Sermon Central
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Led By The Word Or Led By The World
Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Oct 28, 2021 (message contributor)
Summary: The purpose of this sermon is to make today’s Christian think about some of the things we are facing in our society as Christians. Christian people should be “thinking” people when it comes to the issues we face in our society.
For example, as Christians:
• We can not allow others to do our thinking for us when it comes to deciding what is RIGHT and what is WRONG.
• We can not just ignore these issues we face and hope they will go away.
Through the ages of time, God’s people have had to face difficult situations in society head on. Then they had to take a stand for what they believed would please God, whether it was popular or unpopular.
In this course we are going to deal with four things that today’s Christians are facing.
We want to look at these issues:
• From what the WORLD says we should do
• From what the WORD of God says we should do
If we agree this is something the Word of God teaches, and if this is something that is pleasing to the Lord, then every Christian, if they have not done so already, should go and make arrangements for their organs to be donated at their death.
Some have, but most folks have never signed that card that allows their body parts to be distributed to the living at their death.
The popular opinion in the society in which we live is that this is something that is nice to do. But remember, as Christians we do not allow the world to make our decisions.
Our decisions are based on the Word of God.
As we search the Scriptures from cover to cover, we see where God’s people had to take a stand on issues that were unpopular.
Look at Daniel 1:3-16, we read, “And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.”
This passage of scripture from the book of Daniel deals with men who lived during a time when they had to take a stand concerning the issues that faced them in their lives here on earth. That is exactly what they did, and at the end they were better off for doing so.
They did not follow the crowd, or allow others to make decisions for them.
They often took an unpopular position that displeased the majority, but pleased the God they served.
They did not have the attitude that they needed to go along with these fellows and not rock the boat, lest they find themselves in some deep trouble.
It is not always easy to take a stand, if it were, more people would be doing it. But this is something that God expects us to do as the children of God.
