We will not bow down to semi-gods, God alone we will serve.
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18
EXPOSITION:
A declaration such as we are making and praying about today is not such that is made as a lip-service thing, but one that must be made with our minds made up that come what may, we will not bow, we will not serve any other god apart from the living God of heaven and earth. God will endow us the strong will in this regard.
In chapter 24 of the Book of Joshua where Joshua was presenting his valedictory address to the children of Israel after having led them to the Land of Promise; it was time for him to leave the scene of leadership. In this address, he took the people down memory lane, recounting the wonderous things God had done for them, how He delivered them form bondage of the Egyptians, leading them through the Red Sea, guiding and guarding them in their travails in the wilderness till He finally brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey.
Joshua charged them to think of all these and encouraged them to choose to serve God rather the pagan gods of their new environment; but if they choose otherwise, he vouched as recorded in verse 15 that “…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” This stance is worthy of emulation particularly in our contemporary times when many mundane, ephemeral things are beckoning our attention. May God empower us to be able to make a declaration like this.
Another instance of people daring the devil to declare for God is found in Daniel chapter 3 where three young Hebrews defiled the order of king Nebuchadnezzar that people should bow to his image. As a penalty, anyone who refused would be to be thrown into a burning fiery furnace. These three Hebrews boys, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were so audacious to say to the king’s face thus: “O, Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace…But if not, let it be known to you, O, king that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
Anyone who chooses to stand for God and for Him only against all odds, without doubt, God will stand for that person, defend him against any attack. Grace, strong will, courage and boldness to choose God over and above any power will come upon on this season in the name of Jesus. God bless you. SHALOM. Pastor Jide Siwoku
Prayer Points:
1. O Lord our God! We thank You because You are the living God that we serve in Jesus’ name. (Daniel 6:26).
2. Father, we praise Your Holy name for the grace of knowing You as our God in Jesus’ name. (John 17:3).
3. Lord, we worship You because You change not in Jesus’ name. (Hebrews 13:8, Malachi 3:6).
4. Our God and our Father, because we put our hopes and trust in You, do not put us to shame in Jesus’ name. (Psalm 25:1).
5. Almighty Father, we pray that every power that wants to contest with You in our lives be put to shame and destroyed in Jesus’ name. 6. Every storm that wants to bow our heads in shame, cease now in Jesus’ name. (Mark 4:39).
7. The grace and power to stand firm and not give up in times of trouble, Father, bestow upon us in Jesus’ name. (Isaiah 43:2).
8. Father! Every challenge that we are going through, O Lord see us through and make us victorious in Jesus’ name. (Isaiah 40:10, Romans 8:37).
9. Power that will not compromise Your standard, Father, we receive it afresh today in Jesus’ name. (Joshua 24:15).
10. O Lord, give us the boldness to confront any power or authority that is contrary to Your will in our lives in Jesus’ name. (Daniel 3:16-18).
11. Father, where people are waiting to mock us, show forth and disappoint them in Jesus’ name. (Psalm 6:9-10).
12. Fire of the Holy Ghost, destroy every strange god that has been worshipped in my family in Jesus’ name. (Hebrews 12:29).
13. Father, through the miracle, we will experience this year, let souls be drawn unto You in Jesus’ name.
14. O Lord our God, we thank You because You will proveYourself strong in our lives to the glory of Your name in Jesus’ name.
15. Thank You, Lord, for answering all our prayers tonight. We believe and receive in Jesus’ name. (Mark 11:23).
