¤[music ends]¤¤
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>>John Bradshaw: Daniel, chapter
4 stands out as being unique,
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and it has a strong
and important message,
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as strong as
anything else you'll find
00:00:25.89\00:00:27.96
in the entire book of Daniel.
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[whoosh]
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¤[orchestral music swells]¤
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[tinkling sound
of wind-blown sand]
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[whoosh, distant bell rings]
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[wind blowing, sand swishing]
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¤[reflective harp music]¤
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The book of Daniel
is unique in the Bible.
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The second half of
the book is prophecy:
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Daniel 7,
beasts, the little horn,
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and a prophetic time period;
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Daniel 8, the
2,300 days or years;
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Daniel 9, the 70-weeks prophecy;
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Daniel 10, a behind-the-scenes
look at the great
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universal spiritual war;
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Daniel 11 adds a lot of
detail to the earlier prophecies
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in Daniel; and then Daniel
12 with the time of trouble,
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two additional time
prophecies, and more.
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The first half of
Daniel contains stories
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which are prophetic in nature.
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Daniel 1, Daniel
boldly chooses to honor God,
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and God protects
and preserves him.
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Daniel 2 is story and prophecy.
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Daniel
interprets the king's dream,
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outlining more than
2,500 years of human history.
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Daniel 3, the fiery furnace,
a law compels idol worship.
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Faithfulness to God
endangers the lives of Daniel's
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three friends, but Jesus
stands with them in their trial,
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a foreshadowing of what
will take place in the world
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in earth's last days.
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Daniel 5, the writing
is on the wall for Babylon,
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and Babylon falls.
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Daniel 6, Daniel refuses to obey
a law mandating false worship
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and is cast into a den
of lions. [lion growls]
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Those early chapters of
Daniel are rich with insights,
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parallels, and lessons
that speak to the future.
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The book of Revelation
stands upon the book of Daniel.
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John borrows
important imagery from Daniel.
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Daniel traces the rise of
nations and speaks to the rise
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of the antichrist
power of the last days.
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And Revelation is built on that.
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In Daniel 4 we
encounter the king of Babylon,
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Nebuchadnezzar
II, for the last time.
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He ruled longer than
any other Babylonian king.
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He completed massive
construction projects
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and conquered
territory in the Levant--
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that's the eastern
Mediterranean region.
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The Babylonian Empire
extended from the Persian Gulf
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up through what
today we'd call Iraq,
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through Syria
and parts of Turkey,
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and down the Mediterranean
to include parts of Egypt
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and Saudi Arabia.
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King Nebuchadnezzar
had transformed Babylon
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into a magnificent city.
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One hundred twenty years
after it had been destroyed
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by the Assyrians in 689 BC,
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there were three
beautiful palaces;
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the Hanging Gardens of Babylon,
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one of the seven
wonders of the ancient world;
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more than 50 temples;
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double walls
surrounding the city,
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in some places triple walls.
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Nebuchadnezzar built
the magnificent Ishtar Gate,
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the remnants of
which can be seen today
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in the Pergamon
Museum in Berlin.
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He even constructed a bridge
across the Euphrates River.
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Outside of the Bible there's
not a lot known about him,
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which shouldn't surprise anyone,
considering he died in 562 BC,
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almost 2,600 years ago.
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It's not easy to find specific
artifacts from ancient times.
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Although, a
stone tablet recovered
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from the city of
Babylon before 1803,
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and now displayed at the
British Museum in London,
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contains an
inscription that says,
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"By thy
command, merciful Marduk,
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"may the temple I have
built endure for all time
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and may I be
satisfied with its splendor."
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And thousands of the 15 million
bricks used by his builder
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were stamped with
his name and titles:
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"Nebuchadnezzar,
king of Babylon,
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who [cares] for Esagila and
Ezida"--which were temples--
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"eldest son of
Nabopolassar, king of Babylon."
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Daniel 4 begins,
"Nebuchadnezzar the king,
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"to all peoples, nations,
and languages that dwell
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"in all the earth:
Peace be multiplied to you.
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"I thought it good to
declare the signs and wonders
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"that the Most High
God has worked for me.
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"How great are His signs,
and how mighty His wonders!
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"His kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom,
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and His dominion is from
generation to generation."
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That could take you by
surprise when you remember
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that this is the same man
who was feared in chapter 1,
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the man who sentenced Daniel
and the rest of the counselors
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to death in chapter 2
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and cast Daniel's three friends
into a furnace in Daniel 3.
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Nebuchadnezzar is described
in the Bible as God's servant,
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which seems an
unlikely thing for God
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to call an idol-worshiper.
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During Israel's turbulent
history they were enslaved
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by the Egyptians, dominated
by Moab, Canaan, the Midianites,
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the Philistines,
and the Ammonites
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because of their
sin and idolatry.
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God allowed
Nebuchadnezzar to conquer Judah
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because He wanted to
heal them of all that,
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and He knew that in
being in a strange land
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cut off from what
they were familiar with,
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dependent on God
for their deliverance,
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that would give
them time to think
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about the error of their ways.
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God's hope was that they would
realize He truly loved them.
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The whole experience of
Judah in the book of Daniel
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speaks to God's desire to
see them saved and not lost.
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It's easy to miss the
point of the book of Daniel,
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with beasts
rising up out of the sea,
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with dreams and visions,
the abomination of desolation,
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statues and animals and
kingdoms rising and falling.
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As important as all of that is,
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it can obscure a
very important truth.
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When you boil it
down, the book of Daniel
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is a book of salvation.
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And we see that God is able
to reach even the hardest heart.
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Daniel 4 is actually
written by Nebuchadnezzar.
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It's a royal
proclamation, a testimony.
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The king describes a
dream he had, another dream.
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In Daniel 2 he
dreamed of the rise and fall
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of great world powers,
but this dream is different.
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Like Daniel 2, he called his
wise men to interpret the dream.
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He said, "I told them the dream;
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but they did not make
known to me its interpretation."
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But unlike chapter 2,
there's no death sentence
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because of their inability
to interpret his dream.
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Nebuchadnezzar has changed.
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Listen to what
Nebuchadnezzar said:
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"At last Daniel came before
me (his name is Belteshazzar,
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"according to
the name of my god;
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"in him is the
Spirit of the Holy God),
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"and I told the
dream before him.
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"These were the visions of my
head while on my bed," he said.
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He saw a tree which grew
and became tall and strong.
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"Its height
reached to the heavens,
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"and it could be seen to
the ends of all the earth.
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"Its leaves were
lovely, its fruit abundant,
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"and in it was food for all.
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"The beasts of the
field found shade under it,
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the birds of the
heavens dwelt in its branches."
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A messenger from heaven gave
the order to cut the tree down.
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The animals would no
longer take shelter beneath it,
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and the birds would fly away.
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Although instructions
were given to "leave the stump
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"and roots in the earth, bound
with a band of iron and bronze,
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"in the tender
grass of the field.
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"Let it be wet
with the dew of heaven,
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"and let him
graze with the beasts
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on the grass of the earth."
00:08:09.38\00:08:11.39
The tree would be cut down
but not destroyed entirely.
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And notice, the tree
was referred to as "it"--
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"Let it be wet with
the dew of heaven"--
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and then as "him"--
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"Let him graze with the beasts."
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The dream continues:
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"Let his heart be
changed from that of a man,
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"[and] let him be
given the heart of a beast,
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and let seven
times pass over him."
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If you had that dream,
you'd be perplexed, too.
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So, what would
Daniel say to the king?
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Daniel would tell the king
the truth, whatever it was.
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Daniel was a man who
acted with integrity.
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In Daniel 1, he could please
the king and dishonor God,
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or honor God and run the
risk of displeasing the king
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and jeopardize his life.
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Daniel chose to honor God and
leave the consequences with God.
00:09:01.54\00:09:05.97
Like my friend, a truck driver,
00:09:06.01\00:09:07.34
asked by his
employer to falsify records,
00:09:07.38\00:09:09.64
my friend said, "I can't do that
because that would be to lie."
00:09:09.68\00:09:12.88
His employer fired him.
00:09:12.91\00:09:14.52
To my friend it
was a non-negotiable.
00:09:14.55\00:09:17.02
You just do the right thing
when you're a follower of Jesus.
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In Daniel 2, Daniel
was facing execution
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when the wise men couldn't
interpret the king's dream.
00:09:22.82\00:09:25.83
Daniel trusted God to
get him and his friends
00:09:25.86\00:09:28.26
through that trial.
00:09:28.30\00:09:29.73
In Daniel 3, three young
men refused to worship an idol,
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even when their
lives were on the line.
00:09:34.20\00:09:36.50
Now, Daniel 4:
00:09:36.54\00:09:37.94
Daniel is asked to
interpret the king's dream.
00:09:37.97\00:09:41.34
The king wasn't going to
like what Daniel told him,
00:09:41.38\00:09:44.11
but Daniel told him
anyway, kindly and graciously.
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He began by saying, "My lord,
00:09:47.85\00:09:50.19
"may the dream
concern those who hate you,
00:09:50.22\00:09:53.32
and its interpretation
concern your enemies!"
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Daniel genuinely
cared for the king.
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It seems that by now
the two men were close.
00:09:59.36\00:10:01.70
Now, think about that.
00:10:01.73\00:10:03.40
Daniel was a
believer in the one true God.
00:10:03.43\00:10:06.47
Nebuchadnezzar was a heathen.
He was a tyrant, a killer.
00:10:06.50\00:10:11.14
Nebuchadnezzar's armies
had conquered and destroyed
00:10:11.17\00:10:13.81
Daniel's home and
maybe Daniel's family.
00:10:13.84\00:10:17.18
And yet Daniel treated him
with respect and with concern,
00:10:17.21\00:10:21.35
and it was sincere.
00:10:21.38\00:10:23.82
Is that how it
works today for you?
00:10:23.85\00:10:26.12
Rather than despising people,
00:10:26.15\00:10:28.19
Christians are called
to show love for people,
00:10:28.22\00:10:31.43
no matter who they
are or what they believe
00:10:31.46\00:10:34.00
and no matter
how they treat you.
00:10:34.03\00:10:36.67
Jesus said, "Blessed
are you when they revile
00:10:36.70\00:10:39.77
"and persecute you,
and say all kinds of evil
00:10:39.80\00:10:42.64
against you
falsely for my sake."
00:10:42.67\00:10:44.61
He said, "Rejoice
and be exceedingly glad,
00:10:44.64\00:10:47.88
"for great is
your reward in heaven,
00:10:47.91\00:10:50.88
for so they persecuted the
prophets who were before you."
00:10:50.91\00:10:54.22
Daniel was a captive, living
as a slave in a foreign land.
00:10:54.25\00:10:58.72
This king had come
close to executing him
00:10:58.75\00:11:01.32
and had attempted
to execute his friends,
00:11:01.36\00:11:04.03
and yet Daniel was
concerned for the king.
00:11:04.06\00:11:06.80
And that's because he wanted
00:11:06.83\00:11:07.86
the king to know the
God of heaven and be saved.
00:11:07.93\00:11:11.47
Daniel's role
wasn't to take offense
00:11:11.50\00:11:13.70
or get angry or get even.
00:11:13.74\00:11:16.47
His role was to
demonstrate the character of God
00:11:16.50\00:11:19.77
and make faith
in God attractive,
00:11:19.81\00:11:23.75
even to a
murderous heathen king.
00:11:23.78\00:11:26.68
As Daniel began to
interpret the dream,
00:11:28.02\00:11:30.22
he told the king
that the great tree
00:11:30.25\00:11:32.49
in
Nebuchadnezzar's stunning dream
00:11:32.52\00:11:34.19
was "you, O king, who
have grown and become strong;
00:11:34.22\00:11:38.39
"for your greatness has grown
and [reached] to the heavens,
00:11:38.43\00:11:41.70
and your dominion to
the end of the earth."
00:11:41.73\00:11:44.53
Daniel explained, "They
shall drive you from men,
00:11:44.57\00:11:48.00
"your dwelling shall be
with the beasts of the field,
00:11:48.04\00:11:51.01
"and they shall make
you eat grass like oxen.
00:11:51.04\00:11:54.44
"They shall wet you
with the dew of heaven,
00:11:54.48\00:11:56.58
"and seven times
shall pass over you,
00:11:56.61\00:11:59.15
"till you know
that the Most High rules
00:11:59.18\00:12:02.55
in the kingdom of men, and gives
it to whomever He chooses."
00:12:02.58\00:12:07.29
Mighty
Nebuchadnezzar would be humbled.
00:12:07.32\00:12:10.93
He'd be separated from
society and live like an animal
00:12:10.96\00:12:15.50
for seven years.
00:12:15.53\00:12:17.50
But Daniel
offered the king hope.
00:12:17.53\00:12:20.14
Remember, the book of
Daniel is a book of salvation.
00:12:20.17\00:12:23.44
You're seeing that right here.
00:12:23.47\00:12:25.31
Nebuchadnezzar was the least
likely person on the planet
00:12:25.34\00:12:29.98
to be born again and
become a follower of God.
00:12:30.01\00:12:33.31
But God was
reaching out to this man,
00:12:33.35\00:12:36.52
calling him to
recognize the goodness of God.
00:12:36.55\00:12:39.49
You're ready to give
up on your wayward son
00:12:39.52\00:12:41.46
or, or your sister-in-law,
that person you work with?
00:12:41.49\00:12:44.16
You can't give up.
00:12:44.19\00:12:45.56
God didn't give up
on a Babylonian king.
00:12:45.59\00:12:48.80
"And inasmuch as they gave
the command to leave the stump
00:12:48.83\00:12:52.03
"and roots of the tree, your
kingdom shall be assured to you,
00:12:52.07\00:12:56.74
"after you come to
know that Heaven rules.
00:12:56.77\00:12:59.77
"Therefore, O king, let my
advice be acceptable to you;
00:12:59.81\00:13:03.91
"break off your
sins by being righteous,
00:13:03.95\00:13:07.48
"and your iniquities by
showing mercy to the poor.
00:13:07.52\00:13:11.35
Perhaps there may be a
lengthening of your prosperity."
00:13:11.39\00:13:15.62
And how did
Nebuchadnezzar respond?
00:13:15.66\00:13:18.06
He did...nothing at
all-- no heart change.
00:13:18.09\00:13:22.86
If anything, he
dug in deeper. [whoosh]
00:13:22.90\00:13:25.97
"At the end of the twelve months
00:13:26.00\00:13:27.60
"he was walking about
the royal palace of Babylon.
00:13:27.64\00:13:30.84
"The king spoke, saying,
'Is not this great Babylon,
00:13:30.87\00:13:35.08
"'that I have built for a royal
dwelling by my mighty power
00:13:35.11\00:13:39.41
and for the
honor of my majesty?'"
00:13:39.45\00:13:41.88
Which sounds a lot like that
inscription we read earlier.
00:13:41.92\00:13:45.82
In an effort to
save him, God intervened.
00:13:45.85\00:13:50.16
"While the word was
still in the king's mouth,
00:13:50.19\00:13:52.53
"a voice fell from
heaven: 'King Nebuchadnezzar,
00:13:52.56\00:13:55.93
"'to you it is spoken: the
kingdom has departed from you!
00:13:55.96\00:13:59.77
"'And they shall
drive you from men,
00:13:59.80\00:14:02.07
"'and your dwelling shall be
with the beasts of the field.
00:14:02.10\00:14:05.37
"'They shall make
you eat grass like oxen;
00:14:05.41\00:14:07.84
"'and seven times
shall pass over you,
00:14:07.88\00:14:10.41
"'until you know that the
Most High rules in the kingdom
00:14:10.45\00:14:13.75
"of men, and gives it
to whomever He chooses.'
00:14:13.78\00:14:17.39
"That very hour
the word was fulfilled
00:14:17.42\00:14:20.32
"concerning Nebuchadnezzar;
he was driven from men
00:14:20.36\00:14:23.49
"and ate grass like oxen;
00:14:23.53\00:14:25.83
"his body was wet with the
dew of heaven till his hair had
00:14:25.86\00:14:28.80
grown like eagles' feathers and
his nails like birds' claws."
00:14:28.83\00:14:34.97
God afflicted Nebuchadnezzar's
mind to help him recognize
00:14:35.00\00:14:39.04
his weakness, so that he
might surrender himself to God.
00:14:39.07\00:14:43.01
The king needed to realize
he really was not in control.
00:14:43.04\00:14:46.25
Trials are intended by God
to turn people towards Him.
00:14:46.28\00:14:50.49
What do you do when trials come?
00:14:50.52\00:14:52.12
You can get angry, or you
can respond to God's goodness.
00:14:52.15\00:14:55.12
You can let some
hardship embitter you,
00:14:55.16\00:14:57.86
or you can stop to ask yourself
what God is trying to teach you
00:14:57.89\00:15:00.96
or how God is trying
to get through to you.
00:15:00.96\00:15:03.57
A young woman who went
to rehab multiple times
00:15:03.60\00:15:05.87
continued to
struggle with addiction.
00:15:05.90\00:15:07.67
But then one day she
prayed, and when she prayed,
00:15:07.70\00:15:11.34
God moved in a powerful
way. Now she's clean and sober.
00:15:11.37\00:15:15.68
God permits trials so
that you might turn to God,
00:15:15.71\00:15:19.45
not away from God.
00:15:19.48\00:15:21.12
Now, notice that a
certain phrase is stated
00:15:21.15\00:15:23.05
three times in this chapter:
00:15:23.08\00:15:24.69
"until you know
that the Most High
00:15:24.72\00:15:26.92
rules in the kingdom of men."
00:15:26.96\00:15:29.19
This is what God
wanted to impress on the king.
00:15:29.22\00:15:32.43
The mighty king
had conquered nations.
00:15:32.46\00:15:34.76
He'd risen to greatness,
strengthened his kingdom.
00:15:34.83\00:15:38.13
But he hadn't
surrendered his life to God,
00:15:38.17\00:15:41.70
in large part because
he was self-sufficient.
00:15:41.74\00:15:46.54
If anyone felt that
they had a reason to be proud
00:15:46.57\00:15:48.48
of their accomplishments,
I suppose it was this man.
00:15:48.51\00:15:51.65
Now, there's nothing
wrong with feeling good
00:15:51.68\00:15:54.18
about what you've done, but when
your achievements make you feel
00:15:54.22\00:15:57.19
like you're the reason for your
success, you're on thin ice.
00:15:57.22\00:16:01.66
In actual fact,
it's God who gives you
00:16:01.69\00:16:03.43
the advantages that you have.
00:16:03.46\00:16:05.63
Nebuchadnezzar had seen clear
evidence of the power of God,
00:16:05.66\00:16:08.50
and he'd acknowledged
that. Daniel, chapter 1:
00:16:08.53\00:16:11.40
"He found them ten times
better than all the magicians
00:16:11.43\00:16:14.10
and astrologers who
were in all his realm."
00:16:14.14\00:16:16.47
Daniel 2:
00:16:16.50\00:16:17.64
"Truly your God is the God
of gods, the Lord of kings,
00:16:17.67\00:16:20.34
"and a revealer of secrets,
00:16:20.38\00:16:21.94
since you could
reveal this secret."
00:16:21.98\00:16:24.25
Daniel 3: "Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-Nego,
00:16:24.28\00:16:26.98
servants of the Most High
God, come out, and come here."
00:16:27.02\00:16:31.52
He saw the Son of God
standing with three young men
00:16:31.55\00:16:35.66
in a furnace and witnessed
an extraordinary miracle.
00:16:35.69\00:16:40.13
And what did he say?
00:16:40.16\00:16:41.90
"Is this not great
Babylon that I have built?"
00:16:41.93\00:16:47.87
So, in inflicting
Nebuchadnezzar with lycanthropy,
00:16:47.90\00:16:51.01
a condition in which a person
believes they're an animal,
00:16:51.04\00:16:54.18
was God punishing the man?
00:16:54.21\00:16:55.84
No! God was
trying to reach the king,
00:16:55.88\00:16:58.75
doing all He could
to give Nebuchadnezzar
00:16:58.78\00:17:00.42
unmistakable
evidence that God was God
00:17:00.45\00:17:03.59
and that he would be better off
surrendering his life to God.
00:17:03.62\00:17:07.82
Daniel had appealed to the king:
00:17:07.86\00:17:09.96
"Break off your
sins by being righteous,
00:17:09.99\00:17:12.19
"and your iniquities by
showing mercy to the poor.
00:17:12.23\00:17:15.00
Perhaps there may be a
lengthening of your prosperity."
00:17:15.03\00:17:18.17
But the
sovereign wouldn't listen.
00:17:18.20\00:17:20.84
So, for seven years the
king would be in this condition.
00:17:20.87\00:17:24.14
Was that harsh?
00:17:24.17\00:17:26.21
Absolutely not,
00:17:26.24\00:17:27.78
especially when you consider
how all of this turned out.
00:17:27.81\00:17:31.51
God wanted
Nebuchadnezzar to be saved.
00:17:31.55\00:17:36.05
Think of what God
did to reach this man.
00:17:36.08\00:17:39.02
He allowed him to become
the ruler of the kingdom.
00:17:39.05\00:17:41.82
He permitted him to
conquer Judah and other nations.
00:17:41.86\00:17:45.16
He sent Daniel to
him and impressed him
00:17:45.19\00:17:47.40
with the faithfulness
of Daniel and his friends.
00:17:47.40\00:17:49.93
He gave the king
an impressive dream.
00:17:49.96\00:17:51.60
He had Daniel
interpret the king's dream.
00:17:51.63\00:17:54.40
While he watched, Jesus
stood with Shadrach, Meshach,
00:17:54.44\00:17:57.61
and Abed-Nego in
the fiery furnace.
00:17:57.64\00:17:59.54
In all of this, God
was impressing the heart
00:17:59.57\00:18:03.24
of a pagan king.
00:18:03.28\00:18:04.71
Then he gave the
monarch another dramatic dream.
00:18:04.75\00:18:08.45
He had Daniel interpret that
dream and appeal to the king
00:18:08.48\00:18:11.22
to turn from his sins.
00:18:11.25\00:18:13.02
And it's almost certain
Nebuchadnezzar was familiar
00:18:13.05\00:18:16.09
with Ezekiel's prophecy in
which Nebuchadnezzar is named.
00:18:16.12\00:18:20.36
Now, Ezekiel and Daniel
were contemporaries in Babylon.
00:18:20.40\00:18:23.30
Daniel was taken from Jerusalem
00:18:23.33\00:18:24.80
in the first wave of the
Babylonian assault on the city,
00:18:24.83\00:18:28.14
while Ezekiel was
taken a few months later.
00:18:28.17\00:18:30.27
Daniel lived in Babylon,
00:18:30.31\00:18:31.94
while Ezekiel lived a little
outside the city of Babylon.
00:18:31.97\00:18:35.61
Ezekiel addressed a
message to the pharaoh of Egypt
00:18:35.64\00:18:38.91
in which God likened
the pharaoh to a tall tree,
00:18:38.95\00:18:42.92
telling pharaoh he
would be brought down,
00:18:42.95\00:18:44.92
and that God would use
Nebuchadnezzar to punish Egypt.
00:18:44.95\00:18:49.26
"Surely I will give the
land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar
00:18:49.29\00:18:52.03
"king of Babylon; he
shall take away her wealth,
00:18:52.06\00:18:54.73
"carry off her spoil,
and remove her pillage;
00:18:54.73\00:18:57.60
and that will be
the wages for his army."
00:18:57.63\00:18:59.73
[whoosh] "I will also
make a multitude of Egypt
00:18:59.77\00:19:01.70
to cease by the hand of
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon."
00:19:01.74\00:19:05.14
It's almost certain
Daniel would have shown
00:19:05.17\00:19:08.54
these prophecies
to Nebuchadnezzar.
00:19:08.58\00:19:10.55
So, that's more light that
God gave the Babylonian king.
00:19:10.58\00:19:14.32
Then God waited another
year before Nebuchadnezzar
00:19:14.35\00:19:18.05
was plunged into
temporary madness.
00:19:18.09\00:19:20.62
But then in Daniel 4, verse
34, Nebuchadnezzar continues,
00:19:20.66\00:19:25.16
"And at the end of the
time I, Nebuchadnezzar,
00:19:25.19\00:19:28.30
"lifted my eyes to heaven, and
my understanding returned to me;
00:19:28.33\00:19:34.07
"and I blessed the Most
High and praised and honored Him
00:19:34.10\00:19:38.41
who lives forever."
00:19:38.44\00:19:39.74
[whoosh] "At the same
time my reason returned to me,
00:19:39.77\00:19:43.21
"and for the
glory of my kingdom,
00:19:43.24\00:19:45.38
"my honor and
splendor returned to me.
00:19:45.41\00:19:48.72
"My counselors and
nobles resorted to me,
00:19:48.75\00:19:51.55
"I was restored to my kingdom,
00:19:51.59\00:19:53.89
and excellent
majesty was added to me."
00:19:53.92\00:19:58.39
There's the true
heart of the book of Daniel,
00:19:58.43\00:20:01.46
and it reveals the heart of God.
00:20:01.50\00:20:04.47
Several things I
want you to consider--
00:20:05.80\00:20:08.07
Daniel as a book
is about salvation.
00:20:08.10\00:20:11.11
Yes, it's a book heavy on
prophecy, time prophecies,
00:20:11.14\00:20:13.94
beasts that are
kingdoms, days that are years,
00:20:13.98\00:20:16.88
but this book is
a book of salvation.
00:20:16.91\00:20:18.91
In Daniel 4, God saves
the least likely person
00:20:18.95\00:20:23.08
on the planet, the
ruler of a mighty empire,
00:20:23.12\00:20:26.22
a
battle-hardened idol-worshiper,
00:20:26.25\00:20:28.72
a wealthy, self-satisfied man
00:20:28.76\00:20:30.93
used to getting everything
he wanted when he wanted it.
00:20:30.96\00:20:34.36
And yet God went
after that man persistently
00:20:34.36\00:20:38.67
and got through--
00:20:38.70\00:20:40.74
which means God is
working today to reach people.
00:20:40.77\00:20:45.91
He's trying to
reach your family members.
00:20:45.94\00:20:48.11
He's at work, even
when you can't see it--
00:20:48.14\00:20:51.11
which means He cares for you.
00:20:51.15\00:20:54.55
The circumstances
affecting your life?
00:20:54.58\00:20:57.52
God is in the midst of all
of that, calling you to Himself.
00:20:57.55\00:21:01.12
The blessings are from God.
00:21:01.16\00:21:03.79
The challenges?
00:21:03.83\00:21:05.46
God permits them because He
wants you to turn towards Him,
00:21:05.49\00:21:09.06
and how you
respond to those challenges
00:21:09.10\00:21:10.87
will influence others.
00:21:10.90\00:21:13.10
If you were to
look at your life,
00:21:13.13\00:21:14.47
you'd see God's
fingerprints all over it.
00:21:14.50\00:21:17.01
You'd see God
intervening to influence you
00:21:17.04\00:21:19.14
in His direction every day.
00:21:19.17\00:21:21.38
He's not an absentee God, but He
is near, and He cares for you.
00:21:21.41\00:21:26.75
Daniel 4 tells us about
the pointlessness of pride,
00:21:26.78\00:21:30.52
of thinking your own
power and money and education
00:21:30.55\00:21:33.39
and accomplishments and
strength are somehow substitutes
00:21:33.42\00:21:36.96
for the presence
of God in your life.
00:21:36.99\00:21:39.96
Talking yourself up is
just setting yourself up
00:21:40.00\00:21:43.47
to be brought down.
00:21:43.50\00:21:46.03
And anyone who
hears God's voice,
00:21:46.07\00:21:48.04
senses God calling to
their heart, if they respond,
00:21:48.07\00:21:51.91
if they surrender, that
person will receive a new heart.
00:21:51.94\00:21:56.58
That person will be
transformed and will be saved.
00:21:56.61\00:22:00.35
If Nebuchadnezzar can be saved,
there's no one who cannot.
00:22:01.35\00:22:05.92
And I believe we'll see
more Nebuchadnezzars saved
00:22:05.95\00:22:08.76
before Jesus returns.
00:22:08.79\00:22:11.06
Remember, the stories in
Daniel are prophetic in nature.
00:22:11.09\00:22:14.93
There are, no
doubt, rulers right now
00:22:14.96\00:22:17.60
who know God is calling to
them, and if they surrender,
00:22:17.63\00:22:22.27
they'll be saved through what
Jesus did for them on the cross.
00:22:22.30\00:22:27.18
And there's something
else this story teaches us.
00:22:27.21\00:22:30.45
It's never too late. No
matter where you are in life,
00:22:30.48\00:22:34.48
no matter how far or how
often you've pushed God aside,
00:22:34.52\00:22:37.99
right now, it's not too late.
00:22:38.02\00:22:40.82
If
Nebuchadnezzar could be saved,
00:22:40.86\00:22:43.12
if God loved that
idol-worshiping heathen,
00:22:43.16\00:22:46.83
if God could see a
man cast three young men
00:22:46.86\00:22:49.63
into a blazing furnace
because they were serving God
00:22:49.66\00:22:54.30
and decided that
that man could be saved,
00:22:54.34\00:22:58.24
then there is
definitely hope for you.
00:22:58.27\00:23:01.04
¤[soft reflective music]¤
00:23:01.08\00:23:02.41
So, how is it with you, friend?
00:23:02.44\00:23:04.31
The God of heaven
loves you and wants you
00:23:04.35\00:23:06.48
to spend eternity with Him.
00:23:06.51\00:23:08.45
Jesus died for you, to
give you life more abundantly.
00:23:08.48\00:23:12.79
The Spirit of God
is calling to you now,
00:23:12.82\00:23:15.39
inviting you to make the
decision Nebuchadnezzar made.
00:23:15.42\00:23:18.86
Can you make that
decision right now?
00:23:18.89\00:23:21.56
Eternity awaits.
00:23:21.60\00:23:23.23
Nebuchadnezzar had
everything--but had nothing.
00:23:23.26\00:23:28.04
He had limitless
wealth and unbridled power,
00:23:28.07\00:23:31.54
but without God he had nothing.
00:23:31.57\00:23:34.41
God wants you
to have everything.
00:23:34.44\00:23:37.45
He'll bless you in this world,
00:23:37.48\00:23:38.78
and no matter what
you're going through,
00:23:38.81\00:23:41.08
you can have the
assurance right now
00:23:41.12\00:23:43.35
of the love of God in your life.
00:23:43.39\00:23:46.92
Through faith in the One
who made you, died for you,
00:23:46.96\00:23:51.09
and loves you,
your future is secure.
00:23:51.13\00:23:55.16
It's secure when you choose
to accept and trust Jesus.
00:23:55.20\00:23:59.47
Make that decision right now,
00:23:59.50\00:24:02.50
and your life
will never be the same.
00:24:02.54\00:24:06.41
Now, there's something
I've written with you in mind
00:24:06.44\00:24:08.08
that will help you
in your walk with Jesus.
00:24:08.11\00:24:11.25
It's a resource that
covers the first six chapters
00:24:11.28\00:24:14.65
of the book of Daniel
and accompanies this series
00:24:14.68\00:24:17.42
of programs on
those same chapters.
00:24:17.45\00:24:19.89
I hope you'll get it right now.
00:24:19.92\00:24:21.42
It's completely free,
00:24:21.46\00:24:23.09
and I've written it for you.
00:24:23.12\00:24:25.16
>>announcer: To
get today's free offer,
00:24:25.19\00:24:26.86
"The Stories of Daniel,"
00:24:26.90\00:24:28.43
call 800-253-3000.
00:24:28.46\00:24:30.93
That's 800-253-3000.
00:24:30.97\00:24:33.90
You can request
"The Stories of Daniel"
00:24:33.94\00:24:35.77
online at iiwoffer.com.
00:24:35.80\00:24:39.47
You can write to the
address on your screen
00:24:39.51\00:24:41.14
or text "freedaniel" to 71392.
00:24:41.18\00:24:45.15
"The Stories of
Daniel," faith-building stories
00:24:45.18\00:24:47.95
given by God to prepare
you for the major events
00:24:47.98\00:24:50.82
of earth's last days.
00:24:50.85\00:24:52.72
Call 800-253-3000.
00:24:52.75\00:24:55.16
Go to iiwoffer.com
00:24:55.19\00:24:57.66
or text "freedaniel" to 71392.
00:24:57.69\00:25:01.40
Grow your faith as you
prepare for the return of Jesus.
00:25:01.43\00:25:04.83
>>John Bradshaw: Thank you for
remembering that It Is Written
00:25:05.50\00:25:07.47
exists because of the kindness
of people just like you.
00:25:07.50\00:25:11.27
To support this international
life-changing ministry,
00:25:11.31\00:25:13.81
please call us
now at 800-253-3000.
00:25:13.84\00:25:18.21
You can send your
tax-deductible gift
00:25:18.25\00:25:19.91
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00:25:19.95\00:25:21.35
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:25:21.38\00:25:25.45
Thank you for your prayers
and your financial support.
00:25:25.49\00:25:27.62
Our number
again is 800-253-3000,
00:25:27.66\00:25:31.36
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:25:31.39\00:25:35.03
>>announcer: Loving
well is a way of life.
00:25:36.30\00:25:38.77
¤[soft reflective music]¤
00:25:38.80\00:25:40.27
And loving well means wanting
the very best for others.
00:25:40.30\00:25:44.47
"Go ye therefore"
becomes "I'll go, send me.
00:25:44.51\00:25:49.11
"Send me across the
world or across town.
00:25:49.14\00:25:53.15
"Work in me to impact
lives for such a time as this.
00:25:53.18\00:25:57.89
"And if I can't go
myself, I want to send others
00:25:57.92\00:26:00.66
who can take the everlasting
gospel to the world."
00:26:00.69\00:26:04.89
It Is Written's
Office of Planned Giving
00:26:04.93\00:26:07.03
gives you the
opportunity to leave a legacy,
00:26:07.03\00:26:10.83
to make a major
impact for Christ,
00:26:10.87\00:26:14.14
to lead others to faith in Jesus
in preparation for eternity.
00:26:14.17\00:26:19.61
Let God use you to
enable others to go.
00:26:19.64\00:26:23.95
To learn more,
visit hislegacy.com.
00:26:23.98\00:26:26.92
That's hislegacy.com.
00:26:26.95\00:26:28.95
¤[music ends]¤¤
00:26:31.95\00:26:34.29
>>John: Let me
pray with you now.
00:26:35.69\00:26:36.83
Our Father in heaven,
we thank You that there
00:26:36.86\00:26:39.79
in the heart of the
book of Daniel is evidence
00:26:39.83\00:26:42.80
of Your great love for
all of the human family.
00:26:42.83\00:26:46.50
I'm thankful today that
there is no one too far away,
00:26:46.53\00:26:49.27
no one too hard,
00:26:49.30\00:26:50.61
no one with too dark a past,
00:26:50.64\00:26:53.14
with too lengthy
a criminal record.
00:26:53.17\00:26:54.84
There's no one who's too
careless or too indifferent
00:26:54.88\00:26:57.51
that You cannot save that man,
that woman, that young person
00:26:57.55\00:27:01.78
and keep them
hidden in Your heart
00:27:01.82\00:27:03.92
throughout the ages of eternity.
00:27:03.95\00:27:06.49
Friend of God, if right
now God is speaking to you,
00:27:06.52\00:27:08.99
would you say to
the Lord of heaven,
00:27:09.02\00:27:10.69
"Take my heart
and make it Yours."
00:27:10.73\00:27:12.76
You haven't gone too
far. You're not too evil.
00:27:12.79\00:27:15.16
You're not without hope.
God saved Nebuchadnezzar,
00:27:15.20\00:27:18.07
and He will save you if
only you will allow Him.
00:27:18.10\00:27:21.10
Will you pray that
prayer? Lord, take my heart.
00:27:21.14\00:27:24.14
Jesus, be my Savior.
00:27:24.17\00:27:26.31
Heavenly Father, right now
people are praying that prayer.
00:27:26.34\00:27:28.48
They're asking You
to move into their heart
00:27:28.51\00:27:30.55
and make it Your very own.
00:27:30.58\00:27:32.21
Thank You for doing that.
00:27:32.25\00:27:33.52
And thank You that
we can end this prayer
00:27:33.55\00:27:35.42
knowing that
through faith in Jesus,
00:27:35.45\00:27:39.19
we have truly the
gift of everlasting life.
00:27:39.22\00:27:42.69
We thank You for that,
and we pray in Jesus' name,
00:27:42.72\00:27:46.56
amen.
00:27:46.59\00:27:48.26
Thank you so
much for joining me.
00:27:48.30\00:27:49.73
I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:27:49.76\00:27:51.97
Until then, remember:
00:27:52.00\00:27:53.60
"It is written, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:27:53.64\00:27:57.61
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
00:27:57.64\00:28:01.61
¤[dramatic,
triumphant theme music]¤
00:28:01.64\00:28:05.65
¤[music ends]¤¤
00:28:26.84\00:28:28.84