Good morning! That
was pretty pathetic.
00:00:12.30\00:00:17.46
Good Morning!
Audience: good morning!
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I had the distinct privilege
and honor to introduce our
00:00:21.40\00:00:24.60
speaker, probably someone
that doesn't really need an
00:00:24.60\00:00:27.56
introduction to be honest.
00:00:27.56\00:00:28.93
Most probably know him,
pastor, Doctor I believe,
00:00:28.93\00:00:32.30
Mark Finley, but I would
like to just take a moment to
00:00:32.30\00:00:36.83
introduce him in a very
real way, if I could do that.
00:00:36.83\00:00:38.93
Most of you know him as an
evangelist, you know him as a
00:00:38.93\00:00:42.70
great preacher, you know
him as a pillar of the church.
00:00:42.70\00:00:46.53
We have gotten to
know him as a mentor.
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Sure he is a good preacher,
but he is a better mentor.
00:00:50.30\00:00:54.03
We appreciate that about him.
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There has been times in
GYC where we have struggled.
00:00:57.56\00:01:00.50
We have struggled as young
people and have had differences
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of opinions, and Pastor
Finley would come in and say
00:01:03.70\00:01:07.10
you guys, I will
never betray your trust.
00:01:07.10\00:01:14.10
I will never betray your trust.
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There has been times when
it has not been popular to
00:01:17.26\00:01:20.36
support us and he has done that.
00:01:20.36\00:01:22.36
We appreciate that,
there has been times where we
00:01:22.36\00:01:25.90
haven't gotten along, and
he stepped in and he said,
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he brings the attention
to a spiritual focus and we
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appreciate that about you.
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Above the
evangelist, he is a mentor.
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You always give God the
credit, GYC is such a powerful
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movement and doing
incredible things for God,
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but there are people,
there are individuals that God
00:01:45.56\00:01:48.66
lifts up to help
the movement move.
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This would not be what
it is today without Pastor
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Finley, there is
no doubt in my mind.
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So as I introduce him to
you, understand that you are
00:01:59.13\00:02:02.50
not looking at necessarily
at an evangelist, a pastor,
00:02:02.50\00:02:05.50
although he does
those things greatly.
00:02:05.50\00:02:08.80
He is a mentor and a
prayerful guardian of our army
00:02:08.80\00:02:13.13
assembled here.
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We know this morning
Pastor Finley as you lead us in
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your message, you
will not betray our trust.
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We appreciate that
about you, thank you.
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Thank you Justin.
00:02:30.36\00:02:31.83
2002, Pine Springs Ranch,
400 young people met with a
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vision to share Jesus, to
uphold the biblical values
00:02:40.50\00:02:45.06
of the Seventh-day
Adventist church and to take the
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message to the world.
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That movement of youth
has grown to today where we
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have more than 5000
people here in our 8th
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convocation of GYC.
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My wife and I came on Wednesday
evening and we have been
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absorbing the
inspiration of the moment.
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We have been
encouraged, inspired,
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what ever we contribute
to you as young people,
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you have contribute more to us.
00:03:20.96\00:03:22.93
You know after you have
been on the evangelist platform,
00:03:22.93\00:03:25.96
preaching in almost 100
countries around the world for
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43 years, it is nice to
get an injection of inspiration
00:03:31.70\00:03:38.93
from mission, from young people.
00:03:38.93\00:03:41.76
So thank you for what
you have contributed to us.
00:03:41.76\00:03:44.43
My first GYC convention
was in 2004 in Sacramento.
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Since that time, I have
been a great supporter of and
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believer in the
mission and goals of GYC.
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I believe the GYC will
continue to grow, that God will
00:03:58.46\00:04:03.56
continue to bless it, and
along with the youth that are
00:04:03.56\00:04:07.83
here, as you go back to your
local churches that other youth
00:04:07.83\00:04:11.53
will catch that vision.
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Today I pray that you will
be one of God's 21st-century
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superstars, that is
my message this morning.
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Let us pray.
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Father in heaven, we thank
you that we have been called
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to be lights in
a darkened world.
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We thank you that we have
been called to do more than
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maintaining the status quo.
00:04:33.60\00:04:35.70
We thank you that we have
been called as part of a final
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generation to proclaim Your
last-day message to the world.
00:04:40.10\00:04:45.53
May a love for Jesus, and
a love for truth, and a love
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for human beings for
whom Christ died, burn in our
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hearts, may we reveal
that love, share that love,
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and proclaim that love.
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In Christ's name, Amen!
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The world has its
stars, you know their names.
00:05:03.13\00:05:09.33
They are plastered in
headlines across the globe.
00:05:09.33\00:05:14.03
They light up the marquees
from Hollywood to Hong Kong.
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You have seen their images
on television, in the movies,
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in newspapers, in magazines,
on billboards, throughout
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the Internet, the
world has its stars.
00:05:28.73\00:05:32.90
Rock stars, pop stars,
movie stars, sports stars,
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business gurus, corporate
heads, political leaders,
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Wall Street billionaires,
the world has its stars.
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The Rich and the famous,
but God has His superstars.
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That is my topic this
morning, take your Bible please.
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Turn to Daniel 12:3, how
to be a superstar for God
00:05:54.70\00:06:03.40
in the final generation.
00:06:03.40\00:06:06.36
Daniel 12:3, "those who
are wise," those who are what?
00:06:06.36\00:06:15.00
Those who are wise.
00:06:15.00\00:06:17.56
There is a world's wisdom
that is foolishness and an
00:06:17.56\00:06:22.40
apparent foolishness
in Jesus that is wisdom.
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The Bible says, "those
who are wise shall shine like
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"the brightness of the
firmament, and those who turn
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"many to
righteousness, like the stars
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"forever and ever. "
00:06:39.03\00:06:42.56
The Hollywood stars, the
pop stars, the music stars,
00:06:42.56\00:06:48.83
the sports stars, the
business stars of this world
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blaze like a meteor across
the sky for a little while
00:06:54.80\00:06:59.90
and then they burn out.
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They twinkle for a
little while, then they fade
00:07:01.63\00:07:05.63
into insignificance.
00:07:05.63\00:07:08.73
There is always a
prettier face, a better voice,
00:07:08.73\00:07:12.50
someone who runs
faster, jumps higher, has more
00:07:12.50\00:07:16.60
outstanding appeal,
knows how to cut a better deal,
00:07:16.60\00:07:20.63
but God's stars are like
meteors that don't blaze and
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go out, they shine for
ever and ever and ever and ever.
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God's superstars turn
many to righteousness and shine
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forever, this morning we want
to study one of God's heroes,
00:07:35.90\00:07:41.43
one of God's superstars.
00:07:41.43\00:07:44.10
I want to spend some
time with you looking at and
00:07:44.10\00:07:47.86
meditating on
the book of Daniel.
00:07:47.86\00:07:50.83
I'm raising the
question, How does Daniel's life
00:07:50.83\00:07:55.13
apply to a last generation
of Seventh-day Adventist
00:07:55.13\00:08:00.10
Christians who have been
entrusted with a message to
00:08:00.10\00:08:03.90
take to the world?
00:08:03.90\00:08:05.90
Now there are four
specific things that we want to
00:08:05.90\00:08:09.46
focus on in Daniel's
life as we turn to Daniel,
00:08:09.46\00:08:12.93
the first chapter.
00:08:12.93\00:08:15.10
I know you have your Bible
and this is GYC, if you have
00:08:15.10\00:08:20.00
your Bible just lift
it so I can see it please.
00:08:20.00\00:08:22.13
GYC young people know
that when they come to a
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biblical message that it
is far more than religious
00:08:29.90\00:08:32.90
entertainment, they
come to study God's Word.
00:08:32.90\00:08:37.16
They come to hear a
message, not from a preacher,
00:08:37.16\00:08:40.60
but from a thus saith the Lord.
00:08:40.60\00:08:44.33
They come to hear the
word of God speaking to their
00:08:44.33\00:08:48.60
hearts and
challenging their souls.
00:08:48.60\00:08:51.70
They come not to be
placated by pious platitudes,
00:08:51.70\00:08:57.13
they come rather to be
challenged, to be stimulated,
00:08:57.13\00:09:00.06
to be inspired, to be
everything they can for God.
00:09:00.06\00:09:04.20
Daniel, four
qualities of Daniel's life.
00:09:04.20\00:09:08.76
Four qualities of superstars
for God, let me mention
00:09:08.76\00:09:13.80
them and then we will
unpack them in the text.
00:09:13.80\00:09:16.46
21st-century superstars
for God will know how to thrive
00:09:16.46\00:09:21.80
in adversity, they do not
expect a comfortable cross-
00:09:21.80\00:09:28.70
less, easy-going...
accommodating life.
00:09:28.70\00:09:31.63
They recognize that the
challenges of the future bring
00:09:31.63\00:09:34.80
adversity, God's superstars
are trained in the school of
00:09:34.80\00:09:39.66
adversity and they know
where to place their trust.
00:09:39.66\00:09:43.33
God's superstars, as we'll
study in the book of Daniel,
00:09:43.33\00:09:46.86
will understand
their identity and they
00:09:46.86\00:09:49.50
know who they are.
00:09:49.50\00:09:51.56
God's superstars
maintain their integrity and
00:09:51.56\00:09:55.43
they know what they believe.
00:09:55.43\00:09:57.70
God's superstars leave a
legacy, they know why they
00:09:57.70\00:10:01.50
exist and so this morning
we will discover, from the
00:10:01.50\00:10:04.70
book of Daniel, how
to thrive in adversity.
00:10:04.70\00:10:07.43
We will discover how to
understand our identity and
00:10:07.43\00:10:10.13
the importance of identity.
00:10:10.13\00:10:12.00
We will understand how
to maintain our integrity in
00:10:12.00\00:10:14.53
the most difficult
challenging situations where
00:10:14.53\00:10:17.20
we are called to compromise.
00:10:17.20\00:10:18.93
We will understand how to leave
a legacy, be part of a mission
00:10:18.93\00:10:21.66
for God, will understand
the where, the who, the what,
00:10:21.66\00:10:24.76
the why of the superstars.
00:10:24.76\00:10:26.40
Daniel the first
chapter and first verse.
00:10:26.40\00:10:28.33
Daniel 1:1, "in the third
year of the reign of Jehoiakim
00:10:28.33\00:10:34.13
"King of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar
king of Babylon came to
00:10:34.13\00:10:38.86
"Jerusalem and besieged it. "
00:10:38.86\00:10:40.73
Here in Daniel 1:1 you
have a great controversy theme
00:10:40.73\00:10:43.63
introduced unpack
in the book of Daniel.
00:10:43.63\00:10:46.33
Jerusalem, the city of
righteousness, Babylon,
00:10:46.33\00:10:48.86
the city of rebellion.
00:10:48.86\00:10:50.46
Daniel God's man, Nebuchadnezzar
stands opposed to God.
00:10:50.46\00:10:54.56
Daniel and
Nebuchadnezzar come in conflict.
00:10:54.56\00:10:57.90
Jerusalem and Babylon, come in
conflict, two kingdoms come in
00:10:57.90\00:11:01.40
conflict, the great controversy
between good and evil.
00:11:01.40\00:11:04.53
The great controversy
between Christ and Satan.
00:11:04.53\00:11:06.80
The controversy that will
require superstars to stand
00:11:06.80\00:11:10.46
for God in the end is
introduced in Daniel 1:1.
00:11:10.46\00:11:13.56
Daniel 1:2, "and the Lord
gave Jehoiakim king of Judah
00:11:13.56\00:11:17.80
"into his hand, with some
of the articles of the house
00:11:17.80\00:11:21.00
"of God," incidentally
Jeremiah tells us in Ezra that
00:11:21.00\00:11:25.70
when Jehoiakim took those
articles from the house of God
00:11:25.70\00:11:28.76
when he took the golden
vessels from the sanctuary,
00:11:28.76\00:11:31.63
that he took 5400 of
them from the sanctuary.
00:11:31.63\00:11:35.56
Who was this Jehoiakim?
Jehoiakim was a compromising
00:11:35.56\00:11:40.36
king of Judah, when Jeremiah
came to Jehoiakim and he
00:11:40.36\00:11:45.50
told him about
Babylon's attack and predicted
00:11:45.50\00:11:48.63
Babylon's attack on Jerusalem.
00:11:48.63\00:11:50.50
Jehoiakim, the compromising,
king of Judah that wanted
00:11:50.50\00:11:56.20
to please everybody took
the prophecy of Jeremiah that
00:11:56.20\00:12:02.13
was written out and given
to him about Babylon attacking
00:12:02.13\00:12:05.80
Jerusalem, he ripped it
up because he didn't like the
00:12:05.80\00:12:09.13
prophecy, as he ripped it
up, he threw it on the flames
00:12:09.13\00:12:14.60
of fire, he tore
the scroll to pieces.
00:12:14.60\00:12:18.06
He cast it into the fire.
00:12:18.06\00:12:21.03
Jehoiakim discovered all
too quickly that to reject the
00:12:21.03\00:12:26.60
Council of God is a
recipe for disaster.
00:12:26.60\00:12:31.03
To turn one's back
on the prophetic word,
00:12:31.03\00:12:34.66
to make light of
prophetic appeals,
00:12:34.66\00:12:37.10
to scorn the
warnings of the Almighty
00:12:37.10\00:12:39.60
is a formula for catastrophe.
00:12:39.60\00:12:42.66
When the prophets
of God speak the word,
00:12:42.66\00:12:46.13
I pray that we will
listen to the word and heed
00:12:46.13\00:12:49.80
the lesson of Jehoiakim.
00:12:49.80\00:12:52.26
When God's modern-day
messenger speaks to the church
00:12:52.26\00:12:55.86
through the gift of prophecy,
I pray that we will not
00:12:55.86\00:12:59.90
scorn those messages,
not turn our backs on those
00:12:59.90\00:13:03.20
messages, but
listen to the word of God.
00:13:03.20\00:13:06.80
Jehoiakim took the
prophecy of Jeremiah, about the
00:13:06.80\00:13:12.50
destruction of Jerusalem,
and he tore it up and threw
00:13:12.50\00:13:16.16
it in the fire, but soon
the armies of Nebuchadnezzar
00:13:16.16\00:13:19.96
attacked and Jehoiakim
saw firsthand the result of
00:13:19.96\00:13:23.26
rejecting the
prophecies of God's word.
00:13:23.26\00:13:26.20
In our personal lives,
God calls us to faithfulness
00:13:26.20\00:13:30.90
to the word of God.
00:13:30.90\00:13:32.26
In our personal lives God
calls us to faithfulness to
00:13:32.26\00:13:36.36
the messages of God's last
day prophet to this church.
00:13:36.36\00:13:40.30
They are given to build
up the church, to edify the
00:13:40.30\00:13:43.43
church, Jehoiakim did
not learn that lesson.
00:13:43.43\00:13:50.03
Back to Daniel, there is a
curious passage in Daniel 1:2
00:13:50.03\00:13:58.06
and it says, "and the Lord gave
Jehoiakim, and the Lord gave
00:13:58.06\00:14:06.06
"Jehoiakim, king of
Judah, into his hand. "
00:14:06.06\00:14:10.03
Why would God do that?
00:14:10.03\00:14:15.30
Why would God allow
Nebuchadnezzar, the king of
00:14:15.30\00:14:20.66
Babylon, the
Citadel of rebellion.
00:14:20.66\00:14:24.33
Why would God allow
Nebuchadnezzar to have a
00:14:24.33\00:14:27.46
victory over Jerusalem?
00:14:27.46\00:14:29.30
It seems that evil triumphs,
it seems that wickedness
00:14:29.30\00:14:35.20
wins, why would that happen?
00:14:35.20\00:14:39.43
Why would God
allow that to take place?
00:14:39.43\00:14:43.03
The Bible says, the Lord
gave, verse two, Jehoiakim into
00:14:43.03\00:14:47.06
Nebuchadnezzar's hands.
00:14:47.06\00:14:49.03
The Lord allowed the
king of Babylon to defeat
00:14:49.03\00:14:51.73
the king of Jerusalem.
00:14:51.73\00:14:53.46
Why would God permit
evil to apparently triumph?
00:14:53.46\00:14:55.93
Why would God allow
Jerusalem to be destroyed by a
00:14:55.93\00:15:00.13
wicked, heathen king?
00:15:00.13\00:15:02.00
Why would God allow a
Godly teenager, Daniel, to go
00:15:02.00\00:15:06.20
into captivity? Why?
00:15:06.20\00:15:08.90
Because God knew that He
could build His superstars in
00:15:08.90\00:15:15.50
adversity and they would
impact the kingdom of Babylon
00:15:15.50\00:15:20.40
as they trusted Him in
that adversity and change the
00:15:20.40\00:15:25.10
course in history of the world.
00:15:25.10\00:15:28.23
Let's pause in the story
of Daniel for a moment and
00:15:28.23\00:15:32.16
think of what Daniel thought
when he was taken captive
00:15:32.16\00:15:37.20
by Nebuchadnezzar, and when
he was traveling through the
00:15:37.20\00:15:40.86
desert as he looked at
his last lingering glance
00:15:40.86\00:15:46.00
of Jerusalem in the distance.
00:15:46.00\00:15:48.73
Daniel a teenager,
probably 17 years old.
00:15:48.73\00:15:52.86
Other Israeli
teenagers, young people.
00:15:52.86\00:15:56.43
He would never
see his father again.
00:15:56.43\00:15:59.40
He would never
see his mother again.
00:15:59.40\00:16:01.10
He would never play with
his friends on the Judean and
00:16:01.10\00:16:05.16
Galilean hillsides again.
00:16:05.16\00:16:07.50
Never walk the
streets of Jerusalem again.
00:16:07.50\00:16:11.10
Daniel's future laid
before him, but it was totally
00:16:11.10\00:16:16.90
unknown, Daniel had no
idea what to expect in Babylon.
00:16:16.90\00:16:23.80
His entire life was changed,
transformed in an instant.
00:16:23.80\00:16:30.20
Circumstances over which
he had absolutely no control
00:16:30.20\00:16:35.30
thrust him into uncertainty.
00:16:35.30\00:16:38.76
Maybe you can
identify with Daniel.
00:16:38.76\00:16:43.16
Your future is uncertain,
you are going through a period
00:16:43.16\00:16:48.43
of adversity in your life.
00:16:48.43\00:16:50.73
You are facing, at
home, overwhelming obstacles.
00:16:50.73\00:16:54.63
You will leave GYC
without a sense of clarity and
00:16:54.63\00:16:58.86
certainty, possibly, of
what God wants you to do
00:16:58.86\00:17:01.50
or where He wants you to be.
00:17:01.50\00:17:04.26
You are experiencing some
challenge in your life, as a
00:17:04.26\00:17:07.73
young person, that seems
to have apparently no human
00:17:07.73\00:17:12.33
solutions, here
is the good news.
00:17:12.33\00:17:16.20
God superstars thrive in
adversity because the God they
00:17:16.20\00:17:22.26
serve is bigger than
the problems they face.
00:17:22.26\00:17:26.23
Daniel was not focused on
his problems, he was focused
00:17:26.23\00:17:30.30
on the God who could solve them.
00:17:30.30\00:17:32.26
His mind was not absorbed
with the difficulties around
00:17:32.26\00:17:35.30
him, it was absorbed
with the God above him.
00:17:35.30\00:17:38.86
His heart was not trembling
in fear, it was radiating
00:17:38.86\00:17:42.66
in faith, and a few
years later, as a young captive
00:17:42.66\00:17:46.63
in Babylon, Daniel describes.
00:17:46.63\00:17:50.13
Daniel 2, please take
your Bible to Daniel 2:20.
00:17:50.13\00:17:53.80
Daniel describes why he
could thrive in adversity.
00:17:53.80\00:17:57.40
Daniel describes the key
of thriving when things are
00:17:57.40\00:18:01.50
falling apart around you.
00:18:01.50\00:18:02.93
Daniel describes the key
of thriving when the mountains
00:18:02.93\00:18:06.50
are high and the winds are
strong and the troubles blow
00:18:06.50\00:18:10.86
and the challenges are
great and the problems are
00:18:10.86\00:18:13.73
immense, Daniel says in
Daniel 2:20, Daniel 2:20.
00:18:13.73\00:18:21.60
The Bible says, Daniel says,
"Blessed be the name of God
00:18:21.60\00:18:27.36
"for ever and ever, for
wisdom and might are His. "
00:18:27.36\00:18:32.10
What does Daniel say,
wisdom and might are God's.
00:18:32.10\00:18:36.43
"And He changes the
times and the seasons;"
00:18:36.43\00:18:39.83
What I lack He has,
wisdom and might are His.
00:18:39.83\00:18:45.76
You may be
ignorant, but He is wise.
00:18:45.76\00:18:48.43
You may be powerless,
but He is all powerful.
00:18:48.43\00:18:51.33
Get your eyes off the
adversity, get your eyes off
00:18:51.33\00:18:54.06
the problems, get your
eyes off the difficulties.
00:18:54.06\00:18:56.90
Adversity is the stuff
that heroes are made out of.
00:18:56.90\00:19:02.30
Problems and challenges
are the very building blocks
00:19:02.30\00:19:07.90
for success if we are going
to face crises in the future
00:19:07.90\00:19:12.73
and we are, if we are
going to face adversity in the
00:19:12.73\00:19:15.86
future, and we are.
00:19:15.86\00:19:17.40
If we are going to face
challenges in the future,
00:19:17.40\00:19:19.63
and we are, God is going
to train us in the school of
00:19:19.63\00:19:24.73
trial today so we understand
how to trust tomorrow.
00:19:24.73\00:19:29.80
There's amazing book
that has been written, it's an
00:19:29.80\00:19:34.66
older book now, the
book is almost 50 years old.
00:19:34.66\00:19:37.66
It was written in 1962.
00:19:37.66\00:19:39.50
The book's title is
'Cradles of Eminence'.
00:19:39.50\00:19:43.46
It is a study by two
physicians, Victor and Mildred
00:19:43.46\00:19:49.23
Goertzel, about 413
famous people that impacted the
00:19:49.23\00:19:56.46
world in the last 2000 years.
00:19:56.46\00:19:58.66
So it is a study of
people that were world changers,
00:19:58.66\00:20:03.93
people who made a difference.
00:20:03.93\00:20:06.20
These two physicians, the
Dr. Goertzel's, Mildred and
00:20:06.20\00:20:10.80
Victor, wanted to
discover what it is that makes a
00:20:10.80\00:20:15.56
person great, in other
words what is the environment
00:20:15.56\00:20:20.30
that's superstars grow in?
00:20:20.30\00:20:23.00
What conditions assist in
producing extraordinary people?
00:20:23.00\00:20:27.86
The two researchers spent
years trying to understand the
00:20:27.86\00:20:32.70
source of peoples greatness.
00:20:32.70\00:20:34.30
They searched for one
common thread that would run
00:20:34.30\00:20:37.56
through all of these
great people's experience.
00:20:37.56\00:20:40.80
What was the common
thread that ran through these
00:20:40.80\00:20:44.03
outstanding people's lives?
00:20:44.03\00:20:45.83
The one factor that
stood out above all the rest is
00:20:45.83\00:20:53.33
this, the single ingredient
in 392 of the 413 people
00:20:53.33\00:20:59.60
they studied with this,
they all, without exception,
00:20:59.60\00:21:05.36
had overcome obstacles and
adversities in their lives.
00:21:05.36\00:21:10.63
Their problems became
opportunities for success rather
00:21:10.63\00:21:15.86
than hindrances to success.
00:21:15.86\00:21:18.30
Trials, obstacles,
challenges and adversity are the
00:21:18.30\00:21:22.63
building blocks that
God's heroes are made of.
00:21:22.63\00:21:26.46
Never give up, are you
going through some trials?
00:21:26.46\00:21:29.86
It is not because God
is casting you off, He is
00:21:29.86\00:21:33.20
preparing you for greatness.
00:21:33.20\00:21:35.40
Are you going
through some difficulties?
00:21:35.40\00:21:37.46
It's not because
God has forsaken you,
00:21:37.46\00:21:39.50
He's training
you for leadership.
00:21:39.50\00:21:41.73
God's superstars know
where to put their trust,
00:21:41.73\00:21:47.13
so they thrive in adversity.
00:21:47.13\00:21:49.70
I love the way Ellen
White puts it in 'Ministry
00:21:49.70\00:21:53.06
of Healing', page 471 in
which she says, "trials and
00:21:53.06\00:21:59.33
"obstacles are God's appointed
agencies for success. "
00:21:59.33\00:22:05.56
Oh, are you
going through a trial?
00:22:05.56\00:22:07.06
Are you going
through an obstacle?
00:22:07.06\00:22:08.43
Are you going
through a challenge?
00:22:08.43\00:22:09.80
Are you going through adversity?
00:22:09.80\00:22:11.13
God sees something in
you and He wants to train you
00:22:11.13\00:22:14.63
for leadership,
praise His name for that.
00:22:14.63\00:22:17.66
Put your trust in Him,
He'll help you to solve that
00:22:17.66\00:22:20.40
difficulty and problem
so you can take on bigger
00:22:20.40\00:22:23.10
difficulties and
problems as a leader.
00:22:23.10\00:22:25.56
God's superstars don't cop out.
00:22:25.56\00:22:29.53
God superstars don't
look for an easy life.
00:22:29.53\00:22:32.90
God superstars don't
want comfortable convenience.
00:22:32.90\00:22:36.60
God superstars with their
hand of faith in Jesus Christ
00:22:36.60\00:22:41.26
are willing to take on
adversity because they know
00:22:41.26\00:22:44.60
that God is bigger than
any problem they may face.
00:22:44.60\00:22:47.90
Now the second principle
we see in the book of Daniel 1
00:22:47.90\00:22:53.60
is that God's 21st Century
superstars understand their
00:22:53.60\00:22:58.96
identity, they understand
not only where to put their
00:22:58.96\00:23:04.30
trust, but they
understand who they are.
00:23:04.30\00:23:08.60
When Daniel was ushered
into the Babylonian kingdom,
00:23:08.60\00:23:15.20
King Nebuchadnezzar did
everything he could to distort
00:23:15.20\00:23:21.76
and destroy
Daniel's sense of identity.
00:23:21.76\00:23:26.96
Now our identity has to
do with our understanding
00:23:26.96\00:23:30.06
of who we are.
00:23:30.06\00:23:31.90
Our sense of
identity, or belonging,
00:23:31.90\00:23:35.53
influences everything we do.
00:23:35.53\00:23:38.53
It inspires our dreams, it
gives direction to all that
00:23:38.53\00:23:43.40
we hope to be, the devil
understands this profound truth.
00:23:43.40\00:23:48.16
Let's discover what the
devil attempted to do to Daniel
00:23:48.16\00:23:52.86
and his friends.
00:23:52.86\00:23:55.00
They were ushered in to
the greatest kingdom of the
00:23:55.00\00:24:00.36
world, Babylon's
splendor and luxury awed their
00:24:00.36\00:24:05.66
senses and wowed them.
00:24:05.66\00:24:09.20
Before their education
began, as they were introduced
00:24:09.20\00:24:16.16
as young handsome, intelligent,
articulate young people,
00:24:16.16\00:24:23.06
to the PhD program in
the University of Babylon,
00:24:23.06\00:24:27.86
the king wanted to do something
that would cause them to
00:24:27.86\00:24:33.50
forget their
identity, that would cause them
00:24:33.50\00:24:37.13
to forget who they were.
00:24:37.13\00:24:39.40
So the Scripture
says, Daniel 1:6 and onward.
00:24:39.40\00:24:46.60
"Now from among those of
the sons of Judah were Daniel,
00:24:46.60\00:24:53.30
"Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah. "
00:24:53.30\00:24:57.56
Now Hebrew names
have significance.
00:24:57.56\00:25:01.80
The name Daniel, if you
see 'el' on the end of a name,
00:25:01.80\00:25:05.66
that means it is a
derivative of God, so the name
00:25:05.66\00:25:10.20
Daniel means God is my
judge, or the God of judgment.
00:25:10.20\00:25:14.76
The Hebrew judges were
not like some judges today.
00:25:14.76\00:25:18.70
The Hebrew judges were on
the side of the one that was
00:25:18.70\00:25:22.93
prosecuted and their role
was to set all things right.
00:25:22.93\00:25:27.10
So the book of Daniel,
is the book of judgment.
00:25:27.10\00:25:31.50
It is the book about the
God who sits upon His throne
00:25:31.50\00:25:33.33
to set all things
right in the universe.
00:25:33.33\00:25:35.83
So Daniel may have been a
captive to Babylon, but the
00:25:35.83\00:25:38.76
God he served ultimately
with the God that was on the
00:25:38.76\00:25:41.63
throne, not Nebuchadnezzar.
00:25:41.63\00:25:43.33
Daniels very name
says, He is the God that
00:25:43.33\00:25:46.36
will set all things right.
00:25:46.36\00:25:47.86
Then there was Hananiah,
the word Hananiah means the
00:25:47.86\00:25:51.00
Lord is gracious unto me.
00:25:51.00\00:25:53.16
So every time little Hananiah
ran around in his diapers,
00:25:53.16\00:25:58.13
or his Pampers, as a
young Israeli boy, and mom said
00:25:58.13\00:26:01.86
what is your name,
Hananiah, Hananiah, Hananiah,
00:26:01.86\00:26:05.56
the Lord is gracious unto me.
00:26:05.56\00:26:08.03
I may be a captive in Babylon,
but the Lord is gracious
00:26:08.03\00:26:11.33
unto me, and then there's
Mishael, that means one with
00:26:11.33\00:26:14.63
God like qualities of
goodness and kindness.
00:26:14.63\00:26:17.40
Then there is Azariah, that
means the Lord is my helper.
00:26:17.40\00:26:20.76
So I may be a captive in
Babylon, the mighty empires
00:26:20.76\00:26:24.36
a Babylon may be dominant
but I am Azariah, the Lord is
00:26:24.36\00:26:27.90
my helper, He
will never let me down.
00:26:27.90\00:26:30.36
That wouldn't do in Babylon,
running around saying I am
00:26:30.36\00:26:32.83
Azariah, the Lord is my helper.
00:26:32.83\00:26:34.76
It wouldn't do in Babylon
to say I am Hananiah, the Lord
00:26:34.76\00:26:37.10
is gracious unto me.
00:26:37.10\00:26:38.36
It wouldn't due in Babylon, my
name is Mishael, I have Godlike
00:26:38.36\00:26:42.50
qualities to be admired.
00:26:42.50\00:26:45.06
My name is Daniel, God
sits on His throne, so the King
00:26:45.06\00:26:48.63
the Bible says in verse seven.
00:26:48.63\00:26:51.53
"To them the chief of the
Eunuch gave names: he gave
00:26:51.53\00:26:54.26
"to Daniel the
name of Belteshazzar. "
00:26:54.26\00:26:56.33
Belteshazzar means keepers
of the hidden treasures of
00:26:56.33\00:26:59.46
Baal, Baal Marduke was
one of the 13 gods of Babylon.
00:26:59.46\00:27:03.00
Daniel now was no longer
God's on His throne, now I have
00:27:03.00\00:27:06.50
changed your name, I'm
changing your identity from
00:27:06.50\00:27:10.83
Belteshazzar, Hananiah
to Shadrach, and it's clear
00:27:10.83\00:27:15.16
as we can tell,
Shadrach means the servant of
00:27:15.16\00:27:19.23
the god of Sheba.
00:27:19.23\00:27:21.46
Hananiah from the Lord
is gracious to the servant
00:27:21.46\00:27:23.60
to the god of Sheba.
00:27:23.60\00:27:25.60
From Mishael to Meshach,
Meshach means inspiration
00:27:25.60\00:27:29.13
of the sun, from one
wanting the qualities of Jehovah
00:27:29.13\00:27:32.63
God to the
inspiration of the sun.
00:27:32.63\00:27:34.76
From Azariah to Abednego,
Abednego means servant of
00:27:34.76\00:27:38.10
Nebo, servant of Nebo.
00:27:38.10\00:27:40.90
So Nebuchadnezzar
wanted to change their names,
00:27:40.90\00:27:44.10
he wanted them to lose
sight of the fact that they were
00:27:44.10\00:27:47.40
a holy people before God, a
righteous people before God.
00:27:47.40\00:27:52.06
Deuteronomy 7:6 tells you
the heritage of these Hebrews.
00:27:52.06\00:27:56.66
Take your Bible please
and turn to Deuteronomy 7:6.
00:27:56.66\00:28:00.66
Here is the
heritage of these Hebrews.
00:28:04.00\00:28:07.10
"For you are a holy
people to the Lord your God. "
00:28:07.10\00:28:11.30
Daniel you're a holy
person to the Lord your God.
00:28:11.30\00:28:15.30
"The Lord your God has
chosen you to be a people for
00:28:15.30\00:28:19.40
"Himself, a special treasure
above of all the peoples
00:28:19.40\00:28:23.46
"on the face of the earth. "
00:28:23.46\00:28:25.20
Daniel, Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego.
00:28:25.20\00:28:28.43
Daniel with his Hebrew
names and Hananiah, Daniel and
00:28:28.43\00:28:35.13
Mishael, Daniel and
Azariah were young men that knew
00:28:35.13\00:28:41.06
their very heritage, they
understood their identity.
00:28:41.06\00:28:46.96
They realize that God
raised up Israel to make
00:28:46.96\00:28:50.66
an impact on the world
and they were going to be
00:28:50.66\00:28:54.33
faithful to their heritage.
00:28:54.33\00:28:56.30
Babylon wanted to
change their identity.
00:28:56.30\00:28:59.63
Babylon wanted to water
down their understanding of
00:28:59.63\00:29:03.60
who they were, and I
say to a last generation of
00:29:03.60\00:29:07.43
Seventh-day Adventist
young people, never lose your
00:29:07.43\00:29:11.20
heritage, never
forget your identity.
00:29:11.20\00:29:14.20
We are Seventh-day
Adventist, not some other
00:29:14.20\00:29:17.63
denomination that
simply has happened on the
00:29:17.63\00:29:21.06
historical scene by chance.
00:29:21.06\00:29:23.93
God has raised up these
people of prophecy, based on
00:29:23.93\00:29:28.56
the prophecies of Revelation
chapter 12, chapter 14.
00:29:28.56\00:29:33.13
We are a people of
destiny, while we appreciate
00:29:33.13\00:29:37.46
Christians of every
denomination, we sense that we
00:29:37.46\00:29:42.00
have a heritage, we are
not some community fellowship
00:29:42.00\00:29:46.46
of Sabbath
keepers, and Do You Hear Me?
00:29:46.46\00:29:49.30
Audience: Amen.
00:29:49.30\00:29:50.30
We are Seventh-day
Adventist. Audience: Amen.
00:29:50.30\00:29:53.13
We don't believe that
arrogantly, we don't lord it
00:29:53.13\00:29:58.16
over others, but humbly we
believe that God has raised
00:29:58.16\00:30:03.36
up, in this generation, a
divine movement of destiny
00:30:03.36\00:30:08.53
to impact the
world with the Gospel.
00:30:08.53\00:30:12.90
We believe we are a holy
people chosen by God for a final
00:30:12.90\00:30:19.00
generation to
proclaim the Gospel.
00:30:19.00\00:30:22.10
The reason Seventh-day
Adventist young people,
00:30:22.10\00:30:25.26
some of them, are leaving
the Seventh-day Adventist
00:30:25.26\00:30:30.46
church, is not because
the church preaches too much
00:30:30.46\00:30:35.33
prophecy, it is because
they have lost since of our
00:30:35.33\00:30:40.13
prophetic significance.
00:30:40.13\00:30:42.90
Young people want a challenge,
young people want to be
00:30:42.90\00:30:45.90
something, to be part
of something big for God.
00:30:45.90\00:30:49.36
Something grand for God.
00:30:49.36\00:30:51.50
Young people want to have a
sense that they are identified,
00:30:51.50\00:30:54.50
not with the
bureaucratic institution,
00:30:54.50\00:30:57.16
but a movement.
00:30:57.16\00:30:58.83
The Seventh-day
Adventist church is not simply a
00:30:58.83\00:31:02.26
denomination, it is that,
but it is a movement of God
00:31:02.26\00:31:06.80
based on prophecy.
00:31:06.80\00:31:09.13
Babylon wants to infiltrate,
Babylon wants to undermine.
00:31:09.13\00:31:17.73
Fundamental biblical
doctrines, we would lose our
00:31:17.73\00:31:22.06
identity, and once you
lose your identity what
00:31:22.06\00:31:26.36
do you have to preach?
00:31:26.36\00:31:29.06
God's superstars,
thrived in adversity.
00:31:31.00\00:31:36.56
God's superstars, understand
their identity, you can
00:31:36.56\00:31:40.93
change Daniel's name, but
you can't change his nature.
00:31:40.93\00:31:45.26
You can change
Daniel's country, but you
00:31:45.26\00:31:48.00
can't change his character.
00:31:48.00\00:31:49.83
You can change Daniel's
home, but he can change his
00:31:49.83\00:31:52.03
heart, you can change Daniel
surroundings, but you can't
00:31:52.03\00:31:54.76
change his spirit.
00:31:54.76\00:31:56.30
You can change
Daniel's master, and give him
00:31:56.30\00:31:58.36
Nebuchadnezzar
rather than Jehoiakim,
00:31:58.36\00:32:00.26
but you can't change his mind.
00:32:00.26\00:32:01.76
God looking for a group of
Seventh-day Adventist youth
00:32:01.76\00:32:05.33
who deep within their
souls are committed to Jesus.
00:32:07.60\00:32:10.33
Deep within their souls
they are committed to His word.
00:32:10.33\00:32:14.60
Deep within their souls
they understand their identity.
00:32:14.60\00:32:21.50
They sense, as Peter says,
1 Peter 2:9 a group of young
00:32:21.50\00:32:28.30
Adventist youth
understand their destiny.
00:32:28.30\00:32:30.70
Who understand their identity.
00:32:30.70\00:32:35.13
We look there in 1 Peter 2:9.
00:32:35.13\00:32:39.50
The New Testament church
grew rapidly because they're
00:32:39.50\00:32:44.80
was a sense based on the
prophetic word of the Old
00:32:44.80\00:32:49.83
Testament, that God raised
up a body of believers that
00:32:49.83\00:32:54.83
would impact the world.
00:32:54.83\00:32:56.73
That is what enables
young people to become part of
00:32:56.73\00:33:00.16
the New Testament church.
00:33:00.16\00:33:02.40
They had a sense of
identity, they identified with a
00:33:02.40\00:33:07.13
movement in New
Testament Christianity that was
00:33:07.13\00:33:10.76
bigger than they were.
00:33:10.76\00:33:12.70
1 Peter 2:9, "but you
are chosen generation,"
00:33:16.93\00:33:24.16
now here is Peter, speaking
to young people in his day.
00:33:24.16\00:33:28.80
Challenging them, he says,
"you are chosen generation,
00:33:28.80\00:33:33.33
"you are royal priesthood,
you are a holy nation,"
00:33:33.33\00:33:37.86
His own special people, why?
00:33:37.86\00:33:42.76
"That you may proclaim the
praises of Him who called you
00:33:42.76\00:33:47.43
"out of darkness into
this marvelous light. "
00:33:47.43\00:33:51.13
Jesus Christ raised up New
Testament Christianity based
00:33:51.13\00:33:55.86
on the prophetic word of
the Old Testament, to share
00:33:55.86\00:34:00.53
the light and truth
of God with the world.
00:34:00.53\00:34:04.13
Jesus was raised up based
on the prophecies of Daniel
00:34:04.13\00:34:08.83
and Revelation, a last
day end time movement with
00:34:08.83\00:34:13.30
a mission that is far
larger than we can possibly
00:34:13.30\00:34:17.66
accomplish, but empowered
by His Spirit to take the
00:34:17.66\00:34:21.96
Gospel to the world.
00:34:21.96\00:34:24.06
This is the generation that
God is calling to understand
00:34:24.06\00:34:29.20
their identity, to
understand who they are and why
00:34:29.20\00:34:33.80
they exist, there
can be no higher calling.
00:34:33.80\00:34:37.63
There can be no greater task.
00:34:37.63\00:34:40.86
During Hitler's third
right, millions of Jews
00:34:40.86\00:34:45.93
were taken, and these Jews
that were taken were loaded
00:34:45.93\00:34:52.30
on trains, they
were jammed in box cars.
00:34:52.30\00:34:57.43
Not only Jews but many
others, but predominately.
00:34:57.43\00:35:01.83
As they were loaded on
the box cars, they were jammed
00:35:01.83\00:35:07.40
together, some suffocated
to death in those boxcars
00:35:07.40\00:35:12.00
where the conditions
were so barbaric and inhumane.
00:35:12.00\00:35:19.76
A Jewish prince from a
royal family and his son were
00:35:19.76\00:35:27.50
captured, they were in hiding.
00:35:27.50\00:35:29.70
The Gestapo found
them, and this little boy,
00:35:29.70\00:35:34.16
11 years old, was
jammed into one of the
00:35:34.16\00:35:38.60
boxcars with his father.
00:35:38.60\00:35:40.66
The boy almost died, he
was almost trampled to death
00:35:40.66\00:35:45.23
as hundreds of people
were herded into all these
00:35:45.23\00:35:49.76
boxcars on the train.
00:35:49.76\00:35:51.90
As the train rolled on all
night, people were suffocated
00:35:51.90\00:35:57.06
in that train boxcar
and some fell over dead.
00:35:57.06\00:35:59.73
But the father knelt down
and he kept holding his boy,
00:35:59.73\00:36:02.60
and holding his
boy, and holding his boy.
00:36:02.60\00:36:05.36
In the morning when they got
to Ravens Brook, that dreaded
00:36:05.36\00:36:11.10
concentration camp, the
father looked up and saw
00:36:11.10\00:36:15.33
those words over that
iron gate, wrought out in iron,
00:36:15.33\00:36:20.33
work makes you free.
00:36:20.33\00:36:23.43
They were to be
divided into three groups.
00:36:23.43\00:36:26.43
The elderly and the
sick would be killed in the
00:36:26.43\00:36:28.60
gas chambers immediately.
00:36:28.60\00:36:30.73
The young would be
taken to another gas chamber
00:36:30.73\00:36:33.56
and killed immediately.
00:36:33.56\00:36:34.73
Those that had some
measure of health would
00:36:34.73\00:36:38.13
forced to work.
00:36:38.13\00:36:40.26
The guards tore from
that father his young son,
00:36:40.26\00:36:49.93
that young prince.
00:36:49.93\00:36:51.73
With tears running down
dad's face he looked down into
00:36:51.73\00:36:58.20
the eyes of his son and he
said son, never forget that
00:36:58.20\00:37:04.00
you are a prince, never
forget that you have royal blood
00:37:04.00\00:37:09.00
running through your
veins, never forget who you are.
00:37:09.00\00:37:13.23
And to the generation of
Seventh-day Adventist young
00:37:13.23\00:37:17.16
people I say to you today,
you have royal blood running
00:37:17.16\00:37:21.06
through your veins.
00:37:21.06\00:37:22.90
It is no accident that
God has called you to the
00:37:22.90\00:37:25.46
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:37:25.46\00:37:27.76
Of the millions of
young people the world,
00:37:27.76\00:37:32.80
God has called you,
you are person of destiny.
00:37:32.80\00:37:37.73
You are one of all the
billions of youth in the world,
00:37:37.73\00:37:43.10
God has chosen.
00:37:43.10\00:37:45.63
You are not here today by
accident, and those of you
00:37:45.63\00:37:48.80
watching on Three
Angels Broadcasting,
00:37:48.80\00:37:51.20
you are not
watching by accident.
00:37:51.20\00:37:52.86
God is calling you to
something big and great for Him.
00:37:52.86\00:37:55.36
Those of you
watching over the Internet,
00:37:55.36\00:37:56.50
you are not
watching by accident.
00:37:56.50\00:37:58.46
God has raised up and
end-time movement and He invites
00:37:58.46\00:38:02.86
you to become part of
that movement to proclaim His
00:38:02.86\00:38:07.23
love and grace to the world.
00:38:07.23\00:38:09.60
God's superstars thrive
in adversity, they know where
00:38:11.26\00:38:16.53
to place their trust.
00:38:16.53\00:38:18.00
God superstars maintain
their identity, they never lose
00:38:18.00\00:38:24.36
sense of who they are in Christ.
00:38:24.36\00:38:28.20
Never lose sense of why
they are here in Christ.
00:38:28.20\00:38:33.40
And thirdly, Daniel 1:8,
not only God's superstars
00:38:33.40\00:38:37.83
thrive in adversity, not
only does God's superstars
00:38:37.83\00:38:42.20
cling to their
identity, God's superstars
00:38:42.20\00:38:49.80
maintain their integrity.
00:38:49.80\00:38:54.50
The Bible says, Daniel 1:8,
God's 21st-century superstars
00:38:54.50\00:39:03.76
act with
integrity, they have a sense
00:39:03.76\00:39:06.96
of unswerving loyalty
to God in their lives.
00:39:06.96\00:39:12.30
Daniel 1:8 says, "but Daniel
purposed in his heart that
00:39:12.30\00:39:17.10
"he would not defile himself
with a portion of the Kings
00:39:17.10\00:39:20.93
"delicacies, nor with the
wine which he drank, therefore
00:39:20.93\00:39:24.03
"he requested of the chief
of the Eunuchs that he might
00:39:24.03\00:39:26.93
"not defile himself. "
00:39:26.93\00:39:28.46
The Bible said Daniel
did what in his heart?
00:39:28.46\00:39:30.76
What did Daniel
do? Daniel did what?
00:39:30.76\00:39:32.56
Purposed in his heart,
what is another word for
00:39:32.56\00:39:34.80
purposed? What is that?
00:39:34.80\00:39:36.26
He decided, Daniel decided,
Daniel determined, Daniel
00:39:36.26\00:39:40.86
declared, Daniel
decided in his heart that he
00:39:40.86\00:39:45.73
would not defile himself.
00:39:45.73\00:39:48.13
Another word for
the heart is the mind.
00:39:48.13\00:39:50.40
The wine flowed and sparkled
in the glasses, everything
00:39:50.40\00:39:56.40
to tempt the taste
and to delight the eyes.
00:39:56.40\00:39:59.03
Every article of scrumptious
food that one could imagine
00:39:59.03\00:40:03.43
was upon those tables.
00:40:03.43\00:40:05.80
Everything was done to wow
their senses, everything was
00:40:05.80\00:40:10.33
done to stimulate their
senses, everything was done to
00:40:10.33\00:40:14.43
attract their taste buds,
everything was done to win
00:40:14.43\00:40:19.20
their allegiance, but
Daniel purposed in his heart.
00:40:19.20\00:40:24.86
Daniel decided in his
mind that feast was a feast.
00:40:24.86\00:40:30.43
That night in Babylon, in
honor to the Babylonian Gods,
00:40:30.43\00:40:35.26
in honor of their
victory over Jerusalem.
00:40:35.26\00:40:39.53
To eat that meat would have
been to honor those Babylonian
00:40:39.53\00:40:42.73
gods, to drink that wine and
eat that meat would have been
00:40:42.73\00:40:46.10
to defile mind and conscious
and sense, physical, mental and
00:40:46.10\00:40:49.46
spiritual natures of
human beings are intertwined.
00:40:49.46\00:40:53.76
Daniel knew that to
defile his mind with that wine,
00:40:53.76\00:40:59.13
even one glass socially
would be to put himself in a
00:40:59.13\00:41:04.33
position of compromise,
therefore he purposed in his
00:41:04.33\00:41:10.50
heart, Daniel would not
yield his conscious convictions.
00:41:10.50\00:41:16.60
Daniel purposed, Daniel
determined, Daniel decided,
00:41:16.60\00:41:22.50
Daniel was not
concerned about his reputation,
00:41:22.50\00:41:27.16
he was concerned
about his character.
00:41:27.16\00:41:29.63
Daniel was not concerned
about royalty, he was more
00:41:29.63\00:41:33.66
concerned about loyalty.
00:41:33.66\00:41:35.86
Daniel was not concerned
about pleasing the king,
00:41:35.86\00:41:39.03
he was concerned about
pleasing the King of Kings.
00:41:39.03\00:41:42.16
Dwight L. Moody once said,
00:41:42.16\00:41:43.66
"if I take care of my
character, my reputation is
00:41:43.66\00:41:45.80
"going to take care of itself. "
00:41:45.80\00:41:47.73
What led Daniel to make
such a significance decision?
00:41:48.73\00:41:52.13
Daniel knew he had royal
blood running in his veins so
00:41:52.13\00:41:54.83
he didn't need to put
royal dainties in his mouth.
00:41:54.83\00:41:58.06
Daniel knew he had a
mission from the ruler of the
00:41:58.06\00:42:01.23
universe, therefore he
did not need a commission from
00:42:01.23\00:42:04.36
the ruler of Babylon.
00:42:04.36\00:42:06.13
Daniel had bowed low
before the King of Kings in the
00:42:06.13\00:42:09.86
prayer room so he can
stand tall before the king of
00:42:09.86\00:42:13.53
Babylon in the throne room.
00:42:13.53\00:42:15.06
Daniel knew he had the
approval of heaven so he was
00:42:15.06\00:42:19.30
willing, if
necessary, to be reproved by
00:42:19.30\00:42:21.70
the king of Babylon.
00:42:21.70\00:42:24.16
Ellen White make this
interesting comment in 'Prophets
00:42:24.16\00:42:27.06
and Kings' page 482,
"but Daniel did not hesitate.
00:42:27.06\00:42:31.23
"The approval of God was
dearer to him than the favor
00:42:31.23\00:42:35.36
"of the most powerful
earthly potentate, dearer than
00:42:35.36\00:42:39.20
"life itself, he
determined to stand firm in his
00:42:39.20\00:42:43.00
"integrity let the
result be what it may. "
00:42:43.00\00:42:46.36
What was important to Daniel?
00:42:46.36\00:42:48.76
What was that
important to Daniel?
00:42:48.76\00:42:50.80
The approval of God.
00:42:50.80\00:42:54.06
Have you made a
decision in your life where you
00:42:54.06\00:42:58.06
have said, the
approval of God is the most
00:42:58.06\00:43:02.30
important thing in my life?
00:43:02.30\00:43:04.96
When a decision comes between
doing what you want to do, that
00:43:04.96\00:43:12.96
may not be in harmony
with God's will, and doing what
00:43:12.96\00:43:16.90
you ought to do,
what decision do you make?
00:43:16.90\00:43:21.43
You see conversion
comes at the point of a test.
00:43:21.43\00:43:25.86
Deeper conversions
come at the point of a test.
00:43:25.86\00:43:30.20
When you do God's will,
when it is already in harmony
00:43:30.20\00:43:34.86
with your own
will, that is no test.
00:43:34.86\00:43:37.80
But when you make a decision
to do God's will when God's
00:43:37.80\00:43:42.40
will runs contrary to
your will, that's a test.
00:43:42.40\00:43:46.16
Now Daniel recognize
this vital truth that if he
00:43:46.16\00:43:49.86
compromised on this one point,
00:43:49.86\00:43:52.20
he would continue to compromise.
00:43:52.20\00:43:54.46
Ellen White points this
out clearly continuing to read
00:43:54.46\00:43:58.86
on page 482, in 'Prophets
and Kings' and it says this,
00:43:58.86\00:44:04.20
"God's richest blessings
do not come to those who
00:44:04.20\00:44:09.46
"compromise their integrity. "
00:44:09.46\00:44:11.83
Can you say that
together with me this morning?
00:44:11.83\00:44:16.30
God's richest blessings
do not come to those that
00:44:16.30\00:44:20.76
compromise their integrity.
00:44:20.76\00:44:23.73
Again, God's richest
blessings do not come to those
00:44:23.73\00:44:30.50
that compromise their integrity.
00:44:30.50\00:44:33.00
How many of you want
God's richest blessings today?
00:44:33.00\00:44:35.53
How many are going to do
your will rather than God's?
00:44:35.53\00:44:38.13
I knew some of you were
paying attention and thinking.
00:44:38.13\00:44:40.30
That's why you always have
to throw in a trick question.
00:44:40.30\00:44:42.43
Audience laughing.
00:44:42.43\00:44:44.33
God's richest blessings
come from those that do not do
00:44:44.33\00:44:51.83
what? Compromise
their what? Integrity.
00:44:51.83\00:44:56.20
How many want God's
richest blessings again?
00:44:56.20\00:44:59.83
How many want to say
God, whatever you want me
00:44:59.83\00:45:03.43
to do, I want to do it?
00:45:03.43\00:45:05.00
Even if it crosses my own
will, God wants to bless you
00:45:05.00\00:45:09.10
abundantly, now look I
continue the reading in Prophets
00:45:09.10\00:45:13.16
in Kings page 482, this
is a powerful statement.
00:45:13.16\00:45:16.46
"Should Daniel and his
companions compromised with
00:45:16.46\00:45:20.10
"wrong in this instance,
by yielding to the pressure of
00:45:20.10\00:45:24.20
"circumstances, their
departure from principle would
00:45:24.20\00:45:27.36
"weaken their sense of
right and abhorrence to wrong. "
00:45:27.36\00:45:31.16
You see it's not the
thing you do in compromise is
00:45:31.16\00:45:35.90
always so grossly evil,
it is not the thing you do
00:45:35.90\00:45:39.73
necessarily, but it is
the process that the mind goes
00:45:39.73\00:45:43.53
through in doing
it, are you with me?
00:45:43.53\00:45:46.06
To make a decision that is
contrary to the will of God,
00:45:46.06\00:45:51.13
when in my heart I know
and am convicted by the Spirit
00:45:51.13\00:45:55.90
and convicted by the word
it's wrong, it is not always
00:45:55.90\00:46:00.13
that the thing I do is so
wrong, but it is the process
00:46:00.13\00:46:04.33
that leads me to do
it which is compromise.
00:46:04.33\00:46:08.80
One compromise leads to
what? The next, and the next,
00:46:08.80\00:46:12.10
and the next and soon I
am doing things that I never
00:46:12.10\00:46:15.40
imagine that I would ever do.
00:46:15.40\00:46:17.00
God is looking for a
generation of youth that will
00:46:17.00\00:46:20.70
maintain their
integrity and be loyal to God at
00:46:20.70\00:46:24.73
any cost, in His word,
like Daniel purposed in his
00:46:24.73\00:46:28.73
heart to serve God.
00:46:28.73\00:46:30.33
Daniel would not
compromise his integrity by
00:46:30.33\00:46:32.40
breaking God's law under
any circumstances in his life.
00:46:32.40\00:46:38.26
God's superstars know
how to thrive in adversity.
00:46:38.26\00:46:45.76
God's superstars understand
the significance of who
00:46:45.76\00:46:51.73
they are in Christ, and
who they are as the final
00:46:51.73\00:46:57.66
end-time movement they maintain.
00:46:57.66\00:47:00.50
Their identity, they
don't compromise their identity.
00:47:00.50\00:47:03.06
They are
unashamed of that identity.
00:47:03.06\00:47:06.70
They sense that God has
raised up a last day movement.
00:47:06.70\00:47:11.30
God's superstars live
lives of loyal integrity.
00:47:11.30\00:47:17.00
Now there is one last
thing about God's superstars.
00:47:17.00\00:47:22.63
Daniel 1:9, they know
where to place their trust.
00:47:22.63\00:47:27.90
God is bigger
than their problems.
00:47:27.90\00:47:31.00
They sense the importance
of identity and maintaining
00:47:31.00\00:47:36.96
who they are, they
recognize the significance of
00:47:36.96\00:47:41.20
compromise and they
thrive in adversity.
00:47:41.20\00:47:46.03
They cling to identity,
they maintain their integrity,
00:47:46.03\00:47:53.13
but there is the
last thing about them.
00:47:53.13\00:47:55.10
They leave a legacy,
God's superstars leave a legacy.
00:47:55.10\00:48:01.16
Daniel 1:9, "now God
brought Daniel into favor and
00:48:01.16\00:48:07.13
"goodwill with the chief of
the Eunuchs," because Daniel
00:48:07.13\00:48:12.16
was loyal to God, Daniel
could make an impact on the
00:48:12.16\00:48:17.13
whole Babylonian
empire, he left a legacy.
00:48:17.13\00:48:24.40
Daniel 1:20, Daniel
1:20, the Bible says,
00:48:24.40\00:48:31.60
"and in all matters of
wisdom and understanding about
00:48:31.60\00:48:37.16
"which the king examine
them, he found them 10 times
00:48:37.16\00:48:41.23
"better than all the
magicians and astrologers that
00:48:41.23\00:48:45.26
"were in his realm. "
00:48:45.26\00:48:47.16
Daniel was elevated to the
head of the class in Babylon.
00:48:47.16\00:48:50.46
He impressed and
influenced the professors in the
00:48:50.46\00:48:55.13
University of Babylon.
00:48:55.13\00:48:56.93
When you thrive in adversity,
when you understand your
00:48:56.93\00:49:00.20
identity, when you purpose
in your heart to serve God
00:49:00.20\00:49:03.83
and maintain your integrity,
God blesses what you do
00:49:03.83\00:49:07.63
and you become an impact
on scores of people all around
00:49:07.63\00:49:11.40
you, you leave a legacy.
00:49:11.40\00:49:13.00
You leave footprints in
the sand of time and life for
00:49:13.00\00:49:15.90
Jesus Christ every place you go.
00:49:15.90\00:49:18.73
Daniel left a legacy.
00:49:18.73\00:49:20.26
He was elevated to the highest
position, eventually next
00:49:20.26\00:49:23.03
to the king of Babylon.
00:49:23.03\00:49:25.16
Nebuchadnezzar trusted
Daniel, he sensed Daniel was
00:49:25.16\00:49:28.70
a man of integrity.
00:49:28.70\00:49:30.60
God honors His superstars,
in my imagination I see
00:49:30.60\00:49:35.60
three men and they are
walking down streets of gold.
00:49:35.60\00:49:40.60
They're in a land called glory.
00:49:40.60\00:49:43.90
They're in a place called
eternity and I see Daniel and
00:49:43.90\00:49:49.90
he is arm and arm
with a man on his right.
00:49:49.90\00:49:51.90
That is Nebuchadnezzar,
because the Daniel 4 you have
00:49:51.90\00:49:56.90
the only chapter in the
book of Daniel not written by
00:49:56.90\00:50:01.00
Daniel, it is Nebuchadnezzar's
testimony of coming to
00:50:01.00\00:50:05.03
a knowledge of the
true God through Daniel.
00:50:05.03\00:50:07.36
Then I see another man,
Cyrus and Daniel influenced him
00:50:07.36\00:50:13.10
for the kingdom,
Daniel left a legacy.
00:50:13.10\00:50:16.60
Daniel was the difference maker.
00:50:16.60\00:50:19.30
Daniel was a world changer
and young people today who
00:50:19.30\00:50:23.43
thrive in adversity, who
are not overwhelmed by the
00:50:23.43\00:50:27.56
little problems of life.
00:50:27.56\00:50:29.53
Young people today who
know their identity as Bible
00:50:29.53\00:50:34.30
believing Seventh-day
Adventist Christians.
00:50:34.30\00:50:37.30
Young people today who
purpose in their heart will
00:50:37.30\00:50:40.70
leave a legacy, they
will be difference makers,
00:50:40.70\00:50:44.03
they will be world
changers for Jesus.
00:50:44.03\00:50:47.66
If Jesus does not come,
when life is over, when you
00:50:47.66\00:50:54.36
lay in the grave, who is
going to stand around reciting
00:50:54.36\00:51:01.00
all of your
wonderful accomplishments.
00:51:01.00\00:51:03.90
Are they going to stand
in awe over your titles?
00:51:03.90\00:51:08.80
Or are they going to
share what a spiritual blessing
00:51:08.80\00:51:13.70
to them you were and
a Godly life you lived?
00:51:13.70\00:51:17.36
Are they going to share
how compassionate you were?
00:51:17.36\00:51:20.06
How you listened
to their problems.
00:51:20.06\00:51:21.80
How you encourage
them with a Bible promise.
00:51:21.80\00:51:24.46
How you helped them
carry their burdens.
00:51:24.46\00:51:26.56
How you prayed for
them, how you shared Jesus and
00:51:26.56\00:51:28.63
His truth with them.
00:51:28.63\00:51:31.46
Will they list your
degrees or awards, the number of
00:51:31.46\00:51:34.10
committees you are, the
amount of money you had?
00:51:34.10\00:51:38.13
Never, they will share
the blessing you have been
00:51:38.13\00:51:42.10
to them, will you leave
behind a newspaper column of
00:51:42.10\00:51:45.43
accomplishments telling
people how important and great
00:51:45.43\00:51:50.70
you were, or will you leave
behind a grateful legacy of
00:51:50.70\00:51:54.26
people that have been
led to Jesus Christ because
00:51:54.26\00:51:57.80
of the legacy you left?
00:51:57.80\00:51:59.86
You see there is
nothing wrong with titles.
00:51:59.86\00:52:04.00
Titles are good things to
have, but if it ever comes
00:52:04.00\00:52:08.60
down to the choice
between a title and a testimony,
00:52:08.60\00:52:13.16
take the testimony every day.
00:52:13.16\00:52:15.50
Nebuchadnezzar may
have had the title,
00:52:15.50\00:52:18.03
but Daniel had the testimony.
00:52:18.03\00:52:21.06
Pharaoh may have had the title,
00:52:21.06\00:52:24.36
but Moses had the testimony.
00:52:24.36\00:52:27.60
The king of Egypt
may have had the title,
00:52:27.60\00:52:30.00
but Joseph had the testimony.
00:52:30.00\00:52:33.46
Queen Jezebel may
have had the title,
00:52:33.46\00:52:36.20
but Elijah had the testimony.
00:52:36.20\00:52:39.46
Herod may have had the
title, but John the Baptist
00:52:39.46\00:52:42.03
had the testimony.
00:52:42.03\00:52:44.20
King Agrippa may
have had the title,
00:52:44.20\00:52:46.03
but Paul had the testimony.
00:52:46.03\00:52:49.00
Herod it may have had the title,
but Peter had the testimony.
00:52:49.00\00:52:52.96
Pilot may have had the
title, but on that cross,
00:52:52.96\00:52:57.80
with nails through His
hands, and a Crown of thorns
00:52:57.80\00:53:02.63
upon His head,
Jesus had the testimony.
00:53:02.63\00:53:07.00
Audience: Amen.
00:53:07.00\00:53:08.30
God's superstars have
something to live for,
00:53:08.30\00:53:11.06
to share God's
truth with others.
00:53:11.06\00:53:13.40
God's superstars leave a
legacy, they have a task to
00:53:13.40\00:53:17.30
fulfill, they
have a work to finish.
00:53:17.30\00:53:20.76
One all-consuming
passion fills the mind of God's
00:53:20.76\00:53:25.36
superstars today, they
are not interested in their
00:53:25.36\00:53:29.93
titles, they're not
interested in they're
00:53:29.93\00:53:32.13
accomplishments,
they're not interested primarily
00:53:32.13\00:53:35.40
in their bank accounts.
00:53:35.40\00:53:36.76
They have no self
inflated importance.
00:53:36.76\00:53:39.13
God's superstars want to
leave a legacy for Jesus Christ.
00:53:39.13\00:53:43.70
They want during this time they
are on earth to impact others
00:53:43.70\00:53:48.23
lives for the kingdom.
00:53:48.23\00:53:49.76
One all important thought
influences everything they do.
00:53:49.76\00:53:52.93
One all embracing purpose
feels their life, to share
00:53:52.93\00:53:56.06
Jesus Christ and
His love of others.
00:53:56.06\00:53:58.50
Your influence can make
a difference, you can leave
00:53:58.50\00:54:01.26
a legacy for the kingdom today.
00:54:01.26\00:54:03.30
Would you like to say
Lord, I am not going to give up
00:54:04.96\00:54:09.86
in adversity, whatever
the devil throws at me I know
00:54:09.86\00:54:14.73
where to place my trust.
00:54:14.73\00:54:16.23
God is bigger than my problems.
00:54:16.23\00:54:19.00
Today would you like to
say, Lord, I sense that I am
00:54:19.00\00:54:24.30
part of a movement
that is far greater,
00:54:24.30\00:54:27.03
far bigger than I am.
00:54:27.03\00:54:29.00
I am a Seventh-day
Adventist Christian.
00:54:29.00\00:54:32.70
I never want to do
anything that would betray the
00:54:35.13\00:54:39.43
trust that God
has given to me as a
00:54:39.43\00:54:41.50
Seventh-day
Adventist young person.
00:54:41.50\00:54:43.50
I cannot turn my back on
the Christ that has called me
00:54:43.50\00:54:48.13
to His last day movement.
00:54:48.13\00:54:50.73
There is nothing grander,
nothing bigger or greater.
00:54:50.73\00:54:53.53
Lord when it comes to a
decision between my will and
00:54:55.90\00:55:00.93
Yours, I want to purpose
in my heart to serve You.
00:55:00.93\00:55:07.90
Lord the goal of my
life, the goal of my life is
00:55:07.90\00:55:14.83
to leave a legacy, to
touch somebody's life for Jesus.
00:55:14.83\00:55:19.26
To influence somebody
for the kingdom of God.
00:55:19.26\00:55:22.60
Everything earthly will
be consumed in the flames of
00:55:22.60\00:55:29.70
the presence of
God when He comes.
00:55:29.70\00:55:34.70
Houses gone, cars gone,
titles and degrees gone, but one
00:55:34.70\00:55:41.43
thing lasts forever, when
you share Jesus with someone
00:55:41.43\00:55:47.60
when you share His truth
with somebody, when your heart
00:55:47.60\00:55:52.46
is filled with a passion
to touch somebody for Jesus,
00:55:52.46\00:55:57.30
that is going to last forever.
00:55:57.30\00:56:00.43
So they that are wise
shall shine as the brightness of
00:56:00.43\00:56:05.23
what? The firmament, and
as stars forever and ever.
00:56:05.23\00:56:10.00
Do you want your life
today to something big?
00:56:10.00\00:56:12.56
Do you want to commit your
life today to something grand?
00:56:12.56\00:56:15.16
Do you want to say Jesus,
just now I'm going to stand
00:56:15.16\00:56:18.33
to stand my feet and say
Lord, I want to be part of
00:56:18.33\00:56:23.30
a generation of young
people and adults called by God
00:56:23.30\00:56:28.20
for this special
last day movement.
00:56:28.20\00:56:32.20