Live Free with Josh Howerton - Stand Up & Stand Out | Ep. 438 | Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Episode Date: October 9, 2024

Sometimes, we are challenged to distinguish ourselves by leading a life of integrity, honor, and devotion to God. It is possible to hold steadfast to our beliefs without adopting a rebellious attitude or fearing opposition. God can accomplish anything required with the ability and power to execute His great plans. He stands as our Hope and the anchor for our souls amidst life's challenges. Embrace courage and humility in your journey alongside God. For more biblical teaching and worship, join us for our Church Online live weekend services on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Thanks for tuning in to today's Daily Drive with Lake Point Church, a daily dose of God's Word for your morning drive. When the word, not the world, becomes the majority of your week, your life will start to change. For that reason, our prayer is that God will speak to you through today's devotional. For more digital content to feed your faith, visit lakepoint.comit. And now let's dive in to today's devotional. Hey, thanks for joining us today on the Daily Drive. I'm Mike Bro, an honor to have you with us. We have been walking through a story from Daniel chapter 3 in the Old Testament section of the Bible

about these three guys Shad, Rak, Meshach, and the Bendigo, or if you grew up with veggie tails, rack, shack, and Benny. King Nebuchadnezzar is the ruler of the Babylonian Empire, and he sets up this nine-story statue, this golden god, so to speak, that represented his own greatness and majesty. And then he commands everybody. Every day when the music starts at a certain time, you've got to stop what you're doing, and you've got to bow down and worship.

If you don't, you will die. Well, Rackshack and Benny are high officials in Nebuchadnezzar's administration, and they serve with honor, respect, humility, and excellence. But bowing to a so-called God, when they know Yahweh, the real God, that's where they draw the line. And they don't make a show about it. it. They're not obnoxious about it. They just don't go with the flow and do what everybody else does

and bow down. And as they stood up, they stood out and got in deep, deep trouble. Let's pick up verse 13 in Daniel chapter 3. Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered Shadrach Meshach and Abedigo to be brought before him. When they were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar said to them, is it true Shadrach, Mesh, and Abindigo, that you refuse? to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I've set up? I will give you one more chance. I think the king is probably thinking, maybe they didn't hear the announcement,

maybe they were in a meeting, they didn't get the memo. I might need to give them the benefit of the doubt, because these are three of my best, some of the most valuable members of my administration. I've got to give them at least another shot. So he says, if you bow down and worship the statue I've made, when you hear the sound of the musical instruments,

all will be well. We'll forget all about it. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And let me ask you, what God will be able to rescue you from my power then? In other words, he's saying, there is no God greater than me. I mean, dude is an egomaniac piece of work. Verse 16. They replied,

O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. if we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, your majesty. But even if he doesn't, your majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you've set up. I love how they stand before the king

with total confidence. And did you notice how respectfully they address him as your majesty? It's like they're saying, we're not trying to be difficult here. We're not trying to be rebellious. You know our character. You know how well we've served you. But, sir, we just can't do this.

You see, we love God, and we drew a line in her heart long before we ever landed here in Babylon, that we were going to consistently and authentically serve him. And the God whom we serve, he is able to save us. That's the answer to your question. That God. My wife gave me a great exercise to do years ago. I may have shared it on the talk.

guess before. It's right down on a piece of paper. If blank, then blank. If blank, then blank. And then fill in the first blank with the worst thing that you can think of. If blank happens, then, ugh. That's why you've got to fill in the last blank first. If blank, then God. If blank, well, then God. That's the way these guys lived. If blank happens, whether we're fired or fried, no matter what fills in that. first blank, the second blank is already filled in. If blank, well, then God. That's their answer to his question. What God will be able to rescue you then? The God of our blank. The God whom we serve. He is able. He has the power. In case you've forgotten your majesty, he gave you

your kingdom. Our God can read minds. He can reveal secrets. He controls the tides. He stores the thunder in places no one has ever been. He knows every star, every green. of sand, every hair on your head, and he's not just 90 feet tall like your statue. He could wade into the deepest ocean and still only be ankle-deep. He could play marbles with the planets. He has perfect vision, but if he did wear contacts and drop one, it would wipe out the entire Babylonian Empire because he is huge. He is supreme.

He is sovereign. He is the giver of all good gifts, and he is the anchor of our soul. He is our hope. He is the one who put the capacity to love and laugh and cry and feel. in our hearts. He has the power to forgive in ways that only we could hope to learn. He alone can rescue. He alone can save. He alone can lift us from the grave. Oh yeah, the God whom we serve, the God whom we love, the God we believe and trust and know, that God, that God is able to save us. And I just pray that today you would walk courageously and humbly with that God.

he is still able to save. Hope you have a great day. We'll see you back here tomorrow. Thanks for tuning in today. For more biblical teaching and worship, join us for our church online live weekend services on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information about all the digital ministries of Lake Point,

visit lakepoint.compt.combe. Also, if this podcast was helpful to you, would you be sure to rate, review, and share this podcast to help the word out.