In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon under Jerusalem and besieged it
Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand with part of the vessels of the house of God
Which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his God and he brought the vessels
Into the treasure house of his God and the king spake on to Ashkenaz
The master of his eunuchs that he should bring certain of the children of Israel and of the king's seed and of the princes
Children of whom was no blemish but well favored and skillful in all wisdom and cunning in knowledge and
Understanding science and such as had ability and them to stand in the king's palace of whom
They might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans
And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat and of the wine which he drank so nourishing them three years
Then at the end of thereof they might stand before the king
Now among these were of the children of Judah Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah
under whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar and
And to Hananiah of Shadrach and to Mishael of Meshach and to Azariah of Abednego
But Daniel purposed in his in his heart that he should not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat
Nor with the wine which he drank therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself
Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs
And the prince of the eunuch said unto Daniel I fear my lord the king who had appointed your meat and your drink for why
Should ye why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort?
Then shall you make me endanger my head to the king
Then sent Daniel to Melzar whom the prince of the eunuchs had said over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah
Prove thy servants I beseech thee ten days and let them give us pulse to eat and water to drink
Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat as
Thou seeest deal with thy servants
So he consented to them in this manner and proved them ten days
At the end of the ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children
Which did eat the portion of the king's meat?
Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat and the wine that they should drink and gave them pulse as
For these four children God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams
Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in
Then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar
And the king communed with them and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah
Therefore stood they before the king and all manners of wisdom and understanding that the king inquired of them
He found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm and Daniel continued even under the first
year of King Cyrus
Let's pray dear Lord God. Thank you for every soul here right now
And I just pray that you bless this service Lord
Please full pass from a here with your Holy Spirit Lord as he preaches unto us and that us in the congregation are attentive and
Edified by the preaching Lord. I pray this all in Jesus name. Amen
Amen
Okay tonight
I'm gonna preach a sermon entitled a character analysis of Daniel character analysis of Daniel and
tonight I want to talk about the person Daniel not necessarily the events of the book of Daniel and
Regards to end times prophecy but actually focus on the actual prophet himself and some of his exploits and some of the principles that
We can learn from his life look at verse number eight
It says but Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat
Nor with the wine which he drank therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself
Now before we get into the actual characteristics of Daniel that we can learn from
Let me just start off by saying that Daniel is a very special person in the Bible
And in fact if you were to look at the various prophets and men of God that the Lord used throughout the Old Testament
Two in particular really stand out as being
Individuals that were very above reproach and when you look at their lives
You can't really see any blemish within their character. They were essentially individuals who had good reputations
They loved the Lord they did great things for God and not to say that, you know, they were sinless
but obviously they definitely they definitely had a very good reputation and they were definitely above reproach and those two are
Joseph and Daniel and it's interesting because both of these men
Essentially found themselves almost in a similar situation where they're away from home. They're away from their parents
They're in a foreign nation and they are confronted with very difficult circumstances and situations
And you know, they dealt with it very well
They're both young men and God used them greatly now
the first thing I want to mention regarding Daniel by way of
Introduction as I mentioned already is that he was a man who was above reproach
And again, that doesn't mean he was sinless and it's important for us to understand that above reproach
What the Bible talks about being above reproach simply means that no fault can really be found in you as far as sins are concerned
You are an individual who to the best of your ability lives a life that is pleasing unto God
You aren't necessarily an open sin
You're not it doesn't mean that you're perfect
But you are mature complete and above reproach when you look at Daniel that can be definitely said of him
Not only that, but when you look at his life, we see that he responds well to his afflictions
you know throughout the book of Daniel, I mean from the very start and
throughout you see that he experiences a lot of tribulations a lot of difficulties and
You know, he is a captive you understand but even aside from that, you know
They make them a eunuch. And so that is a very hard thing to deal with
Understand and if you don't know what a eunuch is a eunuch is a person who is castrated
okay, they no longer have the that functioning member that God has bestowed upon them and
typically in this
time period
Men are made eunuchs because of the fact that maybe they work in close proximity to the Queen or
Just to kind of lower their testosterone
So they don't have aggression or things of that nature towards their authority
But for whatever reason Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon chose to make these young men
Eunuchs and that's difficult if you think about it, you know
Because of the fact that means that they can never marry and even if they do they'll never have children
They'll never experience what that is like
so for him to be taken captive into Babylon to be made a eunuch to be a
Just persecuted by the Babylonians. I mean you look throughout his life just over and over again
He responds well to his afflictions and he ends up coming up on top
Spiritually and physically because of course he's made a leader there in Babylon
Not only that but as I mentioned, you know, he also adapts very well to where he's at. So even though he's an Israelite
He's taking captive. He's in Babylon. He's essentially living as the Babylonians
Minus the sinfulness. Okay, because he is being educated in the ways of the Chaldeans. He is learning the language
He is learning their systems and their policies, which is why
One of the reasons why he ends up taking a leadership position in Babylon
He gains favor with the people because of his relationship with the Lord
Then of course
We know that his latter end was blessed and we know that Daniel
Plays an important role in the Bible because of the fact that we get a lot of end times prophecy from him
So the half one the first half of the book of Daniel
Deals with the actual events in his life and some of the things that took place
During his life, but the second half really focuses in on his prophecies the visions and interpretations
That God gave to him regarding the end of the world. And so he was used greatly and so he's a great example for us as
Christians to learn from now first and foremost, we're gonna look at his obedience
The fact that his obedience was predetermined
Okay, because we see here that he's taking captive. He's in the land of Babylon and
Right off the bat the king wants to appoint unto these young men
Who are essentially gonna be trained in the way ways of the Babylonians. They're gonna be taught the language
They're going to be in the king's service
He begins to offer them a provision of the king's meat. Look at verse 5
It says the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat and of the wine which he drank
So nourishing them three years that at the end thereof they might stand before
The king now it doesn't explicitly say but we can pretty much surmise
Based upon Daniel's response that the food that it's being put before them isn't kosher, right?
Not only that but it's not according to it's probably violating some of God's laws some of God's dietary laws
So they're probably offering shrimp and lobster and pork and all that stuff that we can eat in the New Testament
Well during that period they couldn't participate in that it was against God's laws to eat certain things
But you know the heathen they didn't have those laws
So they're fully participating in that but Daniel even though he's not in Israel
Even though he's not under his parents authority is still abiding by the laws of God in a foreign land
Because he says in verse 8
But Daniel listen to this purpose in his heart that he would not defile himself
with the portion of the king's meat that wording there seems to indicate that it's food that is not a
part of the dietary laws of Israel because it's talking about defiling himself and the way that they would defile themselves is by
Participating in eating certain foods that God said you shouldn't eat during that Old Testament Levitical law
But the point that I'm making here is that Daniel?
He's already made the decision that he wasn't gonna do it and
That's really important because of the fact that a lot of times Christians
If they're not careful will make a decision whether they whether they give in to a temptation or not when the temptation is already there
You know it's just like they're confronted with a specific temptation that they have of a particular sin that they're struggling with but they haven't
Predetermined I'm not gonna do this. I'm not gonna participate in this
I'm not gonna fellowship with them whereas Daniel back in Israel. He had already purposed in his heart. He was gonna defile himself
so this is an important quality and virtue for Christians to have and that is not to be double-minded and
Make sure that you predetermined right off the bat before temptation comes
Before the trials come before the captivity of your flesh is there that you're not gonna defile yourself with whatever particular sins
There are you understand now? How can we apply this in a very practical way?
well, you know there's instances where you might be invited to a family's house and
This family that you are invited to friends that you're invited to they're not necessarily fundamental Baptists
Okay, and it's a I'm of the persuasion that I only hang out with fundamental Baptists. That's just what I do okay
You know I because no one else wants to hang out
And more specifically like new IP that's typically who I hang out with because those are the only ones who want to be my friends
But let's just say for example you have you know you're worldly and I'm just kidding
You know you have people that you hang out with that are not fundamental Baptists
Maybe there are they are Christians, but they're not of the stripe of fundamental Baptists
Maybe they're a little loose on certain areas
And you know they have the tendency to pull out the liquor every once in a while or pull out alcohol every once in a
While I'll start talking about things that are that can defile you right you need a purpose in your heart
then you're not going to participate in that and
Don't be this Christian that says well. I'm just a social drinker
Okay, does that exist where Christians like well?
I'm against alcohol, and I'm against drinking and I'm against being a drunkard, but you know every once in a while
Oh, you know if it's offered to me in a social setting. I'll take a sip here and there. That's wrong
And I don't believe that Christians should ever drink alcohol at any time
okay, I don't think it's ever permissible to drink alcohol and
Here's the thing is it's like yeah, but you can drink and not get drunk well if you aren't
Accustomed to drinking that every time you drink you will get drunk
Because
every body that is not accustomed to consuming alcohol is
Sensitive to alcohol so whatever you call buzz being buzzed is actually being drunk
So right off the bat you're already violating that right, and this is why it's funny when it's just like well. You know it's a
Drunkenness drink is not a sin. It's drunkenness. That's a sin, but what they don't tell you is that you got a sin a whole bunch of times
In
Order for your body to create the tolerance needed so that when you drink alcohol you don't get drunk and for sure
There's instances where these alcoholics they can get to a point
Where they can drink like five beers or whatever and not get drunk that exists out there
But you know what that individual
you know had to build a tolerance to that and what I mean by that is they had to drink a lot to get to
That point and so to say well, you know
Drunkenness is drunkenness is a sin, but drinking is not a sin. That's a complete fallacy. It's stupid
It's wrong, and here's the thing if you have that temptation of
Consuming alcohol, then you need a purpose in your heart that you're not going to put yourself in a situation
Where you'll be tempted to drink alcohol and one of the best ways to avoid the pitfalls of sin number one aside from
Purposing that you're not going to drink alcohol is number two now put yourself in an environment where alcohol is present
Purpose in your heart
Don't just let life happen to you. Well. You know we'll see what happens when we get there
No, you know your uncle drinks. You know your aunt drinks. You know your cousins like to drink beer
You know they like to consume alcohol, so why don't you do this?
Why don't you purpose in your heart that first and foremost you're not going to drink?
But secondly why don't you give them a call and say hey is there any alcohol that's going to be present there?
Well, we have you know wine coolers or whatever
You know we're going to have a little bit of the fancy stuff, okay, then I'm not going
Because of the fact that that's my temptation. That's my weakness and I
Haven't drank alcohol in years or whatever, but you know what I don't want this. I don't want this to break my streak
So maybe you guys can come over to our house one day, and we'll drink Kool-Aid
Or sparkling cider, and you can see how I get drunk off of that
And I'm joking obviously. I'm just saying you know the sugar can often get you a little crazy. You're a little wild okay
But the point that I'm making here is that Daniel is a very wise young man, and he's a young man
He already understands that he's going to go into a foreign land that does not respect his laws
It does not respect the laws of God the principles of God the boundaries that God has set forth for him
And so he's already pre-determining once they take me to Babylon
I'm going to make sure that I don't eat the pork that I don't eat the shrimp that I do not
participate and that which would defile me and in turn
essentially you know disrupt my
Communion with the Lord and you can see how easy it is for the young people who are in Babylon from Israel to just participate
Mom and Dad aren't around the authorities aren't around you know the
Individuals who keep me accountable aren't around no one's watching
Everyone's doing it and so I always wonder how pork tasted like and
Obviously again, this is Old Testament
We're not under that now, but you could you can see how that can be the type of temptation for a young person, right?
They don't have their
Authorities their parents involved so it takes a very mature person to have this attitude
And you know what you young people who have secular jobs you better watch out
Right you better watch yourself, okay, and if you don't have parents in church
You know I'm sorry, but you know what I didn't have my parents in church with me either therefore
I needed to be like a Daniel and purpose in my heart that I went to my secular job
I was not going to defile myself with the Kings women with the Kings drinking with the Kings activities
Why because of the fact that mom and dad are not there to push me to do right?
But you know what I'm still in the presence of God even though I'm in Babylon
And so you need to understand that it's important to do right no matter what?
Geographical location you're in whether it's under the roof of your parents house whether it's at your high school and junior high
It's at your secular job
You need to realize that you're still in God's presence
And you need to make sure you don't defile yourself with those things, and it's good to purpose that now
You know purpose it in your heart before you go to school. I'm not going to defile myself
With the Kings
men and to have them to follow me with their jokes and the things that they talk about the
Ideologies that they have I mean think about it you young people have a great challenge if you think about it
They're going to high school. You're learning all kinds of stupid stuff in high school
you're learning you know how to accept sodomites and
wickedness and
evolution and
All these things that are anti God
But you know what if you're in that situation, I'm sorry, but you know Daniel was in a worse situation
Understand now look if you're not in that situation you ought to give your mom and dad a hug tonight and say thank you
For saving me out of Babylon and the fact that I don't have to be put in that situation
But you know what you might be in that situation
Where you're in a high a public school or they teaching all types of Chaldean nonsense
Things that are contrary to God's Word, and yeah, it's vexing to you, but you know what you gotta stay there for four years and
Purpose in your heart each and every year
I'm not going to defile myself with the Kings philosophies the Kings women the Kings activities the Kings men the Kings whatever
And I'm not going to participate in this okay, and look Dan is a great example
That if you're enforced in a situation where you're in Babylon you can take the best out of Babylon and leave all the nonsense
Because he was still educated in the ways of the Chaldeans right he was still educated
he learned the ways of the Chaldeans he learned the language and
He was able to live a life that was pleasing unto the Lord, but let me say this don't put yourself in that situation
I'm speaking to those who are forced into that situation like Daniel was okay?
And you're like well, you know Babylon sounds kind of cool though. You know to be in Babylon. Yeah
Oh you think being castrated sounds cool?
Because this is that what the public schools are trying to do to you
Castrate you and make you think that you're a woman and all this nonsense
It's not cool to be a Babylonian. It sucks to be a Chaldean
You know yeah, they give you pork, but they castrate you too
So what's the point of having all that protein if you have nowhere to you know produce that testosterone it I?
Mean think about it purpose in your heart that you're not going to defile yourself with the Kings me
It's important for Christians to adopt this virtue that they're already
Predetermining I'm gonna obey the Lord in whatever situation
I'm in and for seeing what situations you're gonna face in the future and say when I go to this specific location
I'm gonna predetermine in my heart. I'm gonna purpose in my heart that I shall not be defiled okay
And so that is a great virtue there
To have look at go with me food to Luke 21 Luke chapter 21 hold your place here in Daniel
Luke
Chapter 21
Now Luke 21 is obviously a chapter dealing with
The end times and this is commonly if you study end times prophecy is to be read in conjunction with
Matthew 24 and mark 13
But Luke 21 is a little different in its variation of some of the information that it's giving and it's it talks a lot about
What to do when you're being persecuted a lot of those other chapters kind of focus in on the specific events
Whereas Luke 21 seems to focus on what is your response to these situations?
Okay, look at verse 12 of Luke 21. It says be but before all these they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you
Delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons being brought before kings and rulers
For my name's sake so he's referring to the fact that in the end times during the tribulation
We're gonna be persecuted if it happens in our lifetime, of course Christians are gonna be persecuted and we're gonna be delivered to
Magistrates to be judged some are being put to death
Some are being you know question most most Christians are gonna die and perish and it says in verse 13 and it shall turn to you
For a testimony listen to this settle it therefore in your hearts
Not to meditate before
What ye shall answer?
in other words he's saying
Make sure you're predetermined first and foremost purpose in your heart
Beforehand settle it therefore in your hearts that you're gonna submit yourself to the Holy Spirit
Because this is what it's talking about in verse 14 verse 15. He says for I will give you a mouth and wisdom
Which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay
Nor resist so I believe what this is talking about here
Is that if you find yourself in your generation in the tribulation?
You got to settle it in your heart that you're gonna try to make it to the end
understand if it's the Lord's will and
You know a lot of times Christians can have this attitude regarding the tribulation or just like oh for sure. I'm gonna make it
I'm super hardcore. I
Heard my Bible. I know all kinds of doctrine
Like I'm a fundamental Baptist like
I'm wondering if everyone else is gonna make it. You know I'm worried about my church members
I'm worried about my pastor make it. I don't know about him. You know me for sure. I'm gonna make it okay
But really you know you really see what kind of what what quality of person you are
When the stuff hits the fan
When you actually find yourself in that situation
Understand because tribulation often brings out the best in you
But it could also bring out the worst in you, and I've all I've heard it illustrated this way. You know
The tea bag or the hot water only reveals the contents of the tea bag
Understand what I'm saying, so it's like Christians are that tea bag
And they have we don't know what's in it until what the hot water comes
So when the tribulation comes when you go through afflictions and trials all that does is reveal who you really are and
Let me say this if you can't handle tribulation today
You will not be able to handle the great tribulation if you give in to defile yourself with the Kings meet today
You're probably gonna give in to defile yourself with the anti-crisis meet tomorrow
All the difference is he's not gonna give you any meat
You know you're gonna want to get the mark of the beast because you're so starving and hungry
and you're just gonna be killed okay, and
So it's important for us to recognize the importance of pre determining that we're gonna obey the Word of God
No matter what location we're in hey if you're going to your job, and you know there's some sort of temptation available there
You know you need a purpose in your heart
You're not gonna defile yourself with that particular person with that coworker whatever it is that they invite you to do don't do it
And
You're like yeah, but I like to be social at my job and have friends at my job
You know I'm all for that if you're trying to win them to Christ, but you know in my opinion
It's not the best idea to have a bunch of unsaved friends
That's just the truth. Okay. It's not the best idea
Why well because of the fact that often they'll influence you away from the principles of God and
Look if you're trying to win them to Christ you want to hang out with them if you really like your friends
If you really enjoy their company if you really think they're great people why don't you invite them to church?
And then they could be our friends
But you know there's an issue when you like to have Christian friends and unsafe friends
You know kind of you kind of wonder
What is it that you guys to talk about?
Because you know as Christians we talk about Christian things our lives are centered around the things of Christ
Centered around the Bible centered around the service of God raising children having godly families
You know it's kind of centered around the activities of church and the Lord
And so what are you doing outside of that?
We like why have friends and we like to go party every once in a while
And you know have a diet coke or something like that is it really a diet coke though
You know or is it mixed in with something else?
You know is it do you keep your worldly friends around you just to kind of give you that little kick of worldliness that you?
Feel like you need every once in a while
Is that what it is because at the end of the day?
You know the attitude the Christian should have is that we want to win our friends to Christ
You got it
We want to get them saved we want to get them in church
And I'm not saying kick them to the curb if they want nothing to do with Christ, but actually no way yeah
I am saying that
And that's what you should do
You know I don't want to do it
I don't want nothing to do with people who don't want nothing to do with my God
If people are like mocking my God, and you know I respect you
I just don't respect the things that you believe what I believe is me, bro
You're talking about one in the same. That's who I am and
So I'm not interested in being around people who don't like the Lord. They don't like Church
They don't like the things of God. Why would I be friends with people like that my loyalty is to Christ and
So you need a purpose in your heart not to defy yourself have a predetermined plan
What you're gonna do before you go to work before you go to school
Before you go to a the secular job that you're at
Already have in mind. You know I'm a Christian. I'm a believer. I believe in the Bible
This is who I am and here's one of the best ways to avoid any type of temptation
with people okay
You just tell me you're Christian right off the bat
And if you really want to just like ward off
People
Just say I'm a fundamental Baptist Christian, and if you really just want them to just get cold vibes from you
Say you're a new IFP, and they're like what's that be like look it up
I'll send you a sermon
God bless you and just just kind of walk away all weird you know
You
Know any Jews that work here, it's like you know you get you know then you then you'll bunch of people get away from you
You know I'm not saying you have to be that weird
but you should have a plan though and
it's it's
Careless to think that you know what my job. Nothing's gonna happen around these people. Nothing's gonna happen you know
The Bible talks about that the devil
Walketh about seeking whom he made of our he's like a lion
And he's constantly looking for an opportunity to trip you up, and you know he often does it through people
Who hath bewitched you you should not obey the truth
He did run well who doth hinder you that you should not obey the truth the Bible says right there's someone who deceives you there's
Someone who tempts you there's someone who influences you in the wrong ways go back to Daniel chapter 1
So
Daniel succeeded in this area and you think about all of the teenagers or the young people that were taking captive out of the
Thousands of people that were taking captive
Daniel was the only one
Who actually says something about the filings up at the king's meet and it kind of it kind of made me wonder
What was Azariah, Meshal or Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego saying were they kind of going along with it?
Because it doesn't say that they were resisting the king's meet the spread the message that
The king of Babylon put before them, but you know it takes one man to stand up and actually lead the troops and say hey
We're not going to defile ourselves with the king's meet
We've already purposed in our heart and often when you have that one guy standing up doing that
Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego will often be like yeah, yeah, yeah for sure yeah
Yeah, we're not going to defile ourselves, and you often exhort people to become godly in that manner
And so I like how he just kind of spoke for all of them and
Just kind of forced the other guys to continue to obey the laws of God
So we see that he is a young man
Whose obedience was predetermined. He thought about it beforehand. He was not double-minded in all his ways
He was not unstable, but secondly we see that he was of greater quality than the rest
He was of greater quality look at verse 10 and the prince of the eunuch said unto Daniel
I fear my lord the king who hath appointed your meat and your drink for why should he see your face is worse
liking
Than the children which are of your sort then shall you make me endanger my head to the king
Then said Daniel to Melzar whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Nazariah
Prove thy servants I beseech thee ten days and let them give us pulse to eat and water to drink
then let our countenances be looked upon before thee and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat and
As thou seest deal with thy servants so he consented to them in this manner prove them ten days now
Let me just make a quick little note here regarding what's taking place because pulse is referring to like beans and lentils
Okay, and you're like wait a minute. I thought it's like good to eat meat
Isn't it better than eating beans and lentils? Yes?
Red meat especially amen
Red meat is extremely healthy for you. It's very good for you. He says so what's the deal here?
Well, what's taking place here is obviously a supernatural miracle
Because no vegan or vegetarian will be healthier than someone who consumes
Just meat okay
So it takes a miracle
to actually have the results of someone who eats meat
But is eating beans and all the lentils and all the others a vegan vegetarian diet or whatever okay?
Now who likes beans and lentils who likes that?
Very few okay
I'm not a big fan of it. You know I'm not a big fan of lentils
But you know you know I know some people like it, but you know he what he's doing here
He's proposing this first of all as a counter to the fact that he doesn't want to
Participate in the meats and drinks that are forbidden for him to eat because that's part of his religion
Okay, the pork and the shellfish you know the the the
the foods that are
Forbidden under that Old Testament Levitical law he doesn't want to disobey God in that area
He doesn't want to rebel against God even though he said he's in a different geographical location
He could easily make the excuse well. I'm in Babylon live as the Babylonians. I might as well. Just do it
No, he proposes to eat beans and lentils having faith that God
Even through the beans and lentils will make them healthier and look far more nourished and vibrant and lively
Than the guys who are eating the other stuff the good stuff okay, because I'm telling you it takes a miracle
Okay, you compare someone who's eating meat to a vegan or vegetarian the vegan or vegetarian?
Just looks like they're barely hanging on to life eyes are all sucked in their skin looks all weird
You know and the dudes yeah, you're like well. We lose so much weight though. Yeah, you're cuz you're wasting away
Your skin is just like hanging on your bones
And it's so funny when you see these guys on like on YouTube
Social media and they like to wear their tank tops and they're you know tight little shirts because they think they look good as
Vegans and vegetarians, but they look like trash
They look like
You know like vegans and vegetarians
They're turning into a stinkin spinach
Okay, whereas when you have a regular diet of meats and
Steaks and yes even pork and yes even poultry and
You know things of that nature. That's really good for you. You need that. That's what you need the protein you need the fats
It's good for your brain. It's good for your body
It's good for your muscles good for everything and so when you look at that you compare it to the story the conclusion is oh
God performed a miracle
Because it would take a miracle for vegan
Vegetarian to consume beans and lentils for their entire life and have the health of someone
Who eats meat there for their entire life understand?
So this is not something that I believe Daniel meat shacks Shadrach and Abednego are just continuously eating
Throughout their entire stay there. Okay, I
think this is something that he they did for about ten days and
Once it was proven
You know maybe they were given favor to eat their type of dietary meals that they could that they would have eaten in
Israel look at verse 15 at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh
than all the children which did eat the portions of the king's meat and by the way the reason I even bring that up is
because
There's like there's like Christians out there even Baptists who will promote this type of diet
And I forgot what they call it. I think they call it the Daniel's diet or something like that the Daniel's fast
Yeah, cuz that's what you're doing
Eating beans and lentils you might as well call it fasting
And they'll say they'll point to this and be like see that's why we shouldn't eat meat
Beans and lentils, and it's just like why don't we point to Jesus?
Who ate meat?
I know he ate me because he participated in the animal sacrifices
Which require the recipients to eat meat
And not only that God is just for the the eating of meats
Okay
And I don't believe God promotes a vegan or a vegetarian diet in the Bible the Bible says that he that eateth herbs is weak
And you know what there's no wrong interpretation of that
You can say he's weak as in emotionally check
weak physically check
weak spiritually double check
Okay, but that's that is what the Bible says now obviously
You know if people have that diet, and that's what they want to do
And they're not using the Bible to try to promote that then you know what that's their business. It's not the best
I don't believe but if that's what they want to do
They're not sinning where it becomes sinful is when they begin to teach that that's what the Bible says we should do okay
It's wrong
It's nonsensical, and it's very unhealthy and there's a lot of things that I can say about that
looking for 16 thus Melzar took away the portion of their me and the wine that they should drink and gave them pulse as
for these four children God gave them knowledge and skill and all learning and
Wisdom and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams
Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in
Then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar and the king communed with them and among them all was found
None like Daniel Hananiah
Mishael Azariah
Therefore stood they before the king I want you to don't miss this and in all matters and wisdom and
Understanding that the king inquired of them. He found them ten times better
Than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm notice that he says these guys are ten
Times better, what does that mean? They're of higher quality than whatever the Babylonians are producing through their means and
Obviously it was through divine intervention right because you can't get that way eating beans and lentils
But obviously God's hand was upon them. God was blessing them. God was
instilling that wisdom and understanding to make them different than everybody else and
The the principle that we can learn there is that as Christians we should be ten times better than everyone else
And look, I don't mean better as in we're like superior
First and foremost, we're better off
Than this world because we have the right salvation. We have the right gospel. We have the right Bible
But we're way better off and the Bible does say that the righteous is more excellent than his neighbor
Meaning that you as a member of this society should be superior in your conduct than those around you
Right, you should behave yourself as a Christian and one of the hardest things to do as a pastor
Sometimes it's to teach Christians listen to this on how to be a Christian
How to live like a Christian and act like a Christian how to live like you're going somewhere after you die
How to live like you have eternal life
you know because sometimes Christians they just
Because of the flesh and because they have that duality of the flesh and the spirit if they're not careful
They're feeding the flesh and they're starving the spirit and they become very worldly
carnal Christians with no purpose they get spoiled by the philosophies of this world and
They become unprofitable
They don't become ten times better they actually become sometimes in some cases listen to this ten times worse
And I've seen it happen. Okay, you know we as Christians should strive to be ten times better
To be more righteous
More excellent than our neighbors not to pontificate and to brag and to glory
But because we want to glorify God
I was just let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father
Which is in heaven it should be that when God says that we're that peculiar treasure
You know we actually display that the people would look at us and say man. That's what I want for my life right there
You know hey, they should look at our marriages and say you know what that's the kind of marriage. I want right there
That's the kind of family. I want to produce one day
Hey
They should look at our young single men and say see that's the kind of young single man that should be roaming around this earth
And will will improve society if we have more young men and more young ladies like that
They're ten times better than what the high school produces
Here your boss should look at you and be like this guy's ten times better worker than what I've been the rest of the guys
That I got
He's ten times better this student is ten times better this person is ten times better
We like this individual and you know what
That is God's purpose for our life is for us to be a light to this world and obviously
You can make the argument and say yeah, but we should just preach the gospel to them
That's the most important part and amen to that, but you know what not at the expense of being a good testimony, too
Though because God wants us to be a good testimony. He's constantly talking about our conversation. He's constantly talking about our conduct
He's talking to constantly talking about our countenances and how we live and how we work and how we conduct ourselves as Christians in this
World we should act like it amen and strive to match
That title of being a saint
Be a saint even when sometimes the the s dropped
Finally got it. Oh ain't okay
I got it
Why because Proverbs 25 26 says this a righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain and a corrupt spring
One of the thing that irks me as a Christian is when I see unsaved people behave better than Christians
How how
You have the Spirit of God living within you you have a church you have the Bible you have godly
Principles and yet there's individuals out there who are out doing you and they're gonna they're gonna split out wide open if they die today
How can this be it should be that as the as the righteous people of God?
We conduct ourselves in such a way and I'm not saying live a perfect life
But you know what the goal should be to be the best Christian that you can be okay and to have that type of
reputation
That your landlord or your neighbors or your boss and your co-workers
They don't point to you and say that guy says he's a Christian, but he's lazy as heck
you know and I remember when I used to work in the secular world I used to work at a telemarketing company and
I
Remember walking back to my desk from from lunch break
Is it cold in here is it really cold in here?
You can you can turn it back to
69
Put it to 69 cuz if not I'm gonna start it's gonna be like a
Aerobics up here. I'm gonna start sweating I
remember walking back to my desk and
You know I heard something about like fundamental Baptist
And I kind of turned and look and I'm like oh this guy's a fundamental and I and I had sounds like hey
Are you a Baptist? He's like oh, I'm sorry. I'm a I'm an independent fundamental Baptist
And I was like why are you apologizing? I was like I'm just here to ask you. He's like no no no
I'm a I'm a King James only fundamental Baptist
And I'm just like cool me too, and then he just kind of like ignored me
I don't know what he thought I was asking him
It's just a weird interaction in the beginning and so later on I saw him. I don't know a couple days later
We're like in the in the break room, and I said hey, so you're a fundamental Baptist. He's like yeah
I'm an independent fundamental King James only Baptist
And I said so am I I
Said I go to this church
You know I got saved
And it's just cool to see someone else is a fundamental Baptist and so he was cool with that
And I thought to myself man that that's great that there's like
Baptists that are working here because it was a really worldly environment filled with like a lot of young people
Just a lot of young people so it was just cool to have someone there who although a little weird
You know a little excessive. You know at least they're a fundamental Baptist
but this guy was a
terrible testimony at the job and
in fact
you know they it was like it was a calling center and
So part of my job
I was a supervisor there part of my job was that I had to listen into the calls of my particular
aisle to make sure that they were you know asking the right questions when they were making these specific calls and
If they went off script or they they lied or being deceptive that I had to write him up and things of that nature and
It turns out that this guy he ended up getting fired
prior like a couple days in
because of the fact that after he was done asking him this questionnaire he start preaching the gospel to them over the phone and
His supervisor came and said hey, you're not allowed to do that
Like this is work. I respect your religion or whatever, but you are not allowed to do that in fact. That's being recorded
So this is a warning don't do it again
so then the next day or whatever it happened again and
Then instead of like asking him the questionnaire
He's like talking about hell, and you know are they saved so the guy came up
And he said I told you already that you're not supposed to do that
You're at work if you want to do that on your own time. You're welcome to do that, but this is your work
So he wrote him up
So then finally you know he kept doing it again and again
He's like all right. You're done
So he sent them to our boss and the boss is like you're fired and the boss is a fag
So obviously he wasn't gonna take kindly to that
You know he doesn't like that so he's just like easy easy decision. You're fired
So he fires him and then he comes to me. He's like yeah, I'm being persecuted here. I'm like how what happened
He's like well cuz I was preaching the gospel over the phone this person. I was witnessing to them
I was like you can't do that
He's like why not I said cuz we're working
What are you talking about? I was like you're not being paid to like preach the gospel
He's like yeah, but you got your Bible in your cubicle
Yeah, but I'm not reading it while I'm working and I'm not opening up telling people like go to you know turn to the book
of John or something
That's just my stuff is there. I don't anytime I wouldn't say anybody at that job was either on break or after work
Why because I wanted to be a good testimony
And
You know he basically screwed it up for me because I'm thinking to myself once they find out that I'm a fundamental Baptist
They're gonna think that I'm like him
And
So I have to work extra hard to make sure that I wasn't being intrusive with people that when I'm there
I'm only working and not getting involved in any conversations unless people ask me
You know during break or after work, and you know what that's perfectly fine. That was my job, and you know what?
I learned I learned that when I had that testimony
And I worked hard and I met my quota, and I did what I was supposed to do
God gave me opportunities on the clock to witness to people not because I'm sneaking around
But because the bosses are calling me into their office to witness to them
How about that I?
Had my bosses say I want to see Bruce Mihir
And I'd go into their office, and they'll say you're Christian
I would say yes, and they said I want you to tell me how to go to heaven
And I'm like I'm on the clock. They're like. I know you're on the clock, and I want you to tell me
I'm like well. You're the boss
And I'd witness to my supervisors and my bosses all the time, and I didn't get written up
I didn't get fired and in fact when I stopped working for that company to go work for a church
They were sad to let me go you know why cuz I was a hard worker, and I had a good testimony when I went to work
It was loose dress
You could dress however you want not me. I was in a shirt and tie
On church days especially I had a suit
And my dorky little comb over and I come with my King James Bible
And you know put it on my desk why because I want people to know that I'm different
And it's not my dress that makes me different, but it's enough for them to question and say why do you dress like that?
Well, it's because I'm a Christian
And I can talk to you about that during our break if you like and I got to win a bunch of people to Christ
At my job because of it
So it's important for us to realize that hey your job is not your mission field on
when you're on the clock if you want to be someone like Daniel be ten times better and
Do your job excel at what you're doing be a good testimony have a good conversation. Don't be like that idiot
Who's giving Christianity a bad name because I guarantee you he just let the bad taste in people's mouth at that job
You
Know I guarantee you a lot of people at that job didn't like Christians to begin with because they're young and whatever and
That guy just give him even more of reason
Don't call
Persecution when you are not doing your job because you're doing you're you're reading your Bible or you're witnessing to people
Now if you're the boss you can do whatever you want
you know
Ulysses he works for me. I'm not gonna get mad at him if he's
Preaching the gospel or he if I walk out he's like reading his Bible. Hey, hey, hey, bro on the clock
What are you doing, you know put that away
Look, I'm not against what you believe, you know
I'm not against you being a Christian evangelist, but it's time to work buddy, you know
That's different obviously and if you're a boss of individuals you do whatever you want
I'm just saying that if you work for someone else you be a good testimony and be a ten times better employee. Okay?
be a ten times better student in your teachers class and
You know, maybe there might be a cap of intelligence that you have and you struggle sometimes academically
But you know what teachers know when you're doing your best when you're putting in the work when you're putting in extra hours
They know when you're trying your best. That's what God will cries of you. Okay, and
So be a righteous individual who's more excellent than his neighbor not arrogant not prideful
But humble and meek knowing full well that if you fulfill these responsibilities, you know
The world will look at you and say see that's the kind of person that I want and I truly believe
That at that job my supervisor saw me and that's why they called me into the office
because you know even the
The manager that called me into their office to witness to them
they had
Run-ins with other Christians who were not Baptist at that at that job and they're about testimony too
I mean, they're really worldly people. They're Pentecostal. So, you know
You know, they're involved in all kinds of weird stuff
So I had to be careful to make sure that like I was above approach as much as I possibly could not that I didn't
Make I didn't know I made mistakes
I wasn't perfect
But I tried my best to have the best conduct and conversation
So that it would give me an opportunity to glorify God at that job and win people to Christ, okay
Go to Daniel chapter 2 Daniel chapter 2 and
so we see with Daniel is that
He's a great man because of the fact that he has the maturity to purpose in his heart not to defile himself with the king's
Meet he already predetermined while probably while he was in Israel that when he got taken captive
He wasn't gonna participate in that and and defile his communion with the Lord. He already predetermined
I'm not gonna participate in that and God bless them for it
But secondly, he was also someone who's ten times better not just not in comparison to the Chaldeans, but just to the Israelites
Who are there?
Because if you think about it, it's easy to compare himself to the Chaldeans
But what about to those who claim to be Christians, but they're participating in the worldly activities
They're drinking. They're fornicating. They're doing all those things that are not pleasing unto the Lord
You know, we got to stand out from them as well and especially the day and age in which we live
You know as fundamental Baptist we have the responsibility in America to stand out from Christianity in America as well
Because a lot of Christianity in America is stupid. I
Mean they're doing the Christian nightclub
Nonsense
That corny nonsense that they got going on in LA or God call God told me to start a nightclub
And it's just like you guys look like a bunch of idiots like dancing in there. Looks it looks cheesy. Looks corny
You know, it's like yeah, but we want to worship the Lord do it at church
why do you have to do it in a building where the lights are all off and
Everyone's dancing and throwing their hands. It's carnal. It's worldly
And why you got to call a nightclub?
You know, we don't call this a nightclub by the way, this is a legitimate nightclub right here
Because we're having church on Sunday night. Amen
But we just rather call it church because nightclub has a connotation of wickedness
While we're trying to reach the world you're not reaching the world you are the world
Because most of those people aren't even saved
They're telling you God told me this it's just like audibly then
You know what? You're probably like possessed
You should go get checked in somewhere someone, you know, what did that what else did that voice tell you?
Anyways
Not only that but we see the virtue of I got to be careful because I've been preaching over an hour and 15 minutes every
service
Hour and 15. Okay. Hey you guys cool with it. I'm
Hour and 20 it is
Now yeah, but we see that he was an interpreter of dreams and that he dissolved outs so, you know why Daniel stood out
It's because of the fact that when Nebuchadnezzar had this dream and it was a prophetic dream
About the end of the world. He didn't know what to do. You know, he didn't know it troubled him
It's like the it's like the story with Joseph and Pharaoh, right?
He had this dream and it was troubling him
So he calls all of these wise men all of these, you know sorcerers and astrologers
To come and interpret the dream and the astrologers are like well tell us the dream and he's just like I don't know
You got to tell it to me. I forgot it
He's like he's like I don't remember the dream, but you got to interpret it and they're just like well
Give us throw a dog a bone. You know, can you tell us like a little bit of the dream?
He's just like how about you don't interpret it. I'll just make your house a dunghill
Well that motivate is that good incentive for you?
Mean Nebuchadnezzar is rough
Now I personally believe that later on Nebuchadnezzar actually gets saved
Can't prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt, but I do believe that because he's giving glory to God later on
but in in this, you know BC before Christ
Meaning that before he was saved, you know, he was rough and he's telling them like I want you guys to interpret this
So it got to a point where none of them could do it
And he's like, okay. I'm just gonna kill you all then
So, you know, hey if you've ever been laid off or fired
Compare yourself to these guys. Okay, they were literally fired probably like thrown into the fire
Because it's not like oh you guys didn't meet your quota of interpreting dreams
Therefore you need to go work for another nation. No, it's just like you're all gonna die
How about that, you know?
So this creed this decree gets gets
Publicized and Daniel hears about it. Okay, I'm gonna dance to look at verse 14
Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the Kings guard
Which has gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon
He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain. Why is the decree so hasty from the king?
Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel then Daniel went in and
Desired of the king that he would give him time and that he would show the king the interpretation
Then Daniel went to his house and made the thing known to Hananiah
Michel Azariah his companions that they would desire mercies of the of the God of heaven
concerning the secret that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon, so
He gets this news. And what does he do? Does he panic?
Does he go in a frenzy
No, he goes to his friends and then says let's pray unto the Lord first
He goes to the king and he makes that appeal to him
But then he goes to his friends is like let's have the king the Lord make it known unto us
So they can make that interpretation so he seeks after the face of God
Okay
Verse 19 then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision then Daniel blessed the God of heaven
Daniel answered and said blessed be the name of God forever and ever for wisdom and might are his and he changed at the time
In the seasons he removed kings instead of kings
He giveth wisdom unto the wise and knowledge to them that no understanding he revealed it the deep and secret things
He knoweth what is in the darkness and the light dwelleth with him. So what do we see here?
We see that he was able to make an interpretation that the other wise men and astrologers in the land could not
Okay. Now how do we apply this?
Well, the way we apply this today is this is that you know, the world should be looking to us for the answers
Right, we should be able to
Look at the current events and be able to make a biblical interpretation of what's taking place
right, we should be as the the sons of Issachar who have
Understanding of the times in other words
We have such a good level of understanding of biblical principles and of the Bible
That we filter everything that happens in this world through the lens of Scripture
Not through our the lens of our heart our understanding our philosophy
not through the lens of our political party or
through the lens of what Alex Jones says or your favorite little podcast of
Whatever dude who believes in aliens
You know not through the lens of MGTOW
Not through the lens of these phony wise men and astrologers of this world
Because their house is gonna be made of dunghill
So, you know the world should be looking to us because we actually have the answers right here
But you know what it requires for you to make that interpretation and dissolve those doubts though
To know what the Bible says, you know when times get tough
Your family's gonna look to you as being the one who has the answer and it's not like I don't know. I
Think Biden's gonna win
Hopefully
Trump wins, you know, I don't know. I just hope that Trump wins made those words never come out of your mouth
You know when people come to you wondering what are we gonna do what's gonna happen you say you know
What God is on the throne and at the end of the day as Christians?
Our faith is in the Lord our faith faith is in the Bible
We should never put our faith in the arm of the flesh
And be not afraid of sudden fear neither of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh the Bible says
The Bible says that we should seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and these things shall be added unto us
We're not affected by those things. That's what you should tell
It doesn't really matter who's in office because we're not affected by those things
You know and tell me I don't know about you, but I'm in Goshen and no matter what geographical location
I'm in no matter what person is placed in the presidency no matter what leader corrupt leader takes office
It doesn't affect me at all because I'm serving God
Or you can give the other lame answer well, I'm voting Trump. I don't know about you
Okay, I'm gonna vote for Trump, and I'm just hoping bless God that you know
Savior of this nation Trump just takes us all out
You're not gonna hear that from my lips now if Trump makes presidency, then it's just gonna be an exciting four years
It's gonna be fun
You know, but if not then so be it. I'm not really affected by it
Hey, we survived these four years of Biden's you know
Office
It was crazy four years. I mean a lot happened in those four years. We got bombed in those four years
You know but at the end of the day
It doesn't you know whoever's in office doesn't really affect us, and we need to have that answer ready
Not your podcast rhetoric
Do you like listening to for hours on end instead of Alexander Scorby?
You know talk you're reading the Bible not your favorite
Libertarian or whatever you know you should be listening to the words of God to bring stability to your way of thinking
Okay, so you're not constantly afraid and scared and anxious and wondering
What's gonna happen
You know what be not afraid
Be careful for nothing
But in all things just like Daniel by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known unto God and the peace of God
That passeth understanding shall keep your hearts and minds the Bible says
You know Daniel was not like
Let's just make something up
Here he's like why is this why is this so hasty he and he went to the king he's like hey
Give me just a couple days to figure this out
I'll have the answer for you, and he went to his friends. He's like let's pray into the God of heaven
You know and you know what if he hears if we pray according to his will we know that he hear us
And if he hear us we know that we have the petition for which we asked
So what happened he gave him the interpretation and now we have this awesome book called the book of Daniel
That we used to interpret and times
Because Daniel was not afraid to ask
Understand and so we as Christians should be able to dissolve doubts don't feed into the fear mongering
That's gonna take place this this coming year
Don't be a part of that don't don't perpetuate the fear either
Okay, you know it's like well. It's just important to know these things. No. It's important to know the Bible
Okay, and I'd rather be a you know simple concerning evil and be wise concerning the Word of God
Because you know what at the end of the day, I can't change all the wickedness is gonna take place. It's gonna happen
it's gonna happen and
So it's important for us to be like Daniel in the sense that we make the interpretations
And we dissolve doubts we instill courage
We don't instill fear we instill confidence in our fellow man
And we use these trials and difficulties to push them to the Lord
You know if you have some unsaved friends freaking out about all that stuff you're like you know what that's why it's important that you get saved
Because at the end of the day you know that that's the most important thing is the fact that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt
You're a hundred percent sure that you're gonna go to heaven when you die
Because you know what if you're freaking out like they are why would they even go to you for answers?
You as you're as scared as they are
You're just like as as as weak and scared as they are
But if when you have like the calmness and peace of God the past with understanding
That's gonna catch their eyes, and they're gonna be like man
I want that because I'm scared right now, so it's important for us to be able to dissolve doubts and
Make those interpretations
Go to Daniel 6, and I'm done because I think I passed my time already
I'm a breeze over this point not only that but you know Daniel someone who pronounced judgment in spite of
the opposition because you have Belshazzar who sees the writing of the wall and
He called they call in
Daniel to make the interpretation of that vision and Daniel had no quarrels to let Belshazzar know you're gonna die
So let me read you what the writing of the wall is and it basically says you're dying tonight
You know so he wasn't careful about that he pronounced judgment because he's no respecter of people
He obviously fears God
He fears the Lord he does not fear a physical King and he was not afraid to pronounce judgment
And he's not some false prophet
Who's just trying to flatter his congregation in the masses to just tell him what they want to hear?
He's gonna tell him what they need to know
So he told Belshazzar that you know Belshazzar did he's like reward this guy
He ended up giving all kinds of rewards and promoting him and then he dies
You know
But it goes to show you that at the end of the day listen to this the heart of the king is in the hand
Of the Lord and as rivers of water he turneth it whithersoever he will
So the Bible says so doesn't matter who the authority is if you fear God
He can turn that heart of that King no matter how godless they are to favor you
When a man's ways please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with them
That's what the Bible says
All right, lastly is this is that he obeyed God rather than man rather than man and
Obviously we can't go through the entire story
But you know Daniel has a lot of haters
Envious of him they hate him. They don't like him and it's because he's a godly person
So they're trying to find fault with him
But when they when they investigate his life, they can't find anything the guy's just like up. He's just clean as a whistle
He had he has a really good reputation. He's not involved in any criminal activity. He's not involved in any
Blatant crimes or anything like that. So they had to find occasion against him concerning the laws of God
So they have to create a law that goes against the laws of God because they know Daniel has
Integrity with the Bible and will fulfill the law of God even though the law says you shouldn't do that
So what do they decree they decree that you can't pray to any foreign guy
Okay, now look at verse 10. I
Like this cuz you know Daniel doesn't seem as like the feisty type
You know, I mean like Jihoo
Feisty, you know
You know, there's certain people in the Bible. It's just like I like I like how this guy rolls
Okay, Daniel doesn't really come off like that
He's very humble very meek
But look what it says now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed
He went into his house and his windows being opened in his chamber toward Jerusalem
He kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God as
He did a four time. He's like, oh I can't pray watch me and in fact
Open the windows and he might have prayed with a little more volume this time
Why because he's letting it known
we ought to obey God rather than man and
So, you know, we're not in a situation where that's gonna happen per se in the near future obviously things can change
Where where if this country ever says so wanting is illegal?
Watch me
You know, and I personally don't think that that'll be a case ever in the United States I
Don't even think like during the tribulation that's gonna happen
Because in my opinion
That's like a way for them to find out if you're a Christian if this is your soul, right?
So it's like, you know, I think people are will will I think us as Christians?
There's just not gonna be a whole lot of soul winners during that time
Because they know that that'll cost people to be discovered and they're afraid of that
But here's the thing is that maybe they'll tell us Oh shut down your church because the new kovat is out
We're not closing
You know, I didn't you close we've never closed
We've literally never closed who cares what Michael Johnson said
Michael Johnson was like, oh, you know, he he's a FEMA pastor
hold on a second because we minimize the service to like 15 people which it was more than 15 and we had more people in
Our church during that time that that guy has before kovat
How is that possible
So according to those numbers that guy's always on lock down that guy just remains on perpetual lockdown
And that lasted for like a week because like a week later, it was just like everyone just come back
That was it
But you know what if the government comes and says you're no longer allowed to meet
You know, we'll just take advice from our from from the Jews and just start digging tunnels. How about that?
No
Because we don't do things
Underground in darkness where people can't see you doing it where it looks all suspicious and nefarious
You're just gonna see this church filled with people who are going to church
and
So it's important for us to recognize that yeah, of course, we respect the government. Of course, we don't want to just blatantly
Disobey the principalities and those who are placed in positions of authority of this world
But you know when it comes to the laws of God, we're not backing down on that
We're always gonna obey the laws of God because at the end of the day he is the ultimate authority
He's the ultimate power of Romans 13
Okay, and so Daniel, you know, he suffered the consequences of that because they threw him into the lion's den
and
You know, who knows what other people would have done?
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, I don't know but you know what they responded well in Daniel chapter 3
So who knows, you know if someone else would have been tossed into the lion's den or
Threatened with the lion's den. They're like, you know what? I get what you mean by that law
Maybe maybe I could I'll just wait a little bit, you know
Before that, maybe I'll make it appeal to that law. Maybe maybe I'll just do like a little simple
Protest a little peaceful protesting, you know to see if you can if we can get that appealed or something
Daniel was just like throw me in because at the end of the day
He knew that God was gonna shut the mouths of the lions and you know what?
It's possible that Daniel just thought he was just gonna die and he probably thought to himself
This is a good way to go
Eaten by lions. So be it
but you know what God shut the mouth of the lions and
His enemies ended up getting tossed in afterwards and so they received to do justice for their
Persecution of Daniel. So what's the sermon? The sermon is simply this I covered a lot tonight
Sermon is simply this is that you know dare to be a Daniel right as the song goes dare to be a Daniel
You know Daniel was confronted with a lot of difficult circumstances, but he passed with flying colors
Every single time and it just amazes me that he was a young man
Who had these made these decisions and for thousands of years adults who probably were a lot older than him are learning from him
Learning from his conduct learning from his conversation that he was definitely a great man of God who?
You know though in a foreign land though away from his nation of worship still behaved
like
Quote-unquote a Christian a believer because it doesn't matter what geographical location you're in
We're gonna be believers and act like believers in all places at all times. Amen. Let's pray father
We thank you so much for your word
Thank you for Daniel and his example that he's given to us Lord in the Bible
And we know that he's a man of like passions. I pray that we look to him as an example
And Lord, may we learn from these principles tonight?
That when we're faced with these situations that we would have a similar response and Lord help us, of course the purpose in our hearts
Because of the fact that we are in Babylon right now the world can be considered somewhat of a Babylon
That we would not defile ourselves what the Kings mean that we would
continue to obey the laws of God and
Win Babylonians and win those who are in this world
But that we would do it not outside of the parameters of the laws of Christ and so bless us as we go on our way
Lord, thank you so much for all that you do in Jesus name we pray. Amen
You