WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.780 We're going to look at Daniel chapter 1 if you want to open a Bible in front of you. 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:14.800 And the reason that we're going to look at Daniel is because I really believe that we are in an interesting time right now in 2018. 00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:18.140 It is, as we know, an unstable world, isn't it? 00:00:18.420 --> 00:00:25.100 With what is happening across the continents, you cannot turn the news on and not be rocked by what you're hearing. 00:00:25.100 --> 00:00:31.060 You cannot ignore the reality of the government decisions that are being made. 00:00:31.359 --> 00:00:36.719 We cannot ignore the reality of the refugees in their millions fleeing from their homelands. 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:41.260 We cannot ignore the persecution that is happening amongst Christians. 00:00:41.880 --> 00:00:42.520 And you know what? 00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:47.880 I just, I'm not saying that out of a yikes fearful thing. 00:00:48.180 --> 00:00:53.320 But out of, I really believe that the Lord is moving by his spirit in this time. 00:00:53.320 --> 00:00:57.000 And something significant is happening and is changing. 00:00:57.159 --> 00:01:03.920 So although we are in a challenging, unstable time, I really think it's a moment for us as the church to say, 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:06.579 Lord, what are you saying to us in that? 00:01:06.780 --> 00:01:09.000 What are you wanting for us to do? 00:01:09.079 --> 00:01:14.019 How are you calling us to respond to what you want us to do? 00:01:14.019 --> 00:01:16.799 And as I was kind of jogging, I do jog. 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:19.159 I try and kind of regularly jog every other day. 00:01:19.939 --> 00:01:22.799 Depends on the children, to be honest, and Gavin's availability. 00:01:23.319 --> 00:01:28.219 But about October 2016, I was jogging in the fog. 00:01:28.319 --> 00:01:29.539 And it was six o'clock in the morning. 00:01:29.639 --> 00:01:30.479 It was pitch black. 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:32.159 And I was terrified. 00:01:32.979 --> 00:01:35.799 I just, it was one of those moments where I just thought, what am I doing? 00:01:36.039 --> 00:01:37.500 It is thick fog. 00:01:37.659 --> 00:01:40.780 I cannot see like literally a meter in front of me. 00:01:41.079 --> 00:01:42.819 And here I am going for a jog. 00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:44.359 What am I doing? 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:49.140 And in this place of kind of fear, I just went, Lord, I'm really scared like right now. 00:01:49.239 --> 00:01:52.579 Please will you just come and minister your presence, your comfort. 00:01:53.099 --> 00:01:56.400 Just make me aware that you're here, that I'm not alone. 00:01:57.340 --> 00:02:03.219 And as I continued to run, instead of having kind of like a warm, fluffy glow, which was kind of hoping would come, 00:02:03.219 --> 00:02:05.560 I began to hear the word of the Lord. 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:09.139 And I haven't had many of these moments in my life. 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:11.599 So don't think I'm some, this is always the case. 00:02:11.699 --> 00:02:15.539 But it was just very, very clear as I was jogging. 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:23.000 And when I got back from my run like 40 minutes later, yeah, I wrote it all down and remembered it word for word. 00:02:23.079 --> 00:02:25.159 Another sign to me that it had to be the Lord. 00:02:25.219 --> 00:02:26.300 I don't remember anything. 00:02:26.300 --> 00:02:30.460 So I kind of, I wrote it all down and this is, this is what came. 00:02:31.820 --> 00:02:34.240 My child, I'm raising up an army. 00:02:35.260 --> 00:02:43.439 I am not raising up an army that carry weapons of destruction, that hold in their hands clubs and knives. 00:02:44.320 --> 00:02:49.240 I'm raising up an army whose weapons are my word and spirit. 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:57.060 I saw a man sharpening swords and felt the Lord was saying, I'm sharpening my people. 00:02:57.860 --> 00:03:05.920 I'm sharpening the tools in their hands so that the truth can cut deep into the hearts of many. 00:03:08.100 --> 00:03:17.840 Then I saw a child's face and a light like this huge flame torch came near to this child's face and lit this child's face up. 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:25.480 And I felt the Lord saying, my royal priesthood, my holy nation, they're being set apart. 00:03:26.340 --> 00:03:30.860 And I'm setting their faces like flint to walk into the darkness. 00:03:31.199 --> 00:03:34.780 And it was like, Lord, what is, what's that, what does that mean, flint? 00:03:35.240 --> 00:03:40.199 And I just felt him saying it's a determined thing and it's like, no matter what, we are going to do this. 00:03:40.379 --> 00:03:44.319 We are going to do this and walk into the darkness. 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:54.900 And then I saw this huge, mighty procession of people, just as far as the eye could see, just walking into the darkness. 00:03:55.139 --> 00:04:00.039 And they were carrying like these huge flame torches, every single one of them, into the night. 00:04:00.699 --> 00:04:07.039 And I heard the words again, not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord. 00:04:07.099 --> 00:04:09.019 We know that scripture, don't we? 00:04:09.020 --> 00:04:15.540 And I just believe by his holy spirit, he will shine on those living in darkness. 00:04:15.760 --> 00:04:18.400 I'm raising up an army, I'm raising up an army. 00:04:18.439 --> 00:04:20.220 And I just kept hearing him saying this. 00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:21.920 And I just carried on jogging. 00:04:22.139 --> 00:04:27.439 And it was like almost in step with my feet, like I'm raising up, I'm raising up, I'm raising up. 00:04:27.660 --> 00:04:31.019 And it was just this really deep sense of, and you're not doing it. 00:04:31.460 --> 00:04:32.960 It's not you, it's me. 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:34.639 I'm doing it. 00:04:34.699 --> 00:04:36.819 I'm raising up an army. 00:04:36.919 --> 00:04:42.359 And it's an army who are prepared to lay down the ways of the world to follow the way of the Holy Spirit. 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:50.539 And I just knew really clearly that word and spirit were just, we just had to get hold of both. 00:04:50.679 --> 00:04:52.279 It was like, these are the weapons. 00:04:52.839 --> 00:04:54.019 Get hold of both of them. 00:04:54.139 --> 00:04:55.620 Not one, not the other. 00:04:55.779 --> 00:04:56.599 Both together. 00:04:56.600 --> 00:04:58.520 Get hold of them as the church. 00:04:58.900 --> 00:05:03.280 And be prepared to go into the darkness with those tools. 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:09.420 And I just, everything in me went, oh, I don't want, I don't want to have to do that. 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:15.160 You know, when I hear these guys talking about their incredible charity, that's what some of the darkness looks like. 00:05:15.480 --> 00:05:16.460 It's hardcore. 00:05:17.400 --> 00:05:19.340 Like, I, it's, it's difficult. 00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:24.900 Some of the darkness that the Lord is calling us into is really, really challenging. 00:05:24.899 --> 00:05:32.539 And yet he is saying, you know, the way that the world is right now, my children, I need you to go where I'm telling you to go. 00:05:32.620 --> 00:05:34.919 I need you to see it and act on it. 00:05:36.239 --> 00:05:39.359 And so let's turn to Daniel chapter one. 00:05:41.859 --> 00:05:45.079 And we've got some nice long words for me to try and read in this. 00:05:45.219 --> 00:05:46.939 Perhaps I should have got a reader, shouldn't we, really? 00:05:46.939 --> 00:05:56.079 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:04.199 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim, king of Judah, into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. 00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:10.800 These he carried off to the temple of his God in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his God. 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:20.360 Then the king ordered Ashvanaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility. 00:06:21.220 --> 00:06:23.800 Young men without any physical defect. 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:24.360 Seriously? 00:06:24.759 --> 00:06:25.240 Isn't that impossible? 00:06:25.819 --> 00:06:34.900 Anyway, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand and qualified to serve in the king's palace. 00:06:35.580 --> 00:06:38.960 He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:43.219 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. 00:06:43.959 --> 00:06:48.959 They were to be trained for three years and after that they were to enter the king's service. 00:06:50.199 --> 00:06:55.819 Among these were some from Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 00:06:56.279 --> 00:06:58.479 The chief official gave them new names. 00:06:59.279 --> 00:07:05.939 To Daniel the name Belshazzar, to Hananiah Shadrach, to Mishael Meshach and to Azariah Abednego. 00:07:05.939 --> 00:07:16.259 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 00:07:17.319 --> 00:07:21.680 Now God had caused the official to show favour and sympathy to Daniel. 00:07:22.519 --> 00:07:23.939 But the official told Daniel, 00:07:23.939 --> 00:07:28.139 I'm afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. 00:07:28.259 --> 00:07:31.519 Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? 00:07:32.139 --> 00:07:34.399 The king would then have my head because of you. 00:07:35.660 --> 00:07:41.519 Daniel said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:44.539 Please test your servants for ten days. 00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:48.379 Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 00:07:48.979 --> 00:07:53.240 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food 00:07:53.240 --> 00:07:56.959 and treat your servants in accordance with what you see. 00:07:57.899 --> 00:08:01.379 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. 00:08:02.659 --> 00:08:06.120 At the end of ten days they looked healthier and better nourished 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:08.719 than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:12.660 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink 00:08:12.660 --> 00:08:15.000 and gave them vegetables instead. 00:08:15.400 --> 00:08:15.840 Gutted. 00:08:16.460 --> 00:08:16.860 Gutted. 00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:20.340 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding 00:08:20.340 --> 00:08:22.440 of all kinds of literature and learning 00:08:22.440 --> 00:08:26.220 and Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:29.320 And at the end of the time set by the king to bring them in 00:08:29.320 --> 00:08:32.000 the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 00:08:32.700 --> 00:08:35.460 The king talked with them and he found none equal 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:39.060 to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 00:08:39.400 --> 00:08:41.440 So they entered the king's service. 00:08:42.240 --> 00:08:46.240 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:52.160 he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. 00:08:52.900 --> 00:08:57.660 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus. 00:08:57.659 --> 00:08:59.639 I love Daniel. 00:08:59.860 --> 00:09:00.860 Isn't that amazing? 00:09:01.179 --> 00:09:03.939 What an incredible bit of scripture. 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:07.439 And what an amazing, amazing man. 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:10.139 And the reason that I want to look at him this afternoon 00:09:10.139 --> 00:09:14.139 is because he was willing to be set apart for God. 00:09:14.500 --> 00:09:19.000 He was willing to be raised up as one of God's key people 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:21.100 at a key moment in history. 00:09:21.100 --> 00:09:24.740 And he was willing to sacrifice what he wanted 00:09:24.740 --> 00:09:26.920 and what he maybe would naturally choose 00:09:26.920 --> 00:09:29.920 for the sake of doing what he felt was right. 00:09:30.060 --> 00:09:32.220 And he massively speaks to me. 00:09:32.340 --> 00:09:36.159 I feel like he was willing just to be set apart. 00:09:36.960 --> 00:09:38.879 You know, they talk about him, some of the scholars, 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:42.100 as like a heavenly angel among mortals. 00:09:42.259 --> 00:09:43.320 Now, wouldn't that be great? 00:09:43.420 --> 00:09:45.879 But I just, that's a really difficult thing. 00:09:46.160 --> 00:09:48.820 And yet here he is, when we look at his actual life, 00:09:48.820 --> 00:09:50.980 he's carted off into exile. 00:09:51.660 --> 00:09:53.520 He's a slave to the king of Babylon. 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:56.020 And he is brought into the palace 00:09:56.020 --> 00:09:58.200 as one of these men without defects. 00:09:58.800 --> 00:10:02.680 And he has some choices to make about how he's gonna live 00:10:02.680 --> 00:10:04.300 and what he's gonna do. 00:10:04.440 --> 00:10:06.860 And the reason I've kind of called this Get Ready 00:10:06.860 --> 00:10:10.300 is because I think in here we've got some key tools 00:10:10.300 --> 00:10:14.560 for how we can get ready for what God has for us. 00:10:14.580 --> 00:10:18.060 And I wanna give you this afternoon just four quick Ds, 00:10:18.059 --> 00:10:21.279 four Ds that I think help us in some of our journeying 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:22.659 when we leave this place. 00:10:22.719 --> 00:10:24.099 What are we gonna do for God? 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:25.359 What is he leading us into? 00:10:25.459 --> 00:10:28.259 And how are we gonna work that out 00:10:28.259 --> 00:10:30.699 in the next season of our life? 00:10:31.139 --> 00:10:32.199 The first thing is this. 00:10:32.259 --> 00:10:34.919 I think Daniel was discerning. 00:10:36.019 --> 00:10:38.319 Daniel was massively discerning. 00:10:38.439 --> 00:10:41.739 If we look at chapter one and verses three to five, 00:10:41.739 --> 00:10:46.159 you know, he realized that he was being shown favor. 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:50.179 He realized that he was gonna be well fed, 00:10:50.379 --> 00:10:53.079 that he was being brought into this community 00:10:53.079 --> 00:10:54.799 that was gonna look after him. 00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:56.860 And in actual fact, if you imagine doing that, 00:10:56.919 --> 00:10:58.919 if you imagine coming into a palace 00:10:58.919 --> 00:11:01.539 and being fed and watered and clothed 00:11:01.539 --> 00:11:03.819 and surrounded by great people, 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:05.480 wouldn't you just be sat there going, 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:07.779 wow, I have got this made. 00:11:08.259 --> 00:11:09.759 This is looking good. 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:12.819 But in actual fact, Daniel doesn't do that. 00:11:12.820 --> 00:11:16.280 Daniel somehow takes a step back 00:11:16.280 --> 00:11:20.260 and he's able to see something different. 00:11:20.900 --> 00:11:25.100 He's able to recognize what the king is trying to do 00:11:25.100 --> 00:11:26.740 with him and his friends. 00:11:27.240 --> 00:11:31.360 He realizes that he is being asked to take food 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:34.240 and drink from the table to woo them 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:36.220 and to make them drunk 00:11:36.220 --> 00:11:38.680 and to lead them down this kind of route 00:11:38.680 --> 00:11:41.020 of beginning to lose their identity 00:11:41.019 --> 00:11:44.500 because his goal is that they will not be Israelites anymore, 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:47.299 but they will be Chaldeans or Chaldeans 00:11:47.299 --> 00:11:48.919 or however you even say that word. 00:11:49.319 --> 00:11:51.039 But he's changing their names 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:53.199 because he's trying to change their identity 00:11:53.199 --> 00:11:56.319 because he wants them to take up new identity, 00:11:56.699 --> 00:11:58.199 to lose who they were 00:11:58.199 --> 00:12:00.279 and become who he wants them to be. 00:12:00.980 --> 00:12:03.679 And he's trying to woo them and change them 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:05.500 and teach them things, 00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:07.159 teach them new things 00:12:07.159 --> 00:12:10.539 so they have little in common with their own people. 00:12:11.559 --> 00:12:13.500 And I find as you begin to delve in, 00:12:13.579 --> 00:12:15.240 you can see Daniel kind of going, 00:12:15.779 --> 00:12:16.579 oh, hang on. 00:12:17.559 --> 00:12:18.939 This is their perspective. 00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:20.120 This is one perspective. 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:21.919 But what is yours, God? 00:12:21.980 --> 00:12:23.539 What is your perspective here? 00:12:23.719 --> 00:12:25.959 What do you see that I need to see? 00:12:26.339 --> 00:12:27.500 And that's why I put up this picture. 00:12:27.539 --> 00:12:29.819 I don't know how many of you can see both faces. 00:12:30.059 --> 00:12:31.799 How many of you can see both angles? 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:33.319 It's weird, isn't it, that picture? 00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:35.220 I looked the first time I looked at it, 00:12:35.220 --> 00:12:37.580 I was like, whoa, because you just, 00:12:37.680 --> 00:12:38.600 it flips, doesn't it? 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:40.180 Does it flip for other people in the room? 00:12:40.340 --> 00:12:41.340 It's weird, that. 00:12:42.060 --> 00:12:43.759 But it really challenged me 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:44.220 because I was thinking, 00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:47.440 how often am I just looking at things one way 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:49.460 and God is saying, 00:12:49.580 --> 00:12:50.800 I need you to see this? 00:12:51.660 --> 00:12:53.560 Because I think for a lot of those men 00:12:53.560 --> 00:12:54.480 going into the palace, 00:12:54.580 --> 00:12:56.100 they would have just thought, yes. 00:12:57.560 --> 00:12:59.440 And actually Daniel goes, no. 00:12:59.440 --> 00:12:59.519 No. 00:13:01.560 --> 00:13:03.800 I can't do this this way. 00:13:03.799 --> 00:13:06.479 I cannot follow what it is 00:13:06.479 --> 00:13:08.799 that I feel like is being put on me. 00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:11.620 And you know, I think we're living in a culture 00:13:11.620 --> 00:13:12.959 and a time right now 00:13:12.959 --> 00:13:15.959 where the enemy would like to play the role of the king. 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:19.259 The enemy would like to suck us down a route 00:13:19.259 --> 00:13:22.839 that looks really nice and really comfortable 00:13:22.839 --> 00:13:26.399 and really suits me and pleases me 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:28.279 and makes my life look good. 00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:30.339 And the Lord God is going, 00:13:30.500 --> 00:13:33.099 I need you to see this for what it is. 00:13:33.100 --> 00:13:35.460 I need you to be set apart. 00:13:35.779 --> 00:13:37.159 I need you to step back 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:40.080 and look again at what is happening in culture 00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:43.100 and not allow culture to sweep into the church 00:13:43.100 --> 00:13:46.300 so we lose our identity as children of God. 00:13:46.659 --> 00:13:48.899 Because we are called to look different, 00:13:49.100 --> 00:13:50.620 sound different, smell different, 00:13:50.820 --> 00:13:51.840 and be different. 00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:54.980 The fragrance of Jesus in the neighborhood. 00:13:55.920 --> 00:13:57.840 And if we become Chaldeans, 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:01.379 then we lose that identity as Israelites. 00:14:01.379 --> 00:14:04.200 If we become like the rest of the world, 00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:08.000 we lose who we are as children of the living God. 00:14:09.220 --> 00:14:10.559 And I just think God is saying, 00:14:10.659 --> 00:14:12.439 my children, what marks you out? 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:15.779 What marks you out as being children of God? 00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:16.480 What is it? 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:20.500 Can you discern what it is that I'm doing in the culture? 00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:22.820 Can you discern what it is that I'm saying? 00:14:22.899 --> 00:14:23.740 What are you seeing? 00:14:24.379 --> 00:14:26.659 What are you seeing as you look out in your street, 00:14:26.860 --> 00:14:28.220 as you look out in your neighborhood, 00:14:28.220 --> 00:14:30.519 as you read the newspaper, what do you see? 00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:35.019 What is God showing you that isn't good for society? 00:14:35.580 --> 00:14:37.460 And what is he calling you to act on 00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:40.580 and pray into and move out and do something about? 00:14:41.540 --> 00:14:43.700 Because I love that Daniel doesn't just sit there 00:14:43.700 --> 00:14:44.660 and go, it's okay, yeah. 00:14:45.220 --> 00:14:46.519 I'll just lose my identity. 00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:48.620 I'll lose my identity. 00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:49.600 I'll lose my roots. 00:14:49.680 --> 00:14:51.360 I'll lose who I was and go that way. 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:51.980 He goes, no. 00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:54.980 Daniel is discerning. 00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:59.639 There's a lad in our church who's just amazed me recently. 00:15:00.460 --> 00:15:01.759 He's 20 years old. 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:04.019 He was into his second year of university 00:15:04.019 --> 00:15:07.680 and he decided to come home and back to the church. 00:15:08.460 --> 00:15:09.960 And he came back and honestly, 00:15:10.100 --> 00:15:11.519 the reaction's been fascinating 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:13.440 because there's been quite a few people 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:15.480 who've just gone, what are you doing, 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:19.500 giving up your education and your career to come home? 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:22.080 And Zach is sitting there saying, 00:15:22.200 --> 00:15:22.800 do you know what? 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:25.579 I really believe God's told me to do this. 00:15:25.899 --> 00:15:27.379 And it might look crazy, 00:15:27.899 --> 00:15:30.699 but I know God's taking me another route. 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:32.559 And he's kind of, he's thrown himself 00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:34.579 into loads of ministry with us at the church, 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:35.719 which is amazing actually, 00:15:35.819 --> 00:15:37.199 having a 20 year old lad, 00:15:37.539 --> 00:15:38.779 just giving it loads of energy. 00:15:39.179 --> 00:15:42.079 But it's just interesting to watch what God's doing 00:15:42.079 --> 00:15:43.019 because almost that, 00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:45.679 he's discerned that the path that he was on 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:48.019 was not the path that God had for him. 00:15:48.059 --> 00:15:50.799 It might've been the path that he should have walked, 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:53.199 but it wasn't the path that God had for him. 00:15:53.579 --> 00:15:55.339 And as he stepped away from that, 00:15:55.579 --> 00:15:57.399 we're watching something else unfold. 00:15:57.500 --> 00:16:01.279 And I'm really excited to see where that leads him 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:04.559 and what he ends up exploring and doing. 00:16:04.719 --> 00:16:05.919 But I just think God is saying, 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:08.939 wake up, wake up to what I'm doing, 00:16:09.299 --> 00:16:10.740 wake up to what I'm saying 00:16:10.740 --> 00:16:15.240 and begin to move out in ways that I want to show you. 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:18.019 It's challenging, isn't it? 00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:22.000 The second thing about Daniel is that he was distinct. 00:16:23.220 --> 00:16:24.480 He was distinct. 00:16:24.860 --> 00:16:27.240 He resolves, we read in verse eight, 00:16:27.340 --> 00:16:29.480 he resolves not to defile himself 00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:31.580 with the royal food and wine. 00:16:31.940 --> 00:16:34.560 And he asked the chief official for permission 00:16:34.560 --> 00:16:36.460 not to defile himself. 00:16:37.960 --> 00:16:40.180 You know, I think it's interesting 00:16:40.180 --> 00:16:42.419 that the king was asking for men 00:16:42.419 --> 00:16:46.039 who had no defects to be brought in to the palace. 00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:47.599 Because almost in that place, you're thinking, 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:50.240 how then am I supposed to be set apart 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:52.039 if I've already got no defects? 00:16:53.659 --> 00:16:55.199 But God says, there is a way. 00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:57.939 There is a way that I can use you. 00:16:58.019 --> 00:17:00.339 There is a way that you can still be distinct. 00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:02.339 You think maybe you're being distinct enough. 00:17:02.579 --> 00:17:03.939 You think maybe you've seen enough. 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:05.920 No, let me show you something else. 00:17:06.420 --> 00:17:08.420 Let me show you how else 00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:11.240 I might be calling you to be distinct. 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:14.240 And it's not that Daniel permanently chose 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:16.559 not to eat from the king's table. 00:17:16.700 --> 00:17:18.920 This was a season of his life 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:20.380 where God was showing him, 00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:21.759 not now, Daniel. 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:24.660 Just step back from that for this season 00:17:24.660 --> 00:17:27.299 and see how I will use that. 00:17:27.880 --> 00:17:29.500 And there might be things that we're doing 00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:30.420 or we're involved in, 00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:32.880 and God is just saying, stop doing it. 00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:36.620 Stop doing that and watch what I will show you 00:17:36.620 --> 00:17:38.359 when you pull back from that, 00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:39.980 when you move away from doing that, 00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:41.360 when you stop living like that, 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:42.980 when you stop speaking like that, 00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:44.620 when you stop living like that. 00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:48.319 Last summer, I was out in France. 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:49.839 Gavin and I do some ministry. 00:17:50.019 --> 00:17:51.299 It's quite a nice thing, actually, 00:17:51.339 --> 00:17:52.299 to do ministry in France. 00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:53.839 And we absolutely love it. 00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:55.120 The kids love going out there. 00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:56.779 But I was having a hard time 00:17:56.779 --> 00:17:58.160 because every single night, 00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:59.620 I was going to bed, 00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:01.380 and I would wake up in the night 00:18:01.380 --> 00:18:04.120 with this picture of this dead branch 00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:05.799 across my mind's eye. 00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:08.519 And it was just this black branch, 00:18:08.699 --> 00:18:10.639 black and grey and peeling 00:18:10.639 --> 00:18:11.679 and so dead. 00:18:11.739 --> 00:18:12.439 It was horrible. 00:18:13.639 --> 00:18:14.899 And I just kept, literally, 00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:16.059 night after night, 00:18:16.159 --> 00:18:17.579 just kept seeing this branch. 00:18:17.719 --> 00:18:19.039 And then it started to plague me 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:20.899 during the day as well. 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:21.839 And I just was, 00:18:21.979 --> 00:18:23.219 you know, sometimes something was happening 00:18:23.219 --> 00:18:25.019 and you were just trying to ignore it 00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:27.199 and trying to pretend you're not seeing anything 00:18:27.199 --> 00:18:27.919 and it's not happening. 00:18:28.159 --> 00:18:29.519 But I just couldn't anymore. 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.639 It was like, ugh. 00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:32.720 So one night, I said, 00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:33.619 it was about two o'clock in the morning, 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:35.460 I was like, Lord, what is this? 00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:37.819 I was so mad about it. 00:18:38.139 --> 00:18:39.639 It was like, I could stop in me sleeping. 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:41.279 It was driving me mad. 00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:44.920 And I really wrestled trying to figure out 00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:47.039 what it was in my life. 00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:49.319 And I knew that I knew that I knew 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:52.000 that there was something that I was doing 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.259 or something that was happening 00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:55.259 that needed to be cut off. 00:18:55.619 --> 00:18:58.039 There was something that was dead in my life 00:18:58.039 --> 00:19:00.299 that was producing no fruit. 00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:01.539 And God was saying, 00:19:01.639 --> 00:19:02.899 if you stop that, 00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:06.359 watch the fruit that will come as a result. 00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:08.899 And so Gavin and I prayed into that. 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:10.920 I won't kind of bore you with the full story of it. 00:19:11.099 --> 00:19:13.319 But there were some decisions that we made 00:19:13.319 --> 00:19:14.799 about some of our life choices. 00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:17.759 And honestly, it's been incredible. 00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:20.299 The branch disappeared immediately. 00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:23.659 And some of the fruit that we've begun to see 00:19:23.659 --> 00:19:24.899 has been interesting. 00:19:24.899 --> 00:19:26.980 Not stuff we would have expected to see. 00:19:26.980 --> 00:19:30.579 But there was a sacrifice in the choices 00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:33.000 that we had to make to be distinct, 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:35.460 to be set apart for God. 00:19:35.940 --> 00:19:37.339 And sometimes he just says, 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:38.640 you know that thing that you're doing? 00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:39.880 It's not okay. 00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:43.099 You know that thing that you're thinking about 00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:44.839 or you're watching or you're saying? 00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:46.319 It's not okay. 00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:48.900 And you've kind of rationalized it with, 00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:50.640 you know what, but this is the way that I relax 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:53.500 and this is okay in small doses. 00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:56.599 And God's going, no, because there's more 00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:58.019 that I want to do through you. 00:19:58.660 --> 00:20:01.420 And if you'd stop that, watch what I'll do. 00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:04.539 Hard, hard stuff. 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:07.740 And I think God is just saying to us, 00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:10.680 you know, what snares are there in front of you? 00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:13.920 What is it that the enemy has planted in front of you 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:15.599 that's just such a draw? 00:20:16.119 --> 00:20:17.859 And you just really want to do it 00:20:17.859 --> 00:20:19.400 and you really want to be involved with it. 00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:22.880 But he's just saying, no, God's saying, no, my child. 00:20:23.800 --> 00:20:27.600 How can we be discerning and distinct? 00:20:28.080 --> 00:20:31.560 And the third thing about Daniel is he is determined. 00:20:32.320 --> 00:20:33.120 He's determined. 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:35.519 And I, what have I got? 00:20:35.700 --> 00:20:35.860 Oh, yeah. 00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:38.060 Oh, forget that. 00:20:38.180 --> 00:20:39.200 It's brilliant, that, isn't it? 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:40.060 Yeah. 00:20:43.800 --> 00:20:44.720 He's determined. 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:46.819 And I love that. 00:20:46.900 --> 00:20:47.559 And I don't know about you, 00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:48.880 but there's sometimes in your life 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:51.460 when you sort of sense something's not quite right 00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:53.380 in your journey or not quite right generally. 00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:55.880 And then you kind of feel like, okay, 00:20:55.900 --> 00:20:58.059 that's maybe what I need to do about it. 00:20:58.220 --> 00:21:00.039 But you still don't do anything about it. 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:01.180 Does anyone know what I mean? 00:21:01.640 --> 00:21:03.779 And maybe it comes around to sort of Lent time 00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:05.059 and you think, okay, now's the time 00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:06.640 that I'm going to stop watching that show 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:07.799 every night of the week. 00:21:08.059 --> 00:21:10.039 Or, you know, and you do it for a season. 00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:14.279 But the thing is that we can easily ignore 00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:16.420 those promptings from the Holy Spirit 00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:20.799 and not act on what we sense God is saying to us to do. 00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:24.619 And Daniel is determined, puts his helmet on, 00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:26.500 and he makes a decision. 00:21:26.639 --> 00:21:28.420 So he goes to the royal official, 00:21:28.859 --> 00:21:30.159 the guard who's appointed him, 00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:33.000 and he boldly says, test us for 10 days. 00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:34.480 Test us and see. 00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:37.619 Try us and see what might happen. 00:21:37.619 --> 00:21:40.000 And he doesn't know the outcome of that. 00:21:40.239 --> 00:21:41.719 He doesn't know what's going to happen. 00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:43.979 But he's like, let's just give this a shot. 00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:46.459 Let's just see what happens. 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:49.759 And he gets on and has a go. 00:21:50.739 --> 00:21:53.559 And I think sometimes, you know, 00:21:53.639 --> 00:21:55.159 we have these areas of weakness 00:21:55.159 --> 00:21:57.799 and we think, they're all right. 00:21:57.879 --> 00:21:58.799 It's not a big deal. 00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:01.139 But the thing is with a little tiger 00:22:01.139 --> 00:22:03.279 is it grows into a big tiger, doesn't it? 00:22:03.479 --> 00:22:05.239 And a big tiger kills. 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:07.680 A little thing that seems all fluffy 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:09.440 and cuddly and lovely in our lives 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:12.440 grows big and nasty and unpleasant 00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:16.240 if it is not handled when it needs to be handled. 00:22:17.120 --> 00:22:19.359 And I've really challenged that Daniel 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:22.660 doesn't ignore this in his life. 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:23.220 And you know what? 00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:25.720 I think he knew the temptation that lay in his way. 00:22:26.120 --> 00:22:27.819 I think he knew that that was tempting 00:22:27.819 --> 00:22:29.359 to eat from the king's table 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:31.380 and be wooed into that life. 00:22:31.380 --> 00:22:33.260 I think he could sense the temptation 00:22:33.260 --> 00:22:35.360 and he made a decision. 00:22:35.520 --> 00:22:36.200 No, hang on. 00:22:37.020 --> 00:22:37.420 Hang on. 00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:38.360 I'm not going to do that. 00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:39.720 I'm not going to live like that. 00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:42.180 I'm going to choose another way. 00:22:42.860 --> 00:22:44.980 And this is because the society would say to us, 00:22:45.020 --> 00:22:47.960 I think, how close can you walk to the line 00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:49.360 and get away with it? 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:50.840 How close can I walk to the line 00:22:50.840 --> 00:22:51.920 and that be okay, Lord? 00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:53.320 That's okay, Lord, isn't it? 00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:56.120 God's saying, I want you to be set apart. 00:22:56.800 --> 00:22:58.360 I want you to look different. 00:22:58.359 --> 00:23:00.319 I want you to glow with my presence. 00:23:00.439 --> 00:23:04.359 I want you to radiate with me and look like me. 00:23:04.479 --> 00:23:07.619 How much do we want God's way over the world's way? 00:23:07.719 --> 00:23:08.819 How much are we prepared to say, 00:23:08.919 --> 00:23:10.559 Lord, I want you as number one? 00:23:11.139 --> 00:23:13.899 Nothing else but you will do. 00:23:14.479 --> 00:23:16.079 And God, I need your strength 00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:19.099 to help me walk down that road. 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:20.759 I've been so challenged, 00:23:20.919 --> 00:23:24.579 and just even then in worship by the presence of God 00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:26.039 just in the last few years. 00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:29.319 It seems to me that there's this incredible thing 00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:32.680 when we really press in and worship the Lord 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:34.139 and his presence comes. 00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:35.740 It's like, I don't know about you, 00:23:35.799 --> 00:23:39.379 but it's like this holy, awesome sense, isn't it, 00:23:39.379 --> 00:23:42.440 of the Lord just here amongst his children. 00:23:43.159 --> 00:23:44.899 And you know, most times in scripture 00:23:44.899 --> 00:23:48.279 when they sense the holiness of God, 00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:50.180 they have different reactions. 00:23:50.399 --> 00:23:52.559 But some of the main reactions are this fear, 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:55.179 and they fall to their knees. 00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:58.759 And like when Isaiah encounters the holiness of God, 00:23:58.839 --> 00:24:02.480 he's like, holy, holy, holy, the angels sing. 00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:04.659 And he goes, woe to me. 00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:06.779 I'm a man of unclean lips. 00:24:06.879 --> 00:24:08.079 I'm a man of unclean lips. 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:09.220 I'm unclean. 00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:10.419 I'm filthy, God. 00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:13.059 And there's something I think that God wants us to see. 00:24:13.139 --> 00:24:13.519 You know what? 00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:15.220 This is the awesomeness of me. 00:24:15.619 --> 00:24:18.559 Don't make me a cuddly pet on your shoulder. 00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:23.259 Don't make me this all loving and not fiery and not holy, God, 00:24:23.299 --> 00:24:24.679 because I'm both and. 00:24:25.659 --> 00:24:28.759 You know, and I think we've lost some of the holiness of God 00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:30.779 and the awareness of the holiness of God 00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:34.379 and how that causes us to respond as his children. 00:24:35.419 --> 00:24:37.059 We worship him. 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:39.240 And we say, Lord, cleanse me. 00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:41.480 Lord, help me to serve you. 00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:44.019 Help me to find what you have for me. 00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:46.319 And Lord, I don't want to be afraid of you, 00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:49.720 but I want to follow you with my whole life. 00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:53.339 The whole world, it seems to me, is consumed with fear. 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:57.700 Like the mental health thing is off the planet, isn't it? 00:24:58.119 --> 00:24:59.319 Mental health issues. 00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:03.079 The fear that is gripping society is unbelievable. 00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:05.139 That's not the fear of God. 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:09.039 The fear of God leads to wisdom and calling 00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:10.379 and a sense of purpose. 00:25:11.139 --> 00:25:13.879 And it is a beautiful, powerful thing. 00:25:13.880 --> 00:25:17.520 And when we sense the presence and the holiness of God, 00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:19.940 we bow down and say, whatever, Lord. 00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:21.660 Whatever you want. 00:25:22.120 --> 00:25:23.080 Wherever you want. 00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:24.800 And however that looks. 00:25:25.800 --> 00:25:27.600 I'm going to draw it into a close in a minute. 00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:32.020 I was just thinking about before last Easter, 00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:35.080 I was going out to do a conference 00:25:35.080 --> 00:25:39.180 and I'd sort of said, Father, please will you give me a picture 00:25:39.180 --> 00:25:43.060 of something that I can share with this group of people 00:25:43.060 --> 00:25:44.400 that I'm going to be with. 00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:47.820 You know, something uplifting and encouraging would be amazing, Father. 00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:49.519 And I was really prayerful over it 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.880 and really prayerful over the people, 00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:52.880 thinking I'm just going to give them something lovely. 00:25:53.880 --> 00:25:55.500 And anyway, I had this picture. 00:25:56.340 --> 00:25:57.300 It was awful. 00:25:57.660 --> 00:25:59.560 Of this really large person, 00:25:59.660 --> 00:26:01.420 and I mean massive person, 00:26:01.780 --> 00:26:02.800 sat in a chair. 00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:04.880 And they were sat in this chair 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:07.240 and they were consuming and consuming 00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:08.980 and consuming and consuming. 00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:12.020 And I thought, whoa, what is that? 00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:15.300 And they just kept eating and eating and eating and eating and eating. 00:26:15.299 --> 00:26:18.180 And they got bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger. 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:22.819 Until the point that they couldn't move from the chair 00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:24.419 that they were planted in. 00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:28.759 And they just were oblivious to the fact that they couldn't move 00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:30.779 and they just carried on consuming. 00:26:31.899 --> 00:26:34.339 And I was just, you know, when you see something, 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:38.419 I was just sat there going, this is just horrible. 00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:39.899 What? This is not you, God. 00:26:39.919 --> 00:26:41.019 I don't believe that's you. 00:26:41.319 --> 00:26:42.319 That's just horrible. 00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:44.859 And I began to pray into it. 00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:47.359 And as I began to pray into it, 00:26:47.399 --> 00:26:48.980 I said to the Lord, is this you? 00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:50.960 And if it is, what is it? 00:26:52.379 --> 00:26:53.859 And I felt him say, 00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:55.940 and honestly it brought tears to my eyes, 00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:58.980 this is what some of the church looks like, Anne. 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:03.599 And I just was stunned. 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:06.079 This is what the church looks like, God? 00:27:06.659 --> 00:27:07.899 We look like that? 00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:11.279 And I was just, yes, Anne. 00:27:11.859 --> 00:27:13.579 We're just consumers, Lord. 00:27:13.579 --> 00:27:16.539 We're just sat there getting fatter. 00:27:17.339 --> 00:27:17.919 Yes, Anne. 00:27:18.899 --> 00:27:22.679 And I was just, I ended up on my knees and in tears 00:27:22.679 --> 00:27:24.539 and just repenting and just saying, 00:27:24.639 --> 00:27:25.899 Lord, you have to do something. 00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:28.240 You have to do something to change this, Lord, 00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:29.679 because we don't know how long we have 00:27:29.679 --> 00:27:31.079 and we don't know what it's going to look like 00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:33.299 as we journey forward, but you have to help us, God. 00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:36.659 And I felt like when I was down on my knees 00:27:36.659 --> 00:27:38.960 that he gave me this reminder, 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:40.620 and it was such a beautiful reminder, 00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:42.160 and this is what I love about our Lord, 00:27:42.220 --> 00:27:44.340 is he doesn't abandon us and he doesn't say, 00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:46.720 okay, yeah, that's how it is, but I'm done with you. 00:27:47.380 --> 00:27:48.720 Because there's always redemption 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:49.980 and there's always forgiveness 00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:51.680 and there's always a journey through. 00:27:52.680 --> 00:27:54.259 And I felt him give me those words, 00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:55.819 you know, in John chapter 21. 00:27:56.840 --> 00:28:01.180 And Peter is reinstated by the Lord Jesus. 00:28:01.340 --> 00:28:03.319 So the Lord Jesus is risen, isn't he? 00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:06.500 And he comes down and they have breakfast on the beach. 00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:08.339 He comes onto the beach with Simon Peter 00:28:08.339 --> 00:28:10.359 and they share breakfast together. 00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:12.779 I was just reminded of this amazing moment 00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:15.899 because Peter's denied Jesus again and again and again 00:28:15.899 --> 00:28:17.279 before his death. 00:28:17.859 --> 00:28:21.179 But then there's this beautiful, powerful reinstatement 00:28:21.179 --> 00:28:23.359 that happens and he says to him, 00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:26.460 Simon Peter, do you really love me? 00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:29.399 And he says, yes, Lord. 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:31.480 You know that I love you. 00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:34.259 And he says, feed my lambs. 00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:37.319 And he says to him again, Simon Peter, 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:39.519 do you really love me? 00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:41.620 Like how much do you? 00:28:42.660 --> 00:28:43.460 Do you really? 00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:45.660 Yes, Lord. 00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:47.380 You know I love you. 00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:49.819 Feed my sheep. 00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:54.500 And then a third time, Simon Peter, son of John, 00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.599 do you really? 00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:57.160 Do you love me? 00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:58.220 Do you love me? 00:28:58.940 --> 00:29:00.960 Yes, Lord, I really love you. 00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:03.819 Feed my sheep. 00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:08.960 And I was just like, okay, Lord, what? 00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:14.940 Stop feeding yourself and start feeding others. 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:20.259 Stop feeding yourself and start feeding others. 00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:21.740 It was as simple as that. 00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.880 And I love that with the Lord 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:25.279 because it doesn't complicate anything, does it? 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:26.420 It's just simple. 00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:30.900 Stop making this about you and make it about them. 00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:35.340 And the key, as well as I've kind of unpacked it a little bit in my own heart and mind, 00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:36.940 is do you love me? 00:29:37.840 --> 00:29:39.420 Do you love me? 00:29:39.820 --> 00:29:41.820 Because if you do really love me, 00:29:42.080 --> 00:29:44.220 then you will really want to live for me. 00:29:44.560 --> 00:29:46.240 And if you really want to live for me, 00:29:46.300 --> 00:29:48.100 then together we can go into the darkness 00:29:48.099 --> 00:29:50.439 and together we can change the world. 00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:53.439 One person at a time. 00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:56.299 Because when we really, really love him, 00:29:56.379 --> 00:29:57.959 we want to be discerning. 00:29:58.099 --> 00:29:59.399 We want to be distinct. 00:29:59.799 --> 00:30:01.279 We want to be set apart. 00:30:01.419 --> 00:30:05.079 We want to make decisions that draw us into greater intimacy with Jesus 00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:09.579 and a greater transformation in those whose lives we touch. 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:11.899 He was determined. 00:30:12.819 --> 00:30:14.439 And finally, and I'll finish here, 00:30:15.419 --> 00:30:16.299 he developed. 00:30:17.159 --> 00:30:18.000 He developed. 00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:21.859 You know, the passage could end by just saying, 00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:25.179 oh, and they did this for 10 days and they looked great 00:30:25.179 --> 00:30:26.619 and everything was brilliant. 00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:29.019 It doesn't end there. 00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:30.399 This was not for nothing. 00:30:30.679 --> 00:30:32.639 Because actually what happened to these men, 00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:34.700 what happened to Daniel, not just Daniel, 00:30:34.800 --> 00:30:35.980 but his friends as well, 00:30:36.180 --> 00:30:38.320 is that they looked better for a start. 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:41.860 They were better nourished, healthier, wiser. 00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:45.980 Daniel could understand dreams and visions. 00:30:47.100 --> 00:30:49.080 And their understanding and wisdom 00:30:49.080 --> 00:30:52.500 was 10 times more incredible than that of the magicians. 00:30:53.560 --> 00:30:57.840 They say that there was none equal to Daniel. 00:30:58.960 --> 00:31:01.540 And actually what we hear about Daniel as time goes on 00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:04.460 is he grows into one of the most incredible prophets 00:31:04.460 --> 00:31:05.920 in God's kingdom. 00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:08.899 And so the result of his actions here 00:31:08.899 --> 00:31:11.899 lead him to somewhere else that's just unbelievable. 00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:15.619 The little decisions that we make for God, 00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:16.940 little things that we think, 00:31:17.079 --> 00:31:18.980 that's not a big deal if I do that or don't do that, 00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:20.000 they're big. 00:31:20.579 --> 00:31:22.319 They're significant in God's kingdom 00:31:22.319 --> 00:31:23.559 because people see them, 00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:24.920 God sees them, 00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:26.480 and they change you. 00:31:26.920 --> 00:31:28.879 They transform your life. 00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:31.120 You know, as a result of some of the decisions 00:31:31.120 --> 00:31:32.280 that Gavin and I took last year, 00:31:32.660 --> 00:31:34.080 people said to us, 00:31:34.680 --> 00:31:35.640 you look different. 00:31:36.600 --> 00:31:37.240 And it wasn't, 00:31:37.460 --> 00:31:38.740 oh my goodness, you've lost weight 00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:40.420 or you've changed your hair color, 00:31:40.560 --> 00:31:42.000 or it was you look different. 00:31:43.140 --> 00:31:45.700 You know, there's something about your face that's changed. 00:31:45.820 --> 00:31:47.180 There's something about what you're saying 00:31:47.180 --> 00:31:48.300 and doing that's different. 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:49.420 Jesus. 00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:51.620 It's Jesus. 00:31:51.619 --> 00:31:54.799 Because Jesus takes the little offering 00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:55.679 that we've got 00:31:55.679 --> 00:31:56.839 and we put at his feet 00:31:56.839 --> 00:31:57.299 and we say, 00:31:57.579 --> 00:31:58.939 okay, I'm going to try doing that. 00:31:59.299 --> 00:32:01.719 I'm going to make a decision to do that, God. 00:32:01.939 --> 00:32:03.839 Even though I know it's going to be really hard 00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:04.759 and it's going to cost me, 00:32:04.919 --> 00:32:06.739 I'm going to make a decision there 00:32:06.739 --> 00:32:08.679 and I'm going to put it at the foot of your cross 00:32:08.679 --> 00:32:11.859 and I need you to help me walk that journey. 00:32:13.099 --> 00:32:15.279 And Lord, would you grow something in me 00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:16.559 and through my life 00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:19.299 that will transform other people? 00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:21.740 Because it's not about me and my ministry. 00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:25.419 It's about Christ and his kingdom, isn't it? 00:32:25.879 --> 00:32:28.139 And what he does to change this world. 00:32:29.059 --> 00:32:31.399 And I do believe we're in interesting times. 00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:33.379 And I don't know about you, 00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:35.000 but I want to be part of an army 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:36.639 that's arising. 00:32:37.639 --> 00:32:39.220 I want to be part of that, 00:32:39.399 --> 00:32:42.180 but I know that it demands a lot of us. 00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:43.980 And I know God's saying, 00:32:44.180 --> 00:32:45.460 do you really want in? 00:32:46.200 --> 00:32:47.359 Do you really want in? 00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:49.659 Do you really want to understand 00:32:49.659 --> 00:32:50.959 the fullness of who I am? 00:32:51.019 --> 00:32:53.240 Do you want a greater glimpse of me? 00:32:54.359 --> 00:32:56.339 Because if you do, it's going to cost you. 00:32:57.759 --> 00:33:00.279 But I can do amazing things with that offering 00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:01.839 that you're going to put before me. 00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:03.539 You're right. 00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:04.240 According to minutia to you, 00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:04.639 I don't really want to know you and God 00:33:04.639 --> 00:33:05.119 you're going to make your friend 00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:06.019 so it can survive. 00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:08.119 Therefore, God is realing and god 00:33:08.119 --> 00:33:08.839 and that you're going to do 00:33:08.839 --> 00:33:09.619 on the battlefield. 00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:13.279 Have you ярce that you got in? 00:33:17.619 --> 00:33:18.819 You see, 00:33:18.819 --> 00:33:21.439 when you do different cute things, 00:33:21.639 --> 00:33:22.019 I get your face. 00:33:22.699 --> 00:33:23.319 jeito 00:33:23.319 --> 00:33:25.019 I set your face. 00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:26.579 Greek 00:33:26.579 --> 00:33:27.539 Ừ 00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:28.500 I 00:33:28.639 --> 00:33:29.339 know