1 00:00:30,659 --> 00:00:31,139 Amen. 2 00:00:31,179 --> 00:00:31,531 All right. 3 00:00:31,555 --> 00:00:33,803 Turn, if you would, in your Bibles tonight to Daniel Chapter 4 00:00:33,851 --> 00:00:34,443 one. 5 00:00:34,611 --> 00:00:37,611 We'll finish Daniel Chapter one tonight and then from here on 6 00:00:37,635 --> 00:00:42,299 out, most of the rest of the sermons will be chapter by chapter. 7 00:00:42,459 --> 00:00:46,187 And so we'll finish up the thought and want to just drive home. 8 00:00:46,243 --> 00:00:47,595 Really, one thought tonight. 9 00:00:47,707 --> 00:00:50,251 This will probably be brief. 10 00:00:50,315 --> 00:00:50,859 We'll see. 11 00:00:50,899 --> 00:00:52,571 But probably, I don't know. 12 00:00:52,595 --> 00:00:53,399 We'll see. 13 00:00:53,939 --> 00:00:56,013 But really, just one thought tonight. 14 00:00:56,211 --> 00:00:57,241 One thought. 15 00:00:57,425 --> 00:00:59,109 Daniel, Chapter one. 16 00:01:01,329 --> 00:01:03,033 Let's look at verse eight again. 17 00:01:03,121 --> 00:01:06,441 We covered verse eight and nine, but let's look at verse eight 18 00:01:06,545 --> 00:01:07,949 through the rest of the chapter. 19 00:01:08,289 --> 00:01:11,513 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself 20 00:01:11,561 --> 00:01:15,161 with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he 21 00:01:15,185 --> 00:01:15,769 drank. 22 00:01:15,929 --> 00:01:18,969 Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might 23 00:01:19,009 --> 00:01:20,777 not defile himself. 24 00:01:20,953 --> 00:01:25,251 Nor now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the 25 00:01:25,275 --> 00:01:26,599 prince of the eunuchs. 26 00:01:27,419 --> 00:01:30,643 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear, my lord, 27 00:01:30,691 --> 00:01:35,859 the king who hath appointed me meat and your drink, for why should 28 00:01:35,899 --> 00:01:41,731 he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your 29 00:01:41,835 --> 00:01:42,627 sort? 30 00:01:42,803 --> 00:01:47,879 Then shall ye make me endanger my head to the kings. 31 00:01:48,209 --> 00:01:52,009 Why should I give you vegetables and grains to eat, and 32 00:01:52,049 --> 00:01:57,509 you guys look, you know, pale and sickly compared to the other 33 00:01:58,929 --> 00:02:01,749 students, and I lose my head. 34 00:02:02,369 --> 00:02:04,749 So he was concerned about himself. 35 00:02:05,249 --> 00:02:10,089 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had 36 00:02:10,129 --> 00:02:10,569 set over. 37 00:02:10,609 --> 00:02:12,457 Daniel, so kind of get the ideal. 38 00:02:12,633 --> 00:02:18,019 You have Ashpenaz, who is the prince of the eunuchs, who is the 39 00:02:18,059 --> 00:02:18,355 head. 40 00:02:18,427 --> 00:02:22,387 And then apparently there is a understudy and an assistant under 41 00:02:22,443 --> 00:02:24,275 him, Melzar. 42 00:02:24,387 --> 00:02:27,539 Melzar is not necessarily his name, but that's the position he 43 00:02:27,579 --> 00:02:28,279 holds. 44 00:02:29,819 --> 00:02:31,619 Whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over. 45 00:02:31,659 --> 00:02:34,883 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 46 00:02:34,931 --> 00:02:35,475 Verse 12. 47 00:02:35,547 --> 00:02:39,259 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, 10 days. 48 00:02:39,419 --> 00:02:42,411 And let them give us pulse to eat and water to drink. 49 00:02:42,555 --> 00:02:46,731 Then let our countenance be looked upon before thee, and the 50 00:02:46,755 --> 00:02:49,275 countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's 51 00:02:49,307 --> 00:02:49,919 meat. 52 00:02:50,419 --> 00:02:55,771 And as thou seest, deal with thy servants, so he consented to 53 00:02:55,795 --> 00:02:59,467 them in this matter, and proved them, tested them 10 days. 54 00:02:59,603 --> 00:03:02,107 And at the end of the 10 days, their countenance appeared fairer 55 00:03:02,123 --> 00:03:06,885 and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion 56 00:03:06,917 --> 00:03:08,169 of the king's meat. 57 00:03:08,669 --> 00:03:13,781 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat and the wine 58 00:03:13,845 --> 00:03:18,117 that they should drink, and gave them pulse as for these four 59 00:03:18,173 --> 00:03:20,149 children, listen. 60 00:03:20,309 --> 00:03:24,789 God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom. 61 00:03:24,949 --> 00:03:28,677 And Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 62 00:03:28,853 --> 00:03:32,649 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should 63 00:03:32,689 --> 00:03:35,113 bring them in, that's three years. 64 00:03:35,281 --> 00:03:39,561 Then the princes of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar 65 00:03:39,705 --> 00:03:41,577 and the king communed with them. 66 00:03:41,713 --> 00:03:46,393 And among them all was found none like Daniel and Hananiah and 67 00:03:46,481 --> 00:03:48,409 Mishael and Azariah. 68 00:03:48,569 --> 00:03:53,145 Therefore stood they before the king and in all matters of wisdom 69 00:03:53,177 --> 00:03:57,299 and understanding that the king inquired of of them he found 70 00:03:57,339 --> 00:04:02,851 them 10 times better than all the magicians and astrologers that 71 00:04:02,875 --> 00:04:04,599 were in all his realm. 72 00:04:05,659 --> 00:04:11,079 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of King Cyrus. 73 00:04:12,619 --> 00:04:13,235 Let's pray. 74 00:04:13,267 --> 00:04:15,443 Heavenly Father, bless the message tonight. 75 00:04:15,571 --> 00:04:16,759 Bless your word. 76 00:04:17,819 --> 00:04:19,091 We thank you, we love you. 77 00:04:19,115 --> 00:04:21,079 In Jesus name, amen. 78 00:04:21,829 --> 00:04:25,569 Daniel and his three friends are carried away in the first deportation 79 00:04:25,909 --> 00:04:27,565 in 606 BC. 80 00:04:27,677 --> 00:04:31,453 So remember now the again, I know we repeat history here, but 81 00:04:31,541 --> 00:04:35,549 the northern kingdom was carried into captivity in, you know, 82 00:04:35,589 --> 00:04:48,150 597 and I mean again in 797 BC and then the 722, my numbers 722 83 00:04:48,174 --> 00:04:48,854 is the right date. 84 00:04:48,886 --> 00:04:52,790 Everybody on this side, 722, the Northern Kingdom is carried into 85 00:04:52,814 --> 00:04:53,254 captivity. 86 00:04:53,286 --> 00:04:55,849 Everybody on this side, 7:22. 87 00:04:56,218 --> 00:05:03,990 150 years later, about the southern kingdom was captured, defeated, 88 00:05:04,054 --> 00:05:04,470 if you would. 89 00:05:04,494 --> 00:05:09,734 And Nebuchadnezzar came in the first time in 606 and took a portion 90 00:05:09,926 --> 00:05:14,321 of the children of Israel out, mainly those of the royal king, of 91 00:05:14,345 --> 00:05:18,385 those of the royal house, princess, those who were considered 92 00:05:18,417 --> 00:05:20,509 the best of the best, the young men. 93 00:05:21,209 --> 00:05:24,389 And so in that deportation we find Daniel. 94 00:05:24,809 --> 00:05:28,865 He's carried him and his friends and probably around 2,000 95 00:05:28,937 --> 00:05:31,509 others were carried into Babylon. 96 00:05:32,009 --> 00:05:34,977 And there they were placed into Babylon University. 97 00:05:35,113 --> 00:05:37,889 Now there really wasn't a university, doesn't have a name, 98 00:05:38,009 --> 00:05:38,191 but. 99 00:05:38,205 --> 00:05:40,279 But that's what it is. 100 00:05:42,179 --> 00:05:43,099 It's a good name. 101 00:05:43,139 --> 00:05:44,279 Babylon University. 102 00:05:46,179 --> 00:05:52,635 They were placed into this program in order they might be immersed 103 00:05:52,747 --> 00:05:56,523 in Babylonian culture, in the culture. 104 00:05:56,571 --> 00:06:00,619 And we compare this as we think about the application for us 105 00:06:00,659 --> 00:06:05,623 today, that we see this in our own society today, where especially 106 00:06:05,711 --> 00:06:10,679 our young men and women who leave the home and go into society 107 00:06:10,759 --> 00:06:13,591 and enter into college or work or wherever it is. 108 00:06:13,695 --> 00:06:17,527 And there they're immersed into the world system, if you would. 109 00:06:17,663 --> 00:06:20,887 And we all have that application as well as we go to work 110 00:06:20,943 --> 00:06:26,099 every day and immersed in the Babylonian in the world's university 111 00:06:27,119 --> 00:06:32,423 as they were put into this program by the king of Babylon. 112 00:06:32,471 --> 00:06:37,135 King Nebuchadnezzar, he that is, those in charge there were attempting 113 00:06:37,167 --> 00:06:42,751 to cut off these young men from their home and from the culture 114 00:06:42,815 --> 00:06:44,607 and from their God. 115 00:06:44,783 --> 00:06:49,503 They wanted to cut the ties that they had and the beliefs and 116 00:06:49,511 --> 00:06:54,179 the things that they were raised and studied under their parents. 117 00:06:55,079 --> 00:06:56,351 He changed the language. 118 00:06:56,415 --> 00:06:58,463 He had them learn Chaldean. 119 00:06:58,511 --> 00:06:59,419 He had them. 120 00:06:59,919 --> 00:07:08,391 He changed their names again, cutting them off from their parents. 121 00:07:08,535 --> 00:07:10,539 He changed their diet. 122 00:07:11,679 --> 00:07:18,199 All these things in order they might abandon what they had been 123 00:07:18,239 --> 00:07:22,311 taught in Israel, what they had been taught by their moms and 124 00:07:22,335 --> 00:07:23,419 by their dads. 125 00:07:24,239 --> 00:07:26,199 We see this again as a side today. 126 00:07:26,319 --> 00:07:29,863 So much young people, I'm telling you, you leave here, a lot 127 00:07:29,871 --> 00:07:32,759 of you guys who've already graduated here recently from any 128 00:07:32,799 --> 00:07:37,271 kind of secular college, and even some not so secular, know what 129 00:07:37,295 --> 00:07:41,111 it's like to go into a college where many of the professors do not 130 00:07:41,135 --> 00:07:43,259 believe God, do not believe in God. 131 00:07:43,919 --> 00:07:49,143 And as they teach, they are teaching from a perspective entirely 132 00:07:49,191 --> 00:07:51,059 different than what you were raised under. 133 00:07:51,679 --> 00:07:55,223 They're coming from you at a worldly perspective instead of a 134 00:07:55,231 --> 00:07:56,023 godly perspective. 135 00:07:56,071 --> 00:08:02,427 They're coming at you from a, a non biblical authority and a non 136 00:08:02,483 --> 00:08:03,915 biblical worldview. 137 00:08:04,107 --> 00:08:06,079 And those worldviews collide. 138 00:08:07,299 --> 00:08:11,691 The word of God and the worldview of Christianity and the 139 00:08:11,715 --> 00:08:15,195 worldview of the world are totally opposites. 140 00:08:15,387 --> 00:08:17,079 And that's what you have here. 141 00:08:17,539 --> 00:08:21,467 You have Daniel and his three friends and again, probably around 142 00:08:21,523 --> 00:08:24,139 at least a thousand or so others who were put into the same 143 00:08:24,179 --> 00:08:24,523 program. 144 00:08:24,611 --> 00:08:24,835 And. 145 00:08:24,867 --> 00:08:29,679 And yet we only find four who took a stand. 146 00:08:30,859 --> 00:08:31,919 Only four? 147 00:08:34,299 --> 00:08:35,359 Only four. 148 00:08:36,459 --> 00:08:40,995 But Daniel and his friends did take a stand in the midst of an ungodly 149 00:08:41,107 --> 00:08:42,499 anti God society. 150 00:08:42,579 --> 00:08:48,771 They took a stand in the midst of a lot of attractions that the 151 00:08:48,795 --> 00:08:49,919 world had to offer. 152 00:08:50,549 --> 00:08:52,893 We think about, again, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the 153 00:08:52,901 --> 00:08:56,333 flesh, and the pride of life, fun, fortune and fame. 154 00:08:56,381 --> 00:09:08,925 And yet they rejected that and stood firm in their beliefs, stood 155 00:09:08,957 --> 00:09:13,789 firm in their convictions in the midst of the absence of their 156 00:09:13,829 --> 00:09:21,459 parents, with no one around to call them out. 157 00:09:22,399 --> 00:09:24,219 And yet they stood firm. 158 00:09:27,119 --> 00:09:29,459 Again, we're faced with this every day. 159 00:09:31,039 --> 00:09:34,103 You are faced with this every day as you go into work and as you 160 00:09:34,111 --> 00:09:35,339 go into society. 161 00:09:37,279 --> 00:09:46,753 A need to take a stand, a need to look again through the prism of 162 00:09:46,841 --> 00:09:49,829 a godly perspective and not a worldly perspective. 163 00:09:51,929 --> 00:09:57,761 Teenagers, especially, as you continue to grow and as some of you 164 00:09:57,785 --> 00:10:01,469 who are still in college need to take a stand. 165 00:10:02,889 --> 00:10:04,337 And Daniel took that stand. 166 00:10:04,393 --> 00:10:07,057 I want to point out tonight, though, something maybe that I didn't 167 00:10:07,073 --> 00:10:12,529 point out before is I Just want you to see the respect and the 168 00:10:12,569 --> 00:10:18,349 humbleness of Daniel as he dealt with those who were. 169 00:10:19,769 --> 00:10:21,309 He was placed under. 170 00:10:21,689 --> 00:10:25,949 And this is an area, I think, that some Christians really need 171 00:10:26,249 --> 00:10:27,549 some help in. 172 00:10:28,169 --> 00:10:31,169 And that is when we are dealing with the world and we are 173 00:10:31,209 --> 00:10:35,427 dealing with professors and we are dealing with individuals who. 174 00:10:35,553 --> 00:10:41,103 Who believe, contrary to the Scriptures, that we as Christians 175 00:10:41,151 --> 00:10:43,059 do so in humility. 176 00:10:45,639 --> 00:10:50,607 Again, Proverbs says that a man who has a contentious spirit 177 00:10:50,703 --> 00:10:52,099 is full of pride. 178 00:10:52,919 --> 00:10:58,015 And when you are one who is contentious, the Bible says you're 179 00:10:58,047 --> 00:10:58,979 full of pride. 180 00:10:59,799 --> 00:11:01,499 We got to be careful of that. 181 00:11:02,049 --> 00:11:06,249 And it just, again, it occurs to me that you just continue to see 182 00:11:06,289 --> 00:11:11,801 Daniel as he is dealing humbly with those and whom have been put 183 00:11:11,825 --> 00:11:12,949 in charge of him. 184 00:11:13,489 --> 00:11:16,506 And though I do absolutely know that Acts 5. 185 00:11:16,599 --> 00:11:22,201 29 says that we ought to obey God rather than man, that God's law 186 00:11:22,225 --> 00:11:23,829 is higher than man's law. 187 00:11:24,289 --> 00:11:25,305 Amen. 188 00:11:25,497 --> 00:11:26,809 All the congregation ought to be. 189 00:11:26,849 --> 00:11:27,989 Yeah, that's right. 190 00:11:29,109 --> 00:11:33,053 And I am telling you, we are living a society where this stand 191 00:11:33,141 --> 00:11:38,461 is going to have to come at some point where I'm thankful for 192 00:11:38,485 --> 00:11:41,629 the little space of grace that we have here as we go forward. 193 00:11:41,749 --> 00:11:46,061 But I'm telling you, the world, America, United States of 194 00:11:46,085 --> 00:11:50,749 America, is permeated with people who are anti God and have 195 00:11:50,789 --> 00:11:53,529 a totally different worldview than you have. 196 00:11:54,239 --> 00:11:57,319 And those are colliding, and they'll continue to collide until 197 00:11:57,359 --> 00:11:58,539 Jesus returns. 198 00:11:59,439 --> 00:12:03,207 And so when Acts chapter five says we ought to obey God rather 199 00:12:03,223 --> 00:12:04,279 than man, there'll come a day. 200 00:12:04,319 --> 00:12:04,967 I believe this. 201 00:12:05,023 --> 00:12:08,855 I believe there'll come a day many of you, maybe myself included, 202 00:12:08,967 --> 00:12:17,255 will have to take a stand that may cost us more than just, you know, 203 00:12:17,407 --> 00:12:18,619 hurt feelings. 204 00:12:19,609 --> 00:12:20,549 Amen. 205 00:12:21,369 --> 00:12:23,869 I'm telling you, the day's coming. 206 00:12:24,969 --> 00:12:30,689 But again, Daniel handled himself respectfully and was respectful 207 00:12:30,769 --> 00:12:33,029 and kind and humble. 208 00:12:34,969 --> 00:12:38,349 So we see Daniel's approach as it came to his stand. 209 00:12:39,449 --> 00:12:42,593 I've used cliches like we can disagree without being disagreeable, 210 00:12:42,641 --> 00:12:44,709 we can contend without being contentious. 211 00:12:45,339 --> 00:12:49,315 I don't believe you have to, you know, stand in front of an abortion 212 00:12:49,347 --> 00:12:54,403 clinic with signs yelling at people, yelling at people who are 213 00:12:54,411 --> 00:12:55,475 going into abortion clinic. 214 00:12:55,507 --> 00:12:56,803 Am I against abortion clinic? 215 00:12:56,851 --> 00:12:58,199 Yeah, it's murder. 216 00:12:58,619 --> 00:13:00,323 Bible makes that very clear. 217 00:13:00,491 --> 00:13:03,731 But there is a way in which we can deal with people and we can deal 218 00:13:03,755 --> 00:13:09,571 with the world in a respectful way, in a kind way that would be 219 00:13:09,595 --> 00:13:11,639 a lot more effective. 220 00:13:15,239 --> 00:13:17,259 And we see this in Daniel's life. 221 00:13:19,479 --> 00:13:21,019 I haven't done this in a while. 222 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:24,139 Over the years, have gotten away from a lot of The. 223 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:29,071 A lot of personal illustrations still talk about the 224 00:13:29,095 --> 00:13:31,903 farm and some other things, but just a personal illustration. 225 00:13:31,951 --> 00:13:35,935 I've talked about my brother in high school who had a nickname, 226 00:13:35,967 --> 00:13:37,499 Dippy Dan the Holy Man. 227 00:13:38,149 --> 00:13:40,541 And I'm thankful for an older brother who's four years older than 228 00:13:40,565 --> 00:13:45,053 me that did live not a perfect life, certainly not even a perfect 229 00:13:45,101 --> 00:13:49,021 life in high school, but at least lived and had a testimony in 230 00:13:49,045 --> 00:13:49,849 high school. 231 00:13:50,549 --> 00:13:51,629 And I followed that. 232 00:13:51,669 --> 00:13:54,861 And even some of the teachers that taught my brother were there. 233 00:13:54,885 --> 00:13:55,677 It's a small school. 234 00:13:55,733 --> 00:13:59,489 We had, you know, about 100 in each grade. 235 00:14:00,309 --> 00:14:03,089 So high school was made up of 400 kids. 236 00:14:03,479 --> 00:14:05,823 Junior high, which was sixth, seventh, and eighth grade, was made 237 00:14:05,831 --> 00:14:06,927 up of 300 kids. 238 00:14:07,023 --> 00:14:09,539 I graduated with about 100 kids. 239 00:14:10,839 --> 00:14:14,447 And so as I entered junior high and began to make my way through, 240 00:14:14,503 --> 00:14:17,151 I met some of the same teachers that my brother had. 241 00:14:17,175 --> 00:14:17,583 My brother. 242 00:14:17,631 --> 00:14:19,459 My brother was not very good academically. 243 00:14:20,679 --> 00:14:22,399 That caused me to suffer a little bit. 244 00:14:22,439 --> 00:14:23,151 But that's okay. 245 00:14:23,215 --> 00:14:24,619 We got it figured out. 246 00:14:27,319 --> 00:14:29,699 But my brother did, again, have a good testimony. 247 00:14:31,069 --> 00:14:36,213 And as I worked through high school and was raised in a smaller 248 00:14:36,261 --> 00:14:41,093 school, there was about 50 or 60, maybe even 70 kids that all of 249 00:14:41,101 --> 00:14:43,493 us went to kindergarten together and all of us graduated 250 00:14:43,541 --> 00:14:44,129 together. 251 00:14:44,909 --> 00:14:48,449 It's kind of unique to a small town. 252 00:14:48,909 --> 00:14:50,629 Some of you may have got to experience that. 253 00:14:50,669 --> 00:14:51,285 It was pretty cool. 254 00:14:51,317 --> 00:14:52,369 I mean, it was great. 255 00:14:54,029 --> 00:14:57,205 But in that, too, that meant that the kid that knew you in kindergarten 256 00:14:57,237 --> 00:14:58,609 now knows you in high school. 257 00:15:00,539 --> 00:15:03,603 And of course, we were so faithful to church. 258 00:15:03,651 --> 00:15:07,619 And my dad was so much involved in church there in Bowie. 259 00:15:07,779 --> 00:15:10,691 And then my dad, when I was 11, helped start a church over in 260 00:15:10,715 --> 00:15:11,715 Nocona. 261 00:15:11,907 --> 00:15:16,115 So just that whole thing of being immersed in church and thankfully 262 00:15:16,147 --> 00:15:21,443 in a home where what was being taught was also being practiced, 263 00:15:21,491 --> 00:15:22,879 I'm so thankful for that. 264 00:15:23,579 --> 00:15:25,155 And then to go to school. 265 00:15:25,307 --> 00:15:27,955 And even though it was a good country school, and I'm thankful 266 00:15:27,987 --> 00:15:30,019 for my teachers, many of them I would. 267 00:15:30,059 --> 00:15:36,723 Not many, but most of them would say they were Christians, but 268 00:15:36,811 --> 00:15:40,563 you would always have that teacher now and again, even in a 269 00:15:40,571 --> 00:15:45,479 small town who was not in any way a Christian. 270 00:15:47,419 --> 00:15:52,659 I dealt with not only atheistic teachers even back then, 271 00:15:52,699 --> 00:15:59,171 but also teachers who were immoral, who lived an immoral lifestyle, 272 00:15:59,235 --> 00:16:01,599 brought the pictures to school to prove it. 273 00:16:02,779 --> 00:16:04,199 A homosexual. 274 00:16:05,179 --> 00:16:08,755 You know, dealing with those things as kids and as a young person 275 00:16:08,827 --> 00:16:12,019 and then dealing with your peers and trying to live right and 276 00:16:12,059 --> 00:16:14,279 do right is tough. 277 00:16:14,699 --> 00:16:17,319 And by the way, Christian schools aren't perfect either. 278 00:16:21,989 --> 00:16:25,485 I've told you the testimony about my High school biology teacher 279 00:16:25,597 --> 00:16:27,757 whose name was Rufus Williams. 280 00:16:27,933 --> 00:16:32,169 He was also a football coach, biology teacher, football coach. 281 00:16:33,269 --> 00:16:36,169 And my dad knew him really well as well. 282 00:16:36,949 --> 00:16:40,237 And we were getting to that subject of evolution. 283 00:16:40,333 --> 00:16:43,853 And he said, he started the class off by saying, I've got to 284 00:16:43,861 --> 00:16:44,189 teach this. 285 00:16:44,229 --> 00:16:45,261 It's in the book. 286 00:16:45,445 --> 00:16:46,851 Nobody say a word. 287 00:16:46,965 --> 00:16:48,679 And he taught evolution that day. 288 00:16:48,799 --> 00:16:49,975 And then I went to him afterwards. 289 00:16:50,007 --> 00:16:52,999 I've told you this many times, I've testified to this. 290 00:16:53,039 --> 00:16:55,303 I went to him after class and said, hey, we're not going to teach 291 00:16:55,351 --> 00:16:59,543 the other angle, the other, you know, the other story, the true 292 00:16:59,591 --> 00:17:00,039 story. 293 00:17:00,159 --> 00:17:00,919 And he says, no. 294 00:17:00,959 --> 00:17:02,819 He said, I can't do it, but you can. 295 00:17:03,599 --> 00:17:07,979 He said, next class you can have the class that's a freshman. 296 00:17:09,279 --> 00:17:10,871 I was thankful he gave me that opportunity. 297 00:17:10,935 --> 00:17:13,801 And I certainly couldn't speak for no hour like he could. 298 00:17:13,825 --> 00:17:17,609 But I did speak for 10 or 15 minutes and gave some, you know, 299 00:17:17,649 --> 00:17:21,513 was able to give out some handouts and try to stand for the 300 00:17:21,521 --> 00:17:24,869 Lord when it came to creation, that God created all things. 301 00:17:25,489 --> 00:17:28,425 It takes more faith to believe in evolution than it does evolution. 302 00:17:28,537 --> 00:17:31,801 And then creation takes more faith to believe in evolution than 303 00:17:31,825 --> 00:17:33,149 it does creation. 304 00:17:37,889 --> 00:17:39,977 In biology class I'd write the. 305 00:17:40,113 --> 00:17:43,193 I would write the answer that the teacher wanted, you know, in 306 00:17:43,201 --> 00:17:46,589 the space and then out beside it, I would write the Bible answer. 307 00:17:49,649 --> 00:17:51,097 He always got a kick out of that. 308 00:17:51,153 --> 00:17:52,869 I was respectful about it. 309 00:17:56,529 --> 00:18:01,529 I do remember though of my senior high English teacher, she 310 00:18:01,569 --> 00:18:07,949 was a good lady, but not necessarily, not necessarily a believer. 311 00:18:09,079 --> 00:18:12,255 In high school, I don't know if they still do, but in high school, 312 00:18:12,407 --> 00:18:15,215 in your senior English class, you had to write a research paper 313 00:18:15,247 --> 00:18:16,543 in order to graduate. 314 00:18:16,671 --> 00:18:18,319 I don't know if they require that anymore or not. 315 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:19,179 Probably not. 316 00:18:20,759 --> 00:18:21,659 Do they? 317 00:18:24,519 --> 00:18:25,151 I don't remember. 318 00:18:25,175 --> 00:18:28,031 It was a 10 page research paper and you had to have all the 319 00:18:28,055 --> 00:18:30,499 things noted and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. 320 00:18:30,839 --> 00:18:32,255 And I love to read. 321 00:18:32,327 --> 00:18:35,879 I know that's weird for a high schooler, especially a guy, but I 322 00:18:35,919 --> 00:18:36,775 love to read. 323 00:18:36,927 --> 00:18:40,919 My mom got me into reading, my dad got me into reading and I started 324 00:18:40,959 --> 00:18:44,055 reading when I was in sixth grade and just became a reader. 325 00:18:44,167 --> 00:18:45,015 Enjoyed that. 326 00:18:45,087 --> 00:18:46,487 So I enjoyed research. 327 00:18:46,623 --> 00:18:47,847 I enjoyed creation. 328 00:18:47,943 --> 00:18:51,879 So my research paper was on creation, that God created it. 329 00:18:51,919 --> 00:18:54,459 All 10 page paper. 330 00:18:55,839 --> 00:18:58,979 And here is my high school English teacher reading that. 331 00:19:00,159 --> 00:19:05,969 And I got an A, not based upon my grammar, I promise you that. 332 00:19:07,149 --> 00:19:09,049 And my sentence structure. 333 00:19:09,629 --> 00:19:10,709 She noted all that. 334 00:19:10,749 --> 00:19:15,845 By the way, she did say at the top though, she said to. 335 00:19:15,997 --> 00:19:17,289 I'm summarizing. 336 00:19:17,789 --> 00:19:20,769 Very good in depth research. 337 00:19:23,309 --> 00:19:25,249 I Appreciate your stand. 338 00:19:26,589 --> 00:19:27,525 I may not believe. 339 00:19:27,597 --> 00:19:30,509 It's basically saying to me, I may not believe what you're saying, 340 00:19:30,669 --> 00:19:34,089 but I appreciate your stand. 341 00:19:35,509 --> 00:19:40,529 I cannot say in junior high and high school that I always felt 342 00:19:42,309 --> 00:19:45,709 accepted junior high. 343 00:19:45,749 --> 00:19:48,701 I ran for something, I think treasurer of the student body or 344 00:19:48,725 --> 00:19:49,005 something. 345 00:19:49,077 --> 00:19:50,253 Didn't even get close. 346 00:19:50,421 --> 00:19:54,125 And then I can remember as a freshman going to my dad, and I'll 347 00:19:54,157 --> 00:19:57,945 be very candid tonight, without being too candid, I can remember 348 00:19:57,977 --> 00:20:01,705 going to my dad as a freshman, crying to him, saying, nobody likes 349 00:20:01,737 --> 00:20:02,309 me. 350 00:20:03,409 --> 00:20:06,153 I don't know if he remembers that or not, but I just did. 351 00:20:06,241 --> 00:20:11,209 It was kind of the summer as I was going into my freshman year and 352 00:20:11,249 --> 00:20:14,633 then even the summer after that, freshman into sophomore year. 353 00:20:14,801 --> 00:20:18,313 And, you know, just because if you didn't live the way they lived 354 00:20:18,441 --> 00:20:22,743 and you didn't go to the parties they went to, you know, some 355 00:20:22,751 --> 00:20:24,727 of you from the country know what I'm talking about. 356 00:20:24,863 --> 00:20:28,295 There was a party every weekend, every Friday and Saturday 357 00:20:28,367 --> 00:20:32,055 night in a small town, America, there's a party somewhere 358 00:20:32,167 --> 00:20:35,015 and there's kids getting drunk and blah, blah, blah. 359 00:20:35,127 --> 00:20:38,903 That was the big thing Friday, Saturday night, if you weren't a 360 00:20:38,911 --> 00:20:39,543 part of that crowd. 361 00:20:39,591 --> 00:20:45,927 Even though I was an athlete and, you know, had lots of friends, 362 00:20:46,063 --> 00:20:48,659 I didn't have friends because I wouldn't do those things. 363 00:20:49,549 --> 00:20:54,129 And not that I didn't ever mess up, but I didn't do those things. 364 00:20:55,069 --> 00:20:57,269 I felt that way up until a point. 365 00:20:57,389 --> 00:20:59,861 I know this is a long illustration to get to the point. 366 00:20:59,885 --> 00:21:00,549 I'm getting to the point. 367 00:21:00,589 --> 00:21:01,509 Y'all ready? 368 00:21:01,669 --> 00:21:08,449 The point is this acceptance by the world doesn't matter. 369 00:21:09,869 --> 00:21:14,373 But when you're a young man or a young lady and you are growing 370 00:21:14,421 --> 00:21:18,433 up, there is some that part of you who wants absolute to be accepted, 371 00:21:18,501 --> 00:21:21,869 to be accepted by your parents, to be accepted by your peers. 372 00:21:22,289 --> 00:21:25,269 And it's a part of the way God made us, right? 373 00:21:25,649 --> 00:21:27,869 We are social beings. 374 00:21:28,929 --> 00:21:32,233 And so that affected me as a young person. 375 00:21:32,401 --> 00:21:35,401 But what I saw as high school went on, and my wife would testify 376 00:21:35,465 --> 00:21:41,833 this, as I went on and as I continued to, again, not perfect, 377 00:21:41,961 --> 00:21:45,725 but continue to live for Jesus, I began to see the attitude 378 00:21:45,757 --> 00:21:48,169 of my peers change towards me. 379 00:21:49,269 --> 00:21:50,169 It did. 380 00:21:50,949 --> 00:21:55,821 It became from an attitude of rejection and just, you're a, you 381 00:21:55,845 --> 00:22:02,009 know, Christian mamby, pamby, whatever, to an attitude of respect. 382 00:22:05,029 --> 00:22:08,489 And that happened as I became a senior in high school, especially 383 00:22:09,349 --> 00:22:11,101 when I became a senior high school. 384 00:22:11,205 --> 00:22:17,001 The year prior my junior year, they began to vote for class president. 385 00:22:17,105 --> 00:22:18,601 All those things for the following year. 386 00:22:18,625 --> 00:22:19,785 The president of the student council. 387 00:22:19,857 --> 00:22:21,769 Do they even have student councils anymore? 388 00:22:21,849 --> 00:22:22,789 I don't know. 389 00:22:24,209 --> 00:22:25,001 We were growing up. 390 00:22:25,025 --> 00:22:26,229 You had student council. 391 00:22:27,729 --> 00:22:32,425 And so several of my friends who I grew up with since kindergarten 392 00:22:32,457 --> 00:22:39,297 said, you should be the president of the student body. 393 00:22:39,473 --> 00:22:42,189 I said, nobody will vote for me. 394 00:22:43,849 --> 00:22:46,145 And so instead of going for president, I went for vice president. 395 00:22:46,217 --> 00:22:48,269 And sure enough, I got it. 396 00:22:49,529 --> 00:22:51,589 And a girl got the presidency. 397 00:22:56,009 --> 00:22:58,289 A girl that I grew up with, who I've known since. 398 00:22:58,409 --> 00:23:00,109 I'm not saying that's a bad thing. 399 00:23:02,089 --> 00:23:03,709 Should I tell that story or not? 400 00:23:05,779 --> 00:23:07,479 Small town America, right? 401 00:23:08,499 --> 00:23:11,211 President of the student body was normally a guy. 402 00:23:11,355 --> 00:23:12,159 Normally. 403 00:23:13,699 --> 00:23:18,443 And that guy had to kiss the homecoming queen at the football 404 00:23:18,531 --> 00:23:20,799 game when she was presented her crown. 405 00:23:21,699 --> 00:23:23,079 Happened every year. 406 00:23:24,659 --> 00:23:26,251 You couldn't do that today. 407 00:23:26,435 --> 00:23:30,279 They'd be sued 10 times over. 408 00:23:31,669 --> 00:23:36,333 So my future wife had to sit in the stands as I kissed the homecoming 409 00:23:36,381 --> 00:23:39,609 queen at the homecoming football game. 410 00:23:39,989 --> 00:23:42,489 And she sat there smiling right now. 411 00:23:48,709 --> 00:23:51,169 So you get to know a little more about me tonight. 412 00:23:52,069 --> 00:23:56,573 Maybe you don't like it and I have to tell the truth because my 413 00:23:56,581 --> 00:23:57,449 dad's here. 414 00:23:58,889 --> 00:24:00,401 Did you kiss her on the cheek? 415 00:24:00,465 --> 00:24:01,601 I did kiss her on the cheek. 416 00:24:01,665 --> 00:24:04,269 Yes, I did. 417 00:24:04,649 --> 00:24:06,065 I did kiss her on the cheek. 418 00:24:06,097 --> 00:24:11,025 And then my future wife made me wash my mouth before I kissed 419 00:24:11,057 --> 00:24:14,625 her on the cheek and maybe on the lips. 420 00:24:14,657 --> 00:24:23,921 But anyway, the point is, because I really am hammering in 421 00:24:23,945 --> 00:24:25,429 on just one point tonight. 422 00:24:26,279 --> 00:24:29,903 The point is, when you again, none of us are perfect. 423 00:24:29,951 --> 00:24:34,031 And I could go back, I have friends in high school again, have 424 00:24:34,055 --> 00:24:37,871 known me all my childhood, who would say, well, you messed up there, 425 00:24:37,895 --> 00:24:38,703 you messed up there. 426 00:24:38,791 --> 00:24:39,967 We all have done that. 427 00:24:40,103 --> 00:24:44,703 But when you try to live right and do right, and though you may 428 00:24:44,791 --> 00:24:48,063 find yourself in a position where some people make fun of you, 429 00:24:48,231 --> 00:24:52,809 I am telling you right now, at some point, the Lord will turn that 430 00:24:52,849 --> 00:24:53,429 around. 431 00:24:54,529 --> 00:24:56,789 This applies to all of us. 432 00:24:57,489 --> 00:25:02,869 It applies to you at your work, when you seemingly others are 433 00:25:03,249 --> 00:25:07,769 sneering at you or making fun of you because you won't do certain 434 00:25:07,809 --> 00:25:11,689 things or you won't cuss and you won't tell the dirty stories 435 00:25:11,849 --> 00:25:13,769 and you get known for a certain thing. 436 00:25:13,889 --> 00:25:18,409 I'm telling you at some point, I'm telling you right now, at some 437 00:25:18,449 --> 00:25:23,125 point when they need something that when they need advice or some 438 00:25:23,197 --> 00:25:26,117 relational issue or some health problem comes into their life, 439 00:25:26,253 --> 00:25:28,769 I promise you they're going to come to you. 440 00:25:30,269 --> 00:25:33,509 And they may stare at you now, but there'll become a time, as over 441 00:25:33,549 --> 00:25:35,889 the long haul, that they'll respect you. 442 00:25:36,829 --> 00:25:40,293 I got voted as the most likable in high school, my senior 443 00:25:40,341 --> 00:25:40,597 year. 444 00:25:40,653 --> 00:25:42,569 How that ever happened, who knows? 445 00:25:43,069 --> 00:25:45,409 I may have a little bit of an add problem. 446 00:25:46,059 --> 00:25:49,079 I used to park out front of the high school with the thugs. 447 00:25:49,739 --> 00:25:51,219 In a country, country town. 448 00:25:51,259 --> 00:25:51,571 There was. 449 00:25:51,595 --> 00:25:55,159 There's absolute groups. 450 00:25:55,979 --> 00:25:59,347 I don't know if that there were high school. 451 00:25:59,403 --> 00:26:00,291 There were groups, right? 452 00:26:00,315 --> 00:26:05,491 You had the thugs, you had the, you know, the preppy kids, you 453 00:26:05,515 --> 00:26:11,359 had the cowboys, you had the athletes, you had the. 454 00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:13,455 The mechanic. 455 00:26:13,647 --> 00:26:14,143 Those. 456 00:26:14,231 --> 00:26:15,183 Anyway, I don't know. 457 00:26:15,191 --> 00:26:17,231 There was like five or six or seven groups. 458 00:26:17,375 --> 00:26:19,099 I would just hang out with them all. 459 00:26:19,959 --> 00:26:21,699 I just enjoyed myself. 460 00:26:22,599 --> 00:26:24,335 I parked out with the thugs. 461 00:26:24,367 --> 00:26:25,743 I enjoyed working on vehicles. 462 00:26:25,791 --> 00:26:26,735 I rebuilt a motor. 463 00:26:26,767 --> 00:26:28,911 And, man, they'd come up to me and say, what do you got in that 464 00:26:28,935 --> 00:26:29,119 thing? 465 00:26:29,159 --> 00:26:30,399 I said, this is what I got. 466 00:26:30,439 --> 00:26:34,175 And my old truck, I set at a stop sign or a red light. 467 00:26:34,247 --> 00:26:41,449 And that cam was so big in that thing, and the truck would shake. 468 00:26:42,589 --> 00:26:44,129 Dad remembers that one. 469 00:26:45,629 --> 00:26:46,725 I just enjoyed. 470 00:26:46,837 --> 00:26:47,749 I just enjoyed. 471 00:26:47,829 --> 00:26:51,249 I just enjoyed it again. 472 00:26:51,549 --> 00:26:52,741 You live for Jesus. 473 00:26:52,805 --> 00:26:56,933 You do what's right, whether you're in sixth grade, fifth grade, 474 00:26:56,981 --> 00:27:01,285 or whether you're 45, working at Lockheed, or working wherever 475 00:27:01,317 --> 00:27:01,797 you're working. 476 00:27:01,853 --> 00:27:04,565 If you'll live right, do right, strive to do right. 477 00:27:04,637 --> 00:27:05,717 God will help you do that. 478 00:27:05,773 --> 00:27:06,373 Amen. 479 00:27:06,501 --> 00:27:07,429 God will help you do that. 480 00:27:07,469 --> 00:27:09,969 Holy Spirit will empower you and strengthen you to do that. 481 00:27:10,269 --> 00:27:13,573 I'm telling you, there'll come a time when they'll stop sneering 482 00:27:13,621 --> 00:27:16,917 at you and they'll start coming to you, asking you to pray 483 00:27:16,933 --> 00:27:17,729 for them. 484 00:27:19,949 --> 00:27:20,661 Stand for. 485 00:27:20,685 --> 00:27:21,249 Right. 486 00:27:21,549 --> 00:27:24,773 But all that's contingent upon this, I believe this. 487 00:27:24,941 --> 00:27:25,929 Humility. 488 00:27:26,989 --> 00:27:28,009 Humility. 489 00:27:30,919 --> 00:27:32,479 It's a fine line, right? 490 00:27:32,599 --> 00:27:35,519 It is understanding and knowing that I'm not better than 491 00:27:35,559 --> 00:27:36,139 them. 492 00:27:37,559 --> 00:27:38,339 Hello. 493 00:27:38,759 --> 00:27:40,751 And because I think I'm not better than them. 494 00:27:40,775 --> 00:27:45,519 I don't come across that way over time. 495 00:27:45,639 --> 00:27:47,551 Now, at the beginning, they may see me that way. 496 00:27:47,575 --> 00:27:49,659 They may say, well, you just think you're better than us. 497 00:27:50,279 --> 00:27:54,619 But over time, humility just drives that away. 498 00:27:55,189 --> 00:27:56,109 Humility. 499 00:27:56,269 --> 00:28:00,461 When I'm talking to them, not beating them in the head with the 500 00:28:00,485 --> 00:28:04,289 Bible, I'm talking to them about the Bible. 501 00:28:04,789 --> 00:28:07,933 I'm inviting them to church or I'm inviting them to a special program. 502 00:28:08,021 --> 00:28:10,637 Maybe I'm inviting them to the men's campout or maybe something 503 00:28:10,693 --> 00:28:11,693 they wouldn't normally attend. 504 00:28:11,741 --> 00:28:14,541 But, man, they'll come to a men's breakfast or they'll come to 505 00:28:14,565 --> 00:28:17,661 a special event like Fall Fest or whatever, and inviting them to 506 00:28:17,685 --> 00:28:19,261 those special events. 507 00:28:19,405 --> 00:28:25,377 Because my church has given me opportunities that I Can invite others 508 00:28:25,433 --> 00:28:28,909 to church in a non church setting even. 509 00:28:29,849 --> 00:28:31,345 It's a great opportunity. 510 00:28:31,457 --> 00:28:32,449 Easter's coming up. 511 00:28:32,489 --> 00:28:34,789 What a great opportunity to invite somebody to church. 512 00:28:36,409 --> 00:28:41,521 Daniel was respectful when it says that he found favor with the 513 00:28:41,545 --> 00:28:42,161 eunuchs. 514 00:28:42,225 --> 00:28:46,269 It meant that him and his three friends acted right. 515 00:28:47,379 --> 00:28:48,759 They lived right. 516 00:28:51,059 --> 00:28:53,799 Of course God intervened there as well. 517 00:28:55,059 --> 00:28:56,171 Somebody said it this way. 518 00:28:56,195 --> 00:28:58,923 They may never agree with your philosophy, but they will appreciate 519 00:28:58,971 --> 00:29:00,939 your stand when you do so. 520 00:29:00,979 --> 00:29:02,479 When you stand in humility. 521 00:29:03,699 --> 00:29:06,395 We ought to be firm in our conviction, but gracious and humble 522 00:29:06,427 --> 00:29:07,399 when we stand. 523 00:29:08,579 --> 00:29:10,731 They went through this 10 day test. 524 00:29:10,835 --> 00:29:14,801 And by the way, if you look here, it's really says that the first 525 00:29:14,825 --> 00:29:17,749 time Daniel asked that his request was denied. 526 00:29:18,569 --> 00:29:23,057 And then he goes back to the understudy and he asked him again. 527 00:29:23,113 --> 00:29:25,505 He said, hey, what about a 10 day test? 528 00:29:25,657 --> 00:29:29,121 So I mean Daniel even after he asked the first time, had an excuse 529 00:29:29,265 --> 00:29:31,825 to just go eat the king's meat. 530 00:29:32,017 --> 00:29:34,737 He could have said, hey Lord, I've already asked and they won't 531 00:29:34,753 --> 00:29:35,457 let me. 532 00:29:35,593 --> 00:29:42,651 But he very kindly went, went back again and back again and made 533 00:29:42,675 --> 00:29:43,599 the request. 534 00:29:47,379 --> 00:29:50,519 Daniel made a humble decision and God honored it. 535 00:29:51,859 --> 00:29:53,159 God honored it. 536 00:29:53,539 --> 00:29:56,279 Daniel wasn't looking for excuse or a way out. 537 00:29:56,819 --> 00:30:02,319 He was looking to not defile himself. 538 00:30:02,739 --> 00:30:05,307 And then God demonstrated his faithfulness to him. 539 00:30:05,443 --> 00:30:09,931 We see this in verses 17 through 24, 21, where God again the 540 00:30:09,955 --> 00:30:17,019 reward, right, that the king and those found these teenagers had 541 00:30:17,059 --> 00:30:17,691 more wisdom. 542 00:30:17,755 --> 00:30:22,399 10 times more wisdom 10 times if he would smarter. 543 00:30:23,379 --> 00:30:24,683 And this is it tonight. 544 00:30:24,731 --> 00:30:25,627 And I'm done. 545 00:30:25,763 --> 00:30:32,439 God takes care of those who put his will first in their lives. 546 00:30:36,729 --> 00:30:41,549 God takes care of those who are obedient to his will. 547 00:30:44,809 --> 00:30:49,829 These four men became counselors to the king. 548 00:30:51,129 --> 00:30:55,189 God prospered Daniel because of his commitment. 549 00:30:56,169 --> 00:31:00,973 What seemingly was political suicide by him taking a stand became 550 00:31:01,021 --> 00:31:06,877 his graduation became a stepping stone for him to succeed 551 00:31:06,973 --> 00:31:08,089 and go forward. 552 00:31:09,029 --> 00:31:11,769 Because again, God blesses those who stand. 553 00:31:14,149 --> 00:31:15,149 In verse 21. 554 00:31:15,189 --> 00:31:16,649 I do want to point this out. 555 00:31:17,109 --> 00:31:19,885 Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus. 556 00:31:19,917 --> 00:31:23,289 You realize that Daniel served for over 60 years. 557 00:31:24,549 --> 00:31:27,107 He served four Babylonian kings. 558 00:31:27,253 --> 00:31:29,639 Two of those were assassinated. 559 00:31:29,799 --> 00:31:32,247 And yet he continued to serve in court. 560 00:31:32,303 --> 00:31:35,367 How in the world he was never kicked out or you know what I'm saying? 561 00:31:35,503 --> 00:31:37,623 I mean that don't even happen in America. 562 00:31:37,671 --> 00:31:41,911 You know, 60 plus years, at some point somebody takes him out. 563 00:31:41,935 --> 00:31:42,743 But he didn't. 564 00:31:42,871 --> 00:31:45,367 God blessed him continually. 565 00:31:45,463 --> 00:31:46,583 That's my point. 566 00:31:46,751 --> 00:31:49,815 Because of his obedience to God's will. 567 00:31:49,967 --> 00:31:53,091 Because he took a stand and did so humbly go. 568 00:31:53,135 --> 00:31:54,571 God blessed him continually. 569 00:31:54,635 --> 00:31:57,915 He Went through four kings of the Babylonian kingdom. 570 00:31:57,947 --> 00:32:02,763 And then when Medo Persian defeated the Babylonians and Cyrus 571 00:32:02,811 --> 00:32:06,619 was the king of the Medo Persians, he served under Cyrus all 572 00:32:06,659 --> 00:32:10,811 the way to the point of he served long enough that when Cyrus 573 00:32:10,875 --> 00:32:13,067 made the decree for the children of Israel to go back and 574 00:32:13,123 --> 00:32:16,199 rebuild the temple, guess who was still there? 575 00:32:17,379 --> 00:32:18,319 Daniel. 576 00:32:20,269 --> 00:32:25,689 Daniel was still there, still had influence. 577 00:32:26,029 --> 00:32:28,389 My opinion is if we get to heaven, we'll find out. 578 00:32:28,429 --> 00:32:32,485 But my opinion is that Daniel was pointing to Cyrus, said, hey 579 00:32:32,517 --> 00:32:36,133 look, you're in our Bible, you're in our scriptures. 580 00:32:36,181 --> 00:32:39,173 It says you're going to allow the children of Israel to go back 581 00:32:39,181 --> 00:32:40,489 and rebuild the temple. 582 00:32:41,789 --> 00:32:43,093 Look at this prophecy. 583 00:32:43,141 --> 00:32:44,289 Your name's there. 584 00:32:44,819 --> 00:32:46,839 You think Daniel wouldn't point that out? 585 00:32:47,699 --> 00:32:54,539 Man Daniel had a continual long term blessings of God on his 586 00:32:54,579 --> 00:32:59,259 life because he purposed to do right, because he was faithful to 587 00:32:59,299 --> 00:33:00,279 God's will. 588 00:33:00,899 --> 00:33:05,799 And God is always faithful to those who do right. 589 00:33:06,099 --> 00:33:11,173 And he will bless those who are obedient to his will. 590 00:33:11,371 --> 00:33:12,769 Again, let me clarify. 591 00:33:12,849 --> 00:33:14,209 We're not talking about God's love. 592 00:33:14,249 --> 00:33:14,833 I'm thankful. 593 00:33:14,881 --> 00:33:16,433 God's love is unconditional. 594 00:33:16,561 --> 00:33:20,145 But blessings are contingent upon obedience. 595 00:33:20,337 --> 00:33:23,329 First Samuel 2:30 says, them that honor me. 596 00:33:23,369 --> 00:33:27,669 God speaking them that honor me, I will honor. 597 00:33:28,489 --> 00:33:29,829 I will honor. 598 00:33:31,129 --> 00:33:34,657 As we demonstrate, as we determine to do right, as we determine 599 00:33:34,673 --> 00:33:36,521 to do and obey God's will. 600 00:33:36,665 --> 00:33:38,309 He will do his part. 601 00:33:38,769 --> 00:33:42,089 He will do his part not only blessing us now, but blessing us 602 00:33:42,129 --> 00:33:42,617 long term. 603 00:33:42,673 --> 00:33:43,789 Isn't that a blessing? 604 00:33:44,529 --> 00:33:45,721 That's a blessing. 605 00:33:45,865 --> 00:33:49,401 God blesses those who are obedient to his will. 606 00:33:49,425 --> 00:33:50,829 That's all you got to know tonight. 607 00:33:51,569 --> 00:33:53,509 Are you obedient to his will? 608 00:33:53,889 --> 00:33:55,849 Have you young person, determine your heart? 609 00:33:55,889 --> 00:33:58,025 You're not going to defy yourself, are you going to determine 610 00:33:58,057 --> 00:34:04,189 your heart to do right, leaning upon the Holy Spirit, his 611 00:34:04,229 --> 00:34:08,489 power and strength to do so, all of us should purpose to do right. 612 00:34:10,149 --> 00:34:11,449 God will bless it. 613 00:34:12,229 --> 00:34:15,597 Though we may get a little bit of taunting. 614 00:34:15,773 --> 00:34:18,909 I am telling those same people who taunt you, those same people 615 00:34:18,949 --> 00:34:22,509 who make fun of you, those same people who talk behind your 616 00:34:22,549 --> 00:34:27,661 back about your Christianity will be the same people who eventually 617 00:34:27,725 --> 00:34:33,127 will respect you, will come to you in their time of need because 618 00:34:33,183 --> 00:34:36,151 God honors those who honor him. 619 00:34:36,335 --> 00:34:37,039 Let's all stand.