Jesus is Better
Series: DISPLAYING JESUS- a series in DANIEL
Speaker: Ash Kwok
Date: 8th November 2026
Passage: Daniel 3:1-30
00:00:00 --> 00:00:09 It was 2007, wasn't it, when the fight between the warring factions of Australian Tex-Mex communities and their foodies was declared over.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:10 !
00:00:10 --> 00:00:15 How do you decide between crunchy and soft tacos?
00:00:15 --> 00:00:17 !
00:00:17 --> 00:00:22 Old El Paso, hard and soft tacos.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25 Feed your fiesta.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 What a memory.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 I don't know if I said that right.
00:00:29 --> 00:00:31 Why not both?
00:00:31 --> 00:00:35 And this is the world of Daniel that we find ourselves in.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:48 And it may not be a fight of hard or soft tacos, but there is a fight for the heart and attention by the opulent environment of Babylon and its human king.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:52 And an actual truth.
00:00:52 --> 00:00:57 That there is an eternal king who sits on the cosmic throne.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:03 And so the question is left then, why not both?
00:01:03 --> 00:01:17 Because we see immediately here that King Nebi has created an image of gold 90 feet high, and we are not sure whether it's an image of him or a Babylonian god, but it doesn't really matter.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:29 Because what it really resembles is an image, a self-indulgent image of the power and the culture that they live in.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:38 And everyone in this environment is involved in this observation.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:39 Have a look at verse 2.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:44 We're told the satraps, the prefects, and so on, all of those people, they're all involved.
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 It's a national, large-scale event.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:48 You cannot miss it.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:52 Every role, every human being in this society is impacted.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:59 And even God's exiled people in Babylon are called to this celebration.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:05 And note that two things happen here in the face of the golden image.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:09 Number one, there's a command, and there's also an allure.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:16 Verse 5, as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, the flute, the zither, the lyre, the harp, all of those, that's the allure.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:23 You must fall down and worship the image of gold that the king has set up.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 That's the command.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 And notice what the king wants here.
00:02:28 --> 00:02:32 He's not mentioned anything about renouncing their god.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 He simply demands worship.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:44 He demands the same celebration to be on equal standing with God.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 He wants to be God.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:55 For God's people, this comes in direct conflict with what they know is true.
00:02:55 --> 00:03:03 In Exodus chapter 20, it says, I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 You shall have no other gods before me.
00:03:08 --> 00:03:14 In other words, the world is calling you to worship, obsess, put Babylon first.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:24 But you also know that there is one king on the throne, one Lord who is first, one Lord who has saved.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:32 And so there's not only a pressure or a command to conform here, but there's actually an allure for them to conform.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:34 There's a whole celebration of it.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:35 It's musical instruments.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:38 And when you really think about it, who doesn't like a party?
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 We all love parties.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:43 Parties are great if you love dancing, music, food, friends, all of that.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:45 And that's the point.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:54 The point is that if we are not careful, we will see things that are exciting.
00:03:55 --> 00:04:00 And if we're not careful, we will subscribe to the worship of the golden statue.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:04 And look what the author is trying to push us to understand here.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:12 The world that Daniel and his three amigos live in has demands on them.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:14 It takes their gaze captive.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:21 Their hearts are allured by what they see.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:28 And friends, just a little aside, you need to know that the idols in your life,
00:04:28 --> 00:04:34 as it was in Daniel's life, are not simply neutral.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:39 That if you have confessed or ever recognised with God or with other Christians,
00:04:40 --> 00:04:46 that you have functionally or affectionately put work first, sport first, comfort first,
00:04:46 --> 00:04:51 money first, sex first, even happiness of kids first over their discipleship first,
00:04:51 --> 00:04:54 or whatever it might be for you.
00:04:54 --> 00:05:06 And Jesus' second, you need to realise that that very specific idol of yours
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09 is not a neutral matter for you.
00:05:10 --> 00:05:14 It's not, I can have this a little and God.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:16 It's not a neutral matter.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:21 In fact, you actually ought to give extra caution and attention to it.
00:05:21 --> 00:05:27 Because the issue with anything that can have the power to take the throne of first in your life
00:05:27 --> 00:05:32 is not that your time and attention is divided from God,
00:05:32 --> 00:05:36 not that you just forget that God is in control,
00:05:36 --> 00:05:44 but that that idol of yours will lull you into a false sense of belief that it can save you,
00:05:44 --> 00:05:48 it can deliver you, that that is all you need.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:51 And it will become your God.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 And you'll believe that those things will be better than Jesus.
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 And friends, that's a dangerous, dangerous thing to play with.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:01 Matthew 6, 24 says,
00:06:01 --> 00:06:02 No one can serve two masters.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 Either you will hate the one and love the other,
00:06:05 --> 00:06:08 or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:11 And friends, are we not just like,
00:06:11 --> 00:06:14 as we were reminded last week,
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 that we are much in a world like Babylon,
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 that may be even more, can I say,
00:06:18 --> 00:06:19 may be even more confusing than Babylon.
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 And there isn't just one thing.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:27 There is a religious, cultural, moral, political pluralism of cultures,
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 beliefs and ideologies,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:33 and some of them which will allure you to take the place of God.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:36 And I want to recognise this about a pluralistic society.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:41 It's a wonderful thing that here we can have conversations
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 where people will be open to hear your views
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 in a respectful conversation.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:49 Every single Tuesday, I'm having a personal trainer,
00:06:49 --> 00:06:52 and we have different viewpoints.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:55 And I can share what I know is true of God's word,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 and he listens and hears it.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 But let's just think about the end game here.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 What's our culture's expectation of that kind of tolerance
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 in a pluralistic society?
00:07:06 --> 00:07:09 Is it just about the respectful conversation?
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 Don Carson notices this in our culture.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 He says, we must be tolerant,
00:07:15 --> 00:07:19 not because we cannot distinguish the right path from the wrong path,
00:07:20 --> 00:07:25 but because all paths are equally right.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 And what he's saying is that the people around us
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 are not simply saying,
00:07:29 --> 00:07:33 hey, tolerance is have your idea and I'll have mine,
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 and let's listen together.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 What we actually are starting to see
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 is that tolerance is totally okay.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 I can hear your view totally
00:07:41 --> 00:07:45 until you say something that disagrees with mine,
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 that says mine is wrong,
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 what I believe or how I want to live.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 And that's where the danger lies,
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 because there are some realities
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 that cannot go hand in hand.
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 And if we are not careful,
00:08:01 --> 00:08:04 what we will do is just absorb every idea as truth
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 or back away.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 And listen to what the self-proclaimed
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 Christian Senator James Tallarico says.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:17 I find that they're all kind of equal pathways to truth.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 He's talking about multiple religions,
00:08:19 --> 00:08:22 whether it's God or Yahweh or Allah or Nirvana,
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 the Great Spirit, whatever you call it.
00:08:24 --> 00:08:27 And to James, I want to say,
00:08:28 --> 00:08:33 John 14 says Jesus is the way and the truth and the life.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:37 And he says further that no one comes to the Father
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 except through Jesus.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 I'm sorry to say, James, you're wrong.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:46 And by no means is it easy for me to say that
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 when my personal trainer says something similar like that.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 I'm pretty sure that, you know,
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 it doesn't matter what you believe.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 We're all going to go to the same place.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:55 And I remember responding to my personal trainer.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 I'm like, oh, Jesus.
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 And I'm like shivering.
00:08:57 --> 00:09:00 I can feel my throat close up.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:06 How does Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
00:09:06 --> 00:09:09 respond to the golden image
00:09:09 --> 00:09:12 when they're confronted with something
00:09:12 --> 00:09:15 that is of not worship,
00:09:15 --> 00:09:20 that is opposite to who they believe
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 they are called to be in light of a God
00:09:22 --> 00:09:22 who is on the throne?
00:09:23 --> 00:09:26 Verse 12, they don't pay attention,
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 they don't serve,
00:09:29 --> 00:09:32 and they don't worship the image of God.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:32 And why?
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 Why those three things?
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 It's a list of actions
00:09:36 --> 00:09:39 that are only worthy for a king,
00:09:39 --> 00:09:42 that are only worthy for the true king on the throne.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:47 And so what we need to see here
00:09:47 --> 00:09:50 is that living as someone who trusts
00:09:50 --> 00:09:53 in the eternal God in a world that doesn't
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 can't be a passive thing.
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 It has to be an active thing.
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 And I want to ask you,
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 have you ever considered
00:10:00 --> 00:10:05 that godly disagreement actually is missional?
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 Not just to love and stay silent
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 and respecting someone's views.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:13 I mean, if I stood silent at my personal trainer,
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 how are they to receive the news
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 that Jesus is the only way?
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 And I think sometimes we fear
00:10:21 --> 00:10:24 that in our efforts to maintain peace
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 or be comfortable,
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 we try to accommodate
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 and we become scared to share truth.
00:10:30 --> 00:10:33 Or worse, we forget what the real truth is.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:37 Let's see the three amigos respond to the king.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 Verse 16.
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 King Nebuchadnezzar,
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 we do not need to defend ourselves
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 before you in this matter.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:46 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace,
00:10:46 --> 00:10:50 the God we serve is able to deliver us from it
00:10:50 --> 00:10:53 and he will deliver us from your majesty's hands.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:57 And what a powerful encouragement that is for me.
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 This response to the idolatry of the nation.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:02 And they have every right to scream.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 I think we're screaming it, right?
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 It's not fair.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 It's not fair.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 They don't raise their hands at the king.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:15 Instead, they're given even if speech.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 Daniel 3, 18.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 But even if he does not,
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 even if he does not,
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 we want you to know
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 we will not serve your gods
00:11:24 --> 00:11:27 or worship the image of gold you have set up.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 It's a powerful statement.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 And even if.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 It's abiding.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 It's not moving.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:36 It's even if I'm ostracized by the community,
00:11:36 --> 00:11:36 my family,
00:11:37 --> 00:11:40 even if I don't get what I want to get in this lifetime,
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 even if I'm in the face of death,
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 even if God chooses
00:11:44 --> 00:11:48 to not deliver me from this trouble,
00:11:48 --> 00:11:52 I will not even dance around the notion
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 of bowing down to the king
00:11:54 --> 00:11:57 because I know he can.
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 God's got the power.
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02 He's got the means to save.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:05 And their defiance is an easy no to the king.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 It's a no-brainer
00:12:06 --> 00:12:10 when they simply understand that God is better,
00:12:10 --> 00:12:13 that he is the one who has saved them
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 from slavery in Egypt.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:17 And so therefore God is able,
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 God is able to save.
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 And so what happens?
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 The ensuing punishment comes.
00:12:25 --> 00:12:25 And what,
00:12:26 --> 00:12:29 what an unjust judgment is this?
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 And when we see this in our society,
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 our hearts scream for justice
00:12:35 --> 00:12:38 and punishments for despots like this.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 Right?
00:12:39 --> 00:12:42 We hate evil kings, dictators like this
00:12:42 --> 00:12:46 because the reality is it's not fair.
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 It's an unjust punishment
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 that the three of them are subjected to.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:56 Yet what we get to see here though
00:12:56 --> 00:12:58 is an amazing save that God does.
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 And notice that the thing
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 that Nebi's amazement is,
00:13:06 --> 00:13:08 it's not mainly to do
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 with them being unbound and unharmed.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12 Verse 24.
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 Weren't there three men
00:13:16 --> 00:13:20 that we tied up and threw into the fire?
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 And then again,
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 verse 25.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 Look,
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 I see four men
00:13:25 --> 00:13:27 walking around the fire,
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 unbound and unharmed.
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 And
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 the fourth
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 looks
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 like
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 a son
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 of the gods.
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 The fourth man,
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 the man that they did not even throw
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 into the fire is the amazing part.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 Where did he come from?
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 Where,
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 how does this happen?
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 Now,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 commentators differ on this,
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 but my take
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 on this
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 as I look to Daniel 7 as well
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 is that this is Jesus
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 with them
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 that this
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 is the son
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 of God
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 who would take
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 his place
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 into the fire
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 to save them.
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 Because it's not an external force,
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 it's a very present
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 force
00:14:18 --> 00:14:20 amidst the fire
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 and the fiery furnace.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 And some of us
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 will read
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 this passage
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 and other passages
00:14:28 --> 00:14:30 where you very much
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 see
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 God
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 is able
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 to deliver.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 God is able
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 to deliver the three amigos
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 and so we'll ask,
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 why
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 doesn't he
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 deliver me
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 from my
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 unjust
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 situations?
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 In the face
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 of religious persecution
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 or bullying,
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 in the face
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 of trials
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 and turmoil,
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 sickness and strife,
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 why doesn't he
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 deliver me?
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 Doesn't he care?
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 It's not fair.
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 And it's the same question
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 as I was talking
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 to many friends.
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 The same phrase
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 keeps haunting
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 our conversation.
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 It's not fair.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 Where is God?
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 And the confidence
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 that the three amigos
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 had
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 was not
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 in deliverance.
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 God is able
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 to deliver
00:15:23 --> 00:15:26 but he may choose
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 not.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 And for the Christian,
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 his promise
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 always
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 is
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 presence.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 He can deliver
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 but he might
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 not.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 And even
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 if he will not
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 deliver
00:15:42 --> 00:15:44 from that
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 one thing,
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 that form
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 that I would
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 like removed,
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 he is present
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 with me.
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 That's the confidence
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 for the Christian
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 today.
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 That in the darkest
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 and loneliest
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 of nights
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 through his Holy Spirit
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 God is
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 with you.
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 He is in the fire
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 with you.
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 And have you thought
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 how profoundly
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 odd
00:16:06 --> 00:16:09 that the king
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 of the universe
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 would choose
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 to suffer?
00:16:10 --> 00:16:13 because there
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 is a deliverance
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 that is promised.
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 There is a deliverance
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 that this passage
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 points us to.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 And friends,
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 I want you to
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 imagine
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 right now
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 that you're
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 here after
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 at the end
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 of your life
00:16:26 --> 00:16:29 and you are
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 in a room
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 with a king.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 The king
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 is there
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 who will judge
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 your entire life.
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 And so what
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 pops up
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 is a movie reel
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 of your entire
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 life
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 playing.
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 I want you to
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 imagine what
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 would be
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 on it right now.
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 And I
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 just want to
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 make sure you see
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 it's not a montage.
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 It's not a best hits.
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 Include the very
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 worst that you
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 have never
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 told anyone.
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 The angry
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 and selfish
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 thoughts that you've
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 kept hidden
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 in the recesses
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 of your mind.
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 The times
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 you've used
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 a harsh word.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 All of it.
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 From beginning
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 to end.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 I don't think
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 I want my movie
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 being played here.
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 Do you know
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 what the worst
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 thing about
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 the movie is?
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 The worst
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 thing
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 is actually
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 what we spoke
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 about before,
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 the danger
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 of pluralism.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 Here's the danger.
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 The danger
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 of pluralism
00:17:36 --> 00:17:38 isn't
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 that you are
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 surrounded by
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 mixed messages
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 of ideologies
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 and paradoxes.
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 The danger
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 is
00:17:44 --> 00:17:47 that you
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 choose
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 which ideas
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 and truths
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 cohabitate.
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 What you'll
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 tolerate
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 and what you
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 won't.
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 You'll cherry
00:17:54 --> 00:17:56 pick the bits
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 of Christianity
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 that you like,
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 then you'll take
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 what you like
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 from your friends,
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 your TV,
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 your social media,
00:18:01 --> 00:18:03 even if it
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05 contradicts
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 scripture.
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 Even though
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 there is one
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 truth that the
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 creator who
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 rightfully and
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 solely demands
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 your attention
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 and awe is
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 the cosmic
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 ruler of this
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 world.
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 The worst
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 thing about
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 this movie
00:18:18 --> 00:18:20 is that the
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 main character
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 is you.
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 You have
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 built an
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 image of
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 ideas and
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 truths that
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 you prefer,
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 brick by brick,
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 idea by idea,
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 truth by truth,
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 and what
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 you're left
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 with is an
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 image of
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 gold,
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 90 feet
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 high and
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 90 feet
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 wide of
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 you.
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 And you've
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 been building
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 up a
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 comfortable
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 life for
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 yourself that
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 you don't
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 want to
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 shake or
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 risk breaking.
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 Friends,
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 if there
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 is a
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 creator who
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 rightfully
00:18:52 --> 00:18:54 and solely
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 demands your
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 attention and
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 awe,
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 he should
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 be the main
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 character.
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 And unlike
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 King Nebi,
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 a weak
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 human ruler
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 with no
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 eternal power,
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 God is the
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 cosmic creator,
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 all-knowing,
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 all-powerful,
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 and you and
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 I have rejected
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 a God who has
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 gifted you with
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 every resource
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 and you have
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 squandered to
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 live life
00:19:18 --> 00:19:20 your way.
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 And the
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 Bible is clear
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 that because God
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 is both loving
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 and just,
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 he has to
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 punish sinners.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 No one wants
00:19:27 --> 00:19:29 a king or
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 a ruler to
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 let the
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 criminals off
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 scot-free.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 And so,
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 friends,
00:19:36 --> 00:19:38 hell is a
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 reality for
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 those who,
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 by the end
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 of life,
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 reject the
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 king.
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 And unlike
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 Nebi's reign,
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 God's reign
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 is just.
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 The three
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 followers didn't
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 deserve the
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 fiery furnace,
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 darkness.
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 But when it
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 comes to
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 God's judgment,
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 you and I
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 certainly do.
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 Because at
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 the end of
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 the movie,
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 the cosmic
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 king is
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 right to
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 make his
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 ruling.
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 And everyone
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 will have
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 their day of
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 judgment.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 You can't
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 escape it.
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 Romans 3,
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 23 says,
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 all have
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 sinned and
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 fallen short
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 of God's
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 glory.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 And no
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 amount of
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 good can
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 ever make
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 up for
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 that.
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 And just
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 I want you
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 to imagine
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 just that,
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 just as the
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 king is
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 about to
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 hand the
00:20:31 --> 00:20:33 verdict on
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 your life,
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 after watching
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 that whole
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 movie,
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 he's about
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 to hand
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 the sentence,
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 hand you
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 and I
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 into a
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 righteous
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 judgment,
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 the prince
00:20:42 --> 00:20:44 steps in
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 and says,
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 he's with
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 me.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 I've already
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 taken on
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 death for
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 him.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 He's
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 with
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 me.
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 Romans 5,
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 6 to
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 7 says,
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 Christ died
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 for the
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 ungodly.
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 Very rarely
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 will anyone
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 die for a
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 righteous
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 person,
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 though for
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 a good
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 person,
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 someone might
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 possibly dare
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 to die.
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 Friends,
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 this news is
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 scandalous.
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 We're all
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 mad and
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 freaking out
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 about the
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 three amigos
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 saying it's
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 not fair,
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 it's unjust,
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 and yet here
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 we see
00:21:18 --> 00:21:20 Jesus take
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 the flames
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 of death
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 for you.
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 And the
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 prince has
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 every right
00:21:24 --> 00:21:26 to cry out,
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 it's not
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 fair,
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 they should
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 have gotten
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 the punishment,
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 you should
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 have gotten
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 the punishment,
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 but he
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 doesn't,
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 what does
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 he cry
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 out instead?
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 He doesn't
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 save himself,
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 he says,
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 Father,
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 forgive them
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 for they do
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 not know
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 what they
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 are doing.
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 Jesus has
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 endured the
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 fiery punishment
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 for the
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 ungodly,
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 he did
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 it for
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 you.
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 If you
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 are in
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 Christ,
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 he's done
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 the impossible
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 for you.
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 That Jesus
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 is better
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 than the
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 idol of
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 your heart.
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 No idol
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 saves you
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 in this
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 way.
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 And so
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 if you
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 have
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 realised
00:22:09 --> 00:22:12 perhaps
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 you have
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 been unfaithful
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 to God,
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 your faith
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 in the
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 workplace
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 or home
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 publicly
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 has
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 wavered,
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 I want
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 you to
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 go in
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 and fall
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 in love
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 again with
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 the news
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 that Jesus
00:22:24 --> 00:22:26 faithfully
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 stayed in
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 the fire
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 for you.
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 And if
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 maybe for
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 the very
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 first time
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 you've realised
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 you've never
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 submitted and
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 surrendered your
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 life to the
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 king,
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 the cosmic
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 ruler,
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 if you've
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 never had
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 the confidence
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 that his
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 son,
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 the prince
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 of peace
00:22:40 --> 00:22:42 says to
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 you,
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 he's with
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 me,
00:22:43 --> 00:22:46 my
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 greatest
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 wish
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 for you
00:22:48 --> 00:22:50 is that
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 at the
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 end of
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 this
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 service
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 I'm
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 going to
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 be sitting
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 over up
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 there
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 on the
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 tables
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 under the
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 glass
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 stained
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 windows
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 and I
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 would love
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 to chat
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 to you
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 as you
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 make your
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 next steps
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 with Jesus.