1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:11,280 Thank you for listening to this message from Lifehouse Church. 2 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:18,160 Well good morning Lifehouse. Well that was a little bit weak. I think we do better than that. 3 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:22,880 Good morning Lifehouse. Yeah that's a little bit better. Well good morning. We're so glad you guys 4 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:27,520 are here with us on Student Sunday. Whether you were joining us in the house this morning or online 5 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:31,600 it's great to have you. Or if you're checking this out after the fact at the during the podcast, 6 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:35,520 that's also another great way you can hear the sermons this morning. But for those of you that 7 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:40,160 may not know me, my name is Andrew Manovil. I have the privilege and the honor of being the 8 00:00:40,160 --> 00:00:44,560 student ministry pastor here at Lifehouse. I get to be all these kids pastors, all these 9 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:49,440 teenagers pastors. It's a great privilege and an honor for me to do that. But we are here, 10 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:55,200 my wife and I and our little girl Lucy have been coming to, she is with her grandparents. 11 00:00:55,200 --> 00:01:00,640 This morning everyone knows Lucy, she's Lifehouse famous at this point. Or infamous I should say 12 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:05,920 maybe. But yeah so this morning, but anyway so we've been part of Lifehouse since 2016, 13 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:10,240 since we got married and moved to the area. But it's great to be here this morning with you guys 14 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:17,840 as well. But this morning I want to open up with a story. And the story, it's a Monday like any other 15 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:22,720 one day and a pastor is on his way to the office. He's on his way into work or after preaching the 16 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:29,120 sermon, preaching on Sunday. And he takes the bus to work this day. And unlike normal he goes and 17 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:33,920 he pays his fare for the bus, but this Monday morning the bus driver gives him too much change 18 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:39,200 back. And the pastor takes the money and looks at it and he gets back in his seat and he's counting 19 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:42,720 it and he's like, oh that's too much money, the bus driver gave me too much money. So he starts 20 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:46,720 doing what a lot of us Christians would do. We start rationalizing, we're like, oh well God has 21 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:51,840 blessed us and we've been so like privileged and you know, God's taking care of me. But the longer 22 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:57,200 his ride went, the more it went on, he said, I can't, it can live with himself. And he went to the 23 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:01,680 bus driver at the end and said, hey sir, I'm sorry there's been a mistake, you gave me too much change 24 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:05,600 back. And the bus driver said, no there's no mistake actually. He just smiles at him and says, 25 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:09,680 no there's no mistake actually. And the pastor looks at him inquisitively and he says, well 26 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:13,440 he says, pastor I was at your church on Sunday and you preached on integrity and I was putting you 27 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:23,680 to the test. So this morning we're gonna talk about integrity. Integrity as defined by the world is 28 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:32,880 nothing more than just living a steadfastly to a moral or ethical code. But as followers of Jesus, 29 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:41,360 integrity for us is so much more. For us, we are commanded by God to not just possess integrity, 30 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:47,760 not just have it in, you know, not just have integrity, but to live a life full of it. God 31 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:55,360 rather expects us to live a life full of integrity. And you might be saying, well, you know, maybe I'm 32 00:02:55,360 --> 00:03:00,240 not a hundred percent honest all the time. Maybe I, you know, what's the point, what's the harm in a 33 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:04,960 white lie, right? At least I go to church, you know, on Sunday mornings, at least I'm here, 34 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:09,840 you know, for one gathering or maybe even two sometimes. And you know, these little white lies 35 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:18,240 never really hurt anybody, right? Maybe isn't that more important to God that I'm here than if, 36 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:24,480 you know, if I was completely honest all the time? Isn't that better me being a good Christian than 37 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:32,720 having this integrity? But we're gonna turn in our Bibles to Proverbs chapter 21 and verse 3. 38 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:37,920 If you got your paper Bibles, which is awesome, I'm always encouraged when I see people bring 39 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:41,760 in their Bibles or if you got your iPads or whatever, or the words, the verse will be on 40 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:46,480 the screen as well. But before we dig into the passage, I want to give a little background on 41 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:51,840 the book of Proverbs. The book of Proverbs is in the Old Testament of the Bible. It is mostly 42 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:56,800 authored by one man and that is King Solomon. King Solomon was one of the ancient kings of the 43 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:04,640 nation of Israel, a son of David, and was one of the most honored and revered and successful kings 44 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:12,160 in all of the history of Israel. Well, Solomon was so honored and so revered by his people because 45 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:17,120 he honored God, because he lived a life that was pleasing to God. So God comes to him in a 46 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:21,200 dream one night and he says, Solomon, ask me for whatever you want and I'll give it to you. 47 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:27,440 And Solomon said, Lord, give me wisdom. So the book of Proverbs is this wisdom that Solomon has 48 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:33,360 had gleaned from God and through that quest for wisdom, we see Solomon's writings in the book 49 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:39,920 of Proverbs. But Proverbs 21.3 says, the Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and what is 50 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:48,640 just than if we offer him sacrifices. This verse is saying that God is more pleased when we live 51 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:54,320 a life full of integrity than if we never miss a Sunday sermon or a night of Bible study and 52 00:04:54,320 --> 00:05:00,960 life groups. It doesn't mean anything to God if we listen, if all we do is just listen to Christian 53 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:06,480 radio or watch movies and TV shows that are on Pure Flix and nothing else, right? If we don't 54 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:12,640 have that integrity, that doesn't mean anything to God. God's not impressed with our Jesus bumper 55 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:16,880 stickers if we're driving around cutting people off and flipping people to bird. God doesn't care 56 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:22,720 about that. It's not impressive to him, right? That cool Jesus t-shirt that you love, that 57 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:28,320 LifeHouse t-shirt is awesome, but don't wear it if you're gonna go and be rude to people at Walmart, 58 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:36,960 okay? God doesn't care about that. God is not impressed with that. However, this verse is not 59 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:43,280 saying that we shouldn't, obviously that religious practices don't matter. It's not saying that they 60 00:05:43,280 --> 00:05:48,480 shouldn't be practiced. It's just saying that don't go to church. It's not saying don't go to 61 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:51,760 church and don't worship. No, it's rather saying that they mean nothing if we don't have a life 62 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:58,560 full of integrity. That means that everything we do as Christians should be honoring to Jesus. 63 00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:05,920 Biblical integrity, it looks like in our lives, putting Jesus first in everything that we do. 64 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:11,520 The apostle Paul, I like how he puts it in Ephesians 4 verse 22. 65 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:16,400 And this theme of integrity is threaded all throughout scripture. 66 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:20,560 And Paul is saying in Ephesians 4 22, he says, throw off your old and sinful nature 67 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:26,240 and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Deception, that's the 68 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:30,320 opposite of integrity, right? It says, instead, let the spirit renew your thoughts and your 69 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:36,400 attitudes. Put on your new nature created to be like God, truly righteous and holy. 70 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:43,520 He says it again in Titus 2 7, it says, and you yourselves must be an example to them doing 71 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:48,320 good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the what? The integrity 72 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:54,320 and the seriousness of your teaching. He takes it one step further in the book of Colossians. 73 00:06:54,320 --> 00:07:01,120 Colossians 3 5 says, so put to death these earthly things lurking within us. Have nothing to do with 74 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:08,960 sexual morality, impurity, lust or evil desires. Don't be greedy for a greedy person is an idolater 75 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:16,320 worshiping the things of this world. Some intense language, put it to death, right? 76 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:21,920 What does this look like for us? How do we as Christ followers, how do we as Christians 77 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:29,200 get a hold of that kind of integrity? What does it look like for us to show that kind of integrity 78 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:35,600 in the world around us? I believe one of the best examples of biblical integrity like this 79 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:40,880 is the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. If you're like me and you grew up in church or 80 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:46,000 even if you didn't, you may have heard of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. It's a very common Sunday 81 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:52,320 school story here, but the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is found in Daniel chapter 3. 82 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:56,000 We're gonna start in verse one and we'll make our way through the story. So hang in there with me. 83 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,360 We're gonna have the words on the screens as well. If you got your Bibles with you, turn there. 84 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:03,760 But Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, they're the words that we're gonna use. 85 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:09,280 But Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are Jewish captives. They were captured prisoners of war, 86 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:13,600 if you will, but not like the prisoners of war that we're familiar with. These were young men 87 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:20,800 who were taken and they were put into positions of power and authority. They were given, they were 88 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:27,040 lavished gifts upon by their captors to help indoctrinate them into the culture in which 89 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:33,200 they were taken, right? So we know Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were appointed to their positions 90 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:39,360 of power by their friend Daniel, you know, who the book is named after. But they're in the land of 91 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:43,760 Babylon and we see the people of Israel, all throughout the Old Testament, they go through 92 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:48,480 these cycles, right? And this is one of the downswing, some of the cycles that they go through. 93 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:52,720 The people of Israel go through these cycles where they worship God, they praise God, 94 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:58,800 and they're successful in their military campaigns. And then they turn away from God and they sin 95 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:03,360 and then God's judgment and God's wrath is upon them. Well, this is one of those times in the 96 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:09,120 history of Israel where God's wrath and judgment is upon them. So the nation of Israel is captive 97 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:15,760 by the nation of Babylon here. So there were others, not just Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 98 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:21,760 a lot of young men, a lot of people were captured by the armies of Babylon. The king of Babylon, 99 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:28,320 his name was Nebuchadnezzar. And Nebuchadnezzar was a great military tactician, one of the most 100 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:35,600 prolific kings or emperors of the Babylonian empire at this time. His reign lasted a staggering 101 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:42,240 40 years, which doesn't sound like a lot, but in that time was a super long time. He was also a 102 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:47,280 visionary and a builder. He is credited with building lots of things, one of which being the 103 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:52,400 hanging gardens of Babylon, which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. 104 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:57,920 But Nebuchadnezzar had a fatal downfall and his fatal downfall was that he thought very, 105 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:03,920 very highly of himself. And historians have even found carved stone tablets that read things like 106 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:10,640 King Nebuchadnezzar the Great, King of the universe. Assess the stage a little bit here for 107 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:16,640 Daniel chapter three, verse one, it says, King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue, 90 feet tall 108 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:22,400 and nine feet wide. You got to think pretty highly of yourself to build a 90 foot tall statue 109 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:26,800 of yourself and to put it up. And so he says, he built a 90 foot wide statue and set it up on the 110 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:33,120 plains of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then he sent messages to the high officers and the 111 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:39,120 officials, governors, advisors, treasurers, judges and magistrates, and all of the provincial officials 112 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:43,760 to come to the dedication of the statue that he had set up. So all of these officials came and stood 113 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:48,720 before the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And then a herald shouted out, people of all races, 114 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:55,280 nations and language, listen to the king's command. When you hear the sound of the horn, the flute, 115 00:10:55,280 --> 00:11:01,680 the zitar, the lyre, the harp, pipes and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship 116 00:11:01,680 --> 00:11:08,400 King Nebuchadnezzar's golden statue. If anyone refuses to obey, anyone who refuses to obey will 117 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:19,920 immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace. I want us to imagine for a second, imagine for a 118 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:24,960 second, close your eyes and imagine it with me, that you are Shadrach, Meshach or Abednego. You're 119 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:31,360 placed in a position of a power and authority in a strange land. And you have all kinds of riches and 120 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:36,560 all kinds of authority at your disposal. And you're in this position and you're all of us 121 00:11:36,560 --> 00:11:42,560 sudden you're placed with this huge conundrum, this huge challenge of your integrity that you know God 122 00:11:42,560 --> 00:11:50,960 expects you to have. They were told to worship this false manmade image or be burned alive. 123 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:59,680 The music starts playing and you know what's at stake. It's a little more stake here than just 124 00:11:59,680 --> 00:12:06,480 some extra pocket change like in the story beginning. Let's continue in verse seven. It says, 125 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:10,720 so at the sound of the musical instruments, it says all of the people, everybody say that with me, 126 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:14,560 all of the people. If you're all online, put that in the chat. We're gonna come back to that, 127 00:12:14,560 --> 00:12:17,200 underline that in your Bible. If you got a paper Bible with you, we're gonna come right back to 128 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:22,800 that. But it says, whatever their race or nation or language bowed to the ground and worshiped the 129 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:28,320 golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. But some of the astrologers or your translators 130 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:34,640 might say Chaldeans went to the king and informed on the Jews. They said, King Nebuchadnezzar, 131 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:40,480 long live the king. You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down and worship the gold 132 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:46,240 statue. When you hear the sound of the horn, the flute, the zitar, the lyre, the harp pipes and 133 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:52,160 other musical instruments. That decree also states that those who refuse to obey must be thrown into 134 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:58,480 a blazing furnace. So the music plays, all the instruments start up and the music plays and we 135 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:03,600 see in verse seven, that all of the people, there are other Jewish people, there are other people of 136 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:09,280 the nation of Israel in Babylon with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. And it says that everybody 137 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:17,760 bows down, all of the people. And there are others who know the true and living God. 138 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:24,720 But Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stand alone. They stand alone in their refusal to worship this 139 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:31,520 false God. Verse 12 says, the Chaldeans were continuing and they said, but some Jews, 140 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:36,000 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon, 141 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:41,360 they pay no attention to you, your majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the 142 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:46,320 gold statue that you have set up. They refuse to worship the gold statue that you have set up. 143 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:51,440 Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be brought 144 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:57,040 before him. When they were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar said to them, is it true, 145 00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:01,840 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue 146 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:06,800 that I have set up? I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made 147 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:11,120 when you hear the sound of musical instruments. But if you refuse, you'll be thrown immediately 148 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:16,960 into the blazing furnace and then what God will be able to rescue you from my power. 149 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:24,640 We see in this passage that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stand up, literally stand up for what 150 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:29,280 they believe in and they do not worship the statue like they're commanded. But we see their 151 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:38,240 integrity is not met with respect or understanding, no, on the contrary, it is met with hatred and 152 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:46,880 condemnation and contempt. But the boys stand firm regardless. They stand firm exemplifying a life 153 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:54,640 full of integrity. When we stand up for what is right and what is just, when we walk with the 154 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:59,680 integrity that God expects us, sometimes the people around us are not gonna be happy about it. 155 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:04,720 Living a life full of God expected integrity will not always please those around us. 156 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:10,000 I remember a couple of years ago, I was selling a vehicle. I was selling a vehicle to a gentleman 157 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:14,240 on the internet and we agreed on the price and we met up and he gave me the money and we go to do 158 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:18,800 the title transfer, go to the tag transfer and all that stuff. And he says, before we go in, 159 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:23,920 he says to me, hey, before we go in, I wanna, I just wanted to see, you know, you're okay 160 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:29,920 if I tell them that, tell the DMV, tell them that I only paid like $200 for this car. And it was, 161 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:33,120 you know, a couple thousand dollars for this car. But he's like, you okay if I just tell him that? 162 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:37,440 He's like, I don't really wanna have to pay the taxes on this. And I kindly informed him, 163 00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:41,040 no, I'm not comfortable with that. You know, I do my best to live a life full of integrity. 164 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:47,440 And he lost it. Start screaming and swearing and carrying on something terrible, almost backed out 165 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:52,560 of the sale. And he was like, I don't wanna pay the taxes on this. And I was like, I don't wanna 166 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:57,600 buy it. I'll just get out of the sale, all because I stood up for integrity. And I informed him, 167 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:00,960 I said, listen, I said, I'm not comfortable doing this. I said, I've, you know, I, you know, 168 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:04,960 I try to follow Jesus and, and as best I can and live this life full of integrity, 169 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:11,280 but he didn't understand. He was not happy about it. 170 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:18,560 Just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, sometimes when we live a life full of integrity, 171 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:19,400 and get turned up. 172 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:23,800 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego reply to Nebuchadnezzar 173 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:26,720 in verse 16, and I absolutely love their reply. 174 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:29,960 It's my favorite scripture's in this whole passage. 175 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:32,260 It says, oh Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need 176 00:16:32,260 --> 00:16:34,060 to defend ourselves before you. 177 00:16:35,660 --> 00:16:37,560 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, 178 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:40,360 the God whom we serve is able to save us. 179 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:43,120 He will rescue us from your power, your majesty, 180 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:45,720 but even if he doesn't, we wanna make it clear to you, 181 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:49,320 your majesty, that we will never serve your gods 182 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:51,680 or worship the gold statue that you have set up. 183 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:55,800 They tell Nebuchadnezzar, it doesn't matter 184 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:57,160 what happens to us. 185 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:03,040 We are not going to bend, crack, falter, or cave. 186 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:05,400 Even if that furnace gets heated up 187 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,640 a million times hotter than it already is, 188 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:10,200 we are not going to fail. 189 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,580 We are not going to lose our integrity. 190 00:17:12,580 --> 00:17:14,780 Man, that is the kind of integrity 191 00:17:14,780 --> 00:17:17,340 that I wanna seek after. 192 00:17:20,940 --> 00:17:24,220 Knowing the punishment, knowing what's going on, 193 00:17:24,220 --> 00:17:26,820 knowing what will happen, what's going to happen, 194 00:17:26,820 --> 00:17:29,300 that literally the decree said, worship the statue 195 00:17:29,300 --> 00:17:30,540 or be thrown in the furnace. 196 00:17:30,540 --> 00:17:31,980 It's a complete ultimatum. 197 00:17:33,660 --> 00:17:35,580 Even if it means their death, 198 00:17:35,580 --> 00:17:37,380 they hold fast to their integrity. 199 00:17:37,380 --> 00:17:39,980 We may never be threatened with being thrown 200 00:17:39,980 --> 00:17:43,180 into a literal fire for holding fast to our integrity, 201 00:17:43,180 --> 00:17:45,180 but we will surely be tested. 202 00:17:45,180 --> 00:17:48,140 Maybe not as intense as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 203 00:17:48,140 --> 00:17:51,020 but I have no doubt that our integrity will be tested. 204 00:17:53,020 --> 00:17:56,020 Students, for you, maybe that looks like a friend 205 00:17:56,020 --> 00:17:59,020 somehow came across the answers to your test on Friday. 206 00:17:59,900 --> 00:18:01,900 And they say, hey, I'll give these to you 207 00:18:01,900 --> 00:18:03,900 if you don't want them to be tested. 208 00:18:03,900 --> 00:18:07,540 And you really need that A on your test, right? 209 00:18:07,540 --> 00:18:09,380 So maybe you don't actually cheat, 210 00:18:09,380 --> 00:18:11,780 but you use the answers as a study guide 211 00:18:11,780 --> 00:18:14,740 and you follow along and then you take the test. 212 00:18:14,740 --> 00:18:17,580 Or maybe you're working a job, you're in an office 213 00:18:17,580 --> 00:18:20,300 and one of your coworkers comes up to you and says, hey, 214 00:18:20,300 --> 00:18:22,300 they heard such and such gossip 215 00:18:22,300 --> 00:18:24,380 about somebody else in the office. 216 00:18:24,380 --> 00:18:26,980 And you could use that information as ammunition 217 00:18:26,980 --> 00:18:28,780 to put that in your boss's ear. 218 00:18:28,780 --> 00:18:31,100 And you could use that information as a tool 219 00:18:31,100 --> 00:18:32,900 to help you get through the test. 220 00:18:32,900 --> 00:18:34,900 Put that in your boss's ear 221 00:18:34,900 --> 00:18:37,380 so that you can put yourself in better light with them. 222 00:18:38,340 --> 00:18:40,140 Or maybe you work a blue collar job, 223 00:18:40,140 --> 00:18:42,580 mechanic, a plumber, a builder of some kind, 224 00:18:42,580 --> 00:18:44,380 and you're light on work for the week. 225 00:18:45,820 --> 00:18:48,060 So when you're working on the job, you see something else 226 00:18:48,060 --> 00:18:51,460 that doesn't really need fixed, but maybe you say, hey, 227 00:18:53,740 --> 00:18:55,020 add that into it as well. 228 00:18:55,020 --> 00:18:56,140 It doesn't really need fixed now, 229 00:18:56,140 --> 00:18:59,860 but it will eventually, and we justify that kind of stuff. 230 00:18:59,860 --> 00:19:01,740 Or maybe it's tax season. 231 00:19:01,740 --> 00:19:03,380 Tax season rolls around, 232 00:19:03,380 --> 00:19:05,460 we don't wanna pay the government any more 233 00:19:05,460 --> 00:19:06,460 than we already do. 234 00:19:08,020 --> 00:19:11,140 So maybe you fudge some numbers on your TurboTax 235 00:19:11,140 --> 00:19:12,380 or you cut some corners 236 00:19:12,380 --> 00:19:14,820 and no one's really getting hurt by that, right? 237 00:19:14,820 --> 00:19:18,860 It doesn't really matter to God all that much. 238 00:19:23,100 --> 00:19:26,580 Verse 19 says, Nebuchadnezzar was so furious 239 00:19:26,580 --> 00:19:29,100 with Shadrach, Meshach, and the others, 240 00:19:29,100 --> 00:19:31,020 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 241 00:19:31,020 --> 00:19:33,820 that his face became distorted with rage. 242 00:19:33,820 --> 00:19:36,380 Ever seen someone's face get distorted with rage? 243 00:19:36,380 --> 00:19:38,780 It gets all twisted up, they're like really gnarly looking 244 00:19:38,780 --> 00:19:40,220 and all, that's just a picture of that. 245 00:19:40,220 --> 00:19:43,620 He's just like, he's so furious his face is twitching. 246 00:19:43,620 --> 00:19:45,900 But he commands that the furnace be heated up 247 00:19:45,900 --> 00:19:48,100 seven times hotter than usual. 248 00:19:49,660 --> 00:19:51,980 And then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army 249 00:19:51,980 --> 00:19:55,020 to bind, to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 250 00:19:55,020 --> 00:19:57,260 and throw them into the blazing furnace. 251 00:19:57,260 --> 00:19:58,100 Verse 21. 252 00:19:58,100 --> 00:20:00,020 So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, 253 00:20:00,020 --> 00:20:02,820 fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, 254 00:20:02,820 --> 00:20:03,940 and other garments. 255 00:20:05,060 --> 00:20:07,140 And because the king and his anger had demanded 256 00:20:07,140 --> 00:20:08,380 such a hot fire in the furnace, 257 00:20:08,380 --> 00:20:10,260 the flames killed the soldiers 258 00:20:10,260 --> 00:20:11,820 as they threw the three men in. 259 00:20:13,420 --> 00:20:16,060 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego securely tied, 260 00:20:16,060 --> 00:20:17,860 fell into the roaring fire. 261 00:20:18,780 --> 00:20:21,300 It says, but suddenly, say but suddenly. 262 00:20:21,300 --> 00:20:24,180 But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement 263 00:20:24,180 --> 00:20:25,940 and exclaimed to his advisors, 264 00:20:25,940 --> 00:20:29,700 didn't we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace? 265 00:20:29,700 --> 00:20:31,620 And they said, well, yes, yes we did. 266 00:20:31,620 --> 00:20:34,220 Yes, your majesty, we certainly did, they replied. 267 00:20:34,220 --> 00:20:38,060 Look, Nebuchadnezzar shouted, I see four men, unbound, 268 00:20:38,060 --> 00:20:40,740 walking around the fire unharmed. 269 00:20:40,740 --> 00:20:42,700 And the fourth looks like a god. 270 00:20:44,100 --> 00:20:47,140 Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door 271 00:20:47,140 --> 00:20:48,820 on the flaming furnace and shouted, 272 00:20:48,820 --> 00:20:50,500 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 273 00:20:50,500 --> 00:20:55,500 servants of the most high god, come out, come here. 274 00:20:55,500 --> 00:20:59,140 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire 275 00:20:59,140 --> 00:21:01,260 and the high officers, officials, and governors, 276 00:21:01,260 --> 00:21:03,300 and advisors crowded around them 277 00:21:03,300 --> 00:21:05,700 and saw that the fire hadn't touched them. 278 00:21:05,700 --> 00:21:07,420 Not a hair on their heads was singed 279 00:21:07,420 --> 00:21:09,460 and their clothing was not scorched. 280 00:21:09,460 --> 00:21:11,940 They didn't even smell of smoke. 281 00:21:15,660 --> 00:21:19,580 God protects Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 282 00:21:19,580 --> 00:21:21,420 because of their integrity. 283 00:21:22,540 --> 00:21:23,580 This is a miracle, right? 284 00:21:23,580 --> 00:21:28,580 There is no humanly conceivable way that this is possible 285 00:21:28,700 --> 00:21:31,780 that you can throw somebody into a fiery furnace 286 00:21:31,780 --> 00:21:33,900 and they come out completely unscathed 287 00:21:33,900 --> 00:21:35,940 and not even smelling like smoke. 288 00:21:38,020 --> 00:21:39,620 We do campfires at our house sometimes 289 00:21:39,620 --> 00:21:41,940 and I am not in the fire, I am just near the fire 290 00:21:41,940 --> 00:21:46,620 and I always end up smelling like smoke, always. 291 00:21:47,900 --> 00:21:50,540 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stand up 292 00:21:50,540 --> 00:21:52,380 when no one else was. 293 00:21:52,380 --> 00:21:54,300 In verse seven it says all the people bowed down 294 00:21:54,300 --> 00:21:56,620 but not Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 295 00:21:56,620 --> 00:21:59,180 And God looks after and protects those 296 00:21:59,180 --> 00:22:01,540 who live this life full of integrity. 297 00:22:03,420 --> 00:22:06,300 Verse 28 continues, then Nebuchadnezzar said, 298 00:22:06,300 --> 00:22:09,380 praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 299 00:22:09,380 --> 00:22:12,980 He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. 300 00:22:12,980 --> 00:22:16,580 They defied the king's command and were willing to die 301 00:22:16,580 --> 00:22:21,660 rather than to worship or serve any God except their own. 302 00:22:21,660 --> 00:22:24,300 Therefore I make this decree, if any people, 303 00:22:24,300 --> 00:22:27,620 whatever their race or nation or language, 304 00:22:27,620 --> 00:22:29,700 speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, 305 00:22:29,700 --> 00:22:32,540 and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb 306 00:22:32,540 --> 00:22:35,300 and their house will be burned into a heap of rubble. 307 00:22:37,700 --> 00:22:40,660 There is no other God who can rescue like this. 308 00:22:41,580 --> 00:22:43,780 The king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 309 00:22:43,780 --> 00:22:47,540 to an even higher position in the province of Babylon. 310 00:22:47,540 --> 00:22:50,860 We see in this story because of their integrity, 311 00:22:51,740 --> 00:22:53,980 King Nebuchadnezzar recognizes 312 00:22:53,980 --> 00:22:56,380 and praises the true and living God. 313 00:22:58,460 --> 00:23:00,260 That's a challenge for us, right? 314 00:23:00,260 --> 00:23:03,340 Can the people around us see our integrity so much 315 00:23:03,340 --> 00:23:06,900 and see the God that we serve through how we live our lives? 316 00:23:09,460 --> 00:23:10,860 We see Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 317 00:23:10,860 --> 00:23:13,420 are rewarded by God for this. 318 00:23:13,420 --> 00:23:16,260 They're promoted even higher in the province of Babylon. 319 00:23:16,260 --> 00:23:17,620 They're promoted even higher. 320 00:23:17,620 --> 00:23:20,420 They were already in a position of authority, 321 00:23:20,420 --> 00:23:22,380 but God said, you know, but Nebuchadnezzar said, 322 00:23:22,380 --> 00:23:23,860 I'm gonna place you in a higher position. 323 00:23:23,860 --> 00:23:28,620 And God, you know, ordained this and has moved them 324 00:23:28,620 --> 00:23:30,260 and blessed them and rewarded them 325 00:23:30,260 --> 00:23:31,820 because of their integrity. 326 00:23:34,140 --> 00:23:34,980 Zach and the praise team, 327 00:23:34,980 --> 00:23:37,860 if you guys would come in closing here, 328 00:23:37,860 --> 00:23:42,420 God will reward us for living a life full of integrity. 329 00:23:42,420 --> 00:23:44,260 Just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 330 00:23:44,260 --> 00:23:46,660 we can also be blessed by God 331 00:23:46,660 --> 00:23:48,860 if we live a life full of integrity, 332 00:23:48,860 --> 00:23:51,740 live that life full of integrity that he expects of us. 333 00:23:52,700 --> 00:23:56,100 We don't often talk about reward in church, 334 00:23:56,980 --> 00:23:58,380 but it's true, God wants to bless us. 335 00:23:58,380 --> 00:24:01,460 He wants to reward us for living this life full of integrity. 336 00:24:03,420 --> 00:24:05,420 This is why he expects this of us 337 00:24:05,420 --> 00:24:08,820 because he wants us to receive this reward. 338 00:24:08,820 --> 00:24:10,220 And this reward, whether it be, 339 00:24:10,220 --> 00:24:12,620 here on earth or it be in heaven, 340 00:24:12,620 --> 00:24:13,940 that reward's waiting for us. 341 00:24:13,940 --> 00:24:16,260 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were so certain 342 00:24:16,260 --> 00:24:18,660 of this reward that they stood fast. 343 00:24:18,660 --> 00:24:20,100 And they told Nebuchadnezzar, 344 00:24:20,100 --> 00:24:22,260 we don't have to defend ourselves against you. 345 00:24:23,820 --> 00:24:25,660 The God whom we serve is able to save us 346 00:24:25,660 --> 00:24:27,140 and he will rescue us from your power. 347 00:24:27,140 --> 00:24:28,620 But it says, even if he doesn't, 348 00:24:28,620 --> 00:24:30,860 they were so certain of that reward. 349 00:24:30,860 --> 00:24:33,300 They were so certain of the God that they serve. 350 00:24:34,900 --> 00:24:37,260 They had faith that God was with them 351 00:24:37,260 --> 00:24:38,740 and that even if he didn't, 352 00:24:38,740 --> 00:24:41,820 he would be with them and that even if it killed them, 353 00:24:41,820 --> 00:24:44,220 that they would be rewarded for it in the next life. 354 00:24:47,100 --> 00:24:49,740 James 1.12 says that God blesses those 355 00:24:49,740 --> 00:24:52,140 who patiently endure testing and temptation. 356 00:24:53,380 --> 00:24:56,140 I'd say that fiery furnace was some testing. 357 00:24:56,140 --> 00:24:59,020 It says afterward, they will receive the crown of life 358 00:24:59,020 --> 00:25:01,580 that God has promised to those who love him. 359 00:25:01,580 --> 00:25:06,580 Not just in heaven, but on earth, God can reward us as well. 360 00:25:06,580 --> 00:25:10,140 The expectation of integrity that God has placed upon us 361 00:25:10,140 --> 00:25:13,380 is not to be burdensome or restraining. 362 00:25:14,420 --> 00:25:18,420 It's freeing for us when we live that life full of integrity. 363 00:25:21,500 --> 00:25:24,500 Because of this, God will bless us. 364 00:25:27,980 --> 00:25:31,300 So students, I want to tell you something. 365 00:25:31,300 --> 00:25:36,300 I want you to stand strong and stand firm in your integrity 366 00:25:37,380 --> 00:25:39,820 so that when that friend gives you the opportunity 367 00:25:39,820 --> 00:25:41,860 to compromise your integrity, 368 00:25:41,860 --> 00:25:43,420 you say, I'm not gonna do that. 369 00:25:45,300 --> 00:25:47,500 And God will give you a better grade 370 00:25:47,500 --> 00:25:51,140 because you didn't compromise than if you would have cheated. 371 00:25:53,060 --> 00:25:54,660 Or that gossip you heard in the office, 372 00:25:54,660 --> 00:25:57,020 it just goes in one ear and out the other. 373 00:25:57,020 --> 00:25:59,860 And you say, I'm not gonna entertain that kind of toxicity 374 00:25:59,860 --> 00:26:01,540 in the workplace. 375 00:26:01,540 --> 00:26:03,380 And your boss looks at you and says, 376 00:26:03,380 --> 00:26:05,140 hey, I heard what happened. 377 00:26:05,140 --> 00:26:07,660 I heard about this going around and I know you didn't spread 378 00:26:07,660 --> 00:26:10,620 it and then promotes you because of your integrity. 379 00:26:13,780 --> 00:26:17,300 Blue collar workers, I could personally attest to this 380 00:26:17,300 --> 00:26:21,260 that God can do more with what we gain with integrity 381 00:26:21,260 --> 00:26:25,540 than we could ever do with our ill gains. 382 00:26:25,540 --> 00:26:30,540 Just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 383 00:26:30,540 --> 00:26:33,940 God expects each of us to live a life full of integrity. 384 00:26:35,780 --> 00:26:37,980 The big question is, is how do we respond 385 00:26:37,980 --> 00:26:39,060 to that expectation? 386 00:26:42,620 --> 00:26:43,820 Would you please stand? 387 00:26:50,540 --> 00:26:52,420 More than anything in this life, 388 00:26:52,420 --> 00:26:55,020 God expects us to live a life full of integrity. 389 00:26:55,020 --> 00:26:57,940 It's more important to God that we live a life 390 00:26:57,940 --> 00:27:02,220 full of integrity than us being here this morning in church. 391 00:27:06,220 --> 00:27:09,380 God expects us to live a life with nothing but integrity 392 00:27:09,380 --> 00:27:13,020 and because of that expectation, He will reward us for it. 393 00:27:17,940 --> 00:27:19,540 I know this isn't a real, 394 00:27:19,540 --> 00:27:22,540 ameny message, it's a challenge, it's work. 395 00:27:22,540 --> 00:27:27,540 It takes energy and time and work to do this 396 00:27:29,340 --> 00:27:30,420 but it's worth it. 397 00:27:31,940 --> 00:27:33,740 God will reward us for that, let's bow. 398 00:27:33,740 --> 00:27:36,820 Heavenly Father, I thank you for everyone 399 00:27:36,820 --> 00:27:38,460 under the sound of my voice. 400 00:27:38,460 --> 00:27:41,220 God, I pray that your word would not return void. 401 00:27:41,220 --> 00:27:43,820 God, that you would help each and every one of us 402 00:27:43,820 --> 00:27:46,820 to walk the life full of integrity that you expect to live. 403 00:27:46,820 --> 00:27:49,740 God, so that when these trials and these tribulations 404 00:27:49,740 --> 00:27:52,540 and these temptations come, God, we can stand firm 405 00:27:52,540 --> 00:27:54,620 like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 406 00:27:56,420 --> 00:27:58,220 When nobody else around us is standing, 407 00:27:58,220 --> 00:27:59,420 God, help us to stand. 408 00:28:01,420 --> 00:28:03,740 God, and we thank you in advance for the reward 409 00:28:03,740 --> 00:28:06,020 that you will bestow upon us 410 00:28:06,020 --> 00:28:07,820 for standing firm in our integrity. 411 00:28:12,820 --> 00:28:14,820 God, we thank you in advance for the reward 412 00:28:14,820 --> 00:28:16,820 that you will bestow upon us. 413 00:28:16,820 --> 00:28:20,020 God, thank you for giving us this example of integrity 414 00:28:20,020 --> 00:28:22,220 that we can see it and we can learn from it. 415 00:28:25,020 --> 00:28:26,140 God, I pray that you would bless everybody 416 00:28:26,140 --> 00:28:27,620 under the sound of my voice 417 00:28:27,620 --> 00:28:29,620 that is already walking with integrity, 418 00:28:29,620 --> 00:28:31,420 that walks with you every day. 419 00:28:31,420 --> 00:28:34,820 God, and those of us, myself included, that struggle, 420 00:28:34,820 --> 00:28:45,820 God, give us grace, Jesus, help us to become more like you 421 00:28:45,820 --> 00:28:46,820 each and every day. 422 00:28:50,820 --> 00:28:53,420 Lord, and those in the house that may not know you, 423 00:28:53,420 --> 00:28:56,420 that say, I want to live this life of integrity, 424 00:28:56,420 --> 00:29:00,220 I want to walk this out, but it's so hard to do on my own. 425 00:29:00,220 --> 00:29:02,220 God, wrap them in your loving arms today. 426 00:29:03,420 --> 00:29:05,820 God, reveal yourself to them in a way that only you can. 427 00:29:09,220 --> 00:29:10,820 Heavenly Father, I pray these things 428 00:29:10,820 --> 00:29:13,820 in your Son's precious and holy name. 429 00:29:13,820 --> 00:29:29,820 Amen and amen. 430 00:29:43,820 --> 00:29:46,820 We love God, we love people every day. 431 00:29:46,820 --> 00:30:15,820 Visit our website at www.lifehousecog.com