The Grace to Overcome Haters

(Read Daniel 3:7-12)

This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”.  In our last message we looked at verses 1-6 of Daniel chapter three, where King Nebuchadnezzar had a statue built as an idol and he commanded everyone in his kingdom to worship it.  Those who refused to bow would burn!  Let’s pick up the story from there.

The Bible says, “So as soon as they heard the sound of the horns, flutes, lyres, sambucas, bagpipes, and all the other musical instruments, they bowed down and worshiped the gold idol.  All the peoples, nations, and different language groups there worshiped the gold idol that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.  

Then some of the Chaldeans came up to the king and began speaking against the people from Judah.  They said, “King, may you live forever!  King, you gave a command.  You said that everyone who hears the sound of the horns, flutes, lyres, sambucas, harps, bagpipes, and all the other musical instruments must bow down and worship the gold idol.  And you also said that whoever does not bow down and worship the gold idol will be thrown into a very hot furnace.  There are some Judeans who you made important officials in the province of Babylon that ignored your order, King.  Their names are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  They don’t worship your gods, and they didn’t bow down to worship the gold idol you set up.”

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things.

1.  Favor ain’t fair.

a)  Bishop T.D. Jakes famously coined the phrase, “Favor ain’t fair”.  While it may not be good English, it is surely good teaching.

b)  The Chaldeans were jealous of three Judean boys: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, because they had recently been promoted to leadership positions in Babylon.

c)  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were promoted from slaves to supervisors in a moment and they did nothing to earn or deserve the promotion.  The promotion came completely by the favor of God.

d)  The three Hebrew boys were sitting around one day when news came that their friend, Daniel, had just been promoted to a very high position in Babylon.  And then, before they knew it, they were promoted as well.

e)  Favor can do more in a minute than labor can do in a lifetime.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego could have worked for 20 years and not earned the promotion they received in 20 seconds, by God’s favor.

f)  Don’t underestimate what the favor of God can do in your life.

2.  The favor of God attracts both success and haters.

a)  The same favor that attracts preferential treatment from those with power, also attracts envy from those who want what you receive.

b)  While I am sure that some Babylonians were able to celebrate the promotions of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the text teaches that a company of Chaldeans were not happy to see Judeans get promoted ahead of them.

c)  Hatred and jealousy caused the Chaldeans to “tattle” on the Hebrew boys.  They went out of their way to report to the king concerning the Hebrew boys’ activities.

d)  When God promotes you, the enemy will keep an eye on you and attempt to point out anything wrong you do.  That’s why you need to walk upright before God.

e)  Expect to be talked about.  If you are going to do anything of significance, then people are going to talk about you.  If you are not being talked about, you are probably not doing anything noteworthy for the Kingdom of God.

3.  Never violate your integrity.

a)  Whatever you compromise to get, you will have to compromise to keep.  So it’s better to not compromise in the first place.

b)  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to compromise.  They refused to violate the Law of the God who gave them the promotion in the first place.

c)  They refused to bow, even if it meant they would burn!

d)  Never bow to the pressure of the enemy!

4.  The poison you receive from haters cannot stop the purpose you have received from God.

a)  The same God who put you there can keep you there.

b)  God had a plan and a purpose for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and no poison, plot, or punch from the enemy could stop God.

c)  When you are fully submitted to God you cannot be stopped, because stopping you would mean stopping God and God is UNSTOPPABLE!

d)  Keep your confidence in God.  You are limited, but God is limitless.  You are flawed, but God is holy.  If you pursue God’s best for your life based on your ability, with your confidence in YOU, your pursuit is destined for failure.  You are not perfect and you will most certainly make mistakes along the way.  If your confidence is in YOU, your mistakes will strip you of your confidence.  But if your confidence is in God and in His dedication to what He has started in your life, then you will be able to keep going, even after you make mistakes.  Do you know what that is called?  It’s called GRACE!  And it’s amazing.

Closing Confession:   Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith.  You have started a good work IN me and I am confident that You will continue that work, until the day Jesus returns.  You called me from my mother’s womb.  You pursued me while I was living in sin.  You washed me of my sin when I accepted Jesus Your Son as my Lord, and You declared me righteous.  You have promoted me by Your grace and favor.  You have given me favor with those in authority and I experience preferential treatment everywhere I go.  The same favor that attracts success also attracts envy.  People talk about me behind my back.  People I don’t even know talk bad about me, because of their own insecurities.  I will continue to love them and pray for them.  I am not moved by what they say, because I know their poison cannot stop Your purpose.   I keep pressing on, in spite “haters”, and I keep my confidence in You.  I know I am not good enough, strong enough, smart enough, or perfect enough to accomplish all I was born to accomplish.  But I also know that I will get it done by Your grace and for Your glory.  Because it’s You, living in me, giving me the words to say, and doing the work.  So I give myself over to You afresh this morning.  Speak through my vocal chords, think through my mind, and operate through my limbs, that Your very power would be manifested in the earth through me.  No one can stop me, because stopping me would mean stopping You and You cannot be stopped!  I declare this by faith.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.