DCLM Higher Everyday 16 May 2023 — Take A Stand – Part 2
DCLM Higher Everyday 16 May 2023 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Take A Stand – Part 2
Topic: Take A Stand – Part 2
Text — : Daniel 3:22-30
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.
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.
27And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
28Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
29Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
Key Verse: “Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God” (Daniel 3:28).
Message
One Sunday morning during service, a-2,000-member congregation was surprised to see two men enter carrying sub-machine guns. One of the men proclaimed, “Anyone willing to take a bullet for Christ remain where you are.” Immediately, the choir, the deacons and most of the congregation fled. Only about 20 people remained. The man took off his hood and said, Okay Pastor, I got rid of all the hypocrites. Now you may begin your service. Have a nice day!”
The angry countenance of Nebuchadnezzar did not move the three Hebrew young men an inch. They were bold in the face of death. While others bowed down and worshipped his idol, they stood out from the crowd. Stand for Christ and He will surely be there for you. One with God is a majority. Cheating in tests and exam is sinful, stand out! The righteous are bold as a lion in the face of intimidation, harassment or trial of faith. A so-called believer without conviction may cave in and compromise his/her faith, but stand up for Jesus.
Quote: Stand for Christ
Challenge: God never disappoints, stand for Him.
Prayer for today: Almighty God, help me to keep the faith of our fathers.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
