Prepared for Anything

>> Happy Sunday. It was around 605 BC. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, his army had conquered Jerusalem. Prisoners were taken.

Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. We're told that they were gifted, wise, good-looking young men, the best of the best. Nebuchadnezzar wanted to teach them the ways of the Babylonians so that these four boys could renounce their Hebrew faith and lead their countrymen, the people of God, to the false religion of the Babylonians. You likely remember these four.

In order to help you with their to help with their transition, these four were given new names. Daniel, whose Hebrew name means God is judge, was given the name Belteshazzar, which means may Bel protect his life, one of the Babylonian gods. Hananiah, whose name went Yahweh is gracious, became Shadrach, which means command of Aku, another Babylonian god. Mishael, whose name meant who is what God is, uh was named Meshach, which means who is what Aku is.

And Azariah, whose name meant whom Yahweh helps, became Abednego, which means servant of Nebo. Nebo was the Babylonian god of the dead. The plan was change the names, change the boys. If I skip forward in the story, you know that Daniel was thrown to the lions and that he survived.

You also know the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were thrown into the fiery furnace, and they miraculously survived. Now, when I tell that story, I try my best to call them by their Hebrew names, not their Babylonian names. I prefer to call them Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

Now, these, along with Daniel, are four outstanding young men. They never turned on God. They stood tall. Today's verse from Proverbs is found in chapter 4, verse 10.

There we find this truth, "If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small." "If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small." What's this verse have to do with these four Hebrew boys I just mentioned? Before they passed the big test that they were given, these four passed the little test first.

Before they became spiritual giants, they were obedient in every little aspect of their lives. Let me share a couple. In Daniel chapter 1, the prisoners were given food to eat, rich provisions, delicacies, the best wine. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah refused the food.

They knew the reason. They knew the food and drinks had been devoted to the Babylonian idols. And these four wouldn't eat it. They chose vegetables and water, foods not tainted by idol worship.

So, these four were used as a control group, and after 10 days, they looked much better than their fellow prisoners who had caved and eaten the rich food offered to idols. As result, all prisoners were given vegetables and water. Daniel and company would not compromise their faith. I've learned that if you cave in on the little things, you will never get through the big things.

If you stand with God through the small stuff, he will stand with you through the toughest of times. Later on in the story, we learn that these young men were devoted to prayer. They would not forsake their God and worship Nebuchadnezzar. They would not bow down, they would not pray to him.

There was only one God, and that's who they stuck with. And that's not surprising. These were four devoted young men to God in all aspects of their lives. Back to the verse from Proverbs 24:10.

If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small. Over the years, I've seen people fail under pressure. I've seen others stand tall when the winds came. The difference?

Their relationship with Jesus. A life devoted to prayer, a knowledge of God's word, that makes all the difference. As I prepared this sermon, I had a friend who passed that very day. I know parents, as I'm preparing this sermon, who have a son going through cancer treatments.

I have a friend beginning therapy after a tough surgery. I have another friend at the point of death in Mississippi. The point is, there's always something. Always.

Jesus warned us in John 16:33. There he said, "In this world, you will have trouble." That is true. But thank God, there's more to this verse.

Jesus went on to say, "But take heart. I have overcome the world." Jesus is with you. Stand strong.

With God, your strength is never too small, and you can make it through all things. Pray with me. God, I mentioned friends that are going through tough times. And we all know somebody, or we all know several people who are having difficulties.

We pray that they're people of faith, and that they stand tall. We pray that as people of faith, we would be the men and women of God that you would have us to be, that we would be examples to the world like Daniel and Hananiah and Mishael and Azariah. Thank you for their witness. Help us to have strong ones, no matter what.

In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. God bless. Thanks for joining me today.

Just a side note, you may notice my website davidshivers.com looks a little different. We've changed the format and if there's some changes you would like to see to it, let me know and I thank you again for joining me.