— LAST SUNDAY'S SERMON —

For the non-Christian who has not trusted Christ with your life and your eternal life, it should motivate you to submit to Christ. And for those of us who are His children, it should motivate us to live holy every single day. Are you ready to stand alone before God and give an account for your life right now, as you look at and evaluate your own life and heart?

Throughout the centuries, theologians have called pride the chief of all other sins. It’s always pride which justifies disobedience, rationalizes wrong actions, and excuses rebellion. That’s why God reserves some of His strongest words for condemning the sin of pride. Pride is on the top of His hit list.

Here we’ll find how to trust God when it gets hot. You know the story, but let’s take a close look at how Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego trusted God when life was literally heating up. And remember, a clear indication of your maturity as a Christian is to see how you respond to trials. Nothing will show you your character, integrity and genuine relationship with Christ as well as a hot ordeal–a fiery furnace.

As we cruise through this chapter, you’ll be happy to discover that the God who loves us is a know-it-all. He knows everything about this world, everything about you, everything about your future this week, this year, and the remainder of your life. And He’ll prove it in Chapter 2.

“When the Son of man comes, will He find the faith on the earth. Will there be anyone who believes in Me, or will all of them have sold out?” Will anyone still stand with me when I come, or will all have compromised?

A long time ago, the proud king of a young nation began to conquer the world. This mighty king would take young prisoners he captured and turn them into his servants. He would train them in the ways of his nation, and his goal was to turn them from following their god(s), to follow his gods. He was sure after three years of his best brainwashing, they’d end up as loyal Babylonians, no longer willing to serve their God. This king was certain he could get anyone to compromise. But Nebuchadnezzar was proven wrong by Daniel.

Some 2,500 years ago, a thirteen-year-old boy was torn from his home, his family and relatives, as his country was enslaved and eventually destroyed. He was thrown into the forced service of a king who ruled the world. Along with hundreds of youths his own age, and most of the surviving people of his country, they became slaves of a conquering nation known throughout the entire world as Babylon the Great. The boy’s name was Daniel, and he and the nation Israel had been taken captive, and now would be in exile for seventy years. Why was God doing this? God was trying to get their attention.

In preparation for our study of the book of Daniel . . . in order to see how Daniel fits into the big picture of God’s plan–in order to feel the tension behind the events and prophecies of this prophet–in order to properly apply the instruction of Daniel to our lives–in order to see what God had to do in order to provide salvation for you and for me . . . today we will run through the Old Testament to get the big picture of redemption.