But If Not, I'm Still Standing
Pastor Erickson preaches from Daniel 3, where Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego tell the king that God is able to deliver them, but if not, they still will not bow to the golden image. He encourages a church facing sickness, job loss and grief to stand with boldness, faith and commitment, knowing the fourth man is with them in the fire.
The message in 6 points
But if not, I'm still standing
With the church worried about health, jobs and losing loved ones, he brings a word of encouragement from Daniel 3. Taking his title from verse 18, he says that even if God does not come when we expect, we still stand, because he is an on-time God.
48:59The marshal who was on his way
He recalls a Louis L'Amour western where the townspeople said the marshal would show up on time, but if not, they would not back down. He says the three Hebrew boys had that same resolve.
53:43They changed their names
Babylon took the best young men and gave them new names tied to false gods to make them forget the God of their fathers. He says the world can call God's people anything, but it cannot define their identity, and he warns against being only almost apostolic.
59:08Purposed in their hearts
Daniel purposed in his heart not to eat the king's meat, and the boys refused to become Babylonian. He tells young people they cannot lead others out of bondage while living the same lifestyle, and that even those who live right go through fiery trials.
1:05:13The fourth man in the fire
The three stand while everyone bows, answer the king that God is able to deliver them, and are thrown into a furnace whose flames rise higher than the statue. They fall down bound in the fire, and the king sees a fourth man walking with them like the Son of God.
1:09:34Boldness, faith and commitment
He names three marks of the Hebrew boys: boldness, faith and commitment, and says believers will not bend or bow whatever comes. The fourth man stays in the fire with us, and you must go through the test to have a testimony, because if you stand for God, God will stand for you.
1:19:05
In his words
“If God doesn't show up when I think he's going to show up, I'm still going to be standing.”
“They can name us anything they want to name us, they can call us anything they want to call us, but they cannot change the identity.”
“Unless you go through the test, you'll never have a testimony. Unless you go through a trial, you'll never be able to go look back one day and say God brought me through it.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
Daniel 3:1-2
1Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
King James Version.
Daniel 3:4-6
4Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 5That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: 6And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
King James Version.
Daniel 3:17-18
17If 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. 18But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
King James Version.
Daniel 3:14-15
14Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 15Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
King James Version.
Daniel 3:19-25
19Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 20And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
King James Version.
Daniel 3:26
26Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
King James Version.
Daniel 3:30
30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
King James Version.
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