Any child in church has heard the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego and King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 3. King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold image 90 feet high and 9 feet wide and decreed that everyone must bow down and worship it every time the music played and whoever did not bow would be immediately cast into the fiery furnace--a fire so hot that anyone who even approached the flames would die. We all know the story:
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
Today, we are in a 21st century version of this story. God's people are being strong-armed to bow down to the god of perversion. On its right is Jezebel who castrates (emasculates) men and uses lust and manipulation to get her way. On its left is its "strong-arm", Fear, who brings mankind to its knees.
Fellow believers in Christ, I am here today to tell you that we cannot bow to perversion! How do we do that? First, by getting God's Word burned into our minds and hearts. Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11 If we know God's standards, we can stand strong when deception comes. Second, recognize the words and actions of this demonic trio. The world today--government and political correctness out-of-control--have become bullies pushing their agenda. They have drawn a line in the sand and instead of God's people standing firm and boldly declaring God's standard, they bow down and erase the line.
There are churches today--and there will be more as our world turns up the heat--who bow to bullying demands. They deny God's Word out of fear--fear of lost members, lost revenue, lost tax exempt status, and fear of looking narrow minded and bigoted. It is pathetic that the American church will turn it's back on God's standards so easily. Their lives aren't threatened as they are in so many parts of the world. They can be brought down in fear of losing status and things!
Our churches, from the pastor on down, are bowing down to that demonic trio of perversion, lust and fear daily--adultery and fornication are rampant among "believers". Any perversion you can think of, you can find in the church among its members and leaders.
This isn't about pointing fingers. This is to inspire you to open your eyes to the spiritual aspect of what is going on in the world today. The world--and today's church--needs to see Kingdom Citizens who hold up God's standard to the world and say, This is what God says....! We become a living example of those standards. When the bullies come, we do not waver. We do not bend and we do not bow! We are a beacon of light, shining in a dark and murky world. If we don't, who will?
Remember, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego didn't even have a hair singed. They didn't even smell of smoke! And they weren't alone in the midst of their trial. So what do you have to fear?
You will never see the supernatural power of God released in your life and your world as long as you hide on the sidelines, silently protesting, just "going along to get along".
Stand up for God's standards--be bold--“Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” 2 Chronicles 32:7-8
I encourage you today to be strong in the Lord.
Never compromise.
Never bow down!
Ephesians 6:10-20
~~Be strong, be blessed! Arlene
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
Today, we are in a 21st century version of this story. God's people are being strong-armed to bow down to the god of perversion. On its right is Jezebel who castrates (emasculates) men and uses lust and manipulation to get her way. On its left is its "strong-arm", Fear, who brings mankind to its knees.
Fellow believers in Christ, I am here today to tell you that we cannot bow to perversion! How do we do that? First, by getting God's Word burned into our minds and hearts. Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11 If we know God's standards, we can stand strong when deception comes. Second, recognize the words and actions of this demonic trio. The world today--government and political correctness out-of-control--have become bullies pushing their agenda. They have drawn a line in the sand and instead of God's people standing firm and boldly declaring God's standard, they bow down and erase the line.
There are churches today--and there will be more as our world turns up the heat--who bow to bullying demands. They deny God's Word out of fear--fear of lost members, lost revenue, lost tax exempt status, and fear of looking narrow minded and bigoted. It is pathetic that the American church will turn it's back on God's standards so easily. Their lives aren't threatened as they are in so many parts of the world. They can be brought down in fear of losing status and things!
Our churches, from the pastor on down, are bowing down to that demonic trio of perversion, lust and fear daily--adultery and fornication are rampant among "believers". Any perversion you can think of, you can find in the church among its members and leaders.
This isn't about pointing fingers. This is to inspire you to open your eyes to the spiritual aspect of what is going on in the world today. The world--and today's church--needs to see Kingdom Citizens who hold up God's standard to the world and say, This is what God says....! We become a living example of those standards. When the bullies come, we do not waver. We do not bend and we do not bow! We are a beacon of light, shining in a dark and murky world. If we don't, who will?
Remember, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego didn't even have a hair singed. They didn't even smell of smoke! And they weren't alone in the midst of their trial. So what do you have to fear?
You will never see the supernatural power of God released in your life and your world as long as you hide on the sidelines, silently protesting, just "going along to get along".
Stand up for God's standards--be bold--“Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” 2 Chronicles 32:7-8
I encourage you today to be strong in the Lord.
Never compromise.
Never bow down!
Ephesians 6:10-20
~~Be strong, be blessed! Arlene
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