Welcome to Anchors Of
Truth from Oakwood University
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in Huntsville, Alabama.
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When The End Is
Just The Beginning,
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with Pastor Debleaire Snell.
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Good evening and
welcome to Oakwood University.
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You know, it occurs to
me, reading the Word of God,
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Paul, in his letter
to the Corinthian church,
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tried to convey two
fairly dissimilar ideas.
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He talked about foolishness, and
he also talked about preaching.
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And perhaps it was because
of a cosmopolitan nature of
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the Corinthian church and
the people that were coming in
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that he tried to bring
these two ideas together.
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And of course, the touchstone
of his message is found in
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1 Corinthians 1:21,
where he says, it pleased God
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that through the foolishness
of the message preached
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men and women would be saved.
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Through the foolishness
of the message preached.
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And I was thinking about
that, because as it has pleased
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the Holy Spirit and
us to be in this place,
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in ruminating on
the message last night
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and anticipating the
message tonight, it occurs to me
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that an argument could be made
that a whole lot of foolishness
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went on in here on last evening.
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Amen.
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And we're going to anticipate
more foolishness tonight.
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And on tomorrow
night and on Sabbath.
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It is my pleasure.
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My name is C.A. Murray.
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I'm the Production Manager for
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Three Angels
Broadcasting Network.
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And it is indeed my privilege
and pleasure to welcome you
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to night number two of
our Anchors Of Truth series.
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We are so very, very pleased and
excited to be on the campus of
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Oakwood University.
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I almost wanted to say
Oakwood College, because
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that's what it was
when I and Ms. Ratliff
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were here many, many years ago.
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But it is now
Oakwood University.
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And we are at the
university church,
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and so very, very
happy and please to be here.
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We anticipate a
wonderful message this evening.
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Our preacher is
Pastor Debleaire Snell.
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I talked with him
just a little bit.
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He is a 1999 graduate
of this fine institution.
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A 2001 graduate with his
MDiv at Andrews University,
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and is now the
senior pastor of the
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First
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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here in Huntsville, Alabama.
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And has distinguished himself as
a strong preacher of the Word.
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He is the husband of
one wife, praise the Lord.
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Her name is Gianna.
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And the father of one
son. His name is Jadon.
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2.5 exuberant years.
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Can the church say amen?
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And he will come
to us from the Word.
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His title, the title for
his message this evening is,
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When The End Is
Just The Beginning.
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An intriguing title.
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And we expect much from
the man of God this very night.
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Behind me sits an extremely
lovely group of young people.
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These are good
looking young people.
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And if they sing
as good as they look,
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we are in for a
treat this evening.
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This is the University Choir.
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Also a fine group
of young people here at
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Oakwood University.
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And they are going to be
singing, We Are Surrounded.
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Dr. Ferdinand is doing a very,
very fine job with this group,
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and of course with the Aeolians.
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I'm going to ask just
now for our chaplain...
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And I want to
get her name right.
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My eyes are
playing with me here.
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Kimberly. Yes, Kimberly.
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Come, please, and bring
us to the throne of grace
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and the presence of the Lord.
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And then we'll have our choir.
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Let us bow our heads as we pray.
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Dear heavenly Father, we
thank You so much for the
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privilege of today.
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We thank You for the opportunity
to come together in Your house
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and to hear a word from You.
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Father God, dwell with us,
be with us, bless this speaker.
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Father God, may everything
said and done and sung here
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tonight give You
honor and praise and glory.
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We thank You. We invite You.
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In Jesus' precious
holy name we pray, amen.
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We were given to understand in
talking with Dr. Pollard earlier
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today that there are four
chaplains at Oakwood University.
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And I think that
bespeaks the emphasis put on the
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spiritual life of the
young people here at this
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very fine institution.
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We will hear now
the University Choir.
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And then the next voice you will
hear will be that of our pastor,
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our friend,
Pastor Debleaire Snell.
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We are surrounded
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by a great cloud of witnesses,
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looking on, encouraging us
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to do the will of the Lord.
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We are surrounded
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by a great cloud of witnesses.
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Let us stand worthy
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and be faithful to God's call.
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We must not grow weary
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doing what is right;
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as we run with joy the race,
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we must run with all our might.
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We must lay all
earthly things aside
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that would hold us down.
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We must claim the victory
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if we would win the crown.
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We are surrounded
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by a great cloud of witnesses,
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looking on, encouraging us
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to do the will of the Lord.
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We are surrounded
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by a great cloud of witnesses.
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Let us stand worthy
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and be faithful to God's call.
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Amen.
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Can the church of
the living God say amen?
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God has been real, real good.
You ought to say hallelujah.
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If you serve a mighty God, let's
just put our hands together and
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give Jesus a great big hand
clap of praise this evening.
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I don't know about you, but
I was excited to hear the Word,
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and just have an
opportunity to be in the house
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of the Lord one more time.
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Can you say amen?
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I do just want to say a special
word of thanks to Dr. Pollard,
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our president, to Pastor Murray
for those very kind words of
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introduction, and for Dr.
Byrd, a very fine pastor of this
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amazing church
right here at Oakwood.
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And we extend a very special
welcome to all of our viewers
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from across the world.
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We welcome you right
here to Huntsville, Alabama.
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Let's give then a
good Huntsville welcome.
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Can you say amen tonight?
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Tonight, we want to jump
right on into the Word of God.
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Is that alright?
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And so, we would ask
that you will go with me
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in your Bibles to the
book of Daniel chapter 3.
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The book of Daniel chapter
3, and we'll begin together at
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verse number 1.
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And we will kind of skip around
until we get to the conclusion
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of our sermonic text tonight.
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Daniel chapter 3, and
we're going to look together
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at verse number 1,
as we continue in our
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Anchors Of Truth series.
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And we're grateful
for this amazing thing,
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The Battle Is The Lord's.
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And I believe that to be a
knowledge that is imperative
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for us, especially as a
people preparing for the coming
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of the Lord, who shall shortly
endure a time of trouble.
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Daniel chapter 3, looking
together at verse number 1.
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Again, when you have it,
let me hear you say amen.
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A familiar story to many of us.
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The Bible says, "Nebuchadnezzar
the king made an image of gold,
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whose height was sixty
cubits and its width six cubits.
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And he set it up in the plain of
Dura in the province of Babylon.
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And King Nebuchadnezzar
sent word to gather together
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the satraps, the administrators,
the governors, the counselors,
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the treasurers, the
judges, and the magistrates,
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and all the officials of
the provinces, to come to the
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dedication of the image which
King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
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So the satraps,
the administrators,
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the governors, the counselors,
the treasurers, the judges,
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the magistrates, and all
the officials of the provinces
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gathered together for
the dedication of the image
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that King
Nebuchadnezzar had set up;
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and they stood before the image
that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
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Then a herald cried
aloud, 'To you it is commanded,
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O peoples, nations,
and languages, that at the
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time you hear the
sound of the horn, the flute,
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the harp, the lyre, and
psaltery, in symphony with
00:11:06.67\00:11:10.09
all kinds of music, you
shall fall down and...'" What?
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"...worship the gold image that
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King
Nebuchadnezzar has set up...
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...and who does not fall
down and worship shall be
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cast immediately into the midst
of a burning fiery furnace."
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Then the Bible says in verse 8,
"Therefore at that time certain
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Chaldeans came
forward and accused the Jews.
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And they spoke and
said to King Nebuchadnezzar,
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'O king, live forever.
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You, O king, have made
a decree that everyone who
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hears the sound of the horn,
the flute, the harp, the lyre,
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and psaltery, in symphony
with all kinds of music,
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shall fall down and
worship the golden image;
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and whoever does not
fall and worship shall be cast
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into the midst of a
burning fiery furnace.
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There are certain Jews whom
you have set over the affairs
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of the province of
Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach,
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and Abed-Nego; these
men, O king, have not
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paid due regard to you.
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They do not serve your gods
nor worship the golden image
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which you have set up.'"
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Then in verse 14, the Bible
says, "Nebuchadnezzar spoke,
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saying unto them, 'Is
it true, Shadrach, Meshach,
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and Abed-Nego, that
you do not serve my gods
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or worship the golden
image which I have set up?
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Now if you are ready at the
time you hear the sound of the
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the horn, the flute, the
harp, the lyre, and psaltery,
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in symphony with all kinds
of music, and you fall down
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and worship the image
which I have made, good.
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But if you do not worship,
you shall be cast immediately
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into the midst of a
burning fiery furnace.
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And who is the god who
will deliver you from my hands?'
00:13:01.98\00:13:06.86
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego
answered and said to the king,
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'O Nebuchadnezzar, we
have no need to answer you
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in this matter.
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If that is the case, our
God whom we serve is able to
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deliver us from the burning
fiery furnace, and He will
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deliver us from
your hand, O king.
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But if not...'"
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Are there any "if not" believers
in the house of God tonight?
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"But even if not,"
the Word of God says,
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"'let it be known to you O king,
that we do not serve your gods,
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nor will we worship the golden
image which you have set up.'
00:13:45.20\00:13:47.97
Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of
fury, and the expression on his
00:13:48.64\00:13:51.90
face changed toward Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-Nego.
00:13:51.93\00:13:55.76
And he spoke and commanded
them to heat the furnace
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seven times more than
it was usually heated.
00:13:59.69\00:14:03.62
And he commanded certain
mighty men of valor who were
00:14:03.92\00:14:06.45
in the army to bind Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-Nego,
00:14:06.48\00:14:09.89
and cast them into
the burning fiery furnace.
00:14:09.92\00:14:12.93
Then these men were bound
in their coats, their trousers,
00:14:13.29\00:14:16.73
their turbans, and their
other garments, and were cast
00:14:16.76\00:14:19.32
into the midst of the
burning fiery furnace.
00:14:19.35\00:14:22.21
Therefore, because the
king's command was urgent,
00:14:22.24\00:14:25.00
and the furnace exceedingly hot,
the flame of the fire killed
00:14:25.03\00:14:28.96
those men who took up Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-Nego."
00:14:28.99\00:14:32.57
Then the Bible says in verse
24, "Then King Nebuchadnezzar
00:14:33.05\00:14:37.22
was astonished; and he rose in
haste and spoke, saying to his
00:14:37.25\00:14:42.56
counselors, 'Did we
not cast three men bound
00:14:42.59\00:14:47.60
into the midst of the fire?'
00:14:47.63\00:14:49.32
And they answered and said
to the king, 'True, O king.'
00:14:49.68\00:14:53.41
'Look!' he answered, 'I see
four men loose, in the fire;
00:14:53.81\00:14:59.44
and they are not hurt.
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And the form of the
fourth is like the Son of God.'"
00:15:01.24\00:15:06.65
Tonight, saints, I
want to tell you what to do
00:15:07.22\00:15:10.80
when the music stops.
00:15:11.47\00:15:13.31
What to do when the music stops.
00:15:14.20\00:15:15.59
Let us pray together.
00:15:15.62\00:15:16.99
Father, in this
moment I lower myself
00:15:21.26\00:15:25.68
that You might be exalted.
00:15:26.12\00:15:28.03
I pray that in the
hearing of Your Word,
00:15:29.92\00:15:33.25
that faith might be
multiplied exponentially,
00:15:33.55\00:15:36.78
that we might be prepared
to endure the times of testing
00:15:37.22\00:15:40.45
that are to come.
00:15:40.48\00:15:41.86
And so, Lord, we pray that
You would permit Your goodness
00:15:42.43\00:15:45.22
to pass before us and allow
us to behold as much of You
00:15:45.25\00:15:49.51
as our eyes can stand to bear.
00:15:49.54\00:15:51.58
And I pray, Lord, that You
would hide me in the shadow
00:15:51.88\00:15:54.22
of the cross that
Jesus alone might be seen,
00:15:54.25\00:15:57.40
that Christ
alone might be heard,
00:15:57.43\00:15:59.18
and that Christ
alone be praised.
00:15:59.21\00:16:01.25
We pray this in the
blessed name of Jesus.
00:16:01.28\00:16:03.52
Let those that
believe say together, "amen."
00:16:03.87\00:16:06.51
And amen.
00:16:07.10\00:16:08.47
Most of us have probably never
heard the name, Rachel Scott.
00:16:09.64\00:16:14.83
She was a young lady
from Littleton, Colorado
00:16:15.06\00:16:18.57
where she attended
Columbine High School.
00:16:18.60\00:16:21.50
Many of us remember Columbine.
00:16:21.82\00:16:24.14
Rachel was active in
her church youth group.
00:16:24.78\00:16:27.86
She was a member
of her church choir.
00:16:27.89\00:16:31.00
She was a leader of
a school prayer band.
00:16:31.03\00:16:34.19
But most of all, Rachel
was a bona fide believer.
00:16:34.22\00:16:38.47
You see, she went to school
on April 20, 1999 like it was
00:16:39.00\00:16:43.33
any other day.
00:16:43.36\00:16:44.73
She ate lunch with her friends,
she attended her classes,
00:16:44.90\00:16:49.09
she exchanged
notes with her friends.
00:16:49.12\00:16:51.31
It started out
like any other day.
00:16:51.69\00:16:54.65
She had no idea of the choices
she would suddenly have to make.
00:16:54.68\00:16:59.65
You see, the night
before, two of her classmates
00:17:00.39\00:17:03.06
spent time in a dark basement.
00:17:03.09\00:17:05.47
Instructed by Satan,
Eric Harris and Dylon Klebold
00:17:05.65\00:17:10.44
planned war
against teenage believers.
00:17:10.47\00:17:13.63
With heavy metal
driving them to their extremes,
00:17:13.84\00:17:17.08
they sawed off
shotguns, built bombs,
00:17:17.11\00:17:20.30
and loaded
their assault weapons.
00:17:20.33\00:17:22.91
Their plan; to kill
over 500 people and gun down
00:17:23.11\00:17:27.77
anybody who
professed the name of Jesus.
00:17:27.80\00:17:30.91
The next day, they entered
the school; shooting and killing
00:17:31.27\00:17:34.65
twelve people and
wounding 34 others.
00:17:34.68\00:17:39.57
They would seek out those
that they knew to be Christians
00:17:39.60\00:17:42.79
and they would gun
them down on the spot.
00:17:42.82\00:17:45.39
Eventually, they reached
the place where Rachel was
00:17:45.71\00:17:48.83
eating lunch with her friends.
00:17:48.86\00:17:50.89
They approached her
with malice in their hearts
00:17:50.92\00:17:53.95
and rifles in their hands.
00:17:53.98\00:17:56.13
They invited all of
those that professed Jesus
00:17:56.25\00:17:59.69
to stand up to their feet.
00:17:59.72\00:18:02.01
And Rachel was the
first one to stand up.
00:18:02.04\00:18:05.39
They placed the gun
right on the temple of her head
00:18:05.71\00:18:09.68
as they made
the hostile inquiry,
00:18:09.71\00:18:12.28
"Do you believe in Jesus?"
00:18:12.31\00:18:15.20
With a bullet just
inches from her brain
00:18:15.46\00:18:18.41
and tears streaming
down her face, she responded
00:18:18.44\00:18:22.45
in a resounding,
"Yes, I believe."
00:18:22.48\00:18:26.60
Heaven watched
with great anticipation,
00:18:26.63\00:18:29.40
hell watched with
strange eagerness,
00:18:29.43\00:18:31.96
and her friends
watched with great sadness,
00:18:31.99\00:18:34.65
as the contents of
her brain were splattered
00:18:34.68\00:18:37.39
across the sidewalk.
00:18:37.42\00:18:39.13
Cut down in her prime
because of her belief in Jesus.
00:18:39.54\00:18:44.05
And as a nation, we collectively
mourn this tragic loss of life.
00:18:44.08\00:18:48.41
And in the aftermath, it
was interesting to hear what
00:18:48.72\00:18:51.54
the commentators said.
00:18:51.57\00:18:53.25
Some said they
couldn't understand why she
00:18:53.28\00:18:55.92
couldn't just be still.
00:18:55.95\00:18:57.71
Some said she'd still be alive
if she had just kept silent.
00:18:57.74\00:19:02.27
But I want to suggest
tonight that there was a reason
00:19:02.30\00:19:04.97
she couldn't be still.
00:19:05.00\00:19:06.54
There was a reason
she couldn't be silent.
00:19:06.57\00:19:09.41
You see, when God has
done something for you,
00:19:09.71\00:19:12.94
when you have tasted and
seen that the Lord is good,
00:19:12.97\00:19:16.34
when God has been your
bridge over troubled water,
00:19:16.37\00:19:20.07
you can't be still,
you can't keep silent.
00:19:20.10\00:19:24.02
You've got to tell somebody
about what God has done for you.
00:19:24.05\00:19:28.62
See, understand, David said,
"I will tell of Thy testimonies
00:19:28.65\00:19:32.92
and not be ashamed."
00:19:32.95\00:19:34.66
Jeremiah says, "It's like
having fire shut up in my bones,
00:19:34.69\00:19:39.24
and I just can't
keep it to myself."
00:19:39.27\00:19:41.83
Paul says, "I'm not ashamed
of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:19:41.86\00:19:46.04
For it is the power
of God unto salvation."
00:19:46.07\00:19:49.15
And so, beloved, I don't
cry for young Rachel tonight.
00:19:49.18\00:19:52.27
Because if I've got to
go, I want to go in Jesus.
00:19:52.30\00:19:55.61
Can you say amen?
00:19:55.64\00:19:57.01
And I believe, beloved,
that if you're not willing to
00:19:57.04\00:19:59.88
die for something, then you
don't have anything to live for.
00:19:59.91\00:20:03.27
Is there a
witness in this place?
00:20:03.30\00:20:05.09
Understand, the Word of God
says, "Blessed are they that
00:20:05.12\00:20:07.85
die in the Lord, for
their works do follow them."
00:20:07.88\00:20:11.20
And so, if I've got
to die, don't let it be
00:20:11.23\00:20:14.01
because cancer is
eating away at my bones.
00:20:14.04\00:20:16.63
If I've got to die, don't
let it be because I ran my mouth
00:20:16.66\00:20:20.12
at the wrong person.
00:20:20.15\00:20:21.52
Paul says that,
"To live is Christ.
00:20:21.55\00:20:24.22
But even if I die, is gain."
00:20:24.25\00:20:26.75
So even if I die in the
Lord, my wife can still rejoice
00:20:26.78\00:20:31.08
because we believe in the
power of the resurrection.
00:20:31.11\00:20:34.50
See, friends of mine,
I believe we're on the
00:20:34.53\00:20:37.04
precipice of eternity.
00:20:37.07\00:20:38.67
Can you say amen?
00:20:38.70\00:20:40.07
I believe we're on
the verge of hearing the
00:20:40.10\00:20:42.23
sound of the trumpet.
00:20:42.26\00:20:43.99
I believe we're going to
hear the shout of the archangel.
00:20:44.02\00:20:46.96
I believe we're going to
see death go hide in the corner.
00:20:46.99\00:20:50.50
We're going to see
the grave call 911.
00:20:50.53\00:20:53.52
We're going to see hell
go into witness protection.
00:20:53.55\00:20:57.15
We're going to watch
the sky recede as a scroll
00:20:57.18\00:21:00.19
as Jesus comes to
receive us as His own.
00:21:00.39\00:21:03.92
Can you say amen today?
00:21:03.95\00:21:05.43
And so, go with me if you will
to the book of Daniel chapter 2
00:21:06.20\00:21:09.77
and verse 47, as we get
into the Word of God tonight.
00:21:09.80\00:21:12.83
The Bible says that, "The
king answered Daniel and said,
00:21:13.04\00:21:16.74
'Truly your God is the God
of gods and the Lord of kings,
00:21:16.77\00:21:22.71
and a revealer of
secrets, since He was able
00:21:22.74\00:21:26.58
to reveal this secret.'"
00:21:26.61\00:21:28.51
Now, there are some particular
issues in Nebuchadnezzar's life
00:21:28.54\00:21:32.82
that lead to his downfall.
00:21:32.85\00:21:35.02
And one of Nebuchadnezzar's
first problems is that
00:21:35.05\00:21:37.97
he does not make
praise a discipline.
00:21:38.00\00:21:40.52
Can you say amen?
00:21:40.55\00:21:41.92
You see, one of the
things about Nebuchadnezzar
00:21:41.95\00:21:44.42
is that, in chapter 2, God
had given to him a dream that
00:21:44.45\00:21:48.66
he could not recall, neither
was he able to interpret.
00:21:48.70\00:21:52.69
And through the
prophetic ministry of Daniel,
00:21:52.72\00:21:55.62
God was able to help
him recall the dream,
00:21:55.65\00:21:58.68
and also give him the
interpretation of the dream.
00:21:58.71\00:22:02.50
And Nebuchadnezzar
does a stark contrast.
00:22:02.53\00:22:05.72
For when he sees the impotence
of his astrologers and his
00:22:05.75\00:22:09.19
deities, and he compares
it with the power of Jehovah
00:22:09.22\00:22:12.87
manifest in Daniel, he declares
this shout of praise that,
00:22:12.90\00:22:16.97
"Your God is the God of gods,
and the King of all kings."
00:22:17.00\00:22:21.31
But in chapter 3, we
find him allowing idolatry to
00:22:21.34\00:22:25.59
creep back into his life.
00:22:25.62\00:22:27.24
In fact, Ellen White
says that as he sees to praise
00:22:27.27\00:22:31.20
and honor Jehovah,
idolatry began to slowly
00:22:31.23\00:22:35.19
creep back into his heart.
00:22:35.22\00:22:36.97
And there is a striking
deducement that can be made.
00:22:37.00\00:22:40.72
That as praise
begins to go down,
00:22:40.75\00:22:43.79
idolatry begins to increase.
00:22:43.82\00:22:46.50
And so, the cure for
idolatry is a life of perpetual
00:22:46.53\00:22:50.99
worship and praise.
00:22:51.02\00:22:52.39
Let the redeemed say amen.
00:22:52.42\00:22:54.22
And understand that when
I talk about praise tonight,
00:22:54.25\00:22:57.05
I'm not talking about just
a corporate shout of praise
00:22:57.08\00:23:00.39
or some random
eruption of the soul.
00:23:00.42\00:23:03.37
How many of us know
that praise is threefold?
00:23:03.40\00:23:05.74
Come on and say amen.
00:23:05.77\00:23:07.14
First of all, praise
is the acknowledgement
00:23:07.17\00:23:09.27
that there is a God
who is greater than I.
00:23:09.30\00:23:11.78
Second, praise is the
complete abandonment of self.
00:23:11.81\00:23:15.54
And third,
praise is acknowledging
00:23:15.57\00:23:18.29
that every good and
perfect gift comes from God.
00:23:18.32\00:23:21.31
What do you say?
00:23:21.34\00:23:22.71
And so, praise is the practice
of taking my eyes off of myself
00:23:22.74\00:23:27.04
and locking my eyes on Jesus.
00:23:27.07\00:23:29.33
Come on and say amen.
00:23:29.36\00:23:30.73
And there are some of
us like Nebuchadnezzar
00:23:30.76\00:23:32.68
that have become
situational worshippers.
00:23:32.71\00:23:35.87
Where we become subject
to idolatry because we've
00:23:35.90\00:23:39.98
not made praise a discipline.
00:23:40.01\00:23:42.04
Am I making
sense to you tonight?
00:23:42.07\00:23:43.56
You see, there are certain types
of situational worshippers.
00:23:43.59\00:23:46.83
The first type of situational
worshipper is what I call,
00:23:46.86\00:23:50.19
an environmental worshipper.
00:23:50.22\00:23:52.33
See, this is the kind of person
who moves from church to church,
00:23:52.73\00:23:55.88
and fellowship to fellowship,
and broadcast to broadcast,
00:23:55.91\00:23:59.75
because they're
waiting for the right climate
00:23:59.78\00:24:02.12
where they can praise God.
00:24:02.15\00:24:03.86
See, these are the
kind of folk who say,
00:24:03.89\00:24:05.38
"I can't praise God
in this church because
00:24:05.41\00:24:07.91
it's not loud enough."
00:24:07.94\00:24:09.31
"They don't have the
right kind of music."
00:24:09.34\00:24:10.79
"They don't really say amen."
00:24:10.82\00:24:12.58
Others say, "I can't
praise God in that church
00:24:12.61\00:24:15.17
because they're
too loud over there."
00:24:15.20\00:24:17.41
Some say, "I can't
praise God in this place
00:24:17.44\00:24:20.06
because they look at you
funny when you say amen."
00:24:20.09\00:24:23.18
But folk, if
somebody looking at you funny
00:24:23.21\00:24:25.79
is going to stop you
from praising the Lord,
00:24:25.82\00:24:27.87
you don't really
love Him tonight.
00:24:27.90\00:24:29.32
Come on and say amen.
00:24:29.35\00:24:30.72
In other words, I don't need
a certain environment to praise.
00:24:30.75\00:24:34.58
All I've got to do is
think of the goodness of Jesus.
00:24:34.61\00:24:38.56
Is there a witness
in this room tonight?
00:24:38.59\00:24:40.60
In other words, I don't take
my praise cues from nobody else.
00:24:40.63\00:24:44.46
I don't need to see
nobody else lift up a holy hand.
00:24:44.49\00:24:47.56
I don't need to hear
anybody else say amen.
00:24:47.59\00:24:50.47
I don't have to wait for you
to stand to get up on my feet.
00:24:50.50\00:24:53.57
All I've got to do
is think about where God
00:24:53.60\00:24:56.53
has brought me from.
00:24:56.56\00:24:58.11
Are you hearing the
word of God tonight?
00:24:58.14\00:24:59.99
Listen, beloved, listen.
00:25:00.29\00:25:01.66
If you were in
my office with me,
00:25:01.69\00:25:03.69
sometimes you'd see a
praise party just me and Jesus.
00:25:03.72\00:25:06.94
I'll praise Him
in a quiet church.
00:25:06.97\00:25:08.98
I'll give Him
glory in a loud church.
00:25:09.01\00:25:11.26
If you pull up next to me at a
red light, you might see a show.
00:25:11.29\00:25:14.53
Are you hearing me today?
00:25:14.56\00:25:16.03
Because God has been
that good to His people.
00:25:16.06\00:25:19.48
You've got folk
comment, "I can't praise God
00:25:19.74\00:25:21.80
because it's too quiet."
00:25:21.83\00:25:23.20
And you've got others
saying, "I can't praise God
00:25:23.23\00:25:24.93
in that church
because it's too loud."
00:25:24.96\00:25:26.51
Folk, if you let some
drums run you out of the church,
00:25:26.54\00:25:29.82
what are you going to do when
we're in prison for the faith
00:25:29.85\00:25:32.89
and in the catacombs and
the caverns for the faith?
00:25:32.92\00:25:35.75
And if you can't praise Him
in a little noise down here,
00:25:35.78\00:25:39.35
what are you going to
do when we get to heaven?
00:25:39.38\00:25:41.47
Come on and say amen.
00:25:41.50\00:25:42.87
Listen, I've read the book
of Revelation and I don't think
00:25:43.03\00:25:45.54
we're going to whisper
when we get to the other side.
00:25:45.57\00:25:48.00
I think we're going to
sing, we're going to shout,
00:25:48.03\00:25:50.84
we might do a little
sanctified electric slide.
00:25:50.87\00:25:53.60
Oh, you're not
with me in this room.
00:25:53.63\00:25:55.32
We're going to give
Him mega praise when we
00:25:55.35\00:25:58.15
get to the other side.
00:25:58.18\00:25:59.55
Let the redeemed say amen today.
00:25:59.58\00:26:01.75
The second type of
situational worshipper
00:26:02.24\00:26:05.55
is what I call, a
circumstantial worshipper.
00:26:05.58\00:26:08.52
This is the type of person
that will give God mega praise
00:26:08.55\00:26:11.82
as long as they have the job,
00:26:11.85\00:26:14.04
and as long as
they're getting the raise.
00:26:14.07\00:26:16.51
And as long as she's
got a man, she'll praise Him
00:26:16.54\00:26:19.68
to the highest.
00:26:19.71\00:26:21.08
But as soon as the
paycheck is a little late,
00:26:21.11\00:26:23.80
and as soon as the
money is a little low,
00:26:23.83\00:26:26.66
and as soon as somebody
walks out of their life,
00:26:26.69\00:26:29.57
their praise
suddenly goes silent.
00:26:29.60\00:26:31.70
Do you know that kind of person?
00:26:31.73\00:26:33.37
And one of the problems
is, the basis of worship
00:26:33.40\00:26:36.31
is not who God is.
00:26:36.34\00:26:38.43
The basis of worship
is what God is doing.
00:26:38.46\00:26:41.83
And understand, that's
why through the prophet Micah,
00:26:41.86\00:26:45.09
God revealed Himself as
the God who changes not.
00:26:45.12\00:26:49.00
So that if God was
worthy on yesterday,
00:26:49.03\00:26:51.82
then guess what?
00:26:51.85\00:26:53.22
God is still worthy on today.
00:26:53.25\00:26:55.82
See, and that's why we've
got to understand that praise
00:26:56.32\00:26:59.15
is not just a spontaneous thing.
00:26:59.18\00:27:01.49
But praise is a discipline.
00:27:01.52\00:27:03.30
Can you say amen?
00:27:03.33\00:27:04.70
Do you realize that it takes
discipline to say "thank you"
00:27:04.73\00:27:07.63
in hard times.
00:27:07.66\00:27:09.03
It's a discipline to
say "thank you" in poverty.
00:27:09.06\00:27:11.83
It's a discipline to say
"thank you" in loneliness.
00:27:11.86\00:27:15.24
It's a discipline to say "thank
you" when you're unemployed.
00:27:15.27\00:27:18.87
You see, the discipline
of gratitude is being able to
00:27:18.90\00:27:22.55
simplify in my collapsing world
and just say, "Lord, I want to
00:27:22.58\00:27:27.16
thank You that on this
day, I'm going to be seen
00:27:27.19\00:27:30.95
and not viewed."
00:27:30.98\00:27:32.35
"I just want to thank You,
Lord, that my bed has not become
00:27:32.38\00:27:36.18
my cooling board."
00:27:36.21\00:27:37.61
"Lord, I just want to thank
You for the clothes on my back,
00:27:37.64\00:27:41.66
and the shoes on my feet,
and the roof over my head."
00:27:41.69\00:27:45.60
Maybe somebody forgot to
say "thank You" this week
00:27:45.63\00:27:49.04
and you just want to
take a few moments and say,
00:27:49.07\00:27:51.63
"Lord, I thank You for the
great things You have done."
00:27:51.66\00:27:57.35
Com on and say amen tonight.
00:27:57.38\00:27:58.83
Third type of worshipper
is a forgetful worshipper.
00:27:59.79\00:28:03.73
You see, one of the things that
happens with the people of God
00:28:03.76\00:28:06.65
is that we don't do a good job
of documenting and recounting
00:28:06.68\00:28:10.68
the mighty acts
of God in our life.
00:28:10.71\00:28:13.19
In Scripture times, they would
establish an alter as a reminder
00:28:13.22\00:28:17.48
of the great things
that Jehovah had done.
00:28:17.51\00:28:20.48
And it's amazing that sometimes
the present trial will kind of
00:28:20.51\00:28:24.97
cause us to forget
about everything that God has
00:28:25.00\00:28:28.63
done in the past.
00:28:28.66\00:28:30.19
And I love what
Ellen White says.
00:28:30.22\00:28:31.99
She says we have
nothing to fear for the future
00:28:32.02\00:28:35.36
lest we forget the way
that God has led us in the past.
00:28:35.39\00:28:40.03
And the fact is, beloved,
I believe there are some
00:28:40.06\00:28:42.73
believers in this room that have
enough of a history with God
00:28:42.76\00:28:47.23
where when you look back
over your life, you've got a
00:28:47.26\00:28:49.76
mountain of evidence.
00:28:49.79\00:28:51.55
You've got a
history of opened doors.
00:28:51.58\00:28:53.84
You've got a
history of God's provision.
00:28:53.87\00:28:55.94
You've got a
history of God's healing.
00:28:55.97\00:28:58.07
You've got a history
of God's deliverance.
00:28:58.10\00:29:00.25
You don't have to be
afraid of this moment
00:29:00.28\00:29:03.11
when you remember where
God has brought you from.
00:29:03.14\00:29:06.02
Can the church say amen tonight?
00:29:06.05\00:29:07.84
So go back with me, if
you will, to Daniel chapter 3
00:29:08.50\00:29:11.27
and verse number 1.
00:29:11.30\00:29:12.67
Let's get a little
deeper into this thing.
00:29:12.70\00:29:14.07
Daniel chapter 3
and verse number 1.
00:29:14.90\00:29:17.34
When you have it,
let me hear you say amen.
00:29:17.37\00:29:18.74
The Bible says, "Nebuchadnezzar
the king made an image of gold,
00:29:19.55\00:29:23.12
whose height was sixty
cubits and its width six cubits.
00:29:23.47\00:29:27.28
And he set it up
in the plain of Dura,
00:29:27.31\00:29:29.79
in the province of Babylon."
00:29:29.82\00:29:32.17
The second problem
with Nebuchadnezzar
00:29:32.20\00:29:34.10
is that he picks a
fight with providence.
00:29:34.13\00:29:37.50
Remember in Daniel chapter
2, God had given Nebuchadnezzar
00:29:37.87\00:29:42.32
a dream of an image
that was comprised of
00:29:42.35\00:29:45.72
many different metals.
00:29:45.75\00:29:47.23
It had a head of gold.
00:29:47.26\00:29:49.24
It had chest and arms of silver.
00:29:49.27\00:29:51.71
It had a belly
and thigh of bronze.
00:29:51.74\00:29:54.25
It had legs of iron.
00:29:54.28\00:29:56.24
And the feet were a
mixture of iron and clay.
00:29:56.27\00:29:59.53
And he calls upon Daniel
to give him the interpretation
00:29:59.56\00:30:03.42
of the dream.
00:30:03.45\00:30:04.82
And what Daniel
communicates to Nebuchadnezzar
00:30:04.85\00:30:07.27
is that the purpose of
the dream is to describe
00:30:07.30\00:30:10.56
God's rulership in the earth.
00:30:10.59\00:30:12.70
And so he describes
to Nebuchadnezzar that,
00:30:12.73\00:30:15.68
"You O king,
represent the head of Gold.
00:30:15.71\00:30:18.94
But eventually, your kingdom
will be succeeded by some
00:30:18.97\00:30:22.90
inferior kingdoms that
represent the inferior metals
00:30:22.93\00:30:27.01
that go from
chest down to the toe."
00:30:27.04\00:30:29.52
So eventually there's
going to come a time where the
00:30:29.55\00:30:32.11
head of gold is
going to be replaced by the
00:30:32.14\00:30:35.01
chest and arms of
silver, which represent the
00:30:35.04\00:30:37.67
Medes and the Persians.
00:30:37.70\00:30:39.13
And that the chest and arms of
silver would be subdued by the
00:30:39.16\00:30:42.70
belly and thighs of brass,
which represents the Greeks.
00:30:42.73\00:30:45.95
And then the Greeks
would be subdued by the Romans,
00:30:45.98\00:30:48.59
which represents
the legs of iron.
00:30:48.62\00:30:50.64
And that the feet of iron and
clay would be a symbol of the
00:30:50.67\00:30:54.09
divided provinces of Europe
that would never come together.
00:30:54.12\00:30:57.50
Then he tells Nebuchadnezzar,
at the end of the dream
00:30:57.53\00:31:00.94
that there's going to come a
stone cut out of the mountain
00:31:00.97\00:31:04.01
from without hands that's
going to strike the foot of
00:31:04.04\00:31:07.25
the image, break it
into a million pieces,
00:31:07.28\00:31:10.04
and it will be
carried away like chaff.
00:31:10.07\00:31:12.42
And that same stone is going
to grow into a mighty mountain,
00:31:12.45\00:31:16.07
and it's going to last forever.
00:31:16.10\00:31:17.71
And it is a symbol
that God would establish His
00:31:17.74\00:31:20.70
eternal kingdom
that would have no end.
00:31:20.73\00:31:24.31
And the message
to Nebuchadnezzar
00:31:24.34\00:31:26.66
was that God sets up kingdoms,
and God tears them down,
00:31:26.69\00:31:30.48
and God oversees the
affairs of the entire universe.
00:31:30.51\00:31:34.24
And let me pause to say, I know
there's a lot of consternation
00:31:34.27\00:31:37.55
about what's going to happen
in the White House right now.
00:31:37.58\00:31:40.27
But I need you to know,
it doesn't matter which guy
00:31:40.30\00:31:42.24
you're rooting for, or
what party you're pulling for,
00:31:42.27\00:31:45.13
understand the invisible hand of
province is going to establish
00:31:45.16\00:31:49.27
who He establishes.
00:31:49.30\00:31:50.74
And He's going to
will what He wills.
00:31:50.77\00:31:52.87
Can you say amen?
00:31:52.90\00:31:54.27
But understand
that when Nebuchadnezzar
00:31:54.37\00:31:56.71
erects the image,
he does not erect it
00:31:56.74\00:31:59.74
as he saw it in the dream.
00:31:59.77\00:32:01.68
He erects it and overlays it
with gold from head down to toe
00:32:01.71\00:32:06.45
as a symbol that the
head of gold, Babylon,
00:32:06.48\00:32:09.76
its rulership would continue
down to the end of time.
00:32:09.79\00:32:13.72
In other words, he's
saying to God, "I am rejecting
00:32:14.02\00:32:17.43
Your prophecy."
00:32:17.46\00:32:18.83
And when he
overlays the statue in gold,
00:32:18.86\00:32:21.38
it's a symbol that his
kingdom will have no end.
00:32:21.41\00:32:25.40
Now let me pause
to say this, beloved.
00:32:26.04\00:32:27.99
Be careful about trying to fight
for what God is trying to end.
00:32:28.02\00:32:32.17
Oh, you're not with
me in this room today.
00:32:32.20\00:32:33.94
You see, the bottom line
is that there are some of us
00:32:35.12\00:32:37.62
who are fighting for some things
that God is trying to end.
00:32:37.65\00:32:41.25
You see, there are some of us
fighting for some relationships
00:32:41.28\00:32:44.80
that God is trying to end.
00:32:44.83\00:32:47.40
And some of us are
fighting for some habits
00:32:47.43\00:32:50.09
that God is trying to end.
00:32:50.12\00:32:52.30
And some of us are
holding on to some dispositions
00:32:52.33\00:32:55.46
that God is trying to end.
00:32:55.49\00:32:57.84
And when you hold on to those
things that God is attempting
00:32:57.87\00:33:01.75
to end, you place
yourself at variance with the
00:33:01.78\00:33:05.19
very providence of God.
00:33:05.22\00:33:06.68
Are you hearing me today?
00:33:06.71\00:33:08.08
And the problem with the people
of God is that we have not
00:33:08.11\00:33:11.23
really learned how to
yield to God's providential
00:33:11.26\00:33:14.39
leading in our lives.
00:33:14.42\00:33:15.79
We choose to take our own paths
and order our own steps and
00:33:15.82\00:33:20.68
go our own ways, instead
of permitting God's leadership
00:33:20.71\00:33:24.55
to direct our paths.
00:33:24.58\00:33:26.32
And the people that struggle
with providence are going to
00:33:26.35\00:33:29.13
be people that struggle
with the issue of control.
00:33:29.16\00:33:32.32
How many of us
realize that control is
00:33:32.98\00:33:35.18
an illusion of the devil?
00:33:35.21\00:33:36.96
That even when you think
you're in control, that it is
00:33:36.99\00:33:40.48
the hand of the Almighty
that is guarding your steps.
00:33:40.51\00:33:43.93
Are you hearing me tonight?
00:33:43.96\00:33:45.33
In fact, the Bible says, in a
man's heart he plans his course
00:33:45.36\00:33:49.59
but it is the Lord
that determines his steps.
00:33:49.62\00:33:52.52
I remember when my son,
who is two and a half now,
00:33:52.83\00:33:55.24
when he was first learning
how to walk, what I would do is,
00:33:55.27\00:33:57.89
I would just kind of
take him by both of his hands
00:33:57.92\00:34:00.51
and I would just kind of
walk his little feet around.
00:34:00.54\00:34:02.88
And there would be times when he
would want to go in the street,
00:34:02.91\00:34:05.44
and I would kind of redirect
him and go to another place.
00:34:05.47\00:34:08.61
And there'd be times where he
would head to a dangerous spot,
00:34:08.64\00:34:11.51
and I would redirect him
and go to another direction.
00:34:11.54\00:34:14.47
And there would be times
where he would be so tickled
00:34:14.50\00:34:17.02
because his feet were moving.
00:34:17.05\00:34:18.91
He thought that he was
actually directing his steps.
00:34:18.94\00:34:21.88
But he didn't realize that
it was the hand of his daddy
00:34:21.91\00:34:24.92
that was leading him
where he needed to go.
00:34:24.95\00:34:27.57
And let me just say this;
00:34:27.60\00:34:29.34
just because your feet
were moving when you got where
00:34:29.37\00:34:31.93
you are doesn't mean
that the hand of the Lord...
00:34:31.96\00:34:34.45
No, you're not with me.
00:34:34.48\00:34:35.85
Let me preach to this side.
00:34:35.88\00:34:37.25
Just because your feet were
moving when you got the degree
00:34:37.28\00:34:40.70
doesn't mean that the hand of
the Lord didn't take you there.
00:34:40.73\00:34:43.69
Just because your feet
were moving when you moved in
00:34:43.72\00:34:46.65
the gated neighborhood doesn't
mean the hand of the Lord
00:34:46.74\00:34:49.57
didn't bring you there.
00:34:49.60\00:34:50.97
It is the hand of the Lord
that guides and directs us.
00:34:51.00\00:34:55.04
What do you say?
00:34:55.14\00:34:56.51
The problem is, many
times we want to kind of
00:34:56.82\00:34:59.20
choose our own steps.
00:34:59.23\00:35:00.71
We want to choose our
life according to our scale,
00:35:00.74\00:35:03.85
our convenience, our
comfort, and our preference.
00:35:03.88\00:35:07.17
But how many of us know that
to live a life of providence,
00:35:07.20\00:35:10.61
is to be willing to accept
interruptions and unforeseens
00:35:10.64\00:35:14.92
and inconveniences, and
God constantly pushing me
00:35:14.95\00:35:18.69
outside of my comfort zone.
00:35:18.72\00:35:20.83
There are some of us that obey
our GPS better than we obey God.
00:35:20.86\00:35:25.90
So that when the GPS
says, "Go left," we go left.
00:35:27.38\00:35:29.76
When the GPS says,
"Go right," we go right.
00:35:29.79\00:35:32.00
But when the Spirit of
God moves upon us to go in a
00:35:32.03\00:35:35.02
certain direction, we've got all
kinds of attitudes and opinions
00:35:35.05\00:35:38.50
and options that we
want to put on the table.
00:35:38.53\00:35:41.26
But we've got to learn
not to be like the salmon
00:35:41.29\00:35:44.19
that is swimming
against the current.
00:35:44.22\00:35:46.22
But we've got to learn
how to flow with the current
00:35:46.25\00:35:48.52
of providence so that
His will might be played out.
00:35:48.55\00:35:51.47
Are you hearing the
word of God tonight?
00:35:51.50\00:35:52.89
You know, one of the
things when I was a grad student
00:35:53.19\00:35:55.66
in Michigan, one guy found
out that I was from Florida
00:35:55.69\00:35:58.80
and that I didn't
really know how to drive
00:35:58.83\00:36:00.23
in real cold weather.
00:36:00.26\00:36:01.81
And so one of the things he
said is, you've got to always
00:36:01.84\00:36:04.78
be mindful of what
they call, black ice.
00:36:04.81\00:36:07.52
Where it will look okay, but
you'll start sliding suddenly.
00:36:07.55\00:36:11.03
And one of the things he
said is that when you begin to
00:36:11.06\00:36:13.43
kind of slide,
you've got to disregard
00:36:13.46\00:36:16.14
all your natural instincts.
00:36:16.17\00:36:18.32
He said, when you slide, you've
got to resist the temptation
00:36:18.35\00:36:20.92
to slam on the brakes.
00:36:20.95\00:36:22.53
He said, when you
begin to slide in that way,
00:36:22.56\00:36:25.13
if you begin to turn
back the opposite way,
00:36:25.16\00:36:27.84
it's just going to make
you spiral out of control.
00:36:27.87\00:36:30.69
And so he said, when you begin
to slide in a certain direction,
00:36:30.72\00:36:34.18
don't turn in the opposite way.
00:36:34.21\00:36:36.49
You've just got to
turn into the slide.
00:36:36.52\00:36:38.67
Oh, you didn't
catch that thing today.
00:36:38.70\00:36:40.30
He said, when you
turn into the slide,
00:36:40.33\00:36:43.33
you simply get the
power to regain your traction.
00:36:43.36\00:36:46.79
And there are times when God
is leading us and it feels like
00:36:46.82\00:36:49.90
He's got us
sliding out of control.
00:36:49.93\00:36:52.09
But you don't need to try
to turn opposite of the slide.
00:36:52.12\00:36:55.21
You just need to
agree with the slide,
00:36:55.24\00:36:57.72
to turn into where
God is leading you.
00:36:57.75\00:37:00.62
And the hand of the Lord will
take you where you need to go.
00:37:00.65\00:37:05.32
Can the church say amen?
00:37:05.35\00:37:06.82
So here, the Word of
God in Daniel chapter 3
00:37:07.48\00:37:09.97
and verse number 5.
00:37:10.00\00:37:11.84
The Bible says, "...that
at the time you hear the sound
00:37:11.87\00:37:14.67
of the horn, the flute, the
harp, the lyre, and psaltery,
00:37:14.89\00:37:21.20
in symphony with all kinds
of music, you shall fall down
00:37:21.23\00:37:25.75
and worship the gold image that
King Nebuchadnezzar has set up."
00:37:25.78\00:37:30.86
There are certain thing I like
about these three Hebrew men
00:37:30.89\00:37:33.81
that I believe to be are worthy.
00:37:33.84\00:37:35.79
One of the things I
like about these gentlemen
00:37:35.82\00:37:37.98
is that they knew how
to adjust to the culture
00:37:38.01\00:37:41.04
without adopting the culture.
00:37:41.07\00:37:43.28
Now you've got to understand
that Babylon's game was this;
00:37:44.25\00:37:47.35
Babylon's game wasn't
just out right intimidation.
00:37:47.38\00:37:50.83
Babylon's whole game was to
create a process of assimilation
00:37:50.86\00:37:55.10
so that when Babylon rolled
into your city and they took you
00:37:55.13\00:37:59.37
by siege, they didn't just
annihilate everybody in sight.
00:37:59.40\00:38:03.04
But they would study the
strength of every culture.
00:38:03.07\00:38:06.21
And whatever that
strength was, they would add it
00:38:06.24\00:38:08.72
to their own culture.
00:38:08.75\00:38:10.24
And that's how the
three Hebrew men got there.
00:38:10.27\00:38:13.22
So that they would take
the best and brightest of each
00:38:13.25\00:38:15.67
nation and put their energies to
use in the kingdom of Babylon.
00:38:15.70\00:38:20.22
And so what would happen is,
once you finally got to Babylon,
00:38:20.25\00:38:23.65
they would take you through
a process of assimilation
00:38:23.68\00:38:26.65
where they would
strip you of your personal
00:38:26.68\00:38:28.78
and spiritual identity.
00:38:28.81\00:38:30.61
The first thing that they did
to try and create assimilation
00:38:30.64\00:38:33.86
is they would change
the way that you looked.
00:38:33.89\00:38:36.40
So that when you came to
Babylon, you would have to
00:38:36.73\00:38:38.89
wear a Babylonian headdress
and you would have to put on
00:38:38.92\00:38:42.45
Babylonian garments,
and you would have to have
00:38:42.48\00:38:44.92
Babylonian
carvings put in your flesh.
00:38:44.95\00:38:48.39
And what would happen after
so long of looking at yourself
00:38:48.42\00:38:51.94
in Babylonian garb and
looking at yourself in somebody
00:38:51.97\00:38:55.99
else's garments, eventually
you forgot where you came from.
00:38:56.02\00:39:00.05
And let me just kind of
pause and say this tonight.
00:39:00.53\00:39:02.76
I don't want to
get into skirt lengths
00:39:02.79\00:39:04.65
and things of that nature.
00:39:04.68\00:39:06.05
But I still believe
that a child of God ought to
00:39:06.08\00:39:08.62
look like a child of God.
00:39:08.65\00:39:10.51
I still believe that when
you look upon a Christian,
00:39:10.54\00:39:13.87
even if it's not in the
brand name, there is something
00:39:13.90\00:39:16.99
on the countenance of a
believer that distinguishes them
00:39:17.02\00:39:21.09
as a child of the most high God.
00:39:21.12\00:39:23.15
Come on and say amen.
00:39:23.18\00:39:24.55
The second thing that they would
do when they were trying to
00:39:24.58\00:39:27.16
bring about this process
of assimilation is they would
00:39:27.19\00:39:29.88
begin to change your name.
00:39:29.91\00:39:32.17
You see, the name; Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-Nego,
00:39:32.20\00:39:35.26
were not their original names.
00:39:35.29\00:39:37.01
Their original names were
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
00:39:37.04\00:39:40.64
Their original names represented
their connection with Jehovah.
00:39:40.94\00:39:44.64
The name Hananiah
meant, "Jehovah favored;"
00:39:44.67\00:39:47.89
was changed to Shadrach, which
meant, "the king is the son."
00:39:47.92\00:39:52.04
The name Mishael
meant, "who is like God;"
00:39:52.07\00:39:55.24
was changed to Meshach,
"the goddess of the earth."
00:39:55.27\00:40:00.20
The name Azariah,
which meant, "Jehovah helps,"
00:40:00.23\00:40:03.13
was changed to
Abed-Nego, which meant,
00:40:03.16\00:40:05.92
"servant of shining
fire;" a Babylonian god of fire.
00:40:05.95\00:40:10.02
And the belief was
that after being called by a
00:40:10.05\00:40:13.54
Babylonian name long enough,
eventually you would forget
00:40:13.57\00:40:17.94
what your real identity was.
00:40:17.97\00:40:20.05
And let me pause to say this;
00:40:20.08\00:40:21.62
be careful about the
names you answer to tonight.
00:40:21.82\00:40:24.98
See, one of the problems
with the church is, we've been
00:40:26.15\00:40:28.01
answering to the
slave name too long.
00:40:28.04\00:40:30.33
It's amazing where you'll go
into certain urban barber shops,
00:40:30.36\00:40:33.62
and if you walk up
to a brother and say,
00:40:33.65\00:40:35.43
"What's up, child of
God?" he'll look at you crazy.
00:40:35.46\00:40:37.79
But you walk up to the same
man and say, "What's up, pimp?"
00:40:37.82\00:40:40.27
he'll dap you up.
00:40:40.30\00:40:41.67
It's because we've answered
to the slave name too long.
00:40:42.29\00:40:45.39
But even this test with
the image was an ultimate
00:40:46.24\00:40:51.11
process in assimilation.
00:40:51.14\00:40:52.95
You see, at the dedication
of the image, the statement
00:40:52.98\00:40:56.04
was given that when you
hear the sound of the horn,
00:40:56.07\00:40:59.57
the flute, the harp,
the lyre, and psaltery,
00:40:59.60\00:41:03.49
when you hear them in symphony
with all other types of music,
00:41:03.52\00:41:08.24
then you're going to
bow down and worship.
00:41:08.27\00:41:11.30
Understand, when you hear
those assortment of instruments;
00:41:11.33\00:41:14.76
the horn, the flute, the
harp, the lyre, and psaltery;
00:41:14.86\00:41:18.57
when you hear those parallels,
what does it make you think of?
00:41:18.60\00:41:22.25
It makes you think of
the last fifty divisions
00:41:22.28\00:41:25.46
of the book of Psalms.
00:41:25.49\00:41:26.89
Oh, you're not with me tonight.
00:41:26.92\00:41:28.29
In other words, Israel had
a particular way of worship.
00:41:28.32\00:41:32.77
They had a
particular sound that they made.
00:41:32.80\00:41:35.86
And scholars say that when
those particular assortment of
00:41:35.89\00:41:39.69
instruments were played in
unison, they rendered what was
00:41:39.72\00:41:43.54
known as the
Israelite sound or praise.
00:41:43.57\00:41:46.87
It was something that
was distinct and unique
00:41:46.90\00:41:49.84
that marked them as
God's children in the earth.
00:41:49.87\00:41:53.13
And when you hear
this group of instruments
00:41:53.16\00:41:56.29
played in symphony
with Babylonian instruments,
00:41:56.32\00:41:59.96
it was Nebuchadnezzar
trying to combine idol worship
00:41:59.99\00:42:03.83
with the praise of Jehovah.
00:42:03.86\00:42:05.94
In other words, what you
have here is the ultimate merger
00:42:06.27\00:42:10.33
of world and church.
00:42:10.36\00:42:12.15
You're not with me tonight.
00:42:12.18\00:42:13.61
In other words, this thing was
like the first annual BET awards
00:42:13.84\00:42:18.44
where on the stage you'll have
Conya and Jay-Z and Lil Wayne
00:42:18.47\00:42:23.59
and Nicki Minaj on the
same stage with Kirt Franklin,
00:42:23.62\00:42:27.16
Yolanda Adams, and Mary Mary.
00:42:27.19\00:42:29.67
And there isn't any tension.
00:42:29.70\00:42:31.33
They all stand together
under the banner of unity.
00:42:31.36\00:42:35.63
And see, friend of mine, this
is why the king gets so upset
00:42:39.33\00:42:42.73
when they refuse to worship.
00:42:42.76\00:42:44.43
Because he thought he was
including them in the party.
00:42:44.46\00:42:47.66
And there comes a time
when as the children of God,
00:42:48.14\00:42:50.57
we can no longer
adapt to the culture,
00:42:50.60\00:42:52.63
we can no longer
adjust to the culture.
00:42:52.66\00:42:54.86
There comes a time when we've
got to stand up and be distinct
00:42:54.89\00:42:58.45
and be unique and
be the men and women
00:42:58.48\00:43:01.33
that God has called us to be.
00:43:01.36\00:43:03.45
Are you hearing me today?
00:43:03.48\00:43:04.85
You don't believe me.
00:43:04.88\00:43:06.25
Go to the book of John
chapter 15 and verse number 19.
00:43:06.28\00:43:08.11
John chapter 15
and verse number 19.
00:43:08.46\00:43:12.00
Hear ye the word of the Lord.
00:43:12.03\00:43:13.40
John chapter 15
and verse number 19.
00:43:13.79\00:43:17.73
When you have it let
me hear you say amen.
00:43:17.76\00:43:19.13
John chapter 15
and verse number 19.
00:43:20.28\00:43:22.97
The Bible says, "If
you were of the world,
00:43:23.00\00:43:25.54
the world would
love you as its own.
00:43:25.57\00:43:28.61
Yet because you are not of
the world, I have chosen you
00:43:28.64\00:43:33.05
out of the world; therefore
the world is going to hate you."
00:43:33.08\00:43:38.93
In other words, we've got
to regain our distinctiveness.
00:43:38.96\00:43:42.13
We've got to
regain our peculiarity.
00:43:42.16\00:43:44.77
We've got to come to the point
where we stop being ashamed
00:43:44.80\00:43:47.79
to say, it's not okay
for a Christian to smoke,
00:43:47.82\00:43:50.43
and it's not okay
for a Christian to drink
00:43:50.46\00:43:52.69
even a little wine,
it's not okay for a Christian
00:43:52.72\00:43:55.58
to live together unmarried.
00:43:55.61\00:43:57.10
Just because we've adjusted
to it doesn't mean it's okay.
00:43:57.13\00:44:01.65
You know, this is
funny, I remember one time
00:44:02.99\00:44:04.70
when my son was just
a little bit younger.
00:44:04.73\00:44:08.26
You know, I remember one day I
was changing one of his diapers
00:44:08.29\00:44:10.81
and it was one
of those messy ones.
00:44:10.84\00:44:12.74
And I remember
changing the diaper.
00:44:12.77\00:44:14.39
And I didn't go take
it right out right away.
00:44:14.42\00:44:16.84
I just like of left it
on the side of the table.
00:44:16.87\00:44:19.44
And it's funny how it
was offensive at first.
00:44:19.47\00:44:22.16
But kind of the longer I
stayed in the room with it,
00:44:23.44\00:44:27.29
after a while I just couldn't
really even smell it no more.
00:44:28.05\00:44:31.75
And so, after being in
this room with this diaper
00:44:31.78\00:44:34.38
just paying off for like
two hours, eventually my wife
00:44:34.41\00:44:37.19
came into the room and
was like, "What in the world
00:44:37.22\00:44:39.77
is going on in here?"
00:44:39.80\00:44:41.59
But the problem
was, I got use to it.
00:44:41.88\00:44:44.18
And let me just
say this to the church;
00:44:44.21\00:44:46.16
just because you got
use to it doesn't mean
00:44:46.19\00:44:48.49
it doesn't stink anymore.
00:44:48.52\00:44:50.20
Are you hearing the
word of God tonight?
00:44:56.12\00:44:57.86
So check this thing out, man.
00:44:58.92\00:45:00.29
The day of truth
has finally come.
00:45:00.32\00:45:02.65
You've got to see this
amazing spectacle now that is
00:45:02.68\00:45:05.92
going on in Babylon
in preparation for the
00:45:05.95\00:45:09.35
dedication of the image.
00:45:09.38\00:45:10.90
Man, you've got to see this
thing where the lawn has been
00:45:10.93\00:45:13.63
freshly manicured and they
have erected new waterfalls
00:45:13.66\00:45:17.52
all over the place.
00:45:17.55\00:45:18.92
There is a
homecoming feeling in the air.
00:45:18.95\00:45:21.87
It is a Babylonian
alumni weekend where all the
00:45:21.90\00:45:25.05
descendents of Babylon come
back for this weekend in the
00:45:25.08\00:45:28.20
fanciest chariots with the
tightest rims on the chariot.
00:45:28.23\00:45:31.56
You've got to see them when
they roll up in Babylon now.
00:45:31.59\00:45:34.56
There are ticket
scalpers that are beginning to
00:45:34.59\00:45:36.76
drive up the prices.
00:45:36.79\00:45:38.16
The closer they get to
the dedication of the image,
00:45:38.19\00:45:40.72
there are image
t-shirts and image programs,
00:45:40.75\00:45:43.78
and image bulletins
that are being handed out.
00:45:43.81\00:45:46.35
There is
tailgating and beer drinking
00:45:46.38\00:45:48.59
in the lobby
outside of the stadium
00:45:48.62\00:45:51.32
where the image is
going to take place.
00:45:51.35\00:45:53.21
There are streams of
confetti that are being
00:45:53.24\00:45:55.61
poured out in the air.
00:45:55.64\00:45:57.01
There is a sense of
anticipation that echoes
00:45:57.04\00:46:00.31
in the market square.
00:46:00.34\00:46:01.71
And all of a sudden now,
you can see Nebuchadnezzar
00:46:01.74\00:46:04.16
beginning to walk
into the parade as he leads
00:46:04.19\00:46:07.21
on his iron chariot.
00:46:07.24\00:46:08.61
I can see him walking now.
00:46:08.64\00:46:10.02
He's got a little
swagger in his step.
00:46:10.05\00:46:11.85
He's got a little
rock with that thing.
00:46:11.88\00:46:13.89
And he's got a
little lean with that thing.
00:46:13.92\00:46:15.84
And as he moves
toward his elevated throne,
00:46:15.87\00:46:18.81
they throw palm
branches at his feet.
00:46:18.84\00:46:21.25
As he marches to
his elevated station,
00:46:21.28\00:46:23.91
and as he begins to sit
down on his royal throne,
00:46:23.94\00:46:28.03
all of a sudden
the music begins.
00:46:28.06\00:46:31.03
And so all of a sudden somebody
begins to take out some maracas
00:46:31.06\00:46:34.79
and they begin to
shake those things.
00:46:34.82\00:46:36.76
And as they shake the maracas,
everybody of Latin descent
00:46:36.79\00:46:39.93
falls down to the ground.
00:46:39.96\00:46:41.46
And then somebody begins
to take out some bagpipes
00:46:41.49\00:46:44.58
and they begin to blow.
00:46:44.61\00:46:46.04
And everybody of Anglo
descent begins to falls
00:46:46.07\00:46:48.56
down to the ground.
00:46:48.59\00:46:49.96
And then all of a
sudden somebody breaks out
00:46:49.99\00:46:51.75
a ruan, which is
a Chinese guitar.
00:46:51.78\00:46:54.16
And everybody of Asian descent
falls down to the ground.
00:46:54.19\00:46:57.33
And then somebody begins to
beat some of those hand drums.
00:46:57.36\00:47:00.06
And some of those
always moving dark people
00:47:00.09\00:47:02.59
begin to fall
down to the ground.
00:47:02.62\00:47:04.64
And then they
begin to play the sound
00:47:04.67\00:47:08.82
of the harp, the
lyre, the horn, the flute,
00:47:08.85\00:47:11.65
in symphony with
all kinds of music.
00:47:11.68\00:47:13.65
And all the Hebrews
fall down to the ground.
00:47:13.68\00:47:16.23
And you've got to see
this thing as Nebuchadnezzar
00:47:16.33\00:47:18.87
looks down upon
the plain of Dura.
00:47:18.90\00:47:21.37
And everybody hitting
the dusty terrain has caused
00:47:21.40\00:47:24.54
a cloud of dust to
begin to move up from the air
00:47:24.57\00:47:28.36
so that he can no
longer see the bodies.
00:47:28.39\00:47:30.08
And all of a sudden, as
the beams of light begin to
00:47:30.11\00:47:32.95
burst through, all
of a sudden everybody is
00:47:32.98\00:47:35.17
laid down on the ground.
00:47:35.20\00:47:36.73
And with everybody laying
prostrate, there are still
00:47:36.76\00:47:39.79
three men, there are still three
men that are still standing.
00:47:39.82\00:47:46.75
And in our minds, we've always
seen them standing together,
00:47:46.78\00:47:50.06
one, two, three,
as a band of brothers.
00:47:50.09\00:47:52.67
But understand, they worked
in three different provinces.
00:47:52.70\00:47:55.42
So on one side
you've got Shadrach,
00:47:55.45\00:47:57.51
and another side
you've got Meshach,
00:47:57.54\00:47:59.64
and on the other
side you've got Abed-Nego.
00:47:59.67\00:48:02.03
And understand, they
are standing single in their
00:48:02.55\00:48:05.59
conviction, but
united in their purpose.
00:48:05.62\00:48:08.64
And they've decided that
if don't nobody else stand,
00:48:08.67\00:48:11.73
I'm going to still stand.
00:48:12.34\00:48:14.09
If Shadrach
falls, if Meshach falls,
00:48:14.38\00:48:17.64
I will still stand for the Lord.
00:48:17.67\00:48:20.90
Let me say to somebody,
eventually you reach a place
00:48:21.20\00:48:23.89
where you won't always have
somebody to pat you on the back.
00:48:23.92\00:48:26.61
You've got to stand even if you
have got to stand by yourself.
00:48:26.64\00:48:29.42
So I see this thing now.
00:48:30.59\00:48:31.96
It's getting good
to me all of a sudden.
00:48:31.99\00:48:33.36
Where now you can see this
thing when they begin to report
00:48:33.40\00:48:36.03
this thing to Nebuchadnezzar.
00:48:36.06\00:48:37.43
Nebuchadnezzar
calls them in and says,
00:48:37.46\00:48:39.28
"Listen, is this
really the truth?
00:48:39.31\00:48:40.68
Is this really how
this thing went down?
00:48:40.71\00:48:42.45
They're like, "Listen
king, do what you've got to do.
00:48:42.48\00:48:44.20
When you go for yours,
we're going to go for ours.
00:48:44.23\00:48:46.32
Our God who we serve
is able to deliver us.
00:48:46.35\00:48:48.55
But even if not, we're
going to bless His name.
00:48:48.58\00:48:51.02
We're going to honor Him.
00:48:51.05\00:48:52.46
We're going to
give Him the glory.
00:48:52.49\00:48:54.04
We only know One that is worthy,
and His name is Jehovah."
00:48:54.07\00:48:58.15
And so all of a
sudden, Nebuchadnezzar,
00:48:58.18\00:48:59.98
he isn't going to be played.
00:49:00.01\00:49:01.38
He can't be fronted
in such a situation.
00:49:01.41\00:49:02.93
This is his day.
00:49:02.96\00:49:04.33
He's got to prove his might and
his integrity and his strength.
00:49:04.36\00:49:06.94
And so the Bible says
that he gets some men to
00:49:06.97\00:49:09.37
bind them up hand and foot.
00:49:09.40\00:49:10.89
And he tosses
them into the fire.
00:49:10.92\00:49:12.86
But then he makes a mistake.
00:49:13.06\00:49:15.03
He says, "Not only do
you toss them in, light it up
00:49:15.06\00:49:18.51
seven times hotter than normal."
00:49:18.54\00:49:20.32
Now he probably would have
been okay if he would have just
00:49:22.57\00:49:25.52
said heat it six times hotter.
00:49:25.55\00:49:28.04
He probably could
have got away with it
00:49:32.63\00:49:35.49
if he said heat it
eight times hotter.
00:49:35.52\00:49:37.94
He probably would have
been straight if he said
00:49:38.35\00:49:40.41
nine times hotter.
00:49:40.44\00:49:41.81
But when he said heat
it seven times hotter,
00:49:42.00\00:49:45.59
all of a sudden
Jehovah said, "Oh, oh, oh, oh."
00:49:46.28\00:49:49.47
See, he didn't
realize that the number seven
00:49:54.09\00:49:57.07
is God's number of
perfect deliverance.
00:49:57.37\00:49:59.64
Are you hearing the
word of God tonight?
00:50:01.56\00:50:03.24
So when God hears the
number seven, He says,
00:50:03.91\00:50:07.14
"I was just going to let
them go down as martyrs."
00:50:07.17\00:50:09.55
But when he says
seven, he challenges Jehovah
00:50:09.75\00:50:12.83
to a personal fight.
00:50:12.86\00:50:14.23
You're not with me in this room.
00:50:14.26\00:50:15.63
So all of a sudden now, you
realize that the number seven...
00:50:15.66\00:50:18.21
In the Old Testament,
Naaman went down to dip.
00:50:18.24\00:50:20.45
And he dipped six
times and nothing happened.
00:50:20.48\00:50:22.43
But when he
dipped that seventh time,
00:50:22.46\00:50:24.42
healing came to his flesh.
00:50:24.45\00:50:26.00
In the book of Joshua,
they marched around the wall
00:50:26.03\00:50:28.24
six days, but on the
seventh day, they marched
00:50:28.27\00:50:30.28
around seven times.
00:50:30.31\00:50:31.68
And on the seventh time,
the walls came tumbling down.
00:50:31.71\00:50:34.13
Then the Lord worked on six
days, but on the seventh day
00:50:34.33\00:50:37.31
He allowed the rest to come.
00:50:37.34\00:50:39.03
And so when he says
seven, God basically forces
00:50:39.06\00:50:42.96
Nebuchadnezzar to say
an intercessory prayer
00:50:42.99\00:50:46.34
on behalf of His children.
00:50:46.37\00:50:48.35
It's amazing how
those who want to curse you,
00:50:48.38\00:50:51.56
God will make them bless.
00:50:51.59\00:50:52.96
God will make them bless you.
00:50:55.51\00:50:57.49
He'll make them pray for you.
00:50:57.67\00:50:59.77
So all of a sudden
now, Nebuchadnezzar;
00:51:00.09\00:51:03.11
the Lord is like, "Oh
no, he's done went too far."
00:51:03.14\00:51:05.81
God is like,
"He's done did it now."
00:51:06.12\00:51:07.99
So He says, "I've got to
show up for My children now."
00:51:08.29\00:51:10.70
And so all of sudden
now, God is getting ready to
00:51:10.73\00:51:12.74
show up in this thing.
00:51:12.77\00:51:14.14
So God looks to
one of those angels.
00:51:14.17\00:51:15.64
He says, "Listen, two
winged angel, how long would it
00:51:15.84\00:51:18.51
take you to get down there
and see about My children?"
00:51:18.54\00:51:21.36
So the two winged
angel said, "Listen Lord,
00:51:21.60\00:51:23.80
I can get there in about
five and a half minutes."
00:51:23.83\00:51:25.93
The Angel of the Lord said,
"No, that's too long, angel.
00:51:26.13\00:51:28.28
Let me go and find one
of them six wing angels."
00:51:28.50\00:51:30.77
With two they cover their feet,
with two they cover their face,
00:51:30.80\00:51:33.77
and with two they still fly.
00:51:33.80\00:51:35.53
So He says, "Six wing
cherub, how long would it
00:51:35.56\00:51:38.02
take you to get down there
and see about My children?"
00:51:38.05\00:51:40.31
Six wing angel said, "Master,
I can get there in about
00:51:40.34\00:51:42.96
two and a half minutes."
00:51:42.99\00:51:44.59
And then the Lord
said, "Man, that's too long.
00:51:44.62\00:51:46.56
I need somebody.
Gabriel, come up here.
00:51:46.59\00:51:48.99
Gabriel, how long would
it take you to go down there
00:51:50.78\00:51:54.48
and see about My children?"
00:51:54.51\00:51:56.00
Gabriel says, "Master, I
think I can break my old record.
00:51:56.03\00:51:58.80
I can get down there
in about 90 seconds."
00:51:58.83\00:52:01.05
Then the Lord says,
"No, that's too long."
00:52:01.08\00:52:03.11
So then the Lord looks
to His right hand and says,
00:52:03.14\00:52:05.66
"Jesus."
00:52:05.69\00:52:07.06
"Jesus.
00:52:21.51\00:52:22.91
Where are You at?"
00:52:23.87\00:52:25.24
And all of a sudden, He
hears a voice from down south.
00:52:25.80\00:52:28.56
And He hears the
voice of His Son saying,
00:52:28.89\00:52:31.09
"Master, I'm already there."
00:52:31.12\00:52:34.13
"I'm already there."
00:52:36.84\00:52:38.48
You might think you're
by yourself, you might not
00:52:39.02\00:52:41.90
be able to see Him, you
may not be able to sense Him,
00:52:41.93\00:52:45.13
but I need you to
know, He's already there.
00:52:45.16\00:52:48.61
Are you hearing the
word of God tonight?
00:52:49.68\00:52:51.47
So this thing is
amazing, for Jesus now shows up.
00:52:54.86\00:52:57.56
So all of a
sudden, Nebuchadnezzar
00:52:57.98\00:52:59.35
gets up in that thing.
00:52:59.57\00:53:00.94
He goes up to that
thing and looks at it.
00:53:02.14\00:53:03.92
"Hand me my glasses.
00:53:11.03\00:53:12.40
Bro, didn't we see three?
00:53:13.71\00:53:16.06
Didn't we put three in there?"
00:53:16.83\00:53:18.20
He says, "Listen,
I see four men loose.
00:53:18.53\00:53:22.14
And the fourth is
like the Son of God."
00:53:22.80\00:53:25.51
Now my questioning becomes,
how does he know who Jesus is?
00:53:26.60\00:53:30.82
He's a pagan king.
00:53:32.58\00:53:33.95
He doesn't even know Jehovah.
00:53:34.48\00:53:35.90
Let alone, how does
he know who Jesus is?
00:53:35.93\00:53:38.59
Servant of the Lord said
that these three Hebrew boy
00:53:38.79\00:53:41.34
worthies, along with
Daniel, while they were in the
00:53:41.37\00:53:44.27
province of Babylon they
acted with such integrity,
00:53:44.30\00:53:47.62
such scruples, such character,
they walked so much like Jesus,
00:53:47.65\00:53:52.37
they talked so much like Jesus,
they lived so much like Jesus,
00:53:52.40\00:53:56.89
they loved so much like Jesus,
that when the king saw Him
00:53:56.92\00:54:00.55
face to face, he
already knew who He was.
00:54:00.58\00:54:03.92
And do you realize, the only
Jesus some people will ever see
00:54:06.00\00:54:10.17
is the Jesus they see in you and
the Jesus that they see in me.
00:54:10.81\00:54:17.54
See, God has got you
behind enemy lines for a reason.
00:54:20.64\00:54:24.01
He's got you there, not just
so that you suffer persecution.
00:54:24.45\00:54:27.25
But to be a light and to
be an example, to be a witness
00:54:27.28\00:54:30.04
of godliness, to declare
the praises of Him that has
00:54:30.07\00:54:32.60
called you out of darkness
and into this marvelous light.
00:54:32.63\00:54:35.31
And understand that
the extent of your witness
00:54:35.34\00:54:37.50
cannot just be dropping
a tract on somebody's desk,
00:54:37.53\00:54:40.08
or announcing to the
world that you're vegetarian,
00:54:40.11\00:54:42.38
but to literally live out
the character of Jesus Christ
00:54:42.41\00:54:46.22
in a fallen world.
00:54:46.25\00:54:47.62
You know, the reason most
people feel like they can't
00:54:48.44\00:54:52.97
live a holy life is because
they haven't ever seen it done.
00:54:53.00\00:54:57.12
They've seen forms,
they've seen versions,
00:55:00.49\00:55:04.42
they've seen it in
church, but not at home.
00:55:05.01\00:55:08.25
And it is why the world
believes that Jesus is not real.
00:55:09.06\00:55:12.28
And it's funny how, you
know, Nebuchadnezzar also says,
00:55:12.59\00:55:15.91
"I see four," but
they're also loose.
00:55:15.94\00:55:19.35
So now, we have
this picture in our minds
00:55:20.07\00:55:22.37
of the three Hebrew
men in their with Jesus
00:55:22.40\00:55:24.59
like in the air conditioning.
00:55:24.62\00:55:25.99
But what God does is, a
fire that was meant to consume,
00:55:29.58\00:55:33.58
what God does is He
simply tailors that thing
00:55:34.14\00:55:37.41
and He narrows the
heat so that the only parts
00:55:37.94\00:55:41.72
of them that it touches...
00:55:41.75\00:55:43.33
It touches them.
00:55:43.36\00:55:44.73
Oh, you didn't catch that.
00:55:44.76\00:55:46.13
The fire does touch them.
00:55:46.16\00:55:47.83
But what it touches is those
things that were binding them.
00:55:48.47\00:55:52.75
And what God is saying
to somebody tonight is,
00:55:54.57\00:55:56.71
"Yea, I'm going to
put you in the furnace,
00:55:56.74\00:55:59.31
but I'm going to tailor
the heat like a seamstress
00:55:59.65\00:56:02.48
taking your measurements
and figuring out your inseam
00:56:02.51\00:56:06.46
and your waist and your chest."
00:56:06.49\00:56:08.00
And He says, "I'm
going to tailor this trial
00:56:08.03\00:56:10.26
so that the heat of the
affliction, you're going to
00:56:10.29\00:56:12.33
feel the waves, and
you will feel the rise
00:56:12.36\00:56:14.55
of temperature in the room.
00:56:14.58\00:56:15.97
But the only thing that
it's designed to destroy
00:56:16.00\00:56:19.57
are those things in life
that are keeping you bound up,
00:56:19.60\00:56:22.97
and keeping you from
being the man or woman
00:56:24.40\00:56:26.25
God has called you to be."
00:56:26.28\00:56:27.65
I don't know about you,
but I want to live free.
00:56:27.68\00:56:29.56
I want to live holy.
00:56:29.59\00:56:30.96
I want to trust that
God can do all things.
00:56:30.99\00:56:33.21
I don't want to
live life as a slave.
00:56:33.24\00:56:35.01
But I know that my
God can do exceedingly
00:56:35.04\00:56:37.33
and abundantly above
all you can ask or think.
00:56:37.36\00:56:39.94
How many of us
believe God's word tonight?
00:56:39.97\00:56:41.91
If you believe God's
word, let me have you stand
00:56:42.22\00:56:43.88
to your feet this evening.
00:56:43.91\00:56:45.28
Please stand to your
feet as we get ready to pray.
00:56:46.22\00:56:48.14
What I simply stopped by
to let the church know tonight
00:56:48.28\00:56:50.95
is that we're going to
endure some times of testing.
00:56:50.98\00:56:53.29
We're going to go through it.
00:56:53.69\00:56:55.06
We're going to be pushed to
the very brink of our existence.
00:56:55.26\00:56:57.93
We're going to be pushed to
the point where we're going to
00:56:58.23\00:56:59.81
see the travail of our
souls, and we'll even witness
00:56:59.84\00:57:02.49
the pains of death.
00:57:02.52\00:57:03.89
And there is going to
be such a time of trouble
00:57:03.92\00:57:05.63
that she says, there are times
where you anticipate something
00:57:05.66\00:57:07.87
so much and it not be as bad as
you thought it was going to be.
00:57:07.90\00:57:11.47
But no matter how
much we anticipate it,
00:57:11.50\00:57:13.81
it's still going to be worse.
00:57:13.84\00:57:15.61
But the good news is,
our God is able to deliver.
00:57:16.18\00:57:18.29
Father in heaven, we ask,
Lord, that you would give us
00:57:18.32\00:57:21.44
a fortified
faith, a new courage,
00:57:21.47\00:57:24.39
a new strength, that we
might be prepared for the times
00:57:24.42\00:57:28.23
of testing to come.
00:57:28.26\00:57:29.63
We pray this in Jesus' name.
00:57:29.66\00:57:31.44
Let the redeemed say amen.
00:57:31.47\00:57:32.89
Let the
redeemed shout hallelujah
00:57:33.20\00:57:34.92
as we close this service.
00:57:34.95\00:57:36.32