WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning, everyone. It is lovely to see you here today.

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 It is always exciting when we begin a new preaching series as a church,

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 and this morning really is no exception to that.

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 I'm really excited to get into Daniel together.

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 Particularly, can I encourage you, if you're in the habit of taking notes during sermons,

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 I always find that a really good way to not just concentrate during,

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 but remember afterwards some of the things that we've been learning.

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 Can I encourage you, this might be a really good series,

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 and this is going to take us up to the beginning of the summer,

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 to begin that habit.

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 Do it in your iPhone if you want, in the wee notes section,

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 or scribble them on your Bible and your notepad.

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 God is going to teach us so much through this book together,

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 and I'm really excited to get into it.

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 But let me try and anchor us in the book of Daniel,

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 and maybe try and help us see what I think is going to be the cash out

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 when it comes to the application of this book for us as a local church.

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 Now, here is one of my favourite comedians from Glasgow called Kevin Bridges.

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 Kevin Bridges has performed at venues all over the world.

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 Now, admittedly, his language is a bit spicy,

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 but if you're willing to get beyond that,

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 some of his material is genuinely really funny,

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 and it appeals to my Glaswegian sense of humour as well.

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 But I was watching one of his sets recently,

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 little clips on YouTube,

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 and this is the line he came out with,

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 and see what you make of this.

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 He said, earthquakes, tsunamis, Donald Trump, Brexit,

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 Kim Jong-un, Vladimir Putin,

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 ISIS, global warming, a refugee crisis, sexual harassment.

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 I think if you believe in God,

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 you've got to acknowledge that the guy's in over his head

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 is getting a bit much for God.

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 And here was his line,

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 God has lost the dressing room.

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 Now, I've got a lot of time for honesty like that,

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 not because I particularly agree with what he's saying,

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 but it's what you find when you come to the God of the Bible,

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 is that the God of the Bible

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 is big enough to handle our questions in life

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 and our frustrations about life.

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 And not only is he big enough to handle them,

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 but he gives us in his word

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 a better story for which to understand

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 our lives and the world in which we live.

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 But every time I hear a line like that from Kevin Bridges,

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 from my friends, from my family,

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 there's always a little tiny voice in my mind

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 that says,

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 what if they're right?

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 I mean, is there anyone at the steering wheel of the world?

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 Is history, is it heading anywhere?

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 And if it is heading anywhere,

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 where is it heading?

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 And who gets to decide that?

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 Where does power really lie in this world?

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 Does it lie in the places that we can see with our eyes

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 and the people that we can see up the front

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 and the positions of power?

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 Or does it lie somewhere else?

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 Let me tell you what the book of Daniel is going to do for us.

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 The guys I love watching every time

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 during the Winter Olympics comes around

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 are the cross-country skiers.

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 I think because I've got the greatest admiration

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 for fitness levels like that.

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 But it seems to me,

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 I'm no cross-country skiing expert,

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 but it seems to me that the key

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 to keep these guys moving forward

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 are the two poles which they hold in their hands.

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 Right?

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 See it on the screen?

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 The two poles which they hold in their hands.

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 That's what gives them the momentum.

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 That's what keeps them moving forward.

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 Here's what the book of Daniel does.

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 It gives us two poles to grab onto and use

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 so that we keep moving forward in the Christian life.

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 Ready for these?

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 Here's the first one.

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 It's really simply God's sovereignty.

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 Now that might be a new word for you.

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 Let me just break it down what it means.

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 It means that this God is in total control

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 of all things big and little in life.

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 Nothing escapes his gaze.

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 Nothing goes down without his say-so.

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 You see what God tells us in the pages of his word

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 as he speaks to us and makes himself known

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 is that he's not just some kind of

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 Magnus Carlsen in the sky.

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 That name means nothing to you.

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 He's a grand chess player

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 who's known as being a couple of moves ahead

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 of every single one of his opponents.

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 I think he was the first one ever

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 to beat the supercomputer.

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 Now actually the Lord is the eternal one

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 who as we sang in that song is outside of time.

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 All of time is in his hands.

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 He is the one who knows the end from the beginning.

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 He is the one as we come in here today

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 who our view of whatever it is

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 is way too small.

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 God's sovereignty.

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 That is the first pole that this book of Daniel gives us.

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 And the second one really simply

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 is that history is going somewhere.

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 And it's going somewhere according to the purposes

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 of this wonderfully good triune God,

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 the Father, the Son and the Spirit

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 who has purposes and plans

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 to bless the world for the good of his people

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 and for the glory of his name

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 all throughout this planet.

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 The plan that we thought about last week with Trev

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 in Ephesians 1 verse 10

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 and that's a great verse to go home and memorize

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 if you want.

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 Every time I freak out about the state of the world

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 this is the verse I come back to.

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 God's plan from since the foundation

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 before the foundation of the world

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 to unite all things in heaven and on earth

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 in his Son Jesus Christ.

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 And regardless of what's going on

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 in the world right now,

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 regardless of what's going on in your life today,

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 that plan is bang on track.

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 And Daniel gives us both of these poles,

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 God's sovereignty and the fact

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 that history is heading somewhere

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 according to his good purposes.

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 And he says,

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 grab hold of them,

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 love them,

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 know them,

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 and live confidently and courageously

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 for Christ in your world with them.

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 Now have a look at verse one

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 as we step inside this book this morning.

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 The context of this book

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 is that God's people

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 are having their own

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 has our God lost the dressing room

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 kind of moment in history.

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 Verse one,

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 do you see it,

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 of Daniel?

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 It begins not with an introduction.

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 It begins with a destruction.

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 Do you see it?

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 Think of this like a big game of risk

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 appealing to a certain generation in the room.

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 What was the strapline to that game?

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 Does anyone remember the strapline to that game?

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 What was it?

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 It was world domination.

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 That's why I loved playing that with my mates growing up.

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 Stroked my ego for like an hour.

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 I could think I owned the world.

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 World domination.

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 That was the strapline to that game.

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 And what's going on here

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 is that Babylon

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 have become

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 have become the new top dog

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 on the world stage

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 at this point in history.

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 King Nebuchadnezzar

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 leads them in defeating

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 the combined army

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 of the Egyptians

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 and the Assyrians

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 at the Battle of Carchemish

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 which happens around 605 BC.

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 Now I tell you that

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 not just so that you can impress your friends

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 next time that speciality round

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 comes up in a pub quiz.

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 Although go for it if it does.

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 I tell you that

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 so that we can appreciate

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 that this is world history

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 that we're talking about here.

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 This is not make-believe.

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 This is not Narnia.

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 This is not Mordor.

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 This is real history

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 featuring real people

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 and real superpowers.

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 And Babylon

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 what they do

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 is they flex their muscles

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 on the world stage

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 as they go for

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 the world domination.

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 What they do

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 is they capture

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 and they conquer

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 quite brutally

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 Judah and Jerusalem

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 as you see them

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 on the map there.

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 And that event

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 among other places

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 and this is just so we can understand

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 what's going on

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 in our Bibles

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 is so graphically captured

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 for us

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 in a book of the Bible

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 called Lamentations.

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 If you ever wondered

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 what that book is there for

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 that's what it's doing.

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 Describing what that

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 destruction was like.

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 The emotion.

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 The raw pain of it.

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 What happens is Babylon

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 they begin to take

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 God's people

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 back in stages

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 to Babylon.

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 Daniel's one of the first waves

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 that go in

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 605 BC.

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 And this is where you get

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 Psalms

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 like Psalm 137.

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 Now that was made famous

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 by Boney M.

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 Again,

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 a certain generation

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 you'll know that song.

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 By the rivers of Babylon

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 we sat down

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 and we wept

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 as we remembered Zion.

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 The irony of Boney M.

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 is that's really upbeat

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 and cheerful isn't it?

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 And we all sing it like that

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 but it's anything other than that

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 in Psalm 137.

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 Here's the big

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 heartfelt cry

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 in that Psalm.

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 Do you see it right at the end?

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 And get this question

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 in your mind.

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 As God's people

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 are disillusioned

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 in history

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 as they're being taunted

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 by their enemies

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 in a foreign land.

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 Watch the question.

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 How can we sing

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 the Lord's song

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 in a foreign land?

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 When we're away

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 from home

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 surrounded by people

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 who are mocking God

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 how are we supposed

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 to sing the song

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 of him who is great?

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 And how are we supposed

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 to live our lives

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 when we can't see?

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 When we don't know?

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 How can we sing

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 the Lord's song

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 in a foreign land?

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 See that's the question

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 that the book of Daniel

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 seeks to answer.

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 And this is where I think

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 we connect with this book

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 as well.

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 That the Bible

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 tells Christians

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 that although we're living

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 at different times

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 we too are in exile.

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 We are sojourners.

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 We are strangers

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 Peter calls us

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 in 1 Peter.

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 We are those

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 and those are words

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 describing a way

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 of being in the world

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 that knows that we are

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 journeying through the world

00:10:11.659 --> 00:10:12.360
 that we don't get

00:10:12.360 --> 00:10:12.899
 our identity

00:10:12.899 --> 00:10:14.000
 from the world

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 but actually we are

00:10:15.080 --> 00:10:16.399
 heading to our

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 heavenly homeland.

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 So we too are people

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 who are away from home.

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 And we too should be

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 asking ourselves

00:10:23.080 --> 00:10:24.100
 how can we sing

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 the Lord's song

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 in a foreign land?

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 How can we sing

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 this song

00:10:29.220 --> 00:10:30.120
 as exiles?

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 How can we give

00:10:30.759 --> 00:10:31.860
 praise to God?

00:10:31.940 --> 00:10:32.840
 How can we make sense

00:10:32.840 --> 00:10:33.500
 of this world?

00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:37.860
 And as we get into this book

00:10:37.860 --> 00:10:38.660
 I just want us to see

00:10:38.660 --> 00:10:39.240
 chapter 1

00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:40.139
 has got two big things

00:10:40.139 --> 00:10:40.800
 to say to us

00:10:40.800 --> 00:10:41.379
 when it comes to

00:10:41.379 --> 00:10:42.480
 how do we sing that song.

00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:45.120
 And here's the first one

00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:45.800
 we can sing it

00:10:45.800 --> 00:10:46.820
 by being privy

00:10:46.820 --> 00:10:48.019
 to the Lord's purposes.

00:10:49.980 --> 00:10:50.759
 Because see if you

00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:51.460
 were looking at things

00:10:51.460 --> 00:10:52.320
 purely at Google

00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:53.440
 street level here

00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:55.620
 it looks like

00:10:55.620 --> 00:10:56.820
 the Lord's been defeated.

00:10:57.399 --> 00:10:58.480
 I mean to conquer

00:10:58.480 --> 00:10:59.779
 a nation in this day

00:10:59.779 --> 00:11:00.759
 is to conquer

00:11:00.759 --> 00:11:01.580
 their God

00:11:01.580 --> 00:11:02.580
 which is why

00:11:02.580 --> 00:11:03.320
 you might have noticed

00:11:03.320 --> 00:11:04.740
 when Nebuchadnezzar

00:11:04.740 --> 00:11:06.180
 he goes in there

00:11:06.180 --> 00:11:06.879
 verse 2

00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:07.480
 to Babylon

00:11:07.480 --> 00:11:08.879
 he takes the vessels

00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:09.860
 from the temple

00:11:09.860 --> 00:11:10.480
 of Yahweh

00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:12.480
 and he takes them

00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:13.039
 all the way home

00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:13.779
 and he places them

00:11:13.779 --> 00:11:14.639
 in the house of

00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:15.940
 his God.

00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:17.259
 In other words

00:11:17.259 --> 00:11:17.840
 he gives glory

00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:18.879
 to his God

00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:19.820
 that he has conquered

00:11:19.820 --> 00:11:20.639
 Yahweh.

00:11:20.800 --> 00:11:21.800
 So looking at this

00:11:21.800 --> 00:11:23.060
 from a Google street level

00:11:23.060 --> 00:11:24.340
 it looks like God

00:11:24.340 --> 00:11:25.539
 has been defeated.

00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:27.800
 But the Lord

00:11:27.800 --> 00:11:28.759
 is not just above

00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:29.399
 all this.

00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:31.300
 The truth is

00:11:31.300 --> 00:11:31.840
 that the Lord

00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:32.420
 is actually

00:11:32.420 --> 00:11:34.420
 behind all this.

00:11:36.060 --> 00:11:37.600
 And it's illustrated

00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:38.940
 by the three times

00:11:38.940 --> 00:11:39.700
 repeated phrase

00:11:39.700 --> 00:11:40.540
 of chapter 1

00:11:40.540 --> 00:11:41.480
 that you get there.

00:11:42.520 --> 00:11:43.220
 The Lord

00:11:43.220 --> 00:11:44.480
 gave.

00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:45.879
 And there's a little

00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:46.300
 indication

00:11:46.300 --> 00:11:47.060
 a little subtle

00:11:47.060 --> 00:11:47.520
 one there

00:11:47.520 --> 00:11:48.480
 of his sovereignty

00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:49.280
 the Lord

00:11:49.280 --> 00:11:50.340
 gave.

00:11:50.440 --> 00:11:51.140
 I just want you

00:11:51.140 --> 00:11:52.040
 to see these

00:11:52.040 --> 00:11:52.800
 three things.

00:11:52.900 --> 00:11:53.520
 Here's the first one

00:11:53.520 --> 00:11:54.220
 at verse 2

00:11:54.220 --> 00:11:55.800
 the Lord

00:11:55.800 --> 00:11:56.400
 gave.

00:11:57.740 --> 00:11:58.340
 Because whilst

00:11:58.340 --> 00:11:59.300
 it might look like

00:11:59.300 --> 00:12:00.040
 Judah are the

00:12:00.040 --> 00:12:01.360
 unfortunate victims

00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:01.860
 in a game

00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:02.620
 of international

00:12:02.620 --> 00:12:03.480
 politics

00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:04.920
 in actual fact

00:12:04.920 --> 00:12:05.800
 the exile

00:12:05.800 --> 00:12:06.960
 was Judah

00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:07.980
 experiencing

00:12:07.980 --> 00:12:09.100
 God's promised

00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:09.759
 judgment

00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:10.480
 for breaking

00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:11.080
 covenant

00:12:11.080 --> 00:12:11.779
 with him.

00:12:12.300 --> 00:12:13.000
 The Lord

00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:13.820
 had chosen

00:12:13.820 --> 00:12:14.259
 them

00:12:14.259 --> 00:12:15.240
 to be his

00:12:15.240 --> 00:12:16.500
 special possession.

00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:16.980
 The Lord

00:12:16.980 --> 00:12:17.820
 had bestowed

00:12:17.820 --> 00:12:18.399
 on them

00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:19.620
 all the mighty

00:12:19.620 --> 00:12:20.060
 acts,

00:12:20.139 --> 00:12:20.700
 had delivered

00:12:20.700 --> 00:12:21.379
 them from the

00:12:21.379 --> 00:12:22.080
 hands of their

00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:22.840
 captives

00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:22.960
 prophets.

00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:25.220
 And he'd

00:12:25.220 --> 00:12:26.060
 given them

00:12:26.060 --> 00:12:26.899
 every chance

00:12:26.899 --> 00:12:27.420
 to repent

00:12:27.420 --> 00:12:27.800
 and come

00:12:27.800 --> 00:12:28.340
 back to him

00:12:28.340 --> 00:12:28.780
 but their

00:12:28.780 --> 00:12:29.560
 consistent

00:12:29.560 --> 00:12:30.680
 headstrong

00:12:30.680 --> 00:12:31.660
 dismissal

00:12:31.660 --> 00:12:32.580
 of the

00:12:32.580 --> 00:12:33.019
 Lord's

00:12:33.019 --> 00:12:33.560
 word to

00:12:33.560 --> 00:12:33.960
 them

00:12:33.960 --> 00:12:35.320
 through the

00:12:35.320 --> 00:12:35.680
 prophets

00:12:35.680 --> 00:12:36.180
 and their

00:12:36.180 --> 00:12:36.759
 failure

00:12:36.759 --> 00:12:38.080
 to obey

00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:39.160
 the Lord

00:12:39.160 --> 00:12:39.680
 and his

00:12:39.680 --> 00:12:40.180
 law

00:12:40.180 --> 00:12:41.340
 meant that

00:12:41.340 --> 00:12:42.100
 this land

00:12:42.100 --> 00:12:42.379
 that was

00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:42.860
 meant to be

00:12:42.860 --> 00:12:43.300
 a beacon

00:12:43.300 --> 00:12:44.200
 of righteousness

00:12:44.200 --> 00:12:46.240
 and holiness

00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:47.139
 and truth

00:12:47.139 --> 00:12:47.960
 a light

00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:48.280
 to the

00:12:48.280 --> 00:12:48.720
 nations

00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:49.620
 actually

00:12:49.620 --> 00:12:50.379
 this land

00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:50.879
 is full

00:12:50.879 --> 00:12:51.539
 of injustice

00:12:51.539 --> 00:12:52.679
 and idolatry.

00:12:54.460 --> 00:12:55.080
 And God

00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:55.659
 is holy

00:12:55.659 --> 00:12:56.019
 God will

00:12:56.019 --> 00:12:56.360
 not be

00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:57.039
 mocked.

00:12:57.779 --> 00:12:58.019
 And again

00:12:58.019 --> 00:12:58.360
 just thinking

00:12:58.360 --> 00:12:58.620
 of the

00:12:58.620 --> 00:12:59.759
 bigger Bible

00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:00.200
 story

00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:00.820
 just like

00:13:00.820 --> 00:13:01.139
 God at

00:13:01.139 --> 00:13:01.480
 the beginning

00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:01.759
 of the

00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:01.980
 Bible

00:13:01.980 --> 00:13:02.360
 story

00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:02.740
 in his

00:13:02.740 --> 00:13:03.179
 holiness

00:13:03.179 --> 00:13:04.639
 he cast

00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:05.159
 out Adam

00:13:05.159 --> 00:13:05.480
 and Eve

00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:05.840
 from the

00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:06.259
 garden

00:13:06.259 --> 00:13:08.340
 because of

00:13:08.340 --> 00:13:09.000
 their sin

00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:10.500
 and God

00:13:10.500 --> 00:13:10.799
 would not

00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:11.279
 be God

00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:11.600
 he would

00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:12.320
 be compromising

00:13:12.320 --> 00:13:12.600
 in his

00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:12.939
 holiness

00:13:12.939 --> 00:13:13.320
 if he

00:13:13.320 --> 00:13:13.679
 did not

00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:14.240
 do that

00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:15.360
 just like

00:13:15.360 --> 00:13:15.659
 he did

00:13:15.659 --> 00:13:15.919
 then

00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:16.460
 so too

00:13:16.460 --> 00:13:16.980
 Israel

00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:17.559
 are cast

00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:17.919
 out of

00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:18.519
 the land

00:13:18.519 --> 00:13:19.980
 and sent

00:13:19.980 --> 00:13:20.580
 to Babylon

00:13:20.580 --> 00:13:21.180
 because

00:13:21.180 --> 00:13:21.639
 Babylon

00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:21.940
 are the

00:13:21.940 --> 00:13:22.320
 instrument

00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:22.840
 that he

00:13:22.840 --> 00:13:23.280
 uses

00:13:23.280 --> 00:13:24.480
 to carry

00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:24.820
 out his

00:13:24.820 --> 00:13:25.139
 judgment

00:13:25.139 --> 00:13:25.520
 on their

00:13:25.520 --> 00:13:25.840
 sin.

00:13:27.460 --> 00:13:28.300
 But what's

00:13:28.300 --> 00:13:28.860
 wonderfully

00:13:28.860 --> 00:13:29.600
 surprising

00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:31.480
 is that

00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:32.220
 God says

00:13:32.220 --> 00:13:32.940
 to that

00:13:32.940 --> 00:13:33.600
 generation

00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:33.920
 through

00:13:33.920 --> 00:13:34.480
 Jeremiah

00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:36.960
 that not

00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:37.520
 only will

00:13:37.520 --> 00:13:38.180
 their time

00:13:38.180 --> 00:13:38.639
 in Babylon

00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:39.300
 come to an

00:13:39.300 --> 00:13:39.800
 end after

00:13:39.800 --> 00:13:40.700
 70 years

00:13:40.700 --> 00:13:41.280
 after which

00:13:41.280 --> 00:13:41.600
 God will

00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:41.900
 bring them

00:13:41.900 --> 00:13:42.379
 back to

00:13:42.379 --> 00:13:43.000
 their homeland

00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:44.160
 but God

00:13:44.160 --> 00:13:45.040
 actually tells

00:13:45.040 --> 00:13:45.600
 his people

00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:46.000
 that he

00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:46.480
 wants them

00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:47.259
 to be

00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:47.620
 and you

00:13:47.620 --> 00:13:47.860
 see it

00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:48.100
 on the

00:13:48.100 --> 00:13:48.420
 screen

00:13:48.419 --> 00:13:49.979
 a blessing

00:13:49.979 --> 00:13:50.659
 to Babylon

00:13:50.659 --> 00:13:51.219
 while they're

00:13:51.219 --> 00:13:51.500
 there

00:13:51.500 --> 00:13:52.939
 and that

00:13:52.939 --> 00:13:54.000
 is hugely

00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:54.679
 surprising

00:13:54.679 --> 00:13:56.659
 given everything

00:13:56.659 --> 00:13:57.099
 that we

00:13:57.099 --> 00:13:58.339
 know about

00:13:58.339 --> 00:13:58.719
 Babylon

00:13:58.719 --> 00:13:59.379
 what the

00:13:59.379 --> 00:13:59.639
 city

00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:00.360
 represents

00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:00.620
 in the

00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:00.839
 Bible

00:14:00.839 --> 00:14:01.179
 story

00:14:01.179 --> 00:14:01.719
 God

00:14:01.719 --> 00:14:02.199
 wants

00:14:02.199 --> 00:14:02.459
 his

00:14:02.459 --> 00:14:02.719
 people

00:14:02.719 --> 00:14:03.000
 to be

00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:03.599
 a blessing

00:14:03.599 --> 00:14:04.179
 even in

00:14:04.179 --> 00:14:04.639
 exile

00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:05.879
 do you see

00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:06.199
 what he's

00:14:06.199 --> 00:14:06.479
 saying

00:14:06.479 --> 00:14:07.860
 I don't

00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:08.339
 want you

00:14:08.339 --> 00:14:08.579
 as my

00:14:08.579 --> 00:14:08.819
 people

00:14:08.819 --> 00:14:09.319
 to dig

00:14:09.319 --> 00:14:09.939
 your heels

00:14:09.939 --> 00:14:10.299
 in

00:14:10.299 --> 00:14:11.599
 and be

00:14:11.599 --> 00:14:12.059
 difficult

00:14:12.059 --> 00:14:12.459
 I don't

00:14:12.459 --> 00:14:12.719
 want you

00:14:12.719 --> 00:14:13.199
 to come

00:14:13.199 --> 00:14:13.519
 out and

00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:14.199
 be separate

00:14:14.199 --> 00:14:15.219
 but equally

00:14:15.219 --> 00:14:15.579
 I don't

00:14:15.579 --> 00:14:15.939
 want you

00:14:15.939 --> 00:14:16.299
 just to

00:14:16.299 --> 00:14:16.899
 blend in

00:14:16.899 --> 00:14:17.139
 and be

00:14:17.139 --> 00:14:17.779
 like everyone

00:14:17.779 --> 00:14:18.279
 else

00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:20.779
 I want

00:14:20.779 --> 00:14:21.000
 you to

00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:21.240
 be a

00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:21.600
 blessing

00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:22.319
 to the

00:14:22.319 --> 00:14:22.699
 world

00:14:22.699 --> 00:14:23.799
 by being

00:14:23.799 --> 00:14:24.980
 distinct

00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:27.699
 and that

00:14:27.699 --> 00:14:28.100
 God giving

00:14:28.100 --> 00:14:28.459
 language

00:14:28.459 --> 00:14:28.799
 here's a

00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:29.199
 second one

00:14:29.199 --> 00:14:29.559
 it crops

00:14:29.559 --> 00:14:29.879
 up at

00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:30.500
 verse 9

00:14:30.500 --> 00:14:31.740
 to see

00:14:31.740 --> 00:14:32.659
 God blesses

00:14:32.659 --> 00:14:33.100
 Daniel's

00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:33.600
 witness

00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:36.220
 Daniel sees

00:14:36.220 --> 00:14:36.959
 the opportunities

00:14:36.959 --> 00:14:37.679
 around him

00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:38.259
 to be a

00:14:38.259 --> 00:14:38.819
 witness as

00:14:38.819 --> 00:14:39.100
 he does

00:14:39.100 --> 00:14:39.679
 his job

00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:40.279
 faithfully

00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:40.720
 as he

00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:41.839
 seeks to

00:14:41.839 --> 00:14:42.220
 love the

00:14:42.220 --> 00:14:42.860
 people around

00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:43.059
 him

00:14:43.059 --> 00:14:43.319
 as he

00:14:43.319 --> 00:14:43.919
 seeks God

00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:44.339
 in prayer

00:14:44.339 --> 00:14:45.139
 for them

00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:47.299
 God honors

00:14:47.299 --> 00:14:47.879
 those who

00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:48.819
 honor him

00:14:48.819 --> 00:14:51.199
 and then

00:14:51.199 --> 00:14:51.439
 the God

00:14:51.439 --> 00:14:51.959
 giving language

00:14:51.959 --> 00:14:52.399
 comes up

00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:52.759
 again at

00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:53.559
 verse 17

00:14:53.559 --> 00:14:54.979
 and this

00:14:54.979 --> 00:14:55.379
 time it's

00:14:55.379 --> 00:14:56.179
 personal

00:14:56.179 --> 00:14:58.399
 God gave

00:14:58.399 --> 00:14:59.039
 these four

00:14:59.039 --> 00:14:59.699
 young men

00:14:59.699 --> 00:15:00.219
 who will be

00:15:00.219 --> 00:15:00.819
 central to

00:15:00.819 --> 00:15:01.479
 this story

00:15:01.479 --> 00:15:03.139
 the exact

00:15:03.139 --> 00:15:03.639
 gifts that

00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:04.139
 they needed

00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:04.919
 in order to

00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:05.419
 be a

00:15:05.419 --> 00:15:05.939
 blessing

00:15:05.939 --> 00:15:07.799
 in and

00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:08.259
 to

00:15:08.259 --> 00:15:09.219
 Babylon

00:15:09.219 --> 00:15:11.699
 and that

00:15:11.699 --> 00:15:12.319
 changes how

00:15:12.319 --> 00:15:12.979
 we understand

00:15:12.979 --> 00:15:13.479
 tomorrow

00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:14.840
 and the

00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:15.139
 things that

00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:15.440
 we'll go

00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:16.100
 to tomorrow

00:15:16.100 --> 00:15:19.600
 and how

00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:20.139
 God has

00:15:20.139 --> 00:15:20.659
 orchestrated

00:15:20.659 --> 00:15:21.039
 all of

00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:21.320
 this for

00:15:21.320 --> 00:15:21.779
 his glory

00:15:21.779 --> 00:15:22.279
 and for

00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:23.279
 our good

00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:24.899
 you know

00:15:24.899 --> 00:15:25.279
 and Alex

00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:25.539
 and I

00:15:25.539 --> 00:15:25.800
 when we

00:15:25.800 --> 00:15:26.259
 get a

00:15:26.259 --> 00:15:27.259
 night off

00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:27.560
 one of the

00:15:27.560 --> 00:15:28.120
 programs we

00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:28.440
 love to

00:15:28.440 --> 00:15:29.120
 watch is

00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:31.460
 Death and

00:15:31.460 --> 00:15:31.940
 Paradise

00:15:31.940 --> 00:15:32.440
 on BBC

00:15:32.440 --> 00:15:32.779
 One

00:15:32.779 --> 00:15:34.440
 it used to

00:15:34.440 --> 00:15:34.759
 be cool

00:15:34.759 --> 00:15:35.100
 guys

00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:35.580
 honestly

00:15:35.580 --> 00:15:37.639
 I know

00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:38.000
 that's my

00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:38.399
 life

00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:39.220
 Death and

00:15:39.220 --> 00:15:39.500
 Paradise

00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:39.879
 on BBC

00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:40.120
 One

00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:40.379
 if you're

00:15:40.379 --> 00:15:40.759
 really into

00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:41.100
 Death and

00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:41.440
 Paradise

00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:41.840
 on BBC

00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:42.120
 One

00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:42.399
 you know

00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:42.820
 there's a

00:15:42.820 --> 00:15:43.179
 spin-off

00:15:43.179 --> 00:15:43.399
 called

00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:43.740
 Beyond

00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:44.419
 Paradise

00:15:44.419 --> 00:15:45.740
 and that's

00:15:45.740 --> 00:15:45.960
 when you

00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:46.320
 know you're

00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:46.799
 really really

00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:47.000
 cool

00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:47.360
 you're watching

00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:47.700
 that as

00:15:47.700 --> 00:15:47.840
 well

00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:48.379
 but Chris

00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:49.500
 Marshall is

00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:50.000
 the detective

00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:50.460
 on that

00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:50.720
 show

00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:53.060
 and he's

00:15:53.060 --> 00:15:53.560
 kind of this

00:15:53.560 --> 00:15:54.879
 goofy detective

00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:55.419
 but he's

00:15:55.419 --> 00:15:56.320
 savvy and

00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:56.779
 sharp

00:15:56.779 --> 00:15:57.960
 and he's

00:15:57.960 --> 00:15:58.279
 got this

00:15:58.279 --> 00:15:58.860
 one line

00:15:58.860 --> 00:15:59.120
 in the

00:15:59.120 --> 00:15:59.440
 show

00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:00.480
 that always

00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:01.000
 sticks with

00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:01.139
 me

00:16:01.139 --> 00:16:01.539
 he says

00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:01.759
 this

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.139
 he says

00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:02.960
 coincidences

00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:04.419
 I don't

00:16:04.419 --> 00:16:04.919
 believe in

00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:05.139
 them

00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:08.000
 and neither

00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:08.419
 does the

00:16:08.419 --> 00:16:08.860
 Lord as

00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:09.320
 we come to

00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:09.720
 see him

00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:10.019
 here

00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:12.139
 he is

00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:12.539
 sovereign

00:16:12.539 --> 00:16:12.860
 and get

00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:13.220
 this

00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:13.740
 over

00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:15.019
 when

00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:15.840
 you are

00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:18.159
 and where

00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:18.899
 you are

00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:21.299
 and who

00:16:21.299 --> 00:16:21.899
 you are

00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:23.600
 and the

00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:24.039
 people around

00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:24.500
 about you

00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:25.019
 are there

00:16:25.019 --> 00:16:26.139
 because God

00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:26.679
 wanted them

00:16:26.679 --> 00:16:27.240
 to be there

00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:28.240
 and you

00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:28.659
 are rubbing

00:16:28.659 --> 00:16:29.159
 up against

00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:29.600
 them in

00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:30.019
 their lives

00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:30.559
 because God

00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:31.220
 wanted that

00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:32.079
 relationship

00:16:32.079 --> 00:16:33.240
 to exist

00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:34.000
 God has

00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:34.620
 placed us

00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:35.159
 in places

00:16:35.159 --> 00:16:36.740
 and he's

00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:37.179
 given us

00:16:37.179 --> 00:16:37.600
 the exact

00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:38.039
 gifts that

00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:38.360
 we need

00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:38.819
 in those

00:16:38.819 --> 00:16:39.219
 places

00:16:39.219 --> 00:16:39.799
 to be a

00:16:39.799 --> 00:16:40.019
 witness

00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:40.500
 to him

00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:41.600
 he's

00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:41.980
 made us

00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:42.679
 good at

00:16:42.679 --> 00:16:43.100
 things

00:16:43.100 --> 00:16:43.759
 he's made

00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:44.319
 us aware

00:16:44.319 --> 00:16:45.259
 of things

00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:46.439
 and he's

00:16:46.439 --> 00:16:47.199
 placed us

00:16:47.199 --> 00:16:47.600
 where we

00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:47.959
 are

00:16:47.959 --> 00:16:48.939
 to be a

00:16:48.939 --> 00:16:49.399
 blessing

00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:50.000
 during our

00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:50.399
 time of

00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:50.779
 exile

00:16:50.779 --> 00:16:51.459
 changes

00:16:51.459 --> 00:16:51.899
 just think

00:16:51.899 --> 00:16:52.179
 about it

00:16:52.179 --> 00:16:52.360
 we're going

00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:52.559
 to think

00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:52.759
 about it

00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:53.100
 after the

00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:53.279
 service

00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:54.299
 who are

00:16:54.299 --> 00:16:54.860
 those people

00:16:54.860 --> 00:16:55.259
 in your

00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:55.699
 life

00:16:55.699 --> 00:16:57.759
 who are

00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:58.279
 those people

00:16:58.279 --> 00:16:58.779
 that God

00:16:58.779 --> 00:16:59.379
 wants us

00:16:59.379 --> 00:16:59.740
 to be a

00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:00.480
 blessing to

00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:00.939
 as we are

00:17:00.939 --> 00:17:01.799
 conspicuous

00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:02.459
 for Christ

00:17:02.459 --> 00:17:02.959
 in our

00:17:02.959 --> 00:17:03.259
 world

00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:04.079
 where is

00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:04.700
 your front

00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:05.420
 line right

00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:05.740
 now

00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:07.619
 who is on

00:17:07.619 --> 00:17:08.099
 your front

00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:08.680
 line right

00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:09.019
 now

00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:10.599
 your family

00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:12.879
 your uni

00:17:12.879 --> 00:17:13.700
 course mates

00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:14.740
 your workplace

00:17:14.740 --> 00:17:15.619
 your sports

00:17:15.619 --> 00:17:16.000
 teams

00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:17.000
 who is on

00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:17.420
 your front

00:17:17.420 --> 00:17:18.000
 line right

00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:18.259
 now

00:17:18.259 --> 00:17:19.000
 and what

00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:19.259
 does it

00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:19.559
 mean for

00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:20.079
 you to be

00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:20.779
 faithful

00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:22.400
 on your

00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:23.059
 front line

00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:24.339
 right now

00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:26.220
 so you've

00:17:26.220 --> 00:17:26.519
 got to be

00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:27.160
 privy to

00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:27.900
 the Lord's

00:17:27.900 --> 00:17:28.839
 purposes

00:17:28.839 --> 00:17:30.599
 and secondly

00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:30.940
 we want to

00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:31.799
 be savvy to

00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:32.879
 the world

00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:33.400
 world's

00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:33.860
 tactics

00:17:33.860 --> 00:17:34.360
 and just

00:17:34.360 --> 00:17:35.020
 track with

00:17:35.020 --> 00:17:35.300
 me as we

00:17:35.300 --> 00:17:35.560
 go through

00:17:35.560 --> 00:17:35.980
 this really

00:17:35.980 --> 00:17:36.340
 quickly

00:17:36.340 --> 00:17:36.980
 and see

00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:38.640
 see

00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:39.260
 Nebuchadnezzar

00:17:39.260 --> 00:17:39.820
 king of

00:17:39.820 --> 00:17:40.100
 Babylon

00:17:40.100 --> 00:17:40.600
 he's got a

00:17:40.600 --> 00:17:41.760
 really clear

00:17:41.760 --> 00:17:43.140
 foreign policy

00:17:43.140 --> 00:17:43.900
 sum it up in

00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:44.500
 one word

00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.000
 and it's the

00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:45.160
 word

00:17:45.160 --> 00:17:46.180
 assimilation

00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:48.300
 assimilation

00:17:48.300 --> 00:17:49.180
 so the best

00:17:49.180 --> 00:17:49.660
 way to

00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:50.360
 control your

00:17:50.360 --> 00:17:50.920
 empire

00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:51.460
 remember the

00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:52.740
 the grand

00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:53.640
 sweeping nature

00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:53.960
 of it

00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:54.640
 the best way

00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:55.180
 to control

00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:55.800
 your empire

00:17:55.800 --> 00:17:56.920
 is to take

00:17:56.920 --> 00:17:57.600
 the best

00:17:57.600 --> 00:17:58.000
 and the

00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:58.500
 brightest

00:17:58.500 --> 00:18:00.300
 from the

00:18:00.300 --> 00:18:01.000
 nation you've

00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:01.660
 just conquered

00:18:01.660 --> 00:18:02.460
 take them

00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:03.340
 out of their

00:18:03.340 --> 00:18:03.940
 homeland

00:18:03.940 --> 00:18:05.200
 settle them

00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:05.759
 in Babylon

00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:07.120
 and train

00:18:07.120 --> 00:18:07.500
 them to

00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:08.220
 think and

00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:08.860
 to act

00:18:08.860 --> 00:18:10.000
 just like a

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:10.700
 Babylonian

00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:11.779
 so when the

00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:12.279
 other people

00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:12.860
 in the land

00:18:12.860 --> 00:18:13.340
 look at the

00:18:13.340 --> 00:18:13.800
 best and the

00:18:13.800 --> 00:18:14.200
 brightest they

00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:14.660
 think well if

00:18:14.660 --> 00:18:15.180
 they've kind of

00:18:15.180 --> 00:18:15.640
 sold their

00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:16.040
 souls to

00:18:16.040 --> 00:18:16.940
 Babylon then

00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:17.420
 that's the

00:18:17.420 --> 00:18:17.920
 way that we're

00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:18.279
 going to go

00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:18.759
 as well

00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:19.840
 right kind of

00:18:19.840 --> 00:18:20.200
 works

00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:21.259
 assimilation

00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:23.000
 and it's

00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:23.540
 exactly what

00:18:23.540 --> 00:18:23.920
 he's trying to

00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:24.400
 do in verses

00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.160
 four to five

00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:25.500
 and look

00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:26.820
 with it

00:18:26.819 --> 00:18:28.159
 at it

00:18:28.159 --> 00:18:28.419
 if you've

00:18:28.419 --> 00:18:28.700
 got it

00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:28.980
 there

00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:30.220
 and just

00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:30.859
 see really

00:18:30.859 --> 00:18:31.399
 quickly the

00:18:31.399 --> 00:18:32.339
 four distraction

00:18:32.339 --> 00:18:33.439
 tactics

00:18:33.439 --> 00:18:36.039
 and of course

00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:36.559
 standing behind

00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:37.119
 all of this

00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:37.859
 is a spiritual

00:18:37.859 --> 00:18:38.559
 enemy who

00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:38.899
 would love

00:18:38.899 --> 00:18:39.779
 nothing more

00:18:39.779 --> 00:18:40.679
 than for God's

00:18:40.679 --> 00:18:41.179
 people to

00:18:41.179 --> 00:18:41.899
 tap out

00:18:41.899 --> 00:18:43.059
 when it comes

00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:43.740
 to trusting

00:18:43.740 --> 00:18:45.000
 and living

00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.220
 for the

00:18:46.220 --> 00:18:46.539
 Lord

00:18:46.539 --> 00:18:47.000
 and of course

00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:47.319
 I want you

00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:48.359
 to think about

00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:48.919
 in your life

00:18:48.919 --> 00:18:49.460
 right now

00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:50.220
 as we think

00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:50.579
 about these

00:18:50.579 --> 00:18:51.460
 four distractions

00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:52.619
 what is the

00:18:52.619 --> 00:18:53.179
 one that the

00:18:53.179 --> 00:18:53.879
 evil one is

00:18:53.879 --> 00:18:54.740
 dangling right

00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:55.259
 in front of

00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:55.899
 you right now

00:18:55.900 --> 00:18:56.480
 what could be

00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:57.080
 live

00:18:57.080 --> 00:18:58.320
 what could be

00:18:58.320 --> 00:18:59.000
 causing you

00:18:59.000 --> 00:18:59.480
 to take your

00:18:59.480 --> 00:19:00.220
 eye off of

00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:00.600
 the ball

00:19:00.600 --> 00:19:01.500
 even subtly

00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:02.160
 here they are

00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:02.640
 really quickly

00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:03.820
 the first one

00:19:03.820 --> 00:19:04.680
 is isolation

00:19:04.680 --> 00:19:07.300
 do you see

00:19:07.300 --> 00:19:07.820
 how they try

00:19:07.820 --> 00:19:08.500
 and take them

00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:09.860
 away from

00:19:09.860 --> 00:19:10.500
 their Jewish

00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:11.120
 community

00:19:11.120 --> 00:19:12.780
 they take them

00:19:12.780 --> 00:19:13.240
 away from

00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:14.000
 the encouragement

00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:14.680
 that's there

00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:16.200
 from the stories

00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:16.780
 that are there

00:19:16.780 --> 00:19:17.620
 from the prayers

00:19:17.620 --> 00:19:18.180
 that are there

00:19:18.180 --> 00:19:19.060
 from the reminders

00:19:19.060 --> 00:19:19.940
 of God's word

00:19:19.940 --> 00:19:20.920
 that are there

00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:22.040
 and I think

00:19:22.040 --> 00:19:22.460
 they take them

00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.000
 away from the

00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:23.900
 songs that are

00:19:23.900 --> 00:19:24.660
 there as well

00:19:24.660 --> 00:19:26.040
 so we are

00:19:26.040 --> 00:19:26.500
 as God's

00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:26.800
 people

00:19:26.800 --> 00:19:28.279
 we're a

00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:28.920
 declarative

00:19:28.920 --> 00:19:29.420
 people

00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:30.019
 aren't we

00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:30.660
 take them

00:19:30.660 --> 00:19:31.180
 away from

00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:32.120
 all of

00:19:32.120 --> 00:19:32.519
 this

00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:33.540
 and instead

00:19:33.540 --> 00:19:34.100
 they're taken

00:19:34.100 --> 00:19:34.519
 away from

00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:35.000
 this community

00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:35.440
 and they're

00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:35.960
 placed in

00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:36.580
 the king's

00:19:36.580 --> 00:19:37.220
 palace

00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:39.240
 it's isolation

00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:40.779
 I just say

00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:41.140
 that's why

00:19:41.140 --> 00:19:42.000
 church is so

00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:42.600
 important

00:19:42.600 --> 00:19:44.340
 as I go on

00:19:44.340 --> 00:19:44.820
 in the Christian

00:19:44.820 --> 00:19:45.600
 life I realize

00:19:45.600 --> 00:19:46.040
 that I need

00:19:46.040 --> 00:19:46.620
 this church

00:19:46.620 --> 00:19:47.279
 I need you

00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:47.840
 I need you

00:19:47.840 --> 00:19:48.560
 more not

00:19:48.560 --> 00:19:49.040
 less

00:19:49.040 --> 00:19:50.519
 because I need

00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:51.100
 and Keita was

00:19:51.100 --> 00:19:51.900
 great at just

00:19:51.900 --> 00:19:53.660
 anchoring in this

00:19:53.660 --> 00:19:54.240
 right at the

00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:54.560
 beginning

00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:55.759
 Sunday is a

00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:56.220
 day when we

00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:56.859
 press stop

00:19:56.859 --> 00:19:57.220
 and we

00:19:57.220 --> 00:19:57.960
 encourage one

00:19:57.960 --> 00:19:58.440
 another with

00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:59.139
 God's promises

00:19:59.139 --> 00:19:59.519
 and his

00:19:59.519 --> 00:19:59.960
 character

00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:01.899
 and don't

00:20:01.899 --> 00:20:02.440
 underestimate

00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:03.220
 the spiritual

00:20:03.220 --> 00:20:03.899
 battle that

00:20:03.899 --> 00:20:04.480
 goes on

00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:05.919
 just to get

00:20:05.919 --> 00:20:06.500
 here on a

00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:06.819
 Sunday

00:20:06.819 --> 00:20:07.899
 you know

00:20:07.899 --> 00:20:08.240
 we had

00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:09.179
 Trev and Val

00:20:09.179 --> 00:20:09.759
 our friend

00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.200
 stayed with us

00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:10.659
 last week

00:20:10.659 --> 00:20:11.179
 and we asked

00:20:11.179 --> 00:20:11.500
 Val

00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:11.919
 we said

00:20:11.919 --> 00:20:12.500
 is it just

00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:12.960
 us who

00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:13.619
 find Sunday

00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:14.299
 morning really

00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:14.839
 difficult

00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:15.779
 whether there's

00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.139
 a morning

00:20:16.139 --> 00:20:17.000
 Alex and I

00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:17.319
 will have a

00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:17.779
 disagreement

00:20:17.779 --> 00:20:18.639
 and when the

00:20:18.639 --> 00:20:19.220
 kids will kick

00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:19.899
 off you can

00:20:19.899 --> 00:20:20.720
 guarantee it

00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:21.200
 will be Sunday

00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:21.539
 morning

00:20:21.539 --> 00:20:22.179
 and she said

00:20:22.179 --> 00:20:23.379
 after a lifetime

00:20:23.379 --> 00:20:24.059
 of ministry

00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:25.659
 absolutely not

00:20:25.659 --> 00:20:26.919
 it's as if the

00:20:26.919 --> 00:20:27.559
 devil goes to

00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:28.700
 bed early on a

00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:29.440
 Saturday night

00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:30.599
 so that he can

00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:31.379
 get up early in

00:20:31.379 --> 00:20:31.720
 the Sunday

00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.500
 morning and so

00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:33.440
 all the seeds of

00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:34.339
 discord and unrest

00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:35.039
 in your life to

00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:35.700
 stop you from

00:20:35.700 --> 00:20:36.259
 getting here

00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:37.319
 so just don't

00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:38.200
 underestimate the

00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:39.819
 battle of getting

00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:40.639
 here on a Sunday

00:20:40.639 --> 00:20:41.379
 and don't

00:20:41.379 --> 00:20:43.159
 underestimate the

00:20:43.159 --> 00:20:44.200
 power it is when

00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:44.980
 we gather together

00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:46.599
 and the influence we

00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:47.859
 can have on each

00:20:47.859 --> 00:20:49.220
 other's life

00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:49.759
 isolation

00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.920
 the second one is

00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:51.819
 indoctrination

00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:54.680
 verse 4

00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:55.140
 do you see how

00:20:55.140 --> 00:20:55.720
 these guys are

00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:56.519
 educated

00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:58.759
 and for three

00:20:58.759 --> 00:20:59.379
 years

00:20:59.379 --> 00:21:00.779
 in the literature

00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.720
 and the language

00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.379
 of the

00:21:02.379 --> 00:21:03.559
 Chaldeans

00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:04.140
 so the idea

00:21:04.140 --> 00:21:04.740
 here is really

00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:06.180
 you expose them

00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:07.039
 to the best of

00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:07.900
 human thinking

00:21:07.900 --> 00:21:10.379
 that sow doubts

00:21:10.379 --> 00:21:11.140
 in the minds of

00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:11.759
 God's people

00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.819
 about the need

00:21:12.819 --> 00:21:13.819
 for and existence

00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:14.779
 of God

00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:16.180
 and if you do

00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:16.680
 it enough

00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:17.500
 and take them

00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:18.119
 away from their

00:21:18.119 --> 00:21:18.500
 community

00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:19.019
 they'll begin

00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:20.000
 to just think

00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:21.000
 that it is true

00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:22.619
 you go for the

00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:23.019
 mind

00:21:23.019 --> 00:21:24.220
 because the mind

00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:25.019
 is the gateway

00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:26.079
 to the heart

00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:27.440
 now let me just

00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:27.960
 say in case

00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:28.839
 just to kind of

00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:29.579
 jump ahead of a

00:21:29.579 --> 00:21:30.099
 question that might

00:21:30.099 --> 00:21:30.660
 be in your minds

00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:30.880
 here

00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:31.880
 there's nothing

00:21:31.880 --> 00:21:32.319
 wrong

00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:32.819
 in fact there's

00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:33.559
 everything right

00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:34.119
 I would say

00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:34.700
 with asking

00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:35.619
 questions

00:21:35.619 --> 00:21:36.740
 hear me right

00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:37.019
 on that

00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:37.539
 this is not

00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:37.940
 what that's

00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:38.220
 saying

00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.559
 but the best

00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:40.400
 place to do

00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:40.640
 it

00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:41.660
 is in a

00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:42.200
 community

00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:44.000
 that you know

00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:44.839
 loves you

00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:46.059
 and will seek

00:21:46.059 --> 00:21:46.559
 to walk

00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.400
 alongside you

00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:48.000
 as you ask

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.640
 those questions

00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:49.259
 and speak

00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:50.000
 truth in

00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:50.319
 love

00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:51.099
 into your

00:21:51.099 --> 00:21:51.539
 life

00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:52.259
 in other

00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:52.539
 words the

00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:53.440
 best place

00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:54.160
 to explore

00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:54.960
 these questions

00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:55.819
 is not

00:21:55.819 --> 00:21:56.480
 without but

00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:56.960
 within a

00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:57.400
 community

00:21:57.400 --> 00:21:57.839
 that loves

00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:58.220
 the Lord

00:21:58.220 --> 00:22:01.079
 indoctrination

00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:01.779
 really quickly

00:22:01.779 --> 00:22:02.500
 temptation

00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:04.819
 verse 5

00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:06.099
 do you see

00:22:06.099 --> 00:22:06.640
 how the king

00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:07.539
 offers the

00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:08.400
 good life

00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:09.700
 to Daniel

00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:10.000
 and his

00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:10.359
 friends

00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:10.779
 that the

00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:11.259
 best

00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:12.000
 delicacies

00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:12.920
 and luxuries

00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:13.980
 and again

00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.539
 the thinking

00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:15.380
 is just to

00:22:15.380 --> 00:22:16.660
 seduce

00:22:16.660 --> 00:22:17.040
 Daniel

00:22:17.040 --> 00:22:17.320
 away

00:22:17.320 --> 00:22:17.700
 from the

00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:18.040
 hard

00:22:18.040 --> 00:22:18.480
 life

00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:20.120
 by dangling

00:22:20.120 --> 00:22:20.600
 the good

00:22:20.600 --> 00:22:20.900
 life

00:22:20.900 --> 00:22:21.280
 in front

00:22:21.280 --> 00:22:21.620
 of him

00:22:21.620 --> 00:22:23.380
 temptation

00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:24.920
 and then

00:22:24.920 --> 00:22:25.360
 lastly

00:22:25.360 --> 00:22:25.860
 just a

00:22:25.860 --> 00:22:26.080
 way of

00:22:26.080 --> 00:22:26.280
 time

00:22:26.280 --> 00:22:26.620
 it's

00:22:26.620 --> 00:22:27.240
 identification

00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:27.820
 and I

00:22:27.820 --> 00:22:28.100
 think this

00:22:28.100 --> 00:22:28.280
 is the

00:22:28.280 --> 00:22:28.540
 one that's

00:22:28.540 --> 00:22:28.740
 going to

00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:29.060
 challenge

00:22:29.060 --> 00:22:29.520
 most of

00:22:29.520 --> 00:22:29.840
 us this

00:22:29.840 --> 00:22:30.120
 morning

00:22:30.120 --> 00:22:30.900
 verse 7

00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:32.840
 I'm sorry

00:22:32.840 --> 00:22:33.180
 I'm rattling

00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:33.660
 through this

00:22:33.660 --> 00:22:33.880
 here

00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:34.560
 verse 7

00:22:34.560 --> 00:22:35.640
 do you see

00:22:35.640 --> 00:22:36.000
 how these

00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.420
 guys are

00:22:36.420 --> 00:22:36.700
 given

00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:37.600
 Babylonian

00:22:37.600 --> 00:22:38.000
 names

00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:38.600
 now I

00:22:38.600 --> 00:22:39.140
 never thought

00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:39.840
 anything of

00:22:39.840 --> 00:22:40.360
 this before

00:22:40.360 --> 00:22:40.740
 until I

00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:41.200
 studied it

00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:41.720
 this week

00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:43.020
 but there's

00:22:43.020 --> 00:22:43.440
 a reason

00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:43.780
 that we're

00:22:43.780 --> 00:22:44.260
 told about

00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:44.940
 their names

00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:45.859
 now their

00:22:45.859 --> 00:22:46.759
 original names

00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:47.099
 do you see

00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:47.619
 the L

00:22:47.619 --> 00:22:48.039
 and the

00:22:48.039 --> 00:22:48.740
 A in

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.400
 their names

00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:50.700
 they show

00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:51.059
 us that

00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:51.519
 these guys

00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:51.859
 have been

00:22:51.859 --> 00:22:52.680
 named after

00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:53.319
 the Lord

00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:54.480
 Daniel

00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.579
 Mishael

00:22:55.579 --> 00:22:56.279
 El

00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:56.700
 the God

00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:57.180
 Almighty

00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:58.420
 and do you

00:22:58.420 --> 00:22:59.000
 see how

00:22:59.000 --> 00:22:59.920
 Bel and

00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:00.619
 Nabu are

00:23:00.619 --> 00:23:01.039
 the names

00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:01.319
 that they're

00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:01.579
 kind of

00:23:01.579 --> 00:23:01.779
 given

00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:02.099
 they're in

00:23:02.099 --> 00:23:02.599
 those names

00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:02.839
 there

00:23:02.839 --> 00:23:03.779
 they're trying

00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:04.420
 to rename

00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:04.879
 them after

00:23:04.879 --> 00:23:05.680
 Babylonian

00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:06.160
 gods

00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:08.220
 and here's

00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:08.619
 the point

00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:09.119
 we want you

00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:09.680
 to forget

00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:10.099
 who you

00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:10.519
 are

00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:13.259
 forget the

00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:13.700
 identity

00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:14.240
 that God

00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:14.539
 has so

00:23:14.539 --> 00:23:14.980
 graciously

00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:15.940
 stamped all

00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:16.299
 over your

00:23:16.299 --> 00:23:16.580
 life

00:23:16.580 --> 00:23:17.200
 to forget

00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:17.700
 that God

00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:17.960
 has been

00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:18.880
 faithful all

00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:19.319
 the way

00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:20.600
 through history

00:23:20.600 --> 00:23:21.440
 and again

00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:21.900
 it's what the

00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:22.380
 evil one

00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:22.799
 does

00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:24.400
 helps you

00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:25.840
 forget

00:23:25.840 --> 00:23:26.640
 who you

00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:27.080
 are

00:23:27.080 --> 00:23:28.299
 did God

00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:29.600
 really say

00:23:29.600 --> 00:23:31.000
 nothing's

00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:31.640
 changed since

00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:32.420
 Genesis 3

00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:33.940
 did he really

00:23:33.940 --> 00:23:34.600
 say that you

00:23:34.600 --> 00:23:35.420
 can be forgiven

00:23:35.420 --> 00:23:36.600
 did he really

00:23:36.600 --> 00:23:37.240
 say that you

00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:37.559
 have been

00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:38.039
 adopted

00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:39.180
 did he really

00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:39.880
 say there is

00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:40.480
 a hope and a

00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.160
 future for you

00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:41.720
 in Jesus

00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:42.299
 Christ

00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:43.559
 did God

00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:44.279
 really say

00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:45.619
 and you

00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:46.220
 can say

00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:47.700
 because of

00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:48.279
 God's word

00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:48.980
 and because of

00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:49.399
 what Jesus

00:23:49.399 --> 00:23:49.759
 has done

00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.019
 in our

00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:50.339
 lives

00:23:50.339 --> 00:23:51.419
 yes he

00:23:51.419 --> 00:23:51.700
 did

00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:53.419
 but it's

00:23:53.419 --> 00:23:54.039
 identification

00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:54.720
 isn't it

00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:54.980
 and what

00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:55.579
 Daniel does

00:23:55.579 --> 00:23:55.899
 is he

00:23:55.899 --> 00:23:57.440
 takes being

00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:58.180
 both privy

00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:58.519
 to the

00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:58.839
 Lord's

00:23:58.839 --> 00:23:59.240
 purposes

00:23:59.240 --> 00:24:00.159
 and being

00:24:00.159 --> 00:24:00.940
 savvy to

00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:01.460
 the world's

00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:02.059
 tactics

00:24:02.059 --> 00:24:02.879
 and what he

00:24:02.879 --> 00:24:03.379
 does is he

00:24:03.379 --> 00:24:04.259
 stands strong

00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:05.480
 and let me

00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:05.980
 just pick out

00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:06.839
 one word

00:24:06.839 --> 00:24:07.359
 and it comes

00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:07.799
 at verse

00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:08.500
 8 and it's

00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:09.019
 the word

00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:10.220
 resolved

00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:11.960
 and it captures

00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:12.339
 it here

00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:13.200
 his response

00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:15.620
 and you might

00:24:15.620 --> 00:24:16.100
 miss it in the

00:24:16.100 --> 00:24:16.920
 text but Daniel

00:24:16.920 --> 00:24:17.640
 is likely an

00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:18.740
 older teenager

00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.400
 at this point

00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:20.160
 in his life

00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:21.779
 and it's lovely

00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:22.460
 isn't it at this

00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.240
 junction in his

00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:23.880
 life he's not

00:24:23.880 --> 00:24:24.620
 putting off

00:24:24.620 --> 00:24:25.759
 making a call

00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:26.480
 away he stands

00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:27.120
 with the Lord

00:24:27.120 --> 00:24:28.259
 till he's older

00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:29.640
 he's not waiting

00:24:29.640 --> 00:24:30.319
 to the next

00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:30.960
 opportunity

00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:32.519
 he's taking the

00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:33.180
 first one that

00:24:33.180 --> 00:24:33.920
 comes his way

00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:35.079
 and choosing to

00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:36.059
 nail his colors

00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:37.680
 to the mast

00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:38.799
 now I think

00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:39.200
 there's lots

00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:39.759
 of application

00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.200
 you can make

00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:40.620
 there let me

00:24:40.620 --> 00:24:41.200
 just make

00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:42.700
 one and it's

00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:43.240
 a wonderful

00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:43.920
 thing for us

00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:44.480
 to be praying

00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:45.039
 for our young

00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.460
 people

00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:48.340
 because this

00:24:48.340 --> 00:24:48.980
 isn't Daniel

00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:49.860
 making a spur

00:24:49.860 --> 00:24:50.340
 of the moment

00:24:50.340 --> 00:24:51.200
 decision here

00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:51.960
 to be courageous

00:24:51.960 --> 00:24:52.740
 for the Lord

00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:54.519
 what's going on

00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:55.000
 here we need

00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:55.660
 to understand

00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:56.400
 is that this

00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:57.000
 is something

00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:57.440
 that's been

00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:58.560
 sown into his

00:24:58.560 --> 00:24:59.700
 life from a

00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:00.340
 young age

00:25:00.340 --> 00:25:01.840
 and it's

00:25:01.840 --> 00:25:02.420
 something that

00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:02.920
 he's picked

00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:03.500
 up and he's

00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.740
 seen in others

00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:05.640
 as he gets

00:25:05.640 --> 00:25:06.460
 acquainted with

00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:07.039
 the promises

00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.460
 and the

00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:08.119
 character of

00:25:08.119 --> 00:25:08.539
 God

00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:09.639
 as he's

00:25:09.639 --> 00:25:10.399
 surrounded by

00:25:10.399 --> 00:25:11.099
 a community

00:25:11.099 --> 00:25:12.279
 who are

00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:13.339
 captivated by

00:25:13.339 --> 00:25:13.859
 the Lord's

00:25:13.859 --> 00:25:14.259
 beauty

00:25:14.259 --> 00:25:15.220
 and who are

00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:15.960
 choosing to

00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:16.779
 forsake the

00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:17.500
 pleasures of

00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:18.139
 the world

00:25:18.139 --> 00:25:19.119
 and choosing

00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:20.039
 instead to

00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:20.779
 serve the

00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.440
 Lord in

00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:22.039
 joy and

00:25:22.039 --> 00:25:22.579
 holiness

00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:24.399
 the Bible

00:25:24.399 --> 00:25:25.279
 story perhaps

00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:25.839
 it's Daniel

00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:26.299
 might have

00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:26.859
 seen it under

00:25:26.859 --> 00:25:27.420
 the influence

00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:27.819
 of King

00:25:27.819 --> 00:25:28.680
 Josiah who

00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:29.019
 was kind of

00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:29.460
 the last

00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:30.899
 king to

00:25:30.899 --> 00:25:31.299
 really be

00:25:31.299 --> 00:25:32.000
 good in

00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:32.559
 the land

00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:33.039
 of Judah

00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:35.180
 but let me

00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:35.680
 just make this

00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:36.579
 point specific

00:25:36.579 --> 00:25:37.299
 application

00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:38.240
 some of

00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:39.799
 you might

00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:40.480
 be right now

00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:40.799
 at that

00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:41.480
 junction in

00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:42.059
 your life

00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:43.539
 guys who are

00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:44.339
 graduating this

00:25:44.339 --> 00:25:44.720
 morning we

00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.319
 prayed for you

00:25:45.319 --> 00:25:45.740
 others who

00:25:45.740 --> 00:25:46.199
 will listen to

00:25:46.199 --> 00:25:46.859
 this afterwards

00:25:46.859 --> 00:25:48.579
 you're about to

00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:49.279
 hit the next

00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:49.960
 season of your

00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:50.799
 life can I

00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:51.339
 just say from

00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:52.720
 personal experience

00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:54.480
 both in times

00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:55.039
 where I have got

00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:55.599
 this badly

00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:56.859
 wrong and

00:25:56.859 --> 00:25:57.460
 other times I

00:25:57.460 --> 00:25:57.980
 think I actually

00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:58.619
 look back and I

00:25:58.619 --> 00:25:59.359
 think thank you

00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:00.039
 Lord for helping

00:26:00.039 --> 00:26:00.879
 me be brave

00:26:00.879 --> 00:26:03.299
 there that

00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:04.379
 Jesus is worth

00:26:04.379 --> 00:26:05.579
 so much more

00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:06.839
 than the

00:26:06.839 --> 00:26:07.779
 siren calls

00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.559
 of the world

00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:10.960
 he really

00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:11.619
 really is

00:26:11.619 --> 00:26:13.919
 and I left

00:26:13.919 --> 00:26:14.839
 university thinking

00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:15.379
 the times of

00:26:15.379 --> 00:26:16.200
 temptation and

00:26:16.200 --> 00:26:16.839
 making mistakes

00:26:16.839 --> 00:26:17.460
 were behind me

00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:18.039
 I got to the

00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:18.559
 world and I

00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:19.079
 realised it's

00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:19.779
 just as hard

00:26:19.779 --> 00:26:20.980
 I take it

00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:21.700
 will always be

00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.599
 hard at whatever

00:26:22.599 --> 00:26:23.539
 junction in life

00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:24.240
 we are at

00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:25.419
 but particularly

00:26:25.419 --> 00:26:26.299
 if this is you

00:26:26.299 --> 00:26:26.839
 right now

00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:27.480
 you're at the

00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:27.839
 junction

00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.639
 can I just

00:26:28.639 --> 00:26:29.539
 encourage you

00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:30.319
 to resolve

00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:31.920
 early to

00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:33.019
 follow the

00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:34.599
 Lord and

00:26:34.599 --> 00:26:35.119
 the first

00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:36.000
 opportunity that

00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:36.539
 comes your

00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:37.159
 way let me

00:26:37.159 --> 00:26:37.700
 just say it

00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.200
 will be the

00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:39.259
 easiest opportunity

00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:40.019
 that comes your

00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:40.879
 way it will

00:26:40.879 --> 00:26:41.819
 only get harder

00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:43.839
 but be greatly

00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:44.920
 strengthened today

00:26:44.920 --> 00:26:46.000
 that truly there

00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:47.220
 is none like

00:26:47.220 --> 00:26:48.500
 Jesus with arms

00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:49.319
 wide open to

00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:50.200
 embrace us when

00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:51.200
 we get it wrong

00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:52.940
 but with with

00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:54.119
 barrels load of

00:26:54.119 --> 00:26:54.799
 strength to

00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:55.759
 fortify us by

00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:56.500
 his spirit to

00:26:56.500 --> 00:26:57.399
 make us get it

00:26:57.399 --> 00:26:58.200
 right

00:26:58.200 --> 00:27:00.240
 now whatever

00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:00.600
 is happening

00:27:00.600 --> 00:27:01.220
 in Daniel's

00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:01.840
 life here

00:27:01.840 --> 00:27:03.360
 the food that

00:27:03.360 --> 00:27:04.000
 he's presented

00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:04.660
 with is the

00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:05.539
 first opportunity

00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:06.200
 that he gets

00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:06.680
 to nail his

00:27:06.680 --> 00:27:07.240
 colours to the

00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:07.600
 mast

00:27:07.600 --> 00:27:08.620
 now you can

00:27:08.620 --> 00:27:08.980
 kind of

00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:10.120
 speculate as

00:27:10.120 --> 00:27:10.940
 to why he's

00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:11.519
 doing what

00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:11.860
 he's doing

00:27:11.860 --> 00:27:12.160
 we're not

00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:13.120
 entirely told

00:27:13.120 --> 00:27:13.779
 in the text

00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:15.220
 but two things

00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:15.779
 seem to be

00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:16.180
 clear

00:27:16.180 --> 00:27:17.559
 number one

00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:18.460
 is that Daniel

00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:19.420
 recognises that

00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:20.240
 to do something

00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.779
 would be to

00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:21.799
 compromise on

00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:22.400
 his loyalty

00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:23.059
 to God

00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:24.720
 and the second

00:27:24.720 --> 00:27:25.900
 one is that

00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:26.840
 the Lord is

00:27:26.840 --> 00:27:27.840
 worth it

00:27:28.200 --> 00:27:29.680
 and so with

00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:30.779
 courtesy and

00:27:30.779 --> 00:27:31.480
 with clarity

00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:32.720
 he resolves to

00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:33.380
 choose to

00:27:33.380 --> 00:27:33.980
 follow the

00:27:33.980 --> 00:27:34.700
 Lord and it's

00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:35.660
 amazing isn't it

00:27:35.660 --> 00:27:36.160
 that the Lord

00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:36.759
 honours him

00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:38.940
 his feet might

00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:39.600
 have been in

00:27:39.600 --> 00:27:41.279
 Babylon but

00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:42.000
 his heart was

00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.779
 in Jerusalem

00:27:42.779 --> 00:27:44.620
 he's courageous

00:27:44.620 --> 00:27:45.319
 for Christ

00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:46.120
 and I think

00:27:46.120 --> 00:27:46.980
 Jesus is the

00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:47.960
 ultimate example

00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:48.519
 of what this

00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.059
 looks like

00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:50.340
 to live with

00:27:50.340 --> 00:27:51.180
 compassion and

00:27:51.180 --> 00:27:51.660
 yet with

00:27:51.660 --> 00:27:52.600
 clarity

00:27:52.600 --> 00:27:54.460
 and he is the

00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:54.980
 one we need to

00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:55.840
 understand he is

00:27:55.840 --> 00:27:56.700
 the perfect

00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:58.160
 covenant keeper

00:27:58.160 --> 00:28:00.000
 who has taken

00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:00.620
 the covenant

00:28:00.620 --> 00:28:02.060
 curses that

00:28:02.060 --> 00:28:03.200
 we deserve on

00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:04.220
 himself on

00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:04.880
 the cross

00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:06.120
 Jesus is the

00:28:06.120 --> 00:28:07.400
 one who has

00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:08.180
 put his hand

00:28:08.180 --> 00:28:09.340
 on your life

00:28:09.340 --> 00:28:09.900
 and in my

00:28:09.900 --> 00:28:10.500
 life and has

00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:11.660
 taken us out

00:28:11.660 --> 00:28:12.279
 of the world

00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:12.880
 to live for

00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:13.100
 him

00:28:13.100 --> 00:28:14.180
 again we

00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:14.600
 thought about

00:28:14.600 --> 00:28:15.519
 it this last

00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:15.900
 week didn't

00:28:15.900 --> 00:28:16.820
 we we so

00:28:16.820 --> 00:28:18.060
 often underestimate

00:28:18.060 --> 00:28:19.019
 the privilege

00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:19.779
 that it is

00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:21.600
 to be a

00:28:21.600 --> 00:28:21.980
 Christian

00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:23.460
 and Jesus

00:28:23.460 --> 00:28:24.560
 came to

00:28:24.560 --> 00:28:25.320
 and he lived

00:28:25.320 --> 00:28:26.440
 in this world

00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:26.900
 and he

00:28:26.900 --> 00:28:27.740
 forsook the

00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:29.160
 pleasures of

00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:29.900
 this world

00:28:29.900 --> 00:28:31.019
 because of the

00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.940
 all surpassing

00:28:31.940 --> 00:28:32.799
 joy of knowing

00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:33.740
 his father the

00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:35.480
 creator of this

00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:37.039
 world and so we

00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:38.380
 look to him for

00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:39.500
 grace as our

00:28:39.500 --> 00:28:40.680
 savior and we

00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:41.799
 look to him for

00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:43.180
 our example as

00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:44.320
 our king

00:28:44.320 --> 00:28:46.580
 now our time is

00:28:46.580 --> 00:28:47.120
 gone but let me

00:28:47.120 --> 00:28:47.900
 just tell you really

00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:48.580
 quickly as we

00:28:48.580 --> 00:28:49.360
 close and I think

00:28:49.360 --> 00:28:50.080
 this is how this

00:28:50.080 --> 00:28:52.240
 is the aftertaste

00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:52.620
 that would have

00:28:52.620 --> 00:28:53.039
 been in the

00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:54.220
 original readers as

00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:55.080
 they finished this

00:28:55.079 --> 00:28:55.859
 chapter have a

00:28:55.859 --> 00:28:56.899
 look at verse 21

00:28:56.899 --> 00:28:57.720
 as we close

00:28:57.720 --> 00:29:00.379
 and can I tell

00:29:00.379 --> 00:29:00.720
 you about the

00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:01.279
 book that was

00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:02.819
 massive when I

00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:03.399
 was at uni

00:29:03.399 --> 00:29:06.859
 a 2003 New

00:29:06.859 --> 00:29:07.319
 York Times

00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:08.319
 bestseller that

00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:09.519
 sold millions of

00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:10.659
 copies all around

00:29:10.659 --> 00:29:11.779
 the world still

00:29:11.779 --> 00:29:13.079
 getting sold

00:29:13.079 --> 00:29:14.720
 today called

00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:15.399
 the Da Vinci

00:29:15.399 --> 00:29:16.759
 Code I

00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:17.220
 remember being at

00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:18.039
 university when it

00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:19.079
 first came out the

00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:19.939
 plot line people

00:29:19.939 --> 00:29:20.819
 would run up to

00:29:20.819 --> 00:29:21.559
 tell me was all

00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:23.559
 about exposing the

00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:24.419
 cracks and the

00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:25.140
 cover-ups that

00:29:25.140 --> 00:29:25.980
 were supposedly at

00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:26.480
 the heart of

00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:27.420
 Christianity and

00:29:27.420 --> 00:29:28.000
 this book was

00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:28.700
 going to blow a

00:29:28.700 --> 00:29:29.600
 hole in the side

00:29:29.600 --> 00:29:30.240
 of the Christian

00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:31.560
 faith remember

00:29:31.560 --> 00:29:33.060
 precisely one

00:29:33.060 --> 00:29:33.820
 friend telling me

00:29:33.820 --> 00:29:36.860
 exactly that but I

00:29:36.860 --> 00:29:37.620
 read an article in

00:29:37.620 --> 00:29:38.620
 the BBC News a few

00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:39.160
 weeks ago and I

00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:39.700
 wonder if some of

00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:40.380
 you read this as

00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:41.940
 well about how in

00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:45.920
 2017 an Oxfam

00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:47.100
 bookshop in Swansea

00:29:47.100 --> 00:29:48.039
 put a notice in

00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:49.660
 their window telling

00:29:49.660 --> 00:29:50.840
 people to stop

00:29:50.840 --> 00:29:52.220
 donating that book

00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:53.140
 because they had so

00:29:53.140 --> 00:29:55.360
 many copies and

00:29:55.360 --> 00:29:56.160
 that sign having

00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:57.140
 seen it it sparks

00:29:57.140 --> 00:29:57.940
 an idea in the

00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:58.640
 mind of a local

00:29:58.640 --> 00:29:59.500
 artist his name

00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:00.020
 was David

00:30:00.020 --> 00:30:01.440
 Shrigley and what

00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:02.440
 he did is he set

00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:03.380
 about collecting

00:30:03.380 --> 00:30:04.759
 as many copies of

00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:05.500
 this book as he

00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:07.140
 could and the

00:30:07.140 --> 00:30:08.480
 Oxfam bookshop put

00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:09.120
 them in touch with

00:30:09.120 --> 00:30:10.340
 the recycling centre

00:30:10.340 --> 00:30:11.200
 which is where all

00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:12.240
 the unwanted books

00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:13.320
 go and so he

00:30:13.320 --> 00:30:13.940
 phones the

00:30:13.940 --> 00:30:15.140
 recycling centre and

00:30:15.140 --> 00:30:15.860
 he says do you

00:30:15.860 --> 00:30:16.940
 have any copies of

00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:17.900
 the Da Vinci Code

00:30:17.900 --> 00:30:19.380
 and to quote them

00:30:19.380 --> 00:30:20.300
 in the article they

00:30:20.300 --> 00:30:21.480
 responded by saying

00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:22.740
 we have an unlimited

00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:23.920
 number come and

00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:25.660
 help yourself so he

00:30:25.660 --> 00:30:26.519
 says I'll take the

00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:27.460
 lot and he goes off

00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:28.059
 to the recycling

00:30:28.059 --> 00:30:28.779
 centre he brings

00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:30.180
 them all home and

00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:32.360
 he gets them and he

00:30:32.360 --> 00:30:34.400
 pulps them and he

00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:35.579
 uses the pulp to make

00:30:35.579 --> 00:30:38.240
 a bit of his art and I

00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:40.099
 just love that because

00:30:40.099 --> 00:30:41.220
 these books that were

00:30:41.220 --> 00:30:42.559
 supposed to take down

00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:44.039
 the Lord take down the

00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:44.839
 God of the universe

00:30:44.839 --> 00:30:46.180
 expose the cracks in

00:30:46.180 --> 00:30:47.819
 the Christian faith are

00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:51.460
 now pulp and I'm

00:30:51.480 --> 00:30:53.779
 verse 21 says do you

00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:54.640
 see it that Daniel

00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:55.920
 was in the king's

00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:57.120
 palace until the

00:30:57.120 --> 00:30:58.860
 first year of King

00:30:58.860 --> 00:31:01.380
 Cyrus so he's a young

00:31:01.380 --> 00:31:02.460
 man in chapter 1 and

00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:03.279
 what this is doing is

00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:04.259
 it's fast forwarding

00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:06.400
 us to when he's an

00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:08.279
 old man later in the

00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:10.319
 book Cyrus is the

00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:11.660
 first king of Persia

00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:13.019
 who will end up

00:31:13.019 --> 00:31:13.720
 defeating the

00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:14.759
 Babylonians who will

00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:15.440
 become the next

00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:17.400
 superpower on the world

00:31:17.400 --> 00:31:19.160
 stage and here's the

00:31:19.160 --> 00:31:21.900
 point that Daniel in

00:31:21.900 --> 00:31:24.400
 all his youth in all

00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:26.540
 his unimpressive mundane

00:31:26.540 --> 00:31:28.900
 looking life he

00:31:28.900 --> 00:31:31.640
 outlasts the Babylonian

00:31:31.640 --> 00:31:34.400
 empire and right off the

00:31:34.400 --> 00:31:35.820
 bat the writer of this

00:31:35.820 --> 00:31:36.960
 book is letting us know

00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:38.100
 that that is where this

00:31:38.100 --> 00:31:39.740
 book is heading and that

00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:41.300
 truth is so precious for

00:31:41.300 --> 00:31:42.360
 us as believers is it

00:31:42.360 --> 00:31:44.779
 not that the Lord will

00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:47.160
 outlast governments as

00:31:47.160 --> 00:31:49.619
 harsh as they are that

00:31:49.619 --> 00:31:51.059
 the Lord will outlast

00:31:51.059 --> 00:31:54.119
 laws as strange as we

00:31:54.119 --> 00:31:55.559
 think they are that the

00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:57.000
 Lord will outlast the

00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:59.059
 scoffers as loud as they

00:31:59.059 --> 00:32:00.619
 are that the Lord will

00:32:00.619 --> 00:32:02.799
 outlast every anti-God

00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:04.799
 movement that crops up in

00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:06.899
 this world and when it's a

00:32:06.899 --> 00:32:08.059
 competition between the

00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:10.700
 two the sovereign Lord will

00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:15.059
 always remain and the

00:32:15.059 --> 00:32:16.059
 risen and returning Lord

00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:17.259
 Jesus will inherit an

00:32:17.259 --> 00:32:18.500
 everlasting kingdom and

00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:19.880
 dominion given to him one

00:32:19.880 --> 00:32:21.220
 that will never end and

00:32:21.220 --> 00:32:22.120
 so don't doubt this

00:32:22.120 --> 00:32:23.080
 morning that you're on the

00:32:23.080 --> 00:32:25.299
 right side of history if

00:32:25.299 --> 00:32:26.539
 your trust is in this God

00:32:26.539 --> 00:32:27.779
 maybe even this morning is

00:32:27.779 --> 00:32:29.039
 is a morning where you

00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:30.380
 come to put your faith in

00:32:30.380 --> 00:32:32.100
 the beauty in the work in

00:32:32.100 --> 00:32:32.920
 the person of Jesus

00:32:32.920 --> 00:32:35.400
 Christ let me just finish

00:32:35.400 --> 00:32:36.160
 with this from J.I.

00:32:36.200 --> 00:32:36.960
 Parker and this is a

00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:40.120
 great quote he says this

00:32:40.119 --> 00:32:41.879
 to know that nothing

00:32:41.879 --> 00:32:43.779
 happens in God's world

00:32:43.779 --> 00:32:46.299
 apart from God's will may

00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:49.359
 frighten the godless but

00:32:49.359 --> 00:32:50.919
 it stabilizes the saints

00:32:50.919 --> 00:32:54.119
 but let me just close in

00:32:54.119 --> 00:32:56.379
 prayer let's close our eyes

00:32:56.379 --> 00:32:57.259
 and pray and let's just

00:32:57.259 --> 00:32:58.459
 pray God's word back to

00:32:58.459 --> 00:33:01.519
 him and this is what Paul

00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:03.859
 prays in Ephesians chapter

00:33:03.859 --> 00:33:05.379
 one would be true of the

00:33:05.379 --> 00:33:09.079
 church in Ephesus he says

00:33:09.079 --> 00:33:10.240
 I do not cease to give

00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:11.539
 thanks for you remembering

00:33:11.539 --> 00:33:13.659
 you in my prayers that the

00:33:13.659 --> 00:33:15.019
 God of our Lord Jesus

00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:17.179
 Christ the father of glory

00:33:17.179 --> 00:33:19.240
 may give you the spirit of

00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:21.639
 wisdom and of revelation in

00:33:21.639 --> 00:33:22.919
 the knowledge of him having

00:33:22.919 --> 00:33:24.279
 the eyes of your hearts

00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:26.619
 enlightened that you may

00:33:26.619 --> 00:33:28.740
 know what is the hope to

00:33:28.740 --> 00:33:30.879
 which he has called you and

00:33:30.879 --> 00:33:31.819
 so father it's just our

00:33:31.819 --> 00:33:33.240
 simple prayer this morning

00:33:33.240 --> 00:33:35.259
 and it's one we make in the

00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:38.140
 powerful name of Jesus as we

00:33:38.140 --> 00:33:39.119
 know the love that you've

00:33:39.119 --> 00:33:40.460
 showered upon us by your

00:33:40.460 --> 00:33:42.879
 spirit in him Lord it's our

00:33:42.879 --> 00:33:43.839
 prayer that you would lift

00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:45.140
 our eyes to the hope to

00:33:45.140 --> 00:33:47.319
 which you've called us and

00:33:47.319 --> 00:33:48.460
 Lord as your spirit moves

00:33:48.460 --> 00:33:49.640
 amongst us and Lord as your

00:33:49.640 --> 00:33:51.319
 word continues to resonate in

00:33:51.319 --> 00:33:52.660
 our minds and our hearts may

00:33:52.660 --> 00:33:53.640
 we leave today with our

00:33:53.640 --> 00:33:55.259
 greater vision of your

00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:58.039
 grandeur and splendor and

00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:59.759
 grace and we pray these

00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:01.619
 things in Jesus's worthy name

00:34:01.619 --> 00:34:02.579
 Amen

00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:03.579
 Amen