Monday 6/27/16 Bowing Down

Dear Father in Heaven: I love You and I need You. Thanks for helping each day as we are going day by day and even minute by minute with You, and I know You have pulled us through some hard ones recently. Thanks, Lord, for being true to Your Word and never leaving us. Please help  me with a message and to get it dispatched. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

Dear brothers and sisters, most of you know I am a fan of NASCAR. Before races they have opening services that tell people to rise  and for the men to remove their hats. They start with prayer and in most cases they pray in the Name of Jesus. Sometimes they close by praying "In His Name I Pray." However, yesterday in California the announcer told people to rise and remove their hats then the pastor who prayed just started out, did not really address the prayer to anyone. He did pray for protection of the race and the drivers and crews; and also how this country welcomes in everyone and so on. Then he closed the prayer by saying in the name of the gods we pray to amen. Then the singer dong the National Anthem trying to put their style to it really butchered it up. What a disgrace to our God and The United States. Just another example of BOWING DOWN!

Monday, June 27, 2016: Bowing Down

As I start this message today, I want to tell you, "Don't Bow Down." One of the greatest examples in our Bible of people not bowing down was recorded in the Book of Daniel and involved King Nebuchadnezzar wanting Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to bow down before his god which was an image of gold. Please read this account and then at the end I will address it.

Daniel 3:8-26 New International Version (NIV)

8 - At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "May the king live forever! 10 Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 Bu there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon -- Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego -- who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up."
13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, "King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it,and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, Your Majesty."
25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."
26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!"
So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire.

Dear brothers and sisters, I am back. When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego went down in the fire they had faith that God would protect them, and He did. Now I want to let you think about this. When Nebuchadnezzar looked in he saw "four men" dancing all around. I am thinking that maybe Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not even see God dancing with them, they just knew He would be there and take care of them. They refused to "Bow Down."

I bring this up for there are many times we might be requested to "bow down," but if we show Jesus in us, if the devil and his evil forces can see Jesus in us, the will flee. In other words, don't bow down to any evil. If we are giving in to sin, we are bowing down. Don't Bow Down, if sin is facing you, pray harder and harder, and call on God to protect you, don't bow down. The pastor at the races yesterday surely "bowed down." What about it, are you bowing down to sin? Please don't bow down. Remember, you are never alone, you have protection in God The Father, Jesus The Son, and The Holy Ghost. They are the best guards you can have. Don't Bow Down. Stand up, stand up for Jesus and let others see Him in you, and please Don't Bow Down. Remember we have a protector and you can call on Him and He will cover you with His Blood. Do you need better protection?

Now go forth and serve Jesus and Jesus alone, and did I say "Don't Bow Down." Love ya.

Pastor Dan