This Week’s Experience – 3/15/2020

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Order of Service

Music……………………..Worship Team
King of Glory
Welcome……………………….Bill Butler
Music……………………..Worship Team
Reason
Build My Life
Message……………..Gilbert Thurston
Refusing to Blend In
Special Music………….Worship Team
Even If
Offering & Announcements
Music……………………..Worship Team
Another in the Fire
Dismissal……………………….Bill Butler

Message notes

An official stood up and announced: People of every nation and race, now listen to the king’s command! Trumpets, flutes, harps, and all other kinds of musical instruments will soon start playing. When you hear the music, you must bow down and worship the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Anyone who refuses will at once be thrown into a flaming furnace.

-Daniel 3:4-6

 O king, there are some men of Judah whom you made officers in the area of Babylon that did not pay attention to your order. Their names are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They do not serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.

-Daniel 3:12

1. As a follower of Jesus, I must stand in .

King Nebuchadnezzar was furious. So he sent for the three young men and said, “I hear that you refuse to worship my gods and the gold statue I have set up. Now I am going to give you one more chance. If you bow down and worship the statue when you hear the music, everything will be all right. But if you don’t, you will at once be thrown into a flaming furnace. No god can save you from me.”

-Daniel 3:13-15

2.  As a follower of Jesus, I must stand strong in my faith even when .

The king wanted it done at that very moment. So the soldiers tied up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and threw them into the flaming furnace with all of their clothes still on, including their turbans. The fire was so hot that flames leaped out and killed the soldiers.

-Daniel 3:21-23

3.  As a follower of Jesus, I must stand strong in my faith even in the midst of .

Suddenly the king jumped up and shouted, “Weren’t only three men tied up and thrown into the fire?” “Yes, Your Majesty,” the people answered. “But I see four men walking around in the fire,” the king replied. “None of them is tied up or harmed, and the fourth one looks like a son of god.” Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the open door of the flaming furnace and yelled: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God! Come out! Come here!” So they stepped out of the fire.

 -Daniel 3:24-26

“Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.”

-Daniel 3:29

Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you.

 -1 Peter 4:12

The Lord will always keep me from being harmed by evil, and he will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. Praise him forever and ever! Amen.

 -2 Timothy 4:18

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.

-Daniel 3:16-18

4.  As a follower of Jesus, I must stand strong in my faith of what happens to me.

LIFE APPLICATION
To discuss during the week with your family or Life Group

1.      Are you vocal about your faith or do you tend to shy away and become private and reserved about it?  Regardless, why?

2.      Have you faced any persecution for your faith? In what way? How did you respond?

3.      In what area of life do you right now need to have an “even if he does not” kind of faith?

4.      What is your next step as a result of this message?