Never bow to the king’s image or idols.
We don’t bow down to the king’s image or idols: A very powerful example is found in the Book of Daniel, how Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego experience God’s sovereign control over all things, where He shows the power and authority that though His strength he can reach into the untimely to destroy all that is evil through His grace in bringing about their destruction. Through this event, God demonstrated His might and His control over all things. He also showed that He will always be present to protect His chosen ones. This is a reminder of His faithfulness and His power.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 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. But 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, (Daniel 3:16-18).
King Nebuchadnezzar threw them into a fiery furnace as punishment for refusing to bow down to the image of the king and refusing to bow down to his commands. The king was furious and ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual. When they refused to bow down, he ordered them to be thrown into the furnace.
Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore, he Spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. And 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. Then 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. Therefore 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. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace (Daniel 3:19-23)
Nevertheless, God had a plan for their lives a miracle happened, and God protected them from being harmed. and they were preserved from any kind of harm. They were miraculously unharmed and came out of the furnace with not even a scorch mark on their clothing. This miraculous event showed that God was more powerful than any king and that He would always be with His people.
He 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.(Daniel 3:25)
1. They were persecuted and martyred for their beliefs. Their bravery by taking stand and put death inspired many to have the same courage and strength to stand up for their beliefs, no matter the cost. Their story served and still remembered today as an example of bravery, tenacity, willpower, resilience, and perseverance, (Matthew 5:10-12) (1 Peter 4:14-16)
2. We are to show reverence and obedience to Him alone (GOD) (Deuteronomy 13:4). The purpose of our lives is to be an example of His love and mercy to those around us.
3. We must be a light in the darkness and stand up for what is right and must be willing to pay the price for our beliefs, (1 John 1:5-9)
4. We worship the One True God,”(Deuteronomy 4:35-39 follow 6:4), who created us all and loves us unconditionally. He is the only One worthy of our praise and adoration.
5. We believe in the one true God, and we worship Him in spirit and in truth, (John 4:24)
The act of idolatry is brought into action when it is the intention to worship someone other than Yahveh as god.
In the Holy Word of God, it is clear that idolatry is forbidden, and that we should not bow down and worship the idols that exist in this world; therefore, we should not commit idolatry. This was a clear reminder that God is the only true and all-powerful God and that He alone is to be worshipped. It also serves as a warning against worshipping false gods and idols, (1 Corinthians 10:7)
There are many forms of idolatry, and it can be seen in many forms, such as worshiping celebrities, worship government corruption, material possessions, or even ourselves. It is a form of pride and rebellion against Yahweh and should be avoided at all costs. Idolatry is an act of rebellion against God, and it is a sin that should not be taken lightly. We must remember that Yahveh is the only true God, and we must worship Him alone.
2. Idolatry can also lead to a lack of morality, as idols can be used to excuse unethical behavior. It can also lead to self-satisfaction feelings of superiority, and self-conceit, as people can become overly reliant on their own abilities and knowledge instead of relying on God, (Romans 1:21-23).
3. Idolatry can also lead to a lack of humility, which lead to a lack of love for others and a disregard for the truth. ( Jonah 2:8-9).
4. Idolatry can also lead to pride and arrogance, as the idolater may feel superior to others and disregard their advice and opinions. It can also lead to idolatry of the heart, where the person seeks to please the idol instead of God,(Isaiah 45:16-20).
5. Idolatry can also create an obstacle to spiritual growth, by distracting us from the true purpose of our relationship with God. It can also lead to pride, self-love, and a refusal to accept God’s will, plan, purpose, and timing, (Habakkuk 2:18).
6. Idolatry can lead to spiritual deception and idolatry can lead to moral corruption. Both practices should be avoided at all costs, (Galatians 4:8-9).
” Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils,“(1 Corinthians 10:21).
The cup of the demon cannot be mixed with the cup of the god. This is an ancient saying that reflects the divide between good and evil. It states that one should not mix what is good with what is evil. the dire consequences of mixing the two. It is also a reminder of the importance of staying away from evil and the temptations of the devil. A warning to those who might be tempted to dabble in evil or to give in to temptation. It reminds us that the aftermath of our actions can be far-reaching and long-lasting.
Keeping in mind to stay true to one’s values and moral principles. It also encourages us to be vigilant and be on our guard, as the devil is always looking for ways to tempt us. We should strive to be righteous and honest and to resist any temptations that come our way.
1. The drink of the demon will give you pleasure but will also lead to irreparable harm. The drink of God will give you eternal life and will bring peace. Choose your drink wisely.
2. The drink of demon will give you the power to do evil, while the drink of God will give you the power to do good, Choose wisely.
3. The cup of demon will bring you destruction, while the cup of god will bring you salvation.
4. The demon’s cup is filled with darkness, while God’s cup is filled with light. The choice is yours to make.
Choose one or the other, it is entirely up to you. You can either choose the cup of the demons and live a life of acrimony or choose the cup of God and live a life of righteousness. The choice is yours, so choose wisely. The consequences of your actions, thought, motives will be far-reaching and will last for eternity. Make the right determination and live a life of honor, glory, and salvation. God awaits you with open arms and mercy, so make the right choice.
The decision to follow one path or another is entirely up to you. As an endowment from God, we have the powers to choose our own will, but if we choose to follow our own will, Satan will have control. You either worship God or worship the world full of counterfeit idols were Satan is the one who sits and rule this world. You are in control of your own destiny, but remember that Satan will do everything in his power to pull you away from God. It is important to be aware of his influence and to trust in God’s plan for you.
Jesus gave us an example of the power to follow gods will, when he chose to suffer and die on the cross for our sins. He showed us that we can choose to follow the path of righteousness, even when it is difficult. We must use our freedom wisely and follow God’s will. Our goal should be to be like Jesus and sacrifice our own wants and desires for a higher purpose, and live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God and will bring glory to Him.
Repented of his sins, and accepted God’s sovereignty,
In the blink of an eye, as soon as King Nebuchadnezzar realized that his utmost sense of conceit and sense of superiority had caused him to lose his footing and turn into a felled, he repented and gave praise to the one true God, declaring with honor that there was nothing else he could have done to rule over the kingdom except by the power of God. As part of his actions, he decreed that people in his empire should worship the one true God, and he repented of his sins and took up the task of serving the Almighty.
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. Therefore 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. (Daniel 3:28–29).
King Nebuchadnezzar declared Gods kingdom to be the one true God’s. He also followed the Lords order to take treasures from the temple as it was a command from Yahweh to be taking to Babylonia,
And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the Lord, as the Lord had said (2 Kings 24:13).
He renounced his pagan beliefs and began to serve the Lord, King Nebuchadnezzar’s conversion was a powerful example of how people can turn to false gods, idolatry , or idol worship after recognizing the power of a higher power of one true God. He declared himself a servant of the living God, and he started to rebuild the city of Babylon according to the instructions of God.
Did he ultimately renounce all of his Babylonian gods? Nebuchadnezzar ultimately turned away from idolatry, He accepted the Lord as the sole God and Creator. He declared that God was the only true God, and that all other gods were false. He repented of his sins and professed his faith in God. He publicly declared his faith in God and His laws and established places of worship throughout his land. He also enforced God’s laws, and protected the citizens from persecution and injustice.
And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase (Daniel 4:34 -37)
Worshipping false gods and idols breaks the covenant with God. It is an act of rebellion against Him and a sign of disobedience. It is an act of unfaithfulness that will ultimately lead to destruction,”( Exodus 20:5-6)”You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.
However, we can still find ourselves idolizing people or things. We can place objects on pedestals and treat them as if they are more important than God, This is a form of idolatry and should be avoided. We can easily ignore the commandments that forbid idol worship in our culture, As Christians, we are forbidden from sculpting images to serve, and as believers in Christ we are forbidden from bowing to physically worship those in earthly corrupter power.
We live in a society where idol worship is ubiquitous. It is against God’s will that you regard that image as your God and bow down to it and obey it. Examples such as:
Government corrupted—God’s laws are the foundation of a nation and should be respected and obeyed. Governments should be held accountable for their actions and decisions. Governments should not replace God as the source of authority.
The pursuit of worldly validation—Governments should instead focus on upholding justice and righteousness. Governments should prioritize the needs of their citizens over the interests of those in power. Governments should respect the beliefs, values, and traditions of their citizens.
An idolatry of corrupted men’s images—They are false idols that will never be satisfied, They want you to worship them, if you don’t, you’re not useless. They want you to believe that they are the source of all knowledge and power, but if you question them, they will silence you. They will manipulate you and use you for their own gain. They are false idols and can never be trusted.
Prayer:
I bow before your sacred righteousness, O’ Almighty one and only God. As a child of God, I stand by the authority of the Most-High, and by the Authority entrusted to me by the Indwelling Power of the Holy Ghost. I pray against any form of bondage, the bondmanship method, indentured servitude, strongholds, worshipping idols, idolizing to falsehoods, all chains of enslavement, tyranny, shackles of imprisonment, evil stifles, and oppressive forces that holds and ties us captive for any act which is idolatry, and consequently all images that are idols in the world. Free our hearts, soul, minds, and our thoughts from anything that is not of you. Set us free, O’ Lord, from the chains of idolatry, guide us away from false idols and lead us in the path of righteousness. Help us to recognize and reject false gods and false images of worldly desires from self-indulgence of that which is corrupted, untruthful and unfruitful. Lord, we break free of these chains and reclaim our true freedom. We turn away from the idols of the world and turn to the one true God and obey your commands. Guide us to lead a life of faith and obedience to your will. Grant us the strength and courage to forsake all false idols. Our hearts and souls want to stay free from all the impurities of the flesh, all the worship of falsehood, false religious traditions, false religious bondages, false religious legalism, false religious hypocrisy, false religious deception, false religious error, false religious heresy, false religious gifts, false religious control and all that’s easygoing to destroy our hearts and souls. All that’s not pleasing to your eyes, everything that pictures and images that is against your word. Lord help us stay focused on the things that are pure and holy, that bring glory and honor to your name. Let us not settle for anything less than what you desire for us and to be a light in the darkness. I pray that your Holy Spirit helps us stay focused on what is true, strong and steadfast in our faith, loyal to our values, and loyal to our Creator at all times. Let us, O’ God be led by you through your invocation of the Holy Spirit, to recognize when we are falling to the temptations of all the affairs of our life and all that is evil in this world, so that we may recognize this. It is our prayer that we will never bow down to any images or idols, no false and fabricated gods, but rather bring honor, glory, praise, worship to you most gracious Lord and glorify, magnify your great and powerful name.
“For God be the glory forever through our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.” By Elda Sullins.
Verses To Meditate on…
” Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils,“(1 Corinthians 10:21).
(Daniel 3:19-23) (1 Corinthians 10:21) (2 Kings 24:13) ( Exodus 20:5-6)
By Elda Sullins.
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