All right, we are in Daniel chapter 3 probably one of the most famous and well-loved stories in the Bible of
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego being thrown into the burning fiery furnace and escaping and let's get some context here
It's reading verse number 14. The Bible says Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them
Is it true Oh Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego?
Do not you serve my gods nor worship the golden image which I have set up
You know if you were paying attention in the reading Nebuchadnezzar set up this big image and he made this decree that basically whenever he starts
Playing this music everyone has to fall down on their face and worship this image that Nebuchadnezzar made
And of course they these three men here don't do it and it's told him. Hey, these guys aren't worshiping your God
He's saying like is this true then he gives them another chance in verse 15
Now if you be ready that at what time you hear the sound of the cornet flute harp sackbutt salt tree and dulcimer and all
Kinds of music you fall down and worship the image which I have made well
But if you worship not ye shall be cast the same hour
Into the midst of a burning fiery furnace and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands
You know
You don't want to just read stories in the Bible and not actually put yourself into the story and really try to visualize what's happening
Here, you know, here we are in our comfortable nice lives here in Oklahoma in 2025
We're in a nice air-conditioned building just reading a story from the Bible
But actually put yourself into these guys shoes
They were just told that they were going to be burned to death if they did not worship this false God
You know, that's higher stakes than you and I have ever faced in our lives
And you know our church has gone through some very light persecution and steadfast has gone through some very light persecution
But none of us have resisted unto blood, right?
None of us have gotten to this point this ultimatum put before us like worship the devil renounce Christianity or be burned alive
but that was a real situation that these three men really face and support to think about that as you read this story and
Their response in verse 16 Shadrach Meshach and Abednego answered and said to the king. Oh 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. Oh king
But if not be it known unto thee
Oh king that we will not serve thy gods nor worship the golden image which thou hast
Set up so even though these three men are given another chance like they already had shown some resolve and some grit
To know that this was what they were supposed to do according to the law of the Babylonians
They were supposed to bow down and worship. They already showed some resolve
They're saying no, we're not gonna do that. And even when they're personally confronted and given another chance saying hey
We'll spare your life. If you worship this image, they said hold on
We're not careful to answer thee in this matter meaning they had already predetermined in their mind that they were gonna resolve to do, right?
They're not wavering here. They're not on the shifting sands
basically
Whatever the cost they were going to do right and of course they believed that God could deliver them and that God would deliver them
But they had this mentality like hey, even if he doesn't we're still not going to bow. We're still not going to change
Beautiful beautiful story. Look at verse 19
It says then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach Meshach and Abednego
Therefore he spake and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was want to be heated
So Nebuchadnezzar is coming at them with a vengeance
He's personally offended that these guys did not obey his decree. And so he's like, let's just crank up the heat
We're gonna turn up this furnace seven times hotter than it normally is, you know
He means business here and it says in verse 20 and he commanded the most mighty men that were with him in his army
To bind Shadrach Meshach and Abednego and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace
then these three men were bound in their coats their hosun 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
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished and rose up in haste and spake and said unto his counselors
Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire they answered and said unto the king true
Oh king, 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 is and the form of the fourth is like
The son of God so God performs this amazing miracle where Nebuchadnezzar
He's heated up the furnace seven times hotter than it was ever set. They actually get thrown into the furnace
It's not like they you know escaped physically from going in. No, they weren't spared
They were thrown into the furnace and it was so hot that the men who even took up these three men the servants of King
Nebuchadnezzar they just burned up
I mean they just like disintegrated from the heat of how hot it was and then they look in and they see
There wasn't three men in there. There was four and the fourth was like unto the son of God
Of course
I believe this is a free New Testament appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ right God in the fire
Saving these three men from that fate and the title my sermon this morning is this you never know until you try
You never know until you try here. We have a great miracle where God delivered these three men from certain death
I mean unless God performs a miracle if we're being thrown into a fiery furnace
That's seven times hotter than it normally is we are going to die, right?
It's just certain death and God performed this miracle for them
but why I think a lot of it had to do with their attitude that they have that they were willing to try to serve God and
Willing to try to please the Lord no matter the cost
They weren't just thinking like well, we'll do right as long as it's not dangerous for us
We'll do right as long as there's no consequences. They just had the attitude of hey, we're gonna do right no matter what and so
I want to give you three lessons from this story this morning and number one
Resolve to do right no matter the cost. This is a mentality that you have to have and that you have to internalize
deeply inside of you
Before you get to situations like this because when we read in the story, what is it that they said?
They said hey, we're not careful to answer thee in this matter, right?
Meaning that they're not like full of care full of anxiety full of stress full of you know
Debating in their mind of which way they're gonna go
They had already resolved to do right no matter what and today we have a whole generation of Christians
Where many people will only serve God if it's very convenient for them
many people will only serve God and only show up to church on Sunday if they've had a full nine ten eleven twelve hours of
Sleep and you know if they're at all tired
they're gonna skip church on Sunday morning or you know, they won't go to a good church because it's more than 20 minutes away from
Their house and in here in Oklahoma. I've noticed this because we're blessed to live in an area where traffic isn't that bad
When I'm out soul winning and people ask hey, how far is your church? I'm like, oh, you know, just 20 minutes away
They're like, oh, yeah, that's so far. It's like what are you talking about 20 minutes 20 minutes in your nice air-conditioned car is
Too much for you to serve God. Are you out of your mind?
You know, there's people in DFW where for example when I live there on Wednesdays
It was like an hour and 15 minutes there an hour and 15 minutes back with traffic and look
I'm not even complaining about that because going to a great church is worth it and serving God
It's like hey
If there's men that are really willing to be burned in the fire and be thrown into the fire to not bow
It's like can I drive a couple minutes to church? Can I show up and go soul winning?
Can I you know open the Bible and follow along in a sermon?
Can I tithe to my local New Testament church?
Can I stop complaining about everything in the Christian life like we are just so spoiled and we have life so good that sometimes
It's good to remind ourselves of what some real steadfast Christians look like that people were resolved to do right no matter what?
Let's read that again verse 16 Shadrach Meshach and Abednego answered and said to the King Oh Nebuchadnezzar
We are not careful to answer thee in this matter
You know what that means they had resolved to do right no matter what and today in our culture
There's things that are unpopular that we preach and we just have to make the decision right now before
We even see the reaction before we see the final outcome of our battles
We just have to beforehand resolve to do right no matter what and you know
I believe that God is more willing and more likely to bless people and allow people to escape the trials and tribulations of our
Life when you have this attitude rather than well, I'll try to serve God if it goes well for me
I'll try to do what's right if it's favorable for me
You see a lot of people like this and of course if you already knew the future and if you already knew everything was gonna turn
Out favorably for you, then of course you would always take those courses of action
But you know what the Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please him
God is pleased when he looks down at his people seeing having faith in him look at verse 17
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, okay
But if not be it known unto the o king that we will not serve thy gods
Nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up
So if you try to get inside of their head and the mentality they had they understood that God could deliver them and they were
Confident that God would deliver them, but they had this mentality that even if he didn't you know
What they're saying, even if we're facing certain death, even if we're seeing the end of our lives
Even if we're seeing failure in this situation, we are still not going to serve thy gods
Hey, that is a steadfast attitude right there
That is the attitude that God's people need and I'll read for you Luke 14 verse 33
Jesus said this so likewise
Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he have he cannot be my disciple
See getting saved is easy believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved but to be a disciple of Jesus Christ
He said hey you have to forsake everything and oftentimes, you know in our lives
God doesn't necessarily ask us or or in practicality force us to forsake all that we have
But what should we do is we should be willing to forsake all that we have. Hey if we have to forsake
familial ties ties
Friendships being liked having a nice cushy career
Whatever it is that God asks us to do in service for him
We should be willing to do that even up to death doesn't the Bible say in Revelation be thou faithful unto death death
And I will give thee a crown of life. You know, that's just not words in your Bible
That's reality for a lot of people and even in 2025 America in this world, you know
We're not experiencing heavy persecution here
But in places like North Korea in places like India in places like China
There are literally Christians being killed in this time period that we're living in
You know, there's a guy named brother Moses who goes to faith word Baptist Church and he was formerly in Germany
He had to flee Germany fling persecution and he was originally from India and he knows someone who's a preacher of the gospel in
India has the right gospel good guy who was murdered for his preaching and it's like what do we have to go through get on
The news every once in a while, you know have our family members dislike us sometimes our friends
It's like there's preachers in this world that are being murdered for preaching the Bible
But you know what God blesses a man that says I'm gonna preach the Bible no matter what the cost is
God blesses a church that's gonna stand on the truth of God's Word
No matter what the cost is even unto death go to James chapter number one and keep your place in Daniel 3
We'll come back to it James chapter number one. I just want you to see this principle again
James 1 verse number 2 the Bible says my brethren count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations
Knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience
so there's always a silver lining as Christians for all of the battles that we go through all of the trials and tribulations and
One of those things is that if you're trusting in the Lord and God brings you through trials
It gives you patience, right?
It allows you to go through things in the future not having as much fear or trepidation or worries
Because you've seen God come through before and you know, I've noticed that there's a difference between
Christians who have been in a church that have gone through some battles versus the guy who just got saved
Who's just around this stuff for the first time one tends to have a lot more patience than the other
But it says in verse 4 but let patience have her perfect work that you may be perfect and entire
Wanting nothing if any of you lack wisdom
Let him ask of God that give it to all men liberally and abradeth not and it shall be given him
But verse 6 is the key notice this but let him ask in faith
Nothing wavering for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea
Driven with the wind and tossed for let not that man think that he shall receive
Anything of the Lord. So notice God wants you to ask him for things
God wants you to be delivered through your trials
He wants you to have patience by by going through tribulation
But notice the mentality that you have to have is that you have to purpose to do right no matter what then ask God
See we shouldn't come to God and be like Lord. I really want to serve you
I really want to be in an independent fundamental Baptist Church
That's right on the gospel that preaches the right doctrine, but I don't want it to cause me my job
But I don't want to have any familial relationships. You know what you should do is say like Lord. I'm sold out
I'll do whatever it takes. I'll be wherever you need me to be. I'll live wherever you need me to live
I'll preach whatever I need to preach but Lord, please help me through my trials
He's more likely to bless that person because he sees that even if he doesn't
Deliver you out of the things that you want to be delivered out of you're still gonna do right anyways
And you know, this is important for me. I've been through some battles before I didn't want to have this mentality where it's like
Well, you know
I'll keep preaching what's right just as long as the sodomites leave my house and stop driving around my house and honking at
Us and threatening us. No, it's just like God. I'm here. I'm gonna do what's right
Please give me the strength to continue doing what's right, but no matter what even if they're here for five years ten years
I want to resolve to do what's right and then I believe that God's more likely to deliver you through the tribulations
When you have that attitude, but today we have a lot of Christians where again, it's just I'll serve God if it's convenience
I'll go to a church if it just feeds the flesh and tickles my fancy and it's really fun and it's really nice
That's not the attitude that you should have in Christianity. Christianity is a fight. We are good soldiers of Jesus Christ
And you know what a good soldier doesn't do a good soldiers not like well
You know
I'll fight today if the weather is good and if we don't have to go over any big mountains and if we're not getting shot
At at the enemy. It's like what kind of soldier is that? It's like the good soldiers like hey, man
I hope things go well, but if it doesn't here I am. I'm still gonna stand. I'm still going to fight
It's the same exact thing in Christianity now. Let's look at some examples of men who had this attitude because this is all over the Bible
Go to Daniel chapter number one. We already saw it with Shadrach Meshach and Abednego to me
That's like the biggest example of someone just resolving to do right no matter the cost
But also, you know Daniel had this same exact mentality in Daniel 1 verse 8
The Bible says this but Daniel noticed
Purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat
Nor with the wine which he drank therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not
Defile himself. So notice the attitude that he had he wasn't like
Wavering like waves of the sea of whether or not he was gonna give in and eat the king's meat or drink that alcoholic wine
No, he already purposed in his heart that he's not doing it, right?
So God sees that he has this resolve that no matter what the cost he's going to do what's right
But then he requests of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself notice
He didn't just say to the prince of the eunuchs. Hey, I'm not doing this period. Hey, you know
He's just kind of being rebellious to his authority
He requests why because he's trusting that God is gonna bless him in this situation
Because he has that resolved attitude then it says in verse 9 now God had brought Daniel into favor notice
It's a supernatural effect that God is putting on Daniel's life. God is bringing him into favor
So God could have chosen to not bring him into favor
Why did God give him favor because he had that resolve in his heart that he was gonna do what's right?
No matter what then it says into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs and the prince of the eunuchs said unto
Daniel I fear my lord the king who hath appointed your meat and your drink for why should he see your faces worse?
Likening than the children which are of your sort then shall you make me endanger my head to the king?
So the prince of the eunuchs he likes Daniel
But he's kind of saying like hey you might get me in trouble by doing this and he kind of has some
Reserve as to whether or not he's gonna allow him to go through with it
Then Daniel said to melsar whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel Hananiah
Michelle and Azariah proved thy servants I beseech thee ten days and let them give us pulse to eat and water to drink
then let our countenances be looked upon before thee and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat as
Thou seest deal with thy servants so he consented to them in this matter and proved them ten days and at the end of ten
Days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat
So again, this is kind of a miracle here because Daniel's asking basically to just be fed a pulse and water diet
Which is not actually ideal for gains
You know what I mean?
Like if you're trying to get gains you're trying to get that fair and fat flesh you're not gonna
Want to just eat pulse and water you're gonna want some steak, right?
You're gonna need some protein you're gonna need to do some push-ups
But yet God intervenes and allows this miracle to take place
Why just cuz he favors Daniel over other people just for no reason no
It's because Daniel had this rare attitude that most people do not have realize this most people are not said fast
He resolved in his heart to do right he purposed in his heart to do right before he knew the outcome
that takes faith right there right because what would have been the result of him just
Refusing to do this disobeying the king's orders. Who knows he could have been scourged punished thrown in jail killed
I mean who knows what the Babylonians would have done to him
But yet regardless of the possible outcome he had purposed in his heart to do right. That's what God blesses
God does not bless, you know Christians that are like politicians. There's a lot of Christians today that are like politicians
There's a lot of pastors today that are like politicians and it's like when they're deciding in their mind
What course of action they're gonna take or what they're gonna preach or what they're gonna refrain from preaching a lot of times
It's not coming from a place of what is right. What are the facts? What does the Bible say?
It's where's the wind blowing and that a lot that tells them where they're gonna go because they just want to go wherever they think
Success is gonna lead the best outcome is gonna lead the the path of least resistance is gonna take them
That shouldn't matter and let me tell you something
God is not going to bless the Christian that is always trying to foresee events in their life and trying to take the path of least
Resistance God is going to bless the Christian that says what does God say what is right and nuts to the results?
Hey, if I have to go into the fiery burning furnace, that's better than worshiping a false. God. It's like, okay
You know if I have to have people in the community angry at me if we have to get in the news
That's better than not preaching the Bible. Okay, you got people, you know, even other examples
Not just the news and stuff like that, you know people today love to criticize soul winning
Calvinists love to criticize soul winning people who aren't soul winners love to criticize soul winning
Hey, I'll take all the guff from them all day because I know what the Bible says and we're out getting people saved
We're out doing a great work for God
So it doesn't matter what man thinks about anything and you know as a pastor
I did not go into the ministry to be someone that is a people pleaser
I do not care what you think of me. I do not care what anyone thinks of me except for the Lord Jesus Christ
You know, I saw a funny interview the other day. I think his name is Tom Holman. He's like the head of the
Border Patrol
Situation in Trump's administration and I saw Steven Crowder asked him a question
He said what is it that people often get wrong about Tom Holman and his response that was kind of funny
He's like, I don't give a s what people think about me and I'm just like, you know, that's a pretty gruff answer
But that's the right attitude to have. Oh, what do you think that people get wrong about Pastor Ross?
I don't give a crap what people get wrong about me. What I care about is what the Bible says
Oh, you have haters online. I don't care. Oh people don't like a your Baptist Church
I don't care
What I care about is what the Bible says and I don't want to be a politician that sticks his finger up and says shall
I bomb Israel? Shall I not? Shall I bomb Iran? Shall I not? Netanyahu tell me how far I need to jump, right?
No, no, we just need to do what's right. Period. That's the attitude that we need to have now go to 1st
Timothy chapter number one 1st Timothy chapter number one
Jeremiah 12 5 says this if thou hast run with the footmen and they have wearied thee then how canst thou contend with horses?
You know if you can't resolve right now to do right in the easy kush lives that we live in
How do you think that you're gonna resolve to do right when the stakes are actually high you know because here Daniel
He's resolving to do right when the stakes are high later on in the book of Daniel prayer was made illegal
And you know what Daniel did he kept praying like he did before and what happened?
He was thrown into the den of lions, but God delivered him
But it's like if you can't be steadfast now
Don't even kid yourself into thinking that you could make it through hard trials. You cannot you know it's like it's like thinking like you know
I can't run a mile without stopping
I can't run a mile without vomiting and throwing up and you know falling on the ground
But man when I sign up for a marathon, I'm just gonna keep running the whole time. No, you are not
It's like well, you know, I'm super inconsistent in my Bible reading now
I'm wishy-washy when it comes to showing up to church now. I'm not a consistent soul winner now
I get super offended by words now, but man when the Antichrist comes I'm gonna be steadfast like a rock
No, you're not if you cannot serve God today when it is easy
Do not think that you're gonna serve God when battles come to this church when controversy comes to this church when you know
Judas is rise up in our church or you know if we go through something like the Great Tribulation someday
Don't think that you'll be standing then no no you have to build that foundation now
You build the foundation now, then the storms come and your house stands you start training for the marathon now
Then maybe you'll have a shot at running it when the time comes
Look at what first Timothy 1 verse 12 says and I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who hath enabled me for that
He counted me faithful putting me into the ministry
Why was the Apostle Paul used so greatly by the Lord Jesus Christ is because he was faithful
It wasn't because he had a great resume right because in Galatians 1 it talks about how he was
Exceedingly zealous of the traditions of his fathers how he persecuted the Church of God and wasted it, right?
So but here's the thing Paul he was in the wrong religion
He was doing the wrong things, but at least Paul was zealous, right?
And so it's like well if Paul gets saved
Maybe we could use this zeal for the things of God and at least he's faithful, right?
And Paul went on to do great things
But it's like I'll take the guy who used to be zealous in a false religion and then get saved and continues to be zealous
Then someone who grew up IFB who is lazy and backslidden and doesn't care about the things of God
That's not gonna be the person that's used greatly. It's gonna be the guy that's faithful
Why did Jesus put him into the ministry because he was faithful because he was steadfast
Here's another example go to Esther chapter number four Esther chapter number four
And you know when it comes to being faithful, you don't want to have this attitude where it's like
Well, I'll do things for God if it's something big or I'll be used in the church
I'll be used in the ministry as long as it's something big, but I don't really want to do the small stuff
It's like, you know, I don't really want to go soul winning on Saturday
I don't really want to go soul winning on Sunday
But I'll see you at the Bahamas missions trip or it's like, you know
I don't ever want to sign up for a men's preaching night, but hey, give me a full-length sermon
I'll preach that anytime that's not an attitude of being faithful. You need to have an attitude that says hey
I'll be faithful in the small things then I could be used for the big things
I'll do the small things well, then I could be counted on to do the big things. Well, not just this like
Adrenaline junkie Christianity. Here's Esther and Esther chapter 4 verse 16
Go gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan and fast ye for me and neither eat nor drink three days
Night or day I also in my maidens will fast likewise
And so will I go in unto the king which is not according to the law and notice her attitude and if I perish I
Parish hey even this lady here had a steadfast attitude of resolving to do right no matter what she's putting her neck on
the line, you know, there was a law made that all of her people were gonna be killed and destroyed and
There was a law that no one could approach the king except he bids them and she's like hey fast for me pray for me
I'm gonna fast and pray and I'm gonna go beseech the king for this matter and she says you know what if I perish I
Parish what she's saying if I die I die, but I'm just gonna resolve to do right no matter what she's gonna at least try
What's the title of sermon? You never know until you try
How are you gonna know if God can deliver you out of something great well
You got to try to stand up against Nebuchadnezzar and be thrown into that fiery furnace and see if God will deliver you
Oh, you know, how do we know that? God's gonna do something great
Well, you kind of have to get chased by Pharaoh and his army sometime and just see if God will open up that Red Sea
Sometimes you know you got the sentence of death on you and you know, hey, this is bad
If I go into the king I could die and you just have the attitude of if I perish I perish you just resolve
To do right no matter what she's not wavering. She's not being tossed by the waves of the sea
Let not that man think that he will receive anything of the Lord
It's the person who's fully dedicated to doing right that God is often gonna deliver out of our trials
Here's another example good at acts 20. I'll read for you job 1315 job said this though
He slay me yet will I trust in him?
But I will maintain my own ways before him notice
He doesn't say like God's definitely not gonna slay me nothing bad could ever happen to me
No, he's lost everything. He's lost his kids. His wife is telling him to curse God and die
He lost all of his money. He lost all of his health and he said even if God kills me
I will still trust in him. That's someone that's resolving to do right no matter what that's someone who's not in it
Just for himself if it's convenient for me if it's nice for me. No, he's resolved to do right
Here's one of my favorite passages and this is about the Apostle Paul
Look at what his attitude was in Acts 20 verse 22
He said and now behold I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem not knowing the things that shall befall me there
Save that the Holy Ghost witnessed it in every city saying that bonds and afflictions
Abide me see we in our lifetimes
We just have such an easy life compared to these guys because when I'm thinking about the Bahamas missions trip
I don't have this attitude. I'll just be honest with you. I'm not thinking like man
I don't know what's gonna befall me there. All I know is that bonds and afflictions are coming
You know what? I'm thinking I'm like, it's gonna be awesome. We're gonna have so much fun
We're gonna get so many people saved and we're gonna ride jet skis and we're gonna eat good food and we're gonna hang out in paradise
And like some people won't even do that. Some people won't even go and are afraid to go on a mission strip to do that
I'm looking forward to it. Like this is gonna be leisure and fun and exciting. Okay now imagine Paul's missions trip
It's not like hey, we're gonna go eat some awesome food and go jet-skiing
He's saying I don't know what's gonna happen to me on this mission strip
Except that bonds and afflictions abide me now. How many people would be signing up for that missions trip?
Hey guys contact evangelists for if you want to go to the missions trip where you're gonna be put in prison and you're gonna get
Beaten and you're gonna get attacked. I guarantee you would be less people going to that missions trip, right?
But notice his love for souls and his love for doing what's right even with knowing that what does he say verse 24?
But none of these things move me neither count
I my life dear unto myself so that I might finish my course with joy and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus
To testify the gospel of the grace of God
This is a rare attitude today and I'm telling you right now most Christians do not have this attitude and we ought not to deceive
Ourselves thinking like oh, yeah, we're all we're all like the Apostle Paul, you know
We would all be as steadfast as him
We should try to strive towards that and realize that this is the right attitude to have of saying like hey
Even if it's hard, even if bad things are coming my way, I don't count my life dear unto myself
That's what Christianity is right carrying our cross
Killing the old man putting the things of God above our own needs putting other people above our own needs
That's what Paul did not only that he said the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus
So those are like the two things that are motivating him. He's like, hey, I'm not counting my life dear to myself
It's not it's not the Paul show. It's not about me. You know who it's about the ministry of Jesus Christ
That's who it's about. But again, what is the attitude of many Christians today? It's like well, I didn't get eight hours of sleep
I'm not showing up to church. Well, you know, it's hot outside. So I'm not going soul-winning Wow
So we'll quit soul-winning if it's hot but Paul can get beaten Paul could get thrown in jail
You know, I told that story about that old IFB pastor that told me we don't go soul-winning because it's too hot in the summer
And too cold in the winter. It's like wow, you're really a great soldier of Jesus Christ
Wow, you're really a great example to the flock of someone who's steadfast. Okay, how about this go to Luke chapter number nine
Another example of someone who had this mentality
How about the Lord Jesus Christ Luke chapter number nine Luke chapter nine verse?
51 says this and it came to pass when the time was come that he should be received up
He steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem
I mean Jesus knew the scriptures Jesus knew what was gonna happen to him
And of course, we know that in his flesh
He didn't want to experience the death of the cross the Bible says that he despised the shame. It wasn't fun to him
He was in the garden of Gethsemane praying that if there's any other way that that the Lord would allow this cup to be passed
From him, but yet he still did it. Anyways, he still resolved to do what's right
Anyways, he knew that his time was come and he just steadfastly set his face toward Jerusalem
you know, that's an example of high Christian maturity and of course Lord Jesus Christ is gonna be
Exuding that go to if you would Daniel chapter 3 again, Daniel chapter 3 again
So number one is is more by way of introduction which is basically resolved to do right no matter the cost number two
Realize that God can deliver you realize that God can deliver you look what it says in verse number 16
Shadrach Meshach and Abednego answered and said unto the king Oh Nebuchadnezzar
We are not careful to answer thee in this matter
Notice this 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. Okay, I love verse 18
He goes, but if not be it known unto the o king that we will not serve thy gods nor worship the golden image
Which thou hast set up so Shadrach Meshach and Abednego. They understand this they have this mentality where they're saying look God is
Able to deliver us and they're they're confident
He's saying he will deliver us but they still have this little side note this little caveat where they're just saying but if not
Right. So we have to realize in our life that whatever trials we're going through whatever hardships we're going through that God can
Deliver us from those trials
But we also have to have the humility that God doesn't owe us anything
The Bible says for all of sin and come short of the glory of God, right that we are sinners
And what do we deserve from God? We deserve hell we deserve nothing and we ought not get this
You know high and mighty prideful attitude that you know, we walk on water and God just has to do everything for us
No, no, we realize that God is all powerful that God is all-knowing and that God can deliver us from whatever
We're going through but that's still God's choice
That's still up to the Lord and we need to have the humility to say hey God is able to deliver us and hey
We're confident that he will deliver us. But if not, right we still realize that he's the one in charge not us
We're not barking orders at the Lord. He can deliver us and again go to Psalm number 50 and again
What's the best way to have the highest likelihood of God delivering us?
It's for us to resolve to do right no matter what you know
If you want God's favor, of course, we know he is able to deliver us
But who is he going to deliver those who are resolving to do right no matter what?
Psalm 50 verse 15 notice what the Bible says and call upon me in the day of trouble
I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me now. There's some
deliveries there are some
Salvations that are guaranteed from God like how about spiritual salvation for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
Shall be saved that's just a dead guaranteed promise when you call upon the name of the Lord in faith
You will go to heaven that he for sure will deliver you from but also just like our daily trials and tribulations
We can call upon the Lord. He can deliver us, but I like that end part
It says this and thou shalt glorify me
Hey, if you want to get delivered by God you want to be giving him all the praise giving him all the glory all the honor
that's the most likely way for God to deliver you when you're trusting in him when you're dedicated to doing what's right and
When you give God all the praise for it at the end
See God doesn't want to deliver a guy who's just gonna take all the glory for himself, you know
And we'll look at a story of this, but let's read verse number 16 first
It says but unto the wicked God said sayeth what hast thou to do to declare my statutes or that thou shouldest take my
Covenant in thy mouth seeing thou hatest instruction and cast this my words behind thee
See God's not really ready to deliver someone that isn't listening to what God says
Someone who's you know hardening their neck and turning away their ear from the law
Casting the Word of God behind their back. That's not really the guy that God's gonna come through with in a miracle
You know, who's he performing miracles for Daniel Shadrach Meshach Abednego the children of Israel in the wilderness
You know, these people are people that are wanting to give God the glory now a great example of this
I think is with David and Goliath go to 1st Samuel chapter number 17 because think about it like David is this lad
He's this kid and he's fighting against this hardened veteran soldier who is gigantic
Literally, okay
and just like the odds are not in his favor from a carnal perspective and if David goes and
Defeats Goliath and is holding his head couldn't that give him an occasion to glory in himself
Like if you overcame some just insane odds and came through on the other side victorious that could give the human flesh that we have
Occasion to want a glory or boast or brag and like look who I defeated. I beat up the strongest guy
You know, we beat the best team we fought the best country and won but that's not the attitude that David had look what?
The Bible says in verse 60 or 46 this day
Will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand now doesn't that sound a lot like Daniel 3 God's able to deliver him
He's confident that God's gonna deliver him
He says and I will smite thee and take thy head from thee and I will give the carcasses of the host of the
Philistines this day unto the fouls of the air into the wild beasts of the earth
You know, he's kind of he's kind of trash-talking him a little bit, right? But is it coming from a place of I'm great
I'm wonderful. I'm awesome. I'm the strongest soldier no because look what he says right here that all the earth may know
That there is a God in Israel
Why is it that God gives deliverance and gives the victory to the little kid David against Goliath?
Because David wasn't there to take the glory on himself
David wasn't gonna cut off his head and give him to the fouls of the air to the beasts of the field so that he could
Say yeah fall down before David David's awesome
No, it's so that that all the world may know that there is a God that all the world may know the God of Israel
That he's the true God and let me tell you something if you want to get delivered through whatever problems or trials or tribulations in
Your life you ought to strive to want to give God all of the glory because if you have it in your heart like man
I'm I'm gonna puff myself up. I'm gonna be bragging about this myself
That's then God's way like less likely to deliver you God's not wanting to share glory with us
We are nothing we can do nothing of ourselves all of the things that about us that are good
Anything that's strong or powerful about us is because of God is because of the Lord go to if you would
Exodus 14 Exodus 14, you know, here's another example
I kind of mentioned it already a little bit but the children of Israel and their strivings against Pharaoh, right?
What is it that God said through Moses to Pharaoh? Hey, let my people go that they may serve me, right?
So what's the whole point of?
Moses and Aaron and the children of Israel
Escaping the grasp of Pharaoh and leaving slavery and going out into the wilderness
Is it so that they could just be awesome and pat themselves on the back?
No, let my people go so that they may serve me that they may serve the Lord
Then you see a great deliverance look at Exodus 14 verse 27 and Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea and the sea
returned to his strength when the morning appeared and the Egyptians fled against it and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of
The sea and the waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen and all the host of Pharaoh
That came into the sea after them there remained not so much as one of them
But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea and the waters were a wall unto them on their
right hand and on their left
Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore and
Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians and the people
Feared the Lord and believed the Lord and his servant Moses
So we see God have this great deliverance one of the biggest in the whole Bible where the Red Sea
Parts the children of Israel go through on dry land and as the Egyptians follow them
That the sea comes crashing in and kills all of them
But what was the result of that it tells us immediately that people feared the Lord and believed the Lord
Hey
if that's our goal as a church to try to bring people to Jesus Christ and
Try to get people to fear God and to believe in the Lord then God's way more likely to intervene on our behalf in situations
To help us go through hardships to help us go through tribulations when our end result is wanting God to be glorified
God to be exalted people to fear the Lord, you know a lot of churches today and a lot of religions
It's not really about the Lord. It's about humanity the religion of self
You know, I think a lot about for example Pentecostals Pentecostals is like a religion of glorifying self
What do I mean by that? Well, how do you get to heaven you have to repent of your sins?
You have to live a good life. You have to do good
And then what is it that they have that's really big in their churches speaking in tongues and what is that?
It's glorifying yourself. Look how spiritual I am. I have this special prayer language
Look at how much higher I than I am than other people because I can communicate with God
That's not glorifying God that's glorifying yourself, you know, and that's what false religion is
It's the religion of worshiping self worshiping humanity, but we need to have the heart that says hey
We want people to fear God. We want people to believe God
That's when God comes through look at the next chapter Exodus 15 verse 1
Let's see where their heart was then saying Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord and spake saying I will sing unto
The Lord for he hath triumphed
Gloriously the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea notice it wasn't I have triumphed gloriously. I'm fantastic
I'm wonderful. Let's sing to us. No, he's singing to the Lord saying hey God has triumphed
Gloriously God has won this battle verse 2 the Lord is my strength and song and he's become my salvation
He is my God and I will prepare him in habitation. My father's God and I will exalt him
You will see this all over the Bible the people who God actually delivers are the people who number one are
Resolved to do right no matter the cost and no matter whether God will deliver them or not
They don't see the future
They don't know the certainty of the things that we can look at now seeing the Bible in hindsight knowing
Oh, yeah, we're just reading Daniel 3, but we already know the end they didn't know the end when they're going through it
You know when they're being chased when the children of Israel being chased through the wilderness
They don't know the end for sure when Daniel's thrown into a lion's den. He doesn't know the end for sure
We know these things but they do not but you know what I know about them
They were resolved to do right no matter what and they wanted to give God the praise
they wanted to give God the glory and every single time you see God come through for someone and
Perform a miracle allow them to come out of something great. You always see God is glorified as a result
And so in in your personal life in our church, that's what we have to realize
Hey resolve to do right no matter what steadfast quitting is not an option
Compromising is not an option being lukewarm and weak and tossed to and fro. That's not an option
We're doing right no matter what and if God delivers us, you know what we're gonna do
We're gonna give him all the glory all the praise
Look, we put our salvation totals in our bulletin and we say words like hey, we got people saved but obviously we know that we only
Get people saved through the power of the Holy Spirit
Jesus said without me you can do nothing
And so don't think that these numbers are saying like look at how great anchor Baptist Church is or look at how great our
Soul winners in the Philippines are hey, I think that they're good people. I think they're doing a great work
But you know what?
They're only doing it through Jesus Christ and anything good that we do as a church anything in the future that we accomplish
It's only going to be by God's grace God's empowerment, and let me tell you we're only gonna give the glory to God
That's how our church could actually be successful and actually be delivered out of these hard things now go back to Daniel 3
So number one we need to resolve to do right no matter the cost number two
We need to realize that God can deliver us number three. We need to risk
Do not be afraid to try what's the title of sermon you never know until you try
So you can't just have these first parts where you're like, okay
I'm gonna resolve to do right no matter what you just say that in your mind and yeah
I know God can deliver me. Yeah, you know, I'll give him the glory
You actually have to put some skin in the game
Then you actually actually have to take that mentality and you actually have to risk
You actually have to do the thing that you're resolving to do and that's what we see these men do in verse 16
Shadrach Neshach and Abednego answered and said to the king Oh Nebuchadnezzar
We are not careful to answer thee in this matter
That's their resolve if it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us
That's them realizing God can deliver from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand
Oh king, but if not be it known unto the oh king that we will not serve thy gods nor worship the golden image
Which thou has set up. That's the risk. That's them taking the risk
That's them being confronted by the king of Babylon who's told them to bow who's told them to submit and they said
We will not do it. That's the risk
That's when they actually put skin in the game and look if you ever want God to deliver you
You don't you actually have to do you actually have to try if you actually want to accomplish something great for God
It's not enough to just think about it resolve to do it
Oh, I have faith like some arbitrary concept then you actually have to get out there and do it
You actually have to put the work in go to second Timothy for now for the rest of the sermon
I just want to give you several specific examples of areas in life that hey, we just need to try
We just need to actually put some skin in the game and try to do something for the Lord first
Hey, let's try to have a fundamental Baptist Church and a lot of people are down on that type of a church and you know
The church manuals will tell you that our style of church is not the greatest way to build a church
You know kicking people out for violating first Corinthians 5
Man's you know wisdom is gonna say that's not the best way to grow a church preaching art against sin
That's not the best way to grow a church
We need the nice lights and the nice music and the nice building and the nice programs
That's like the world's mentality today
But notice what the Bible says first second Timothy chapter 4 verse 2 preach the word be instant in season out of season
reprove rebuke
exhort with all long suffering and
Doctrine hey, let's try to be a church that actually focuses on what the Bible says
I don't want us to be another old IFB church, you know, there's enough old IFB churches in this world
Where you show up and the sermon is just like a Fox News article a poem a story
You know a verse about the Jews and then we go home
It's annoying folks and those of you who have been in the old IFB know what I'm talking about. It's real
They do not focus on the Bible. They have very short sermons. They're not reading the whole chapter before the service
They're not focused on the word. They're focused on their own ideas their own opinions
The Bible says preach the word the instant in season out of season. Notice this reprove rebuke
Exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. What's that? That's actually hard preaching. That's going to get specific
That's going to be corrective
Not every sermon needs to be a sermon about the grace and love of God
Not every sermon needs to be about salvation and that's another big thing in the old IV
You go there Sunday morning and it's probably going to be a salvation message
But you know what? How is that reproving and rebuking?
You know, we need to preach the whole gospel says in verse number three for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine
But after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears boy
Is that the case today in many churches where they're not enduring sound doctrine, you know, here's a great example of that
How about the worship of Jews the worship of Israel, you know, this is gonna come up a lot right now because of the conflict
Going on with Iran and Israel in the United States
I'm sure all over America this morning. You are probably hearing a sermon about how you know, Ted Cruz said it folks
Did you guys hear Ted Cruz? He said it those that bless Israel will be blessed by God. Amen, right?
There's the old IFB sound for you Ted Cruz. Ha said ha bless Israel
It's like dude just I don't want to be that type of church anyone with me on that. It's so annoying
You know what the Bible says that those who say they are Jews and are not are of the synagogue of Satan
The Bible says who is a liar, but he that deny if Jesus is the Christ
He is antichrist that deny the father and the son the Bible says he had if you have not the son
You have not the father, you know what Jesus said
Hey
If you would have believed Moses you would have believed me for he wrote of me
You know the Bible says that he's not a Jew which is one outwardly
Neither is that circumcision that which is of the flesh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart
Of the spirit not of the letter but of God of the spirit, you know
I can go on all day about how hey, they are not all Israel which are sorry
They are not all Israel man. I'm gonna misquote this. I think it's Romans chapter number nine
Let's let's go ahead and go to Romans chapter 9 real quick. This can become a Jew sermon really quick
Someone help me find that verse I'm thinking of they are not all Israel which are of Israel
This is a Bible study real quick. Here we go verse 6 not as though the Word of God had taken none effect for they are
Not all Israel which are of Israel neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they all children
But in Isaac shall thy seed be called that is they which are the children of the flesh
These are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted for the seed
So the Bible saying hey just because you're a physical descendant of Abraham does not mean that you're the true Israel
Who are who's the true Israel those that are of faith those who are of promise because in Genesis?
It doesn't say those who bless Israel will be blessed
It says hey that in thy seed shall all nations be blessed then in Galatians chapter 3
What does it say that seed is in Christ so who are who are God's chosen people today?
Christians people who believe in Jesus Christ not Pete not an entire nation a fraudulent nation of people that hate Christ
I don't get I don't get the side taking in this war between Israel and Iran
It's like alright, so we have pedophile worshippers
Versus Christ haters that's what the war is folks Israel Christ haters Iran
Pedophile worshippers Mohammed was a pedophile. Why is the United States getting involved in this who cares between their battle?
Let them blow each other up
let them destroy more of the false religion of Islam and Judaism off this earth because they're both religions that will send you straight to
Hell and no, I don't want a single drop of American blood being shed for Israel or for Iran
I don't give a crap about either nation that there's my foreign policy
I don't give a crap about what they do to each other because they're wicked nations
How sad that yesterday United States Airmen got inside of b2 bombers and dropped bombs in Iran in Iran yesterday
That's terrible. And you know, I hopefully it just ends there
But boy is that instigating a bunch of garbage in our world and you know what we as Christians
We we as a Christian nation should not try to stick up for a nation that hates Christ. Let them blow each other up
There's my foreign policy go to if you will second Corinthians chapter number four
But again, look, hey, let's just try to have a fundamental Baptist Church
Let's just try to preach the word even if what I just preach is not popular among most Baptists
Are we supposed to think about well, what's gonna be the best result of what I preach?
Are we supposed to endeavor to do right?
We're supposed to just endeavor to do right trust the Lord and let the chips fall where they may
Here's another thing that we should just try to do second Corinthians chapter 4 verse 3
We should preach the gospel verse 3 the Bible says but if her gospel be hid
It is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not
Lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them for we preach not ourselves
But Christ Jesus the Lord and ourselves your servants for Jesus's sake for God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness
Have shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ
Look at verse 7, but we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power
May be of God and not of us
Hey
You need to just try to preach the gospel and I thank God that here at anchor Baptist Church this year
We've had four soul winners preach the gospel and get someone saved for the first time ever
You know what praise God for you people because that takes faith that takes just hey, I'm just gonna resolve to do right
I'm just gonna realize that God can deliver me God can help me do this and then you actually need to risk
You need to try and a lot of people today are literally scared to go soul winning
They're scared to knock on someone's door. They're scared to talk to a stranger, but it's like look God. We are saved
We've escaped the fires of hell
We have this this treasure in earthen vessels, but realize hey if our Gospels hid it's hid to them that are lost
How can you live with yourself knowing? Well, I'm saved. I'm escaping hell
I don't have to spend any time in hell
But how do you not care about other people like how do you just go through life?
Having the gospel having the truth knowing you're saved and then there's just millions of people out there that are unsaved and you're not even
Trying to do anything about it. You know what you need to do. You need to risk a little bit and quite honestly
You're not really risking much folks. You're going down streets of Oklahoma City knocking on people's doors
You're not really risking that much and you know what you need to just get over yourself if you're shy
Because hell is a real place and it'd be such a shame if people went to hell because you're a little shy
Oh, I'm worried. I'm gonna run into someone that I know it's never happened to me
I've been soul winning for over a decade raise your hand if that's happened to you. Okay, so it's happened to some people
But did you die though? There you are. You're still here. Okay, so you might run into someone that you know out soul winning
It's never happened to me
But if you do you're not gonna die but guess what they will and they'll go to hell if you don't get them saved
Oh, someone's not gonna like me, dude. Have you read the Bible be hated for Christ?
It's a blessing someone doesn't like you who cares preach the gospel try put some skin in the game risk a little bit and quite
Honestly, we're not risking much. But maybe someday we will maybe someday we'll go through really heavy persecution
Maybe someday it'll be like a Daniel situation where part of our faith is illegal
Well, here's the people that are gonna stay steadfast during that time are the people who are soul winning now
When it's easy and people who are risking now when you're not really risking that much, right?
We need to be steadfast now go to Proverbs chapter number 18 Proverbs chapter number 18. Hey when it comes to risking something
Here's something for you single guys. Ask the girl out. Hey, you might have to risk something and actually talk to her
Don't just resolve you like oh, I'll be a good husband someday
I know God will help me be a good husband someday or we just allow a woman to just fall out of the sky and
Just have her get on one knee and propose to me right now, bro
You might actually have to talk to girls and like there's this there's this phenomenon now with Gen Z where it's like guys
Aren't approaching girls anymore. It's like a rare thing guys are just afraid to talk to girls
Look guys, you might have to risk something and it's like you won't die if you talk to her
Just like you won't die if you preach the gospel to someone that you know
You won't die if you talk to her just talk to the girl ask her out
Look what Proverbs 18 verse 22 says whoso findeth a good wife
Findeth a good thing and obtaineth favor of the Lord notice you have to find her you could pray all you want
You might actually have to risk something up though. You actually have to go and talk to her
You could pray all you want, but it's not like God is just reigning
Independent fundamental Baptist submissive Proverbs 31 soul winning, you know hand crocheting great meal-making women out of the sky
Before you you actually have to talk to girls and you actually have to realize hey the Proverbs 31 woman
Is already married. She's already married
You know what you have to do
you have to find a girl that you like that you love and that you're going to lead and that you guys are gonna grow
Together and become better Christians together
But I feel like a lot of single guys to have this attitude where it's like she's got to be
Proverbs 31 she's got to be a 10 out of 10 and a fisher of men before I will do anything
It's like bro. Good luck
This is why you're 30 35 40 and you're still single is because you actually need to talk to girls and look
I'm not trying to hurt your feelings right now. I'm trying to get you to risk
I'm trying to get because here's the thing the only way you can get that reward is if you actually risk
Here's another one go to Genesis chapter number 12 Genesis chapter number 12
Hey, you know what some people need to do some people need to risk and move to a good church
I mean to me life is way too short to be going to a church. That's not on fire
That's preaching about the Jews this morning and not like what I preached different type of Jewish sermon
That's gonna preach about the the rapture tonight and not the way we would preach it
It's gonna preach about salvation every sermon
That's gonna have all this the show and the lights and not actually have anything of substance life's too short to go to a church
Like that life's too short to go to a church that doesn't emphasize soul winning. Why is it that there's all these gigantic?
IFB churches, why is it that there's all these palaces with ten guys on staff?
20 guys on staff and why is it that we're out doing them in soul winning at anchor Baptist Church?
Well, we have 31 people this morning
Why is that happening because there's some people that are just lazy and they don't want to risk anything
They don't want to take the church money and invest it into soul winning and in the missions trips and into doing the work of God
They just want to invest it into their palace
They just want to have a nice comfortable ministry
They got big they got impressed with themselves and they started forgetting that it's about souls that it's about the work
I think life is too short to go to a church like that and you look I don't think everyone has to move
But you know what I moved and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made
I was living in Boise, Idaho
I was like
I don't know 18 or 19 years old and I was working as an industrial pipe fitter and I'm just working my tail off working all
These hours going to a lame church and I was like I just want to be a part of a good church
I want to be at a church where I'm gonna be challenged where I'm not the only person soul-winning
I mean I went to a church that had the double-decker is the huge gigantic church and no one would go soul-winning with me
For like a month. No one would do it. It just didn't exist
I wanted to go to a new IFB church and let me tell you something
It was one of the best decisions I ever made and people that are just living in Podunk Hall or US and they don't have
A great church to go to you know, I recommend that you move to a great church. I think you should do it
Here's what Genesis 12 verse 1 says now the Lord had said unto Abram get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred and
From thy father's house unto a land that I will show thee, you know, that's not an easy thing to do
It's not easy to leave your hometown the place you're comfortable the place you love your family
You know where you've got extended family around you to help you out
But God tells Abraham that that is what he should do verse 2 and I will make of thee a great nation and I will bless
The and make thy name great and thou shalt be a blessing and I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth
The not Jews and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed man
That's a pretty great promise that was delivered to Abraham that God was gonna make of him a great nation
That all those who bless him will be blessed
That's a great promise
but you know the only way that promise was gonna come to fruition is if Abraham actually
risked and actually had to leave his father's house and his father's country and go into some unknown place and
That god told him of that takes a lot of faith
But guess what he did it and we're all blessed for it today
We all are better for it today and look i'm not gonna sugarcoat it for you moving to another place might be hard
And you should count the cost before you do it. It's not easy leaving your family
You know my wife and I since we moved to texas because first I moved to vancouver from boise
I got married in 2018 with my wife. You know, we're raising kids there. We moved in 2020 to go to texas
I'm so glad I made that decision. I would I would never change anything of how I made that decision my life
My wife's life our kids life was blessed greatly and I wouldn't be here today if I didn't make that decision
But i'm not going to sugarcoat it for you and say that it was just always easy
No, we moved hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of miles away to a place where we had no family
There was no date nights. There was no hey babysit the kids and we're going to go out on a date night
That doesn't exist. So i'm not saying just make this decision willy-nilly. No count the cost
Realize it's going to be hard you go to a new place with new people
New challenges, but i'm telling you some people need to make that decision
Some people need to make that decision
I got a phone call from a young man a few weeks ago
Who told me that he's living with his catholic grandparents and doesn't have a great church to go to
And you know, he's considering moving to a new ifb church
It's like that's the type of situation i'm talking about life's too short to spend it with your catholic grandparents
You know what? I mean, you need to get into a fire-breathing independent fundamental baptist church
That's actually going to try to do something for the lord
That's actually going to risk something that's actually going to preach the things that get you in trouble every once in a while
That's actually going to go out to the community and win 800 souls plus to christ with our group of people here
You never know until you try go to psalm chapter 37. We'll finish in psalm chapter number 37
And look, I i'm not advocating that people who are already in a good church move
Look if you're being fed where you are if you're soul winning if you're happy where you are
I'm not saying that you need to move and i'm dead sure not saying if you're already in a new ifb church
That you need to move. I would never recommend someone leaves a great new ifb church to come here
I never recommend that stay with your pastor get rooted and grounded
But look if you don't have that then you should I believe you should notice what the bible says this kind of encapsulates
The whole thought of this sermon this morning psalm 37 verse 4 delight thyself also in the lord
And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart
Commit thy way unto the lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass
I mean, isn't that exactly what we're talking about today?
Commit thy way unto the lord just resolve to do right no matter what realize that god can deliver you
What is that trust also to him in him and he shall bring it to pass
You never know until you try you can never see what great things that god could do
Through you through our church through your family until you actually try number one resolve to do right no matter the cost number two
Realize god can deliver you number three risk. Don't be afraid to try. Let's pray lord. We thank you for your word
We thank you for this story in daniel chapter three
I pray that you'd help all of us during times that are relatively easy to really build a strong foundation
Individually that we would dig down deep and really just have strong roots spiritually that you could help us
To get through harder times in life that are to come
I pray that you help our church always to be steadfast that we would always
Do what's right and strive to do what's right no matter the costs that we would trust in you
And at the end of the day that we would risk and try to do great things for you in jesus name we pray