WEBVTT

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 As I said, it is good to be here. It feels like it's been a little while. A few people have already let me know that I'm a new person, which is only a half-truth. I have been here a few times before.

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 But I'm particularly excited to be back and among the family that we have here, and particularly because we're going to start a new series today that I think is quite significant.

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 All the Bible is significant, but this book in particular, I think, is at a really significant point in history.

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 So I'm excited for us to unpack it and help us understand God's plan in what is a difficult situation, I think, in history.

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 So how about I pray, and then we're going to get stuck into the book of Daniel.

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 Father God, I thank you so much for the chance to be here this morning. I thank you for your word.

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 Lord, I ask that you give us open hearts and minds this morning. I ask that you give me your words, that you'll enable me to speak your truth clearly and faithfully.

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 And Lord, I pray that the result of us meeting together around your word will be that we're changed.

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 I ask that your spirit would be shaping us as a result of this time, that we might be more like Jesus. Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Just before we do start, I want to encourage you, if it's not your habit yet, to make it your habit.

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 We're going to work through Daniel for the next, I'm not sure, I think it's about five or six weeks.

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 At some point in that time, actually have a read of the whole book for yourself.

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 It's only 12 chapters, so it's a manageable amount.

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 But reading it for yourself at home will mean that when you come here on Sunday,

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 you'll actually have a really helpful framework for the stuff that we're going to look at in each sermon.

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 Because we're about to drop in on what I think is one of the most significant points in history,

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 we can't just kind of drop in there and then try and find our bearings.

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 So we're going to do a bit of work really quickly to make sure we know where we are and what we're looking at.

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 So this might be old news to some of you, and if so, that's great.

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 But if not, this will help us as we go forward.

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 So I'm going to give you a quick, very quick history of Israel up to the point that we're looking at in Daniel.

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 So for those of you who remember, basically in Genesis 12, we've got God chooses Abraham as a unique person,

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 and he makes some promises to him.

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 He says he's going to make Abraham into a great nation.

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 He's going to give him land, and he's going to bless him.

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 From that point, we kind of see God looking after Abraham's kids and Abraham's grandkids and Abraham's great-grandkids.

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 And progressively, this nation starts to build momentum in terms of people.

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 We go through the whole Egypt incident, and then finally, after Moses dies,

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 this growing nation of Israel steps into the land of Canaan, which is the land that God had promised to them.

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 They've got to fight and kick everyone else out, but then eventually we get to King David,

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 and King David is the point where they've beaten their enemies, or God's beaten their enemies.

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 They're in the land that God promised.

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 They're a great nation.

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 They're blessed.

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 They've got the temple.

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 God's with them.

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 Everything's going fantastic.

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 And they're all feeling pretty great, like, you know, this is the good team to be on.

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 But along the way, the whole time from the very beginning, God has warned them

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 that if they don't remain faithful to him, if they turn away to any other gods,

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 there's going to be consequences.

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 And after David, which is kind of the high point in Israel's history, there's this progressive slip where they start to ignore God more and more.

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 They get just kind of comfortable because they've got everything.

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 They've got the land.

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 They are a nation.

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 They feel blessed.

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 They've got the temple.

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 They've beaten everyone.

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 And they start to take for granted God.

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 They start to ignore the warnings that he's given them.

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 And they start to think God would never take this stuff away.

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 You know, we're his people.

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 We're special.

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 And with the book of Daniel, they are about to get a rude awakening.

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 They're about to get a reminder of who God is and how God works.

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 And so are we.

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 So look with me at Daniel chapter 1, verse 1.

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 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

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 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim, king of Judah, into his hand along with some of the articles from the temple of God.

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 These he carried off to the temple of his God in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his God.

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 So I've been watching the news over the last couple of weeks, and I'm sure that you've caught at least glimpses of this.

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 It's the biggest story in the world on Channel 9.

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 The Melbourne Storm saga.

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 What a fall from grace.

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 I mean, I've taken a secret pleasure in this because I'm an AFL fan.

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 So anything that damages rugby league is good for AFL, I figure.

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 But I wonder what it would be like to be a Melbourne Storm supporter at the moment.

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 I mean, this team that you love and that you support and that you're just so excited about, probably even a little bit cocky about, has just lost all credibility.

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 Everything they'd achieved, everything they'd worked hard for, everything they'd sacrificed for is gone.

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 The victories are gone.

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 The premierships are gone.

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 The popularity is gone.

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 I wonder if some of the Melbourne Storm supporters are looking for a new team to support.

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 I noticed on the news there was at least one supporter who walked up to the players' entrance at the Melbourne Storm's home ground,

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 took off his supporter jersey, threw it on the ground and walked away.

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 His unbeatable heroes are beaten, are fallen.

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 And I wonder if that's kind of how it would have felt for Daniel and Israel when this was happening.

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 They're watching the youngest and brightest men being carted off to another country.

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 They're watching the articles from the temple, the things they used to worship their God,

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 being shifted off to be used for some other pagan God in another country.

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 Their victorious land has been taken over.

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 Their great nation is now some pathetic little province of the superpower Babylon.

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 Their unbeatable God looks like he's been beaten.

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 Looks kind of powerless.

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 This Babylonian God and this Babylonian army seem to have overpowered what used to be an impressive God.

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 And I wonder how many people in Israel at that time were ready to take off their God jersey and throw it on the ground.

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 Were ready to find someone new to follow.

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 I mean, they signed up to be a great nation.

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 They signed up to get a land of their own.

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 They signed up for blessing.

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 And now it looks like that's all gone.

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 Now they're going to be servants of some foreign king.

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 Half the people are being sent away into exile.

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 And you have to wonder, if God can do something, why doesn't he?

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 And maybe you know what that feels like in your own life as well.

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 I mean, when you signed up to follow Jesus, it was great.

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 He was offering you forgiveness and a new life.

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 And there was people around you and it was exciting.

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 And, you know, you wanted to go to church.

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 You wanted to read the Bible and everything was fantastic.

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 But it didn't stay fantastic.

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 You started to realize that over time,

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 being a Christian doesn't change how many painful circumstances you face in life.

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 It doesn't change how hard life can get sometimes.

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 You still have to deal with people close to you, dying.

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 Maybe you've lost a job.

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 Maybe someone you care about a lot has given up on following Jesus.

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 And maybe you're asking the question,

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 if God can do something, why doesn't he?

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 You look around at the world, even beyond your circumstances,

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 you see suffering, you see poverty, you see famine.

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 And you start to wonder,

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 start to wonder, has God been beaten?

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 I mean, we'd never say that out loud.

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 We're Christians.

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 We believe that God's, you know, sovereign and in control.

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 But deep down,

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 where no one else knows,

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 do you ever ask the question,

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 is God still in control?

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 It'd be really easy to read this story of Daniel

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 and this book that we're looking at over the next few weeks

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 and kind of just skim through it and think,

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 oh, you know, oh darn, things have gone slightly amiss.

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 I mean, we've heard the Lion's Den story.

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 We've heard some of the stories of Daniel.

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 They're great Sunday school things.

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 But we need to understand how significant this situation is.

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 Israel is surrounded by a foreign army

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 in a land that they thought God had given them for good.

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 People would be fearing for their lives.

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 Some of the soldiers might have even died.

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 And now young men, as young as 12 or 15,

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 are being taken from their families

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 to probably never see them again.

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 God's people, God's nation of Israel

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 is effectively coming to an end.

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 And so you can understand

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 why they would be asking the question,

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 has God lost?

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 Is God beaten?

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 Is God still in control?

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 Plus, it gets even worse.

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 Have a look with me at verse 3.

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 It says,

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 Then the king, once they'd taken away some of the young men,

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 it says,

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 Then the king ordered Ashfenaz,

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 chief of his court officials,

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 to bring in some of the Israelites

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 from the royal family and the nobility.

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 Young men without any physical defect.

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 Handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning.

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 Well-informed, quick to understand,

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 and qualified to serve in the king's palace.

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 He was to teach them the language and literature

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 of the Babylonians.

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 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine

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 from the king's table.

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 They were to be trained for three years,

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 and after that,

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 they were to enter the king's service.

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 Among these were some from Judah.

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 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

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 The chief official gave them new names.

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 To Daniel, the name Belshazzar.

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 To Hananiah, Shadrach.

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 To Mishael, Meshach.

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 And to Azariah, Abednego.

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 See, not only have they been removed

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 from God's country,

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 not only has God's people been broken up

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 and separated,

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 not only have articles from God's temple

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 used for God's worship

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 been taken somewhere else to worship other gods,

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 these men are now going to be assimilated.

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 Nebuchadnezzar is going to make them Babylonian.

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 They've got to learn the language.

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 They've got to read the history books.

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 They've got to know everything there is to know

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 about Babylon and its culture

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 and its religion and its spirituality.

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 King Nebuchadnezzar is on a mission

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 to remove anything

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 that makes these men

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 distinctively Israelite.

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 Anything that makes them stand out

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 from somewhere else,

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 anything that makes them stand out

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 as belonging to God,

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 King Nebuchadnezzar

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 is going to break it away

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 and make them Babylonian.

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 And the hard part is

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 that there's something appealing

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 about what Nebuchadnezzar is doing.

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 I mean, sure, these young men

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 would have been devastated

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 by what was happening to them,

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 but it's a pretty good offer

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 they're getting when you think about it.

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 They're being offered education.

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 They're being offered positions

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 of prestige and respect

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 in the new Babylonian kingdom.

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 They'll be serving the king.

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 That's not lowly public service.

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 That's a place of significance in society.

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 They'll be receiving the king's food,

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 working in the king's palace.

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 We're talking quality meat, wine, fruit and veg,

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 and all they have to do

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 is give up on the God

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 who it looks like

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 has already abandoned them anyway.

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 In a foreign country,

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 it kind of feels to them like

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 the rules have changed.

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 Success and blessing

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 apparently doesn't come from God anymore.

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 It comes from doing things

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 the Babylonian way.

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 And you know what's funny?

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 I think our world's not that dissimilar to Babylon.

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 I mean, we would be forgiven

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 for thinking our world's not as hostile.

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 I mean, we live in a country where,

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 you know, it's fine to be a Christian.

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 It's pretty religiously tolerant around here.

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 As long as you don't annoy other people

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 with the fact that you believe in God,

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 it's fine for you to believe it.

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 In Sydney, and in Anglican Sydney,

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 we're, you know, pretty proud of the fact

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 that we teach the Bible well

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 and that, you know, we're really passionate

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 about finding biblical truth.

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 Here at St. Paul's,

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 we're one of six congregations

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 that are going to meet here today

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 and every Sunday.

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 There's a couple of other great

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 Bible-believing churches

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 within five or ten minutes from here.

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 And you could be forgiven

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 for, you know, starting to feel like

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 this is home.

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 This is where we belong.

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 But it's not.

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 The Bible makes it clear

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 from start to finish,

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 front to back,

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 all humanity

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 is at war

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 with its creator.

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 We are enemies of God.

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 By nature,

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 we're objects of wrath.

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 We deserve God's punishment.

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 And if you're following Jesus,

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 you need to recognise

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 that the world that you live in

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 is hostile.

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 Hostile to the one you follow

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 and hostile to you.

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 Whether you realise it or not,

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 you're in a process

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 of being slowly assimilated

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 into the culture of the world.

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 Every day you live in this culture,

00:13:56.219 --> 00:13:57.859
 you spend time engaging with people

00:13:57.859 --> 00:13:59.599
 who worship gods of self,

00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:01.019
 gods of money,

00:14:01.779 --> 00:14:02.779
 gods of success,

00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:04.319
 gods of nature,

00:14:04.779 --> 00:14:07.240
 and the world is trying to make you

00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:07.839
 like them.

00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:11.039
 Trying to remove anything

00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:13.240
 that makes you distinctively Christian,

00:14:14.199 --> 00:14:15.839
 anything that makes you stand out,

00:14:16.259 --> 00:14:17.479
 is now weird

00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:18.740
 and unacceptable.

00:14:22.460 --> 00:14:23.920
 One of the most popular books

00:14:23.920 --> 00:14:26.320
 over the last few years at least

00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:27.259
 is The Da Vinci Code.

00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:28.279
 Now, it's popular probably

00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:29.220
 for a couple of reasons.

00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:30.539
 It's pretty well written.

00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:32.000
 That's probably part of the reason

00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:32.600
 that it's popular.

00:14:33.180 --> 00:14:34.440
 But I think it's also popular

00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:36.340
 because the whole point of the book

00:14:36.340 --> 00:14:37.879
 is it's built around the premise

00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:39.480
 that Christianity is a big sham.

00:14:39.920 --> 00:14:40.860
 It's a big conspiracy

00:14:40.860 --> 00:14:42.000
 trying to trick people.

00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:43.740
 And so people love

00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:45.899
 to kind of just debunk those ideas

00:14:45.899 --> 00:14:47.179
 and kind of see Christianity

00:14:47.179 --> 00:14:49.100
 as the weird sideline thing.

00:14:50.179 --> 00:14:52.100
 So our society likes to make the norm

00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:53.299
 not believing in Jesus.

00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:55.699
 As we sit here,

00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:57.559
 there's a growing argument

00:14:57.559 --> 00:14:58.899
 in politics at the moment

00:14:58.899 --> 00:15:00.519
 as to whether or not young kids

00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:01.539
 should learn the Bible

00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:02.519
 at scripture in school.

00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:06.519
 Every day you watch TV,

00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:07.659
 read magazines,

00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:08.959
 drive past billboards

00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:10.240
 that make an effort

00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:11.900
 to display men and women

00:15:11.900 --> 00:15:14.200
 in a way that degrades them

00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:14.980
 compared to the way

00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:15.879
 the Bible shows them.

00:15:17.660 --> 00:15:19.720
 There is a relentless pursuit

00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:21.100
 for self-satisfaction

00:15:21.100 --> 00:15:21.780
 in this world.

00:15:22.340 --> 00:15:23.600
 And before you realise it,

00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:26.080
 you start to become

00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:28.280
 just like the world around you.

00:15:29.580 --> 00:15:30.759
 Before you realise it,

00:15:30.820 --> 00:15:32.700
 you start being less offended

00:15:32.700 --> 00:15:34.980
 by sexually explicit material.

00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:38.200
 Think about what it's okay

00:15:38.200 --> 00:15:39.200
 for you to watch on TV

00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:40.279
 compared to what was okay

00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:41.000
 to watch on TV

00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:41.879
 five years ago,

00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:43.100
 ten years ago.

00:15:45.139 --> 00:15:46.279
 Before you realise it,

00:15:46.340 --> 00:15:47.019
 you find yourself

00:15:47.019 --> 00:15:48.659
 rationalising the little lies

00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:50.159
 because that's a good way

00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:51.120
 to get ahead in life.

00:15:52.060 --> 00:15:53.300
 You're not lying on a resume,

00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:54.440
 you're just padding it out

00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:55.460
 so that you can get the job.

00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:58.080
 That's what everyone else does.

00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:01.840
 Unless you make a decision

00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:03.639
 to consciously fight,

00:16:04.560 --> 00:16:06.340
 to remain distinctive,

00:16:07.300 --> 00:16:09.139
 to stand out

00:16:09.139 --> 00:16:10.440
 as a follower of Jesus,

00:16:10.800 --> 00:16:11.960
 there's a good chance

00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:13.860
 that slowly but surely

00:16:13.860 --> 00:16:14.500
 you're going to move

00:16:14.500 --> 00:16:15.280
 in the other direction.

00:16:17.060 --> 00:16:18.340
 If you don't realise

00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:19.440
 that everything in this world

00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:20.540
 is working to make you

00:16:20.540 --> 00:16:21.420
 less like Jesus,

00:16:22.200 --> 00:16:24.940
 then it's going to succeed.

00:16:24.940 --> 00:16:29.100
 We are slowly being assimilated

00:16:29.100 --> 00:16:30.460
 by the culture we live in

00:16:30.460 --> 00:16:32.000
 and we're being convinced

00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:33.000
 to worship a whole bunch

00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:34.220
 of things that aren't God.

00:16:35.100 --> 00:16:36.740
 And there's no denying

00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:39.240
 that the power of

00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:40.440
 what this world is doing

00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:42.000
 is that it's kind of appealing.

00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:44.100
 Just like these young men

00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:45.280
 in Babylon had the chance

00:16:45.280 --> 00:16:47.500
 to be in positions of status,

00:16:48.040 --> 00:16:49.200
 had a chance to be

00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:50.540
 in the king's palace,

00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:52.280
 in our world,

00:16:52.780 --> 00:16:54.060
 it's the people who ignore God

00:16:54.060 --> 00:16:54.900
 who seem to do okay.

00:16:54.940 --> 00:16:57.860
 It's the people who lie

00:16:57.860 --> 00:16:58.700
 who get rich quicker.

00:16:59.380 --> 00:17:00.460
 It's the people who are dishonest

00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:01.480
 and self-absorbed

00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:03.140
 that seem to be, you know,

00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:04.100
 have the stuff,

00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:06.019
 have the things that are supposed

00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:06.840
 to make you happy

00:17:06.840 --> 00:17:08.000
 and at the same time

00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:09.620
 it's the good faithful Christians

00:17:09.620 --> 00:17:10.920
 that often seem to go

00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:12.140
 from hardship to hardship

00:17:12.140 --> 00:17:14.039
 or never get out of a cycle

00:17:14.039 --> 00:17:15.180
 of constant suffering.

00:17:17.580 --> 00:17:19.279
 Yet God calls us

00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:20.900
 to remain distinctive.

00:17:20.900 --> 00:17:23.980
 He doesn't call us

00:17:23.980 --> 00:17:25.380
 to leave a hostile world.

00:17:25.900 --> 00:17:27.540
 He calls us to remain here

00:17:27.540 --> 00:17:29.500
 but remain distinctive

00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:30.140
 as Christians.

00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:32.580
 In 1 Peter chapter 2,

00:17:32.860 --> 00:17:33.759
 just after the passage

00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:34.519
 that was read for us

00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:35.240
 in verse 11,

00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:37.720
 Peter writes these words.

00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:38.120
 He says,

00:17:38.119 --> 00:17:38.799
 Dear friends,

00:17:38.979 --> 00:17:40.539
 I urge you as aliens

00:17:40.539 --> 00:17:41.699
 and strangers

00:17:41.699 --> 00:17:42.879
 in the world

00:17:42.879 --> 00:17:45.279
 to abstain from sinful desires

00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:46.559
 which war against your soul,

00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:48.439
 live such good lives

00:17:48.439 --> 00:17:49.319
 among the pagans

00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:50.579
 that though they accuse you

00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:51.259
 of doing wrong,

00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:52.799
 they may see your good deeds

00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:54.019
 and glorify God

00:17:54.019 --> 00:17:55.559
 on the day he visits us.

00:17:55.899 --> 00:17:56.959
 God is calling us

00:17:56.959 --> 00:17:58.359
 to stand out for him

00:17:58.359 --> 00:17:59.059
 in a world

00:17:59.059 --> 00:18:00.639
 that doesn't want to know him.

00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:01.919
 And Daniel

00:18:01.919 --> 00:18:03.839
 is going to show us how.

00:18:03.959 --> 00:18:05.000
 Look with me at verse 8.

00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:07.380
 Daniel resolved

00:18:07.380 --> 00:18:09.019
 not to defile himself

00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:10.119
 with the royal food

00:18:10.119 --> 00:18:11.079
 and wine

00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:12.460
 and he asked the chief official

00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:13.140
 for permission

00:18:13.140 --> 00:18:14.740
 not to defile himself this way.

00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:17.079
 Now God had caused the official

00:18:17.079 --> 00:18:18.359
 to show favour and sympathy

00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:18.920
 to Daniel

00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:20.579
 but the official told Daniel,

00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:22.180
 I'm afraid of my lord the king

00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:23.339
 who has assigned your food

00:18:23.339 --> 00:18:24.500
 and drink.

00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:26.079
 Why should he see you

00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:26.680
 looking worse

00:18:26.680 --> 00:18:27.599
 than the other young men

00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:28.119
 your age?

00:18:28.279 --> 00:18:29.119
 The king would then

00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:29.819
 have my head

00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:30.500
 because of you.

00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:32.299
 Daniel then said

00:18:32.299 --> 00:18:32.799
 to the guard

00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:33.720
 whom the chief official

00:18:33.720 --> 00:18:34.960
 had appointed over Daniel,

00:18:35.140 --> 00:18:35.660
 Hananiah,

00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:37.079
 Mishael and Azariah

00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:39.079
 please test your servants

00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:39.940
 for 10 days.

00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:41.160
 Give us nothing

00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:42.299
 but vegetables to eat

00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:43.200
 and water to drink

00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:44.920
 then compare our appearance

00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:46.160
 with that of the young men

00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:47.420
 who eat the royal food

00:18:47.420 --> 00:18:48.799
 and treat your servants

00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:49.420
 in accordance

00:18:49.420 --> 00:18:50.559
 with what you see.

00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.400
 So he agreed to this

00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:54.120
 and tested them

00:18:54.120 --> 00:18:54.960
 for 10 days.

00:18:56.339 --> 00:18:58.059
 So in spite of the appeal

00:18:58.059 --> 00:18:58.779
 of what Babylon

00:18:58.779 --> 00:18:59.519
 has to offer

00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:01.200
 Daniel still makes a point

00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:01.940
 of saying no.

00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:05.140
 But he doesn't say no

00:19:05.140 --> 00:19:06.700
 to what you might expect

00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:07.519
 him to say no to.

00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:09.360
 He's already accepted

00:19:09.360 --> 00:19:10.279
 a name change.

00:19:10.420 --> 00:19:11.220
 He's already accepted

00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:12.400
 the training they've offered him.

00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:13.120
 He's already moved

00:19:13.120 --> 00:19:13.920
 to a new city.

00:19:17.140 --> 00:19:18.480
 But at this point

00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:19.759
 Daniel stands up

00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:20.500
 and says no.

00:19:22.420 --> 00:19:23.920
 Even with everything changing,

00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:25.420
 everything against him,

00:19:25.900 --> 00:19:26.759
 there's still a point

00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:27.420
 where Daniel says

00:19:27.420 --> 00:19:28.460
 I will not compromise.

00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.799
 But why is it this?

00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:33.519
 Why refuse meat and wine?

00:19:33.639 --> 00:19:34.919
 Why refuse a good feed

00:19:34.919 --> 00:19:36.039
 that's going to keep you healthy?

00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:38.919
 I mean,

00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:40.279
 he's accepted a new name

00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:41.319
 which is designed

00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:43.240
 to make him feel

00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:44.279
 like he belongs to Babylon.

00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:45.720
 He's studied

00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:46.659
 Babylonian literature.

00:19:46.919 --> 00:19:48.079
 He's probably even studied

00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:49.500
 Babylonian religion

00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:50.440
 and spirituality.

00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:53.919
 Yet food is the thing

00:19:53.919 --> 00:19:54.720
 that he will not

00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.659
 defile himself with.

00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:56.000
 Why?

00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:56.480
 Well,

00:19:57.700 --> 00:19:58.500
 there's no such thing

00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.299
 as a free lunch.

00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:00.599
 Have you ever been out

00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:01.440
 to lunch with someone

00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:02.500
 and, you know,

00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.339
 they offer to pay,

00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:04.539
 it's no strings attached,

00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:05.119
 it's fine,

00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:06.079
 they're just feeling generous

00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:06.779
 and you think,

00:20:06.900 --> 00:20:07.740
 great, fantastic,

00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:08.519
 I'll take it,

00:20:08.579 --> 00:20:09.099
 I'm going to go back

00:20:09.099 --> 00:20:09.819
 and order seconds.

00:20:10.599 --> 00:20:11.319
 But then,

00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:12.720
 half a week later

00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.599
 you get a phone call

00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:14.400
 and that same friend

00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:15.099
 needs a favour.

00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:17.799
 And suddenly it's harder

00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.460
 to say no

00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:19.160
 than it would have been

00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:19.859
 if you paid

00:20:19.859 --> 00:20:20.579
 for your own lunch.

00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:22.660
 Or every time

00:20:22.660 --> 00:20:23.619
 you see them after that

00:20:23.619 --> 00:20:24.819
 they just kind of remind you

00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:26.119
 that they paid last time

00:20:26.119 --> 00:20:26.779
 and you owe them.

00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:29.639
 There's no such thing

00:20:29.639 --> 00:20:30.559
 as a free lunch

00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:31.279
 and it was the same

00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:31.740
 for Daniel.

00:20:31.879 --> 00:20:32.379
 Daniel knew

00:20:32.379 --> 00:20:33.419
 that it wasn't just food

00:20:33.419 --> 00:20:33.919
 that the king

00:20:33.919 --> 00:20:34.599
 was offering him.

00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:36.139
 In the ancient world

00:20:36.139 --> 00:20:37.059
 receiving food

00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:39.059
 and receiving provision

00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:39.639
 from someone

00:20:39.639 --> 00:20:40.319
 like a king

00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:41.960
 was a way of saying

00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:43.319
 I'm your servant.

00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:44.720
 It was a way

00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:45.939
 of declaring your allegiance

00:20:45.939 --> 00:20:46.659
 to someone.

00:20:48.579 --> 00:20:49.059
 And so Daniel

00:20:49.059 --> 00:20:50.379
 accepted these other things.

00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:51.439
 He accepted a name

00:20:51.439 --> 00:20:52.619
 that supposedly

00:20:52.619 --> 00:20:53.939
 transferred him

00:20:53.939 --> 00:20:54.700
 away from God

00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:55.420
 because he knew

00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:56.539
 who he was

00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:57.759
 he knew who he belonged to

00:20:57.759 --> 00:21:01.279
 but he refused

00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:02.120
 to do anything

00:21:02.120 --> 00:21:03.940
 that was a willing

00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:04.880
 and intentional

00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:06.279
 step away

00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:07.000
 from his commitment

00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:07.559
 to God.

00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:10.140
 He refused

00:21:10.140 --> 00:21:11.039
 to do anything

00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:13.640
 that would say

00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:14.140
 to God

00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:15.420
 I'm now following

00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:16.400
 this person.

00:21:17.580 --> 00:21:18.200
 Daniel remains

00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:19.259
 distinctive as God

00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:20.019
 in a culture

00:21:20.019 --> 00:21:20.559
 that is doing

00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.559
 everything it can

00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:22.559
 to transform him

00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:23.599
 and there's two

00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:24.519
 things that we need

00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:25.179
 to grab from

00:21:25.179 --> 00:21:26.079
 Daniel's example

00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:27.259
 if we hope

00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:28.139
 to remain distinctive

00:21:28.139 --> 00:21:29.659
 in the hostile world

00:21:29.659 --> 00:21:30.480
 that we live in.

00:21:31.179 --> 00:21:32.559
 Two really simple things

00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:33.379
 simple to say

00:21:33.379 --> 00:21:35.519
 but maybe a little bit

00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:36.619
 harder to live out.

00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:39.079
 First thing

00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:42.000
 Daniel knows

00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:43.460
 when to say no.

00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:45.440
 Daniel knows

00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:46.159
 when to say no.

00:21:46.579 --> 00:21:47.339
 It's really interesting

00:21:47.339 --> 00:21:48.779
 that Daniel

00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:50.339
 puts up with all that stuff.

00:21:50.339 --> 00:21:51.740
 he puts up

00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:52.480
 with a new country

00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:53.619
 he puts up

00:21:53.619 --> 00:21:54.319
 with a new name

00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:55.220
 he puts up

00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:55.779
 with training

00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:57.619
 he puts up

00:21:57.619 --> 00:21:58.059
 with living

00:21:58.059 --> 00:21:59.179
 in this new culture

00:21:59.179 --> 00:21:59.799
 completely

00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:01.439
 in fact

00:22:01.439 --> 00:22:02.299
 he even uses

00:22:02.299 --> 00:22:02.819
 the training

00:22:02.819 --> 00:22:03.599
 that they give him

00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:04.279
 to serve

00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:05.579
 the Babylonian kingdom

00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:06.539
 he becomes

00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:07.559
 a significant man

00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:08.559
 in the king's palace

00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:14.519
 but there is a point

00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:15.240
 where he says no.

00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:16.619
 So I think

00:22:16.619 --> 00:22:17.139
 sometimes

00:22:17.139 --> 00:22:17.579
 the temptation

00:22:17.579 --> 00:22:18.639
 for us as Christians

00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:19.460
 is to kind of

00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:20.440
 hide away

00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:21.520
 from the evil world

00:22:21.520 --> 00:22:22.400
 that's around us

00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:23.259
 you know

00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:24.180
 we kind of look around

00:22:24.180 --> 00:22:24.880
 and we don't want

00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:25.580
 to get contaminated

00:22:25.580 --> 00:22:26.759
 by the pagan people

00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:27.900
 and their pagan hobbies

00:22:27.900 --> 00:22:29.560
 and their pagan TV shows

00:22:29.560 --> 00:22:31.040
 and their pagan movies

00:22:31.040 --> 00:22:32.240
 and whatever else

00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.080
 we kind of turn up

00:22:33.080 --> 00:22:33.580
 our nose

00:22:33.580 --> 00:22:34.720
 at the people around us

00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:35.840
 and think they're bad

00:22:35.840 --> 00:22:36.400
 and we're not

00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:37.759
 and we just keep saying no

00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:38.560
 and keep saying no

00:22:38.560 --> 00:22:39.700
 and rejecting all these things

00:22:39.700 --> 00:22:40.220
 and I think

00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:40.880
 you know

00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:41.480
 as Christians

00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:42.360
 we're almost too good

00:22:42.360 --> 00:22:43.020
 at saying no

00:22:43.020 --> 00:22:43.900
 but I wonder

00:22:43.900 --> 00:22:45.400
 if we get so preoccupied

00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:46.180
 with saying no

00:22:46.180 --> 00:22:47.799
 but everything in the world

00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:50.640
 that we're choosing

00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:51.620
 that we're missing

00:22:51.620 --> 00:22:52.320
 the things

00:22:52.320 --> 00:22:53.420
 that actually matter

00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:55.460
 see what we need

00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:56.420
 to learn from Daniel

00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:57.279
 is when

00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:58.580
 to say no

00:22:58.580 --> 00:23:01.320
 Daniel immerses himself

00:23:01.320 --> 00:23:02.560
 in this Babylonian culture

00:23:02.560 --> 00:23:03.779
 he doesn't hide in a tent

00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:04.759
 or hide under his bed

00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:05.799
 and stay away from anything

00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:07.140
 that might be remotely bad

00:23:07.140 --> 00:23:09.340
 he was happy to study

00:23:09.340 --> 00:23:12.380
 so long as it didn't compromise

00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:13.600
 his commitment to God

00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:15.980
 he was happy for a new name

00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:17.000
 because that didn't change

00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:18.059
 that he still loved God

00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:20.179
 he was happy for a new city

00:23:20.179 --> 00:23:21.319
 because that didn't change

00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:22.339
 that he still loved God

00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:23.879
 but he wasn't willing

00:23:23.879 --> 00:23:25.859
 to eat a meal

00:23:25.859 --> 00:23:27.219
 that would be his way

00:23:27.219 --> 00:23:27.759
 of saying

00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:29.480
 now Nebuchadnezzar

00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:30.259
 comes first

00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:33.859
 God is calling us

00:23:33.859 --> 00:23:35.240
 to be in this world

00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:36.899
 so that we can be a light

00:23:36.899 --> 00:23:38.719
 in it

00:23:38.719 --> 00:23:39.599
 but not of it

00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:41.819
 the challenge for us

00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:43.960
 is when do we say no

00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:46.039
 I mean

00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:47.079
 in church

00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:47.559
 we're pretty good

00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:48.539
 at rejecting culture

00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:50.439
 throughout the decades

00:23:50.439 --> 00:23:51.240
 church has worked

00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:51.720
 really hard

00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:52.839
 to keep certain things

00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:53.919
 from the world

00:23:53.919 --> 00:23:54.559
 outside

00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:56.079
 you know

00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:56.899
 some people fought

00:23:56.899 --> 00:23:57.579
 tooth and nail

00:23:57.579 --> 00:23:58.240
 to make sure

00:23:58.240 --> 00:24:00.039
 that the world's music

00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:01.319
 never made it in here

00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:03.679
 and drums

00:24:03.679 --> 00:24:04.720
 finally got in the door

00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:05.879
 a few years ago

00:24:05.879 --> 00:24:07.759
 some people

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.500
 are still fighting

00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:09.179
 tooth and nail

00:24:09.179 --> 00:24:10.000
 to make sure

00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:11.279
 that the church

00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:13.180
 remains a pointy building

00:24:13.180 --> 00:24:14.299
 with a cross on the top

00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:15.640
 because you know

00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:16.299
 we don't want to

00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:17.799
 engage with the world's

00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:18.519
 kind of fancy

00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:19.359
 technological

00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:20.339
 air conditioned

00:24:20.339 --> 00:24:21.279
 comfy chairs

00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:22.740
 you know

00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:23.619
 the church is supposed

00:24:23.619 --> 00:24:24.519
 to have a pointy roof

00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:25.759
 and uncomfortable chairs

00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:26.200
 apparently

00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:27.140
 and

00:24:27.140 --> 00:24:29.319
 we fight for these things

00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:30.019
 and we say no

00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:30.660
 to these things

00:24:30.660 --> 00:24:31.279
 of the world

00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:33.440
 but at the same time

00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:34.000
 we're

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:35.160
 embracing

00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:36.339
 other aspects

00:24:36.339 --> 00:24:37.319
 that are pulling us

00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:38.079
 away from Jesus

00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:40.339
 we're fighting

00:24:40.339 --> 00:24:41.099
 for things like

00:24:41.099 --> 00:24:42.199
 pews and music

00:24:42.199 --> 00:24:44.319
 but we're

00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:45.359
 progressively becoming

00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:46.559
 more self-obsessed

00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:49.199
 less servant-hearted

00:24:49.199 --> 00:24:52.179
 more sexually immoral

00:24:52.179 --> 00:24:53.859
 dishonest

00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:56.639
 we're doing less

00:24:56.639 --> 00:24:57.259
 and less

00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:58.039
 about injustice

00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:58.699
 and suffering

00:24:58.699 --> 00:24:59.279
 in the world

00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:01.000
 but hey

00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:02.319
 at least we don't

00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:03.319
 have the world's music

00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:09.179
 we need to let go

00:25:09.179 --> 00:25:10.159
 of what doesn't matter

00:25:10.159 --> 00:25:13.240
 we need to let go

00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:14.299
 of the parts of culture

00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:16.619
 that have no impact

00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:18.379
 on how much we love Jesus

00:25:18.379 --> 00:25:19.819
 in fact

00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:20.879
 sometimes we can even

00:25:20.879 --> 00:25:21.500
 use it

00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:25.439
 and that way

00:25:25.439 --> 00:25:26.159
 we'll be ready

00:25:26.159 --> 00:25:29.599
 to recognise the things

00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:30.359
 that we must

00:25:30.359 --> 00:25:31.139
 say no to

00:25:31.140 --> 00:25:32.740
 to recognise

00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:33.580
 the things

00:25:33.580 --> 00:25:35.300
 that will lead us

00:25:35.300 --> 00:25:36.340
 away from Jesus

00:25:36.340 --> 00:25:37.900
 the things that

00:25:37.900 --> 00:25:38.500
 compromise

00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:40.200
 the most important

00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:40.700
 person

00:25:40.700 --> 00:25:42.240
 the first thing

00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:42.680
 we need to learn

00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:43.180
 from Daniel

00:25:43.180 --> 00:25:44.800
 is when to say no

00:25:44.800 --> 00:25:46.200
 the second thing

00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:47.640
 God is always

00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:48.400
 in control

00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:49.900
 trust God

00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:51.060
 it sounds so simple

00:25:51.060 --> 00:25:52.420
 trust God

00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:53.080
 we always say it

00:25:53.080 --> 00:25:53.540
 to each other

00:25:53.540 --> 00:25:54.100
 things are tough

00:25:54.100 --> 00:25:54.780
 trust God

00:25:54.780 --> 00:25:55.580
 trust him

00:25:55.580 --> 00:25:56.400
 because he's in control

00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:58.140
 but you'd forgive

00:25:58.140 --> 00:25:58.880
 Daniel for

00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:00.240
 asking the question

00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:01.299
 has God lost control

00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:01.720
 wouldn't you

00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:03.680
 all these promises

00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:04.160
 land

00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:04.740
 great nation

00:26:04.740 --> 00:26:05.079
 blessing

00:26:05.079 --> 00:26:06.160
 seem like they're

00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:06.579
 disappearing

00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:08.460
 it seems like

00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:09.099
 everything's going

00:26:09.099 --> 00:26:09.500
 wrong

00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:11.779
 Daniel's in a

00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:12.500
 foreign country

00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:14.599
 and it looks like

00:26:14.599 --> 00:26:15.500
 God's lost control

00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:17.140
 but look

00:26:17.140 --> 00:26:18.180
 at the story

00:26:18.180 --> 00:26:18.880
 with me again

00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:20.839
 verse 2

00:26:20.839 --> 00:26:23.279
 the Lord

00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:23.779
 delivered

00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:25.900
 verse 9

00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:27.519
 God

00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:28.099
 caused the

00:26:28.099 --> 00:26:28.539
 official

00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:30.220
 verse 17

00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:31.779
 God gave

00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:32.240
 knowledge and

00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:32.819
 understanding

00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:34.379
 the single

00:26:34.379 --> 00:26:35.480
 most devastating

00:26:35.480 --> 00:26:36.159
 event in

00:26:36.159 --> 00:26:37.079
 Israel's history

00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:38.779
 was not the

00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:39.200
 point where

00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:40.059
 God lost grip

00:26:40.059 --> 00:26:40.659
 on the wheel

00:26:40.659 --> 00:26:43.200
 but it was an

00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:44.159
 essential part

00:26:44.159 --> 00:26:44.980
 of God's plan

00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:46.639
 for this world

00:26:46.639 --> 00:26:49.859
 this is God

00:26:49.859 --> 00:26:50.480
 keeping his

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.039
 promise to

00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:51.700
 punish Israel

00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:52.180
 for being

00:26:52.180 --> 00:26:52.819
 unfaithful

00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:54.059
 and even though

00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:54.680
 Daniel couldn't

00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:55.519
 see what God

00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:55.980
 was doing

00:26:55.980 --> 00:26:57.019
 or how God

00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:57.579
 was doing it

00:26:57.579 --> 00:26:58.019
 even though he

00:26:58.019 --> 00:26:58.519
 didn't know the

00:26:58.519 --> 00:26:59.299
 details or the

00:26:59.299 --> 00:26:59.720
 specifics

00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:01.779
 he trusted him

00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:05.720
 because he knew

00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:06.740
 that God was

00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:07.240
 always in

00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:07.720
 control

00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:09.480
 someone once

00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:09.980
 told me that

00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:10.559
 my life was

00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:11.059
 kind of like a

00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:11.699
 puzzle piece

00:27:11.699 --> 00:27:12.839
 you know it's

00:27:12.839 --> 00:27:13.599
 kind of funny

00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:14.460
 shaped edges

00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:15.099
 doesn't make a

00:27:15.099 --> 00:27:15.519
 lot of sense

00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.220
 by itself

00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:18.960
 but when you

00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:19.720
 put it in the

00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:20.039
 puzzle

00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:21.119
 when you surround

00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:21.579
 it with all the

00:27:21.579 --> 00:27:22.199
 other pieces

00:27:22.199 --> 00:27:23.559
 the picture

00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:24.359
 becomes clear

00:27:24.359 --> 00:27:26.179
 and my

00:27:26.179 --> 00:27:26.919
 perspective in

00:27:26.919 --> 00:27:27.559
 life and your

00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:28.279
 perspective in

00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:29.559
 life is just

00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:30.379
 our little puzzle

00:27:30.379 --> 00:27:30.819
 piece

00:27:30.819 --> 00:27:32.179
 it doesn't

00:27:32.179 --> 00:27:32.799
 always make

00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:33.439
 sense why

00:27:33.439 --> 00:27:34.079
 it's that way

00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:34.799
 it doesn't

00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:35.279
 always make

00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:35.959
 sense what's

00:27:35.959 --> 00:27:36.459
 happening or

00:27:36.459 --> 00:27:37.000
 what God's

00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:37.699
 doing or how

00:27:37.699 --> 00:27:38.439
 he's doing it

00:27:38.439 --> 00:27:39.539
 but God can

00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:40.179
 see the whole

00:27:40.179 --> 00:27:40.559
 picture

00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:42.740
 and God has

00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:43.619
 designed every

00:27:43.619 --> 00:27:44.839
 specific circumstance

00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:45.799
 that you face

00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:47.539
 every event of

00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:48.039
 your life

00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:48.839
 every person you

00:27:48.839 --> 00:27:49.679
 interact with

00:27:49.679 --> 00:27:51.019
 exactly the way

00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:51.779
 he needed to

00:27:51.779 --> 00:27:52.559
 so that your

00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:53.339
 piece would fit

00:27:53.339 --> 00:27:55.259
 perfectly within

00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:56.119
 his plan for

00:27:56.119 --> 00:27:56.660
 creation

00:27:56.660 --> 00:28:00.240
 God doesn't

00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:01.059
 make mistakes

00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:02.980
 your life is

00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:03.700
 the detailed

00:28:03.700 --> 00:28:04.839
 work of a

00:28:04.839 --> 00:28:05.859
 master craftsman

00:28:05.859 --> 00:28:08.059
 who is achieving

00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:09.039
 his unstoppable

00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:11.700
 plan in his

00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:12.079
 world

00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:15.359
 you won't

00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:16.079
 always know

00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:16.599
 what God's

00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:16.859
 doing

00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:19.160
 you won't

00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:19.859
 always know

00:28:19.859 --> 00:28:20.819
 how he's doing

00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:21.559
 it or why

00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:22.079
 he's doing

00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:24.319
 it but you

00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:24.779
 can be sure

00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:25.240
 that whatever's

00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:26.559
 happening he's

00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:27.079
 doing it

00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:29.319
 he's still in

00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:29.799
 control

00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:32.779
 over the next

00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:33.299
 couple of weeks

00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:34.480
 in Daniel we're

00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:34.859
 going to get to

00:28:34.859 --> 00:28:35.539
 see a little bit

00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:36.879
 more about how

00:28:36.879 --> 00:28:37.740
 God uses an

00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:38.559
 event like this

00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:40.119
 exile to achieve

00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:40.759
 his purposes

00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:42.720
 we're going to

00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:43.399
 see how this

00:28:43.399 --> 00:28:44.899
 monumental fall

00:28:44.899 --> 00:28:45.639
 from grace

00:28:45.639 --> 00:28:46.599
 from the heights

00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:47.419
 of King David

00:28:47.419 --> 00:28:48.679
 to exile in

00:28:48.679 --> 00:28:50.220
 Babylon was

00:28:50.220 --> 00:28:51.519
 part was an

00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:52.539
 essential part

00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:53.359
 of God's

00:28:53.359 --> 00:28:54.420
 plan to

00:28:54.420 --> 00:28:55.119
 bring salvation

00:28:55.119 --> 00:28:55.799
 to the world

00:28:55.799 --> 00:28:58.539
 and even

00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:58.920
 though he

00:28:58.920 --> 00:28:59.279
 didn't know

00:28:59.279 --> 00:28:59.680
 what God

00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:00.180
 was doing

00:29:00.180 --> 00:29:02.099
 Daniel knew

00:29:02.099 --> 00:29:02.680
 God was doing

00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:03.720
 something and

00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:04.319
 so he trusted

00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:04.639
 him

00:29:04.639 --> 00:29:10.180
 God has

00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:11.000
 left you in

00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:11.779
 this world

00:29:11.779 --> 00:29:13.500
 hostile as it

00:29:13.500 --> 00:29:13.940
 is

00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:22.039
 God has

00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:22.920
 left you here

00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:24.840
 the question

00:29:24.840 --> 00:29:25.299
 is will you

00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:25.880
 trust him

00:29:25.880 --> 00:29:28.380
 will you

00:29:28.380 --> 00:29:28.900
 trust his

00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:29.400
 way even

00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:29.640
 though you

00:29:29.640 --> 00:29:29.980
 don't know

00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:30.320
 how it

00:29:30.320 --> 00:29:30.900
 pans out

00:29:30.900 --> 00:29:32.900
 God

00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:33.540
 our passage

00:29:33.540 --> 00:29:34.259
 today finishes

00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:34.759
 with a little

00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:35.240
 glimmer of

00:29:35.240 --> 00:29:35.540
 hope

00:29:35.540 --> 00:29:36.460
 well actually

00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:36.840
 it's more

00:29:36.840 --> 00:29:37.100
 than a

00:29:37.100 --> 00:29:37.320
 glimmer

00:29:37.320 --> 00:29:38.019
 it's kind

00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:38.360
 of like a

00:29:38.360 --> 00:29:38.880
 fog horn

00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:39.280
 for anyone

00:29:39.280 --> 00:29:39.680
 who hasn't

00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:39.960
 got it

00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:40.180
 yet

00:29:40.180 --> 00:29:42.180
 look with

00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:42.600
 me at

00:29:42.600 --> 00:29:43.440
 verse 15

00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:44.840
 it says

00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:45.220
 at the end

00:29:45.220 --> 00:29:45.740
 of the ten

00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:46.240
 days they

00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:46.959
 looked healthier

00:29:46.959 --> 00:29:47.559
 this is after

00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:48.179
 the test of

00:29:48.179 --> 00:29:48.539
 just eating

00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:49.099
 vegetables and

00:29:49.099 --> 00:29:49.359
 water

00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:50.079
 at the end

00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:50.500
 of the ten

00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:50.919
 days they

00:29:50.919 --> 00:29:51.439
 looked healthier

00:29:51.439 --> 00:29:51.759
 and better

00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:52.299
 nourished than

00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:52.799
 any of the

00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:53.220
 young men

00:29:53.220 --> 00:29:53.639
 who ate the

00:29:53.639 --> 00:29:54.220
 royal food

00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:55.099
 so the guard

00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:55.699
 took away their

00:29:55.699 --> 00:29:56.339
 choice food and

00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:56.879
 the wine they

00:29:56.879 --> 00:29:57.339
 were to drink

00:29:57.339 --> 00:29:57.919
 and gave them

00:29:57.919 --> 00:29:58.799
 vegetables instead

00:29:58.799 --> 00:30:00.299
 to these four

00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:01.039
 young men God

00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:01.879
 gave knowledge and

00:30:01.879 --> 00:30:02.579
 understanding of

00:30:02.579 --> 00:30:03.419
 all kinds of

00:30:03.419 --> 00:30:03.959
 literature and

00:30:03.959 --> 00:30:04.519
 learning and

00:30:04.519 --> 00:30:04.959
 Daniel could

00:30:04.959 --> 00:30:05.759
 understand visions

00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:06.539
 and dreams of

00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.119
 all kinds

00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:08.639
 at the end of

00:30:08.639 --> 00:30:09.419
 the time set by

00:30:09.419 --> 00:30:09.959
 the king to

00:30:09.959 --> 00:30:10.539
 bring them in

00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:11.419
 the chief official

00:30:11.419 --> 00:30:12.159
 presented them to

00:30:12.159 --> 00:30:12.839
 Nebuchadnezzar

00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:14.179
 the king talked

00:30:14.179 --> 00:30:14.699
 with them and

00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:15.620
 he found none

00:30:15.620 --> 00:30:17.039
 equal to Daniel

00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:17.840
 Hananiah

00:30:17.840 --> 00:30:18.819
 Mishael and

00:30:18.819 --> 00:30:20.080
 Azariah so

00:30:20.080 --> 00:30:20.920
 they entered the

00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:21.580
 king's service

00:30:21.580 --> 00:30:23.220
 in every matter

00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:23.940
 of wisdom and

00:30:23.940 --> 00:30:24.740
 understanding about

00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:25.340
 which the king

00:30:25.340 --> 00:30:26.039
 questioned them

00:30:26.039 --> 00:30:26.980
 he found them

00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:28.539
 ten times better

00:30:28.539 --> 00:30:29.720
 than all the

00:30:29.720 --> 00:30:30.400
 magicians and

00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:31.279
 enchanters in his

00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:32.080
 whole kingdom

00:30:32.080 --> 00:30:34.360
 and Daniel remained

00:30:34.360 --> 00:30:35.120
 there until the

00:30:35.120 --> 00:30:36.039
 first year of

00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:36.860
 king Cyrus

00:30:36.860 --> 00:30:40.980
 the chapter starts

00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:41.680
 with us asking

00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:42.340
 the question

00:30:42.340 --> 00:30:44.160
 is God beaten

00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:47.240
 are these

00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:48.140
 Babylonian gods

00:30:48.140 --> 00:30:48.740
 suddenly more

00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:49.240
 powerful

00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:51.080
 and it ends

00:30:51.080 --> 00:30:51.840
 with God

00:30:51.840 --> 00:30:53.779
 reminding us

00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:55.779
 that he is the

00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:56.779
 one and only

00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:57.940
 creator God

00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:59.180
 this is his

00:30:59.180 --> 00:30:59.860
 world and there

00:30:59.860 --> 00:31:00.720
 is none that

00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:01.660
 compares to him

00:31:01.660 --> 00:31:03.480
 the wisdom he

00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:04.220
 gives Daniel and

00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:04.960
 his friends is

00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:06.160
 ten times better

00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:07.560
 than anything the

00:31:07.560 --> 00:31:08.440
 Babylonians can

00:31:08.440 --> 00:31:08.940
 muster

00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:12.160
 and that little

00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:12.740
 verse at the

00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:13.059
 end

00:31:13.059 --> 00:31:14.960
 Daniel remained

00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:15.559
 there until the

00:31:15.559 --> 00:31:16.120
 first year of

00:31:16.120 --> 00:31:16.820
 king Cyrus

00:31:16.820 --> 00:31:19.120
 what would have

00:31:19.120 --> 00:31:19.700
 felt like a

00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.559
 devastating

00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:21.759
 life ending

00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:22.420
 circumstance

00:31:22.420 --> 00:31:23.420
 we just get

00:31:23.420 --> 00:31:24.220
 reminded here

00:31:24.220 --> 00:31:25.640
 Daniel lasts

00:31:25.640 --> 00:31:26.160
 longer than

00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:26.880
 Babylon does

00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:28.240
 this new

00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:28.840
 superpower

00:31:28.840 --> 00:31:30.759
 Daniel's there

00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:31.080
 when it

00:31:31.080 --> 00:31:31.539
 falls

00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:33.899
 Daniel gets

00:31:33.899 --> 00:31:34.940
 beyond this

00:31:34.940 --> 00:31:35.559
 disaster

00:31:35.559 --> 00:31:37.700
 by trusting

00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:38.139
 God

00:31:38.139 --> 00:31:39.680
 God's plan

00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:40.339
 never ends

00:31:40.339 --> 00:31:41.039
 in disaster

00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:42.779
 but sometimes

00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:43.440
 it's the path

00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:43.960
 by which he

00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:44.619
 leads us

00:31:44.619 --> 00:31:45.619
 to the purpose

00:31:45.619 --> 00:31:46.680
 he has for us

00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:49.639
 God is at

00:31:49.639 --> 00:31:50.220
 work in this

00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:50.599
 world

00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:51.859
 he has a

00:31:51.859 --> 00:31:52.480
 plan and an

00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:52.960
 unstoppable

00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:53.519
 plan

00:31:53.519 --> 00:31:55.399
 which culminates

00:31:55.399 --> 00:31:57.000
 in rescuing

00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:57.480
 his people

00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:58.139
 with Jesus

00:31:58.140 --> 00:32:00.380
 God is still

00:32:00.380 --> 00:32:01.000
 in control

00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:02.740
 whether you

00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:03.340
 can see how

00:32:03.340 --> 00:32:03.780
 or not

00:32:03.780 --> 00:32:06.540
 so trust

00:32:06.540 --> 00:32:06.820
 him

00:32:06.820 --> 00:32:09.360
 know when

00:32:09.360 --> 00:32:10.000
 to say no

00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:10.680
 and resolve

00:32:10.680 --> 00:32:11.080
 that you

00:32:11.080 --> 00:32:11.520
 will not

00:32:11.520 --> 00:32:12.020
 defile

00:32:12.020 --> 00:32:12.560
 yourself

00:32:12.560 --> 00:32:14.160
 that you

00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:14.500
 will not

00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:15.220
 assimilate

00:32:15.220 --> 00:32:17.180
 that you

00:32:17.180 --> 00:32:17.440
 will not

00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:18.040
 become like

00:32:18.040 --> 00:32:18.380
 the world

00:32:18.380 --> 00:32:18.700
 you live

00:32:18.700 --> 00:32:19.420
 in

00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:22.000
 God is

00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:22.600
 in control

00:32:22.600 --> 00:32:24.440
 so trust

00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:24.660
 him