[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]In the book of Daniel there’s a story about a King named Nebuchadnezzar who demanded everyone bow down daily and worship a golden image… a false god. The signal to drop down and bow to the golden image was connected to music.
Daniel 3:10 spells out the “decree” from the evil king, “Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image.”
Have you heard the story about three men named Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? These three men were among those who were under King Nebuchadnezzar’s rule but they were true God followers. When the music sounded they refused to bow down to a false god. Talk about standing strong under peer pressure!
When King Nebuchadnezzar heard about these three men and their refusal to obey him he called for them to be brought to him. He threatened them with a severe punishment. He told them they would be thrown into a furnace of fire if they didn’t bow down next time the music sounded. They immediately responded by making these things clear in Daniel 3:16-18…
- We will not bow down.
- Our God will deliver us.
- If He doesn’t deliver us… our legacy will be that we did not turn from God.
Read Daniel 3:20-30 to see the amazing finale to this story. In summary, they were thrown into the fire after the king turned up the heat seven times hotter. But these three God followers survived and within eight Bible verses… the evil king had a life-changing experience of his own.
The story of 14 year old Susan from Uganda is a more current illustration of the question, “How far will you go to follow God?” Her father threatened to kill her and her brother unless she was willing to deny Jesus.
Watch this video of her amazing determination to not deny the Jesus she loves dearly.
[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_youtube id=”https://youtu.be/R27pSpWgmBE” width=”600″ height=”350″ autoplay=”no” api_params=”” class=””/]
Question, “How far will you go to follow God? Are you willing to give Him your all? Are you ready to stop yielding to peer pressure?”
Let your love for Jesus be stronger than the favor of your friends.
Verses to Read: Daniel 3:8-18
Daniel 3:17, “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 thine hand, O king.”
Ken Turner
Learn more at https://kenturnerministries.org/walking-with-god/
Email me at kenturner@highimpactteens.org[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
