(Breath of Life Theme Music)
00:00:00.93\00:00:04.80
Sermon #B649 - Test Time
00:00:04.83\00:00:22.02
Dr. Byrd: The Word of God says
in the Book of Daniel, Daniel
00:00:22.05\00:00:27.92
1:1, if you would go there
quickly with me,Daniel 1:1,
00:00:27.96\00:00:38.70
Daniel 1:1. The Word of God
says, "In the third year of the
reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah
00:00:38.73\00:00:43.17
came Nebuchadnezzar king
of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and
00:00:43.20\00:00:48.21
besieged it. And the Lord gave
Jehoiakim king of Judah into his
00:00:48.24\00:00:51.45
hand, with part of the
vessels of the house of God;
00:00:51.48\00:00:53.28
which he carried into the land
of Shinar to the house of his
00:00:53.31\00:00:56.35
God and he brought the vessels
into the treasure house of his
00:00:56.38\00:01:00.16
God. And the king spake
unto Ashpenaz the master of his
00:01:00.19\00:01:05.13
eunuchs, that he should bring
certain of the children of
Israel, and of the king's seed,
00:01:05.16\00:01:09.23
and of the princes; Children in
whom was no blemish, but
well-favored and skillful in all
00:01:09.26\00:01:12.87
wisdom, and cunning in
knowledge, and understanding
00:01:12.90\00:01:15.04
science, and such as had the
ability in them to stand in the
00:01:15.07\00:01:19.51
king's palace, and whom they
might teach the learning and the
tongue of the Chaldeans.
00:01:19.54\00:01:24.65
And the king appointed them
a daily provision of the king's
00:01:24.68\00:01:27.62
meat, and of the wine which he
drank; so nourishing them three
00:01:27.65\00:01:31.39
years, that at the end thereof
they might stand before the
00:01:31.42\00:01:34.86
king. Now among these were of
the children of Judah, Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
00:01:34.89\00:01:40.36
Unto whom the prince of the
eunuchs gave names; for he gave
unto Daniel the name of
00:01:40.40\00:01:45.67
Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah of
Shadrach; and to Mishael of
Meshach; and to Azariah of
00:01:45.70\00:01:51.41
Abednego." Verse eight, "But
Daniel purposed in his heart
that he would not defile
00:01:51.44\00:01:55.84
himself with the portion of the
king's meat, nor with the wine
00:01:55.88\00:02:00.85
which he drank: therefore he
requested of the prince of the
eunuchs that he might not defile
00:02:00.88\00:02:07.96
himself." Today, we just want to
challenge you on the subject in
harmony with our green plate
00:02:07.99\00:02:11.99
day, test time, test time.
00:02:12.03\00:02:14.83
God, right now, we have sung; we
have prayed; we have listened to
the importance of healthful
00:02:14.86\00:02:20.74
living. Now, we need a word from
You. Speak, Lord, for Your
servants here and forgive us of
00:02:20.77\00:02:25.64
our sins. And, God, You do what
You do with the appeal time.
00:02:25.67\00:02:27.61
We give You praise, honor, and
glory for what You're going to
do through Your Word, in Jesus'
00:02:27.64\00:02:32.18
name. Let everyone say Amen.
00:02:32.21\00:02:33.72
[Congregation: Amen]
00:02:33.75\00:02:35.42
And Amen. Turn into your
neighbors and say, "Neighbor,
it's test time." Come on.
00:02:35.45\00:02:38.25
Say it like you mean it. Say,
"Test time." All right. Quickly.
00:02:38.29\00:02:42.22
The Book of Daniel is
full of miracles, visions, and
00:02:42.26\00:02:46.70
prophecies. We know this book
very well; Daniel in the lion's
den, the three Hebrew boys in
00:02:46.73\00:02:52.70
the fiery furnace, the 2,300-day
prophecy, the 70-weeks prophecy.
We know all of these.
00:02:52.73\00:02:57.54
But before all of that, the Book
of Daniel begins with a 10-day
00:02:57.57\00:03:04.05
experiment. Nebuchadnezzar, king
of Babylon, captures the city of
00:03:04.08\00:03:08.28
Jerusalem. And then takes many
of Jerusalem's people back to
00:03:08.32\00:03:13.05
Babylon. Now, included in this
captivity were some of the best
and brightest young men of
00:03:13.09\00:03:20.16
Jerusalem. These young men
didn't have any physical
defects. They were handsome.
00:03:20.20\00:03:22.76
They were smart, well-informed,
quick to understand, and
qualified to serve in the king's
00:03:22.80\00:03:28.77
palace. Now, some scholars
believe the plan was to prepare
these young men for
00:03:28.80\00:03:34.18
priestly roles excelling the
arts of divination, astrology,
00:03:34.21\00:03:39.41
and magic. Other scholars
thought they would be groomed
for offices and positions of
00:03:39.45\00:03:44.29
political nature. But whatever
the reason, the idea, the modus
operandi, was to capture some
00:03:44.32\00:03:51.26
promising young men,
indoctrinate their hearts
00:03:51.29\00:03:53.23
and minds in order that they
might become fully
Babylonianized within a
00:03:53.26\00:04:00.37
three-year period. Their thought
was, "Give us these young men
00:04:00.40\00:04:07.64
for three years. And we will
make them Babylonians for life."
00:04:07.68\00:04:11.15
That shouldn't be strange to us,
because we often hear many
Christian denominations
00:04:11.18\00:04:14.98
and religions say, "Give me a
child for a certain period of
time in their life.
00:04:15.02\00:04:21.66
And I'll make them a Catholic.
I'll make them a Baptist. I'll
make them a Muslim.
00:04:21.69\00:04:25.69
I'll make them an
Adventist for their life."
00:04:25.73\00:04:28.36
That's why going to
Oakwood is so important
00:04:28.40\00:04:31.47
because the foundation that you
get here will remain with you
for the rest of your life.
00:04:31.50\00:04:36.87
Do you I have a
witness in this place?
00:04:36.91\00:04:37.74
[Congregation: Yes]
00:04:37.77\00:04:39.31
Now, you need to understand
these young men did not have a
say in the process.
00:04:39.34\00:04:44.28
They did not choose to go to
Babylon. They were forced to go
00:04:44.31\00:04:50.15
to Babylon. I don't want to
turn this into a black history
00:04:50.19\00:04:52.49
sermon. And I know we just
have sung We Shall Overcome.
00:04:52.52\00:04:55.49
But I get concerned when I hear
people say, "People chose to be
in slavery." Nobody chose to be
00:04:55.52\00:05:08.10
a slave. People were forced
to be slaves. I hope somebody's
00:05:08.14\00:05:12.07
watching. Do I have a witness to
this place? The Hebrew young men
were castrated and forced into
00:05:12.11\00:05:20.38
slavery. The Hebrew young women
were forced to gratify the
immoral sexual desires of their
00:05:20.42\00:05:26.69
captors. Their choice was to
obey or die. Those who chose to
obey were treated well,
00:05:26.72\00:05:35.33
receiving food and wine from the
king's table which is very
similar to slavery in the 17th,
00:05:35.36\00:05:40.04
18th, and 19th century right
here in America. If you obey, if
you didn't rise up, you were
00:05:40.07\00:05:47.51
treated better. You didn't have
to work as hard in the fields.
You can work in the house.
00:05:47.54\00:05:51.65
You are a house slave and not
a field slave. Are you hearing
00:05:51.68\00:05:56.02
what I'm saying? If you were a
woman and you complied with the
sexual deviants of your slave
00:05:56.05\00:06:01.96
owner, you were looked out
after. If you were a man and you
did what you were told
00:06:01.99\00:06:06.76
and you didn't speak up against
rape, incest, and inhumane
treatment, you were tolerated.
00:06:06.80\00:06:13.37
So then don't think it's strange
that the majority of the Hebrew
young men agreed to
00:06:13.40\00:06:16.71
obey their Babylonian capturers
knowing that there was a
three-year probationary period.
00:06:16.74\00:06:22.74
And because they wanted to stay
alive, they succumbed to the
notion that this, too, shall
00:06:22.78\00:06:30.32
pass. But in every period of
every age, I'm so glad that
there are still some people who
00:06:30.35\00:06:40.96
will stand up. I am so glad
there are still some people who
will stand for their rights.
00:06:41.00\00:06:46.87
There are some people who
will still not bow down to the
00:06:46.90\00:06:50.41
unrighteous foolish
edicts of an unrighteous king.
00:06:50.44\00:06:53.38
There are still some people out
there who will not go along to
00:06:53.41\00:06:58.35
get along. There are still some
people who will speak truth to
00:06:58.38\00:07:03.65
power. The Babylonians had
invaded Jerusalem. Jerusalem had
been overwhelmed. The land was
00:07:03.69\00:07:10.56
conquered. The devastation was
terrible. Israel no longer
controlled its own destiny.
00:07:10.59\00:07:15.00
The Babylonians took
Hebrew youth back to Babylon.
00:07:15.03\00:07:18.20
The youth were made eunuchs
without ever having the hope of
having children on their own.
00:07:18.23\00:07:22.87
And they would spend the
remainder of their lives serving
00:07:22.90\00:07:28.98
a pagan king. Now, let me remind
you that the Babylonian army
didn't capture Jerusalem
00:07:29.01\00:07:34.62
because they had better
generals. The Babylonian army
didn't succeed in this invasion
00:07:34.65\00:07:40.19
because they had better weapons.
00:07:40.22\00:07:42.76
Nebuchadnezzar's forces did not
win these battles because they
were in better uniforms.
00:07:42.79\00:07:48.53
Jerusalem was defeated according
to Daniel 1:1, because the Bible
00:07:48.56\00:07:53.60
says, "The Lord gave Jehoiakim
into Nebuchadnezzar's hand." I
don't think you all got that.
00:07:53.64\00:08:01.58
The Lord gave Jehoiakim
into Nebuchadnezzar's hand.
00:08:01.61\00:08:07.38
In other words, God delivered
the Hebrews into the hands of
00:08:07.42\00:08:15.39
the Babylonians. Somebody's
saying, "Well, why would God do
that?" Because God is God.
00:08:15.42\00:08:19.79
And God can do
whatever God wants to do.
00:08:19.83\00:08:22.40
And because God knows what God
is doing, we have to learn to
00:08:22.43\00:08:26.84
trust God. Because God's ways
are not our ways. God's thoughts
are not our thoughts.
00:08:26.87\00:08:31.07
God, I believe, allowed
Jerusalem's capture because it
was according to God's plan.
00:08:31.11\00:08:36.34
It was all according to His plan
for Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach,
00:08:36.38\00:08:41.08
and Abednego to end
up in the king's courts,
00:08:41.12\00:08:44.79
so God could get the glory and
more people would know about the
00:08:44.82\00:08:51.89
Almighty God. So Nebuchadnezzar
captures Israel, retains the
00:08:51.93\00:08:56.70
most intelligent, the most
talented Hebrews to serve him in
his court. Everybody else was to
00:08:56.73\00:09:01.37
go work in the field. But
Daniel and his three friends -
00:09:01.40\00:09:03.51
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
were included in the group of
00:09:03.54\00:09:07.04
royal favorites. Living in the
king's court meant they had to
eat the king's meat.
00:09:07.08\00:09:11.08
Now, while there is no record in
Scripture of what the king's
meat was, we do know this.
00:09:11.11\00:09:20.92
It wasn't Griller's, Super
Link's, Fri-Chick, ready burger,
the impossible burger, tofu, or
00:09:20.96\00:09:33.67
that good veggie meat the young
people love so much in the
Oakwood Cafeteria. Amen?
00:09:33.70\00:09:38.51
[Congregation: Amen]
00:09:38.54\00:09:40.41
[Congregation: Laughing]
00:09:40.44\00:09:45.48
But it was something else. So
Daniel, the Bible says, stands
up and purposes in his heart,
00:09:45.51\00:09:53.72
in verse number eight, that
he would not defile himself with
00:09:53.76\00:09:58.33
the king's meat nor with the
wine the king drink. Now, to
purpose something means to
00:09:58.36\00:10:03.63
establish or fix something so
firm that it becomes unmovable
00:10:03.67\00:10:09.17
and unshakable. Another word for
this is conviction. Everybody
00:10:09.20\00:10:10.84
say conviction.
[Congregation: Conviction]
00:10:10.87\00:10:13.21
Convictions are
truths that we are so sure of
00:10:13.24\00:10:17.05
and so convinced about that
nothing can make us move from
00:10:17.08\00:10:21.32
our convictions. Are
you hearing what I'm saying?
00:10:21.35\00:10:22.78
Convictions are what you need
to live as a Christian in an
00:10:22.82\00:10:27.69
ungodly world. Convictions give
you the ability to stand and
keeping on when everyone around
00:10:27.72\00:10:35.53
you has fallen away, and
you are the last one standing.
00:10:35.56\00:10:38.80
In the name of Jesus, if you
want to be a person that God can
00:10:38.83\00:10:45.81
use for His glory, I am a
witness that you got to have
00:10:45.84\00:10:48.74
some convictions. A man who
stands for nothing will fall for
anything. You got to have some
00:10:48.78\00:10:56.42
convictions. I've learned
everybody's not going to
understand you. Everybody may
00:10:56.45\00:11:01.99
not like you. But you can't be
popular and prophetic at the
same time. You got to have some
00:11:02.02\00:11:08.63
convictions. And
let me tell you this.
00:11:08.66\00:11:10.33
These convictions, they have to
be your convictions, not
somebody else's convictions.
00:11:10.37\00:11:15.50
Ellen White says, "We are not
to be mere reflectors of other
00:11:15.54\00:11:18.81
men's thoughts." Are
you hearing what I'm saying?
00:11:18.84\00:11:19.94
So Daniel, the text says,
00:11:19.97\00:11:22.61
under conviction asks for a
meeting-- asks for a meeting to
meet with one of the king's men,
00:11:22.64\00:11:31.92
so he can tell the king's man
what's he's not going to do.
Now, this was risky.
00:11:31.95\00:11:38.99
Daniel and his friends could
have expelled from the royal
00:11:39.03\00:11:41.60
academy, or worse, yet, they
could have been killed. But I'm
so glad Daniel knew who his
00:11:41.63\00:11:46.94
Father was. I'm so glad that
Daniel knew that God had his
back. Are you hearing what I'm
00:11:46.97\00:11:51.37
saying, everybody? So what does
Daniel do? We know the story.
Daniel proposes an experiment.
00:11:51.41\00:11:55.61
We all know what that
experiment is. We're at Oakwood.
00:11:55.64\00:11:57.78
We're at an educational
institution, and experiments are
performed every day.
00:11:57.81\00:12:01.02
But just in case you don't know,
00:12:01.05\00:12:02.78
an experiment is a scientific
procedure undertaken to make a
discovery, test a hypothesis,
00:12:02.82\00:12:06.52
or demonstrate a known fact.
Experiments can be unethical and
00:12:06.55\00:12:13.33
inhumane. What am I talking
about? You all remember the
Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment.
00:12:13.36\00:12:19.47
Unethical. Inhumane. But then an
experiment can be as simple as
mixing baking soda, vinegar;
00:12:19.50\00:12:28.34
and put some glitter in it; and
you create a sparkly volcano.
00:12:28.38\00:12:32.38
But this experiment was
different. This experiment dealt
00:12:32.41\00:12:37.42
with food. Daniel says, "Let us
only eat pulse," which was a
diet of beans, lentils, edible
00:12:37.45\00:12:47.03
seed like grain, "and let's
drink water only. No meat. No
drink. No wine. Just beans and
00:12:47.03\00:12:58.07
lentils and water for 10 days.
And let's see who fares better
physically: those who eat the
00:12:58.11\00:13:02.64
king's meat and drink the king's
wine, or the four of us who eat
beans, lentils, and drink
00:13:02.68\00:13:09.48
water?" So the story says that
for 10 days, Daniel and his
friends would only eat lentils,
00:13:09.52\00:13:14.46
beans, grains or the
edible seeds of certain plants,
00:13:14.49\00:13:15.82
drink water while all the other
servants would eat the king's
00:13:15.86\00:13:21.70
meat. The Bible says, and
this is the key, verse 15,
00:13:21.73\00:13:24.97
"At the end of the 10 days,
Daniel and his friends," the
00:13:25.00\00:13:30.77
countenances," Bible says,
"their their what, everybody--
[Congregation: Countenances]
00:13:30.81\00:13:32.84
"appeared fairer and fatter
in flesh than those who ate the
00:13:32.87\00:13:41.02
king's meat." Now, let me be
clear. My reason for sharing
this today to you is not to make
00:13:41.05\00:13:48.86
you become a vegetarian
or vegan. I can't make you do
00:13:48.89\00:13:52.39
anything. That's a decision that
you have to make between you and
the Lord. Do I have a witness in
00:13:52.43\00:13:57.17
this place? But studies do show
that a vegetarian diet is,
typically, lower in saturated
00:13:57.20\00:14:03.24
fat, higher in fiber, complex
carbohydrates, and mild Vitamin
00:14:03.27\00:14:07.71
C and E. Vegetarians, the test
studies say, also have lower
cholesterol, a lower risk of
00:14:07.74\00:14:13.01
obesity, hypertension, and of
developing diabetes or
cardiovascular diseases.
00:14:13.05\00:14:17.69
The benefits of being a vegan
are that a vegan diet is richer
in certain nutrients.
00:14:17.72\00:14:21.96
It can help you lose
excess weight.  [Congregation:
00:14:21.99\00:14:23.93
Laughing] Dr. Byrd: It lowers
blood sugar levels, improves
kidney function, protects
00:14:23.96\00:14:30.57
against certain cancers, is
linked to lower risk of heart
disease, and can reduce pain
00:14:30.60\00:14:35.57
from arthritis. Now, that's what
the study showed. And we know
00:14:35.60\00:14:41.41
this is true. Because I was
telling Ms. Elise that many
people live in the Huntsville,
00:14:41.44\00:14:47.55
Alabama area and also in area in
Loma Linda, California that are
in our Adventist communities.
00:14:47.58\00:14:53.32
And these communities
have been labeled as blue zones
00:14:53.36\00:14:56.93
because the people live longer
in these communities because of
00:14:56.96\00:15:01.90
their diets. Are you
hearing what I'm saying?
00:15:01.93\00:15:03.47
We have health professionals
today that can speak with
00:15:03.50\00:15:08.74
greater authority and expertise
on the benefits of a green plate
00:15:08.77\00:15:12.07
diet. But I'm just a lowly
preacher trying to lose some
00:15:12.11\00:15:15.84
weight. And I want to come
from a spiritual perspective.
00:15:15.88\00:15:19.88
When I read Daniel 1, I want to
be sure that I point out that
there is a clear connection
00:15:19.91\00:15:26.86
between what we eat and our
countenances. That what we eat
impacts our countenance.
00:15:26.89\00:15:35.60
The text says in Daniel 1:15,
"At the end of the ten days,
Daniel and his friends,
00:15:35.63\00:15:42.07
their countenances appeared
fairer and fatter in flesh than
those who ate the king's meat."
00:15:42.10\00:15:47.58
Daniel's body was
healthy, and his body was fair.
00:15:47.61\00:15:52.78
But friends of mine,
this is my holy hypothesis.
00:15:52.81\00:15:55.95
I just don't believe it was
Daniel's physical body that
appeared healthier.
00:15:55.98\00:16:01.56
But it was also his mind.
00:16:01.59\00:16:04.23
It was also his
spirit that were kept clean
00:16:04.26\00:16:08.20
by his decision to eat only that
food which he felt was clean.
00:16:08.23\00:16:12.63
Daniel went on to use his
spiritual clarity to interpret
dreams, stand for truth and
00:16:12.67\00:16:19.07
righteousness, inspire several
conquering kings to respect his
00:16:19.11\00:16:22.88
God. When I read the word - and
I read about Daniel, Shadrach,
00:16:22.91\00:16:26.35
Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel
1 - it makes me think about what
in my own diet could be
00:16:26.38\00:16:33.29
hampering or compromising my
spiritual and physical
well-being. Are you hearing what
00:16:33.32\00:16:40.10
I'm saying? [Congregation: Amen]
00:16:40.13\00:16:41.26
We are what we eat. If you
eat garbage, you'll be garbage.
00:16:41.30\00:16:50.21
Too many people are on a "see
food" diet where when they see
it, they eat it. What's that?
00:16:50.24\00:17:00.85
I don't know what it is.
But it's good. But all that is
00:17:00.88\00:17:02.72
grease. But it sure tastes good.
Ellen White says in Council on
Health, life is a gift from God.
00:17:02.75\00:17:07.96
Our bodies have been given
to us to use in God's service.
00:17:07.99\00:17:09.92
And a misuse of the body
shortens the time period that
God designed shall be used for
00:17:09.96\00:17:16.10
His service. When the young
men were found to be better and
00:17:16.13\00:17:18.73
healthier and better nourished
after 10 days than their
00:17:18.77\00:17:20.97
counterparts, the Bible teaches
that they knew God was providing
00:17:21.00\00:17:23.97
for them. And this knowledge
would help them maintain their
devotion to God in later tests.
00:17:24.01\00:17:29.88
What am I talking about? Because
Daniel passed the food test in
00:17:29.91\00:17:36.95
Daniel 1, he was able to pass
the prayer test-- [Congregation:
00:17:36.99\00:17:40.09
Applause] -- in Daniel 6 when he
was thrown in the lion's den.
Are you hearing what I'm saying?
00:17:40.12\00:17:45.19
If you can't handle the
test Satan throws your way now,
00:17:45.23\00:17:47.96
how are you going to handle the
bigger tests of life that are
going to come later?
00:17:48.00\00:17:51.53
I'm almost done. But the text
says a few more points. But I
just want to share, two.
00:17:51.57\00:17:55.07
Number one, Daniel and his
friends trusted God. They
trusted God working through
00:17:55.10\00:18:01.84
their diet. And they trusted and
believed that God would reward
them for their obedience.
00:18:01.88\00:18:05.85
Listen to be good, their
obedience. And God did. God
honored their obedience.
00:18:05.88\00:18:11.32
And after 10 days, they were
healthier and stronger than all
the others in the royal academy.
00:18:11.35\00:18:16.69
So for the rest of the
three-year course, they were
allowed to continue eating this
00:18:16.73\00:18:20.60
simple diet. And by the
end of those three years,
00:18:20.63\00:18:22.36
they were head and shoulders
above all the rest in the royal
kingdom in wisdom and judgment.
00:18:22.40\00:18:25.53
They became the king's most
trusted advisers and counselors.
00:18:25.57\00:18:28.67
Now, listen to be good. Don't
get it twisted. Don't misquote
00:18:28.70\00:18:32.57
Pastor Byrd. Some
people are good for that.
00:18:32.61\00:18:34.18
[Congregation: Laughing]
00:18:34.21\00:18:39.08
This is not me. That we should
adapt or take on a similar diet
only if we want to become
00:18:39.11\00:18:48.69
stronger and smarter than
everyone else. I know a lot of
unintelligent vegans and
00:18:48.72\00:18:58.53
vegetarians. Are you hearing
what I'm saying? Don't get it
00:18:58.57\00:19:02.47
twisted. The outcome of the
young men was entirely God's
00:19:02.50\00:19:06.84
doing and was not limited
to making a healthier choice.
00:19:06.88\00:19:10.55
But it had everything to do with
making a Godlier choice, a
choice to obey God.
00:19:10.58\00:19:19.85
My parents taught me to obey is
better than to sacrifice, that a
hard head made a soft bottom.
00:19:19.89\00:19:29.63
Are you hearing what I'm saying?
00:19:29.66\00:19:30.90
[Congregation: Yes]
00:19:30.93\00:19:32.40
I praise God that Daniel's
request was granted But what if
00:19:32.43\00:19:42.21
it hadn't been? What if his
request had not been granted?
What if the king's man, Melzar,
00:19:42.24\00:19:47.02
thought that they were just
being too picky, too difficult?
And he said, "I'm sorry.
00:19:47.05\00:19:52.79
But listen. This is
what has been prepared.
00:19:52.82\00:19:55.66
This is what's on your table.
And this is what you're going to
00:19:55.69\00:20:00.53
eat. Just eat this food
like everybody else, and hush."
00:20:00.56\00:20:07.00
What do you think the four
Hebrews would have done? I don't
00:20:07.04\00:20:12.01
know about you. But I believe
that their trust in and
obedience to God was so strong;
00:20:12.04\00:20:17.85
that if they had starved to
death, they would have done it
rather to be giving in to their
00:20:17.88\00:20:24.75
hunger and thirst and compromise
their convictions. That's
00:20:24.79\00:20:32.19
obedience. If we can have that
kind of obedience to withstand
00:20:32.23\00:20:34.83
that kind of test, what are we
going to do when the world is on
00:20:34.83\00:20:38.77
fire? Second lesson then
I'm going to sit down. Favor.
00:20:38.80\00:20:43.24
Notice now that it was God who
put Daniel in favor with
Nebuchadnezzar's official.
00:20:43.27\00:20:49.91
I could preach a whole sermon
on this. If you read the text,
00:20:49.94\00:20:53.95
Daniel did not speak directly to
Nebuchadnezzar's man. But he
spoke to Nebuchadnezzar's men's
00:20:53.98\00:21:02.99
man. Are you with me, everybody?
It wasn't the associate under
00:21:03.02\00:21:10.03
Daniel. It was the associate
under the associate. God
orchestrated it that Daniel
00:21:10.07\00:21:20.58
would speak to him. Verse nine,
"Now God brought Daniel into
favor and tender love with the
00:21:20.61\00:21:29.48
prince of the eunuchs. " Daniel
was known for his wisdom. But
God used that wisdom on the
00:21:29.52\00:21:32.82
official's heart. That's favor.
And favor is not fair. Stop
hating on somebody else's favor.
00:21:32.85\00:21:44.33
Realize that what God
has for me, it is for me.
00:21:44.37\00:21:52.44
And if you're being hated on,
don't worry about your haters.
00:21:52.47\00:21:58.58
God will make your
haters your elevators.
00:21:58.61\00:22:02.92
[Congregation: Applause]
00:22:02.95\00:22:04.45
The Bible says, specifically,
that God will make your enemies
00:22:04.49\00:22:11.23
your footstool. What can we
learn from this? You got to have
enemies in order to step on
00:22:11.26\00:22:17.97
somebody. So praise
God for your enemies,
00:22:18.00\00:22:21.67
because if you don't have
enemies, you wouldn't have
anybody to step on?
00:22:21.70\00:22:24.47
Are you hearing what I'm saying?
00:22:24.51\00:22:25.64
[Congregation: Amen]
00:22:25.67\00:22:27.18
Dr. Byrd: I'm learning how to
just laugh at myself. And I look
00:22:27.21\00:22:32.38
at my enemies. And I look
at them, and I say, "Footstool
00:22:32.41\00:22:35.92
[laughter]." I look over
there and say, "Footstool."
00:22:35.95\00:22:38.45
And I'm smiling at how you're
doing it under my breath,
"Footstool [laughter]."
00:22:38.49\00:22:42.46
Keep doing what you're doing:
00:22:42.49\00:22:45.03
And God will honor you when
you honor Him. It's test time.
00:22:45.06\00:22:54.64
The world is in a mess. It's
test time. The world is coming
to an end. It's test time.
00:22:54.67\00:23:06.05
Jesus is soon to come. It's test
time. What you eat is what's
eating you. It's test time.
00:23:06.08\00:23:16.73
Are you going to obey? Or are
you going to sacrifice? It's
test time. Favor is from the
00:23:16.76\00:23:27.77
Lord. It's test time. This is
not a Math test, not an English
test, not a Biology test, not a
00:23:27.80\00:23:37.78
History test, not a Greek test.
But it's time church to get
ready for God's test.
00:23:37.81\00:23:43.05
We've got wildfires,
whistleblowing, impeachment
talks. But it's test time.
00:23:43.08\00:23:50.86
But I want to encourage somebody
today. Don't be anxious for the
00:23:50.89\00:23:55.93
test. Don't be scared for the
test. Don't worry about the
test. You don't get an A on the
00:23:55.96\00:24:03.61
test. You're going to pass the
test because Jesus already wrote
the grade at Calvary.
00:24:03.64\00:24:10.25
At Calvary, He died for
our sins. We just got to live
00:24:10.28\00:24:15.75
through this test. So
nevertheless, it's only a test.
You got to hold on.
00:24:15.78\00:24:23.46
Praise God that the four Hebrews
ate how they did. But don't
forget the message of this text.
00:24:23.49\00:24:42.24
Obedience. You got to obey.
00:24:42.28\00:24:48.32
I don't care how you try
to rationalize the Word of God
00:24:48.35\00:24:50.75
and make the Word of God suit
your purposes and preferences.
00:24:50.79\00:24:54.86
The Word of God is the Word of
God. You got to obey. And God
will give you favor.
00:24:54.89\00:25:05.47
It's test time. But you got
to be willing to stand for the
00:25:05.50\00:25:15.84
right. You got to be willing to
stand if nobody else around you
00:25:15.88\00:25:31.36
is standing. Thank you very much
for tuning in to this week's
Breath of Life broadcast.
00:25:31.39\00:25:35.56
We hope and pray that you've
been blessed by Dr. Byrd's
inspirational message.
00:25:35.60\00:25:40.47
If you would like to hear
this sermon in its entirety,
00:25:40.50\00:25:42.54
please feel free to visit
us at www.breathoflife.tv.
00:25:42.57\00:25:48.78
Or, call us at (256) 929-6460
00:25:48.81\00:25:56.02
[End]
00:25:56.05\00:26:00.82
[MUSIC]
00:26:00.86\00:26:06.53
Congregation: [Applause]
00:26:06.56\00:26:14.97
We still haven't come
down from the mountaintop
00:26:15.00\00:26:17.47
as we recently concluded our
fall revival in our Nation's
Capital, Washington, DC.
00:26:17.51\00:26:23.21
Each night the Word of God was
preached and at the close of our
00:26:23.24\00:26:29.52
time in DC, we were blessed to
witness 53 people surrendered
their lives to the Lord through
00:26:29.55\00:26:36.52
baptism. “I Love being a father,
nothing makes me happier.
00:26:36.56\00:26:40.93
Like, waking up seeing my
daughters, and I just know that
00:26:40.96\00:26:45.70
I had to--- I had to bring my
family here. Dr. Byrd he
baptised me and her together.
00:26:45.73\00:26:53.58
You know? So that meant alot to
me, and I'm glad we are young
and we really want this.
00:26:53.61\00:27:01.18
For our children
and for ourselves.”
00:27:01.22\00:27:04.09
“Man!  Dr, Byrd has been an
inspiration to me because he
knows the Bible inside out.
00:27:04.12\00:27:12.39
His words, his continuous flow.
He gives me inspiration in the
things that I do, to know that--
00:27:12.43\00:27:20.60
You know? I'm on the right path.
I'm just not there yet but I
know I'll get there though."
00:27:20.64\00:27:28.34
“I just been getting
feed more and more and more
00:27:28.38\00:27:32.31
Just learning more
and more about the Bible.
00:27:32.35\00:27:35.32
Learning how to live,
learning how to eat right.
00:27:35.35\00:27:40.16
You know? Oh Lord.
00:27:40.19\00:27:42.62
It's just-- It's just--
00:27:42.66\00:27:45.29
It's just so awesome.”
00:27:45.33\00:27:47.76
We are excited to see God
continue to transform lives with
the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
00:27:47.76\00:27:53.64
We are mindful however that we
can't do this work without your
00:27:53.67\00:27:58.04
help. Each and every
contribution helps us to keep
sharing God's Word.
00:27:58.07\00:28:02.81
Please make your tax deductible
gift payable to Breath of Life
00:28:02.84\00:28:07.92
by mail, at Breath of Life PO
BOX 5960, Huntsville, AL 35814
00:28:07.95\00:28:15.72
Give us all call the
number is 256.929.6460
00:28:15.76\00:28:22.00
Or you can visit us
online at www.breathoflife.tv
00:28:22.03\00:28:27.87
[end]
00:28:27.90\00:28:42.92