3-B Characteristics of people who dare to stand up and stand out.
Before the beginning of this year the Lord gave me a message for the year 2017, "Dare to Stand Up and Stand Out!" This message has become my theme message for the year and one on which I seek to build a solid foundation this year with the Lord. I hope it will be a blessing to you too...
Now let's go into the message...
The story of the three Hebrew boys recorded in Daniel 3 is one that resonance bravery if looked from a more general sense. But more to this is the fact that they knew what they were doing. These three boys; Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (whose names were changed to (Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego respectively) were captives who dared to stand against the authority of the king, Nebuchadnezzar, as long as his decree(s) contravene that of God Almighty. Many times we are faced with challenges that contravene the order of God in a world that is bedevilled with such impunity. We are therefore called to stand out against these anti-human or anti-God actions or commands that stare us in the face. And I dare say that like the three boys, we should not fail to point to the world that we cannot answer to its demands because they are anti-God and humans. From Daniel 3:16-18, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied 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.” [NASB]
Now, let us look at the 3-B characteristics that made the Hebrews stand out:
1. They Believed (3:17)
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.
The 3 Hebrew men believed God’s word to be true, and that He could save them. It is clear that they first had believe in God and that is why they would not bow to the golden image, and secondly, they believed His word that “He was going to deliver them”.
Countlessly God promises to deliver us: In Ps. 34:17 it reads, The righteous cry, and the Lord hears And delivers them out of all their troubles. Ps. 50:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honour Me. Ps. 91:3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence. Ps. 107:6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distresses. Exod. 3:9-10 Now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to Me; furthermore, I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” 2. They were Bold (3:16, 18)
“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter… 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.”
In the midst of the crowd, they didn’t bow to the image of the king. One has to be bold enough to make a decision and also stand for those decisions we make, whether positive or not. Sometimes, some of our decisions will be such that they are not favourable to our leaders: those we report to; family; and even those we seek to represent. But they must be taken in good faith for the good of His kingdom. 3 things to note when taking Bold decisions
Bold decisions are taken with considerable risk involved. The 3 Hebrew boys knew the consequences of disobeying the king but still took that decision. I believe that high risk takers are those who know where they are going. They have valued/weighed the price tag of whatever they are risking their lives for. And for the 3 boys, it was one that had eternal reward! Our God can manage our risks!!
Bold decisions may often times confront the status quo. Sometimes you don’t mean to be confrontational but the moment you decide to take a certain Bold decision, you are in danger of confronting those in authority, or what has been generally accepted by the masses.
Bold decisions will mean you need to have a vision in place. This vision employs disciple and an ability to stay focus on what you intend to achieve with the decision(s) you make. Vision is what drives us to make decisions, and bold decisions would mean we have a clear sight as to where we are going. Prov. 29:18 says,
Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law".
3. They were Breathless (expectant) (3: 17b)
…and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
The problem today with urban Christianity is not that we don’t believe but rather we have little or no more expectation. That hope that says, it doesn’t matter what, I know God will still come through for me, is no more. Expectation is what keeps hope alive. It is what makes our faith relevant! A person is probably as dead/alive as his/her hopes. It is W. C. Fields who said that “Remember, a dead fish can float downstream, but it takes a live one to swim upstream.” For the Hebrew boys, their expectation was that God was going to save them and indeed, He did! This might not necessarily happen all the time, and that is why it is a risk and one that can be well taken because at the end He will save! Prov. 23:18 reads, "Surely there is a future, And your hope will not be cut off". In Acts 3:5, after Peter and John fastened their gaze on this man, lame from his birth, Bible says he focused attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. If a beggar has expectations to receive how much more the children of God! At the end, these Hebrew boys, daring to stand up and stand out, they have their acts recorded in Hebrews 11:34a which reads, they “quenched the power of fire…”
I charge you therefore, that in this season "DARE TO STAND UP AND STAND OUT!"