WEBVTT

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 If you have your Bibles, follow along with me in just a moment.

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 In Daniel chapter 3, we're going to be looking at Daniel chapter 3.

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! And don't panic.

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 I know everybody's seeing those 30 verses.

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 I'm not going to keep us here beyond 1230.

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 So, but a few years after I got out of seminary,

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 I was serving a church south of Louisville, Kentucky,

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 and I received a phone call from a former church member

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 where I had served as youth pastor during my seminary days.

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 Unfortunately, the phone call wasn't to get acquainted again

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 and catch up on old times, but to share with me

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 that one of the youth that had been in my youth group

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 had been killed in a car accident.

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 What made that a bad situation even more troubling

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 was that it was the pastor's son.

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 Now, he and his wife, they had not been able to have children,

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 and so they had tried for years to adopt.

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 And a little bit later in life, to start a family,

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 they were able to adopt a little boy,

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 and they named him Matthew

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 because Matthew means a gift from God.

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 And so they treated that child like he indeed was a gift from God.

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 And they raised him in the church

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 and to believe in God and to live for the Lord.

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 And he was a good young man.

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 He was.

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 He honored his parents.

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 He honored the Lord.

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 And he grew up to be a big boy

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 who went to college to play football

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 at one of the Baptist colleges in Kentucky.

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 And he had come home over the Christmas break,

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 dropped his laundry off at the house,

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 and took off to hang out with some friends.

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 His parents never even saw him.

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 And then that night, he was coming home,

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 and he got off the side of the road a little bit too far in a curve,

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 and he overcompensated and came back across the road

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 and went off the road again.

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 If he had just stayed off the road on either occasion,

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 he would have been fine.

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 But he tried to steer it back onto the road again

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 on an oncoming car, hit him in the side,

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 and killed him instantly.

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 You know, at times in our lives,

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 it's hard to understand the will of God, isn't it?

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 At times, it's very difficult to process

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 and wonder the things that God does or allows.

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 And maybe sometimes it's even harder to understand

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 the things that God does not do.

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 You know, we go before God, and we pray in faith,

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 and we ask him to protect.

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 We ask him to heal.

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 We ask him to save our loved ones who are lost.

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 And to work in our lives and situations and circumstances

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 that we may be struggling with.

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 And we ask God to come into our lives

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 and to work in a way that only he can do.

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 And we come knowing that God is all-powerful, almighty,

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 and he can do it.

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 But there are other times when God doesn't answer us

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 in the manner in which we hope.

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 He doesn't answer us in the way we've asked

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 or even depended upon and trusted.

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 The healing that we pray for doesn't come.

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 The door doesn't open.

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 The person we love doesn't get better.

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 Situations didn't change.

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 And we wonder in situations like this,

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 Matthew was given to his parents as a gift.

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 And after 18 years, he was taken away from them.

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 And it's hard to understand why God would allow

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 something like that to happen.

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 And so we have faith in God.

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 We know he's all-powerful, almighty,

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 and he can do all things.

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 But it's in moments like this that we struggle to have faith.

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 It's moments like this that really challenge our faith

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 and to understand the Lord.

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 And that's why today we're going to be looking at Daniel chapter 3.

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 And everybody here, if you grew up in church,

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 or if you've been in church any period of time in your life,

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 this is going to be a familiar Bible story lesson to you.

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 But I want to take it to a new level today, hopefully.

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 It's not just a story about three young Jewish guys

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 in a fiery furnace that we learned about in Sunday school.

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 It's a story about faith

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 and how we can have faith in the Lord

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 even when he doesn't answer our prayers.

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 Or he doesn't answer them in the way we hoped,

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 that we had cried out for,

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 we trusted,

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 or maybe we don't even see him working at all.

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 We don't see it.

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 We know God is always working in our lives,

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 but we may not understand it.

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 And so this is a story about taking our faith

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 as children of God to a new level,

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 trusting his plan and his will

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 in our lives when it's hurtful.

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 It's painful.

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 You know, it's difficult for us to cope with and deal with.

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 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego believed God could save them.

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 They had no doubt about that.

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 They knew God could,

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 even though their nation had been defeated by the Babylonians

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 and they had been exiled,

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 you know, to live in Babylon,

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 they still trusted and believed that God could do this.

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 But their faith wasn't based on that.

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 Their faith wasn't based on the fact that God would do what they asked

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 or what they needed or what,

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 or from their eyes,

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 and what they wanted.

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 Their faith was based upon who God was,

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 his character,

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 his holiness,

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 and that he is the only one true God.

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 And they were willing,

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 we'll see in just a moment,

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 to say,

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 our God is able to deliver us,

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 but even if he doesn't,

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 we will still worship him.

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 And that's what I want us to talk about today

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 as children of God,

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 is how we can take our faith to a whole new level.

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 How we have faith in God

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 in the midst of the struggles,

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 in the midst of the pain,

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 in the midst of the suffering,

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 in the midst of the silence.

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 How do we say,

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 our God is able,

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 but if not.

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 But if he doesn't.

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 We're still going to trust him,

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 we're still going to worship him,

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 and we're going to give our lives fully and completely

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 to him in all things.

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 So, before we jump into our scripture this morning,

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 in Daniel chapter 3,

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 I want us to go to the Lord in prayer.

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 Father, we thank you for the day.

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 Thank you, Lord, for this nation.

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 Thank you for the freedoms that we have here

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 to assemble together as the body of Christ

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 and to worship you.

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 But thank you even more

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 that your son died for us,

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 that your son bought our freedom from our sin,

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 that we might be cleansed,

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 we might be forgiven to be in a right relationship with you.

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 And I pray, Lord, today as we study your word,

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 that you'll speak to each of our hearts.

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 For those who are facing challenges,

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 difficulties,

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 hardships,

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 or maybe struggling with faith,

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 I ask, Lord,

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 that you are here

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 with us

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 and that you're speaking to us,

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 helping us to feel your hand upon us.

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 And we thank you for that,

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 and we praise you in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 So I know we've got 30 verses here,

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 but we're going to shorten it a little bit.

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 I'm going to, well,

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 I'm not going to shorten it too much,

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 but I'm going to break it up

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 and not read it all at once.

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 But just so you know,

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 this is taking place in Babylon.

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 It was a customary in that day

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 when a nation conquered another nation

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 that they would come in

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 and they would find the wisest,

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 the most educated,

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 the most skilled,

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 and they would uproot them

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 and relocate them somewhere else.

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 It helped keep from uprisings

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 and rebellions

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 as they did that,

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 and they would mix them

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 and mingle them

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 with other peoples.

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 That's why the Samaritans

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 were hated by the true Jews

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 because that very thing

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 had taken place in Samaria

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 where a lot of the people were Jews,

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 but then other people were brought in

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 and they mingled,

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 and then none of them

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 could trace their lineage

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 directly back to being a pure Jew.

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 And so that's why

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 in the New Testament days

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 we see such a hatred

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 towards the Samaritan people

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 by the Jews.

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 So let's look at the first 18 verses

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 at this time together.

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 King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue

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 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide,

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 and he set it up on the plain of Dura

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 in the province of Babylon.

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 Then he sent messages

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 to the high officers,

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 officials, governors, advisors,

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 treasurers, judges, magistrates,

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 and all the provincial officials

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 to come to the dedication

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 of the statue he had set up.

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 So all these officials came

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 and stood before the statue

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 King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

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 Then a herald shouted out,

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 People of all races and nations

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 and languages,

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 listen to the king's command.

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 When you hear the sound of the horn,

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 the flute, the zither, lyre, harp,

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 pipes, and other musical instruments,

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 bow to the ground

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 to worship King Nebuchadnezzar's gold statue.

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 Anyone who refuses to obey

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 will immediately be thrown

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 into a blazing furnace.

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 So at the sound of the musical instruments,

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 all the people,

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 whatever their race or nation or language,

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 bowed to the ground

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 and worshipped the gold statue

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 that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

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 But some of the astrologers

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 went to the king

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 and informed on the Jews.

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 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar,

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 Long live the king.

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 You issued a decree

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 requiring all the people

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 to bow down

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 and worship the gold statue

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 when they hear the sound

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 of the horn, flute, zither,

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 lyre, harp, pipes,

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 and other musical instruments.

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 That decree also states

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 that those who refuse to obey

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 must be thrown

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 into a blazing furnace.

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 But there are some Jews,

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 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,

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 whom you have put in charge

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 of the province of Babylon.

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 They pay no attention

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 to you, your majesty.

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 They refuse to serve your gods

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 and do not worship

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 the gold statue

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 that you have set up.

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 Then Nebuchadnezzar flew

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 into a rage

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 and ordered that Shadrach,

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 Meshach, and Abednego

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 be brought before him.

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 When they were brought in,

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 Nebuchadnezzar said to them,

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 Is it true,

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 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,

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 that you refuse

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 to serve my gods

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 or to worship

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 the gold statue

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 I have set up?

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 I will give you

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 one more chance

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 to bow down

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 and worship the statue

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 I have made

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 when you hear the sound

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 of the musical instruments.

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 But if you refuse,

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 you will be thrown

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 immediately

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 into the blazing furnace.

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 And then what god

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 will be able

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 to rescue you

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 from my power?

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 Shadrach, Meshach,

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 and Abednego replied,

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 Oh Nebuchadnezzar,

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 we do not need

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 to defend ourselves

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 before you.

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 If we are thrown

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 into the blazing furnace,

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 the god whom we serve

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 is able to save us.

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 He will rescue us

00:12:05.780 --> 00:12:06.740
 from your power,

00:12:07.180 --> 00:12:07.960
 your majesty.

00:12:09.040 --> 00:12:10.100
 Now listen to this.

00:12:11.040 --> 00:12:13.840
 But even if he doesn't,

00:12:14.860 --> 00:12:16.860
 we want to make it clear

00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:18.440
 to you, your majesty,

00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:20.680
 that we will never

00:12:20.680 --> 00:12:22.260
 serve your gods

00:12:22.260 --> 00:12:24.620
 or worship the gold statue

00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:27.220
 you have set up.

00:12:28.180 --> 00:12:28.460
 You know,

00:12:28.460 --> 00:12:30.160
 after being defeated

00:12:30.160 --> 00:12:31.480
 by the Babylonians,

00:12:32.420 --> 00:12:32.600
 you know,

00:12:32.680 --> 00:12:34.080
 a lot of the Jews,

00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:34.860
 the skilled,

00:12:35.400 --> 00:12:36.040
 educated,

00:12:36.920 --> 00:12:38.320
 individuals were moved.

00:12:38.660 --> 00:12:40.300
 And Shadrach, Meshach,

00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:40.860
 and Abednego,

00:12:41.460 --> 00:12:43.340
 along with men like Daniel,

00:12:43.460 --> 00:12:44.139
 were identified

00:12:44.139 --> 00:12:45.020
 as individuals

00:12:45.020 --> 00:12:46.940
 who had great wisdom

00:12:46.940 --> 00:12:48.800
 and leadership abilities.

00:12:48.940 --> 00:12:49.840
 So they were given

00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:50.820
 responsibilities

00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:53.200
 within the Babylonian Empire.

00:12:54.020 --> 00:12:54.680
 And then,

00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:55.600
 Nebuchadnezzar

00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:57.700
 builds this gold statue,

00:12:58.180 --> 00:13:00.240
 90 feet high.

00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:04.060
 That's the size of a nine-story building.

00:13:04.759 --> 00:13:07.139
 And nine feet wide.

00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:09.440
 And he orders that everyone,

00:13:09.680 --> 00:13:11.200
 when the music is played,

00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:14.440
 that everyone would bow down

00:13:14.440 --> 00:13:16.100
 and worship the gods

00:13:16.100 --> 00:13:17.960
 that King Nebuchadnezzar

00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:18.700
 had designated

00:13:18.700 --> 00:13:19.799
 or that they worshipped

00:13:19.799 --> 00:13:20.379
 in that area,

00:13:20.460 --> 00:13:22.360
 which was not the God of Israel,

00:13:23.019 --> 00:13:24.180
 not, you know,

00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:24.740
 Yahweh.

00:13:25.419 --> 00:13:25.960
 And so,

00:13:26.060 --> 00:13:27.019
 he commanded them.

00:13:27.060 --> 00:13:28.139
 And he made it very clear

00:13:28.139 --> 00:13:28.860
 what would happen

00:13:28.860 --> 00:13:29.820
 if they did not.

00:13:29.899 --> 00:13:31.000
 This wasn't a suggestion.

00:13:31.220 --> 00:13:32.279
 It wasn't a request.

00:13:32.820 --> 00:13:34.019
 It was a command

00:13:34.019 --> 00:13:35.639
 and made it very clear

00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:38.039
 that if they did not bow,

00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:39.320
 immediately,

00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:42.020
 they would be thrown

00:13:42.020 --> 00:13:43.900
 into a fiery furnace.

00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:45.220
 You didn't have time to think.

00:13:45.580 --> 00:13:46.860
 If you didn't bow down

00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:47.480
 right now,

00:13:47.560 --> 00:13:48.260
 you're being thrown

00:13:48.260 --> 00:13:50.340
 into a fiery furnace.

00:13:50.460 --> 00:13:51.220
 So Shadrach,

00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:51.879
 Meshach,

00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:52.400
 and Abednego,

00:13:52.940 --> 00:13:55.140
 they knew the command

00:13:55.140 --> 00:13:57.680
 and they knew the consequences

00:13:57.680 --> 00:13:58.680
 very clearly

00:13:58.680 --> 00:13:59.760
 of that command.

00:14:00.060 --> 00:14:00.620
 And the scriptures

00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:01.520
 don't tell us

00:14:01.520 --> 00:14:02.860
 that they got together

00:14:02.860 --> 00:14:03.800
 and talked about it,

00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:05.400
 but they may have

00:14:05.400 --> 00:14:06.580
 because there's three of them

00:14:06.580 --> 00:14:08.280
 and they were all in agreement.

00:14:08.279 --> 00:14:10.240
 they were not bowing down

00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:11.019
 to that statue

00:14:11.019 --> 00:14:11.959
 because they knew

00:14:11.959 --> 00:14:14.699
 the laws of Israel

00:14:14.699 --> 00:14:16.579
 and that God had given them

00:14:16.579 --> 00:14:18.000
 to not have any images,

00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:19.139
 any idols,

00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:21.360
 to bow before no one

00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:23.500
 besides God himself.

00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:24.519
 And so,

00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:26.019
 they were not going

00:14:26.019 --> 00:14:27.000
 to bow down

00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:28.439
 to this statue.

00:14:29.179 --> 00:14:29.939
 And that tells us

00:14:29.939 --> 00:14:31.079
 something really important

00:14:31.079 --> 00:14:31.980
 here in the scripture

00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:33.399
 that we don't need to miss.

00:14:34.339 --> 00:14:35.079
 That sometimes

00:14:35.079 --> 00:14:36.600
 this type of faith,

00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:38.440
 this type of allegiance

00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:39.139
 to God

00:14:39.139 --> 00:14:40.659
 and dedication to God

00:14:40.659 --> 00:14:42.100
 has to be determined

00:14:42.100 --> 00:14:43.019
 in advance.

00:14:43.560 --> 00:14:44.800
 We can't wait

00:14:44.800 --> 00:14:46.560
 until we're face to face

00:14:46.560 --> 00:14:47.500
 with the situation

00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:48.860
 and then all of a sudden

00:14:48.860 --> 00:14:50.680
 try to muster up

00:14:50.680 --> 00:14:51.659
 the courage

00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:52.860
 to stand for the Lord.

00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:54.540
 We have to decide

00:14:54.540 --> 00:14:55.759
 in advance,

00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:56.519
 maybe today,

00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:57.320
 right now,

00:14:57.639 --> 00:14:59.159
 what we're going to do

00:14:59.159 --> 00:15:00.899
 when we're confronted

00:15:00.899 --> 00:15:02.560
 with compromising

00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:04.179
 compromising our faith,

00:15:05.099 --> 00:15:06.179
 maybe compromise

00:15:06.179 --> 00:15:08.679
 to not honor the Lord

00:15:08.679 --> 00:15:10.439
 but to adopt the practices

00:15:10.439 --> 00:15:11.339
 and the customs

00:15:11.339 --> 00:15:12.699
 of our culture.

00:15:13.719 --> 00:15:13.939
 You know,

00:15:13.979 --> 00:15:15.379
 we may never be asked

00:15:15.379 --> 00:15:16.959
 to bow down

00:15:16.959 --> 00:15:18.119
 before a gold statue.

00:15:18.199 --> 00:15:19.799
 I can almost guarantee

00:15:19.799 --> 00:15:21.359
 that you won't.

00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:24.199
 But the world still puts

00:15:24.199 --> 00:15:25.059
 a lot of pressure

00:15:25.059 --> 00:15:25.899
 on us,

00:15:25.979 --> 00:15:26.559
 doesn't it?

00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:28.439
 It pressures us

00:15:28.439 --> 00:15:29.879
 to remain quiet,

00:15:30.439 --> 00:15:32.459
 to blend in,

00:15:33.059 --> 00:15:34.079
 to compromise

00:15:34.079 --> 00:15:35.679
 what God has called us

00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:36.799
 to be and to do.

00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:38.399
 God has called us

00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:39.839
 to be set apart

00:15:39.839 --> 00:15:41.679
 and to be different

00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:42.739
 from the world

00:15:42.739 --> 00:15:43.979
 and yet there's all

00:15:43.979 --> 00:15:44.599
 this pressure

00:15:44.599 --> 00:15:45.659
 from the world

00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:47.739
 for us to blend in

00:15:47.739 --> 00:15:49.259
 and to be just like

00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:50.139
 everyone else,

00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:51.919
 to make comfort

00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:52.779
 a God

00:15:52.779 --> 00:15:53.859
 or entertainment

00:15:53.859 --> 00:15:55.159
 our God

00:15:55.159 --> 00:15:56.199
 or to strive

00:15:56.199 --> 00:15:57.799
 for success

00:15:57.799 --> 00:15:59.519
 as if that is

00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:00.980
 the most important thing

00:16:00.980 --> 00:16:02.719
 in our lives.

00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:03.899
 But God has called us

00:16:03.899 --> 00:16:05.259
 not to get entangled

00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:05.939
 in the things

00:16:05.939 --> 00:16:06.639
 of this world,

00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:08.519
 to be set apart,

00:16:08.620 --> 00:16:09.379
 to be different

00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:10.559
 and to honor Him

00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:12.240
 and to not go along

00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:12.959
 with culture

00:16:12.959 --> 00:16:13.879
 and we may think

00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:15.219
 well the whole world

00:16:15.219 --> 00:16:16.539
 is going this way

00:16:16.539 --> 00:16:19.379
 and I'm just one person.

00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:21.539
 But I want you to notice

00:16:21.539 --> 00:16:22.600
 as we'll continue

00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:23.279
 in the scriptures

00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:24.240
 in just a moment,

00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:25.680
 these three guys

00:16:25.680 --> 00:16:26.620
 took a stand

00:16:26.620 --> 00:16:27.940
 and you will see

00:16:27.940 --> 00:16:28.560
 when we read

00:16:28.560 --> 00:16:29.639
 the final verses

00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:31.100
 the impact

00:16:31.100 --> 00:16:33.019
 that those three guys,

00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:33.700
 they were willing

00:16:33.700 --> 00:16:34.360
 to die

00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:36.659
 and if it weren't

00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:37.799
 for God delivering them,

00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.980
 they certainly would have

00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:41.060
 but their faith

00:16:41.060 --> 00:16:42.440
 made a huge difference.

00:16:42.560 --> 00:16:43.779
 Our faith today,

00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:45.039
 it may not change

00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:45.519
 the world

00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:47.299
 but our faith today

00:16:47.299 --> 00:16:48.240
 can change those

00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:48.940
 around us.

00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:50.279
 It can change

00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:51.419
 our families,

00:16:51.419 --> 00:16:53.299
 maybe friends,

00:16:53.799 --> 00:16:54.439
 neighbors,

00:16:55.019 --> 00:16:56.079
 those around us

00:16:56.079 --> 00:16:57.079
 who see us

00:16:57.079 --> 00:16:58.299
 living for the Lord

00:16:58.299 --> 00:17:00.199
 and not compromising

00:17:00.199 --> 00:17:01.039
 our faith,

00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:02.919
 not adopting the

00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:05.599
 beliefs of this world

00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:06.659
 that we live in

00:17:06.660 --> 00:17:08.480
 and as our nation

00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:09.480
 drifts further and

00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:10.100
 further away

00:17:10.100 --> 00:17:11.040
 from the foundation

00:17:11.040 --> 00:17:12.100
 of which it stands,

00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:13.820
 we need Christians

00:17:13.820 --> 00:17:15.100
 taking a stand,

00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:15.880
 not necessarily

00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:17.100
 being obnoxious

00:17:17.620 --> 00:17:18.340
 and loud

00:17:18.340 --> 00:17:19.980
 but just to live

00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:20.980
 out your faith

00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:23.279
 and not compromise

00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:24.060
 what God

00:17:24.060 --> 00:17:25.019
 has certainly

00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:26.340
 called us to do.

00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:27.080
 Well,

00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:27.840
 when Shadrach,

00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:28.320
 Meshach,

00:17:28.380 --> 00:17:28.880
 and Abednego,

00:17:29.100 --> 00:17:29.940
 when they refused

00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:30.519
 to bow,

00:17:31.360 --> 00:17:32.220
 there were those

00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:33.259
 just like with Daniel

00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:34.200
 who were jealous

00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:34.860
 of them,

00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:35.980
 they wanted maybe

00:17:35.980 --> 00:17:36.640
 their leadership

00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:37.259
 position

00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:38.980
 and so they went

00:17:38.980 --> 00:17:40.100
 and they told

00:17:40.100 --> 00:17:41.500
 Nebuchadnezzar

00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:42.420
 that they had

00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:44.019
 refused to bow

00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:45.220
 and reminded him

00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:46.580
 of the consequences

00:17:46.580 --> 00:17:47.279
 of that

00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:48.640
 and Nebuchadnezzar

00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:50.180
 became furious.

00:17:50.420 --> 00:17:51.080
 He was a pretty

00:17:51.080 --> 00:17:52.380
 prideful kind of guy

00:17:52.380 --> 00:17:53.920
 and when he spoke,

00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:55.240
 everybody listened

00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:57.140
 because if you didn't,

00:17:58.140 --> 00:17:59.220
 he would do away

00:17:59.220 --> 00:17:59.620
 with you

00:17:59.620 --> 00:18:01.160
 and so he was used

00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:02.420
 to getting his way

00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:03.480
 and so he asked

00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:04.320
 them a question

00:18:04.320 --> 00:18:06.000
 that was really

00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:06.720
 important.

00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:07.539
 He says,

00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:09.220
 who is the God

00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:10.740
 who will deliver

00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:12.200
 you out of my hands?

00:18:12.320 --> 00:18:12.500
 I mean,

00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:12.960
 he's already

00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:13.980
 conquered Israel

00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:15.720
 and he feels like

00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:16.340
 he's conquered

00:18:16.340 --> 00:18:17.400
 the God of Israel

00:18:17.400 --> 00:18:18.740
 so he's asking them,

00:18:18.900 --> 00:18:19.519
 what God

00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.320
 are you believing

00:18:20.320 --> 00:18:21.140
 in now?

00:18:21.880 --> 00:18:22.539
 Who's going

00:18:22.539 --> 00:18:23.180
 to deliver

00:18:23.180 --> 00:18:24.860
 you from me?

00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:26.519
 And then their response

00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:27.519
 is one of the

00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:28.980
 strongest responses

00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:30.620
 in all of Scripture

00:18:30.620 --> 00:18:31.500
 of faith

00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:32.359
 and trust

00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:33.160
 and worship

00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:33.980
 of God.

00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:35.160
 You know,

00:18:35.220 --> 00:18:35.859
 they said

00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:37.799
 the God

00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:38.720
 that they served,

00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:39.500
 the God

00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:40.240
 of Israel

00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:41.640
 would deliver

00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:42.200
 them.

00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:44.019
 They believed

00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:44.519
 that God

00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.220
 could rescue

00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:45.640
 them

00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:47.319
 from the furnace

00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:48.259
 and from the power

00:18:48.259 --> 00:18:48.859
 but then

00:18:48.859 --> 00:18:50.599
 what they continue

00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:51.079
 to say

00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:52.779
 takes the story

00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:53.940
 to a whole

00:18:53.940 --> 00:18:54.980
 new level

00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:56.160
 because their

00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:56.779
 faith

00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:57.819
 wasn't just

00:18:57.819 --> 00:18:58.759
 based in God

00:18:58.759 --> 00:18:59.920
 doing what

00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:00.740
 they asked.

00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:02.599
 their faith

00:19:02.599 --> 00:19:03.059
 was in

00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:03.940
 God alone

00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:05.019
 and they said

00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:05.640
 our God

00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:06.740
 will deliver

00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:07.319
 us

00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:08.339
 but even

00:19:08.339 --> 00:19:08.960
 if he

00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:10.200
 doesn't.

00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:12.539
 Let that

00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:13.299
 sink in a minute.

00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:15.660
 How much

00:19:15.660 --> 00:19:16.160
 of our

00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:17.380
 worship

00:19:17.380 --> 00:19:18.120
 or our faith

00:19:18.120 --> 00:19:18.839
 is God

00:19:18.839 --> 00:19:20.660
 taking care

00:19:20.660 --> 00:19:21.039
 of us,

00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:22.220
 providing for us,

00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:23.279
 answering prayers?

00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:24.920
 How much

00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:25.400
 of our

00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:26.039
 loyalty

00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:26.720
 and allegiance?

00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:28.720
 our faith

00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.019
 but what if

00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:29.420
 we stood

00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:30.019
 on the edge

00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:30.519
 of a fiery

00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:31.120
 furnace

00:19:31.120 --> 00:19:32.799
 and we knew

00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:33.160
 we were getting

00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:33.680
 ready to go

00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:34.019
 in?

00:19:36.460 --> 00:19:36.960
 You know,

00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:37.660
 their faith

00:19:37.660 --> 00:19:38.299
 was even

00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:38.920
 if he

00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:39.779
 doesn't,

00:19:40.940 --> 00:19:42.220
 we still

00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:43.660
 will worship

00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:44.940
 him.

00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:45.900
 You know,

00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:46.620
 this is sometimes

00:19:46.620 --> 00:19:47.559
 where we struggle

00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:48.120
 in life,

00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:48.600
 don't we?

00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:50.000
 When we

00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:51.100
 pray,

00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:52.799
 we cry out

00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:53.500
 to the Lord,

00:19:53.620 --> 00:19:54.539
 we ask God

00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:55.220
 to work

00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:56.019
 and we move

00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:56.539
 and he either

00:19:56.539 --> 00:19:57.319
 says no

00:19:57.319 --> 00:19:59.220
 or maybe

00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:00.039
 he's remained

00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:01.279
 silent

00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:02.539
 for the moment.

00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:03.960
 Maybe we're not

00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:04.279
 hearing,

00:20:04.420 --> 00:20:04.879
 maybe we're not

00:20:04.879 --> 00:20:05.279
 seeing,

00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:05.879
 maybe we're not

00:20:05.879 --> 00:20:06.799
 feeling him

00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:07.619
 do anything.

00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:11.899
 And it's a real

00:20:11.899 --> 00:20:12.779
 challenge

00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:13.940
 to maintain

00:20:13.940 --> 00:20:14.460
 faith,

00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:15.079
 isn't it?

00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:16.920
 The hard part

00:20:16.920 --> 00:20:17.740
 is trusting

00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.500
 God

00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.220
 when he's

00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:20.139
 not doing

00:20:20.139 --> 00:20:20.799
 what we

00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:21.299
 think

00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:22.279
 we need

00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:22.799
 him to do.

00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:24.899
 we think

00:20:24.899 --> 00:20:25.399
 he needs

00:20:25.399 --> 00:20:25.799
 to do

00:20:25.799 --> 00:20:26.159
 this

00:20:26.159 --> 00:20:26.700
 or move

00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:27.079
 in this

00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:27.379
 way

00:20:27.379 --> 00:20:27.879
 or act

00:20:27.879 --> 00:20:28.279
 in that

00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:28.539
 way

00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:29.139
 or deliver

00:20:29.139 --> 00:20:29.579
 us from

00:20:29.579 --> 00:20:29.940
 this

00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:30.819
 or open

00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:31.500
 this door

00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.119
 for us

00:20:32.119 --> 00:20:32.659
 or change

00:20:32.659 --> 00:20:33.359
 the situation

00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:34.019
 and we

00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:34.299
 think,

00:20:34.379 --> 00:20:34.639
 God,

00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:35.000
 you need

00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:35.299
 to do

00:20:35.299 --> 00:20:35.799
 this

00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:38.879
 and it's

00:20:38.879 --> 00:20:39.500
 real hard

00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:40.419
 to maintain

00:20:40.419 --> 00:20:41.460
 faith over

00:20:41.460 --> 00:20:41.879
 a period

00:20:41.879 --> 00:20:42.240
 of time,

00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:43.379
 maybe years,

00:20:44.359 --> 00:20:46.819
 maybe decades

00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:48.419
 that we've

00:20:48.419 --> 00:20:49.079
 been praying

00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:49.859
 and God

00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:50.440
 has not

00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:50.919
 answered

00:20:50.919 --> 00:20:51.680
 in the manner

00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:52.080
 in which

00:20:52.080 --> 00:20:52.600
 we want

00:20:52.600 --> 00:20:52.920
 him to

00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:53.519
 or in

00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:53.840
 the way

00:20:53.840 --> 00:20:54.400
 we think

00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:55.180
 he should.

00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:56.240
 But true

00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:56.680
 faith,

00:20:57.820 --> 00:20:58.620
 true worship

00:20:58.620 --> 00:20:59.320
 of Jesus

00:20:59.320 --> 00:21:00.000
 is not

00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:00.759
 based on

00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.720
 him doing

00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.279
 what we

00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:02.820
 ask him

00:21:02.820 --> 00:21:03.240
 to do.

00:21:04.100 --> 00:21:04.600
 True

00:21:04.600 --> 00:21:05.180
 faith is

00:21:05.180 --> 00:21:05.640
 knowing that

00:21:05.640 --> 00:21:06.240
 God knows

00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:06.700
 what we

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:07.400
 need far

00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:08.500
 more than

00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:09.180
 we do.

00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:11.420
 God

00:21:11.420 --> 00:21:12.160
 knows

00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:13.500
 what he's

00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:14.060
 doing in

00:21:14.060 --> 00:21:14.940
 our lives

00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:16.060
 and he

00:21:16.060 --> 00:21:17.120
 may be

00:21:17.120 --> 00:21:17.880
 preparing us

00:21:17.880 --> 00:21:18.420
 for something,

00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:19.039
 he may be

00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:19.720
 putting us

00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:20.319
 through

00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:21.100
 difficulties,

00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:21.720
 hardships,

00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:23.120
 so that

00:21:23.120 --> 00:21:23.480
 he's

00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:24.299
 rooting out

00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:25.940
 pride,

00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:29.000
 materialism,

00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:31.299
 unforgiveness,

00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:32.960
 a hard

00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:33.440
 heart.

00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:34.460
 He may be

00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:35.600
 preparing us

00:21:35.600 --> 00:21:36.279
 for work

00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:37.819
 like he

00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:38.720
 was Joseph

00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:40.039
 to get him

00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:40.480
 ready for

00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:41.480
 something and

00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:42.140
 we have to

00:21:42.140 --> 00:21:42.579
 learn to

00:21:42.579 --> 00:21:43.039
 come to

00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:43.539
 him even

00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:44.059
 when we

00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:44.339
 don't

00:21:44.339 --> 00:21:44.720
 understand,

00:21:44.819 --> 00:21:45.120
 even when

00:21:45.120 --> 00:21:45.640
 it's painful,

00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:46.440
 even when

00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:48.079
 it's sacrificial

00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:48.439
 and it

00:21:48.439 --> 00:21:49.159
 cost us

00:21:49.159 --> 00:21:50.099
 something to

00:21:50.099 --> 00:21:52.259
 stand and

00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:53.259
 worship him.

00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:54.859
 Now, what

00:21:54.859 --> 00:21:55.159
 we're going to

00:21:55.159 --> 00:21:55.839
 learn next,

00:21:55.879 --> 00:21:56.220
 and I know

00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:56.599
 we're running

00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:57.399
 short on time,

00:21:57.679 --> 00:21:58.099
 but I won't

00:21:58.099 --> 00:21:58.619
 charge any

00:21:58.619 --> 00:21:59.000
 extra,

00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:03.079
 is God

00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:03.559
 may not

00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:04.259
 deliver us

00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:04.579
 from the

00:22:04.579 --> 00:22:04.919
 fire,

00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:06.159
 but he'll

00:22:06.159 --> 00:22:06.659
 be there

00:22:06.659 --> 00:22:07.159
 with us

00:22:07.159 --> 00:22:07.619
 in the

00:22:07.619 --> 00:22:07.859
 fire.

00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:08.299
 So let's

00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:08.639
 look at

00:22:08.639 --> 00:22:09.539
 verses 19

00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.339
 through 29.

00:22:12.339 --> 00:22:12.899
 Nebuchadnezzar

00:22:12.899 --> 00:22:13.319
 was so

00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:14.039
 furious with

00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:14.579
 Shadrach,

00:22:14.679 --> 00:22:15.119
 Meshach,

00:22:15.179 --> 00:22:15.679
 and Abednego

00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:16.160
 that his

00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:16.900
 face became

00:22:16.900 --> 00:22:17.519
 distorted

00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:18.259
 with rage.

00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:19.380
 He commanded

00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:19.840
 that the

00:22:19.840 --> 00:22:20.420
 furnace be

00:22:20.420 --> 00:22:21.060
 heated seven

00:22:21.060 --> 00:22:21.720
 times hotter

00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:22.400
 than usual.

00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:23.279
 Then he

00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:23.840
 ordered some

00:22:23.840 --> 00:22:24.080
 of the

00:22:24.080 --> 00:22:24.820
 strongest men

00:22:24.820 --> 00:22:25.100
 of his

00:22:25.100 --> 00:22:25.720
 army to

00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:26.820
 bind Shadrach,

00:22:26.940 --> 00:22:27.400
 Meshach,

00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:27.980
 and Abednego

00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:29.019
 and throw

00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:29.519
 them into

00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:30.160
 the blazing

00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:30.620
 furnace.

00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:31.660
 So they

00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:32.240
 tied them

00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:32.680
 up and

00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:33.160
 threw them

00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:33.539
 into the

00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:33.860
 furnace,

00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:34.759
 fully dressed

00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.140
 in their

00:22:35.140 --> 00:22:35.660
 pants,

00:22:36.140 --> 00:22:36.700
 turbans,

00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:37.519
 robes,

00:22:37.580 --> 00:22:37.940
 and other

00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:38.400
 garments.

00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:39.180
 And because

00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:39.799
 the king

00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:40.200
 in his

00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:41.019
 anger had

00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:41.480
 demanded

00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:42.019
 such a

00:22:42.019 --> 00:22:42.860
 hot fire

00:22:42.860 --> 00:22:43.140
 in the

00:22:43.140 --> 00:22:43.440
 furnace,

00:22:43.840 --> 00:22:44.440
 the flames

00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:45.299
 killed the

00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:46.140
 soldiers as

00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:46.600
 they threw

00:22:46.600 --> 00:22:47.059
 the three

00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:47.600
 men in.

00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:49.059
 So Shadrach,

00:22:49.180 --> 00:22:49.620
 Meshach,

00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:50.259
 and Abednego

00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:51.820
 securely tied

00:22:51.820 --> 00:22:52.900
 fell into

00:22:52.900 --> 00:22:54.519
 the roaring

00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:55.420
 flames.

00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:56.920
 But suddenly

00:22:56.920 --> 00:22:58.279
 Nebuchadnezzar

00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:59.180
 jumped up in

00:22:59.180 --> 00:22:59.900
 amazement and

00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:00.680
 exclaimed to

00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:01.400
 his advisors,

00:23:01.900 --> 00:23:02.740
 didn't we tie

00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.840
 up three men

00:23:03.840 --> 00:23:04.860
 and throw them

00:23:04.860 --> 00:23:05.500
 into the

00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:05.920
 furnace?

00:23:06.600 --> 00:23:06.940
 Yes,

00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:07.559
 your majesty,

00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:08.220
 we certainly

00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:08.580
 did,

00:23:08.660 --> 00:23:09.340
 they replied.

00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:10.140
 Well,

00:23:10.180 --> 00:23:10.580
 look,

00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:11.720
 Nebuchadnezzar

00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.120
 shouted,

00:23:12.600 --> 00:23:13.920
 I see four

00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:14.400
 men,

00:23:15.340 --> 00:23:16.019
 unbound,

00:23:16.580 --> 00:23:17.700
 walking around

00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:18.460
 in the fire

00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:19.880
 unharmed,

00:23:20.380 --> 00:23:20.779
 and the

00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:22.200
 fourth looks

00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:22.740
 like a

00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.100
 god.

00:23:23.660 --> 00:23:23.920
 Then

00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:24.600
 Nebuchadnezzar

00:23:24.600 --> 00:23:25.080
 came as

00:23:25.080 --> 00:23:25.759
 close as he

00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.120
 could to

00:23:26.120 --> 00:23:26.580
 the door

00:23:26.580 --> 00:23:27.259
 of the

00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:27.640
 flaming

00:23:27.640 --> 00:23:28.120
 furnace,

00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:28.440
 and he

00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:28.779
 shouted,

00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:29.600
 Shadrach,

00:23:30.060 --> 00:23:30.720
 Meshach,

00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:31.460
 and Abednego,

00:23:31.900 --> 00:23:32.660
 servants of

00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:33.279
 the most

00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:33.860
 high god.

00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:34.420
 Pay attention

00:23:34.420 --> 00:23:34.880
 to that.

00:23:35.420 --> 00:23:35.759
 Remember

00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:36.420
 earlier he

00:23:36.420 --> 00:23:36.600
 said,

00:23:36.660 --> 00:23:37.420
 what god

00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:37.900
 is going

00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:38.519
 to deliver

00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:38.860
 you?

00:23:39.640 --> 00:23:40.300
 And now

00:23:40.300 --> 00:23:40.640
 look,

00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.220
 because of

00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:41.880
 their faith,

00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:42.259
 look what

00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:42.700
 he's saying,

00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:44.039
 servants of

00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:44.700
 the most

00:23:44.700 --> 00:23:45.819
 high god,

00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:47.140
 come out,

00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:48.400
 come here.

00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:49.700
 So Shadrach,

00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:50.259
 Meshach,

00:23:50.340 --> 00:23:50.840
 and Abednego

00:23:50.840 --> 00:23:51.680
 stepped out

00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:52.279
 of the fire,

00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.160
 then the

00:23:53.160 --> 00:23:53.960
 high officers,

00:23:54.220 --> 00:23:54.759
 officials,

00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:55.319
 governors,

00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.279
 and advisors

00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:57.580
 crowded around

00:23:57.580 --> 00:23:58.319
 them and saw

00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:59.039
 that the fire

00:23:59.039 --> 00:23:59.700
 had not

00:23:59.700 --> 00:24:00.080
 touched

00:24:00.080 --> 00:24:00.440
 them.

00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:01.779
 Not a hair

00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:02.120
 on their

00:24:02.120 --> 00:24:02.740
 heads was

00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:03.559
 singed,

00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:04.319
 and their

00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:05.420
 clothing was

00:24:05.420 --> 00:24:06.460
 not scorched,

00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:07.539
 they didn't

00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:08.660
 even smell

00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:09.980
 like smoke.

00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:10.880
 Then

00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:11.599
 Nebuchadnezzar

00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:11.960
 said,

00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:12.900
 praise to

00:24:12.900 --> 00:24:13.339
 the god

00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:14.059
 of Shadrach,

00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:14.599
 Meshach,

00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:15.200
 and Abednego.

00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:16.299
 He sent

00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:16.920
 his angels

00:24:16.920 --> 00:24:17.559
 to rescue

00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:18.180
 his servants

00:24:18.180 --> 00:24:18.839
 who trusted

00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:19.360
 in him.

00:24:19.940 --> 00:24:20.200
 They

00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:20.960
 defied

00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:21.579
 the king's

00:24:21.579 --> 00:24:21.940
 command

00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:22.400
 and were

00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:23.319
 willing to

00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:24.259
 die rather

00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:25.019
 than serve

00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:25.640
 or worship

00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:26.420
 any god

00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:27.579
 except their

00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:28.539
 own god.

00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:29.120
 Therefore,

00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:29.759
 I make

00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:30.660
 this decree.

00:24:31.360 --> 00:24:31.819
 If any

00:24:31.819 --> 00:24:32.299
 people,

00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:33.400
 whatever their

00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:33.920
 race or

00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:34.480
 nation or

00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:34.880
 language,

00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:35.640
 speak a

00:24:35.640 --> 00:24:36.720
 word against

00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:37.440
 the god

00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:38.299
 of Shadrach,

00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:38.920
 Meshach,

00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:39.539
 and Abednego,

00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:40.539
 they will

00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:41.320
 be torn

00:24:41.320 --> 00:24:42.480
 limb from

00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.480
 limb and

00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:44.160
 their houses

00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:44.779
 will be

00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:45.720
 turned into

00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.539
 heat of

00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:47.120
 rubble.

00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:48.380
 There is

00:24:48.380 --> 00:24:49.420
 no other

00:24:49.420 --> 00:24:50.220
 god who

00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:51.060
 can rescue

00:24:51.060 --> 00:24:52.900
 like this.

00:24:54.300 --> 00:24:54.640
 You know,

00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:55.300
 Nebuchadnezzar

00:24:55.300 --> 00:24:55.800
 had ordered

00:24:55.800 --> 00:24:56.220
 that the

00:24:56.220 --> 00:24:56.759
 fire be

00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.300
 heated up

00:24:57.300 --> 00:24:58.360
 seven times

00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:59.039
 hotter

00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:00.340
 than normal

00:25:00.340 --> 00:25:00.660
 and he

00:25:00.660 --> 00:25:01.360
 found the

00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:02.340
 strongest of

00:25:02.340 --> 00:25:02.920
 his soldiers

00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:03.800
 to bind

00:25:03.800 --> 00:25:04.759
 them and

00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:05.519
 throw them

00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.240
 into the

00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:06.480
 fire.

00:25:06.580 --> 00:25:06.680
 Now,

00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:07.019
 at that

00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:07.519
 moment in

00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:07.779
 time,

00:25:07.860 --> 00:25:08.140
 you might

00:25:08.140 --> 00:25:08.440
 think,

00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:08.720
 and these

00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:09.059
 poor,

00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:09.559
 young,

00:25:10.059 --> 00:25:11.539
 naive men,

00:25:13.360 --> 00:25:14.140
 they could

00:25:14.140 --> 00:25:14.500
 have just

00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.240
 bowed.

00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.059
 They didn't

00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:16.380
 have to

00:25:16.380 --> 00:25:17.100
 pledge allegiance

00:25:17.100 --> 00:25:17.480
 in their

00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:17.720
 heart,

00:25:17.799 --> 00:25:18.120
 did they?

00:25:18.600 --> 00:25:19.100
 They could

00:25:19.100 --> 00:25:19.480
 have just

00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:20.460
 bowed before

00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:21.320
 that statue

00:25:21.320 --> 00:25:22.000
 and gone

00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.460
 on about

00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:23.799
 life and

00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:24.480
 lived happily

00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:25.240
 ever after.

00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:26.100
 Nobody would

00:25:26.100 --> 00:25:26.500
 have known.

00:25:27.059 --> 00:25:27.460
 They could

00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:28.500
 have apologized

00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:28.500
 They could

00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:28.500


00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:29.180
 to God

00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:29.720
 later and

00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:30.100
 asked for

00:25:30.100 --> 00:25:30.620
 forgiveness.

00:25:33.820 --> 00:25:34.700
 It looked

00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:35.420
 like they

00:25:35.420 --> 00:25:36.220
 had made

00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:36.640
 the wrong

00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:37.140
 choice.

00:25:37.140 --> 00:25:38.100
 It looked

00:25:38.100 --> 00:25:39.960
 like they

00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:40.259
 had put

00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:40.860
 their hope

00:25:40.860 --> 00:25:42.020
 and faith

00:25:42.020 --> 00:25:42.320
 in the

00:25:42.320 --> 00:25:43.040
 wrong thing.

00:25:43.120 --> 00:25:43.259
 They're

00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:43.920
 getting ready

00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:44.300
 to be

00:25:44.300 --> 00:25:44.580
 thrown

00:25:44.580 --> 00:25:45.460
 into a

00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:46.660
 fiery

00:25:46.660 --> 00:25:47.520
 furnace and

00:25:47.520 --> 00:25:48.020
 there is

00:25:48.020 --> 00:25:48.800
 no hope.

00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:51.460
 But wait.

00:25:52.820 --> 00:25:53.580
 The scripture

00:25:53.580 --> 00:25:54.680
 flips it

00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:55.820
 upside down

00:25:55.820 --> 00:25:57.080
 and shows

00:25:57.080 --> 00:25:57.520
 us real

00:25:57.520 --> 00:25:57.860
 quick.

00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:58.759
 Nebuchadnezzar

00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.500
 goes to the

00:25:59.500 --> 00:26:00.580
 furnace and

00:26:00.580 --> 00:26:00.980
 there's a

00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:01.540
 door where

00:26:01.540 --> 00:26:02.140
 he can look

00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:02.440
 in the

00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:03.400
 furnace and

00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:03.780
 what does

00:26:03.780 --> 00:26:04.220
 he see?

00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:05.839
 he doesn't

00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:06.480
 see three

00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:07.740
 dead corpses

00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.559
 laying there

00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:08.960
 burning.

00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:09.940
 He sees

00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:11.339
 four men

00:26:11.339 --> 00:26:12.920
 walking around

00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:13.600
 in the

00:26:13.600 --> 00:26:14.039
 furnace

00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:15.480
 unbound

00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:16.700
 and unharmed

00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:17.120
 and the

00:26:17.120 --> 00:26:17.500
 fourth

00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:18.240
 it said

00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:19.440
 look like

00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:20.380
 a god.

00:26:21.640 --> 00:26:22.440
 God didn't

00:26:22.440 --> 00:26:23.079
 keep them

00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:23.480
 from the

00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:24.000
 fire did

00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.120
 he?

00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:25.120
 He didn't

00:26:25.120 --> 00:26:25.839
 prevent them

00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:26.299
 from this

00:26:26.299 --> 00:26:26.700
 challenge.

00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:27.079
 He didn't

00:26:27.079 --> 00:26:27.480
 prevent them

00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:27.839
 from being

00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.400
 thrown into

00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:28.799
 the fire

00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.420
 but what

00:26:29.420 --> 00:26:29.819
 he did

00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:30.100
 is he

00:26:30.100 --> 00:26:30.920
 met them

00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:31.480
 in the

00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:31.920
 fire.

00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:33.539
 And you

00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:33.880
 know there

00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:34.420
 are times

00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:34.820
 in our

00:26:34.820 --> 00:26:35.620
 lives when

00:26:35.620 --> 00:26:36.440
 God lets

00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:36.940
 us go

00:26:36.940 --> 00:26:37.400
 through the

00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:38.200
 fires because

00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:38.800
 he needs

00:26:38.800 --> 00:26:39.140
 to do

00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:39.779
 something in

00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:40.480
 our lives.

00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:41.740
 He needs

00:26:41.740 --> 00:26:42.740
 to mold

00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:43.640
 us, shape

00:26:43.640 --> 00:26:44.259
 us, root

00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:44.820
 some things

00:26:44.820 --> 00:26:45.800
 out of us

00:26:45.800 --> 00:26:47.240
 or prepare

00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:48.019
 us for

00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:48.720
 something he

00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:49.900
 has for

00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:50.900
 us to do.

00:26:51.820 --> 00:26:52.180
 And you

00:26:52.180 --> 00:26:52.660
 know your

00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:53.759
 greatest testimony

00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.580
 as a child

00:26:54.580 --> 00:26:55.160
 of God is

00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:55.980
 not that

00:26:55.980 --> 00:26:57.340
 God prevented

00:26:57.340 --> 00:26:57.880
 you from

00:26:57.880 --> 00:26:58.539
 ever going

00:26:58.539 --> 00:26:58.900
 through the

00:26:58.900 --> 00:26:59.240
 fires.

00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:01.440
 your greatest

00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:02.920
 testimony is

00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:03.460
 that God

00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:04.039
 met you

00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.440
 in the

00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:05.500
 fire and

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.000
 that God

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.819
 walked with

00:27:06.819 --> 00:27:07.299
 you in

00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:07.920
 that fire

00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:08.680
 and God

00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:09.380
 took care

00:27:09.380 --> 00:27:09.859
 of you in

00:27:09.859 --> 00:27:10.400
 that fire

00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:11.140
 and God

00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:12.740
 worked according

00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:13.599
 to his will

00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:14.480
 and accomplished

00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:15.019
 the things

00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:15.859
 that he

00:27:15.859 --> 00:27:16.620
 wanted to

00:27:16.620 --> 00:27:17.500
 accomplish in

00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.019
 your life.

00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:18.960
 You know

00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:20.539
 today maybe

00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:21.140
 you're praying

00:27:21.140 --> 00:27:21.819
 for something

00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:22.839
 and you're

00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:23.460
 believing that

00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:24.200
 God is able.

00:27:25.319 --> 00:27:25.940
 Keep praying.

00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:27.420
 Keep trusting.

00:27:27.620 --> 00:27:28.279
 Keep asking

00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:28.879
 praying because

00:27:28.879 --> 00:27:29.839
 God is able.

00:27:30.339 --> 00:27:30.759
 And Jesus

00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.460
 told us in

00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:31.960
 the parable

00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:32.879
 of the

00:27:32.879 --> 00:27:33.480
 persistent

00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:34.819
 widow keep

00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:35.680
 coming to

00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:36.720
 him and

00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.480
 praying.

00:27:37.639 --> 00:27:38.200
 But also

00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:39.240
 in our

00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:41.079
 prayers ask

00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:41.500
 him to

00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:42.240
 develop our

00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:43.180
 faith to a

00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:43.819
 new level.

00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:44.420
 That our

00:27:44.420 --> 00:27:45.299
 faith is not

00:27:45.299 --> 00:27:46.019
 based on a

00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:46.579
 God just

00:27:46.579 --> 00:27:47.539
 taking care of

00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:48.200
 us and

00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:48.819
 making our

00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:49.619
 life good

00:27:49.619 --> 00:27:50.240
 and easy

00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:50.940
 and perfect

00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:52.220
 but that our

00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:53.279
 faith is built

00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:54.139
 on a God

00:27:54.139 --> 00:27:55.319
 that even if

00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:56.539
 he doesn't

00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:58.099
 deliver us

00:27:58.099 --> 00:27:59.339
 even if he

00:27:59.339 --> 00:28:00.440
 doesn't heal

00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:01.119
 us even if

00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:01.819
 he doesn't

00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:02.500
 heal our

00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:03.240
 loved ones

00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:05.319
 we're still

00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:05.740
 going to

00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:06.440
 worship him.

00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:07.480
 You know

00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:08.059
 because he

00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:08.659
 is a God

00:28:08.659 --> 00:28:09.139
 he is the

00:28:09.139 --> 00:28:10.119
 only one

00:28:10.119 --> 00:28:10.659
 true God

00:28:10.659 --> 00:28:11.759
 Jesus Christ

00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:13.159
 is the only

00:28:13.159 --> 00:28:14.039
 true God

00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:15.619
 and he came

00:28:15.619 --> 00:28:16.339
 to this earth

00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:17.139
 to die

00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:18.159
 for us.

00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:19.299
 He took

00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:20.119
 all of our

00:28:20.119 --> 00:28:21.740
 sin upon

00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:23.159
 himself and

00:28:23.159 --> 00:28:23.960
 took our

00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:25.759
 place and

00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:26.440
 one day

00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:27.299
 we'll be

00:28:27.299 --> 00:28:27.720
 able to

00:28:27.720 --> 00:28:28.619
 spend eternity

00:28:28.619 --> 00:28:29.019
 in heaven

00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:29.440
 and maybe

00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:30.079
 we'll care

00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:30.559
 about some

00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:30.740
 of the

00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:31.319
 answers but

00:28:31.319 --> 00:28:32.400
 probably not.

00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:34.579
 We'll probably

00:28:34.579 --> 00:28:35.559
 just get there

00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:36.980
 and that song

00:28:36.980 --> 00:28:37.539
 I can only

00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.180
 imagine I

00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:39.519
 know I

00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:39.900
 won't be on

00:28:39.900 --> 00:28:41.220
 my face on

00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:41.799
 the ground

00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:44.579
 before Jesus

00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:45.839
 Christ and

00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:46.259
 all the

00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:47.079
 heartache all

00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:47.799
 the hardships

00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:48.339
 all the

00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:49.220
 difficulties that

00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:49.799
 we've gone

00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:50.579
 through in

00:28:50.579 --> 00:28:51.619
 this lifetime

00:28:51.619 --> 00:28:52.299
 they're going

00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:53.039
 to seem like

00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:56.059
 nothing compared

00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:57.159
 to being in

00:28:57.159 --> 00:28:57.879
 the presence

00:28:57.879 --> 00:28:58.599
 of Jesus

00:28:58.599 --> 00:29:00.059
 Christ.

00:29:00.619 --> 00:29:01.579
 So today

00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:03.180
 as we close

00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:03.740
 I want you

00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:04.519
 to think about

00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:05.440
 asking God

00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:06.279
 to give you

00:29:06.279 --> 00:29:07.039
 that kind of

00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:07.359
 faith

00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:08.379
 to believe

00:29:08.379 --> 00:29:09.200
 that my God

00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:09.899
 is able

00:29:09.899 --> 00:29:12.579
 but even if

00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:13.180
 he doesn't

00:29:13.180 --> 00:29:15.099
 I will not

00:29:15.099 --> 00:29:15.940
 compromise

00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:17.360
 I will not

00:29:17.360 --> 00:29:22.100
 leave Christ

00:29:22.100 --> 00:29:23.200
 I will still

00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:24.320
 worship.

00:29:24.640 --> 00:29:25.120
 Let's go

00:29:25.120 --> 00:29:25.440
 to the Lord

00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:25.840
 in prayer.

00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:27.440
 Father

00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:29.460
 we come to

00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:29.759
 you today

00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:30.340
 and we thank

00:29:30.340 --> 00:29:30.860
 you for your

00:29:30.860 --> 00:29:31.240
 word.

00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:31.779
 We thank

00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:32.259
 you for your

00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:32.759
 truth.

00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:34.680
 We thank

00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:35.120
 you for this

00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:36.920
 example for

00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:37.440
 us in

00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:37.860
 scripture.

00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:40.480
 We ask

00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:40.980
 Lord that you

00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:41.600
 give us that

00:29:41.600 --> 00:29:42.340
 type of faith.

00:29:43.660 --> 00:29:44.600
 Give us that

00:29:44.600 --> 00:29:45.420
 type of faith.

00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:46.840
 that even

00:29:46.840 --> 00:29:47.740
 in the heartache

00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.320
 even in the

00:29:48.320 --> 00:29:48.960
 difficulties

00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:49.680
 even in the

00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:50.420
 sacrifices

00:29:50.420 --> 00:29:53.320
 that we will

00:29:53.320 --> 00:29:53.960
 still worship

00:29:53.960 --> 00:29:54.299
 you.

00:29:54.940 --> 00:29:55.640
 We thank

00:29:55.640 --> 00:29:56.100
 you for that

00:29:56.100 --> 00:29:56.580
 and praise

00:29:56.580 --> 00:29:56.799
 you in

00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.539
 Jesus name.

00:29:57.799 --> 00:29:58.100
 Amen.