But if not!

Daniel 3:18

I.                  Major confusion!  Most believe that if they are good and doing right everything will always work out right!

a.    Prosperity is the blessing of God and that he always protects, provides, and blesses when we do right and good

b.    Problems are punishment from God, death, things go wrong, our financial needs are met is a sign that we are not doing good or right

II.              Shallow commitment--“but if not Christianity”. 

a.    Our commitment is conditional like Jacob was with his tithe           Genesis 28:20-22

b.    Or commitment is based on convenience—I will do this because that way I get blessed

III.         The Biblical concept--“but if not Christianity”. 

a.    We are to obey regardless of how things turn out! 

b.    In case of tribulations, trials, troubles, problems we are to rejoice, count it all blessing because it is to conform us to His image I Peter 1:7, Romans 8:28-29

c.     We must have the confidence in our God to know that He is doing what is best for His kingdom and His purposes-“but if not Christianity”. 

IV.            We suffer a great calamity when things don’t work out like we thought

a.    We are shocked and surprised if it doesn’t go the way we want.  We give up and quit on God.  We want and expect God to get Peter out of the prison and Daniel out of the lion’s den. 

b.    In the Scriptures we see a “but if not Christianity”.  There was great suffering,

                                                             i.      Naboth,

                                                          ii.      Stephen,

                                                        iii.      John the Baptist,

                                                        iv.      Jim Eliot,

                                                           v.      Stanley Dale

V.                We must commit ourselves to the Lord!  Determine to obey God no matter what happens.  We may suffer or we may enjoy but that is not our final decision.