Good vs. Evil: Bow Down to No Man

Preached on August 11, 2024

In the battle of good and evil, we must stand by our convictions and bow down to nobody. While many have surrendered to evil, God’s children must not surrender and become evil. Join Pastor McCrary this week as he takes another look at the stance of Daniel’s friends in the face of evil.

Introduction

Wicked and evil men desire for us to bow down before them.  Who are we, as God’s children, if we bow down to sin?  There is a battle of good versus evil taking place today and we must not cower to evil nor become evil!  We must remember that God is our light, our strength, and our salvation!  We have nothing to fear!

Evil Desires Worship

When Satan tempted Jesus, he took Christ up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him the kingdoms of the world and their glory.  Satan then said to Jesus, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me (Matt. 4:8-9).”  I want you to seriously consider what Satan said and who he said it too.  If he will try Jesus, Satan will certainly try you.

For one to fall down (or bow) before another is for one to subject themselves to the authority of another as a servant falls before their master.  So, let’s understand that Satan saw himself as a master over Christ.  The devil sought for Christ to subject Himself to his power and authority.  

This is a prime example of the spiritual battle of good and evil that we face today. Evil desires for good to surrender itself to its power.  Your conviction of faith is being tested just as Satan tested the conviction of Christ.  In its pride, evil believes its way to be better than the Lord and it desires to bring us into subjection to its way.  So, will you bow down to the way of sin?

Jesus’ response to evil’s desire

When He was tested, Jesus responded to Satan, “Away with you!  For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve (Matt. 4:10).”  

Who will you bow down to and serve?  Jesus said to us that there are two masters to choose between living under.  In Matthew 6:24, Jesus said that nobody can serve God and mammon (sin).  The reason why we can’t serve God and sin is because we would end up loving one while despising the other.  The Lord desires for us to worship Him in spirit and in truth, not half-heartedly!

Jesus did not bow before Satan!  He put Satan and sin far behind Him and served the Lord.  In serving the Lord, Christ fulfilled His calling and has made it possible for all people to have freedom from the bondage of sin.

Bow Down to No Man

So, the question that everybody must answer today is whether or not we will live in subjection to sin?  Will you bow down to sin or will you choose to live under the grace of God?

Nebuchadnezzar’s defiance and image of gold

I want to take another look at the book of Daniel this week as I continue to take a look at the battle of good and evil.  In Daniel 3, let’s focus on the conviction of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah and let’s also pay close attention to Nebuchadnezzar’s actions.  

We’ll recall that these young men had gone through the Babylonian assimilation process where their names had been changed to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego (Dan. 1:7).  Then, the king tried to change their diet but thanks to Daniel’s conviction, that did not happen.  In Daniel 3, we will once again see an attempt to get these men to conform to sin and defile themselves.  

This chapter of Daniel opens with Nebuchadnezzar having had an image covered in gold setup in a province of Babylon (Dan. 3:1).  This image of gold stood at a height of 90 feet and was 9 feet wide.  This was an image that would have been easily spotted at great distances.

Now, the story behind the making of this image isn’t certain but, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this image appeared after Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Dan. 2:24-45).  Nebuchadnezzar had seen an image in his dreams in which Daniel interpreted the golden head of the image to represent Nebuchadnezzar.  Daniel explained that this represented Nebuchadnezzar being king of kings at that time.

However, bit by bit, the image collapsed and was destroyed by the rise of a future kingdom.  Rather than seeing this dream as a warning from God, Nebuchadnezzar chose to be defiant and prideful.  He had an image made and completely covered in gold essentially spitting in the face of God.  Nebuchadnezzar saw himself as a god and believed himself to be indestructible.

Nebuchadnezzar’s command to sin

Scripture tells us that Nebuchadnezzar then sent out a command to all the people in the province to fall down and worship the golden image at the sounding of the symphony (Dan. 3:4-5).  Those who did not bow to the image were to immediately be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace (Dan. 3:6).

Does it sound like Nebuchadnezzar’s actions were righteous?  Certainly not!  This wicked king was trying to force (dictate) his way onto others.  Even worse is that he was forcing his “subjects” into idolatry – sin.  This is what wicked and evil people do – they try to force people to conform to their way.   

Whether or not this worship was sincere, I don’t know but there was a showing of worship that took place (Dan. 3:7).  To get their way, evil men love to fearmonger to get people to live in fear and control them.  This is why you should always be wary of those that love to spread fear and doom as they seek to control your thoughts and actions.

The response to sinful man

While others were bowing down to Nebuchadnezzar’s image of gold, we will see that the three young men refused (Dan. 3:12).  These young men had learned from Daniel’s conviction of faith.  When you stand by your convictions, you can encourage others to do the same when their faith is put to the test!

Now, just because you stand by your conviction, doesn’t mean the wicked are going to give up right away.  You see, wicked and evil men have great conviction too.  Those that think themselves to be gods don’t like it when someone stands up to them and will fight back!  

Nebuchadnezzar was full of rage and fury after hearing that the young men defied him (Dan. 3:13).  It’s interesting that some think it’s OK to defy God but it’s not OK when they are defied!  So, he had the young men brought before him as a means to say “I bet you won’t defy me now to my face!”

When they stood before him, Nebuchadnezzar dictated that they better bow down before the image (Dan. 3:14-15).  He again threatened them with death if they did not do as commanded.  Nebuchadnezzar thought he was showing power and authority, but frankly, he comes off as being whiny and weak.  Most of those that portray the tough guy image are pathetic and weak, which is why they always seek to be praised.  

With one last show of “power”, he said to the young men, “Who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”  Look at how powerful Nebuchadnezzar believed himself to be!  Do you know who once spoke this same way to some of God’s children?  Pharaoh.  Pharaoh asked Moses, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice (Ex. 5:2)?”  Take a guess at how things worked out for Pharaoh.

While sin can certainly be a master over man, there is one who sin has no power over.  The one that stands above sin has said, “in the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33).  I want you to understand that none of God’s children have reason to cower and give in to evil!

In their conviction of faith, the three young men said to Nebuchadnezzar in my key verse, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand.”  Let me just say that this is how you stand up to sin and wickedness!  You don’t back down!  You don’t cower!  God’s children have no reason whatsoever to ever give in to the demands of the wicked!

Surviving in Babylon

Now, here is where I will introduce a twist in today’s message.  You see, whether you realize this or not, we are living in a type of Babylon today.  Our world is shrouded in wickedness as wickedness doesn’t bother trying to hide itself.  The wickedness of today is as nasty and vile as can be as it tries to force itself onto us.  

Can’t survive by being wicked

In today’s world, are you Nebuchadnezzar or the three young Hebrew men?  What side are you on in the battle of good and evil?  Now, true Christians ought to know how to live in this type of Babylon, but sadly, many so-called “Christians” have chosen to surrender to the ways of the wicked and evil.  Many professed believers have chosen to be like Nebuchadnezzar.

Did you pay close attention to Nebuchadnezzar’s actions?  Did you pay attention to how he was trying to dictate and force his false religion onto others?  Even when the young men refused his religion, Nebuchadnezzar was adamant in trying to take away their freedom of choice.

There is a twist that I feel is necessary to talk about in today’s “Christianity”.  The “Christianity” of today is more about false religion than it is true faith.  Many so-called believers are only Christians in word whereas the Lord said that true worship is done in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).  

There are many who proclaim to be of faith today but their actions oppose that of love, liberty, and justice – that which God loves (Ps. 11:7; 37:28; Is. 61:8)!  God desires for us to love and to uplift each other. 

 Forcing things onto others when they disagree with you is not what the Lord loves!  God does not love oppression and suppression!  God does not love the tearing down of others!  Forcing someone to worship an image of gold is not something the Lord would love!  Consider this:  Has God dictated to us what we should or shouldn’t do?  No.

Nobody likes to be dictated to, even if you’re trying to dictate Christ!  Paul said it best when he said that because we know of the terror of God’s judgment, we should persuade others being compelled to do so by the love of Christ (2 Cor. 5:11,14).  There is a difference between persuading (convincing) and dictating!  So, in the battle of good and evil, God’s children ought not be like Nebuchadnezzar!  

In this battle, we must be like Daniel, and the three young men who lived with a true conviction of faith in God’s way.  In this battle, we must be true to our identity in Christ!  When you know who you are, you know what you’re living and fighting for!  However, when you surrender your identity, you lose your power and will bow down to anything.

Trusting the care and protection of God

The three young men looked evil in the face and said to Nebuchadnezzar, “We do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up (Dan. 3:18).”  This is how you defeat evil and wickedness!  These young men completely shut the door to sin’s hunger to dictate and rule over them!  

In the battle of good and evil, we must take this same stance and with our authority, we must shut the door on the wicked and evil.  We do this by completely refusing them!  The wicked and evil must know that we don’t accept their actions of wickedness.  We need to let the wicked know that we aren’t for tearing down others, abusing others, nor are we for injustice but for justice and liberty!

Nebuchadnezzar saw their absolute refusal and still believed he had the final say over them.  Nebuchadnezzar had the young man thrown in the furnace still wearing their coats, trousers, turbans, and garments (Dan. 3:21-22).  He desired for their death to be painful and excruciating!  When the wicked and the evil realize they have lost, they do their very best to cause chaos and destruction!  Should we be afraid?

The exceedingly hot furnace was supposed to be certain death for these young men, but again, they had already won.  As Nebuchadnezzar looked on, scripture tells us that he was astonished as he saw there were now four standing on their feet and walking in the midst of the flames (Dan. 3:25).  He had wondered what god could deliver them from his hand and well, the only God had shown up!

The Lord has said that when we pass through waters, He will be with us.  The Lord has said that when we pass through rivers, they won’t overflow us.  God has said to us that when we walk through fire, we won’t be burned and scorched (Is. 43:2).  In this Babylon, where good and evil is being fought, we must live knowing that God is our keeper!

To the disciples, Jesus said that His sheep are in His care and He gives them everlasting life (John 10:28).  To those that think they can take us out of His hands, Jesus said that no one will snatch His sheep from Him!  

Make God your refuge

We must make God our refuge.  When God is your refuge, you have nothing to fear – not even the threats of the wicked and evil.  God will not let your soul be moved!

The Lord is the light of our salvation, who shall we fear?  God, David said, is the strength of our life; Of whom should we be afraid (Ps. 27:1)?  Though the battle of good and evil wages on, if you have made God your refuge, you have nothing to fear.  We have no need to bow down in fear of what the wicked and evil do.  

The fact of the matter is that we ought to be standing and fighting – the wicked should fear the Lord.  The reason why that is because God always wins.  So, again, I encourage you to have the conviction of Daniel’s friends and stand up to the wicked and the evil.  Never bow down to sin!  Put on the whole armor of God, stand with conviction against evil, and all of us will overcome!