March 19, 1997

Daniel 3:8-18

For this reason at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and brought charges against the Jews. [9] They responded and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: "O king, live forever! [10] "You yourself, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, is to fall down and worship the golden image. [11] "But whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. [12] "There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. These men, O king, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up."

[13] Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. [14] Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? [15] "Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you will not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?" [16] Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. [17] "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. [18] "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."

For the sake of those who are new just to quickly summarize we have talking about an old, old book. It was written about 600 B. C. and Daniel and the Jews were all around by the Babylonians and in Chapter 2, we had interpreted the dream of the king and in Chapter 3, The king he asked everybody, he made his nice statue. And basically for the others who were not here last week just to quickly review, Worship is the essence, some people ask me what is the essence, the people who know their God take this place strength and take action. What is the essence of knowing God? What will we do in heaven if were there? Worship, at the essence of knowing God is worship, that’s what the angel do in heaven and so last week we talk about worship and here we from the example of the pagan king what false worship was. We want to emphasize that again because many, many people they worship and it is false. What are the characteristic that we see, this king what can we learn? 1) False worship, it is always force. Worship cannot be a forced thing. It removes your free will, what else? False worship focuses on a lot of external, bow down to this, do that, it’s a lot of rituals. So many people, they do rituals they go through this routine that they have done since they were a little kid then you ask them, what’s that all about? How many of you used to do things that you never had any idea what this things about? We used to do that, you have no idea, you just go and do it. The bible calls that, you do it by rote. And basically Jesus pinpoints false worship at its root. Let’s go to Mathew 15, just to quickly review, What is the root of false worship? Mathew 15, in the new testament, you would rather follow your tradition and break the commandments of God than vice versa. Break your tradition follow the commandment and so Jesus summarizes everything. Let us read the second half of v. 6, And thus you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. [7] "You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,

[8] 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS,

BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.

[9] 'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME,

TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.' "

The essence of false worship is it does not come from God, you will not find it in other words in God’s word. And once it is formulated by man it will always forget God’s thought, it is not based on the Bible. So, so much of worship is really unacceptable to God, people just go and do it they have met their obligation for know to the Lord. Turn to John 4, Does God know everything? Does God need anything? Does God look for everything? Most of us we do not know God. John 4, do you know that more women worship than men? Is that true? Look at the churches, who will you find in the churches, men or women? Why do you think that so? Why there are more women? Why are there more women worshipping than men? Women are more insecure than men so they like to depend on God, women do you agree? Actually who is more insecure, the woman or the man? The man, because the man is the one who is supposed to perform, So why? It’s a phenomenal, you go all over the world, you will never see, why? Just a guess, nothing biblical, because they have softer hearts, Do you agree ladies? Come on ladies tell us why you come and worship? Why are lots of women going to church? They are more submissive, because the men are very preoccupied with many other things except God. Why are women not preoccupied, because the women do a lot more thing… in spite of that why did they go to the churches? Did you notice Jesus, He had his twelve male apostles. Nobody can fulfill them except God. In other words they have lots of unfulfilled women, is that true? Anyway, it’s been true, it’s been like that, but in the old days it was not like that but now in Chapter 4 of John, Babae, Jesus was talking to her, she was an adulterer, she have five husband, was she fulfilled? V. 16, "Broke all your husband" v. 17, The woman answered, "I have no husband," Jesus said to her, "You have well said it" ‘I have no husband’ so you have had five husbands and the one whom you now have is not your husband, this you have truly. Was she a fulfilled woman? Looking for fulfillment. If you think ladies you will find fulfillment in a husband? are we going to be correct or wrong? They all look forward to fulfillment before the marriage after the marriage, they’re still looking, whether that’s true or not this particular woman, she had five husband. Did Jesus know that? Was that a good thing? No, but you notice … about her sin, Jesus wanted to elevate the fact that she was a sinner, what did this lady do? The woman said to him, "Sir, I proceed that you are a prophet. V. 20, what did she discussed instead of discussing her husband and her sex life what did she discussed? Worship, it move with the worship of God. I think she’s about correct, "Our father worship in this mountain and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Look at what she said, The reason why we worship in this mountain is what? … so therefore we worship in this mountain. If we are grown up in a culture that worship in a mountain, where do you think you guys will be worshipping? In the mountain. In other words it was being conditioned by what had gone before. Some are afraid to break away from the old traditions, why? They’re afraid. If I’ve been doing this, who are they scared of ? Are they scared of God? Look at the rebuke of Jesus, Jesus then gives them a lesson on worship will never forget. Jesus said to her, "The brilliant teacher Jesus said, "Woman, believe me an hour is coming when neither in this mountain know in Jerusalem shall we worship the father, you worship that which you do not know. We worship that which we know for salvation is from the Jews. Now, look at this very strange line in 22, you worship that which you do not know. What is the essence of knowing God? Worship. You must worship the father but if don’t know the father worship is useless and if were that women,… You worship that which you do not know and then notice we worship that which we know so salvation is from the Jews. The starting point of worship is you must first be save. Salvation comes from the Jews, then Jesus said, but an hour… what’s the nationality of Jesus? He is a Jew. 23, but an hour is coming Jesus said, "And now is, when two worshippers shall worship the Father, how? In spirit and truth. For such people the father seeks to be his worshippers, God knows everything but you know God is seeking something, you know what God is looking for? True worshippers. The mere fact that Jesus said, there are true worshippers that means there are false. True worship obviously comes from the heart. ‘They worship me with their lip but their heart is far form me.’ Notice, sabi ni Jesus, "The manner of worship is defined not by man but by God. Look at v. 24, God is Spirit and therefore those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth. In other words, must be consistent with the character of God. You should worship in the same way that your worshipper is, God is what? Spirit. The word for spirit in Greek is "Pnuema" it’s the same word as wind. Can you see the wind? God is Spirit you cannot see therefor your worship must be in Spirit as well and when every time you make a statue of any kind that is in violation for death cause no statue can ever represent spirit it violates the basic essence of God. Any statue, it does not matter what it is. If it is in violation of the basic character of God because God is spirit and you cannot see Him. And the second thing you must worship in spirit and in truth that means My word is truth. If your worship is not consistent in the character of God and it is not in line with the truth you got two things wrong that means you are worshipping is in vain. Why is it always a lie? Because eyes, they cannot see, because mouth they cannot speak, because ears and it cannot hear, Psalm 115. And it says, those who trust in those things will be like dead. God is here and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth and therefore we made a point last week that worship covers to a total life not just a ritual it is Monday to Sunday. You know that man who stood up here his name is Peter, you know your name up to the apostle Peter. When he said, I will not compromise with the world what was he doing? That is worship, he is presenting to God as an offering that is undefiled. It has to rule your life not ritual, not going to church and the idea the reason why God is finding it difficult to see the true worshippers is the key manifestation is obedience to God’s word. You obey God’s word? Indeed you know God then you say, "Lord I worship you," all other praises are irrelevant. If you are disobeying God’s word, and you refused to worship Him in spirit and in truth just because yan ang ginagawa ng parents mo your worship will be in vain. We digress when ever the issue is very important because you know never say to yourself that it’s a small issue, never say to yourself that going to this place or that place is a small issue. If the issue is worship of God it is central, it is very important. Many people think it’s side, I’ll go to the bible study and do this, that and the other then I’ll be saved, No!. Once you see it in the bible you should obey. Daniel chapter 3, we want to teach you how to study the bible as well as how what Daniel is all about using Daniel as the example. The previous weeks chapter 1, 2&3, We were saying what is the way to do, it is you read it, you look for the what, what is happening? What is going on? So what you must do is you take over all those facts and then translate it to a general principle. Take the specific. The king of Babylon, how do I make it general? What’s the king? He is a what? A ruler, an authority, automatically you have an application point. Tonight we like to take you to an even differ level. Many times we, we who read the bible, we who are Christians, you know what’s our problem? Our problem? Our problem, we remain on the surface, we become very superficial believers and so tonight we want to teach you a simple truth and if you apply it into your life the way you read the bible, lalalim yung Christianity mo. Instead of asking the simple question, what is happening?, what should you do? like in chapter 3:8-18, what’s happening there? Look at v. 8, What’s happening there? You know what Chaldeans are? They’re the group of priest, somehow they are always associated priests, Chaldeans. What did these priests do? they came forward and brought charges against the Jews. Now we want to teach you the second level in bible study instead of what we look at the fact then you ask , what should you ask? Why? Why do you do that? it does not saved, what do you think? Why did they bring a charge against these Jews? if you need it, … O king live forever!, will the king ever lived forever? No. And then there are certain Jews whom you appointed, these men have disregarded you. How many agree that they were jealous? Why? Why were they’re doing it? To bring them down. So you ask a question like that, then you ask yourself. Do I do that?, Do we do that? You know if you get the answer right and your correct; anger, slander. Slander is the process it is not the why. Many of us, we come to know the Lord, notice all the testimony that you will hear, they will fall in three categories, then they stand up and say,… those are the kind of testimony you normally here. See those are the easy ones, those are the visual ones, those are the super visual ones, those are the very obvious ones but many believers stayed there and they think they’re all go to heaven because now they don’t drink anymore, not true. Tonight, we’d like to talk to you about going much deeper inside your soul, your removing something and that might be in there looking around and you never even knew it. It’s one of the deadliest things that you can have. You can even say it is right concept. It is so deadly, that every evil thing surrounds you and many of us who get rid of the ladies, of the drinks, of the smoking, the vices and we think we got it made, you have to think again because Christianity is not external, Christianity is not skin deep. Let me show you, put your finger in Daniel, in Galatians 5:19, Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, notice the bible is accurate, so many people, what do they do? They remove. It’s easy to remove but you see the bible does not stop there, then it goes to what we call the socially acceptable sins and do you know v. 20, begins with what sin? idolatry, Once you have that idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, let me ask you, if your husband commits adultery or gets drunk, is that a worst sin than if gets angry? In your mind, yes or no? Which is worst, jealousy or outburst of anger? How many got angry last week, how many got angry in the traffic, look at the traffic… primary source but do you know, outside of idolatry from the the deadliest sins is in there and it’s why the Chaldeans did it. What’s that? It’s called jealousy, the jealousy of man. A deadly sin that we don’t even tackle, we don’t even think about it. It is hidden, it is underneath the surface and we don’t see it. Have you ever the heard the testimony and say, "I am a jealous man, that’s my great sin." We don’t bother to go that deep, we don’t even know and we think it’s okay. It’s not okay, those are the deeds of a flesh. The fruit of the Spirit, if you have the holy spirit, if you filled with the holy spirit. Look at [21] what’s the warning in 21, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, what are you being warned about? I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Are these strong words? Galatians, Ephesians, it contains the same warning. If you look at your life and your life spells something like this you need to think again. What is Jesus telling, What’s the bible saying? There’s an easy way to look. We want to show you tonight the distinct word jealousy, it’s really dangerous, you’ve really got to search. Many times we don’t see but the warning is here I forewarn you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. The first point we want to make about jealousy, see once you ask the question why, and then you answer it with jealousy then you are now into what we call it Topical Bible Study. Turn to Proverbs 27:4, Let’s read together, Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, But who can stand before jealousy? What is this verse saying to us? There is destruction okay, what else? Anger is destructive it’s very hard to control. What the bible is saying is that jealousy is more controlling than anger, it will take a hold of you, it is one of the most controlling attitudinal sins, emotional sins, it is more deadly than anger. Who can stand before jealousy? Everybody will fall, everybody will go, it is very, very dangerous. What else do we know about jealousy? Turn you bible please to James 4, it is more controlling than anger, it is one of the most controlling sins James 4:1&2, What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? [2] You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. Are there many sources of quarrels, husband and wife if you ever quarrel, sometimes you will think ang source nito because my husband committed immorality, that’s why we are quarreling, you think again that may not be the source. The source basically is if you want something, your envious to have something, in other translation jealousy is one of the most cancerous of sins. It is the root cause of quarrels. You want something but you can have it, so , what do you do? you kill, you fight, you quarrel and so forth and so on. To get the context, James 3:14-16, But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. [15] This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. [16] For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. Sometimes we think its king Nebuchadnezzar who’s the evil man maybe his evil too but do you know who’s parting to put the people in the furnace in the first place and why did it happen? Why is it so cancerous? What does it do? What does jealousy do? It is very cancerous, it is very deadly because it will make you revengeful, it will make you revengeful. How many of you drive? Revenge belongs to whom? Revenge belongs to God. If you are a spouse and your husband or wife sits on you what do you want to happen? you want to take revenge. One time, late in the evening, I was passing by a Hotel Intercontinental where most ladies of the night standby… dumadaan akong ganon, eh siyempre pag may babae titingin ka eh, pagtingin kong ganon, sabi ko, "kilala ko ‘to ah! So umikot akong ganon, checkin ko nga so CCF… so I put down my window, "Hoy! What are you doing out here? She was a lost, at lost for words obviously something was not fine because it was fast twelve, she was a married woman and she was out there looking for guys who used to be like me and so… and so I brought her home she lives somewhere near I live. She’s married to somebody that we know and we got the story out of her. Her husband committed adultery and what did she want to do… in her mind…, why was she doing it?… How can that be? And anyway, it really we understand what we are talking about I’m sure is very common. Some way shape or form and since we cannot heal a Christians we don’t even sue some of them what do we do? How do you commit murder? Killing them softly with what? With your words. It’s very, very cancerous and we think it’s all right we don’t think much of it, we never exercise it out of our system it’s always there, we don’t pay attention to it. It’s the deadliest sin that you will find outside of pride and idolatry, it’s root is idolatry, it is also the most costly sin. Why is it the most costly of sin? Incidentally, do you know that parents sometimes help develop jealousy among their children, how do we do it? If you have ten kids, favoritism. Anyway, turn to chapter 27, of Matthew, lets read v. 17, why is it the most costly of sins? Matthew 27:17,When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" He gave them a choice, who did they crucify? Barabbas or Jesus? Everybody said what? Jesus, we all know the story, we all know the fact, the superficial things, you know what we didn’t know? Why did they do it? Look at the next verse. For he knew that because of envy they had delivered Him up. It translated envy by the same as jealousy, it’s the most costly sin because it crucified the son of God and the essence of it people would jealous, people would envious of Jesus. Did Jesus do anything wrong? Did he harm anybody? Why would they envious? Why would they jealous? If Jesus live a perfect life, why were they jealous? Imagine you were the priest then, you had this religion going, do you making money? of course, then all of a sudden this carpenter son comes and then he begins to draw all the crowds away and then what happens? What will you feel? Instead of saying, "Wow! The son of God is here, look at all his miracles." What did jealousy do? it blinded them, it blinded then to the truth rather than look at the facts objectively nagkaron ng blinders when they crucified the son of God. Sila Shadrack, Abednego, did they do anything wrong? But you see, God had put them in a favor position, God had promoted those three and what happens when somebody get promoted? We have a party for him, you know what’s happening in that promotion party? Believe me, you see the smile but you know deep down inside what’s going on? Really honestly, if your honest with yourself, there are very few people in this world who dissincerely happy that he was passed by and somebody else got the promotion and very few, you know why? This jealousy is inside. Anytime you have a position, anytime there’s applause, anytime there’s anything like that, lumalabas yan and that will produce division, murder, gossip of all kinds. Be careful what jealousy can do, it is deadly, very deadly. And you know we can say many things about this, what I want to communicate to you tonight is please don’t say you don’t have it because it’s in there, what you need to do is take a real good look at yourself and ask God to please enlighten me and be humble enough to say to the Lord I am jealous. The question is how do we get rid of it? Since it will be three weeks since we will meet each other I will go over time. Can we conquered jealousy? Absolutely! Back to Daniel, How did they do it, what can we learn from these guys? Daniel 3, How can we overcome it? The cure, a push step cure. Look at the answer we will find it here, v.16, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. [17] "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. Is that a nice statement? God can deliver us from that fire, God can deliver us out of your hands. It’s well and good if God will do that because people like to have to pray to God and God will remove the problem, but suppose God does not remove the problem; look at the next verse. "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." What are the kids basically is saying to the kings? What must have been inside them? Two things 1) They recognize God’s sovereignty, what does that mean? It is God who determines what He gives to you and what He gives to others; what happens is under God’s control. It is not even under the kings control. In chapter 2 they were praising, how do we know this? Because in chapter 2 look at v. 21, They were praising God, sabi nila about God, and it is He who changes the time and in the Epox He, God removes kings and establishes kings, He gives wisdom to wise men. This guys knew that God was behind king Nebuchadnezzar, what ever this king is going to do to me even though if it’s look bad I know that God is the one in control of him. Nothing can happen to you and listen to this; there’s nothing, absolutely nothing that can happen to a child of God that God does not allow. There’s nothing going on in your life that God does not know or God does not control. Is that comfort to you? See this young guys, they were staring at the fire hinde sila natatakot do you know why? Because they knew God. These people really knew their God and so they will always display strength, they will always take the right action. Trust in God, why do you trust in God? Can God work in your husband? Is God in control of your husband? Even if you are married to a pagan don’t marry one in the first place but if you are married to un… and now you’re learning the truth do not despaired is God in control of him? Yes! Can God change him? If God can change me, I’m the worst guy in this room, you all combined , you guys compared to my badness. If God can change me, kayang kaya ng Panginoong Diyos yung asawa mo. Do not despaired God is in total control. The second thing that you will do… kung turo ka ng turo ng Bible and one way in the same night umuwi ka sa inyo your eldest daughter is raped bunch of hoodlums come into your house she is raped in five different rooms, how will you not fear? Is God still sovereign? Open knowledge to the public, that’s why CCF was very blessed. I look at this man we could not believe it, preaching bible on Wednesday and his daughter he comes home late at night and he find his daughter raped that’s a terrible thing for a man of God to go through… what will you now think of God that God you are preaching about since you’re the pastor of all of this people. What will you do when facing the furnace. You know there are many furnaces in our life. The second thing that this pastor learned and keep thought it to us this a truth which I will never forget. When I am in trouble, when I am in the midst of difficulty, what should I do if my daughter is raped? You be thankful. How many are in the early days that it was very difficult to be thankful, how can you say. "Lord thank you that my daughter was raped?." How can you say that? but the bible teaches this to us thankful. You know what happen many years later, today, you know why God gave it? Now we can see on high sight why God allowed it to happen, see it not only strengthened this pastor’s character, it was for that lady, she has now turned out to become one of the best women counselor for other women who have been raped. God is using it for good, God is really using her to turned other lives around. Now we can be thankful, but you know the lesson is what ever happens to you be thankful. You know why we’re so jealous? You’re focus on what we don’t have, we keep focusing on what we don’t have, if you don’t have a mercedes benz right now that means God is saying, you don’t need it, it’s not good for you today, tomorrow you might have it but today it’s not good for you. Don’t focus on what you don’t have even if you are 35 or 38 and you’re still single don’t focus on what you don’t have, focus on what you have. You know its the best exercise that I can ever teach you. What you can do as an exercise to exercise jealousy everyday be honest with yourself thank God when we wake up in the morning thank God. Get into the habit of beginning everyday and ending everyday we thanks it doesn’t matters what happened you say, "Thank you God!" and rejoice its a life of adventure. The most thrilling three lines in the bible is found in 1Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always; [17] pray without ceasing; [18] in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Rejoice always! If you rejoice in your promotion hindi ka ma po-promote lagi, if you rejoice in money mawawala yon so therefore where should you rejoice in? in the Lord, rejoice in your salvation. Pray without seizing; in everything including trials give thanks this is God’s will for you. Give thanks you’re alive. If you want to learn a lot about life you go to a place where we ministers call Puypuy. If you think you are in bad shape now let me tell you, ladies and gentlemen all of you are blessed.