WEBVTT

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 Please open up your Bibles this morning to the book of Daniel.

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 And we're beginning a new series this morning in the book of Daniel.

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 And I've been excited about opening up this book with you.

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 But I also got to admit, I'm a little intimidated by this book.

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 Daniel is not an easy book.

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 It's not an easy book to understand.

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 It's not an easy book to interpret.

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 And I'm finding out it's not an easy book to preach.

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 And so I appreciate your prayers for me.

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 And as we begin, I would just like to give this qualification.

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 You know, if you're not used to hearing a pastor or a preacher say things like,

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 Hey, I'm not really sure what this means.

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 Get used to it.

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 We're about to hear that a lot as we walk through this book together.

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 But all scripture is God-breathed.

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 And is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.

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 And so I am excited to open this book up together and hear from the word of the Lord.

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 And grow together as we walk through the book of Daniel.

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 So if you found it in your Bibles, Daniel is right there after the book of Ezekiel.

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 Right before the book of Hosea.

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 I do want you to have your Bibles open so we can lay eyes on it there together.

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 And our passage this morning is going to be all of chapter 1.

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 And so let's stand together in honor of the reading of God's word.

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 Daniel chapter 1.

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 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah,

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 Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

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 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim, king of Judah, into his hand

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 with some of the vessels of the house of God.

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 And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his God,

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 and placed the vessels in the treasury of his God.

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 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch,

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 to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility,

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 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom,

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 endowed with knowledge, understanding, learning,

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 and competent to stand in the king's palace,

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 and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

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 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate,

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 and of the wine that he drank.

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 They were to be educated for three years,

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 and at the end of that time, they were to stand before the king.

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 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah.

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 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names.

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 Daniel he called Belteshazzar,

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 Hananiah he called Shadrach,

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 Mishael he called Meshach,

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 and Azariah he called Abednego.

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 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food,

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 or with the wine that he drank.

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 Therefore, he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.

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 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs.

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 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel,

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 I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink.

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 For why should he see that you are in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age?

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 So you would endanger my head with the king.

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 Then Daniel said to the steward,

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 whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel,

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 Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

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 Test your servants for ten days.

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 Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.

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 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you,

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 and deal with your servants according to what you see.

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 So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days.

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 And at the end of the ten days,

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 it was seen that they were better in appearance

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 and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food.

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 So the steward took away their food and the wine that they were to drink

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 and gave them vegetables.

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 As for these four youths,

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 God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom.

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 And Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

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 At the end of the time,

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 when the king had commanded that they should be brought in,

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 the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

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 And the king spoke with them,

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 and among all of them,

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 none was found like Daniel,

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 Hananiah,

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 Mishael,

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 and Azariah.

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 Therefore they stood before the king.

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 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding

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 about which the king inquired of them,

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 he found them ten times better

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 than all the magicians and enchancers

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 that were in all his kingdom.

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 And Daniel was there until the first year

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 of King Cyrus.

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 The grass withers and the flower fades,

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 but the word of the Lord endures forever.

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 Lord, we praise you for your word.

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 And again, as we open up a new book this morning,

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 we pray you would speak powerfully to us

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 through your word.

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 We pray in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 You may be seated.

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 When I was a college student,

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 I was proud to be the only American member

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 of the International Students Club.

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 I saw that there was an opportunity there

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 for ministry.

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 The nations had come to my backyard

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 there in Milledgeville, Georgia.

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 And I wanted to influence as many of them

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 as I possibly could

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 with the good news of the gospel

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 before they finished their studies

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 and went back to their home countries.

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 And so I made friends

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 with the international students.

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 I made friends from Kenya,

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 friends from Pakistan.

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 But eventually I got to know

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 several of the Chinese students.

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 In fact, Amanda and I,

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 in our first apartment complex

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 that we lived in,

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 there in our college town

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 after we got married,

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 it was surrounded,

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 all of our neighbors were Chinese.

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 And a couple of times a month,

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 sometimes more than that,

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 we would be sitting in our living room,

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 hanging out, watching television,

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 whatever it might be,

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 and we would begin to smell

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 this incredible aroma

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 wafting through the walls,

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 the paper-thin walls

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 of our apartment complex,

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 coming in from the apartment next door.

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 And after a while,

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 we caught on.

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 We knew what it was.

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 It must be Dumpling Night.

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 Soon enough,

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 we would start to hear

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 the voices gather.

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 We would hear the footsteps

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 up the stairs.

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 We would hear the people

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 coming together

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 in the apartment next door,

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 sometimes 10,

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 sometimes 15,

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 sometimes 20 Chinese students,

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 gathering together

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 to get a little taste of home

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 while they were living

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 in a foreign land.

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 You see,

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 something that we learned

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 very quickly

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 about these Chinese students

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 was that

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 while they were interested

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 in learning about

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 American culture,

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 they wanted to be here,

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 they came here intentionally,

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 even so,

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 they were eager

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 to maintain

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 their own

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 distinct identity

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 while they were living

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 on foreign soil.

00:07:02.139 --> 00:07:04.360
 they knew that

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 their identity,

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 they were Chinese men and women

00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:09.599
 on temporary assignment

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 here in America.

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 Well,

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 this morning,

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 as we begin the book of Daniel,

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 what we find is that

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 Daniel is living

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 in foreign territory.

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 He's in exile.

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 He's not just

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 a foreign exchange student.

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 He hasn't come here willingly.

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 He's been taken captive

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 out of his homeland.

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 He's not excited

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 about learning

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 the culture of Babylon.

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 But by God's

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 sovereign appointment,

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 he's here in Babylon.

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 And by God's grace,

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 he shows us

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 what it looks like

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 for us

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 to maintain

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 our distinct identity

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 as citizens

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 of God's kingdom

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 even while living

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 here

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 in foreign

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 enemy territory.

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 The book of Daniel

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 communicates

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 key theological truths

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 for exiles.

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 And so,

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 we'll begin

00:07:59.080 --> 00:07:59.920
 the book of Daniel

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 this morning

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 with two key truths

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 for exiles

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 this morning.

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 Two key truths

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 for exiles

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 to remember

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 this morning.

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 This will be our outline

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 if you're taking notes

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 this morning.

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 Two key truths

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 to remember

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 in time of exile.

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 First,

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 the first truth

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 for exiles

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 to remember

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 is that

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 God

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 is

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 king.

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 God

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 is

00:08:28.040 --> 00:08:29.180
 king.

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 And we'll get

00:08:30.439 --> 00:08:30.939
 to Daniel

00:08:30.939 --> 00:08:32.000
 in a moment.

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 But even though

00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:35.040
 the book of Daniel

00:08:35.040 --> 00:08:36.120
 bears his name,

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 what I want us to

00:08:36.740 --> 00:08:37.399
 understand here

00:08:37.399 --> 00:08:38.279
 in this first point

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 is that the book

00:08:39.100 --> 00:08:39.680
 of Daniel

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 ultimately

00:08:40.420 --> 00:08:41.620
 is not primarily

00:08:41.620 --> 00:08:42.580
 about Daniel.

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 It's about

00:08:43.920 --> 00:08:44.820
 Daniel's God.

00:08:45.460 --> 00:08:46.340
 The book of Daniel

00:08:46.340 --> 00:08:46.920
 is about

00:08:46.920 --> 00:08:47.920
 the Lord.

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 And we learn

00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:49.060
 from Daniel

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 and we learn

00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:50.540
 from his story,

00:08:50.680 --> 00:08:51.620
 but the primary

00:08:51.620 --> 00:08:52.580
 lesson that runs

00:08:52.580 --> 00:08:53.600
 throughout the book

00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:54.159
 of Daniel

00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:55.120
 is that

00:08:55.120 --> 00:08:55.860
 there is a

00:08:55.860 --> 00:08:56.519
 God

00:08:56.519 --> 00:08:57.500
 who reigns

00:08:57.500 --> 00:08:58.420
 and rules

00:08:58.420 --> 00:08:59.300
 over all

00:08:59.300 --> 00:09:00.420
 of human history.

00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:01.659
 That there is

00:09:01.659 --> 00:09:02.100
 a God

00:09:02.100 --> 00:09:02.440
 and that

00:09:02.440 --> 00:09:02.920
 he

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 is king.

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 Look there

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 to verse 1.

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 So the book

00:09:07.379 --> 00:09:07.820
 of Daniel,

00:09:07.920 --> 00:09:08.480
 it begins

00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:09.580
 with a grim

00:09:09.580 --> 00:09:10.300
 picture of

00:09:10.300 --> 00:09:10.740
 the state

00:09:10.740 --> 00:09:11.420
 of God's

00:09:11.420 --> 00:09:11.879
 people.

00:09:12.620 --> 00:09:12.820
 It says,

00:09:12.920 --> 00:09:13.279
 In the third

00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:14.139
 year of the reign

00:09:14.139 --> 00:09:14.960
 of Jehoiakim,

00:09:15.060 --> 00:09:15.759
 king of Judah,

00:09:16.420 --> 00:09:17.060
 Nebuchadnezzar,

00:09:17.159 --> 00:09:17.860
 king of Babylon,

00:09:18.100 --> 00:09:19.120
 came to Jerusalem

00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:21.019
 and besieged it.

00:09:21.180 --> 00:09:22.560
 King Jehoiakim,

00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:23.599
 he ruled from

00:09:23.599 --> 00:09:25.179
 609 B.C.

00:09:25.199 --> 00:09:26.819
 to 598 B.C.

00:09:26.859 --> 00:09:27.559
 over Judah.

00:09:28.139 --> 00:09:28.919
 And as you read

00:09:28.919 --> 00:09:29.519
 through the

00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:30.639
 biblical historical

00:09:30.639 --> 00:09:31.259
 books,

00:09:31.619 --> 00:09:32.159
 they give you

00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:32.859
 a pretty clear

00:09:32.859 --> 00:09:33.799
 sense of,

00:09:33.899 --> 00:09:33.939
 hey,

00:09:34.039 --> 00:09:34.559
 this king

00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:35.439
 was a good

00:09:35.439 --> 00:09:35.799
 king.

00:09:35.959 --> 00:09:36.519
 He led his

00:09:36.519 --> 00:09:37.279
 people well.

00:09:37.399 --> 00:09:37.819
 He honored

00:09:37.819 --> 00:09:38.319
 the Lord.

00:09:38.659 --> 00:09:39.199
 This king

00:09:39.199 --> 00:09:39.979
 was an evil

00:09:39.979 --> 00:09:40.319
 king.

00:09:40.439 --> 00:09:40.879
 He led the

00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:41.779
 people astray

00:09:41.779 --> 00:09:42.719
 into idolatry.

00:09:43.199 --> 00:09:44.259
 King Jehoiakim,

00:09:44.679 --> 00:09:46.500
 I'm not going

00:09:46.500 --> 00:09:46.799
 to get this

00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:47.000
 right,

00:09:47.079 --> 00:09:47.179
 y'all.

00:09:47.559 --> 00:09:49.059
 King Jehoiakim

00:09:49.059 --> 00:09:50.459
 was an evil

00:09:50.459 --> 00:09:51.019
 king.

00:09:51.119 --> 00:09:51.659
 Say that 10

00:09:51.659 --> 00:09:52.379
 times fast.

00:09:53.299 --> 00:09:53.639
 And in the

00:09:53.639 --> 00:09:54.179
 third year

00:09:54.179 --> 00:09:54.799
 of his reign,

00:09:54.919 --> 00:09:55.819
 Babylon comes

00:09:55.819 --> 00:09:56.819
 in and takes

00:09:56.819 --> 00:09:57.939
 over.

00:09:58.079 --> 00:09:58.699
 This was a

00:09:58.699 --> 00:09:59.779
 three-part

00:09:59.779 --> 00:10:00.500
 takeover.

00:10:01.659 --> 00:10:02.819
 605 B.C.

00:10:02.819 --> 00:10:03.459
 was the first

00:10:03.459 --> 00:10:03.939
 wave,

00:10:04.359 --> 00:10:04.939
 and that's when

00:10:04.939 --> 00:10:05.599
 Daniel and his

00:10:05.599 --> 00:10:06.119
 friends are

00:10:06.119 --> 00:10:07.259
 taken away.

00:10:07.959 --> 00:10:08.639
 There's a second

00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:09.919
 wave in 597,

00:10:10.299 --> 00:10:10.939
 and then again

00:10:10.939 --> 00:10:13.299
 in 587 B.C.,

00:10:13.299 --> 00:10:13.979
 and by this point

00:10:13.979 --> 00:10:14.659
 there's not much

00:10:14.659 --> 00:10:15.439
 left of the city

00:10:15.439 --> 00:10:16.199
 at all.

00:10:16.579 --> 00:10:17.599
 This is a dark

00:10:17.599 --> 00:10:18.839
 moment in the

00:10:18.839 --> 00:10:20.199
 history of God's

00:10:20.199 --> 00:10:20.739
 people,

00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:21.500
 men and women.

00:10:21.500 --> 00:10:24.179
 children are

00:10:24.179 --> 00:10:25.080
 brutally murdered.

00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:27.480
 The city is

00:10:27.480 --> 00:10:28.240
 destroyed.

00:10:28.980 --> 00:10:30.159
 The temple is

00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:30.700
 destroyed.

00:10:30.820 --> 00:10:31.559
 The city itself

00:10:31.559 --> 00:10:33.100
 by 587 is

00:10:33.100 --> 00:10:34.080
 burned to the

00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:34.620
 ground.

00:10:35.299 --> 00:10:36.039
 The city,

00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:36.799
 this nation

00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:37.960
 that was meant

00:10:37.960 --> 00:10:38.460
 to be the

00:10:38.460 --> 00:10:39.399
 central place

00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:39.940
 of God's

00:10:39.940 --> 00:10:40.779
 presence,

00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:41.700
 the central

00:10:41.700 --> 00:10:42.500
 place of God's

00:10:42.500 --> 00:10:43.360
 glory in the

00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:44.039
 midst of all the

00:10:44.039 --> 00:10:44.279
 earth,

00:10:44.340 --> 00:10:45.559
 was now totally

00:10:45.559 --> 00:10:46.539
 taken over and

00:10:46.539 --> 00:10:47.519
 destroyed by a

00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:48.259
 pagan nation.

00:10:49.259 --> 00:10:50.559
 From a purely

00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:51.840
 human vantage

00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:52.500
 point,

00:10:52.779 --> 00:10:53.980
 from a purely

00:10:53.980 --> 00:10:55.220
 human perspective,

00:10:55.659 --> 00:10:56.840
 this looks like

00:10:56.840 --> 00:10:57.659
 defeat,

00:10:57.819 --> 00:10:58.279
 doesn't it?

00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:00.059
 Everything is

00:11:00.059 --> 00:11:00.840
 falling apart.

00:11:02.340 --> 00:11:02.899
 Verse 2,

00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:03.740
 it tells us that

00:11:03.740 --> 00:11:04.740
 Nebuchadnezzar,

00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:05.399
 he took some of

00:11:05.399 --> 00:11:06.699
 the vessels out

00:11:06.699 --> 00:11:07.340
 of the house of

00:11:07.340 --> 00:11:08.019
 God and brought

00:11:08.019 --> 00:11:08.600
 them into the

00:11:08.600 --> 00:11:09.860
 house of his

00:11:09.860 --> 00:11:11.240
 God and placed

00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:11.779
 the vessels in

00:11:11.779 --> 00:11:12.439
 the treasury of

00:11:12.439 --> 00:11:13.439
 his God.

00:11:13.559 --> 00:11:14.039
 This is an

00:11:14.039 --> 00:11:15.399
 apparent triumph

00:11:15.399 --> 00:11:16.980
 of the gods of

00:11:16.980 --> 00:11:18.120
 Babylon over

00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:19.399
 the God of

00:11:19.399 --> 00:11:19.980
 Jerusalem.

00:11:20.939 --> 00:11:21.759
 It's an apparent

00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:23.620
 triumph of a

00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:24.459
 sinful nation

00:11:24.459 --> 00:11:25.620
 over and against

00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:26.879
 God's people.

00:11:27.019 --> 00:11:27.559
 How can this

00:11:27.559 --> 00:11:27.860
 be?

00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:29.720
 Why in the

00:11:29.720 --> 00:11:30.360
 world is this

00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:30.819
 happening?

00:11:32.259 --> 00:11:32.860
 If you know

00:11:32.860 --> 00:11:33.379
 your Old

00:11:33.379 --> 00:11:33.939
 Testament,

00:11:34.740 --> 00:11:35.419
 this shouldn't

00:11:35.419 --> 00:11:36.159
 come as a

00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:37.120
 surprise at all,

00:11:37.240 --> 00:11:37.720
 should it?

00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:39.340
 Deuteronomy

00:11:39.340 --> 00:11:40.240
 chapter 28,

00:11:40.539 --> 00:11:41.199
 in the law of

00:11:41.199 --> 00:11:41.939
 Moses, the Lord

00:11:41.939 --> 00:11:43.039
 had told them,

00:11:44.340 --> 00:11:45.199
 if they kept

00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:45.960
 covenant with

00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:46.360
 the Lord.

00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:47.680
 All these

00:11:47.680 --> 00:11:48.379
 blessings would

00:11:48.379 --> 00:11:49.200
 come upon them.

00:11:49.320 --> 00:11:49.900
 Blessed would

00:11:49.900 --> 00:11:50.480
 be the fruit of

00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:51.020
 their womb.

00:11:51.220 --> 00:11:51.620
 Blessed would

00:11:51.620 --> 00:11:52.800
 be their land.

00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:53.259
 Blessed would

00:11:53.259 --> 00:11:54.060
 be their cattle,

00:11:54.220 --> 00:11:54.800
 their basket,

00:11:54.920 --> 00:11:55.440
 their kneading

00:11:55.440 --> 00:11:55.720
 bowl.

00:11:56.060 --> 00:11:56.820
 Their enemies

00:11:56.820 --> 00:11:57.680
 would be defeated.

00:11:57.840 --> 00:11:58.280
 They would be

00:11:58.280 --> 00:11:58.800
 established.

00:11:59.340 --> 00:12:00.259
 All of these

00:12:00.259 --> 00:12:01.040
 blessings would

00:12:01.040 --> 00:12:02.080
 come upon the

00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:02.940
 people of God

00:12:02.940 --> 00:12:04.280
 if they kept

00:12:04.280 --> 00:12:05.140
 covenant with

00:12:05.140 --> 00:12:05.759
 the Lord.

00:12:05.879 --> 00:12:06.520
 But it also

00:12:06.520 --> 00:12:08.759
 says, if they

00:12:08.759 --> 00:12:09.740
 were faithless,

00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:12.020
 if they broke

00:12:12.020 --> 00:12:13.440
 covenant with

00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:13.980
 the Lord.

00:12:13.980 --> 00:12:15.200
 He says,

00:12:15.300 --> 00:12:16.000
 the Lord will

00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:17.159
 bring you and

00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:17.980
 your king,

00:12:18.100 --> 00:12:18.680
 whom you set

00:12:18.680 --> 00:12:19.259
 over you,

00:12:19.560 --> 00:12:20.740
 to a nation that

00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:21.539
 neither you nor

00:12:21.539 --> 00:12:22.320
 your fathers have

00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:22.659
 known.

00:12:23.480 --> 00:12:23.960
 They shall

00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:25.340
 besiege you in

00:12:25.340 --> 00:12:26.220
 all your towns

00:12:26.220 --> 00:12:27.180
 until your high and

00:12:27.180 --> 00:12:28.379
 fortified walls in

00:12:28.379 --> 00:12:29.019
 which you trusted

00:12:29.019 --> 00:12:30.480
 come down throughout

00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:32.259
 all your land.

00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:32.899
 What I want us to

00:12:32.899 --> 00:12:34.340
 understand is that

00:12:34.340 --> 00:12:36.360
 this dark moment in

00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:37.860
 the history of God's

00:12:37.860 --> 00:12:39.440
 people was exactly

00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:40.379
 what God had warned

00:12:40.379 --> 00:12:41.039
 them would happen

00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:43.519
 if they rebelled

00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:44.419
 against the Lord.

00:12:45.459 --> 00:12:46.079
 And he didn't just

00:12:46.079 --> 00:12:47.059
 warn them once.

00:12:47.219 --> 00:12:47.839
 This wasn't just a

00:12:47.839 --> 00:12:48.599
 one-time thing.

00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:49.139
 This is what the

00:12:49.139 --> 00:12:50.099
 prophets warned the

00:12:50.099 --> 00:12:50.919
 people of God about

00:12:50.919 --> 00:12:52.179
 time and time and

00:12:52.179 --> 00:12:53.379
 time and time again.

00:12:53.899 --> 00:12:55.360
 Jeremiah warned them

00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:56.120
 this was coming.

00:12:56.219 --> 00:12:56.959
 Chapter 21,

00:12:57.519 --> 00:12:58.379
 chapter 25.

00:12:58.599 --> 00:13:00.000
 Isaiah prophesied

00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:00.539
 this moment.

00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:01.299
 Isaiah 39,

00:13:01.659 --> 00:13:02.419
 verse 6.

00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:03.099
 It's like when you

00:13:03.099 --> 00:13:04.259
 get pulled over by a

00:13:04.259 --> 00:13:05.339
 police officer for

00:13:05.339 --> 00:13:05.719
 speeding.

00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:06.939
 Now you're going to

00:13:06.939 --> 00:13:07.559
 have to imagine,

00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:08.299
 because I know all of

00:13:08.299 --> 00:13:09.000
 you drive the speed

00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:09.600
 limits, right?

00:13:10.059 --> 00:13:11.100
 You get pulled over

00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:12.220
 by a police officer.

00:13:12.379 --> 00:13:13.159
 You knew the law.

00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:14.919
 You knew you were

00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:15.960
 driving too fast.

00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:17.440
 You knew you should

00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:18.360
 have buckled up and

00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:19.360
 followed the rules,

00:13:19.539 --> 00:13:20.559
 but you get pulled

00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:21.580
 over and just imagine

00:13:21.580 --> 00:13:23.340
 he says, I will let

00:13:23.340 --> 00:13:24.659
 you off with a warning

00:13:24.659 --> 00:13:25.399
 this time.

00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:26.860
 And then he walks

00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:28.440
 back to his car.

00:13:29.299 --> 00:13:30.600
 The wise response for

00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:33.320
 us would be buckle up,

00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:35.860
 drive away very slowly,

00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:38.480
 obey the law from now

00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:39.940
 on, do exactly as he

00:13:39.940 --> 00:13:40.200
 said.

00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:41.019
 But instead of doing

00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:43.840
 that, we slam our

00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:44.840
 foot on the gas and

00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:46.019
 we speed away 89

00:13:46.019 --> 00:13:47.080
 miles an hour down

00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:47.460
 the road.

00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:47.980
 And then another

00:13:47.980 --> 00:13:49.060
 police officer comes

00:13:49.060 --> 00:13:49.920
 and he warns us the

00:13:49.920 --> 00:13:50.480
 same thing.

00:13:50.940 --> 00:13:51.620
 You better not go

00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:52.399
 over the speed limit.

00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:53.300
 I'll give you a

00:13:53.300 --> 00:13:54.120
 warning this time.

00:13:54.420 --> 00:13:55.460
 Same thing, we speed

00:13:55.460 --> 00:13:56.220
 off down the road

00:13:56.220 --> 00:13:57.360
 another police officer

00:13:57.360 --> 00:13:58.940
 time and time and

00:13:58.940 --> 00:13:59.940
 time and time and

00:13:59.940 --> 00:14:00.519
 time again.

00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:01.740
 These officers are

00:14:01.740 --> 00:14:03.000
 far more merciful and

00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:03.879
 patient than any I've

00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:05.120
 come in contact with,

00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:05.340
 right?

00:14:05.340 --> 00:14:07.540
 But at some point,

00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:09.759
 your lawlessness is

00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:11.440
 going to catch up with

00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:11.700
 you.

00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:15.360
 Justice demands that

00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:17.420
 your lawlessness be

00:14:17.420 --> 00:14:17.879
 punished.

00:14:18.940 --> 00:14:19.960
 And for Israel, that

00:14:19.960 --> 00:14:21.820
 time has come right

00:14:21.820 --> 00:14:22.080
 now.

00:14:22.160 --> 00:14:23.560
 This dark moment in

00:14:23.560 --> 00:14:25.300
 history is God's

00:14:25.300 --> 00:14:26.840
 judgment on their

00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:27.340
 rebellion.

00:14:27.540 --> 00:14:29.060
 But you know, one of

00:14:29.060 --> 00:14:30.720
 the beautiful parts of

00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:31.800
 reading biblical

00:14:31.800 --> 00:14:34.100
 history is that we

00:14:34.100 --> 00:14:34.980
 don't only get the

00:14:34.980 --> 00:14:36.460
 view from the ground,

00:14:36.659 --> 00:14:37.680
 so to speak, from a

00:14:37.680 --> 00:14:39.120
 human vantage point.

00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:41.240
 We get the view from

00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:41.940
 the air.

00:14:42.580 --> 00:14:44.040
 We get the Lord's

00:14:44.040 --> 00:14:45.259
 vantage point.

00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:47.420
 Now again, from the

00:14:47.420 --> 00:14:48.580
 ground, from a sheerly

00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:49.340
 human point of view,

00:14:49.460 --> 00:14:50.259
 all of this looks

00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:50.759
 hopeless.

00:14:51.779 --> 00:14:52.480
 Now all of this looks

00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:53.560
 like the world itself is

00:14:53.560 --> 00:14:54.620
 caving in and everything

00:14:54.620 --> 00:14:55.980
 is falling apart.

00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:57.019
 The bad guys have come

00:14:57.019 --> 00:14:57.259
 in.

00:14:57.300 --> 00:14:58.200
 The city is destroyed.

00:14:58.300 --> 00:14:59.360
 It looks like evil has

00:14:59.360 --> 00:14:59.800
 won.

00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:01.859
 But Daniel gives us

00:15:01.859 --> 00:15:03.839
 another perspective.

00:15:04.039 --> 00:15:04.740
 Look to verse 2.

00:15:06.479 --> 00:15:07.039
 He says,

00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:10.919
 The Lord gave Jehoiakim,

00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:12.039
 king of Judah,

00:15:12.839 --> 00:15:13.779
 into his hand.

00:15:14.819 --> 00:15:17.159
 The Lord gave.

00:15:17.419 --> 00:15:20.399
 These three words

00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:23.399
 completely change the

00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:25.079
 lens through which we

00:15:25.079 --> 00:15:27.000
 look out and interpret

00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:28.959
 all the affairs of human

00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:29.560
 history.

00:15:30.820 --> 00:15:31.900
 Now I realize we haven't

00:15:31.900 --> 00:15:32.940
 made much progress in

00:15:32.940 --> 00:15:34.160
 Daniel chapter 1, right?

00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:35.820
 Yeah, I think we will.

00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:37.220
 I'm going to try to.

00:15:37.280 --> 00:15:38.040
 But I want to make this

00:15:38.040 --> 00:15:39.920
 point first because this

00:15:39.920 --> 00:15:40.840
 is a theme that runs

00:15:40.840 --> 00:15:41.920
 throughout the entire

00:15:41.920 --> 00:15:42.980
 book of Daniel.

00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:46.040
 God is the king of

00:15:46.040 --> 00:15:46.900
 human history.

00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:50.400
 God is the king of all

00:15:50.400 --> 00:15:52.060
 the nations of the earth.

00:15:52.759 --> 00:15:53.960
 God is the sovereign

00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:56.400
 ruler of all the affairs

00:15:56.400 --> 00:15:57.240
 of man.

00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:59.080
 everything that happens

00:15:59.080 --> 00:15:59.919
 in human history,

00:16:00.100 --> 00:16:01.899
 all the events of human

00:16:01.899 --> 00:16:03.539
 history, big and small,

00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:05.399
 significant and seemingly

00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:06.200
 meaningless.

00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:08.159
 All of them from

00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:09.519
 beginning to end are in

00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:11.360
 the hands of a good and

00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:12.779
 sovereign God.

00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:15.039
 Whatever happens here,

00:16:15.180 --> 00:16:17.320
 God is king.

00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:19.820
 Who is responsible for

00:16:19.820 --> 00:16:20.560
 this exile?

00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:23.180
 From a human vantage point,

00:16:23.299 --> 00:16:25.100
 Nebuchadnezzar saw and

00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:26.180
 Nebuchadnezzar came, he

00:16:26.180 --> 00:16:27.200
 saw and Nebuchadnezzar

00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:28.240
 conquered, right?

00:16:28.800 --> 00:16:30.200
 But from the divine

00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:32.379
 perspective, Daniel says

00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:34.740
 the Lord gave.

00:16:35.800 --> 00:16:37.320
 I'm hammering this point

00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:39.639
 because Daniel, he repeats

00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.360
 this for us.

00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:41.120
 I feel like this is an

00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:42.060
 emphasis for him.

00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:43.399
 In fact, three times in

00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:45.240
 this chapter, you see that

00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:46.860
 phrase over and over and

00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:49.680
 over again, the Lord gave.

00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:52.339
 The Lord gave Jehoiakim,

00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:53.779
 king of Judah, into the

00:16:53.779 --> 00:16:54.779
 hands of Nebuchadnezzar,

00:16:54.839 --> 00:16:55.419
 verse 2.

00:16:56.239 --> 00:16:58.559
 The Lord gave Daniel favor

00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:00.479
 and compassion in the

00:17:00.479 --> 00:17:01.719
 sight of the chief of the

00:17:01.719 --> 00:17:03.000
 eunuchs, verse 9.

00:17:03.839 --> 00:17:05.579
 The Lord gave Daniel and

00:17:05.579 --> 00:17:06.619
 his friends learning and

00:17:06.619 --> 00:17:08.460
 skill in all literature and

00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:10.279
 wisdom, verse 17.

00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:12.639
 That repetition is

00:17:12.639 --> 00:17:13.500
 intentional.

00:17:14.399 --> 00:17:16.079
 Daniel, he wants to

00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:18.619
 comfort exiles with the

00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:20.359
 truth of the sovereignty

00:17:20.359 --> 00:17:21.779
 of God.

00:17:22.579 --> 00:17:24.099
 So that we no longer see

00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:26.980
 history or current events

00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:29.119
 just from an on-the-ground

00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:31.059
 perspective, but rather we

00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:34.659
 learn to see things from the

00:17:34.659 --> 00:17:35.759
 divine perspective.

00:17:36.679 --> 00:17:38.879
 That whatever may come to

00:17:38.879 --> 00:17:42.039
 pass, God is king.

00:17:43.199 --> 00:17:45.299
 Nothing happens apart from

00:17:45.299 --> 00:17:46.779
 his sovereign decree.

00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:49.519
 Nothing is given to you but

00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:52.000
 by his sovereign hand.

00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:54.180
 God is king.

00:17:54.379 --> 00:17:57.519
 Now, that's bad news for a

00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:58.399
 faithless people.

00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:02.180
 That's bad news for those who

00:18:02.180 --> 00:18:03.720
 are still in rebellion against

00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.240
 the Lord.

00:18:04.359 --> 00:18:06.319
 He is patient with you.

00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:08.940
 He is slow to anger, but he

00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:10.279
 is just.

00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:12.619
 And the time will come when

00:18:12.619 --> 00:18:15.399
 justice will demand pain for

00:18:15.399 --> 00:18:16.059
 lawlessness.

00:18:16.339 --> 00:18:17.979
 His kindness and patience is

00:18:17.979 --> 00:18:19.379
 meant to lead you to

00:18:19.379 --> 00:18:19.959
 repentance.

00:18:21.379 --> 00:18:22.779
 It's bad news for those who

00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:24.059
 rebel against the Lord, but

00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:26.099
 for those who do trust in the

00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:28.919
 Lord, church, his kingship is a

00:18:28.919 --> 00:18:30.679
 glorious comfort, is it not?

00:18:32.179 --> 00:18:33.719
 And when the world around us

00:18:33.719 --> 00:18:35.179
 seems to have lost its ever

00:18:35.179 --> 00:18:38.279
 loving mind, and when the

00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:39.819
 place where we live seems like

00:18:39.819 --> 00:18:41.059
 it's crumbling to the ground,

00:18:41.059 --> 00:18:43.099
 when everything looks dark, and

00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:44.819
 from our perspective it looks

00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:47.659
 hopeless, we remember and we

00:18:47.659 --> 00:18:49.539
 take comfort in the fact that

00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:52.659
 God is king.

00:18:54.299 --> 00:18:56.139
 Here at the beginning of the

00:18:56.139 --> 00:18:57.879
 book of Daniel, I want us to see

00:18:57.879 --> 00:19:01.259
 that we, Christian, we have far

00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:03.639
 more in common with Daniel than we

00:19:03.639 --> 00:19:05.000
 might tend to think.

00:19:05.099 --> 00:19:08.019
 Church, we, like Daniel, are

00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:08.879
 exiles.

00:19:10.139 --> 00:19:11.599
 The book of 1 Peter, what we

00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:13.539
 read this morning, it calls us,

00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:15.400
 it calls Christians sojourners

00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:17.000
 and exiles.

00:19:17.099 --> 00:19:19.740
 You realize we, you and I, we as

00:19:19.740 --> 00:19:21.599
 Christians are citizens of another

00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:21.960
 kingdom.

00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:25.379
 Scott reminded me of an old song a

00:19:25.379 --> 00:19:26.680
 couple weeks ago in the men's

00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:27.240
 Bible study.

00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:31.160
 I wish he was here because he

00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:32.240
 would love that I quoted it.

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:34.859
 This world is not my home.

00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:37.160
 I'm just a passing through.

00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:38.460
 Y'all know this one.

00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:40.500
 My treasures are laid up somewhere

00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:41.440
 beyond the blue.

00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:44.480
 The angels beckon me from heaven's

00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:46.579
 open door and I can't feel at home

00:19:46.579 --> 00:19:48.640
 in this world anymore.

00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:49.559
 Y'all know that one.

00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:52.000
 Is that true of you?

00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:56.240
 See, Christian, we are exiles.

00:19:56.900 --> 00:19:59.799
 Make no mistake, America, as many

00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:01.500
 blessings as we have here, as

00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:03.240
 wonderful as this place may be.

00:20:03.619 --> 00:20:06.559
 America is not a lasting home for

00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:06.899
 us.

00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:11.519
 It wasn't so 10 years ago or 30

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:13.980
 years ago or 50 years ago or 100

00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:16.619
 years ago and it will not be so 100

00:20:16.619 --> 00:20:18.480
 years in the future unless the Lord

00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:19.000
 returns.

00:20:19.859 --> 00:20:22.839
 America is not the promised land.

00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:24.559
 Church, we need to understand where

00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:27.319
 we live, America is just our little

00:20:27.319 --> 00:20:28.339
 corner of Babylon.

00:20:28.339 --> 00:20:33.240
 And if that's true, then we shouldn't

00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:36.799
 be surprised by any evil that surrounds

00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.579
 us here.

00:20:38.659 --> 00:20:40.939
 We shouldn't be surprised when leaders

00:20:40.939 --> 00:20:42.220
 fail us.

00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:45.399
 We shouldn't be surprised when wars

00:20:45.399 --> 00:20:46.279
 break out.

00:20:46.959 --> 00:20:49.019
 We shouldn't be surprised when people

00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:51.259
 hate each other, when there's lawlessness

00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:53.799
 and godlessness all around us.

00:20:53.939 --> 00:20:56.319
 We should not be surprised.

00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:56.779
 Why?

00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:59.539
 Because this place is Babylon.

00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:03.099
 We're exiles here.

00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:04.799
 It shouldn't surprise us.

00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:08.960
 But it also shouldn't shake us.

00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:09.299
 Why?

00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:12.099
 Because we know that no matter what

00:21:12.099 --> 00:21:16.539
 happens here and now, God is king.

00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:18.740
 You know, sometimes the way Christians

00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:21.819
 react to current events and the way that

00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:25.339
 we talk or post on social media, we kind of

00:21:25.339 --> 00:21:26.599
 sound like Chicken Little, don't we?

00:21:27.579 --> 00:21:28.819
 The sky is falling.

00:21:29.699 --> 00:21:30.759
 The sky is falling.

00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:32.359
 Everything's crumbling to the ground.

00:21:33.659 --> 00:21:35.579
 The church, there's chaos all around us.

00:21:35.619 --> 00:21:36.619
 Make no mistake.

00:21:38.679 --> 00:21:42.259
 But we of all people ought to rest in the

00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:45.859
 sovereign rule of God, no matter what

00:21:45.859 --> 00:21:46.819
 happens here and now.

00:21:46.899 --> 00:21:47.099
 Amen?

00:21:47.099 --> 00:21:47.240
 Amen?

00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:51.240
 Instead of panicking over the question, what

00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:52.799
 has this world come to?

00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:55.400
 I think the church ought to spend more time

00:21:55.400 --> 00:21:59.079
 asking the question, how can we, Christian,

00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:04.160
 how can we, Siwe Bay, remain distinct during

00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:05.259
 our time of exile?

00:22:06.099 --> 00:22:10.819
 How can we remain distinct as God's people living

00:22:10.819 --> 00:22:12.480
 here in foreign territory?

00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:15.360
 Which is why the second truth we must remember.

00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:16.720
 Number one, God is king.

00:22:16.819 --> 00:22:20.539
 And number two, praise God, you are his.

00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:24.019
 You are his.

00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:27.380
 Now let's see Daniel's story.

00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:30.240
 Verse three, it says that not only did Nebuchadnezzar

00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:33.259
 bring the vessels of God out of the house of God

00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:35.120
 and put them into the house of his God,

00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:38.299
 but he also sent Ashpenaz to bring out some of the

00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:41.919
 best people out of Israel, out of the royal family

00:22:41.919 --> 00:22:43.359
 and of the nobility.

00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:46.379
 It says youths without blemish, of good appearance

00:22:46.379 --> 00:22:48.359
 and skillful in all wisdom.

00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:51.039
 They're endowed with knowledge and understanding

00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:53.099
 and learning and they're competent to stand

00:22:53.099 --> 00:22:53.919
 in the king's palace.

00:22:54.399 --> 00:22:58.119
 These teenagers at this point, these men

00:22:58.119 --> 00:22:59.720
 were the cream of the crop.

00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:04.359
 They're young, they're intelligent, they're influential,

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:06.960
 they're nobility and most importantly,

00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:09.160
 or at least as Nebuchadnezzar thought,

00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:11.160
 they were impressionable.

00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:14.340
 It says in verse four that he was going to teach them

00:23:14.340 --> 00:23:17.019
 the literature and the language of the Chaldeans

00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:19.700
 and he assigns them a daily portion of food

00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:21.380
 that the king himself ate.

00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:22.420
 This was good food.

00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:25.940
 And a portion of wine that the king himself drank.

00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:27.160
 This is good wine.

00:23:27.840 --> 00:23:30.660
 And it's going to go on like this for three years.

00:23:30.840 --> 00:23:33.299
 Now at the end of this period of three years,

00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:36.740
 these men would stand before the king.

00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:38.779
 That was the plan.

00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:45.559
 His plan was cultural indoctrination.

00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:49.000
 And this is a strategy.

00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:53.000
 To take the best and the brightest of Israel,

00:23:53.160 --> 00:23:54.740
 of Judah, to take the best and the brightest

00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:59.859
 and to make them now good, educated, successful Babylonians.

00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:03.959
 See, his strategy was he didn't just want to conquer them.

00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:06.779
 He wanted to absorb them.

00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:10.279
 They would learn the literature of Babylon.

00:24:10.579 --> 00:24:12.619
 They would learn the language of Babylon.

00:24:12.839 --> 00:24:16.319
 Not only this, they would even be given new Babylonian names.

00:24:17.659 --> 00:24:18.979
 I remember growing up,

00:24:19.939 --> 00:24:24.959
 multiple times my mom correcting anybody and everybody

00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:27.180
 who would call me anything besides Jonathan.

00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:28.220
 Right?

00:24:28.360 --> 00:24:30.519
 That was the name my mama gave me.

00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:32.620
 Nobody was allowed to shorten it.

00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:33.740
 If they called me John,

00:24:33.860 --> 00:24:35.319
 I remember her correcting them,

00:24:35.400 --> 00:24:37.660
 no, his name is Jonathan.

00:24:38.340 --> 00:24:39.920
 There was meaning behind that name.

00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:41.420
 My dad's name is David.

00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:42.880
 And biblically in the Bible,

00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:43.860
 you know the Old Testament,

00:24:44.100 --> 00:24:47.039
 David and Jonathan were best friends.

00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:49.240
 And it had meaning to that name.

00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:52.079
 She didn't want anybody changing that name.

00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:56.839
 Well, names in the ancient Near East culture were significant.

00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:59.339
 They carried meaning.

00:24:59.500 --> 00:25:00.379
 They meant something.

00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:03.299
 And so what Nebuchadnezzar is trying to do here

00:25:03.299 --> 00:25:08.019
 is he's stripping away any reference to Israel's God

00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:10.079
 and he's replacing them.

00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:15.000
 He's redefining them in terms of the false Babylonian gods.

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:19.279
 This is an attempt to redefine who they are.

00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:22.759
 So Daniel, which meant God is judge,

00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:25.259
 is now Belt-Shazzar,

00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:27.759
 which is a reference to the false god Bel.

00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:31.839
 Hananiah, which meant Yahweh is gracious,

00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:35.819
 is now Shadrach at the command of Aku.

00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:38.180
 That's a reference to the moon god.

00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:42.319
 Mishael, which meant who is what God is,

00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:45.879
 is now Mishak, who is what Aku is.

00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:48.700
 Azariah, which meant Yahweh helps,

00:25:48.819 --> 00:25:52.460
 is now Abednego, servant of Nego,

00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:54.519
 the god of wisdom.

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.720
 You see what's going on here?

00:25:57.019 --> 00:26:00.500
 Nebuchadnezzar is trying to take the people of the Lord

00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:03.500
 and convince them from the inside out

00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:05.759
 that no, now you belong to me,

00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:07.920
 you belong to my people,

00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:09.879
 you belong to my culture,

00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:12.859
 you belong to my gods.

00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:18.460
 This was a plan of cultural indoctrination.

00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:22.079
 Well, Daniel knew what was up, didn't he?

00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:25.400
 He could see the plan.

00:26:26.299 --> 00:26:27.920
 And so, for this reason,

00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:29.220
 verse 8 says,

00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:32.759
 Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself

00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:35.259
 with the king's food.

00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:36.839
 You know, a lot has been made

00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:38.940
 of Daniel's decision here.

00:26:39.160 --> 00:26:40.559
 This is where, I guess,

00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:43.160
 I guess this is where people get the Daniel diet, right?

00:26:44.519 --> 00:26:46.400
 And the diet may be just fine.

00:26:46.460 --> 00:26:48.519
 It would probably be good for some of us

00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:49.460
 to eat a little bit more veggies.

00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:50.480
 Amen? Right?

00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:52.519
 But may I suggest

00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:55.599
 that that is missing the point just a little bit.

00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:58.900
 This is not a divinely inspired meal plan

00:26:58.900 --> 00:27:00.220
 for us to follow.

00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:03.519
 The point isn't the food or the diet.

00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:05.059
 Don't get hung up on the food.

00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:09.039
 The point is that Daniel and his friends,

00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:12.360
 they're resisting at whatever level they can,

00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:15.220
 becoming a Babylonian,

00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:18.839
 even while they're living stuck here in Babylon.

00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:21.539
 He knows that God is king.

00:27:21.640 --> 00:27:23.480
 He knows that he belongs to him

00:27:23.480 --> 00:27:24.960
 wherever he may be,

00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:26.680
 Jerusalem or Babylon.

00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:28.360
 And because of this,

00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:31.500
 he knows that he and the rest of God's people

00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:34.000
 are called to be distinct

00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:35.840
 from the nations around them.

00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:38.620
 And he knows that Nebuchadnezzar,

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.580
 king of Babylon,

00:27:39.820 --> 00:27:42.360
 is trying everything he can

00:27:42.360 --> 00:27:44.620
 to turn Daniel and his friends

00:27:44.620 --> 00:27:46.940
 into good Babylonians.

00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:49.779
 And so he resists.

00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:52.759
 Now notice here

00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:54.779
 how Daniel resists.

00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:56.539
 Just really quickly here

00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:57.799
 because I think this is appropriate

00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:59.859
 for us by way of application.

00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:01.279
 He's not loud.

00:28:02.399 --> 00:28:03.779
 He's not obnoxious.

00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:06.720
 He doesn't pitch a fit.

00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:07.480
 He doesn't protest

00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:09.519
 or post a social media rant

00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:10.639
 or cause a scene

00:28:10.639 --> 00:28:13.039
 about how unfair everything is here in Babylon

00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:14.399
 for him and his Jewish friends.

00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:16.559
 He doesn't dig in his heels

00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:17.019
 and say,

00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:18.220
 Jehoiakim's my king,

00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:19.400
 not Nebuchadnezzar.

00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:22.039
 I know very humbly,

00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:23.420
 very respectfully,

00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:24.940
 and certainly prayerfully,

00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:26.440
 knowing what we know about Daniel,

00:28:27.180 --> 00:28:29.120
 he asks the chief eunuchs

00:28:29.120 --> 00:28:32.839
 to allow him to not defile himself.

00:28:33.120 --> 00:28:34.839
 And we see that God the king

00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:38.920
 gave Daniel favor and compassion.

00:28:40.579 --> 00:28:41.420
 And so verse 11,

00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:43.000
 it tells us that they came to a deal.

00:28:43.100 --> 00:28:43.779
 Ten days.

00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:45.640
 You got ten days.

00:28:46.400 --> 00:28:47.680
 Give us some veggies and water.

00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:48.519
 See for yourself.

00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:49.940
 Test us in ten days.

00:28:50.299 --> 00:28:51.320
 See what we look like.

00:28:51.400 --> 00:28:52.600
 And at the end of the ten days,

00:28:52.660 --> 00:28:53.340
 verse 15,

00:28:53.840 --> 00:28:56.100
 it says that they were better in appearance

00:28:56.100 --> 00:28:57.340
 and fatter in flesh

00:28:57.340 --> 00:28:58.840
 than all the youths

00:28:58.840 --> 00:29:01.039
 who ate the king's food.

00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:03.340
 And so the steward took away

00:29:03.340 --> 00:29:04.620
 their food and wine

00:29:04.620 --> 00:29:06.039
 that they were supposed to drink

00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:07.519
 and instead gave them vegetables.

00:29:08.140 --> 00:29:09.279
 What we see here

00:29:09.279 --> 00:29:11.340
 is that the Lord honored

00:29:11.340 --> 00:29:13.279
 their faithfulness to him.

00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:15.839
 The Lord honored their desire

00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:17.799
 to be distinct in exile.

00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:18.720
 And what was the result?

00:29:18.819 --> 00:29:19.980
 Look to verse 17.

00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:23.119
 God gave them learning

00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:24.779
 and skill and wisdom.

00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:26.539
 And he gave Daniel

00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:28.500
 understanding and visions and dreams.

00:29:28.619 --> 00:29:30.920
 And after three years of faithfulness,

00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:33.920
 after three years

00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:35.579
 of resisting the pressures

00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:37.399
 to become good Babylonians,

00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:39.879
 three years of clinging

00:29:39.880 --> 00:29:40.920
 to their identity

00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:42.140
 as the people of God,

00:29:42.520 --> 00:29:43.480
 the time has come

00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:44.760
 that came before the king.

00:29:44.860 --> 00:29:45.840
 And verse 20 says

00:29:45.840 --> 00:29:48.820
 he found them ten times better

00:29:48.820 --> 00:29:50.520
 than all the magicians

00:29:50.520 --> 00:29:51.160
 and enchanters

00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:53.080
 that were in all his kingdom.

00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:54.960
 He was vindicated

00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:56.540
 in his resolve

00:29:56.540 --> 00:29:58.940
 to remain distinct in exile.

00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:00.540
 You know,

00:30:00.600 --> 00:30:02.640
 this is the beginning of a theme,

00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:02.960
 again,

00:30:03.020 --> 00:30:03.580
 that we're going to see

00:30:03.580 --> 00:30:05.060
 over and over and over again

00:30:05.060 --> 00:30:06.020
 in this book of Daniel.

00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:07.720
 God's people are here.

00:30:07.840 --> 00:30:09.140
 They're exiles in Babylon.

00:30:09.140 --> 00:30:10.520
 They're pressured

00:30:10.520 --> 00:30:11.460
 and they're threatened,

00:30:11.820 --> 00:30:14.120
 yet they remain distinct in exile.

00:30:14.320 --> 00:30:15.500
 And at the end,

00:30:15.620 --> 00:30:17.860
 they are honored and vindicated.

00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.340
 And we'll see this theme

00:30:19.340 --> 00:30:21.120
 again and again and again.

00:30:21.340 --> 00:30:22.700
 And we need to understand,

00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:23.320
 Christian,

00:30:23.880 --> 00:30:26.300
 that this is our pattern as well.

00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:29.080
 We are here in exile.

00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:31.560
 We are going to be pressured

00:30:31.560 --> 00:30:33.200
 to succumb to the pressures

00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:34.759
 in the culture of Babylon.

00:30:35.280 --> 00:30:37.160
 And those who remain distinct

00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:38.020
 at the end

00:30:38.019 --> 00:30:39.160
 when we stand before

00:30:39.160 --> 00:30:40.240
 the King of Kings,

00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:41.639
 we will be honored

00:30:41.639 --> 00:30:43.279
 and vindicated.

00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:45.579
 We have to remember,

00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:45.900
 church,

00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:46.960
 the time will come,

00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:47.859
 whether in this life

00:30:47.859 --> 00:30:49.220
 and certainly in the one to come,

00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:51.240
 when all of God's people

00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:52.819
 who remain faithful

00:30:52.819 --> 00:30:54.180
 in their time of exile

00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:57.279
 will be vindicated.

00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:57.379
 vindicated.

00:30:58.379 --> 00:31:00.759
 The world may look at us funny

00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:02.000
 right now

00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:04.519
 as we make efforts

00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:05.440
 to be distinct.

00:31:06.379 --> 00:31:08.079
 We may be strange now,

00:31:08.399 --> 00:31:10.160
 but the time will come

00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:11.379
 when we will all stand

00:31:11.379 --> 00:31:12.759
 before the true King

00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:15.660
 and all who remain distinct

00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:18.500
 will be vindicated.

00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:21.279
 But until that day comes,

00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:21.519
 friend,

00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:22.940
 we must do as Daniel does

00:31:22.940 --> 00:31:23.539
 in this passage.

00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:24.460
 We must remember

00:31:24.460 --> 00:31:26.159
 that God is King

00:31:26.159 --> 00:31:28.700
 and that we are His.

00:31:28.819 --> 00:31:30.180
 I had a seminary professor

00:31:30.180 --> 00:31:32.299
 who used to say often,

00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:32.839
 you know,

00:31:32.879 --> 00:31:33.839
 the most important thing

00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:34.299
 about you

00:31:34.299 --> 00:31:36.000
 is not who you are,

00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:38.039
 it's whose you are.

00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:40.700
 The most important thing

00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:41.359
 about you

00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:42.920
 is not who you are,

00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:43.920
 it's not where you happen

00:31:43.920 --> 00:31:44.579
 to grow up,

00:31:45.379 --> 00:31:46.339
 it's not where you live,

00:31:47.079 --> 00:31:48.740
 it's not what college sports team

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.379
 you root for,

00:31:49.879 --> 00:31:51.259
 it's not what hobbies you have,

00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:52.779
 it's not what your interests are.

00:31:52.779 --> 00:31:54.379
 If you've put your faith

00:31:54.379 --> 00:31:55.480
 in Jesus Christ

00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:56.639
 by the grace of God,

00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:58.819
 the most important thing

00:31:58.819 --> 00:31:59.819
 about you

00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:02.259
 is that you belong to Him.

00:32:03.379 --> 00:32:04.619
 That you are a citizen

00:32:04.619 --> 00:32:06.579
 of the kingdom of God.

00:32:06.879 --> 00:32:08.339
 Wherever He may have you

00:32:08.339 --> 00:32:09.700
 here on this earth,

00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:11.399
 that's your identity.

00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:17.119
 And if we are citizens

00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:17.960
 of His kingdom,

00:32:19.379 --> 00:32:20.480
 then just like Daniel,

00:32:20.579 --> 00:32:21.559
 we need to be aware

00:32:21.559 --> 00:32:23.259
 that the ruler

00:32:23.259 --> 00:32:25.579
 of this present phase

00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:26.200
 of Babylon

00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:28.500
 is going to do anything

00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:30.399
 and everything He can

00:32:30.399 --> 00:32:31.279
 to make you

00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:33.240
 a good Babylonian.

00:32:34.599 --> 00:32:35.079
 Church,

00:32:35.159 --> 00:32:35.940
 we need to be aware

00:32:35.940 --> 00:32:36.639
 that the tactics

00:32:36.639 --> 00:32:37.819
 against God's people

00:32:37.819 --> 00:32:38.839
 have not changed

00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:40.619
 one single bit.

00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:43.000
 Think with me here

00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:44.460
 about Nebuchadnezzar's strategy

00:32:44.460 --> 00:32:45.679
 just for a moment,

00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:46.779
 really it's threefold.

00:32:46.879 --> 00:32:47.359
 Think about it.

00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:48.319
 How did He seek

00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:49.979
 to conquer God's people?

00:32:50.639 --> 00:32:51.419
 How did He seek

00:32:51.419 --> 00:32:53.139
 to make them Babylonians?

00:32:53.179 --> 00:32:54.619
 It's a three-part strategy.

00:32:54.740 --> 00:32:55.599
 It really is brilliant.

00:32:56.939 --> 00:32:57.500
 Separation,

00:32:58.299 --> 00:33:02.000
 satisfaction,

00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:02.479
 satisfaction,

00:33:02.959 --> 00:33:03.479
 satisfaction.

00:33:04.479 --> 00:33:05.859
 It's a three-part strategy

00:33:05.859 --> 00:33:06.559
 of Babylon.

00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:08.000
 Separation,

00:33:08.639 --> 00:33:09.359
 saturation,

00:33:10.119 --> 00:33:10.659
 satisfaction,

00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:12.000
 and nothing has changed.

00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:14.460
 Tactic number one

00:33:14.460 --> 00:33:15.799
 was separation.

00:33:16.900 --> 00:33:18.819
 He took these men away.

00:33:18.940 --> 00:33:19.839
 He took them away

00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:20.759
 from God's people,

00:33:21.400 --> 00:33:22.420
 took them away

00:33:22.420 --> 00:33:23.700
 from corporate worship,

00:33:24.380 --> 00:33:25.180
 took them away

00:33:25.180 --> 00:33:26.319
 from instruction

00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:27.359
 in the Word of God.

00:33:27.859 --> 00:33:28.660
 He took them away

00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:29.460
 from their place,

00:33:29.579 --> 00:33:30.400
 away from their people,

00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:31.539
 away from their practices.

00:33:32.119 --> 00:33:33.259
 Tactic number one

00:33:33.259 --> 00:33:35.000
 was that He separated them.

00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:36.420
 Don't you think

00:33:36.420 --> 00:33:37.500
 the enemy wants to do that

00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:38.099
 with you, Christian?

00:33:38.099 --> 00:33:41.019
 The enemy would love

00:33:41.019 --> 00:33:42.459
 nothing more

00:33:42.459 --> 00:33:44.599
 than to separate you

00:33:44.599 --> 00:33:46.000
 from the people of God.

00:33:46.879 --> 00:33:48.719
 He would love nothing more

00:33:48.719 --> 00:33:50.480
 than to separate you

00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:51.639
 from the gift

00:33:51.639 --> 00:33:53.079
 of corporate worship,

00:33:54.079 --> 00:33:54.759
 from the gift

00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:55.480
 of instruction

00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:56.579
 in the Word of God.

00:33:56.740 --> 00:33:58.439
 Do not take gatherings

00:33:58.439 --> 00:33:59.099
 like this

00:33:59.099 --> 00:33:59.819
 with God's people

00:33:59.819 --> 00:34:00.379
 for granted.

00:34:01.659 --> 00:34:03.000
 You know that this,

00:34:03.459 --> 00:34:04.480
 of all the places

00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.019
 of the world,

00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:06.119
 this is the closest

00:34:06.119 --> 00:34:07.359
 that we will get

00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:08.099
 to heaven

00:34:08.099 --> 00:34:09.139
 on this side

00:34:09.139 --> 00:34:09.659
 of eternity.

00:34:09.839 --> 00:34:10.880
 You know the local church

00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:11.739
 is an embassy

00:34:11.739 --> 00:34:13.039
 of the kingdom of God

00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:13.900
 here on earth?

00:34:15.519 --> 00:34:17.239
 Don't take this gathering

00:34:17.239 --> 00:34:18.219
 for granted.

00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:19.139
 There are Christians

00:34:19.139 --> 00:34:20.679
 all over the world

00:34:20.679 --> 00:34:21.739
 who long

00:34:21.739 --> 00:34:23.179
 for what we have here.

00:34:24.659 --> 00:34:26.359
 Do not let the enemy

00:34:26.359 --> 00:34:28.159
 separate you.

00:34:29.559 --> 00:34:30.679
 Tactic number two

00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:32.420
 was saturation.

00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:34.679
 He not only took them

00:34:34.679 --> 00:34:36.199
 from their religious culture,

00:34:36.199 --> 00:34:38.159
 he also saturated them

00:34:38.159 --> 00:34:40.119
 with his pagan culture.

00:34:40.219 --> 00:34:40.759
 Do you see this?

00:34:41.839 --> 00:34:42.599
 He taught them

00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:43.279
 all the books.

00:34:43.419 --> 00:34:44.019
 He taught them

00:34:44.019 --> 00:34:44.599
 the language.

00:34:44.859 --> 00:34:46.419
 He gave them new names.

00:34:46.859 --> 00:34:48.179
 He poured this

00:34:48.179 --> 00:34:49.759
 cultural system

00:34:49.759 --> 00:34:52.199
 right down their throats.

00:34:52.279 --> 00:34:52.739
 And again,

00:34:52.859 --> 00:34:53.899
 don't you realize,

00:34:54.639 --> 00:34:55.339
 the playbook

00:34:55.339 --> 00:34:57.000
 hasn't changed a bit.

00:34:58.579 --> 00:35:00.139
 The television shows

00:35:00.139 --> 00:35:00.779
 that we watch

00:35:00.779 --> 00:35:01.559
 are not neutral.

00:35:02.519 --> 00:35:04.019
 The news that we consume

00:35:04.019 --> 00:35:05.000
 is not neutral.

00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:07.239
 The books that we read

00:35:07.239 --> 00:35:08.119
 are not neutral.

00:35:08.759 --> 00:35:10.440
 The music that we listen to

00:35:10.440 --> 00:35:11.920
 is not neutral.

00:35:12.519 --> 00:35:14.259
 The culture that we live in

00:35:14.259 --> 00:35:15.099
 is not neutral.

00:35:15.259 --> 00:35:16.500
 Our neighbors that we talk to

00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:17.440
 are not neutral.

00:35:17.980 --> 00:35:20.199
 Everywhere we turn,

00:35:20.460 --> 00:35:21.699
 the enemy is seeking

00:35:21.699 --> 00:35:23.380
 to saturate you

00:35:23.380 --> 00:35:24.679
 with lies.

00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:27.440
 The church needs

00:35:27.440 --> 00:35:28.980
 to develop discernment.

00:35:29.780 --> 00:35:30.800
 We need to watch

00:35:30.800 --> 00:35:31.519
 what we eat.

00:35:31.519 --> 00:35:34.460
 Our call as exiles

00:35:34.460 --> 00:35:35.219
 here in Babylon

00:35:35.219 --> 00:35:37.019
 is as Paul calls us

00:35:37.019 --> 00:35:37.840
 in Romans 12,

00:35:37.960 --> 00:35:39.780
 do not be conformed

00:35:39.780 --> 00:35:40.420
 to the patterns

00:35:40.420 --> 00:35:41.420
 of this world,

00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:42.559
 but instead be what?

00:35:43.420 --> 00:35:44.360
 Be transformed

00:35:44.360 --> 00:35:46.059
 by the renewal

00:35:46.059 --> 00:35:47.300
 of your mind.

00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:49.320
 We're called

00:35:49.320 --> 00:35:50.119
 to take every thought

00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:50.619
 captive

00:35:50.619 --> 00:35:51.619
 and make it obedient

00:35:51.619 --> 00:35:53.000
 to Christ.

00:35:53.960 --> 00:35:54.840
 Are we careful

00:35:54.840 --> 00:35:56.079
 what we're saturating

00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:57.159
 our minds with,

00:35:57.340 --> 00:35:57.679
 church?

00:35:58.460 --> 00:35:59.199
 Are we careful

00:35:59.199 --> 00:36:00.099
 what we're saturating

00:36:00.099 --> 00:36:01.559
 our hearts with?

00:36:01.699 --> 00:36:02.839
 If we're not actively

00:36:02.839 --> 00:36:04.259
 clinging to the truth

00:36:04.259 --> 00:36:05.460
 of God's word,

00:36:05.579 --> 00:36:07.279
 we will passively drift

00:36:07.279 --> 00:36:08.419
 into the lies

00:36:08.419 --> 00:36:09.039
 of the culture.

00:36:11.819 --> 00:36:12.419
 Separation,

00:36:13.199 --> 00:36:13.939
 saturation,

00:36:14.819 --> 00:36:16.039
 and tactic number three,

00:36:17.219 --> 00:36:18.059
 satisfaction.

00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:20.639
 He saturated them

00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:21.500
 with pagan culture

00:36:21.500 --> 00:36:23.059
 and he wanted them

00:36:23.059 --> 00:36:24.319
 to like it.

00:36:25.379 --> 00:36:26.099
 And notice this,

00:36:26.099 --> 00:36:26.659
 he didn't feed them

00:36:26.659 --> 00:36:27.299
 with scraps,

00:36:27.379 --> 00:36:27.619
 did he?

00:36:29.139 --> 00:36:29.739
 And what did he want

00:36:29.739 --> 00:36:30.859
 to feed them with?

00:36:30.879 --> 00:36:31.259
 What did he want

00:36:31.259 --> 00:36:31.679
 them to eat?

00:36:31.839 --> 00:36:32.420
 He wanted them

00:36:32.420 --> 00:36:34.079
 to have the king's best food,

00:36:34.119 --> 00:36:35.139
 the food that the king

00:36:35.139 --> 00:36:36.019
 himself ate,

00:36:36.879 --> 00:36:38.039
 the wine that the king

00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:39.199
 himself drank.

00:36:39.279 --> 00:36:39.799
 He wanted them

00:36:39.799 --> 00:36:40.899
 to have the best,

00:36:41.239 --> 00:36:41.799
 the richest,

00:36:42.239 --> 00:36:42.980
 the fattest,

00:36:43.239 --> 00:36:44.920
 the most delicious meat

00:36:44.920 --> 00:36:46.019
 that he possibly could.

00:36:46.079 --> 00:36:46.500
 He wanted them

00:36:46.500 --> 00:36:47.319
 to drink the king's

00:36:47.319 --> 00:36:48.259
 own supply of wine.

00:36:48.599 --> 00:36:50.379
 He wanted to seduce

00:36:50.379 --> 00:36:52.179
 and satisfy them

00:36:52.179 --> 00:36:53.059
 into thinking,

00:36:53.059 --> 00:36:54.359
 well, maybe this place

00:36:54.360 --> 00:36:55.780
 isn't so bad after all.

00:36:57.360 --> 00:36:58.539
 Maybe this king

00:36:58.539 --> 00:36:59.800
 is nicer than we thought.

00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:01.920
 Maybe Jerusalem

00:37:01.920 --> 00:37:03.039
 wasn't so great

00:37:03.039 --> 00:37:04.079
 after all.

00:37:06.180 --> 00:37:06.700
 And again,

00:37:07.620 --> 00:37:08.260
 the playbook

00:37:08.260 --> 00:37:10.099
 has not changed.

00:37:11.820 --> 00:37:12.420
 Church,

00:37:12.500 --> 00:37:13.640
 the devil's favorite tool

00:37:13.640 --> 00:37:15.240
 is not pain.

00:37:16.160 --> 00:37:17.140
 It's pleasure.

00:37:18.940 --> 00:37:20.320
 He wants you

00:37:20.320 --> 00:37:22.000
 to love sin.

00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:24.179
 The devil wants

00:37:24.179 --> 00:37:25.619
 to wine and dine you

00:37:25.619 --> 00:37:26.820
 with the pleasures

00:37:26.820 --> 00:37:27.420
 of Babylon,

00:37:27.639 --> 00:37:28.679
 but he always hides

00:37:28.679 --> 00:37:29.199
 the price

00:37:29.199 --> 00:37:30.219
 and he never pays

00:37:30.219 --> 00:37:30.639
 the bill.

00:37:32.500 --> 00:37:33.219
 It's like when you go

00:37:33.219 --> 00:37:34.440
 to one of these

00:37:34.440 --> 00:37:35.360
 fancy restaurants

00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:35.920
 that doesn't have

00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:36.920
 prices on the menu

00:37:36.920 --> 00:37:40.159
 and you eat yourself

00:37:40.159 --> 00:37:40.699
 full,

00:37:40.860 --> 00:37:41.639
 whatever you want.

00:37:42.480 --> 00:37:43.719
 You buy an appetizer

00:37:43.719 --> 00:37:44.519
 and main course

00:37:44.519 --> 00:37:45.719
 and three desserts

00:37:45.719 --> 00:37:46.719
 and then the bill

00:37:46.719 --> 00:37:48.260
 comes due.

00:37:49.460 --> 00:37:50.239
 And you realize

00:37:50.239 --> 00:37:51.099
 the cost

00:37:51.099 --> 00:37:53.259
 of satisfying

00:37:53.259 --> 00:37:54.259
 your appetites.

00:37:55.619 --> 00:37:56.099
 Friend,

00:37:56.159 --> 00:37:57.500
 we would be wise

00:37:57.500 --> 00:37:58.199
 to count

00:37:58.199 --> 00:37:59.059
 the cost

00:37:59.059 --> 00:37:59.959
 now

00:37:59.959 --> 00:38:01.699
 before the bill

00:38:01.699 --> 00:38:02.439
 comes due.

00:38:04.099 --> 00:38:04.919
 If you haven't

00:38:04.919 --> 00:38:05.859
 figured this out yet,

00:38:06.019 --> 00:38:07.279
 the enemy's tactics

00:38:07.279 --> 00:38:08.299
 have not changed

00:38:08.299 --> 00:38:09.059
 a single bit.

00:38:09.159 --> 00:38:10.179
 The tactic of Babylon

00:38:10.179 --> 00:38:11.739
 in every age

00:38:11.739 --> 00:38:13.139
 is to separate you

00:38:13.139 --> 00:38:13.899
 from the ways

00:38:13.899 --> 00:38:14.479
 of God,

00:38:14.599 --> 00:38:15.779
 to saturate you

00:38:15.779 --> 00:38:16.379
 with the ways

00:38:16.379 --> 00:38:17.079
 of this world

00:38:17.079 --> 00:38:17.779
 and to make sure

00:38:17.779 --> 00:38:18.379
 you like it.

00:38:18.380 --> 00:38:20.519
 our call

00:38:20.519 --> 00:38:22.619
 as God's people,

00:38:23.200 --> 00:38:23.760
 our call

00:38:23.760 --> 00:38:24.680
 as exiles

00:38:24.680 --> 00:38:25.539
 living here

00:38:25.539 --> 00:38:26.500
 in foreign territory

00:38:26.500 --> 00:38:27.400
 is to say

00:38:27.400 --> 00:38:29.019
 wherever God

00:38:29.019 --> 00:38:30.360
 has placed me,

00:38:30.960 --> 00:38:32.000
 whatever evil

00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:32.960
 I face,

00:38:33.099 --> 00:38:34.160
 I will be set

00:38:34.160 --> 00:38:35.440
 apart from the ways

00:38:35.440 --> 00:38:36.119
 of the world,

00:38:36.420 --> 00:38:37.840
 I will be saturated

00:38:37.840 --> 00:38:38.840
 with the word

00:38:38.840 --> 00:38:39.440
 of God,

00:38:39.640 --> 00:38:40.800
 I will satisfy

00:38:40.800 --> 00:38:41.440
 my heart

00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:42.000
 and the Lord

00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:43.519
 above all else.

00:38:44.340 --> 00:38:45.400
 Are you committed

00:38:45.400 --> 00:38:45.920
 to this?

00:38:45.920 --> 00:38:48.880
 if you are

00:38:48.880 --> 00:38:49.519
 His,

00:38:50.680 --> 00:38:51.539
 your call

00:38:51.539 --> 00:38:53.119
 is to live

00:38:53.119 --> 00:38:53.619
 your life

00:38:53.619 --> 00:38:54.680
 here in exile

00:38:54.680 --> 00:38:55.840
 faithfully

00:38:55.840 --> 00:38:56.780
 to the King

00:38:56.780 --> 00:38:57.400
 of Kings.

00:38:57.980 --> 00:38:58.900
 Your call

00:38:58.900 --> 00:38:59.380
 is to be

00:38:59.380 --> 00:39:00.159
 distinct

00:39:00.159 --> 00:39:01.559
 in exile.

00:39:01.740 --> 00:39:02.000
 Why?

00:39:03.380 --> 00:39:04.480
 Because despite

00:39:04.480 --> 00:39:05.559
 whatever the

00:39:05.559 --> 00:39:06.460
 apparent appearance

00:39:06.460 --> 00:39:07.039
 of defeat

00:39:07.039 --> 00:39:07.599
 may be,

00:39:07.740 --> 00:39:08.780
 we know

00:39:08.780 --> 00:39:09.880
 the truth,

00:39:10.139 --> 00:39:10.500
 church.

00:39:11.460 --> 00:39:12.420
 We know

00:39:12.420 --> 00:39:13.200
 the truth

00:39:13.199 --> 00:39:14.519
 of the gospel

00:39:14.519 --> 00:39:16.199
 that God

00:39:16.199 --> 00:39:16.579
 has done

00:39:16.579 --> 00:39:17.119
 for you

00:39:17.119 --> 00:39:17.500
 in much

00:39:17.500 --> 00:39:18.699
 more powerful,

00:39:18.960 --> 00:39:19.399
 much more

00:39:19.399 --> 00:39:20.139
 eternal

00:39:20.139 --> 00:39:21.000
 and effective

00:39:21.000 --> 00:39:21.460
 ways

00:39:21.460 --> 00:39:22.299
 what Nebuchadnezzar

00:39:22.299 --> 00:39:23.059
 only attempted

00:39:23.059 --> 00:39:24.039
 and failed

00:39:24.039 --> 00:39:24.679
 to do

00:39:24.679 --> 00:39:25.599
 with Daniel

00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:26.539
 and his friends.

00:39:27.559 --> 00:39:28.119
 Church,

00:39:28.219 --> 00:39:28.699
 the good news

00:39:28.699 --> 00:39:29.279
 of the gospel

00:39:29.279 --> 00:39:30.059
 is that God

00:39:30.059 --> 00:39:30.579
 has sent

00:39:30.579 --> 00:39:31.480
 His own Son

00:39:31.480 --> 00:39:32.460
 to live

00:39:32.460 --> 00:39:33.539
 and to die

00:39:33.539 --> 00:39:34.699
 and to rise

00:39:34.699 --> 00:39:35.899
 in our place

00:39:35.900 --> 00:39:37.680
 in order

00:39:37.680 --> 00:39:38.220
 to bring

00:39:38.220 --> 00:39:39.400
 us out

00:39:39.400 --> 00:39:39.900
 of our

00:39:39.900 --> 00:39:40.300
 state

00:39:40.300 --> 00:39:41.400
 of lawlessness

00:39:41.400 --> 00:39:42.079
 and into

00:39:42.079 --> 00:39:42.860
 His marvelous

00:39:42.860 --> 00:39:43.420
 grace.

00:39:44.460 --> 00:39:45.160
 The good news

00:39:45.160 --> 00:39:45.780
 of the gospel

00:39:45.780 --> 00:39:46.380
 is that the

00:39:46.380 --> 00:39:47.300
 Son of God

00:39:47.300 --> 00:39:47.940
 Himself

00:39:47.940 --> 00:39:48.940
 bore the

00:39:48.940 --> 00:39:49.420
 punishment

00:39:49.420 --> 00:39:50.059
 that we

00:39:50.059 --> 00:39:50.579
 deserve

00:39:50.579 --> 00:39:51.420
 for our

00:39:51.420 --> 00:39:51.940
 sin

00:39:51.940 --> 00:39:52.720
 so that He

00:39:52.720 --> 00:39:53.579
 might call

00:39:53.579 --> 00:39:54.200
 us out

00:39:54.200 --> 00:39:54.820
 of belonging

00:39:54.820 --> 00:39:55.160
 to this

00:39:55.160 --> 00:39:55.880
 present darkness

00:39:55.880 --> 00:39:56.500
 and make us

00:39:56.500 --> 00:39:57.240
 citizens

00:39:57.240 --> 00:39:57.660
 of the

00:39:57.660 --> 00:39:57.940
 kingdom

00:39:57.940 --> 00:39:58.639
 of God.

00:39:59.460 --> 00:39:59.980
 The good

00:39:59.980 --> 00:40:00.480
 news of the

00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:01.340
 gospel is that

00:40:01.340 --> 00:40:02.099
 God has

00:40:02.099 --> 00:40:03.139
 separated

00:40:03.139 --> 00:40:03.760
 you

00:40:03.760 --> 00:40:04.880
 from belonging

00:40:04.880 --> 00:40:05.920
 to this place

00:40:05.920 --> 00:40:06.860
 and given

00:40:06.860 --> 00:40:07.360
 you a new

00:40:07.360 --> 00:40:07.980
 identity

00:40:07.980 --> 00:40:08.680
 as His

00:40:08.680 --> 00:40:09.160
 Son and

00:40:09.160 --> 00:40:09.340
 His

00:40:09.340 --> 00:40:09.680
 daughter.

00:40:10.559 --> 00:40:11.039
 The good

00:40:11.039 --> 00:40:11.480
 news of the

00:40:11.480 --> 00:40:12.240
 gospel is that

00:40:12.240 --> 00:40:12.980
 by faith

00:40:12.980 --> 00:40:13.539
 in Christ

00:40:13.539 --> 00:40:14.059
 God has

00:40:14.059 --> 00:40:15.000
 saturated

00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:15.880
 you.

00:40:16.019 --> 00:40:16.240
 He has

00:40:16.240 --> 00:40:16.980
 filled you

00:40:16.980 --> 00:40:17.340
 with His

00:40:17.340 --> 00:40:17.920
 own Holy

00:40:17.920 --> 00:40:18.460
 Spirit.

00:40:19.559 --> 00:40:20.059
 The good

00:40:20.059 --> 00:40:20.480
 news of the

00:40:20.480 --> 00:40:21.280
 gospel is that

00:40:21.280 --> 00:40:21.900
 God has

00:40:21.900 --> 00:40:22.340
 worked a

00:40:22.340 --> 00:40:23.260
 miracle in

00:40:23.260 --> 00:40:23.820
 us by

00:40:23.820 --> 00:40:24.320
 giving us

00:40:24.320 --> 00:40:25.099
 a new

00:40:25.099 --> 00:40:25.860
 heart

00:40:25.860 --> 00:40:26.680
 that hates

00:40:26.680 --> 00:40:27.300
 sin and

00:40:27.300 --> 00:40:27.940
 loves the

00:40:27.940 --> 00:40:28.220
 Lord.

00:40:28.360 --> 00:40:28.680
 He has

00:40:28.680 --> 00:40:29.539
 satisfied

00:40:29.539 --> 00:40:30.480
 you with

00:40:30.480 --> 00:40:30.900
 the goodness

00:40:30.900 --> 00:40:31.539
 of God

00:40:31.539 --> 00:40:32.119
 and the

00:40:32.119 --> 00:40:32.820
 glory of

00:40:32.820 --> 00:40:33.660
 Jesus Christ.

00:40:33.920 --> 00:40:34.420
 That's the

00:40:34.420 --> 00:40:34.860
 gospel.

00:40:34.880 --> 00:40:35.420
 church.

00:40:37.119 --> 00:40:37.960
 This is what

00:40:37.960 --> 00:40:38.360
 God has

00:40:38.360 --> 00:40:39.039
 done for

00:40:39.039 --> 00:40:39.760
 you in

00:40:39.760 --> 00:40:40.420
 Christ.

00:40:42.400 --> 00:40:42.780
 And although

00:40:42.780 --> 00:40:43.340
 it looks

00:40:43.340 --> 00:40:44.500
 dark now,

00:40:45.500 --> 00:40:46.119
 our certain

00:40:46.119 --> 00:40:46.720
 hope of the

00:40:46.720 --> 00:40:47.420
 gospel is that

00:40:47.420 --> 00:40:47.860
 when He

00:40:47.860 --> 00:40:48.400
 comes,

00:40:48.800 --> 00:40:49.900
 Babylon will

00:40:49.900 --> 00:40:50.599
 be judged

00:40:50.599 --> 00:40:51.619
 and we

00:40:51.619 --> 00:40:52.420
 as God's

00:40:52.420 --> 00:40:53.019
 people will

00:40:53.019 --> 00:40:53.920
 be vindicated.

00:40:55.519 --> 00:40:55.940
 Revelation

00:40:55.940 --> 00:40:57.260
 2 verse

00:40:57.260 --> 00:40:58.400
 17 tells us

00:40:58.400 --> 00:40:59.200
 we will be

00:40:59.200 --> 00:41:00.039
 given a new

00:41:00.039 --> 00:41:00.800
 name.

00:41:02.400 --> 00:41:03.200
 Given to

00:41:03.199 --> 00:41:04.579
 us by our

00:41:04.579 --> 00:41:05.000
 King.

00:41:06.199 --> 00:41:06.899
 Do you

00:41:06.899 --> 00:41:07.619
 believe this?

00:41:09.439 --> 00:41:10.079
 Is this

00:41:10.079 --> 00:41:10.679
 your hope?

00:41:12.239 --> 00:41:13.000
 Friend, if

00:41:13.000 --> 00:41:13.359
 you have

00:41:13.359 --> 00:41:14.379
 not put

00:41:14.379 --> 00:41:15.179
 your faith

00:41:15.179 --> 00:41:16.019
 in King

00:41:16.019 --> 00:41:16.679
 Jesus,

00:41:17.439 --> 00:41:18.679
 the time

00:41:18.679 --> 00:41:19.859
 is now.

00:41:21.179 --> 00:41:21.879
 What keeps

00:41:21.879 --> 00:41:22.539
 you from

00:41:22.539 --> 00:41:23.539
 saying right

00:41:23.539 --> 00:41:24.419
 now that I

00:41:24.419 --> 00:41:25.319
 see that Babylon

00:41:25.319 --> 00:41:25.980
 is a sinking

00:41:25.980 --> 00:41:26.739
 ship, I want

00:41:26.739 --> 00:41:27.599
 no part of

00:41:27.599 --> 00:41:28.219
 it, I want

00:41:28.219 --> 00:41:29.199
 to belong to

00:41:29.199 --> 00:41:29.779
 the King of

00:41:29.779 --> 00:41:30.759
 Kings, I put

00:41:30.760 --> 00:41:31.520
 my faith in

00:41:31.520 --> 00:41:32.080
 King Jesus

00:41:32.080 --> 00:41:32.740
 right now.

00:41:32.800 --> 00:41:33.440
 What prevents

00:41:33.440 --> 00:41:33.760
 you?

00:41:36.300 --> 00:41:36.620
 And for

00:41:36.620 --> 00:41:37.320
 us, church,

00:41:37.980 --> 00:41:38.960
 as we live

00:41:38.960 --> 00:41:39.320
 here in

00:41:39.320 --> 00:41:40.120
 exile, our

00:41:40.120 --> 00:41:40.960
 call is to

00:41:40.960 --> 00:41:41.980
 help one

00:41:41.980 --> 00:41:43.320
 another to

00:41:43.320 --> 00:41:44.000
 remain

00:41:44.000 --> 00:41:45.320
 distinct

00:41:45.320 --> 00:41:46.820
 while we're

00:41:46.820 --> 00:41:47.520
 on temporary

00:41:47.520 --> 00:41:48.900
 assignment here

00:41:48.900 --> 00:41:49.920
 in America.

00:41:52.000 --> 00:41:52.660
 You know, I

00:41:52.660 --> 00:41:53.140
 didn't tell you

00:41:53.140 --> 00:41:54.260
 the full story

00:41:54.260 --> 00:41:54.600
 about my

00:41:54.600 --> 00:41:54.940
 Chinese

00:41:54.940 --> 00:41:55.320
 neighbors.

00:41:55.320 --> 00:41:59.140
 the friends

00:41:59.140 --> 00:41:59.720
 who came

00:41:59.720 --> 00:42:01.500
 were gathering

00:42:01.500 --> 00:42:02.000
 to have a

00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:02.800
 Chinese cultural

00:42:02.800 --> 00:42:03.640
 experience, but

00:42:03.640 --> 00:42:05.400
 the host who

00:42:05.400 --> 00:42:05.960
 gathered her

00:42:05.960 --> 00:42:06.700
 friends there for

00:42:06.700 --> 00:42:07.660
 dumpling night, she

00:42:07.660 --> 00:42:08.760
 was a Christian.

00:42:10.240 --> 00:42:11.380
 And she wasn't

00:42:11.380 --> 00:42:12.100
 just having a

00:42:12.100 --> 00:42:13.120
 Chinese cultural

00:42:13.120 --> 00:42:14.880
 experience, although

00:42:14.880 --> 00:42:15.740
 that was part of

00:42:15.740 --> 00:42:15.860
 it.

00:42:16.000 --> 00:42:17.019
 She was using

00:42:17.019 --> 00:42:18.059
 these gatherings

00:42:18.059 --> 00:42:19.180
 as an opportunity

00:42:19.180 --> 00:42:20.920
 to share the

00:42:20.920 --> 00:42:21.800
 good news of

00:42:21.800 --> 00:42:23.400
 Jesus with

00:42:23.400 --> 00:42:23.980
 her Chinese

00:42:23.980 --> 00:42:24.960
 brothers and

00:42:24.960 --> 00:42:25.460
 sisters.

00:42:26.559 --> 00:42:26.980
 You see, she

00:42:26.980 --> 00:42:27.659
 understood that

00:42:27.659 --> 00:42:28.400
 wherever the

00:42:28.400 --> 00:42:29.639
 Lord had her, be

00:42:29.639 --> 00:42:31.440
 it China, be

00:42:31.440 --> 00:42:32.119
 it Milledgeville,

00:42:32.260 --> 00:42:33.740
 Georgia, wherever

00:42:33.740 --> 00:42:34.900
 the Lord had

00:42:34.900 --> 00:42:35.679
 her, the most

00:42:35.679 --> 00:42:36.320
 important thing

00:42:36.320 --> 00:42:37.500
 about her was

00:42:37.500 --> 00:42:38.000
 not who she

00:42:38.000 --> 00:42:39.699
 was, but who

00:42:39.699 --> 00:42:40.300
 she was.

00:42:41.320 --> 00:42:41.920
 She knew that

00:42:41.920 --> 00:42:42.940
 God is king and

00:42:42.940 --> 00:42:43.860
 that she belonged

00:42:43.860 --> 00:42:44.820
 to him.

00:42:45.720 --> 00:42:46.519
 Now, her call was

00:42:46.519 --> 00:42:47.639
 to remain distinct

00:42:47.639 --> 00:42:48.960
 here in exile and

00:42:48.960 --> 00:42:50.059
 to call as many

00:42:50.059 --> 00:42:51.139
 as she possibly

00:42:51.139 --> 00:42:52.320
 could to come

00:42:52.320 --> 00:42:53.599
 with her out

00:42:53.599 --> 00:42:54.559
 of Babylon.

00:42:54.559 --> 00:42:55.500
 And church, that's

00:42:55.500 --> 00:42:56.219
 our call as

00:42:56.219 --> 00:42:56.480
 well.

00:42:58.480 --> 00:42:59.179
 Are you

00:42:59.179 --> 00:43:01.340
 prepared to

00:43:01.340 --> 00:43:01.920
 resist the

00:43:01.920 --> 00:43:02.699
 influence around

00:43:02.699 --> 00:43:03.179
 us?

00:43:04.340 --> 00:43:05.539
 To resist the

00:43:05.539 --> 00:43:06.619
 urge to primarily

00:43:06.619 --> 00:43:07.920
 identify ourselves

00:43:07.920 --> 00:43:08.900
 with anything other

00:43:08.900 --> 00:43:09.719
 than the call of

00:43:09.719 --> 00:43:10.480
 God and Christ

00:43:10.480 --> 00:43:11.299
 Jesus for you?

00:43:13.980 --> 00:43:15.099
 God is king and

00:43:15.099 --> 00:43:15.759
 we are his.

00:43:16.420 --> 00:43:16.920
 Let's pray.

00:43:16.920 --> 00:43:21.360
 Lord, we need

00:43:21.360 --> 00:43:21.940
 your grace.

00:43:23.360 --> 00:43:24.240
 We need your

00:43:24.240 --> 00:43:24.639
 help.

00:43:25.860 --> 00:43:26.960
 We know even as

00:43:26.960 --> 00:43:27.460
 we've already

00:43:27.460 --> 00:43:28.180
 prayed, we are

00:43:28.180 --> 00:43:29.159
 prone to wonder,

00:43:29.260 --> 00:43:30.059
 each one of us.

00:43:30.180 --> 00:43:30.880
 And Lord, it's so

00:43:30.880 --> 00:43:32.240
 easy to be

00:43:32.240 --> 00:43:32.980
 deceived and

00:43:32.980 --> 00:43:34.360
 lured astray by

00:43:34.360 --> 00:43:35.659
 the pleasures and

00:43:35.659 --> 00:43:36.619
 the enticements of

00:43:36.619 --> 00:43:37.320
 the world around

00:43:37.320 --> 00:43:37.579
 us.

00:43:37.639 --> 00:43:38.579
 But God, we know

00:43:38.579 --> 00:43:40.139
 that, Father, in

00:43:40.139 --> 00:43:41.340
 your presence there

00:43:41.340 --> 00:43:42.380
 is fullness of

00:43:42.380 --> 00:43:42.760
 joy.

00:43:43.320 --> 00:43:43.860
 And at your

00:43:43.860 --> 00:43:44.619
 right hand there

00:43:44.619 --> 00:43:45.220
 are pleasures

00:43:45.219 --> 00:43:46.299
 forevermore.

00:43:46.939 --> 00:43:47.559
 There is no

00:43:47.559 --> 00:43:48.599
 pleasure that you

00:43:48.599 --> 00:43:49.099
 would withhold

00:43:49.099 --> 00:43:49.779
 from us.

00:43:49.839 --> 00:43:50.459
 It's all found

00:43:50.459 --> 00:43:51.059
 in Christ.

00:43:52.219 --> 00:43:52.899
 And so we pray,

00:43:53.079 --> 00:43:53.459
 Lord, that we

00:43:53.459 --> 00:43:55.019
 would look forward

00:43:55.019 --> 00:43:56.199
 to the kingdom

00:43:56.199 --> 00:43:57.000
 to come.

00:43:59.079 --> 00:43:59.779
 That we would

00:43:59.779 --> 00:44:00.339
 long for the

00:44:00.339 --> 00:44:01.339
 return of Christ.

00:44:02.559 --> 00:44:03.239
 That we would

00:44:03.239 --> 00:44:04.399
 live as distinct

00:44:04.399 --> 00:44:07.439
 exiles here in

00:44:07.439 --> 00:44:07.719
 Babylon.

00:44:08.480 --> 00:44:09.059
 We love you,

00:44:09.099 --> 00:44:09.219
 Lord.

00:44:09.279 --> 00:44:09.779
 We pray this in

00:44:09.779 --> 00:44:10.319
 Jesus' name.

00:44:11.359 --> 00:44:11.639
 Amen.