WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:03.520 Um, if you are new though, I want to catch you up on what we've been doing all year long. 00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:07.200 We've been doing something really cool this year called the whole story. 00:00:07.360 --> 00:00:11.599 We've been going through the entire story of the Bible uh from start to finish. 00:00:11.679 --> 00:00:14.480 We've broken it up into 14 different series. 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:16.160 As you can see, we've been making our way through it. 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:25.440 I love that where we're at today, I'll talk about that in a second, but uh our next series after the one we're starting today is called The New Human, and that's when Jesus first steps onto the scene. 00:00:25.519 --> 00:00:26.879 So we're almost to Jesus. 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:28.000 Like, how awesome is that? 00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:30.640 We've we've made it all the way to Jesus. 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:35.759 And uh, if you're a Jesus follower, I'll be honest, I expected more applause for Jesus, but it's okay. 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:39.359 Um I don't know if that's a there we go. 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:41.439 Jesus got some loss. 00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:46.399 I think Jesus deserves that. 00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:46.960 That's awesome. 00:00:47.119 --> 00:00:48.719 So I'm excited about that. 00:00:48.880 --> 00:00:58.960 That means that today it's our final series as we're making our way through what is typically called the Old Testament, and that series is called Shattered and Scattered. 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:00.479 Shattered and Scattered. 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:05.200 Now, we know that that sounds a lot like hash brown options at Waffle House. 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:06.879 That's why we just leaned into that. 00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:10.640 And if you came early today, we had a Waffle House hash brown bar. 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:13.040 That was a lot of fun, and so that's why we had that. 00:01:13.120 --> 00:01:13.840 We said, you know what? 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:17.120 Sounds like Waffle House, let's just go all the way. 00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:24.239 Um, and by the way, I saw a few people having bowls in their hands and then like not knowing if you could walk in here with a bowl of hash browns or not. 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:25.280 You absolutely can. 00:01:25.359 --> 00:01:28.079 And if you're like, well, I didn't know that, maybe there's still some out there. 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:31.120 It won't offend me if you go to just get more and come back. 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:32.879 I'm not gonna be upset about that at all. 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:39.840 Um, this is a really interesting series that we're gonna be in for the next few weeks. 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:42.640 And even if you're new and you haven't been here for all of it, don't worry. 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:46.959 Uh every single Sunday stands on its own, every series definitely stands on its own. 00:01:47.120 --> 00:01:51.200 But we get to this really pivotal moment in the story of Scripture today. 00:01:51.359 --> 00:02:03.599 And it's a moment when everything seems like it falls apart, when everything breaks so completely that it seems virtually impossible for it ever to be put back together. 00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:08.159 And I'm sure that's a feeling that many of us are familiar with. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:13.759 I got to experience a very light-hearted version of that feeling just a few months ago. 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:16.000 I've got four kids, I talk about them all the time. 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:17.759 They give me so much material. 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:18.639 It's great. 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:21.680 Um, and and they give me permission to share it, by the way. 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:22.879 We have a whole system worked out. 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:26.240 The older they get, I actually pay them for the right to use stories. 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:30.159 Um, it's a thing, you know, that it's great, it's great. 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:40.159 My two youngest boys, my two youngest children, Judah and Eli, they're two years apart, they share everything, they share a room, uh, they're best friends, they're also bitter enemies. 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:42.639 It just changes like every five minutes, they go back and forth. 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:43.599 They're amazing. 00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:56.479 And about six months ago, they started playing this video game together, like constantly, more than than they probably ought to, but I was so enjoying watching them do something together as a team that I was just like, this is good, this is good, let's lean into this. 00:02:56.560 --> 00:02:59.599 And it's a game that they played called Wobbly Life. 00:02:59.840 --> 00:03:00.719 Wobbly life. 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:02.879 And it's just a really silly game. 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:05.439 Um, in fact, I think we have some footage that we'll we'll put up. 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:24.879 Um, but it's just this silly game where you play as these little wobbly characters and you just do like part-time jobs, like you deliver pizza, you work a farm, and then you get money in the game, not real money, and you use that money to buy houses, to buy like boats and cars, to buy clothing. 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:30.960 And so basically, they spent several months practicing having part-time jobs. 00:03:31.199 --> 00:03:33.439 And I'm okay with that as a father. 00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:39.520 Um, but one day, one day when my son Judah was at school, Eli's a little younger, he wasn't in school yet at the time. 00:03:39.759 --> 00:03:43.280 I'm I'm at home working and I hear this like this scream. 00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:59.360 And it just sounds like disaster has struck, there's a crisis, and I go upstairs and there's Eli, and he's laying on the floor, and and the screen is on, it's on the title screen for Wobbly Life, and he's just laying down, yelling, it's all gone. 00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:03.759 He's just on the floor going, it's gone, it's all gone, I've lost it all. 00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:07.439 He was like a stockbroker in 1929, you know what I mean? 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:11.599 Like, like I'm and I'm trying to figure out what happened, and so I, you know, he's hysterical. 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:12.879 I mean, he's like, he's hysterical. 00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:15.439 So I'm like, like, Eli, come on, dude, what happened? 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:16.879 He's like, I lost it all. 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:17.600 It's gone. 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:20.959 And he doesn't, he's yet to figure out how to say the word deleted. 00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:26.879 He thinks it starts with a B, so he just looked at me with these huge tears in his eyes, and he screams, I believed it. 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:33.920 And I put two and two together, like, oh, he he thinks he did something where he somehow like erased all their stuff. 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:41.439 Because you have to understand that after months of playing this game, my sons, I'm just bragging on my boys, my sons had become wobbly life moguls. 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:46.720 The amount of real estate that they own, I mean, we're talking tycoon level, right? 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:50.959 They own all the houses, they own factories, they have more cars than you can imagine. 00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:52.639 The clothing, it's just off the wall. 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:55.519 Like they own, they own the world in wobbly life. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:58.800 And he thinks that he, you know, beleted all of it. 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:00.879 And here's what I said. 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:03.600 I was like, son, I'm sure you didn't delete it. 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:06.399 I'm sure it's just that I'm sure we can get it all back. 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:10.720 You think you've hit like surely they wouldn't make it easy to delete everything, right? 00:05:10.879 --> 00:05:11.279 No way. 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:12.319 So I reassured him. 00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:15.120 I'm sure give daddy the controller, I'll figure this out. 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:21.360 He got his hopes up, he calmed down, but I was wrong. 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:25.279 He had, in fact, deleted everything. 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:31.519 It was all gone, and so when I confirmed that, yes, son, it's I don't know how to tell you this. 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:33.519 You've lost it all. 00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:44.480 You know, the hysterics turned back on, and it was hard because I had this moment, it's like this dynamic you have as a parent of small children where I know that this is no big deal, this is nothing, this is a video game, this doesn't matter. 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:50.560 But from his, you know, five-year-old perspective, four or five-year-old perspective, this is the this is the most he's ever lost in life. 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:56.000 He feels like he worked hard, he earned all this stuff, he did the jobs, and now he has nothing to show for it. 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:57.759 And I can I can appreciate that. 00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:06.560 So I sort of met him where he was at for a few minutes, and I'm I'm honestly grateful as a dad when there are low stakes opportunities to learn life lessons. 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:08.959 But I got him out of it. 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:14.160 And then he had this moment of panic where he said, Judah is gonna kill me. 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:20.959 And I told him, No, bud, your brother loves you so much, he's gonna be fine. 00:06:22.240 --> 00:06:25.680 But I was wrong. 00:06:25.839 --> 00:06:27.279 No, no, actually, Judah. 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:30.399 It was kind of funny, like it was sort of surreal. 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:32.800 I picked him up from the bus and I said, Judah, we gotta talk, man. 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:39.199 Before we get home, I just need you to prepare yourself for what I'm about to tell you and trust dad when he says it's gonna be okay. 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:39.600 Right? 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:41.360 And I had to give him the whole news. 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:45.920 You know, they had this feeling, these young boys, this feeling like we've lost everything. 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:47.360 It's all gone. 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:50.160 And that's a light-hearted, silly example. 00:06:50.319 --> 00:07:08.959 And I use that on purpose because I know that in each of our lives we have not so lighthearted, not so silly examples of where we feel like things have been broken beyond repair, we've lost everything that maybe matters to us, or something so precious, or maybe someone so precious, that it just makes us question everything. 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:12.800 It makes us wonder if life could ever be the same again. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:21.519 And that's the that's the pervasive feeling operating in the lives of the people that we're gonna study for the next few weeks. 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:26.879 You see, up to this point, we've been following for the most part the story of the nation of Israel. 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:33.839 The Old Testament tells us the story of this group of people that God literally picks, and he picks them out of obscurity. 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:37.920 It starts with a man named Abraham who's just a childless shepherd. 00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:49.920 And he calls them and tells them, makes them promises that they're gonna become a great nation, that they're gonna have all this land, that they're gonna be a mighty people, and against all odds, that happens. 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:52.720 And it's not by their own strength, not even close. 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:55.439 They don't have enough strength, they don't have enough might to do it themselves. 00:07:55.519 --> 00:08:00.959 They're surrounded by much more powerful nations in the traditional sense, but they have the favor of God. 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:08.800 And time and time again, God does miraculous things to rescue them, to establish them, and to protect them. 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:12.800 But if you've been here for the last few series, things haven't been going so well. 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:15.360 Things haven't been going so well. 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:19.920 They have been drifting further and further from God. 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:26.959 They've been ignoring God, they've been following false gods left and right. 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:35.519 They've tolerated so much idolatry, so much immorality, so much injustice, and God has warned them. 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:40.639 In fact, last week we talked about the prophets, these people that God sent to them to say, hey, you gotta stop. 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:45.440 Like I love you, but I cannot let things get this bad and stay this bad. 00:08:45.679 --> 00:08:50.960 And so they've they've been warned and they've ignored those warnings. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:55.600 In fact, they've even killed many of the prophets that God sent to warn them. 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:58.639 And now the day of reckoning has come. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:17.200 It starts with the northern kingdom of Israel, they're conquered by the Assyrians, and then a short time after, at least in the scope of history, the the southern kingdom of Judah, where the capital of Jerusalem is, where their temple is, they are completely overrun, destroyed, and defeated by the Babylonians. 00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:27.120 We get there in the book of Daniel, Daniel chapter 1, verses 1 and 2 says, During the third year of King Jehoiakim's reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:33.360 The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the temple of God. 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:39.039 So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure house of his God. 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:40.879 And that's it. 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:43.679 It's the end of an era. 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:46.000 It's the end of an era. 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:52.960 There's no more Israel as a nation, there's no more Judah, there's no more Jerusalem, there's no more temple, it's it's gone. 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:56.240 Forget about your favorite political candidate losing an election. 00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:58.879 This is like you don't have a nation anymore. 00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:12.480 And so much of their identity has always been wrapped up in the fact that they're this people that God has picked and set apart, and they've grown into this mighty nation, and now all of that is it's all gone. 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:14.240 But they've lost it all. 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:19.919 And this time, David does not defeat Goliath. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:26.799 Their nation is completely shattered, and their people are scattered. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:30.000 Everything changes. 00:10:31.360 --> 00:11:03.120 And it's hopeless and it's dark, and yet, it's amazing how often this is the turn in scripture, and yet we have these stories of these men and women who find themselves living in the aftermath of the disaster and in unbelievably difficult circumstances find a way to navigate life so perfectly that we actually have some of the most inspirational and aspirational stories that we have in the entirety of Scripture in the aftermath of this devastation. 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:08.720 In this shattered and scattered world, we get people like Daniel, who we're going to look at today, along with a few of his friends. 00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:11.679 We get people like Nehemiah. 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:13.919 We get people like Queen Esther. 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:20.399 And they live these unbelievable lives in very difficult situations, situations that are so hard they have to thread the needle. 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:22.879 There's not a lot of wiggle room, there's no margin for error. 00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:27.440 They have to operate so perfectly in order to succeed, and they do. 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:30.159 Because God is with them. 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:34.480 And see if this sounds familiar, see if this tracks for a second. 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:38.159 These are people who find themselves living in a broken culture. 00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:48.720 And it's a culture that does not share their values, it's a culture that does not see things the way that they see things. 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:55.039 It's a culture that does not encourage them in any way, any serious way, to follow God. 00:11:56.320 --> 00:12:03.039 In fact, it's a culture that very often pushes them and gives them every incentive not to follow God. 00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:11.840 It's a culture that makes it very difficult for them to live by their values and beliefs without facing hostility. 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:22.879 It's a culture that operates in such a way that if they're going to live well and live for the Lord, they're going to have to go against the grain over and over again. 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:27.039 Does that sound familiar or relatable? 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:32.559 It's amazing how often the stories of Scripture translate directly to our lives. 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:36.480 And I'm not saying that the world we live in is as bad as Babylon. 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:41.759 But someone just went, uh, I don't know. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:42.480 I don't know. 00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:43.840 I've never been to Babylon, so I don't know. 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:44.960 Maybe I can't say that for real. 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:51.440 I'm not saying it's as dire of a situation as it was back then, but I am saying that we can relate to this. 00:12:52.159 --> 00:13:00.799 That these people provide for us a blueprint of how to live well and how to live for the Lord in a culture that isn't helping you do that at all. 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:02.639 There's a lot to learn. 00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:07.200 And we're gonna start with a man named Daniel and three of his friends. 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:08.480 Here's what we're gonna do. 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:14.960 We're gonna go through three stories from the book of Daniel, and we're just gonna go through them one after another, all in one chunk. 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:17.600 And then we're gonna we're gonna ask ourselves, what's the takeaway? 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:29.440 What's the one thing that these people show to us that gives us the ability to emulate them, to learn from them, to learn from the Lord, and say, this is how I'm gonna live my life in light of what I've learned. 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:33.840 And so I'm gonna start with Daniel chapter one. 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:36.399 Daniel chapter one. 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:48.159 It says, Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah's royal family and other noble families who have been brought to Babylon as captives. 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:51.679 Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men, he said. 00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:58.480 Make sure they're well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:01.279 Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon. 00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:05.039 The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:09.120 They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service. 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:15.600 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:18.559 The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names. 00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:25.600 Daniel was called Belteshazzar, Hananiah was called Shadrach, Meshael was called Meshach, and Azariah was called Abednego. 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:32.320 But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:38.480 They had these strict laws in their old country about what was right to eat and what was not right to eat. 00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:40.080 And Daniel says, I'm not doing it. 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:45.279 He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:53.200 Now, God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel, but he responded, I'm afraid of my Lord the King, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. 00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:59.360 If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I'm afraid the king will have me beheaded. 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:05.840 Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Ananiah, Meshael, and Azariah. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:11.519 Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water, Daniel said. 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:15.840 And at the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who were eating the king's food. 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:18.480 Then make your decision in light of what you see. 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:22.879 The attendant agreed to Daniel's suggestion and tested them for ten days. 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:29.440 And at the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:34.000 So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others. 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:40.399 God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:45.279 And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret meanings of visions and dreams. 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:50.639 And when the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar. 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:57.200 The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Meshael, and Azariah. 00:15:57.600 --> 00:15:59.039 So they entered the royal service. 00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:10.000 Whenever the king consulted them in any matter, any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians or enchanters in his entire kingdom. 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:14.559 So these guys stand out. 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:17.360 They make a name for themselves. 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:22.159 And they're now established as trusted advisors in the kingdom of Babylon. 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:26.720 And if you turn the chapter to chapter two, Nebuchadnezzar has this dream. 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:32.000 And it's a really freaky dream involving a gold statue with other metals that are part of the statue. 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:34.080 And Nebuchadnezzar doesn't know what to do. 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:42.639 The dream really bothers him, so he basically orders his men to tell him what the dream means or else, and the only one who has the ability to do it is Daniel. 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:46.159 Because God's given him this ability to interpret dreams. 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:57.440 And so God tells Nebuchadnezzar, or God tells Daniel, the interpretation of the dream, Daniel tells it to Nebuchadnezzar, and Nebuchadnezzar's like, man, you're amazing, you're incredible, and your God must be amazing. 00:16:57.600 --> 00:17:00.639 Now Daniel's even able to share his God with the king. 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:08.079 But if you turn the chapter to chapter three, uh somehow the takeaway that Nebuchadnezzar has from this whole thing is like way off. 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:17.920 Because he decides that the logical thing to do after having a dream where he's a statue made of gold is to actually make a giant statue made of gold of himself and make everyone worship it. 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:19.519 Like he does that. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:28.160 Just imagine living in a culture where the person in leadership is like, hey, uh you have to worship me. 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:35.119 He builds this giant gold statue, and at a certain time every day, everyone has to bow down and worship the statue. 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:42.960 And you know, if if these guys weren't comfortable eating meat and wine, you gotta know where they're headed with this decision. 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:50.720 And so we get there in Daniel chapter 3, it says that some of the astrologers went to the king and informed on the Jews. 00:17:50.960 --> 00:18:02.000 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, Long live the king, you issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down and worship the gold statue that when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments. 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:05.359 I don't know why they say other, it's like, I don't know if they're naming all the instruments. 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:07.839 It feels like a pretty complete list, but whatever. 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:14.000 It says that decree also states that those who refuse to obey must be thrown into a blazing furnace. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:20.400 But there are some Jews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, whom you've put in charge of the province of Babylon. 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:22.240 They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:26.640 They refuse to serve your gods, and they do not worship the gold statue that you have set up. 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:32.799 Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:40.720 When they were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar said to them, Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:46.720 I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. 00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:52.400 But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:56.240 And what God will be able to rescue you from my power? 00:18:56.480 --> 00:19:01.920 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:06.160 If we're thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:09.440 He will rescue us from your power, your majesty. 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:18.079 But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, your majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue that you have set up. 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:20.240 I love that. 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:21.920 Like these guys are bold. 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:23.440 These guys are bold. 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:25.519 And so, this is what happens. 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:28.079 Nebuchadnezzar throws him into the fire. 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:29.680 Like he's a man of his word. 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:34.079 He backs up what he says, he throws them into the fire, but miraculously, they don't die. 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:43.759 In fact, it's amazing because Nebuchadnezzar freaks out for a minute and he says, like, I thought we threw three guys into the fire, and the people with him are like, We did. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:45.599 And he's like, Well, I see four. 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:47.599 And one of them looks a little different. 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:50.960 One of them looks, he says, like the son of God. 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:56.000 And then he brings them all out and he apologizes and he worships their God. 00:19:56.880 --> 00:20:05.119 And many scholars will say that this is one of many examples of Jesus before he comes to earth as one of us. 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:09.039 Of Jesus, the Son of God, appearing on the earth. 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:17.359 We have to remember, I know we're getting to the Jesus story in a few weeks, but Jesus became a person, but Jesus is not just a human being. 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:19.920 He's existed since the very beginning. 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:27.519 And so they have this amazing experience, they're rescued, they stick to their guns, and they're saved. 00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:36.160 And as time goes on, uh Nebuchadnezzar loses his mind, like literally loses his mind, goes crazy, loses his entire kingdom. 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:39.119 Babylon is a very short-lived empire. 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:42.960 And they're taken over by the Medes, and then eventually the Persians. 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:45.359 That's kind of all one giant kingdom. 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:50.480 And so Nebuchadnezzar is replaced by another king named Darius, Darius the Mead. 00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:58.880 And Darius recognizes right away, just like Nebuchadnezzar did, that man, these guys like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, whatever names you want to use for them, they're amazing. 00:20:59.119 --> 00:20:59.839 They're brilliant. 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:04.640 And he makes them top advisors in his court, just like Nebuchadnezzar did. 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:07.759 And then we get to Daniel chapter 6. 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:14.240 And in Daniel chapter 6, there's these guys who are advisors to the king, but they're jealous of the favor that Daniel has. 00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:29.440 And they know what Daniel believes and who Daniel worships, and so they convinced Darius to sign this decree that says anyone who prays to someone other than him or his gods should be executed. 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:36.079 That it would be unlawful to pray or to worship someone other than him, right? 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:39.839 And turns out it's not that hard to flatter a king. 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:46.319 That when people have a lot of power, they like having people around them who tell them how wonderful they are. 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:52.160 And so they're able to convince King Darius to sign this decree, and then they know what's going to happen. 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:54.480 They know that Daniel is like clockwork. 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:55.920 He prays three times a day. 00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:57.119 He prays at a window. 00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:59.680 You can see him do it, so they just wait for the chance. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.839 To catch him because they want him gone. 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:13.200 And so in Daniel chapter 6, it says, When Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and he knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:16.559 Like he doesn't even hide it, he doesn't even close his windows. 00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:21.039 He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:25.680 And then the officials went together to Daniel's house and found him praying and asking for God's help. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:28.319 So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:30.319 Did you not sign a law for the next thirty days? 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:35.440 Any person who prays to anyone, divine or human, except to you, your majesty, will be thrown into the den of lions? 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:37.759 They've upgraded from fire to lions. 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:39.039 That's pretty cool, I think. 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:42.079 Yes, the king replied, The decision stands. 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:45.599 It's an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:51.039 Then they told the king, Well, that man, Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:53.519 He still prays to his God three times a day. 00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:57.359 Hearing this, the king was deeply troubled, and he tried to think of a way to save Daniel. 00:22:57.519 --> 00:23:01.519 He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament. 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:09.440 In the evening the men went together to the king and said, Your Majesty, you know that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law of the king's signs can be changed. 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:14.000 So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:18.240 The king said to him, May your God, whom you serve so faithfully rescue you. 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:20.799 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. 00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:27.039 The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel. 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:30.799 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:34.400 He refused his usual entertainment, and he couldn't sleep all night. 00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:38.000 Very early the next morning the king got up and hurried out to the lion's den. 00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:47.119 And when he got there, he called out in anguish, Daniel, servant of the living God, was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions? 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:49.039 And Daniel answered, Long live the king. 00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:56.960 My God sent his angel to shut the lion's mouth so they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight, and I have not wronged you, your majesty. 00:23:57.119 --> 00:24:00.079 The king was overjoyed, and he ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:03.200 Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God. 00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:06.640 And then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:09.279 He had them thrown into the lion's den, along with their wives and children. 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:12.640 The lions leapt on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den. 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:16.799 So, you know, God didn't do that, the king did that. 00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:19.519 It's an intense story. 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:24.799 We have these three really classic, really powerful stories. 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:27.359 And if you're someone who grew up in church as a kid, you heard these stories. 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:33.279 You heard like the kids' version of the stories that usually ended before the men, women, and children died in the lion's den. 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:35.200 Like they kind of like stopped there. 00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:36.720 He was rescued. 00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:50.000 And these stories, they're not just interesting and entertaining, they're powerful because they show us, they show us a quality in these men that we can learn from. 00:24:50.400 --> 00:25:05.200 And it's a quality that's actually very rare, but it is one that will allow us, just like them, to navigate and to live well in a world and in a culture that does not share the same values that we hold dear. 00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:12.799 You see, Daniel and his friends, they are people of conviction. 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:16.480 They're people of conviction. 00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:21.440 And they live their lives based on their convictions. 00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:27.200 Last year we did a whole series called Living with Conviction, and the point of that series was a little different. 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:33.279 We were going through the book of Romans and we were talking about what we do as believers when we have different convictions. 00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:38.559 Believe it or not, some of the people in this room don't share the same exact convictions that you share. 00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:40.240 They maybe don't vote the same way that you vote. 00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:41.599 I know that's mind-blowing. 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:45.359 Like some of you may have a deep conviction that drinking alcohol is wrong. 00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:50.079 And you might be sitting right in front of someone who brews beer in their garage. 00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:51.279 And that's fine. 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:51.759 Right? 00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:55.359 We talked about how all those convictions sort of differ and what we do with that. 00:25:55.680 --> 00:26:02.000 But the idea that we had to establish in that series is that there's this thing called conviction, and it's really important. 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:10.480 In fact, Romans chapter 14 puts it really succinctly: Blessed are those who don't feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:20.079 But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, and they were using diet as an example, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it, for you're not following your convictions. 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:23.279 If you do anything you believe is not right, you're sinning. 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:27.599 They define sin as going against your own convictions. 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:34.720 And we talked about how our convictions are very much informed by our belief in God and the values that God has. 00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:40.640 We shouldn't have convictions that wildly differ from what the Lord has said, at least if we're Jesus followers. 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:43.519 And if we do, we've got to wrestle with that and figure that out. 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:46.079 But we have these things called convictions. 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:48.400 What we believe is good, what we believe is true. 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:55.839 And the question is, will we be people who live out of our convictions, or will we be people who live out of convenience? 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:58.160 It really is one of those two choices. 00:26:58.720 --> 00:27:04.480 And we make all kinds of decisions on a daily basis out of convenience, and that's fine, that has its place. 00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:09.119 But significant growth never happens as a result of convenience. 00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:11.200 It's all about conviction. 00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:22.079 And so I want to look at three very simple takeaways, three observations about conviction that I think all of us can grab a hold of, all of us can apply, that we learn from these stories. 00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:27.039 And number one is really simple your convictions will set you apart. 00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:30.079 Your convictions will set you apart. 00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:33.119 What gets Daniel and his friends noticed? 00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:36.079 It's their convictions. 00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:45.119 They take a stand, they say, you know what, we don't believe this is right, that their attendant is worried that this is going to lead to their ruin and consequently his ruin. 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:51.680 But actually, because they live by their convictions, because they stick to their guns, they stand out. 00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:54.160 It sets them apart. 00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:55.839 They're different than everybody else. 00:27:56.000 --> 00:28:01.519 They're cut from a different cloth and they're recognized and even honored as a result of that. 00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:06.319 I don't know if you've ever had that experience where you stand out as a result of your convictions. 00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:10.160 I actually had it happen to me one time, and I think I've shared this story before, so apologies if you heard it. 00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:15.200 But but I had this happen in a really weird, like random way when I was in college. 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:17.920 And so I worked at Chili's when I was in college. 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:22.160 I always love in a room this big just to wonder has anyone else ever worked at Chili's, the restaurant? 00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:22.880 Like any other fellow. 00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:25.200 All right, a couple of Chili's people. 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:25.680 Here we go. 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:26.400 Yeah, there we go. 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:27.279 We've got something in common. 00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:29.279 Yeah, my career path went blockbuster video. 00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:31.279 Any Blockbuster Video employees from the past? 00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:31.839 Anyone? 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:32.480 A few? 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.039 Yeah. 00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:36.640 I actually know we have a Blockbuster former executive here, so I mean that's cool. 00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:40.319 So, you know, blockbuster, uh, then Kohl's. 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:40.720 All right? 00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:42.000 Anybody work at Coles? 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:42.960 A couple? 00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:43.279 Yeah. 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:44.720 Blockbuster Coles Chili's. 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:46.240 We should form a small group here at the church. 00:28:46.400 --> 00:28:48.160 People who have worked, that's all that it is. 00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:49.839 We just we worked at these places, right? 00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:52.720 That was it was Blockbuster Coles Chili's church. 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:55.359 That's my that's my my career path. 00:28:55.920 --> 00:29:00.240 And so I'm working at Chili's, I'm just trying to make money as a college student. 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:19.599 And uh and I go through all this training, and one of the things that they told us in training is that if you're ever sweeping underneath your table at the end of the night and you happen to sweep up like a piece of silverware, a fork, a knife, a spoon, into your dustpan, do not throw it away, reach in there and pull it out, and then put it where all the dishes get washed. 00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:22.880 And, you know, the challenge with that is that it's gross. 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:23.359 Right? 00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:32.960 If you have tons and tons of tables all day long and food is dropped, and there's things that are spilled, and you know, you don't know how well the person cleaned it the day, the week, or maybe the year before. 00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:37.440 Um, you just all kinds of interesting stuff gets swept into that dustpan. 00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:41.279 And so one night very early, I think I'd only been there like a week or two, I'm I'm doing my thing. 00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:49.200 I I did my tables, I'm cleaning them off, and I'm sweeping underneath, and I hear the sound, the unmistakable sound, of a piece of silverware in my dustpan. 00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:50.720 And I was like, dang it. 00:29:52.240 --> 00:30:02.160 And I sat there and I remember, I can still remember like the mental, like the mental thoughts, the exercises that I was going through, like I don't want to do this, it's gross, I don't, I'm I've been here all day long, I don't feel like it. 00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:04.000 It's a fork, who cares? 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:07.440 We have thousands of forks, like I we had thousands of forks, I think. 00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:13.920 But then there was this verse from scripture that just jumped into my mind, and it was do everything you do as if you're doing it for the Lord. 00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:16.319 Everything you do, do it as if you're doing it for the Lord. 00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:19.920 So I was like, oh, you know, sometimes when you have convictions, you don't like them. 00:30:20.160 --> 00:30:23.119 You don't have to like your convictions all the time, you just have to follow them. 00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:25.279 And so I was like, oh, God, why? 00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:25.759 Okay. 00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:33.119 So I reach down, I pull out the fork, I walk it back, I put it in the in the little dishwasher area, come back, finish my thing. 00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:41.119 What I didn't know is that my manager, Michelle, uh the woman who had hired me and done the trainings, Michelle saw that happen. 00:30:41.359 --> 00:30:42.079 She saw it. 00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:42.720 I didn't know that. 00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:51.519 I was just in a little corner, and she brings me over, and it was a strange interaction because she's like, Hey, I saw what you did, and I'm like, I don't know, what did I like? 00:30:51.599 --> 00:30:54.720 You don't assume it's a good thing when someone says, I saw what you did. 00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:58.400 Your brain just instantly goes to what crime have I committed that I forgot about, right? 00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:03.440 And I was like tempted to say it'll never happen again, but I didn't know what she was talking about. 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:04.640 So she says, I saw what you did. 00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:06.880 And I was like, uh, what did I do? 00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:09.920