Orchard Community Church
At times there will be a price to pay for standing firm in our faith counter to our culture, but if we do, God is faithful and will take care of us no matter what happens.
Counterculture (Part 1)
The Book of Daniel
We live in a culture that is often foreign and hostile to our faith. The book of Daniel is a collection of stories and prophecies written about Jewish believers living in the hostile foreign land of Babylon during the Exile. Therefore, the book of Daniel can teach us a lot about standing firm and living faithfully counter to the culture in which we find ourselves.
If you’re going to stand firm in what you believe, be ready… because there is often a price to pay and it can be high!
Daniel 3:1-12 NIV
There were people from all over the world with all kinds of different beliefs who compromised those beliefs and conformed to the king’s command and did what everybody else was doing. “After all,” they probably would argue, “we have to live!”
Except for the three Jewish men the king had set over to the province of Babylon; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
Daniel 3:13-18 NIV
So there they stand, with this ultimatum before them, when the king begins to mock their faith saying, “what god will be able to save you from my hand?” In essence, “what good is your faith and your god now?”
Daniel 3:16-18 NIV
These are stunning words. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego tell the king they will not do as he has commanded, even if it means death! They‘re willing to pay the price for standing firm in their faith.
They knew God could save them, but they also knew that this might not be God’s will. So they didn’t demand a miracle, they accept God’s will without knowing how things will work out.
Scripture is actually painful clear that there is often a price to pay for faith. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were willing to pray the price for standing firm in their faith.
Daniel 3:19-27 NIV
Nebuchadnezzar probably thought they were just being a little irrational about this whole faith thing and would come to their senses when he laid down the law. But that’s not what happened and I don’t think Nebuchadnezzar knew what to do with that.
It was astounding enough that the three men weren’t burned to death, but what blows Nebuchadnezzar's mind is that there’s a fourth man with them, one he says looks “like a son of the gods.”
Early on Christians began to believe and many scholars concur that this isn’t an “angel,” but Jesus himself.[1]
[1] Miller, 123-124; Wiersbe, 1355; Young, 94; Longmann, 112.
Who better to save them from death than the one who would eventually conquer death?
And this makes sense because nowhere in the OT is the promise of resurrection made clearer than in the book of Daniel! At the time when Daniel was written, they didn’t know that God would ultimately conquer death through the resurrection of Jesus Christ centuries later.
But they knew that God had a plan of life. They didn’t know how, or when, or in what way, they just knew God would take care of them, even if they died, and that was good enough for them.
Nebuchadnezzar has been proven wrong and he knows it, their God was able to save them just as they had said, so Nebuchadnezzar calls him the “Most High God.”
Daniel 3:28-30 NIV
The king is stunned and humbled by what he has just witnessed and maybe even a little afraid that he may have offended God.
And he praises them as well, for being willing to pay the price for standing firm in faith to God, even if it meant death. Even in today’s world non-believers may not understand our faith but they usually respect those who stand firm in that they believe rather than compromise or flip flop when it serves them.
This passage leaves us in an uncomfortable place. It leaves us with the question of whether we are willing to pay the price for standing firm in our faith and living counter to our culture in the various situation we will face in this life, or whether we will compromise and go with the crowd.
Will we?
We can stand firm in our faith and pay the price when we have the knowledge that God will take care of us no matter what.
Today's Music
Orchard's Streaming and Song Select CCLI# 160190
Worship Options
We are excited to be able to worship under the Tent together. If you are not wanting to be under the Tent, feel free to sit in the front row of parking spots of the Orchard Parking Lot your car and tune your radio to 100.1 FM to listen to the service.
1. Masks must be worn while on the Orchard Campus (both inside and out)
2. Please maintain the Social Distance
3. Sunday Morning Children's program. Children are always welcome in the service and we do not mind the noises that come with children. Children are a healthy sign of a healthy congregation.
Orchard Kids Sunday School (For preschool through 5th grade)
We encourage families to bring your own blanket and beach chairs and distance on the lawn as much as you like. Children will worship with their families and be dismissed following the kids’ message, escorted by our Orchard Kids’ Leaders to our beautiful outdoor classroom space in the children’s play yard. We will have our Bible story, activities, crafts, and games in a specially designed format following current health and safety guidelines. Parents, please come to the children’s area immediately following the worship service and find all of your children in one place. Each family will receive a “My Church Bag” to be brought each week with basic supplies already included plus items from home: water bottle and mask for each child and a blanket for all siblings. Our team is so excited to see your family! See you Sunday!
Nursery care for children birth to 3 years old is available by RSVP only to Melinda Hoyt at melinda@orchardventura.org.
Interested in being a Volunteer? Middle school through adult, please contact Melinda Hoyt at melinda@orchardventura.org.
While we understand that some may not feel comfortable coming back in person or having to wear masks while on the Orchard campus, we encourage you to stay home and join us online with our Live Stream.
Office Hours
Monday – Thursdays from 10 am to noon.
Masks and social distancing are required.
If you are unable to make it in during our office hours, please send an email to info@orchardventura.org and or leave a message at (805) 647-3757.