FAITH BY WORKS (2)
TOPIC: FAITH BY WORKS (2)
TEXT: DANIEL 3:1-30
MEMORY VERSE: “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.” – Daniel 3:17
As Christians, we must give emphasis on behaving Christian rather than on becoming Christian. The three Hebrews said, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter, O Nebuchadnezzar. In Daniel 3, there are three important things to look at for any of the king’s subjects to faithfully say I obey the king’s commandment completely: 1) the golden image, 2) the king’s decree, and 3) the bow. If there must be a bow, then it must be in line with the king’s commandment. It was not just the three Hebrews that failed to bow down to the king’s golden image; some people within the music band of the king’s palace did not actually obey. Here is the decree, “That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet(1), flute(2), harp(3), sackbut(4), psaltery(5), dulcimer(6), and all kinds of musick(7), ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:” – Daniel 3:5.
Let us look at the call to tell you that the three Hebrews were not guilty of the offence: “Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet(1), flute(2), harp(3), sackbut(4), psaltery(5), and all kinds of musick(7), all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up” – Daniel 3:7. Is it deliberate that instrument number 6 (dulcimer) was omitted during the call? No! There are some Hebrews or some other people within the king’s camp who refused also to bow to the king’s image; check also Daniel 3:5,10,15, you will realized that it was only during the call that instrument number 6 which is dulcimer was omitted. Somebody did not play one of the instruments, the king’s commandment was not complete and these Hebrews were aware. So these young men could base their arguments on this fact but refused to defence themselves, rather chose to defence the name of their God and their faith. By implication, they shew their faith by their works.
Beloved, if you claim you have faith, where are the evidences? What are the things you have done for God, fellowman, or woman that you can show as a Christian? Abraham offered Isaac to God and it was counted unto him as righteousness. Can you boast of paying 100 naira or 200 as offering since the time you gave your life to Christ and you are calling yourself a Christian? When was the last time you helped somebody? When was the last time you visited the poor or the orphanages? People will know you as a Christian when you behave your Christianity. Your fervency alone in church does not make you a child of God.
Did the God of Heaven not reward the Hebrew boys? He did! Therefore, God will also reward your acts of faithfulness and stand with you during the period of trials and temptations. He said, fear thou not, I will be with thee – Isaiah 41:10. Again, he says, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee...” – Isaiah 43:2. Rely on the Word of God, rise up and defend your faith today. if any man claims to have faith but does nothing, that faith is worth nothing. Faith like that cannot save anyone.
Word Affirmation: "So we may boldly say: ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" - Hebrews 13:6 (Don't just say it, mean it!)
“People will know you as a Christian when you behave your Christianity.”
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