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Daniel - Far From Home: Standing For God in Our Bowing Culture 
10.17.21 
Pastor Scott Foreman

Standing for God in Our Bowing Culture is Possible When:
WE HAVE BIBLICALLY BASED CONVICTIONS
These three had Biblically based convictions that God is who He says He is. They knew the Word because they studied the Word:
“You shall have no other gods before me.4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments."
Exodus 20:3-6
However, the need to rebel against authority is rare. All things being normal and equal, God has not called believers to be anarchists, but law-abiding citizens:
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment."
Romans 13:1-2
So, the general guidance from Scripture is to obey your authorities.
But there are circumstances given in Scripture where God’s people said “No” to authority:
· When Worship is Denied.
· When Mission Is Restricted.
· When Laws Are Ignored.
When Institutions Are Reinvented. The three institutions are government, the church and the family:
 
But there are circumstances given in Scripture where God’s people said “No” to authority:
· When Worship is Denied.
· When Mission Is Restricted.
· When Laws Are Ignored.
· When Institutions Are Reinvented. The three institutions are government, the church and the family:
a. God has indicated that there will be civil authorities. These authorities are to be obeyed and honored, except in the circumstances indicated.
b. God has ordained there will be a local church – where there is order and definition as to how the church operates.
c. God has ordained that there will be a family – where a man and a woman come together in a permanent marital relationship.
Standing for God in Our Bowing Culture is Possible When:
WE HAVE BIBLICALLY BASED CONVICTIONS
WHEN WE RELY ON THE ACCOUNTABILTIY OF CLOSE FRIENDSHIPS
 
Humble believers recognize their need for each other. Not having anyone in your life is spiritual pride.
Standing for God in Our Bowing Culture is Possible When:
WE HAVE BIBLICALLY BASED CONVICTIONS
WHEN WE RELY ON THE ACCOUNTABILITIY OF CLOSE FRIENDSHIPS
WHEN WE TAKE COURAGE IN OPPOSITION
Maybe the three men could have weaseled out of it, by giving some excuses: (from the Life Application Study Bible)…
· We will fall down but not actually worship the idol.
· We will worship this one time, then ask God for forgiveness
· The king has absolute power, we must obey, God will understand.
· This is a foreign land, so God will excuse us for following their customs.
· Why not bow? We’re not hurting anyone!
God has YOU where he has you to change your world for Christ. I can’t change your world for Christ. Only you can. 
And what about you? When you take the name of Christ are you a Christian in name only, or if you had to die for Christ would you?