WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.640 It continued on in our Sunday school series here, talking about living a resilient life. 00:00:06.639 --> 00:00:15.000 You know, the fact is, as a believer, we need to be resilient in the circumstances and the situations of life. 00:00:15.140 --> 00:00:20.820 And so we're going to, I began a few weeks ago before April and I took off on vacation. 00:00:21.059 --> 00:00:29.640 And so we enjoyed some time out in Colorado for a few days and stayed at higher elevation, which was enjoyable. 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:32.420 We stayed above 9,000 for a week. 00:00:32.420 --> 00:00:36.299 So it was nice to be able to go out and be around there. 00:00:36.299 --> 00:00:39.479 But then this last week, I know we're gone on Wednesday. 00:00:39.479 --> 00:00:42.280 We're down in Missouri at a preacher's meeting. 00:00:42.599 --> 00:00:45.319 And if you need to know, preachers need preach to, too. 00:00:45.659 --> 00:00:48.459 And so we get together and encourage one another. 00:00:48.759 --> 00:00:53.339 But that's where we were earlier last week there. 00:00:53.500 --> 00:00:59.259 And I appreciate all those who filled in why we were gone and all the things that took place. 00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:03.819 And it's good to see God's work continue and to continue to move forward. 00:01:03.820 --> 00:01:06.519 That's always an encouragement to the pastor. 00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:11.659 But I'd be encouraged to us to continue working in what God has for us. 00:01:12.239 --> 00:01:15.379 And because God's work goes on no matter what. 00:01:15.379 --> 00:01:24.399 And so, but as we begin looking here this morning, once again, we understand the, as we begin looking at Daniel, 00:01:24.879 --> 00:01:27.920 we'll just cover a few brief things here and get into it. 00:01:27.939 --> 00:01:30.719 We should have, if you don't have, we've got outlines coming here. 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:34.239 If you don't bring back, it's number nine that we have. 00:01:34.299 --> 00:01:36.599 If you don't have that, we've got some more coming off the printer. 00:01:36.599 --> 00:01:40.759 I'll be in here in just a moment for the handouts for that. 00:01:41.299 --> 00:01:45.579 I'm running a little behind this week and trying to play catch up with everything. 00:01:45.699 --> 00:01:50.280 And I forgot, got up here this morning right before class and remembered I didn't print a new handout. 00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:54.539 So we got those spooled and ready to go. 00:01:54.619 --> 00:01:58.799 But let's take a look over here in Daniel chapter 6 here this morning. 00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:05.120 And we're going to see here in Daniel chapter 6, verse 1, the word of God says this, 00:02:05.179 --> 00:02:11.259 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 princes, which should be over the whole kingdom. 00:02:12.120 --> 00:02:16.780 And over these three presidents, of whom Daniel was first, 00:02:17.259 --> 00:02:21.159 that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 00:02:21.960 --> 00:02:26.019 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, 00:02:26.020 --> 00:02:28.939 because of an excellent spirit was in him. 00:02:28.960 --> 00:02:34.500 And the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 00:02:34.660 --> 00:02:37.900 And so we'll leave off there and pick up here. 00:02:37.920 --> 00:02:39.879 Let's go ahead and have a word of prayer. 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:42.340 Heavenly fathers, we just come before you again this morning. 00:02:42.420 --> 00:02:44.420 Lord, we're thankful for your word. 00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:50.200 Lord, we're thankful for examples like Daniel to be resilient in life, 00:02:50.200 --> 00:02:54.760 to trust you even in circumstances that we say, 00:02:54.759 --> 00:02:59.019 Lord, there's no way this is going to turn out in any way good. 00:02:59.139 --> 00:03:03.899 But Lord, we know that you can take those things and turn them to good. 00:03:04.039 --> 00:03:06.739 Lord, that we can trust you, that you have a plan and a purpose. 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:10.120 Lord, as we see in the life of Daniel, 00:03:10.659 --> 00:03:15.259 Lord, even Daniel's testimony and how even having a godly testimony 00:03:15.259 --> 00:03:17.159 doesn't mean that people are going to like you, 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:19.879 that people are going to appreciate what you do. 00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:24.120 And Lord, that we still need to stand firm upon that. 00:03:24.219 --> 00:03:27.439 And Lord, we just give you the praise and glory today in Jesus' name. 00:03:28.219 --> 00:03:28.560 Amen. 00:03:29.620 --> 00:03:32.120 You know, if you remember, as we talked a few weeks ago about Daniel, 00:03:32.219 --> 00:03:37.259 as he was taken into captivity and he served under Nebuchadnezzar. 00:03:37.900 --> 00:03:42.759 And then after Nebuchadnezzar was replaced by Darius, 00:03:42.759 --> 00:03:48.120 we find that as we read here in Daniel 6, that he was elevated again, 00:03:48.219 --> 00:03:51.019 you know, which is actually an unheard of thing in ancient times. 00:03:51.819 --> 00:03:55.579 You know, you don't find very often that a new king comes in 00:03:55.579 --> 00:03:58.859 and he takes the senior advisors from the previous king 00:03:58.859 --> 00:04:01.919 and puts them in places of prominence. 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:05.139 You know, that's an unheard of thing. 00:04:05.139 --> 00:04:12.339 That took an act of God by itself that Daniel moved from a place of prominence 00:04:12.339 --> 00:04:16.259 under Nebuchadnezzar to a place of prominence under Darius. 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:19.419 Because it wasn't a peaceful secession. 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:23.240 It was a military overthrow of the government. 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:28.139 You know, so what I want you to see here is what Daniel's testimony 00:04:28.139 --> 00:04:31.180 was a very powerful testimony. 00:04:31.180 --> 00:04:36.620 It was a testimony that even impacted a new king coming in. 00:04:37.340 --> 00:04:40.439 To say, hey, Daniel, I've heard about him. 00:04:41.480 --> 00:04:42.699 I've seen him. 00:04:43.280 --> 00:04:46.300 I understand what's going on. 00:04:46.379 --> 00:04:49.379 But Daniel, we know, the Bible tells us here, 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:50.540 look here in verse 3. 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:53.740 What set Daniel apart? 00:04:54.220 --> 00:04:58.720 Notice it's because an excellent spirit was in him. 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:03.720 You know, that's a powerful phrase, isn't it? 00:05:04.760 --> 00:05:07.900 The thing about it, he had an excellent spirit within him. 00:05:08.460 --> 00:05:12.480 In other words, when Darius, okay, if you need an outline, 00:05:12.640 --> 00:05:15.480 go ahead and slip your hand up and Ethan will get you one here. 00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:19.920 And I know it's been a few weeks since we started this, 00:05:20.260 --> 00:05:24.360 so it's easy to get them to fall out of the Bible or someplace else 00:05:24.360 --> 00:05:26.080 or all those fun things. 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:28.759 But, you know, we see here this excellent spirit. 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:33.199 He saw something different in Daniel. 00:05:34.359 --> 00:05:36.500 There was something distinct in Daniel. 00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:41.300 And it tells us here that he was preferred above the presidents and princes. 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:45.079 In other words, we see here something happen in this dynamic 00:05:45.620 --> 00:05:48.620 as we begin looking here to understand what's taking place. 00:05:48.959 --> 00:05:52.120 Here's these leaders, and Daniel is first. 00:05:52.120 --> 00:05:56.060 And then suddenly Darius says, I want to move him out of just first position 00:05:56.060 --> 00:05:58.120 to place him over the whole kingdom. 00:05:59.420 --> 00:06:02.399 And he says, I've got a guy that's, I think we've got a few more over here. 00:06:05.980 --> 00:06:06.600 Thank you, Ethan. 00:06:06.780 --> 00:06:07.280 Anybody else? 00:06:07.699 --> 00:06:08.060 All right. 00:06:08.259 --> 00:06:13.100 I want you to see here is Daniel served the Lord with an excellent spirit 00:06:13.100 --> 00:06:16.819 because he made a decision early on in his life of what he was going to do. 00:06:16.819 --> 00:06:22.159 You know, in Daniel chapter 1, you find that Daniel made a decision 00:06:22.159 --> 00:06:26.959 because the Bible tells us that in verse 8 of Daniel chapter 1, it says, 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:31.980 but Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself. 00:06:32.300 --> 00:06:35.519 And he's talking there specifically about some things that were going on. 00:06:35.579 --> 00:06:41.279 But I think that defilement and the defile himself was a commitment he kept beyond this. 00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:43.039 How do we know that? 00:06:43.119 --> 00:06:48.099 Because of his spirit that he had. 00:06:48.859 --> 00:06:54.639 It was a godly spirit, something that made a difference in his life. 00:06:54.739 --> 00:06:59.959 And we find here that under King Darius, Daniel was elevated even higher. 00:07:00.039 --> 00:07:03.039 He was preferred above all the others. 00:07:03.939 --> 00:07:06.219 You know, we go see Daniel's life was one. 00:07:06.220 --> 00:07:07.880 He went from his teenage years. 00:07:08.620 --> 00:07:11.980 At this point, he's coming up on his 80s. 00:07:12.280 --> 00:07:14.080 Daniel lived a full life. 00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:14.580 You know what? 00:07:15.380 --> 00:07:20.480 Daniel was a man who began with character and ended with character. 00:07:20.580 --> 00:07:21.500 That ought to be our goal. 00:07:22.520 --> 00:07:25.960 To say that people see the character of my life throughout. 00:07:26.920 --> 00:07:29.820 The consistency of your life. 00:07:30.580 --> 00:07:34.200 You know, it ought to be something we strive for because he had this excellent spirit, 00:07:34.199 --> 00:07:38.099 a testimony of resilience and faith. 00:07:38.259 --> 00:07:42.680 Daniel had learned to trust God through difficult circumstances. 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:44.439 And God used him and revealed. 00:07:44.519 --> 00:07:48.259 We talked last time about some of the things that God used Daniel. 00:07:48.379 --> 00:07:49.839 Daniel was revealed. 00:07:50.300 --> 00:07:55.899 God revealed to him the thing about kingdoms to come and the timetable of the end. 00:07:55.899 --> 00:08:04.199 I mean, Daniel was a prophet who gave all sorts of, God gave him all sorts of information that was important, 00:08:04.459 --> 00:08:06.099 not only in their day, but in our day. 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:09.959 God used Daniel in a mighty way. 00:08:10.539 --> 00:08:16.859 But I want you to see here that something happens because just because you serve God, 00:08:16.939 --> 00:08:19.060 because you do things right. 00:08:20.259 --> 00:08:21.939 You know, sometimes this is a misconception. 00:08:22.199 --> 00:08:24.599 If I do everything right, everything should go well. 00:08:24.600 --> 00:08:26.060 Isn't that how we think sometimes? 00:08:27.460 --> 00:08:28.960 I did everything right. 00:08:29.060 --> 00:08:30.320 Why is it not going well? 00:08:31.080 --> 00:08:33.519 Why is it not going the way that's good for me? 00:08:35.100 --> 00:08:36.639 That I think is good. 00:08:37.100 --> 00:08:41.540 I want you to understand that when you love God, you're going to serve God, 00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:42.580 there's going to be challenges. 00:08:44.259 --> 00:08:46.659 There's going to be things that test your faith. 00:08:48.580 --> 00:08:51.600 Just as we looked at earlier at the church at Thessalonica, 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:55.500 there were things that tested their faith early to say, 00:08:55.960 --> 00:08:58.060 what do I believe and why do I believe it? 00:08:58.220 --> 00:09:00.519 And why is it important that I believe it? 00:09:00.700 --> 00:09:06.800 I want you to see here, we can learn some things from Daniel about a resilient faith. 00:09:07.200 --> 00:09:12.200 And even when we have oppression from the outside, people that don't like you, 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:14.800 you have governments that don't like you, you have all these dynamics, 00:09:14.920 --> 00:09:16.259 but yet we can still serve God. 00:09:16.259 --> 00:09:18.980 We can do what God would want. 00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:21.179 And so let's take a look here this morning. 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:24.600 As we see here, the first thing, the mandate against Daniel. 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:30.019 Notice here in verse 4 of Daniel chapter 6, it says, 00:09:30.179 --> 00:09:34.860 then the presidents and the princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom. 00:09:35.860 --> 00:09:38.120 You know, notice here, what's the first thing they did? 00:09:38.200 --> 00:09:42.539 They went to find a problem with Daniel concerning his leadership, 00:09:42.539 --> 00:09:44.899 concerning his position. 00:09:44.899 --> 00:09:48.159 Did he favor somebody he shouldn't? 00:09:48.339 --> 00:09:52.719 Did he kind of give, overlook something? 00:09:53.419 --> 00:09:56.659 Or, you know, did he fall or falter any place in his leadership? 00:09:56.879 --> 00:10:01.439 I mean, they did a full scrutiny of everything that Daniel did. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:05.839 You might say they had all sorts of committee hearings and all sorts of testimony 00:10:05.839 --> 00:10:08.399 trying to find somebody to find something against him. 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:10.500 But notice what they said here. 00:10:10.500 --> 00:10:15.059 But they could find none occasion nor fault. 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:21.919 For as much as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 00:10:22.139 --> 00:10:25.659 You know, when the word of God says that there was no error or fault found, 00:10:25.740 --> 00:10:31.259 that's a pretty high testimony that Daniel put in. 00:10:31.299 --> 00:10:34.059 Because sometimes life is hard to make sure that comes out that way. 00:10:34.299 --> 00:10:39.159 There's some difficult decisions, but we see the mandate here that's going to take place. 00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:40.620 Notice this in verse 5, 00:10:40.699 --> 00:10:41.699 Then said these men, 00:10:42.319 --> 00:10:45.620 We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, 00:10:45.719 --> 00:10:50.799 except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. 00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:55.860 Now we're going to see this play out because we're going to face trials and attacks, 00:10:55.959 --> 00:10:58.819 and oftentimes it has to do with an attack of what you believe. 00:10:58.820 --> 00:11:05.080 What do you say that God, know that God has said, and where am I willing to stand on it? 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:07.620 Where am I willing to do that? 00:11:07.780 --> 00:11:12.600 And we find here that this ungodly envy is the thing we see. 00:11:12.700 --> 00:11:14.160 They were envious of Daniel. 00:11:14.420 --> 00:11:14.740 Why? 00:11:14.860 --> 00:11:16.980 Because Daniel was elevated above him. 00:11:18.020 --> 00:11:19.560 You know, we never see that today, do we? 00:11:19.980 --> 00:11:22.060 People get upset because somebody else gets promoted. 00:11:22.059 --> 00:11:27.139 You know, somebody else gets lifted above somebody else. 00:11:28.659 --> 00:11:31.599 You know, the wrong person gets in. 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:37.679 But we find here that Daniel had a testimony that made a difference. 00:11:39.059 --> 00:11:40.639 They found nothing against him. 00:11:40.739 --> 00:11:46.759 This ungodly envy led them to try to find anything they could against Daniel. 00:11:46.759 --> 00:11:53.019 And I want you to understand there are times when ungodly people plot against believers, 00:11:53.700 --> 00:11:58.559 plot against Christians, not because we've done anything wrong, 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:00.319 but because we're trying to please God. 00:12:01.259 --> 00:12:04.200 Because sometimes your testimony convicts. 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:09.539 You know, I imagine these guys were convicted by Daniel because they were probably taking bribes. 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:12.700 They were probably doing things under the table they shouldn't. 00:12:12.700 --> 00:12:17.540 And they were like, we've got to get rid of this Daniel because he's making us look bad. 00:12:19.220 --> 00:12:23.320 You know, if you have an upright testimony, there's going to be people that are going to want to get rid of you. 00:12:24.640 --> 00:12:25.980 They're going to try to downplay. 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:28.360 And you need to be prepared for it. 00:12:28.460 --> 00:12:33.140 You know, we want to be consistent with what we say we believe. 00:12:33.560 --> 00:12:37.100 And when you do that, the world's going to hate and persecute you. 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:40.759 Just as they did to Daniel, just as they did with the prophets. 00:12:40.759 --> 00:12:46.960 You know, we need to understand it's going to take place because even Peter, look over to 1 Peter chapter 3. 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:54.939 1 Peter chapter 3, we find here in the Word of God that Peter encourages us and other believers down through the ages. 00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:59.039 He says, but if you suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye. 00:12:59.860 --> 00:13:04.939 And be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. 00:13:04.940 --> 00:13:11.500 And be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you the reason, the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:22.140 Having a good conscience that whereas they speak evil of you as evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 00:13:22.800 --> 00:13:24.400 Now, let me sum that up for you. 00:13:24.820 --> 00:13:28.920 People are going to throw accusations against you if you stand for the Lord. 00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:35.740 What ought to happen is, is when people hear the accusation, they look at the accusation and say, 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:39.159 I know them and this is what they're accusing. 00:13:39.319 --> 00:13:42.659 There's something that doesn't line up. 00:13:44.620 --> 00:13:46.360 Because people are going to make accusations. 00:13:47.459 --> 00:13:50.219 The thing is, those accusations ought to have no substance. 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:52.579 They ought not to stick. 00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:54.740 They ought not to have something behind them. 00:13:54.779 --> 00:13:56.620 If there's something behind them, that's a different problem. 00:13:56.620 --> 00:14:02.899 No, because I want you to understand, there's times that people, Christians, do things they ought not to do, 00:14:02.940 --> 00:14:05.139 and they ought to be held to account because of what they did. 00:14:05.179 --> 00:14:07.360 That's not suffering for righteousness' sake. 00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:10.519 That's suffering because of your sin. 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:12.860 That's different. 00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:18.500 But we ought to understand the importance of this and the importance of Daniel. 00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:22.720 Because notice in Proverbs chapter 14, verse 30, it says, 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:27.299 A sound heart is the life of the flesh, but envy, the rottenness of the bones. 00:14:27.620 --> 00:14:29.980 These individuals were rotten clear through. 00:14:30.139 --> 00:14:34.399 They were willing to do anything it took to get what they wanted. 00:14:35.700 --> 00:14:38.120 Envy leads us to places that's a problem. 00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:43.019 You know, envy is desiring to have what somebody else has. 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:45.580 One of our problems in culture today is envy. 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:47.220 Let me present something to you. 00:14:47.220 --> 00:14:50.259 Victim culture is envy culture. 00:14:53.660 --> 00:14:59.940 To say I'm always a victim is saying I'm envious because I didn't get what somebody else got. 00:15:02.300 --> 00:15:03.720 Those two tie together. 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:04.879 They might dress it up. 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:08.680 They might put lipstick on the pig, but you know what? 00:15:08.700 --> 00:15:10.259 You can dress a pig up, it's still a pig. 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:12.279 I want you to understand envy. 00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:17.139 And these men with this ungodly envy, but Daniel had a faithful testimony. 00:15:18.100 --> 00:15:21.399 You know, that ought to be what we strive for, to have a faithful testimony. 00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:25.779 To say when others look at that, there's something there. 00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:27.480 You notice in verse 4, it says, 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:31.819 But they could find none occasion or fault for as much as he was faithful. 00:15:31.939 --> 00:15:34.100 Neither was there any error or fault in him. 00:15:34.339 --> 00:15:36.039 He walked in integrity. 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:39.759 You know, what an amazing testimony. 00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:45.199 Because I want you to understand, Daniel wasn't walking amongst a bunch of other believers. 00:15:45.699 --> 00:15:51.939 Daniel was serving in an ungodly culture that worshipped idols. 00:15:51.940 --> 00:15:57.920 That had very, they had their own standard of morality. 00:15:58.820 --> 00:16:01.040 Things that went against what God would have. 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:04.520 I wouldn't say that the culture didn't have a moral standard. 00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:06.160 Every culture has a moral standard. 00:16:06.300 --> 00:16:10.460 The question is, is that moral standard the standard that measures up with God's standard? 00:16:12.160 --> 00:16:14.060 Because we all live with a standard. 00:16:16.380 --> 00:16:17.400 Standard's not the problem. 00:16:17.460 --> 00:16:18.860 The question is, what is the standard? 00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:27.159 And so as we look here, his faithful testimony, he had pagan people around him. 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:30.180 He had hateful leaders that couldn't find anything. 00:16:30.180 --> 00:16:33.240 And they gave everything they could to try to overthrow him. 00:16:33.600 --> 00:16:37.980 You know, it's funny how the Bible tells us there's nothing new under the sun. 00:16:38.100 --> 00:16:42.960 I mean, if you change the names and the dates, you could probably find, put American political system into this. 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:51.000 You know, because in our highly politicized society, it seems every other week, somebody's trying to investigate somebody else, 00:16:51.060 --> 00:16:54.580 trying to get dirt to maneuver or to hold leverage on somebody. 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:58.160 I mean, that's been definitely clear the last 10 years. 00:16:58.300 --> 00:17:03.200 I mean, you see this whole big political plays of dynamics of trying to get things. 00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:09.980 And we need to be careful as a believer not to get caught up in the pettiness of people just trying to get even or envy. 00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:18.819 We keep our focus on the right things and understand the dynamic, you know, and it becomes exhausting. 00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:23.440 You know, I imagine this was an exhaustive thing that they tried to look into Daniel. 00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:26.519 You know, they tried to find everything they could. 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:27.940 They couldn't find anything. 00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:31.259 Daniel's integrity was intact. 00:17:31.660 --> 00:17:39.480 And the people who worked in regular and close proximity with Daniel hated him, but could not find a problem with him. 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:43.079 When I read that, I'm thinking, man, we need to have Daniel leadership book. 00:17:43.380 --> 00:17:45.960 I mean, I would like a copy of Daniel's leadership book. 00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:48.039 How do you manage that? 00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:50.660 I think it's because Daniel spent time with God. 00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:54.019 His testimony of what he said matched what he did. 00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:56.640 You know, think about Proverbs 22 and verse 1. 00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.720 The Bible tells us this, 00:17:57.819 --> 00:18:03.539 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving favor rather than silver and gold. 00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:05.480 You know, that gives us a clue. 00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:10.180 When we get our eyes on what we can possess, oftentimes your integrity goes downhill pretty fast. 00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:16.160 Daniel's testimony is that he gave the king confidence in him because of what he did. 00:18:16.579 --> 00:18:18.460 He saw no flaw in Daniel. 00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:22.980 King Darius trusted Daniel with the rule of the kingdom. 00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:24.019 Want to know why? 00:18:24.120 --> 00:18:26.559 Because Daniel was faithful in the little things. 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:30.740 Daniel was faithful in the details. 00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:34.420 Think about what Jesus says in Luke chapter 10. 00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:35.320 He says, 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:39.940 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much. 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:43.980 And he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 00:18:45.820 --> 00:18:47.060 You know, I want you to understand, 00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:50.720 Daniel wasn't a perfect man, but he was a man that had integrity. 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:53.539 But notice the jealous trap that they set. 00:18:55.300 --> 00:18:59.160 They wanted to find a trap for him according to his God. 00:18:59.160 --> 00:19:04.640 They say the only thing that constrains Daniel is his God. 00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:14.519 So they said we have to find something in Daniel's code from God that's going to cause him to be in conflict with something we can create. 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:17.340 That we can create a conflict with it. 00:19:17.339 --> 00:19:21.059 And we're going to see what takes place here in that. 00:19:21.139 --> 00:19:28.439 Because remember that they go and they begin to build up the king. 00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:29.759 You know, they went flattery. 00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:34.459 You know, take a look here in verse 7 in our text here. 00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:37.319 It says this in verse 6. 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:37.620 It says, 00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:41.400 And then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king and said unto him, 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:43.240 King Darius, live forever. 00:19:44.120 --> 00:19:52.059 All the presidents of the kingdoms and governor and princes and the counselors and the captains have consulted together to establish a royal statute 00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:59.720 to make a firm decree that whosoever shall ask petition of any god or man for 30 days save thee, O king, 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:03.200 he shall be cast into the den of lions. 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:10.980 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing that it may not be changed according to the law, the Medes, and the Persians, 00:20:11.380 --> 00:20:12.660 which altereth not. 00:20:13.140 --> 00:20:16.799 Wherefore, King Darius signed the writing and the decree. 00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:17.840 What did they do? 00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:19.900 They set a trap to say, 00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:26.880 Hey, Darius, you're such a great king that we ought to limit anybody being able to ask of anybody else but you. 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:31.539 Now, as I was reading this, the one thing that I got to think about, you know, 00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:34.259 like anybody trying to do something wicked, they try to sit there out. 00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:36.519 What they did, they said, okay, 30 days ought to be enough. 00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:41.240 You know, we don't want to have this problem come back on us, but you know, we can, 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:45.000 if we set it 30 days, we know Daniel's going to have a problem before then. 00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:50.399 So we can get him and then this thing will go away and we can go back to doing what we want to do. 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:51.019 You know? 00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:55.099 And like I said, when you read through this, you see politics today, don't you? 00:20:55.099 --> 00:20:57.899 I mean, nothing new's happening. 00:20:58.639 --> 00:21:04.259 It's just the names and the location may be different, but the heart of people are the same. 00:21:04.719 --> 00:21:11.500 And they set this 30 day that, you know, and now King, you know, anybody that does pray to somebody else, 00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:13.359 they need to be cast into the den of lions. 00:21:13.639 --> 00:21:17.599 Now, when we read the end of this chapter, you'll find the den of lions, 00:21:17.699 --> 00:21:20.240 they were pretty sure Daniel was not supposed to come out of. 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:21.900 I mean, that's the reason they chose this. 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:25.500 They're like, they keep the lions down there and they're hungry. 00:21:25.660 --> 00:21:27.940 So when they drop them in, we know what's going to happen. 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:31.620 And you'll see that when the results come later, 00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:37.099 because as soon as they put the people down in that had stood against Daniel, 00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:40.339 they were consumed and broken apart almost immediately. 00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:45.339 So we see this was their plan and we see that they flattered the king, you know? 00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:46.180 Think about this. 00:21:46.359 --> 00:21:49.339 Have you ever asked, why didn't Darius go ask Daniel? 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:51.359 Did he agree to this? 00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:53.880 He was the one that he trusted greatly. 00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:58.839 But they come and say, you know, well, I'm pretty sure it was kind of like, 00:21:58.900 --> 00:21:59.880 well, Daniel's on board. 00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:01.420 Instead of checking it out, you know what? 00:22:01.660 --> 00:22:06.819 Flattery sometimes gets us to not do our diligence that we ought to do. 00:22:07.120 --> 00:22:11.319 And I want you to see here, it caused Darius a lot of heartache because he didn't do diligence. 00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:13.180 Even in the king, it was a problem. 00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:16.180 They were flattering, trying to manipulate. 00:22:17.120 --> 00:22:21.779 And they didn't want Daniel to be consulted. 00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:24.900 So they tried to push it through in a rapid pace. 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:26.900 Just sign this king, it'll all be good. 00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:28.340 Darius all puffed up. 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:29.220 What's Darius do? 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:29.940 He signs it. 00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:34.299 Now you have a little glimpse into ancient culture here because the Medes and the Persians, 00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:39.559 and you see this dynamic because you see this also in the book of Esther, 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:46.319 they remember they couldn't revoke what was written in law, but they could add to it. 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:49.680 Same problem that Daniel faced. 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:53.119 You see this same, the Medes and the Persians, you want their moral code? 00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:55.259 If it's in the law, we can't change it. 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.579 That was their moral code. 00:22:56.579 --> 00:23:01.259 It was like, everything can be adjusted except for this. 00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:03.659 But they used and manipulated that. 00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:08.919 The Medes and the Persians saw that made law could not simply be undone. 00:23:09.159 --> 00:23:14.419 So they knew that once the king signed the decree for the next 30 days, 00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:19.839 they could watch Daniel to see what he was going to do. 00:23:20.179 --> 00:23:25.539 They knew that the law was so ridiculous that it would only be enforced against his target 00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:27.379 because let me ask you a question. 00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:29.440 Do you think Daniel was the only one? 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:30.019 Think about it. 00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:32.379 This is a kingdom-wide decree. 00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:36.859 Do you think Daniel was the only one that made a petition to God other than the king? 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:38.940 But no, they had Daniel targeted. 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:41.119 They were watching. 00:23:42.619 --> 00:23:46.500 They knew that they were going to engulf him in this. 00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:49.579 And Daniel faced this mandate. 00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:53.039 It was not impossible to think that the mandate could come. 00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:55.659 We see that today in our culture. 00:23:55.819 --> 00:23:57.420 There's mandates against praying. 00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:59.079 I don't know if you've been following the news. 00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:04.039 In England, you had an individual for silently praying on the sidewalk be arrested. 00:24:04.399 --> 00:24:06.079 Those things are coming to America. 00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:08.779 This mindset is slipping in. 00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:12.000 The question is, what are we going to do if it does? 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:13.159 You know what Daniel said? 00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:15.399 You can make the decree, but I have a higher decree. 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:17.859 I have a law that supersedes your law. 00:24:18.139 --> 00:24:21.920 I have a responsibility that's higher than my responsibility to you. 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:24.820 This is one of those things I want you to talk about sometimes. 00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:30.539 The dynamic is sometimes as a believer, the hardest decision to make is what is the higher 00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:32.279 decree of right? 00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:35.420 Because there's a lot of things that were right. 00:24:35.560 --> 00:24:36.759 Now, let me throw you a question. 00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:43.519 If we're supposed to obey kings that God has over us, was Daniel having a sense of responsibility 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:44.759 to obey the decree? 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:50.379 On the surface, yes, but the decree directly violated a principle of God. 00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:52.140 So therefore, Daniel had a choice. 00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:57.440 Do I submit to this or do I submit to this? 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:04.579 God tells me I ought to submit to the king, but Daniel says I ought to submit to God first. 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:06.980 Sometimes the struggle is not what's right. 00:25:07.099 --> 00:25:11.759 It's what God says is the priority or the most right. 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:15.519 Because the most right wasn't to obey the king. 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:17.200 The most right was to obey God. 00:25:19.079 --> 00:25:21.579 We face those situations in our life. 00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:27.460 That's the reason you need to know the word of God to be able to discern what is the most 00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:30.960 important, what's the higher responsibility. 00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:34.039 You'll find that that plays out throughout scripture. 00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:39.579 We can point out to a lot of different examples where you say, well, they did what was wrong. 00:25:39.579 --> 00:25:46.699 Well, no, there was a higher responsibility in play that they did that which was right. 00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:48.159 One of those things is life. 00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:51.779 The preservation of life holds a high priority to God. 00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:53.419 If you want, we can talk about some of that later. 00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:54.139 I better move on. 00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:55.240 I'm running out of time already. 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:56.460 Okay. 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:59.879 But think about the ministry of Daniel. 00:26:00.579 --> 00:26:05.759 What did Daniel do when he was faced with a mandate that directly attacked his worship of God? 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:09.579 You know, most of us here are familiar with this story. 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:14.079 I mean, you've probably, if you've been in church any length of time, you're familiar with what took place. 00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.799 You've probably heard the story. 00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:18.859 If you grew up in Sunday school, you've heard this story many times. 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:21.859 So simply let's, what did Daniel do when he heard? 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:23.440 This is an interaction here. 00:26:23.879 --> 00:26:24.539 Good morning. 00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:25.000 Wake up. 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:25.599 All right. 00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:25.900 Good. 00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:26.279 All right. 00:26:26.359 --> 00:26:27.900 We didn't put everybody to sleep. 00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:30.100 He prayed. 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:38.920 Now, I want you to understand that Daniel didn't just pray because it was like, oh no, I'd better go pray. 00:26:39.400 --> 00:26:41.259 Daniel just went and did what he always did. 00:26:43.120 --> 00:26:50.360 That's the reason they chose this particular thing because they knew what Daniel did. 00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:54.400 Three times a day, the Bible says Daniel prayed towards Jerusalem. 00:26:54.400 --> 00:27:05.180 He prayed towards Jerusalem and he prayed unto God and asked God's will on his life, his direction, his clarity. 00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:07.080 I want you to notice something here. 00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:10.000 He didn't go try to rally a bunch of people to counteract it. 00:27:10.300 --> 00:27:12.720 Daniel knew who it was directed against. 00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:15.140 He didn't go into hiding. 00:27:15.300 --> 00:27:17.320 He didn't blast the king and the government. 00:27:18.300 --> 00:27:21.900 You know, he didn't type in all caps on his Facebook account, you know, or his Instagram. 00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:22.980 He prayed. 00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:25.579 Notice what it tells us here in verse 10. 00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:37.360 Now, when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house and his windows being open in his chamber towards Jerusalem. 00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:45.279 He kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God as he did aforetime. 00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:46.500 I want you to see here. 00:27:46.579 --> 00:27:48.640 Daniel knew what the ramifications were. 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:53.660 And he said, it's not going to change my relationship between me and God. 00:27:53.820 --> 00:27:57.100 He knew that God was able to deal with the situation. 00:27:57.840 --> 00:28:03.420 You know, today we enjoy a lot of freedoms religiously in our nation. 00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:06.420 What a blessing that we have. 00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:10.600 And these sacrifices and the things we enjoy are not something we ought to take lightly. 00:28:10.599 --> 00:28:21.000 Daniel didn't take his responsibility and his ability and his desire to spend time with God to be altered by what somebody else was doing. 00:28:21.219 --> 00:28:23.279 He said, I want to do that. 00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:30.759 I want it's a priority because we need to understand the freedom that we have is because somebody else paid a price. 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:33.660 You know what Daniel said? 00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:36.160 Lord, if it's the price I'm going to pay, I'm going to pay the price. 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:41.720 He was willing to stand up and to do what he ought to do. 00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:46.420 You know, we need to remember that as Christians, our highest allegiance is to God. 00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:50.859 And our greatest commission is the responsibility to God, the great commission. 00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:53.019 You know, to preach the gospel. 00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:56.099 I think there's coming a day soon when the gospel is going to be hate speech. 00:28:58.740 --> 00:29:00.640 Other places in the world, it's already happening. 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:04.940 You know, we have a big case right before the Supreme Court that's going to be settled out here. 00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:14.700 From the state of Colorado, talking about hate speech, where it's going to be hate speech for a counselor to tell somebody that they were born a boy or a girl. 00:29:15.379 --> 00:29:17.400 And how they feel about it doesn't matter. 00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:22.339 Because the state of Colorado is suing a counselor that says, no, you have to affirm them. 00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:24.960 You can't tell them what they believe is wrong. 00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:26.599 If you do, you're going to go to jail. 00:29:26.599 --> 00:29:33.219 That case was heard about seven, eight days ago in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. 00:29:33.419 --> 00:29:34.740 Didn't make a whole lot of press. 00:29:35.059 --> 00:29:36.959 But it's a very important case. 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:41.539 Because it deals even directly with the gospel. 00:29:41.679 --> 00:29:46.379 If you can't tell somebody the truth about what they were born, how are you going to tell them the truth about who God is? 00:29:46.380 --> 00:29:51.180 How are they going to be able to tell somebody the reality that you're a sinner that needs a Savior? 00:29:51.620 --> 00:29:52.780 These things are important. 00:29:53.260 --> 00:29:55.020 And we need to make a decision now. 00:29:55.080 --> 00:29:56.700 How are we going to respond to them? 00:29:56.900 --> 00:30:00.100 Because here we find Daniel gives us a good example. 00:30:00.660 --> 00:30:06.600 Why we should thank God for our liberties to preach the gospel and to do those things. 00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:12.119 It's important to know that the greatest victories are not won in court, but they're won in prayer. 00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:19.419 I want you to understand that Daniel here, take a look at Daniel because he had a planned prayer. 00:30:20.379 --> 00:30:27.939 You know, Daniel knew the law and the punishment, but he, like the apostles would do later, consciously chose to obey God. 00:30:27.940 --> 00:30:32.600 You know, think about Acts chapter 5, where Peter and John, it says, 00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:35.460 And Peter and the other apostles answered and said, we ought to, what? 00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:39.539 Obey God rather than man. 00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:44.440 But I want you to see here, Daniel's prayer life was one that other people knew about. 00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:45.100 It was public. 00:30:46.120 --> 00:30:47.259 Why did they pick on it? 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:48.259 Because they knew about it. 00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:50.240 You know? 00:30:51.779 --> 00:30:57.840 You know, Daniel could have rationalized this and said, well, I'll just close my windows this time so they can't see me. 00:30:57.940 --> 00:31:02.620 But I want you to see here in verse 10, he always had his windows open toward Jerusalem. 00:31:02.860 --> 00:31:05.960 He says, I'm not going to change what I do to appease you. 00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:07.200 I'm going to trust God. 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:10.720 I'm going to do the same thing that I've always done. 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.440 It was public. 00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:16.360 You know, we see these things taking place throughout our nation. 00:31:16.360 --> 00:31:22.700 We need to be careful to understand that just because things aren't going the way we think, 00:31:22.840 --> 00:31:27.740 that doesn't mean God is limited in our testimony or in what God can do. 00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:32.980 Because, you know, one of Satan's lies that he tries to tell is that if you take a public stand, 00:31:33.059 --> 00:31:36.299 it's actually going to limit your opportunities to point others to him. 00:31:37.359 --> 00:31:37.599 You know? 00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:41.680 Tries to lead us to believe that it's a, you know, distasteful. 00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:42.539 You know, it's one of those things. 00:31:42.620 --> 00:31:44.940 Think about, don't talk about religion. 00:31:45.339 --> 00:31:46.799 That's one of the things people try to promote. 00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:47.900 Well, don't talk about religion. 00:31:47.900 --> 00:31:51.900 You know, that's not unsavory for common society. 00:31:53.820 --> 00:31:55.900 Don't talk about politics and religion. 00:31:56.040 --> 00:31:56.500 You know what? 00:31:56.660 --> 00:31:59.700 That interchanges in our life that people are going to talk about it. 00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:05.080 But in polite society, you know, they try to make, say, well, don't mention that. 00:32:05.360 --> 00:32:09.700 The devil loves to try to make us timid and not stand up. 00:32:09.700 --> 00:32:12.880 You know, Paul tells this in Romans 1, verse 16 says, 00:32:12.980 --> 00:32:15.740 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, 00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:19.539 for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, 00:32:19.580 --> 00:32:22.380 to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:23.640 You know? 00:32:25.080 --> 00:32:30.140 Daniel wasn't afraid or timid about who his God is. 00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:33.180 But he also had intercessory prayer. 00:32:34.080 --> 00:32:34.400 You know? 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:36.519 He prayed toward Jerusalem. 00:32:36.640 --> 00:32:37.360 Why did he do this? 00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:42.719 He was praying with repentance and faith that God would hear and forgive his people. 00:32:42.859 --> 00:32:45.599 This was the prayer that Israel was instructed to pray 00:32:45.599 --> 00:32:49.659 if they were taken into captivity for their sins, 00:32:49.719 --> 00:32:51.819 which is, in fact, what had happened. 00:32:51.979 --> 00:32:55.199 You know, think about, go over to 2 Chronicles 6 for a moment. 00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:58.379 2 Chronicles 6. 00:32:58.719 --> 00:32:59.079 Daniel. 00:32:59.079 --> 00:33:03.619 I think Daniel looked back and read the Old Testament prophets that he had to that point, 00:33:03.679 --> 00:33:04.879 and he says, you know what? 00:33:04.919 --> 00:33:06.359 God told us this was going to happen. 00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:11.979 That's the reason I think Daniel was disheartened in his life, 00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:12.979 because he's like, you know, 00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:16.299 I'm just dealing with things and decisions that others have made. 00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:22.000 Daniel being in Babylon wasn't directly because of Daniel, 00:33:22.179 --> 00:33:25.139 it was because of decisions that others had made before him. 00:33:25.439 --> 00:33:26.579 God had told them clearly, 00:33:26.579 --> 00:33:27.839 if you do this, 00:33:28.619 --> 00:33:29.839 this is what's going to happen. 00:33:31.159 --> 00:33:31.699 You know what? 00:33:31.699 --> 00:33:32.859 Daniel realized that, 00:33:33.079 --> 00:33:33.839 hey, God said, 00:33:33.939 --> 00:33:34.859 if they did this, 00:33:34.879 --> 00:33:35.919 this is what's going to happen. 00:33:36.379 --> 00:33:38.099 I'm being impacted by this. 00:33:38.159 --> 00:33:41.779 But he said he also understood that Jeremiah and others told him, 00:33:41.819 --> 00:33:41.939 hey, 00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:44.460 God's going to bring you back into the land. 00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:45.579 You know what he was looking for? 00:33:45.919 --> 00:33:47.179 He had the calendar out, 00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:47.659 and he goes, 00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:49.559 time's coming. 00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:52.240 I might not be able to go because I'm an old man, 00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:52.740 but you know what? 00:33:52.779 --> 00:33:54.919 I'm going to see God's prayer answer. 00:33:55.460 --> 00:33:56.559 What God said, 00:33:56.659 --> 00:33:58.000 God's promise is going to be answered. 00:33:59.039 --> 00:33:59.819 Daniel said, 00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:01.619 it doesn't deal with my situation, 00:34:01.700 --> 00:34:02.179 but notice here, 00:34:02.240 --> 00:34:03.299 2 Chronicles 6, 00:34:03.419 --> 00:34:04.460 verse 38, 00:34:04.619 --> 00:34:04.759 it says, 00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:06.879 that they return to thee with all their heart, 00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:07.779 with all their soul, 00:34:08.199 --> 00:34:09.920 in the land of their captivity, 00:34:10.099 --> 00:34:11.639 whether they have carried them captive, 00:34:12.059 --> 00:34:13.800 and prayed toward their land, 00:34:14.260 --> 00:34:16.460 which thou gavest unto their fathers, 00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:18.519 and toward the city which thou hast chosen, 00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:21.739 and toward the house which I have built for thy name. 00:34:21.739 --> 00:34:25.780 Then hear thou from heaven, 00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:28.000 and even from thy dwelling place, 00:34:28.099 --> 00:34:29.599 their prayer and their supplication, 00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:30.840 and maintain their cause, 00:34:31.179 --> 00:34:31.900 and forgive them.