!圣经说王立刻让人把那三个年轻人带来.
??在他们正过来的时候, 我来问问你：谁做的对呢？是那些成千上万鞠躬的人呢？还是那三个没有跪拜的人呢？即使意味着你将遇到大麻烦, 你也会选择去做对的事吗？沙得拉、米煞、和亚伯尼歌愿意为神坚立, 不管遭遇什么!
??主要教导：
??如果你以主耶稣为你的救主, 你应当愿意为神坚立, 不管你会遭遇什么.什么是"为神坚立"呢？就是去维护圣经的真理, 去遵行神的话而不是人的话.比如说, 神说他创造了宇宙并照他自己的形象造了人.为神坚立就意味着你相信圣经中关于神创造的记述, 而不是去相信人的进化论思想.人们可能会因你为神坚立而取笑你甚至于恨恶你.在今天的世界中, 想要为神坚立可能不容易, 但是你要记住他是又真又活的神, 他已经应许有一天他将赏赐那些为他坚立的人!神说你要尽心去爱他和事奉他.你可以用玩电子游戏和各种运动的时间去读经和祷告，这也是一个个人为神坚立的方式。为神坚立是不容易的，很多时候你可能会觉得你是孤单一人！但是记住我们今天的圣经经节申命记31：6 “你们当刚强壮胆，不要害怕，也不要畏惧他们，因为耶和华你的神和你同去。他必不撇下你，也不丢弃你。”有主与你同在，你当愿意为神坚立，不管会发生什么。
??沙得拉、米煞、和亚伯尼歌为神坚立而拒绝向王的像鞠躬敬拜。他们遭到麻烦了吗？看起来他们的确遭到了最大的麻烦！当这三个年轻人被带到王的面前时，周围的人在彼此小声讲论："他们疯了吗？难道他们不知道这将有什么下场吗？他们为什么就不鞠恭让王高兴一下呢？他们仍然可以在心里敬拜他们的神呢.就稍稍鞠一下恭, 他们就可以活命了!
??王非常了解这三个年轻人, 因为他们在王的宫廷里做事精明.实际上, 圣经说尼布甲尼撒王已经发现但以理和这三个年轻人比其他的长官精明十倍.这时候但以理在哪里, 圣经并没有告诉我们.但我们知道他不在那群人里, 否则不鞠躬的将有四个人!王决定再给沙得拉、米煞、和亚伯尼歌一次鞠躬敬拜像的机会.所以他重复他的警告说："你们再听见各样乐器的声音，就要俯伏敬拜这像，否则你们将立刻被扔在烈火的窑中." 王又加了一句说, "有什么神能救你们脱离我手呢？”
??每个人都大吃一惊, 因为这三个年轻人马上回答说："尼布甲尼撒王啊，这件事我们不必回答你。即便如此，我们所事奉的神，能将我们从烈火的窑中救出来。王啊，他也必救我们脱离你的手;即或不然，王啊，你当知道我们决不事奉你的神，也不敬拜你所立的金像！”
??主要教导：他们的所表现的是多么大胆啊!难道他们不知道紧接下来他们必将遭遇什么吗？是的, 他们非常清楚, 但是沙得拉、米煞、和亚伯尼歌已经决定, 不管发生什么他们都将为神坚立.如果你是神的孩子, 你应当甘愿为神坚立, 不管发生什么.
??如果就因为你为神大胆坚立, 你将遭遇患难, 最坏的情况会是怎样呢？马太福音10：24说, "学生不能超过先生, 仆人不能高过主人."耶稣是在解释说他自己将要遭到讥笑, 羞辱和恨恶, 甚至于死.我们作为耶稣的跟随者也会有一样的遭遇.但是我们的背诵经节提醒我们说, 在我们为主受苦的时候, 主耶稣会与我们同在!神应许我们他将赏赐为神坚立的人!与和主耶稣在荣耀的永恒里相比, 我们的今生是非常短暂的!要记住你当甘愿为神而坚立, 不管发生什么.
??不管发生什么, 沙得拉、米煞、和亚伯尼歌已经决定他们必要为神而坚立.所以, 他们甚至都不用去想该向王说什么.在这一大群人面前, 他们大胆却尊敬地回答说：.......我们决不事奉你的神，也不敬拜你所立的金像."你能相像王将何等发怒吗, 想想这些外族人竟敢在他所有的要臣面前冒犯他!
??但以理3：19说, " 当时，尼布甲尼撒怒气填胸，向沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌变了脸色，因此他吩咐人把窑烧热，比寻常更加七倍。又吩咐他军中的几个壮士，将沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌捆起来，扔在烈火的窑中。"所以这三人很快就被连着衣服捆起来, 甚至他们的帽子还戴在头上，就被扔在烈火的窑中。圣经说因为窑很热，以至于那抬沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌的人都被火焰烧死。所以你能相像我们这三个勇敢的男孩会怎样吗？但请等一下, 让我们相像一下, 当尼布甲尼撒生气地看着这些时, 我们就站在王的旁边。
??但突然地, 尼布甲尼撒王大为惊奇，急忙起来，大喊：“我捆起来扔在火里的不是三个人吗？”他们回答王说：“王啊，是。” 王说：“看哪，我见有四个人，并没有捆绑，在火中游行，也没有受伤，那第四个的相貌好像神子。” 第四个人是谁呢？就是主耶稣!他应许我们他将永不丢弃我们.记住我们今天的圣经经节了吗？主并不是让他们免于大火, 而是他自己与他们一起在火中!于是，尼布甲尼撒就近烈火窑门说：“至高神的仆人沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌出来，上这里来吧！”三个年轻人出来后站在王和众人面前.所有的人都凑近些, 惊奇地盯着看这三个人，他们居然一根头发也没有烧焦，衣裳和身体都没有火燎的气味。
??孩子们, 你们现在看见那又真又活的神的作为了吗？尼布甲尼撒王将所有的人召集一起, 为要荣耀他自己, 但是因为这三个年轻人为神坚立, 那又真又活的神得了荣耀!那个骄傲的王曾经是何等的自大, 现在却在敬拜这又真又活的神, 并且他对在场的所有的人说："沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌的神是应当称颂的！他差遣使者救护倚靠他的仆人，他们不遵王命，舍去己身，在他们神以外不肯事奉敬拜别神。然后王降旨，无论何人，若毁谤这又真又活的神将被处死.并且王在巴比伦王国高升了沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌。
??如果你认主耶稣为救主, 无论发生什么你都愿意为神坚立吗？他是又真又活的神, 要记住, 有一天你将得到升高和赏赐!这一周你将面临选择 , 你是否愿意向你的朋友讲诉耶稣, 告诉你的朋友你将花时间读经和祷告, 而不是去玩.也许你将不得不作个选择：是为又真又活的神坚立呢，还是随从世界的潮流度日。如果你认主耶稣为救主, 无论发生什么你都当愿意为神坚立！也要牢记，主应许他将给你那样行的力量！
??如果你从没有相信主耶稣，你今生可能永不会为主受苦或受逼迫。但是圣经说有永远的刑罚和与神隔离，那比我们为耶稣受的一切苦难都更厉害。神爱你并且他要你安稳的在他永恒的家里，但是，如果你愿意走近他，因着他爱你，他给你自己选择的时间。为什么不现在去看一下“怎样成为神的孩子？” |