The Bible tells us, "In
the beginning was the Word,
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and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God."
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It says,
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"To receive with
meekness the implanted Word,
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which is able
to save your souls.
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And to be diligent
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to present
yourself approved to God,
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rightly dividing
the Word of truth."
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Join us now for the
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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Our study today is
the Book of Daniel.
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Hello, friends.
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Welcome to 3ABN
Sabbath School Panel.
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My name is John Lomacang.
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Thank you for taking the
time to tune in and join us
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for our continued journey
through the Book of Daniel.
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Have we been blessed?
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Amen. Yeah, absolutely.
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And the blessing
is gonna continue
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so take the time, get
your Bibles, your pens,
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your family and your friends
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and join us for
this exciting excursion
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through the living Word of God.
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We're gonna visit an old friend
that has a new message for us.
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We've discovered that no matter
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how long Daniel
has been written,
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it still has a
message relevant for today
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and the Lord is
going to reveal that to us
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and hopefully
through us to you to enhance
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your appreciation
of the Word of God
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but before we go any further,
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let us find out
who our panelists
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are today and in fact,
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they are not panelists
to me, they are my family.
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I begin with
Pastor Kenny Shelton,
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good to have you
here today, Pastor.
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Oh, it's always good to be here.
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Love to study the
Word of God together.
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And I like your
approach and your passion.
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Don't lose that. God
has blessed through it.
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That's good.
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Jill, good to have you here.
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Thank you, Pastor John.
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Privileged to be here
and we have a list today.
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Oh, good, I like that.
I'm looking forward to it.
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Nice.
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And Pastor Ryan
Day, today is the day.
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Every day is the day, Brother.
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That's right. And, Shelley?
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I'm just excited to
continue on in Daniel.
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To good lady from Texas. Amen.
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Okay, we are glad to
have you all here today.
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Before we tell you how
to get a copy of the lesson,
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we're gonna begin
with prayer and, Jill,
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would you start
with our prayer today?
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Dear Jesus, praising You
for the gift of Your Word
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and the gift of salvation,
and the gift of Your Spirit.
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And we just asked right now
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that You would open
up our minds and hearts
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to receive what You
have for us in Jesus' name.
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Amen. Amen.
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Now to get a copy of the lesson,
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go to the following website
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ABSG.Adventist.org,
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there's where
you download the copy
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but even better than that,
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find a local
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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and just walk in,
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they will
definitely welcome you to be
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a part of the fellowship
and the study of God's Word.
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Now, the Book of Daniel
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that we're talking
about today is entitled,
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"From the lions'
den to the angels' den".
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I like the title.
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Have you noticed
from one to the other,
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that's been the theme
throughout the lesson study,
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but this one in
particular and I know mine
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I was looking at
that today and I thought,
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"Man, I have a
topic on jealousy."
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And we're gonna be breaking down
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what I might refer
to is the liabilities
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of being used by God.
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When the Lord lifts you
up, there is a liability
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and the Lord never exalts anyone
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who is not safe to be exalted.
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An exalted position
is a dangerous place.
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But a person that's surrounded
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and filled by the Spirit of God
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will not be
affected by the position
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that God allows them to occupy.
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And the memory text
is found in Daniel 6:4.
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Let's go there together
and look at the memory text,
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Daniel 6:4.
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And if you could
summarize the Daniel Chapter 6,
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is Daniel is promoted
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and it starts all kinds of havoc
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in the hearts of
jealous men and leaders.
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The Bible text
says in Daniel 6:4,
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"So the governors and
satraps sought to find
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some charge against
Daniel concerning the kingdom,
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but they could
find no charge or fault,
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because he was..."
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What's the next word? Faithful.
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"Faithful,
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nor was there any
error or fault found in him."
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When I look at
this topic lesson,
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not too long ago I
did a sermon called
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"The Ology of God."
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And was about
this particular topic
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about Daniel in the
den of lions ending up
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where God knew he would end up.
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And you know sometimes God
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does not
preempt our destination,
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but He travels with
us in that destination.
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He didn't stop
Daniel from going into den
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and Daniel is the
only one living today
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that knows what it's like
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to live and sleep on
Saint Lion's Cathedral.
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What a mattress! Mattress.
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What a mattress!
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The fur of a lion.
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Now I wanna begin by
going to Exodus Chapter 20
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because the topic of jealousy
is a very inflammatory one.
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And we're gonna
talk about various ways
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that jealousy is exhibited
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and various stories in the Bible
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that illustrates jealousy,
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and then we'll also give
you various synonymous words
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or synonyms that in
fact mean the same thing.
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But Exodus 20:17,
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the writer of this lesson
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points out that jealousy
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is in fact a
violation of this commandment,
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the commandment of covetousness.
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And by the way,
the tenth commandment,
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the covetous commandment
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is the root of
violating all the others.
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You think about it.
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It is the root of
violating all the others.
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Yes.
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Think about, just
break it all down,
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I'm not gonna take the
time to do that right now but,
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it says in Exodus 20:17,
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"You shall not covet
your neighbor's house,
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you shall not covet
your neighbor's wife,
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nor his male servant,
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nor his female servant,
nor his ox, nor his donkey,
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nor anything that
is your neighbor's."
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In fact, the word covets here
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in fact means a person covets
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because they're jealous
of what another person has.
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That's right. And
they really want it.
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They can't understand that.
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There's a young man
by the name of Asaph
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in the Book of the Psalms.
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And in Psalms 73
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when you want to get a chance
to look at the comparisons
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between jealous of the wicked
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and then the revelation of God
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to take that
jealousy away from us.
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Psalms 73 is a powerful one.
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But I just read the
verses and you know the story,
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God allowed Daniel
in both administrations,
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in the Babylonian administration
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and in the
Medo-Persian administration
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because of his excellent spirit,
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because of his
attitude toward God.
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He did not allow position
to influence him or infect him.
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And that's a very serious matter
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because sometimes people can...
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You put them in a position
and all of a sudden there,
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you know, all mighty.
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They call shots and tell people
what they can and cannot do,
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but that was not
the case with Daniel.
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Daniel knew that God put
him there for God to be exalted,
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not him to be exalted.
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So in the interest of
time which never stops,
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let's ask a question.
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What role does jealousy
play in all these stories?
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And all these stories,
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I'm gonna point out
some stories in the Bible
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where you find
jealousy prevalent in many ways.
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Jealousy can also be found
in three different definitions.
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One, envious of someone,
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their achievements
or their advantages.
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Two, envious of
someone's relationship
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with another person.
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That's funny.
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I remember, an older
lady said this years ago
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and we were at another church,
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I'm not gonna
tell you which one,
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but we were
having fellowship lunch
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and tongue in cheek
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but you know I found that even
in humor there is some truth.
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Sometimes people
cover truth with humor.
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You know, they say
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"I hope you trip
and fall, just kidding."
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But some people say
things that they really mean,
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this lady said,
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but they'll
cover it with a joke.
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So this lady said to my
wife, "If I was younger,
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I'd give you a
run for your money."
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And because she like
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to shake the pastor's
hand and hug the pastor,
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and she said that
one day and I thought,
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"Why would you say that?"
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But she said,
"I'm just kidding,"
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but I thought well out of
the abundance of the heart
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the mouth speaks.
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Jealousy also is somebody
sometimes fiercely protective
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or vigilant of one's
rights or possessions
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and what that means is
some people believe that...
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And I'm gonna
put this correctly,
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they have the right
to feel a certain way,
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which is in fact is true.
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But if the way they
feel of the position
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they've taken is incorrect,
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and they resist correction,
that's a form of jealousy.
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I'm jealous of my position.
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Even though the Bible
says that God's position
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does not cause him
to be conly jealous.
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He is jealous with a
godly jealousy meaning,
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he does not want to
share those whom he love
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with an everlasting love.
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It's not a corrupt jealousy.
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Years ago, I
heard Oprah Winfrey say
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one of the
reasons why she desired
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no longer to be a Christian
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is because she
heard that God is jealous
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and why would God
be jealous of her?
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And I thought that's a
distortion of God's jealousy.
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Well, let's
consider the following.
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Jealousy begins in the heart.
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Isaiah 14:13,
Lucifer the Bible says,
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"For you have
set in your heart."
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Jealousy begins in the heart.
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And you know what he...
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Jealousy began in his heart
and then he had an I problem.
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I will, I will, I will, I will,
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and Isaiah 14:13 to 15
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he pointed out of all the things
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his jealousy was
leading him to want to covet
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that began in his heart.
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Jealousy also
leads to covetousness.
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2 Chronicles 26:16,
this is about Uzziah.
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He coveted a position
that God never gave him.
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And it didn't happen
until he was in position
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for more than 52 years.
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It was in the latter part
of his life that he coveted
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what God never gave him
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and he
transgressed against the Lord
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by entering the
temple of the Lord
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to burn incense on
the altar of incense.
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He coveted the
position of the priest.
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Also jealousy
leads to resentfulness.
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Haman against Mordecai.
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Haman was
exalted, he was promoted,
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but he was so resentful of
the lack of acknowledgement
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that Mordecai had toward him
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and that led him to
plot against Mordecai.
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He desired in his jealousy
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and in his resentfulness
to take the life of Mordecai.
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Praise the Lord
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as the verse ends
in Esther 3:1 and 2,
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"But Mordecai would
not bow or pay homage."
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And let me make a point here.
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When people
determined to destroy you,
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they are in the
position of Haman,
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the Lord will allow
them to go as far as they can
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and He will allow
them, He'll give them
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as much time as they need
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to build their
gallows and in the end,
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the gallows they built for you
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would be the gallows that'll
perpetrate their own demise.
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That's a good way of
saying hang themselves.
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The third one,
jealousy leads to spitefulness
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Sarai against Hagar.
00:10:59.22\00:11:01.96
She couldn't have children
and when Hagar bore a child,
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I tell you the recommendation
that she made to Abraham
00:11:05.96\00:11:08.53
will never be
made in my household.
00:11:08.56\00:11:10.07
Enough said.
00:11:13.07\00:11:16.20
When she saw the Bible says
in Genesis 16:1 to 6, verse 4,
00:11:16.24\00:11:20.71
so, the Bible says "So he went
in to Hagar, and she conceived.
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And when she saw
that she had conceived,
00:11:25.41\00:11:27.22
her mistress became
despised in her eyes."
00:11:27.25\00:11:30.19
They had hatred
between each other.
00:11:30.22\00:11:32.19
Sarai was angry with the,
very jealous of the attention
00:11:32.22\00:11:35.16
that Abraham gave her
00:11:35.19\00:11:37.23
and you know the
rest of the story.
00:11:37.26\00:11:38.59
She sent her
away, but the Lord said,
00:11:38.63\00:11:40.56
"It was your suggestion.
00:11:40.60\00:11:42.26
You cannot just throw her out."
00:11:42.30\00:11:43.83
So he sent Hagar back
00:11:43.87\00:11:45.57
and said you get
this matter settled.
00:11:45.60\00:11:47.20
So be careful.
00:11:47.24\00:11:48.57
Don't start stuff
that you can't finish.
00:11:48.60\00:11:50.97
The next
example of jealousy was,
00:11:51.01\00:11:53.51
jealousy leads to evil plotting.
00:11:53.54\00:11:56.01
Well you know, his brothers,
Joseph and his brothers.
00:11:56.04\00:11:59.41
Yes.
00:11:59.45\00:12:00.78
He was talking about
that and you know what?
00:12:00.82\00:12:02.25
I think that
Joseph had a mouth issue
00:12:02.28\00:12:04.19
to be honest with you.
00:12:04.22\00:12:05.55
The Lord gave him a dream
and he said, "You know Kenny,
00:12:05.59\00:12:07.59
the Lord dream
told me last night
00:12:07.62\00:12:08.96
that you're
gonna be bowing to me
00:12:08.99\00:12:10.33
for the rest of your life."
00:12:10.36\00:12:11.93
If that wouldn't lead
you to try to wanna hit me,
00:12:11.96\00:12:13.93
I don't know what will...
00:12:13.96\00:12:15.30
You know, from now on you
guys are gonna be bowing down
00:12:15.33\00:12:17.30
and worshipping me.
00:12:17.33\00:12:18.87
I know they felt, you know,
this is our younger brother,
00:12:18.90\00:12:21.40
what can we do to shut him up?
00:12:21.44\00:12:22.77
Yes.
00:12:22.80\00:12:24.14
And then he boasted
about his coat of many colors
00:12:24.17\00:12:25.51
and they were some grievance
there and what they did,
00:12:25.54\00:12:28.68
they threw him in a pit
00:12:28.71\00:12:30.71
and but they did not know
that God was gonna take him
00:12:30.75\00:12:33.58
from pits to palaces.
00:12:33.62\00:12:36.18
Also jealousy leads to hate.
00:12:36.22\00:12:38.69
Esau against Jacob,
00:12:38.72\00:12:42.46
he sold his birth
right for lentils,
00:12:42.49\00:12:44.69
for a pot of stew and
then after he did that,
00:12:44.73\00:12:47.86
after he relinquished
00:12:47.90\00:12:49.23
the blessing that
God intended for him,
00:12:49.26\00:12:51.53
the Bible says in Genesis 27:41,
00:12:51.57\00:12:53.80
"So Esau hated Jacob
because of the blessing
00:12:53.84\00:12:56.81
with which his
father blessed him,
00:12:56.84\00:12:59.57
and Esau said in his heart,
00:12:59.61\00:13:01.88
remember jealousy
begins in the heart,
00:13:01.91\00:13:04.68
"The days of mourning
for my father are at hand,
00:13:04.71\00:13:07.95
then I will kill
my brother Jacob."
00:13:07.98\00:13:11.69
Jealousy leads to hate,
00:13:11.72\00:13:13.66
but now let me end
with the cure for hate.
00:13:13.69\00:13:15.69
The prayer of David create
in me a clean heart, O God.
00:13:15.72\00:13:18.93
That's right.
00:13:18.96\00:13:20.30
And renew a
right spirit within me.
00:13:20.33\00:13:23.47
Act of the Apostles 271,
00:13:23.50\00:13:25.47
jealousy evil
surmising an accusation
00:13:25.50\00:13:28.14
had closed the heart of many
00:13:28.17\00:13:30.64
of the Corinthian believers
00:13:30.67\00:13:32.01
against the full
working of the Holy Spirit
00:13:32.04\00:13:34.08
which searches all things.
00:13:34.11\00:13:35.54
Yes, the deep things of God.
00:13:35.58\00:13:37.25
Don't allow
jealousy to close the door
00:13:37.28\00:13:39.38
that the Spirit of God
wants to do in your life.
00:13:39.41\00:13:41.78
Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:13:41.82\00:13:44.09
Plotting,
jealousy leads to plotting,
00:13:44.12\00:13:47.92
and in Monday's lesson
the plot against Daniel.
00:13:47.96\00:13:52.19
So it leads right
into that for sure
00:13:52.23\00:13:54.20
because there was
lot of plotting going on
00:13:54.23\00:13:56.06
and there's lot of
people who love to plot.
00:13:56.10\00:13:57.90
The enemy is a plotter,
as far as I'm concerned.
00:13:57.93\00:14:00.24
They're always playing out
and it deals with jealousy,
00:14:00.27\00:14:02.20
I like that.
00:14:02.24\00:14:03.57
We're gonna be
looking at Daniel Chapter 6,
00:14:03.61\00:14:05.37
so have your Bible and be sure
and turn and at least mark it,
00:14:05.41\00:14:07.41
Daniel 6:6 through 9.
00:14:07.44\00:14:09.48
This is gonna be our read here,
00:14:09.51\00:14:10.85
this is gonna be our foundation
so that we can build on.
00:14:10.88\00:14:14.08
Starting with verse 6, said,
00:14:14.12\00:14:15.45
"Then the
presidents and the princesses
00:14:15.48\00:14:17.02
assembled together at the
king, and said thus to him,
00:14:17.05\00:14:19.39
'King Darius, live forever!'
00:14:19.42\00:14:21.89
" When you come in
there make the king feel good.
00:14:21.92\00:14:25.16
Live forever.
00:14:25.19\00:14:26.53
But if someone went in there
00:14:26.56\00:14:27.90
did not want
him to live forever,
00:14:27.93\00:14:29.26
he can be guaranteed.
00:14:29.30\00:14:30.63
All the
presidents of the kingdom,
00:14:30.67\00:14:32.00
the governors and the princess,
00:14:32.03\00:14:33.37
and the
counselors and the captains,
00:14:33.40\00:14:35.10
notice this, it says,
00:14:35.14\00:14:36.47
they have consulted together
to establish a royal statute
00:14:36.50\00:14:39.77
and to make a firm decree,
00:14:39.81\00:14:41.54
whoever shall ask
a petition of any god
00:14:41.58\00:14:44.01
or man for thirty
days, except you, O king,
00:14:44.05\00:14:46.85
he shall be cast
into the den of lions."
00:14:46.88\00:14:49.65
You knew where
this was going, right?
00:14:49.68\00:14:51.02
When you go to Daniel Chapter 6,
00:14:51.05\00:14:52.49
it says, "Now, O king,
00:14:52.52\00:14:53.86
establish the decree
and sign the writing,
00:14:53.89\00:14:55.99
that it cannot be changed,
00:14:56.02\00:14:57.93
according to the law
of the Medes and Persians,
00:14:57.96\00:15:00.50
which alters not."
00:15:00.53\00:15:01.96
Therefore King Darius
signed the written decree.
00:15:02.00\00:15:04.93
So you look at here it
just said there's a plot.
00:15:04.97\00:15:06.94
What's going on?
00:15:06.97\00:15:08.30
What's the thinking behind this?
00:15:08.34\00:15:10.31
You know, there's
something going on,
00:15:10.34\00:15:11.67
there's a plotting
that's going on here.
00:15:11.71\00:15:13.58
Sunday's lesson
brought that out clear
00:15:13.61\00:15:14.98
and I like that with
the jealousy part of it
00:15:15.01\00:15:17.38
as a plot.
00:15:17.41\00:15:18.75
And the plot
was to simply remove
00:15:18.78\00:15:20.48
Daniel from office.
00:15:20.52\00:15:21.92
Why? Because they were jealous.
00:15:21.95\00:15:23.79
They were jealous of him,
they didn't want him, right...
00:15:23.82\00:15:25.39
He didn't belong, he was a...
00:15:25.42\00:15:26.79
May I say a
foreigner in the country
00:15:26.82\00:15:29.52
and they didn't want
him occupying position
00:15:29.56\00:15:31.49
they thought they should have.
00:15:31.53\00:15:34.10
And so it all
centered around though and say
00:15:34.13\00:15:36.20
how can we get Daniel,
00:15:36.23\00:15:37.57
somebody mentioned
here in our previous lessons
00:15:37.60\00:15:39.47
because he's a just man,
he's a good man, he loved...
00:15:39.50\00:15:42.80
They couldn't find
any fault with him.
00:15:42.84\00:15:44.71
You know, and we
pray that's gonna be
00:15:44.74\00:15:46.21
as when the Lord comes
he sent a final fault in us.
00:15:46.24\00:15:50.48
But, how's he gonna find?
00:15:50.51\00:15:52.01
He's gonna find this fault,
00:15:52.05\00:15:53.38
they're gonna find
it in the law of God
00:15:53.42\00:15:55.45
because they knew
he's gonna stand fast
00:15:55.48\00:15:57.22
for what he was raised
with and what he believed in.
00:15:57.25\00:15:59.39
Keep this in mind.
00:15:59.42\00:16:00.76
There's a
history repeats itself.
00:16:00.79\00:16:03.53
Notice this, "God's people
will be put under circumstances
00:16:03.56\00:16:06.96
that they must obey God
or the laws of the land."
00:16:07.00\00:16:11.70
And that's even now.
00:16:11.73\00:16:13.50
It's mustering up right
now, this is behind the scene,
00:16:13.54\00:16:15.80
things are going on.
00:16:15.84\00:16:17.71
The Sabbath is going
to be the great test,
00:16:17.74\00:16:19.67
we understand that.
00:16:19.71\00:16:21.21
Studying the Word of God,
00:16:21.24\00:16:22.58
the Great Controversy, page 605,
00:16:22.61\00:16:24.95
"Notice the law will be invoked
against commandment keepers."
00:16:24.98\00:16:28.72
Great Controversy, 607,
00:16:28.75\00:16:31.15
"Threatened with fines
and imprisonment and death."
00:16:31.19\00:16:33.86
To me, this relates
00:16:33.89\00:16:35.22
to what we're talking about here
00:16:35.26\00:16:36.59
because there
was a death decree,
00:16:36.62\00:16:38.23
was it or not?
00:16:38.26\00:16:39.59
That's right.
00:16:39.63\00:16:40.96
And if you did anything
other than what they say,
00:16:41.00\00:16:42.33
so there was a plot going on
00:16:42.36\00:16:43.70
and I tell you
there's a plot going on today.
00:16:43.73\00:16:45.67
That's right.
00:16:45.70\00:16:47.04
The enemy has a
plan, it's being plotted,
00:16:47.07\00:16:48.40
it's all being laid
out in the darkness and,
00:16:48.44\00:16:49.90
you know, in the secrecy,
00:16:49.94\00:16:52.11
but one of these
days it's gonna gonna come
00:16:52.14\00:16:53.48
to the surface and
it's going overwhelm
00:16:53.51\00:16:54.84
most of us because we'll say
00:16:54.88\00:16:56.48
this could not
happen in this country.
00:16:56.51\00:16:59.21
A decree will finally be issued
00:16:59.25\00:17:00.82
against also who
hallow the Sabbath,
00:17:00.85\00:17:02.88
those who keep the
seventh day Sabbath,
00:17:02.92\00:17:04.42
the fourth commandment.
00:17:04.45\00:17:05.79
Denouncing them as deserving
of the severest punishment
00:17:05.82\00:17:09.69
and after certain
time be put to death.
00:17:09.72\00:17:11.69
Great Controversy 615
and 616, Revelation 13:15.
00:17:11.73\00:17:16.83
Now, as we look at
this a little bit closer,
00:17:16.87\00:17:18.67
we realize that the main man,
00:17:18.70\00:17:20.70
I wanna say in this
kingdom came to him.
00:17:20.74\00:17:23.17
You know, the King Darius
was soon to fall into a trap,
00:17:23.20\00:17:26.37
a trap was laid.
00:17:26.41\00:17:27.84
The purpose of a trap
00:17:27.88\00:17:29.31
is to get someone to
fall in unexpectedly,
00:17:29.34\00:17:31.31
you know, the
trappers go out and they,
00:17:31.35\00:17:33.65
you know, in the forest
whenever they put a trap,
00:17:33.68\00:17:35.52
but they cover that trap
00:17:35.55\00:17:37.12
so that their
prey doesn't see it
00:17:37.15\00:17:39.12
and so they'll somehow stumble
00:17:39.15\00:17:40.49
into that trap and to be caught.
00:17:40.52\00:17:42.69
So he was being set up.
00:17:42.72\00:17:45.33
They were always
fearful about being set up.
00:17:45.36\00:17:47.40
And so they want to make
sure there was but here he was.
00:17:47.43\00:17:50.27
And it was
prepared by his officers.
00:17:50.30\00:17:52.20
They wanted to
get rid of Daniel,
00:17:52.23\00:17:54.04
but the trap had to be laid,
now notice this, you look at,
00:17:54.07\00:17:56.87
had to be laid
very carefully here,
00:17:56.91\00:17:59.17
for the kingdom had just
recently went in to some,
00:17:59.21\00:18:02.01
I wanna call it
renovations here,
00:18:02.04\00:18:03.45
some changes,
00:18:03.48\00:18:05.11
you know, the government,
00:18:05.15\00:18:06.48
they appointed
what was a 120 princes
00:18:06.51\00:18:08.18
and 3 presidents in.
00:18:08.22\00:18:09.55
Daniel was the
main one and the person
00:18:09.58\00:18:11.82
that just really got him jealous
00:18:11.85\00:18:14.09
and so they want to make
sure they get rid of him.
00:18:14.12\00:18:16.32
Now why choose Daniel
as the first president.
00:18:16.36\00:18:19.46
Well, it could be a
lot of several reasons
00:18:19.49\00:18:20.96
and probably all of you
have different ones here.
00:18:21.00\00:18:23.10
But it's mentioned, I think it
because he had a unique spirit.
00:18:23.13\00:18:27.44
He had the spirit of the
living God living in him.
00:18:27.47\00:18:29.60
He had the Holy
Spirit leading and guiding
00:18:29.64\00:18:31.74
and directing in
every step that he took.
00:18:31.77\00:18:35.28
So Daniel had,
00:18:35.31\00:18:36.64
you know, he survived
the golden age of Babylon.
00:18:36.68\00:18:40.28
Man, he is a man
with some experience.
00:18:40.32\00:18:42.68
Here's a man now experience
the things of the government
00:18:42.72\00:18:45.09
and the way government is
run and dealing with people,
00:18:45.12\00:18:47.56
but he had an
experience with God.
00:18:47.59\00:18:49.62
This is what we need today
more than anything in world,
00:18:49.66\00:18:52.33
it's not the
experience of governments,
00:18:52.36\00:18:53.70
it's not knowing what
all going on in the world,
00:18:53.73\00:18:55.60
it's our
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:18:55.63\00:18:57.73
This is gonna
dictate the outcome
00:18:57.77\00:18:59.90
of where we spend eternity.
00:18:59.93\00:19:01.94
I wanna read something,
I just feel impressed to do
00:19:01.97\00:19:03.71
and I just need to
do it if you don't mind.
00:19:03.74\00:19:05.51
That's right. Go ahead, Brother.
00:19:05.54\00:19:07.11
Because these are laws of
land, things are happening.
00:19:07.14\00:19:09.41
Law of God made void here,
this is in Review and Herald,
00:19:09.44\00:19:12.11
December 18, 1888, I
have in my Bible down here.
00:19:12.15\00:19:15.22
It says here, "A time is coming
00:19:15.25\00:19:16.79
when the law of God
in the special sense
00:19:16.82\00:19:18.89
is to maybe made" what?
00:19:18.92\00:19:20.62
"Void in our land."
00:19:20.66\00:19:21.99
We're talking about laws
being passed if you're not,
00:19:22.02\00:19:23.99
you know, won't go along
with the laws of the land,
00:19:24.03\00:19:25.69
then you're gonna be killed.
00:19:25.73\00:19:27.06
Notice this, "In a special sense
00:19:27.10\00:19:29.33
had been made void in our land.
00:19:29.36\00:19:30.80
The rulers of our nation
will by legislative enactments
00:19:30.83\00:19:33.90
enforce this, we
call it Sunday law,
00:19:33.94\00:19:36.10
and thus God's people be
brought into great peril.
00:19:36.14\00:19:39.77
When our nation and
its legislative council
00:19:39.81\00:19:41.94
shall enact laws to
bind the conscience of man.
00:19:41.98\00:19:45.05
Notice this, in regard to
their religious privileges,
00:19:45.08\00:19:48.28
was Daniel been challenge
with his religious privileges?
00:19:48.32\00:19:51.02
Absolutely he was.
00:19:51.05\00:19:53.05
And this is
calling by enforcing Sunday
00:19:53.09\00:19:54.92
and could be enforcing whether
00:19:54.96\00:19:56.29
you can't pray or
whatever might be,
00:19:56.32\00:19:57.79
and observance and
bringing oppressive power
00:19:57.83\00:20:00.06
to bear against those who
keep the seventh day Sabbath,
00:20:00.10\00:20:03.26
the law of God
will be, notice it,
00:20:03.30\00:20:05.47
in all intents and
purposes be made void
00:20:05.50\00:20:08.07
in our land and
national apostasy
00:20:08.10\00:20:10.17
we know will
follow a national ruin."
00:20:10.21\00:20:13.34
These are things that are set up
00:20:13.38\00:20:14.81
and things that a lot of
people are just afraid to read,
00:20:14.84\00:20:17.11
they don't want to read them.
00:20:17.15\00:20:18.48
But how in the world can we,
00:20:18.51\00:20:19.85
when we studied
the Book of Revelation,
00:20:19.88\00:20:21.22
when we studied
the Book of Daniel,
00:20:21.25\00:20:22.85
these are things
that set out so prominent
00:20:22.88\00:20:25.05
before as a people of
God, that God saying what?
00:20:25.09\00:20:28.09
These are things that you
are going to be going through.
00:20:28.12\00:20:29.99
These are the challenges
you're going to have to face.
00:20:30.03\00:20:32.09
History is going
to repeat itself.
00:20:32.13\00:20:33.96
So by the grace of
God, we need to look at it,
00:20:34.00\00:20:36.56
not trying to offend,
not trying to upset anyone,
00:20:36.60\00:20:39.37
you know, not
jealous as they were anyone,
00:20:39.40\00:20:40.97
just we're jealous of God
00:20:41.00\00:20:43.47
and his message
that we have to give.
00:20:43.51\00:20:45.37
Now notice that we
go on here, says here,
00:20:45.41\00:20:47.84
so we see that
Daniel was chosen here.
00:20:47.88\00:20:49.98
Daniel survived the
golden age, we said,
00:20:50.01\00:20:52.21
and the king checks
out the record of Daniel.
00:20:52.25\00:20:54.78
He looks at Daniel's
records before he appoints him.
00:20:54.82\00:20:56.79
He looks and said,
"Man, this is spick and span.
00:20:56.82\00:20:59.39
There's nothing
wrong with this guy,
00:20:59.42\00:21:00.76
he's the guy
that I'd like to have
00:21:00.79\00:21:02.12
sit as ruler in my council
because I can trust him."
00:21:02.16\00:21:06.63
His officers knew
this, so what did they do?
00:21:06.66\00:21:09.20
They had to be very
careful with the plot.
00:21:09.23\00:21:11.37
So they went to the king
right quick and they said,
00:21:11.40\00:21:12.83
"O liveth this man.
00:21:12.87\00:21:14.30
Now somebody lied.
00:21:14.34\00:21:15.90
O liveth this man.
00:21:15.94\00:21:17.44
It's very obvious
in the context of it
00:21:17.47\00:21:19.37
that all of the rulers
and princes and leaders
00:21:19.41\00:21:21.64
and all didn't come together
and all weren't in agreement.
00:21:21.68\00:21:25.01
It was some of
those who were jealous.
00:21:25.05\00:21:28.25
The top dogs.
00:21:28.28\00:21:29.78
And so they came and they said
00:21:29.82\00:21:31.22
that to the king
and they're saying,
00:21:31.25\00:21:33.15
you know, the king
and his court I might say,
00:21:33.19\00:21:36.12
he always has the king's court
00:21:36.16\00:21:37.69
and maybe it's
not so bad sometime.
00:21:37.73\00:21:39.49
They always have
their eyes and their ears.
00:21:39.53\00:21:41.70
There's always somebody
that's watching somebody,
00:21:41.73\00:21:43.50
there's always somebody
that's listening to somebody
00:21:43.53\00:21:45.27
and there's always reporting
to somebody else, you know.
00:21:45.30\00:21:48.00
They wanna detect in
the king's court here
00:21:48.04\00:21:51.01
to detect any
kind of conspiracy,
00:21:51.04\00:21:53.78
conspiracy, conspiracy.
00:21:53.81\00:21:55.74
I just said three times
00:21:55.78\00:21:57.11
'cause people don't
wanna hear that word.
00:21:57.15\00:21:58.48
That's right.
00:21:58.51\00:21:59.85
I take my glasses off conspiracy
00:21:59.88\00:22:01.52
that we have to look at it.
00:22:01.55\00:22:03.65
There was a
conspiracy going on here,
00:22:03.69\00:22:05.89
and I'm saying today
there's a conspiracy going on.
00:22:05.92\00:22:08.76
There's fake and false
and all those kind of business
00:22:08.79\00:22:11.16
you can get,
00:22:11.19\00:22:12.53
side tracked by some
of these things in balance
00:22:12.56\00:22:15.36
but don't, there're some
things that are going on,
00:22:15.40\00:22:17.13
we need to be aware of.
00:22:17.17\00:22:18.80
And they are in the
court, the king said,
00:22:18.83\00:22:20.17
"I'm gonna be aware
00:22:20.20\00:22:21.54
of everything's
going on naturally."
00:22:21.57\00:22:22.90
So he missed it.
00:22:22.94\00:22:25.44
He missed what was going on.
00:22:25.47\00:22:27.18
There was a few other leaders
that came in, reported him,
00:22:27.21\00:22:29.41
all the others, they
want there, Daniel said.
00:22:29.44\00:22:31.38
They said they
consulted together,
00:22:31.41\00:22:33.15
if anyone ask any petition
00:22:33.18\00:22:34.52
as you well know within 30 days
00:22:34.55\00:22:36.99
so say that he would be
cast in the den of lions
00:22:37.02\00:22:39.75
and they knew if
the king signed it,
00:22:39.79\00:22:41.12
what would happen?
00:22:41.16\00:22:42.49
This is a way to get Daniel
00:22:42.52\00:22:43.86
because Daniel's
gonna open that window
00:22:43.89\00:22:45.29
and Daniel's going to pray.
00:22:45.33\00:22:46.66
Daniel's gonna do
00:22:46.70\00:22:48.03
what Daniel did everyday
of his life, true to his God.
00:22:48.06\00:22:50.93
Amen.
00:22:50.97\00:22:52.30
But you know what,
that's what we should be doing
00:22:52.33\00:22:53.70
whether the windows are opened,
whether the windows are closed,
00:22:53.74\00:22:55.64
whether we're in shopping mall,
whether we're in a restaurant,
00:22:55.67\00:22:57.97
wherever we're at,
we're to rightly represent
00:22:58.01\00:23:00.14
Christ and God in
all things in what we do.
00:23:00.18\00:23:03.41
But you know,
again when they said,
00:23:03.45\00:23:05.81
I thought it was
interesting the king here,
00:23:05.85\00:23:07.18
when you sit in
that position by the way,
00:23:07.22\00:23:08.55
he had to be,
00:23:08.58\00:23:09.92
he was setting
himself as the mediator.
00:23:09.95\00:23:11.75
He was the mediator
00:23:11.79\00:23:13.12
because nobody
could pray to anybody
00:23:13.15\00:23:15.39
except they go through
the king, you remember that?
00:23:15.42\00:23:17.36
We pray through the king
00:23:17.39\00:23:18.73
and all these other
things gets answered,
00:23:18.76\00:23:20.33
you know, so it was something
00:23:20.36\00:23:21.93
you had to look
at and study with.
00:23:21.96\00:23:25.03
I think we realize in
the hour that we live,
00:23:25.07\00:23:27.40
there's things are going
on that we need be well aware
00:23:27.44\00:23:29.50
of and you know
what, the time is coming
00:23:29.54\00:23:31.71
when these things
will be fulfilled again
00:23:31.74\00:23:33.27
and we need to be
ready for that time.
00:23:33.31\00:23:34.71
Amen. Thank you, Pastor Kenny.
00:23:34.74\00:23:36.24
Appreciate that very much.
00:23:36.28\00:23:37.91
As you can see, we're
off to a flying start.
00:23:37.95\00:23:40.82
Don't go anywhere.
00:23:40.85\00:23:42.18
We're gonna get into
the prayer of Daniel next.
00:23:42.22\00:23:44.62
What do you do when
people are plotting against you
00:23:44.65\00:23:46.86
and are very jealous?
00:23:46.89\00:23:48.26
Stay tuned, we'll be right back.
00:23:48.29\00:23:49.96
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Welcome back to our
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
00:24:26.83\00:24:29.43
We're gonna move to Tuesday
where Jill has Daniel's prayer.
00:24:29.46\00:24:33.54
Thank you so much, Pastor John.
00:24:33.57\00:24:35.04
Appreciated both of
you and what you brought
00:24:35.07\00:24:37.67
as far as the foundation
for this plot against Daniel,
00:24:37.71\00:24:40.78
the jealousy that the governors
00:24:40.81\00:24:42.68
and the satraps
had against Daniel
00:24:42.71\00:24:44.68
and then the
decree that they tricked,
00:24:44.71\00:24:46.85
Pastor Kenny, with a conspiracy,
00:24:46.88\00:24:48.78
they tricked the king
into signing that into law.
00:24:48.82\00:24:52.25
We know that the law
of Medes and the Persians
00:24:52.29\00:24:54.69
cannot be altered.
00:24:54.72\00:24:56.83
It could not be changed.
00:24:56.86\00:24:58.86
So now we see Daniel's response,
00:24:58.89\00:25:00.70
on Tuesday's lesson.
00:25:00.73\00:25:02.06
And I have one verse
to talk to you about,
00:25:02.10\00:25:04.57
so let's jump
into that one verse.
00:25:04.60\00:25:07.74
Daniel 6:10.
00:25:08.84\00:25:10.17
This is Daniel's response,
00:25:10.21\00:25:12.61
"Now when Daniel knew
that the writing was signed,
00:25:12.64\00:25:14.68
he went home.
00:25:14.71\00:25:16.04
And in his upper room,
00:25:16.08\00:25:17.41
with his windows
open toward Jerusalem,
00:25:17.45\00:25:20.45
he knelt down on his
knees three times that day,
00:25:20.48\00:25:24.15
and prayed and gave
thanks before his God,
00:25:24.19\00:25:26.76
as was his custom
since early days."
00:25:26.79\00:25:29.66
So I want to unpack
that verse just a little bit,
00:25:29.69\00:25:32.43
the one verse.
00:25:32.46\00:25:33.80
Then we're gonna
look at eight ways
00:25:33.83\00:25:35.93
that we can stand for God,
when we're facing persecution.
00:25:35.96\00:25:40.94
In other words, we're all
going to face persecution.
00:25:40.97\00:25:43.64
And the Bible says
all that live godly
00:25:43.67\00:25:45.37
in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution
00:25:45.41\00:25:48.01
at one point or another.
00:25:48.04\00:25:50.31
And we also know
coming at the end of time
00:25:50.35\00:25:52.85
will come a great
time of persecution.
00:25:52.88\00:25:55.65
So we will all face something
at one point or another
00:25:55.68\00:25:58.79
in our lives and
it's an important to learn
00:25:58.82\00:26:01.26
how should we stand to
endure that persecution?
00:26:01.29\00:26:04.19
But before we do that,
00:26:04.23\00:26:05.56
I just want to
look little bit more
00:26:05.59\00:26:06.93
at this verse here, verse 10.
00:26:06.96\00:26:08.63
Some of the takeaways
that I took from that verse.
00:26:08.66\00:26:11.10
You know, sometimes the
Bible is very deliberate
00:26:11.13\00:26:15.40
in the way it write things.
00:26:15.44\00:26:17.31
What I mean by that is Daniel,
00:26:17.34\00:26:19.11
we know Daniel's
the author of Daniel.
00:26:19.14\00:26:21.14
But he could have easily
said, we end with the plot,
00:26:21.18\00:26:24.78
we end with the conspiracy
00:26:24.81\00:26:26.35
with the decree
being signed into law,
00:26:26.38\00:26:28.85
and then he could've just said,
00:26:28.88\00:26:30.49
"Now Daniel went
to his upper room,
00:26:30.52\00:26:32.55
with his windows
open toward Jerusalem,
00:26:32.59\00:26:34.09
and knelt down and prayed."
00:26:34.12\00:26:35.72
And Pastor Ryan, I
would've been left wondering,
00:26:35.76\00:26:38.29
did Daniel know
about the decree?
00:26:38.33\00:26:40.10
Did Daniel know it was
signed into law, right?
00:26:40.13\00:26:42.53
It's very specific, isn't it?
00:26:42.56\00:26:44.53
It says when Daniel knew
that the writing was signed,
00:26:44.57\00:26:48.54
he went home.
00:26:48.57\00:26:49.90
Then he knelt down and prayed.
00:26:49.94\00:26:51.31
So it's very specific.
00:26:51.34\00:26:53.27
It's like Daniel
wanted us to know
00:26:53.31\00:26:56.24
that with full knowledge
00:26:56.28\00:26:57.61
that he was taking his life
00:26:57.65\00:26:58.98
as it were into his own hands
00:26:59.01\00:27:00.72
that he could be killed.
00:27:00.75\00:27:02.08
He still chose to honor God.
00:27:02.12\00:27:05.22
I think another
time in the Bible
00:27:05.25\00:27:07.26
where it seems to me
to be very deliberate
00:27:07.29\00:27:09.02
is in the foot
washing, John Chapter 13.
00:27:09.06\00:27:12.19
This is Jesus, and
He arose from supper
00:27:12.23\00:27:15.80
and He took a
towel and girded Himself
00:27:15.83\00:27:17.73
and began to wash
the disciples' feet.
00:27:17.77\00:27:19.93
Now if He had said
that, we would have thought,
00:27:19.97\00:27:21.74
well, Jesus knew He was divine,
00:27:21.77\00:27:23.71
but He chose to
wash and be a servant
00:27:23.74\00:27:25.67
and wash the disciples' feet.
00:27:25.71\00:27:27.18
But in John
13:3, John says, Jesus,
00:27:27.21\00:27:29.58
knowing that
the Father had given
00:27:29.61\00:27:31.15
all things into His hands,
00:27:31.18\00:27:33.45
and that He had come
from God and was going to God,
00:27:33.48\00:27:37.82
rose from supper,
00:27:37.85\00:27:39.42
laid aside His garments,
00:27:39.45\00:27:40.79
and took a towel
and girded Himself.
00:27:40.82\00:27:42.19
So with full
knowledge of His divinity,
00:27:42.22\00:27:44.09
He still chose to serve.
00:27:44.13\00:27:46.06
With Daniel with full
knowledge of the king's decree,
00:27:46.09\00:27:50.70
he still chose to pray.
00:27:50.73\00:27:53.70
He chose obedience to His
God over any earthly power,
00:27:53.74\00:27:57.41
over any earthly law.
00:27:57.44\00:27:59.57
Now the Bible doesn't
say if he was afraid or not,
00:27:59.61\00:28:01.88
I don't know if he was or not,
00:28:01.91\00:28:03.24
but he made a
choice based on principle.
00:28:03.28\00:28:07.15
He knew he was acting
in obedience to God's law
00:28:07.18\00:28:09.82
even if it was in
defiance to a man made law.
00:28:09.85\00:28:14.19
And he didn't deliberately
provoke his enemies.
00:28:14.22\00:28:16.62
This was his custom to
pray three times a day.
00:28:16.66\00:28:20.33
He continued in
his regular custom.
00:28:20.36\00:28:23.30
I think Daniel understood
00:28:23.33\00:28:24.67
that this was all part
of the great controversy.
00:28:24.70\00:28:28.24
Not just jealous princes,
and it was jealous princes,
00:28:28.27\00:28:31.44
not just human politics,
00:28:31.47\00:28:33.14
but Satan was
using them as it were
00:28:33.17\00:28:35.91
behind the scenes as
part of this cosmic conflict,
00:28:35.94\00:28:39.78
the struggle
between good and evil,
00:28:39.81\00:28:41.45
between Christ and Satan.
00:28:41.48\00:28:43.72
He probably remembered Daniel 3
00:28:43.75\00:28:45.49
that it happened
years ago with his friends
00:28:45.52\00:28:47.49
and how God had delivered them
00:28:47.52\00:28:48.96
and I wonder if when he prayed,
00:28:48.99\00:28:50.93
he said, "O God
if it's in Your will,
00:28:50.96\00:28:53.43
would You deliver me as well?"
00:28:53.46\00:28:56.13
If it had been me, I
would have prayed that.
00:28:56.16\00:28:58.53
And he also
prayed with thanksgiving
00:28:58.57\00:29:02.30
and I want to get to that,
00:29:02.34\00:29:03.84
that's one of our
points as we get to later.
00:29:03.87\00:29:05.71
But I love that he
prayed with thanksgiving.
00:29:05.74\00:29:09.44
You know one and
God are majority.
00:29:09.48\00:29:12.91
It might not feel like
it, it might not look like it,
00:29:12.95\00:29:15.98
but it is always true.
00:29:16.02\00:29:18.15
So let's look at
how do we stand for God
00:29:18.19\00:29:20.69
when we are facing apposition
00:29:20.72\00:29:22.06
or when we're
facing persecution?
00:29:22.09\00:29:24.33
Here's eight ways.
00:29:24.36\00:29:26.06
Now first, stand
with expectation.
00:29:26.09\00:29:29.93
What do I mean by that?
00:29:29.96\00:29:31.37
Don't be surprised by it.
00:29:31.40\00:29:33.40
1 Peter 4:12, "Beloved,
00:29:33.44\00:29:35.47
do not think it strange
concerning the fiery trial
00:29:35.50\00:29:38.54
which is to try you,
00:29:38.57\00:29:39.91
as though some strange
thing happened to you."
00:29:39.94\00:29:42.58
We know that all that live godly
00:29:42.61\00:29:44.45
in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution.
00:29:44.48\00:29:47.98
So stand with expectation.
00:29:48.02\00:29:49.62
What I mean by that
is don't be surprised,
00:29:49.65\00:29:53.69
don't be naive,
00:29:53.72\00:29:57.13
don't have blinders
pulled over your eyes
00:29:57.16\00:29:59.89
and you just not expecting it.
00:29:59.93\00:30:02.10
Expect persecution,
00:30:02.13\00:30:04.50
expect the
battle and be equipped
00:30:04.53\00:30:07.90
and prepared for battle.
00:30:07.94\00:30:09.44
That's right. So
stand with expectation.
00:30:09.47\00:30:11.57
Second is stand with prayer.
00:30:11.61\00:30:14.31
That is vitally
important before any battle,
00:30:14.34\00:30:16.78
before any persecution,
before anything we encounter,
00:30:16.81\00:30:20.58
we need to spend time in prayer.
00:30:20.62\00:30:23.59
And we know Daniel prayed,
the Bible was very clear,
00:30:23.62\00:30:26.15
three times that day.
00:30:26.19\00:30:27.92
And I'm sure the day after
and I'm sure after that too
00:30:27.96\00:30:30.76
because that was his
habit, that was his custom.
00:30:30.79\00:30:34.00
You know, sometimes we
wait until persecution,
00:30:34.03\00:30:36.00
Pastor Kenny,
00:30:36.03\00:30:37.37
and then we think
we're going to turn to God.
00:30:37.40\00:30:39.47
Then we think, oh, I
really need you right now,
00:30:39.50\00:30:43.00
now that is true.
00:30:43.04\00:30:44.37
It is true I think about
Peter when he climbed down
00:30:44.41\00:30:46.64
and then he said,
"Help Lord," right?
00:30:46.68\00:30:48.74
And then God saved
him and there are times
00:30:48.78\00:30:50.75
when we reach out and I
know that God hears and answers,
00:30:50.78\00:30:53.72
but if you
establish right now today,
00:30:53.75\00:30:57.39
in the time of peace
and prosperity as it were.
00:30:57.42\00:31:00.22
If you establish
your walk with God,
00:31:00.26\00:31:01.89
if you establish
that prayer life,
00:31:01.92\00:31:04.09
it will stand you in good stead
00:31:04.13\00:31:06.70
when the persecution comes.
00:31:06.73\00:31:09.06
Today is the day of salvation.
00:31:09.10\00:31:10.50
Today is the day to develop
your relationship with God.
00:31:10.53\00:31:12.87
That's right. Number four.
00:31:12.90\00:31:14.84
Stand under the
anointing of the Holy Spirit.
00:31:14.87\00:31:18.24
That's right. I
think about the disciples.
00:31:18.27\00:31:20.31
Remember right
before Jesus was crucified,
00:31:20.34\00:31:23.04
what's the Bible say,
00:31:23.08\00:31:24.41
"All the disciples
forsook Him and fled
00:31:24.45\00:31:25.78
because they were terrified.
00:31:25.81\00:31:27.62
And then Acts 1:8, Jesus
promises the Holy Spirit.
00:31:27.65\00:31:30.95
He says, "You
shall receive power,
00:31:30.99\00:31:33.25
when the Holy
Spirit has come upon me,
00:31:33.29\00:31:35.89
upon you and you should
be witnesses to me and Judea,
00:31:35.92\00:31:39.03
in Samaria and to
the end of the earth."
00:31:39.06\00:31:40.96
So when the Holy
Spirit was poured out,
00:31:41.00\00:31:42.93
you see a transformation
in the disciples' lives.
00:31:42.96\00:31:46.33
We see in Acts
Chapter 2 in Peter's sermon.
00:31:46.37\00:31:48.74
We see in Acts Chapter
4, the scribes and rulers,
00:31:48.77\00:31:51.47
what does the Bible say?
00:31:51.51\00:31:52.84
They took knowledge that
they had been with Jesus.
00:31:52.87\00:31:56.91
In other words, their
lives were so radically changed.
00:31:56.95\00:32:00.15
That was the power
of the Holy Spirit.
00:32:00.18\00:32:03.15
So we stand and we
anoint in the Holy Spirit.
00:32:03.18\00:32:05.19
Number four, stand on God's word
00:32:05.22\00:32:08.52
and in obedience to God's word.
00:32:08.56\00:32:12.59
Acts Chapter 5,
this is little further
00:32:12.63\00:32:14.50
in the early Christian church.
00:32:14.53\00:32:16.46
And the disciples
were hauled in again
00:32:16.50\00:32:19.67
before the priests and scribes.
00:32:19.70\00:32:21.67
And we're in Acts 5:28,
the high priest said to them,
00:32:21.70\00:32:25.57
"Did we not strictly command you
00:32:25.61\00:32:26.94
not to teach in this name?
00:32:26.98\00:32:28.34
And look, you
have filled Jerusalem
00:32:28.38\00:32:29.91
with your doctrine,
00:32:29.94\00:32:31.28
and intend to bring
this Man's blood on us!
00:32:31.31\00:32:33.62
But Peter and the other apostles
00:32:33.65\00:32:35.05
answered and said:
'We ought to obey God
00:32:35.08\00:32:38.42
rather than men.'
00:32:38.45\00:32:39.79
" So they stood on God's
word and what God's word said
00:32:39.82\00:32:41.89
instead of human
traditions or human laws.
00:32:41.92\00:32:45.96
But not only that, they stood
in obedience to what God said.
00:32:45.99\00:32:49.40
Amen.
00:32:49.43\00:32:50.77
Number five, stand
and respond with humility.
00:32:50.80\00:32:55.27
You know, we can
stand on God's word,
00:32:55.30\00:32:57.14
we can stand in
prayer, but we can't stand in,
00:32:57.17\00:32:59.81
I would say
arrogance or irritation
00:32:59.84\00:33:04.11
or not in the
spirit of meekness.
00:33:04.15\00:33:08.62
Paul writing to
Timothy, his son in the faith,
00:33:08.65\00:33:10.82
2 Timothy 2:24 and 25,
00:33:10.85\00:33:13.86
"Servant of the
Lord must not quarrel
00:33:13.89\00:33:16.02
but be gentle to all,
able to teach, patient,
00:33:16.06\00:33:19.19
in humility correcting
those who are in opposition,
00:33:19.23\00:33:24.63
if God perhaps will
grant them repentance,
00:33:24.67\00:33:27.50
so that they
may know the truth."
00:33:27.54\00:33:29.00
So we stand with humility
00:33:29.04\00:33:32.07
because God wants to bring
00:33:32.11\00:33:33.71
the people who
are prosecuting you
00:33:33.74\00:33:35.54
to repentance as well.
00:33:35.58\00:33:37.01
God desires their
salvation as well.
00:33:37.05\00:33:39.68
Number six, stand
with decisive action.
00:33:39.71\00:33:42.62
We can be humble, but
still stand decidedly.
00:33:42.65\00:33:45.95
I think about Matthew 21,
00:33:45.99\00:33:47.86
Jesus cleansing the temple
and coming in with the whip.
00:33:47.89\00:33:50.66
Now He definitely stood
with some decisive action.
00:33:50.69\00:33:53.96
Number seven, stand
with love and kindness.
00:33:54.00\00:33:57.23
Matthew 5:44, Jesus
saying, "Love your enemies,
00:33:57.27\00:34:01.10
bless those who curse you,
00:34:01.14\00:34:02.90
do good to those
who spitefully use you."
00:34:02.94\00:34:05.94
So there are times we
need to have decisive action,
00:34:05.97\00:34:08.64
but at the same time we
must have the love of Jesus
00:34:08.68\00:34:13.25
and the humility of
Jesus expressed in our actions.
00:34:13.28\00:34:16.58
And finally number
eight, stand with thanksgiving.
00:34:16.62\00:34:21.12
Daniel stood with thanksgiving.
00:34:21.16\00:34:22.79
He prayed with thanksgiving.
00:34:22.82\00:34:24.66
When he was faced
with losing his life,
00:34:24.69\00:34:27.90
he still gave thanks to God.
00:34:27.93\00:34:30.13
Amen.
00:34:30.17\00:34:31.50
1 Thessalonians
5:16-18, "Rejoice always,
00:34:31.53\00:34:35.80
in everything give thanks,
00:34:35.84\00:34:37.17
for this is the will of God
00:34:37.21\00:34:38.54
in Christ Jesus concerning you."
00:34:38.57\00:34:39.91
So God calls us
above all to stand.
00:34:39.94\00:34:42.74
Amen.
00:34:42.78\00:34:44.11
Praise the Lord.
Not bad for one verse!
00:34:44.15\00:34:45.91
Very good.
00:34:45.95\00:34:47.28
Yeah, praise the Lord.
00:34:47.32\00:34:48.72
Well, I have Wednesday's lesson
entitled "In the lion's den."
00:34:48.75\00:34:52.62
And so we're gonna talk about,
00:34:52.65\00:34:54.29
Brother Kenny
called the conspiracy
00:34:54.32\00:34:56.96
to put Daniel in this lions' den
00:34:56.99\00:34:58.43
and it was indeed a conspiracy
and a plot to do evil.
00:34:58.46\00:35:02.03
And so, actually I have
an abundance of scriptures
00:35:02.06\00:35:05.17
to work with and I'm
very thankful for that.
00:35:05.20\00:35:07.77
And so while we may not
get to all these verses,
00:35:07.80\00:35:09.90
I would like to
begin with Daniel 6:11,
00:35:09.94\00:35:13.41
we're gonna try to read through
to verse 23 if time permits.
00:35:13.44\00:35:17.05
And so verse 11 begins
to tell us, here, it says,
00:35:17.08\00:35:19.31
"Then these men
assembled and found Daniel
00:35:19.35\00:35:21.92
praying and making
supplication before his God.
00:35:21.95\00:35:25.69
And they went before the king,
00:35:25.72\00:35:27.06
and spoke
concerning the king's decree:
00:35:27.09\00:35:29.62
'Have you not signed
a decree that every man
00:35:29.66\00:35:32.03
who petitions any god or man
within thirty days, except you,
00:35:32.06\00:35:36.93
O king, shall be
cast into the lions' den?"
00:35:36.97\00:35:41.14
Interesting.
00:35:41.17\00:35:42.50
So I just wanna as we
kind of set this up here.
00:35:42.54\00:35:45.37
I just wanna note
the fact that it says,
00:35:45.41\00:35:48.04
"they were assembled."
00:35:48.08\00:35:51.18
Now we know they plotted,
00:35:51.21\00:35:53.72
they had assembled to plot this,
00:35:53.75\00:35:55.35
and I just want to
reiterate what you said.
00:35:55.38\00:35:56.72
This wasn't all of the leaders,
these were just a few jealous,
00:35:56.75\00:36:00.89
ungodly men
00:36:00.92\00:36:02.49
who had the spirit of
the Devil in their heart,
00:36:02.52\00:36:04.69
and all that they wanted to see
00:36:04.73\00:36:06.39
was they wanted
to see Daniel fall
00:36:06.43\00:36:08.16
and themselves rise.
00:36:08.20\00:36:09.56
And so what we see here
00:36:09.60\00:36:11.17
is now they were
assembling again because again
00:36:11.20\00:36:14.34
they couldn't find
any fault with Daniel.
00:36:14.37\00:36:16.27
They tried to find every piece
of evidence that they could,
00:36:16.30\00:36:18.67
they could not find any
faults, so now it's like okay,
00:36:18.71\00:36:20.84
you know what?
00:36:20.88\00:36:22.21
We're gonna put him,
00:36:22.24\00:36:23.58
we're gonna really
take this up a notch
00:36:23.61\00:36:26.82
and we're gonna
someone try to catch him
00:36:26.85\00:36:28.75
in the act if we can.
00:36:28.78\00:36:30.19
And so it's
ultimately what we find here
00:36:30.22\00:36:32.25
is this was a plan to deceive
00:36:32.29\00:36:34.19
and manipulate
the higher authority.
00:36:34.22\00:36:36.59
That's
ultimately what it came to.
00:36:36.62\00:36:38.19
When they couldn't
find fault with Daniel,
00:36:38.23\00:36:40.10
they decided, is there any way
that we can ultimately deceive
00:36:40.13\00:36:43.67
and plot to deceive
the higher authority
00:36:43.70\00:36:46.13
that makes the
decision against Daniel,
00:36:46.17\00:36:48.20
and that is exactly
what we find happening here.
00:36:48.24\00:36:50.47
Notice what the Bible
continues on to say, it says,
00:36:50.51\00:36:52.77
"The king answered and
said, 'The thing is true,
00:36:52.81\00:36:55.61
according to the law
of the Medes and Persians,
00:36:55.64\00:36:57.58
which does not alter.'
00:36:57.61\00:36:59.85
So they answered and
said before the king,
00:36:59.88\00:37:02.32
that Daniel,"
00:37:02.35\00:37:05.95
little bit of prejudice
here, little bit of disrespect,
00:37:05.99\00:37:08.26
that Daniel,
00:37:08.29\00:37:09.62
he's not even worthy
of just you know, Daniel,
00:37:09.66\00:37:11.63
that Daniel,
00:37:11.66\00:37:12.99
"who is one of the
captives from Judah,
00:37:13.03\00:37:15.03
does not show due regard
for you, O king, for it says,
00:37:15.06\00:37:18.77
or for the decree
that you have signed,
00:37:18.80\00:37:21.24
but makes his petition,
notice, three times a day."
00:37:21.27\00:37:24.61
And how do they know
that it was three times a day?
00:37:24.64\00:37:26.74
Because they had this brother
on lock down surveillance.
00:37:26.78\00:37:31.11
Okay, they were
watching day and night,
00:37:31.15\00:37:32.98
they had assembles
together, they had plotted,
00:37:33.01\00:37:35.12
and we see that they watch
00:37:35.15\00:37:36.89
that they have
watched very particularly
00:37:36.92\00:37:39.15
so that they might catch
00:37:39.19\00:37:40.52
the slightest mistake
to report to the king.
00:37:40.56\00:37:43.76
And again I just
want to reiterate
00:37:43.79\00:37:45.13
the fact you could see
the spirit behind these men
00:37:45.16\00:37:47.16
because as they walk in,
00:37:47.20\00:37:48.56
you know, Daniel is
in a very high position.
00:37:48.60\00:37:51.07
He's
technically their authority,
00:37:51.10\00:37:53.03
he's over these guys.
00:37:53.07\00:37:54.40
And, of course, you
could see the disrespect
00:37:54.44\00:37:56.00
in a sense that 'That Daniel'.
00:37:56.04\00:37:58.27
King, you know
that Daniel, yeah, well,
00:37:58.31\00:38:01.01
he's not really doing
what you said for him to do.
00:38:01.04\00:38:04.41
Notice verse 14, "And the
king, when he heard these words,
00:38:04.45\00:38:07.05
was greatly
displeased with himself,
00:38:07.08\00:38:09.22
and set his heart on
Daniel to deliver him,
00:38:09.25\00:38:11.92
and he labored till
the going down of the sun."
00:38:11.95\00:38:16.22
So notice how it says,
00:38:16.26\00:38:17.59
you know, this
king knew immediately
00:38:17.63\00:38:19.43
what was taken place.
00:38:19.46\00:38:20.80
By this point, he
is figuring it out.
00:38:20.83\00:38:22.30
Wait a second, I see
what's happening here.
00:38:22.33\00:38:25.93
He knew that he had been scammed
00:38:25.97\00:38:28.10
into conspiring against Daniel.
00:38:28.14\00:38:30.17
That's
essentially what it happened.
00:38:30.21\00:38:32.21
He felt ashamed, and
why did he feel ashamed?
00:38:32.24\00:38:35.51
Because he knew the
very character of Daniel.
00:38:35.54\00:38:38.65
He knew Daniel
was a righteous man
00:38:38.68\00:38:40.38
with no ill
intention to usurp him
00:38:40.42\00:38:42.68
or his authority in any way.
00:38:42.72\00:38:44.45
He knew Daniel personally
00:38:44.49\00:38:45.82
and so all of this
is coming together,
00:38:45.85\00:38:47.19
he's starting to see now,
I see what's happening here.
00:38:47.22\00:38:50.13
He has been, basically the king
is trying to find a loophole
00:38:50.16\00:38:55.00
to possibly get
around executing Daniel.
00:38:55.03\00:38:57.70
But of course
this political circus
00:38:57.73\00:39:00.10
has pushed things
past the point of no return
00:39:00.14\00:39:02.60
and he realizes that.
00:39:02.64\00:39:03.97
And so the
scripture goes on to tell us.
00:39:04.01\00:39:06.24
"Then these men
approached the king,
00:39:06.27\00:39:07.64
and said to the
king, 'Know, O king,
00:39:07.68\00:39:09.58
that it is the law of
the Medes and Persians
00:39:09.61\00:39:11.45
that no decree or statute
00:39:11.48\00:39:13.48
which the king
establishes may be changed.'
00:39:13.52\00:39:15.68
" So notice how these
men are further pushing
00:39:15.72\00:39:19.22
this political card
to try to frame Daniel.
00:39:19.25\00:39:21.92
They were forcing the king in
on their political conspiracy.
00:39:21.96\00:39:26.16
And you know, this reminds
me of the spirit of someone.
00:39:26.19\00:39:28.66
Who does come to my mind?
00:39:28.70\00:39:30.43
Oh yes, how
about the Devil, Satan,
00:39:30.47\00:39:32.80
you know, it says in
Book of Revelation 12:7,
00:39:32.83\00:39:36.20
speaking of heaven, it says,
00:39:36.24\00:39:37.94
"And war broke out in heaven.
00:39:37.97\00:39:40.01
And that word war there
is the Greek word Polemos,
00:39:40.04\00:39:44.41
and the very nature of the war
00:39:44.45\00:39:45.78
that broke out in
heaven is you're seeing
00:39:45.81\00:39:47.18
the very nature of
that war right here,
00:39:47.22\00:39:49.02
in this particular conspiracy.
00:39:49.05\00:39:50.72
It's all politics.
00:39:50.75\00:39:52.15
That word Polemos
is simply politicking.
00:39:52.19\00:39:54.89
The Devil knew he
couldn't beat Jesus
00:39:54.92\00:39:56.73
in a sword fight or a fist fight
00:39:56.76\00:39:58.09
or try to fight Him physically,
00:39:58.13\00:39:59.46
Jesus could've
just snapped His finger
00:39:59.49\00:40:01.50
and he would've
been gone, right?
00:40:01.53\00:40:03.00
He's not gonna pick the
fight with Jesus physically,
00:40:03.03\00:40:04.80
the nature of the
war was the war of words.
00:40:04.83\00:40:07.64
It was a war of conspiracy
against the character of God.
00:40:07.67\00:40:11.37
And so we're seeing
00:40:11.41\00:40:12.74
that it's exactly what the devil
00:40:12.77\00:40:14.11
is trying to pull on Daniel
by working through these men
00:40:14.14\00:40:16.71
that try to discredit him.
00:40:16.75\00:40:18.25
And so that's exactly
what they're attempting to do.
00:40:18.28\00:40:21.42
The devil divided
heaven with his politics
00:40:21.45\00:40:23.85
and that's exactly the
spirit that we see at work here.
00:40:23.89\00:40:27.16
Verse 16 that says, "So
the king gave the command,
00:40:27.19\00:40:30.06
and they brought
Daniel and cast him
00:40:30.09\00:40:32.33
into the den of lions.
00:40:32.36\00:40:34.83
But the king spoke,
saying to Daniel," I love this.
00:40:34.86\00:40:37.13
"Your God, whom you serve,"
00:40:37.17\00:40:39.10
and I can't emphasize
this enough continually,
00:40:39.13\00:40:42.60
"The God you serve continually,
He will deliver you."
00:40:42.64\00:40:46.07
You know, this is
a statement of faith
00:40:46.11\00:40:48.04
from a pagan god,
from a pagan king.
00:40:48.08\00:40:51.01
Now I think there's
evidence in this chapter
00:40:51.05\00:40:53.25
that while he
wasn't quite there yet,
00:40:53.28\00:40:55.55
you know, I think that this king
00:40:55.58\00:40:57.12
had been in the
presence of Daniel enough,
00:40:57.15\00:40:59.29
he had saw the
witness of Daniel,
00:40:59.32\00:41:00.66
had had saw the
character of Daniel,
00:41:00.69\00:41:02.22
he had heard stories perhaps of,
00:41:02.26\00:41:04.49
you know, how God
had delivered Daniel
00:41:04.53\00:41:06.83
and his friends in the past,
00:41:06.86\00:41:08.20
that all of this
is coming together
00:41:08.23\00:41:09.56
and he's making a
statement of faith.
00:41:09.60\00:41:10.93
He says, "Look, I know Daniel,
00:41:10.97\00:41:12.77
I know Daniel is
a righteous man and,
00:41:12.80\00:41:14.80
of course, he knows
that declaring in faith
00:41:14.84\00:41:17.41
that Daniel's
God will deliver him,
00:41:17.44\00:41:19.84
he had faith in that.
00:41:19.87\00:41:21.21
And I just want to
emphasize that the reason
00:41:21.24\00:41:22.88
why that the God is
gonna deliver Daniel
00:41:22.91\00:41:25.41
is because
Daniel served him how?
00:41:25.45\00:41:28.28
Continually, and I just
wanna make an appeal right now,
00:41:28.32\00:41:30.49
please my friends,
00:41:30.52\00:41:32.25
we need to learn as a
people to be servants of God,
00:41:32.29\00:41:35.52
not just on Monday's
00:41:35.56\00:41:36.89
and not just on
Sabbath's and not just on...
00:41:36.93\00:41:39.09
We need to learn to
serve God continually
00:41:39.13\00:41:41.50
and following the
example of Daniel.
00:41:41.53\00:41:43.20
Notice verse 17,
00:41:43.23\00:41:44.57
"Then a stone was brought
00:41:44.60\00:41:45.93
and laid at the
mouth of the den,
00:41:45.97\00:41:47.30
and the king sealed it
with his own signet ring,
00:41:47.34\00:41:49.77
with the signets of his lords,
00:41:49.80\00:41:51.34
and of course the
purpose concerning
00:41:51.37\00:41:52.74
Daniel might be charged,"
00:41:52.77\00:41:54.34
or excuse me, "that it may
not be changed," excuse me.
00:41:54.38\00:41:56.95
And so, now the king
went to his palace and spent,
00:41:56.98\00:41:59.31
notice this, all night fasting,
00:41:59.35\00:42:02.18
and no musicians
were brought before him.
00:42:02.22\00:42:04.19
And his sleep went from him.
00:42:04.22\00:42:05.85
You see, this is
unusual behavior from a king
00:42:05.89\00:42:08.59
because most arrogant
kings are gonna be like,
00:42:08.62\00:42:10.23
"Well you know, I hate that
00:42:10.26\00:42:11.59
this had to
happen to Daniel but,
00:42:11.63\00:42:12.96
oh, well, he could be replaced."
00:42:12.99\00:42:14.66
That's not what's happened here.
00:42:14.70\00:42:16.10
You see, he's disturbed
and he went so far as to fast.
00:42:16.13\00:42:19.17
Now why would a pagan king fast?
00:42:19.20\00:42:21.00
I believe he's probably
is following the example.
00:42:21.04\00:42:22.84
He probably saw
Daniel fasting quite a bit.
00:42:22.87\00:42:24.67
Oh, Daniel was a
faster, he's a prayer.
00:42:24.71\00:42:26.91
And so, I should
do the same thing
00:42:26.94\00:42:28.58
if there's any hope for Daniel.
00:42:28.61\00:42:30.41
And so, of course,
very early in the morning,
00:42:30.45\00:42:32.11
we see that he comes
in and he rolls back,
00:42:32.15\00:42:36.42
obviously they
roll back that stone,
00:42:36.45\00:42:37.85
he screams aloud to Daniel,
00:42:37.89\00:42:40.12
"Daniel, servant
of the living God,
00:42:40.16\00:42:41.62
has your God, whom you serve,
00:42:41.66\00:42:43.22
there it is again continually,
00:42:43.26\00:42:44.83
been able to
deliver you from the lions?"
00:42:44.86\00:42:46.59
And of course Daniel responds
to him, "O king, live forever!
00:42:46.63\00:42:50.20
My God sent His angel
and shut the lions' mouths."
00:42:50.23\00:42:54.87
And I just wanna pause there,
00:42:54.90\00:42:56.40
God knows how to shut
the mouths of the lions.
00:42:56.44\00:42:58.61
Amen.
00:42:58.64\00:42:59.97
The Bible says that
the devil is a roaring lion
00:43:00.01\00:43:03.11
and he's seeking
whom he may devour.
00:43:03.14\00:43:04.95
There may be lions
00:43:04.98\00:43:06.35
that is trying to
seek to devour you.
00:43:06.38\00:43:08.42
But if you put your
trust in Jesus Christ,
00:43:08.45\00:43:11.02
He will send angels
00:43:11.05\00:43:12.39
to shut those
mouths of those lions.
00:43:12.42\00:43:14.02
That's right.
00:43:14.06\00:43:15.39
The truth of the
matter is, my friend,
00:43:15.42\00:43:16.76
you see God honors truth.
00:43:16.79\00:43:18.39
He honors honesty
00:43:18.43\00:43:20.00
and while He did not deliver
Daniel from the lions' den,
00:43:20.03\00:43:24.10
He did indeed save him
through the lion's den.
00:43:24.13\00:43:27.64
So there's something to say here
00:43:27.67\00:43:29.00
about the character
of this righteous man
00:43:29.04\00:43:31.31
which by the way,
Daniel wasn't perfect.
00:43:31.34\00:43:33.68
The Bible says all have sinned.
00:43:33.71\00:43:35.51
So Daniel was a sinner,
00:43:35.54\00:43:36.88
Daniel needed redemption
00:43:36.91\00:43:38.41
and when Jesus
died on the cross,
00:43:38.45\00:43:39.78
Jesus died on
the cross for Daniel.
00:43:39.81\00:43:41.68
But Daniel was a righteous man.
00:43:41.72\00:43:43.75
And he was a truthful
man. He was an honest man.
00:43:43.79\00:43:46.05
He was not a
perfect man by no means,
00:43:46.09\00:43:47.62
but he stood for the
principles of God's word
00:43:47.66\00:43:49.99
and I just wanna make an appeal
00:43:50.03\00:43:51.36
in the closing
moments that I have,
00:43:51.39\00:43:53.09
you know, in the
days and the times
00:43:53.13\00:43:54.56
that we're living in,
I can imagine someone,
00:43:54.60\00:43:57.07
in this particular
situation today that would say,
00:43:57.10\00:43:59.03
"Well, you know,
the Bible does say that,
00:43:59.07\00:44:01.47
you know, we should be obedient
to the laws of the land,
00:44:01.50\00:44:05.31
and coming up when they excused
00:44:05.34\00:44:06.68
as to why they
should not lose their life,
00:44:06.71\00:44:08.48
because they're
praying to their God.
00:44:08.51\00:44:09.84
Daniel saw past the
policies, he saw past the laws,
00:44:09.88\00:44:14.52
when laws and policies
and regulations, my friends,
00:44:14.55\00:44:17.59
when they come in
between or they cause you,
00:44:17.62\00:44:20.26
or lead you to
violate biblical principles
00:44:20.29\00:44:22.99
and the plan that
God has for your life,
00:44:23.02\00:44:24.79
it is never an
excuse to disobey God,
00:44:24.83\00:44:28.06
and to not stand for truth.
00:44:28.10\00:44:29.46
And so, stand for truth.
00:44:29.50\00:44:30.83
We serve a God of truth.
00:44:30.87\00:44:32.20
Jesus said, I am the
way the truth and the life.
00:44:32.23\00:44:34.80
And when we adopt
00:44:34.84\00:44:36.40
and we replicate the
character of Jesus in our life,
00:44:36.44\00:44:39.74
to be truthful and to be
honest in all situations,
00:44:39.77\00:44:42.98
He will shut mouths of lions
00:44:43.01\00:44:44.61
and He would deliver
His people in time of need.
00:44:44.65\00:44:47.15
Amen. Amen.
00:44:47.18\00:44:49.52
Thursday's lesson is vindication
00:44:49.55\00:44:51.39
and we're going to be looking
00:44:51.42\00:44:52.89
at a difficult
scripture in Daniel 6:24,
00:44:52.92\00:44:56.56
so let me just
repeat and enlarge a little.
00:44:56.59\00:44:59.53
It is so obvious
how King Darius admired,
00:44:59.56\00:45:03.00
respected and just
appreciated Daniel so much.
00:45:03.03\00:45:08.07
You can tell that
because of the high position
00:45:08.10\00:45:11.11
to which he was appointed.
00:45:11.14\00:45:13.04
And Daniel served
with insight and wisdom
00:45:13.07\00:45:16.34
and he served
the king faithfully.
00:45:16.38\00:45:19.45
But he always
served the King of kings,
00:45:19.48\00:45:24.72
above the king of the Medes.
00:45:24.75\00:45:27.09
You know, when
you think about this,
00:45:27.12\00:45:29.12
Daniel set the
standard for Christians
00:45:29.16\00:45:33.19
who serve in
public office, did he not?
00:45:33.23\00:45:35.36
That's right.
00:45:35.40\00:45:36.73
He always did what was right,
he never did what was wrong,
00:45:36.77\00:45:39.93
he always kept
that open communication
00:45:39.97\00:45:42.37
with the Lord.
00:45:42.40\00:45:43.91
So, when it came
to as you just said
00:45:43.94\00:45:47.84
whether we're gonna
obey the laws of the land
00:45:47.88\00:45:49.94
or the laws of God's law.
00:45:49.98\00:45:52.91
It was no contest for Daniel.
00:45:52.95\00:45:55.92
And even when he knew
00:45:55.95\00:45:58.42
that he could be thrown
00:45:58.45\00:46:01.06
into a life and death situation.
00:46:01.09\00:46:06.13
He's past 80
years of faithfulness.
00:46:06.16\00:46:10.30
It would be no substitute
for his present faithfulness
00:46:10.33\00:46:13.47
and here's what I want to say,
00:46:13.50\00:46:16.24
character is not forged
00:46:16.27\00:46:21.01
in adversity,
00:46:21.04\00:46:23.11
character is
revealed in adversity.
00:46:23.14\00:46:27.88
So the king had recognized
hey, it's envy and jealousy,
00:46:27.92\00:46:31.82
my kingdom is corrupt, right?
00:46:31.85\00:46:34.72
And he's upset
00:46:34.76\00:46:38.23
because he has been tricked.
00:46:38.26\00:46:40.90
I think it's interesting
00:46:40.93\00:46:43.00
that when God and I
think you said this, John,
00:46:43.03\00:46:47.04
when God
bestows blessings on us,
00:46:47.07\00:46:50.77
it can stir
jealousy among others,
00:46:50.81\00:46:53.81
among the wicked.
00:46:53.84\00:46:55.18
And it just goes
back to Genesis 3:15,
00:46:55.21\00:46:57.95
that there is enmity
between the seed of the serpent
00:46:57.98\00:47:02.28
and the seed of God.
00:47:02.32\00:47:04.05
So here the king is
so upset with himself,
00:47:04.09\00:47:08.36
he is mad at these
guys who have done this and,
00:47:08.39\00:47:13.33
here's the interesting thing.
00:47:13.36\00:47:14.96
Just like Haman and
Mordecai, it backfired.
00:47:15.00\00:47:18.87
Evil deeds often backfire
on those who plan cruelty,
00:47:18.90\00:47:23.74
so let's look at
what the king is gonna do
00:47:23.77\00:47:26.47
'cause he's gonna
turn the tables on him.
00:47:26.51\00:47:28.51
Daniel 6:24, "The
king gave the command,
00:47:28.54\00:47:31.68
and they brought those
men who had accused Daniel,
00:47:31.71\00:47:35.48
and they cast them
into the den of lions,
00:47:35.52\00:47:39.35
them, their
children, and their wives,
00:47:39.39\00:47:44.86
and the lions overpowered them,
00:47:44.89\00:47:46.66
and broke all
their bones in pieces
00:47:46.70\00:47:49.33
before they ever came
to the bottom of the den."
00:47:49.36\00:47:52.00
Now, sadly the
Persian law was more cruel
00:47:52.03\00:47:56.20
than almost any
other nation's laws.
00:47:56.24\00:47:59.37
And when according to
Herodotus the historian,
00:47:59.41\00:48:05.31
on the account
of the guilt of one,
00:48:05.35\00:48:08.52
if a man was guilty,
00:48:08.55\00:48:09.88
according to the Persian law,
00:48:09.92\00:48:11.75
his whole
family was obliterated.
00:48:11.79\00:48:14.32
So you know, when
you think about it,
00:48:14.36\00:48:16.66
wife and children
still suffer today
00:48:16.69\00:48:18.76
when a man has done evil,
00:48:18.79\00:48:21.53
I mean they suffer
financially, they're shamed,
00:48:21.56\00:48:25.17
all the disgrace
that goes with that.
00:48:25.20\00:48:28.74
But I do wanna point out,
00:48:28.77\00:48:31.01
this is not 'cause some
people read this and like,
00:48:31.04\00:48:34.21
why would God let this happen?
00:48:34.24\00:48:35.64
Deuteronomy 24:16
00:48:35.68\00:48:37.98
in the covenant
law given to Moses,
00:48:38.01\00:48:40.55
here's what God said,
00:48:40.58\00:48:42.42
"Fathers shall not be put
to death for their children,
00:48:42.45\00:48:45.89
nor shall the children be
put to death for their fathers,
00:48:45.92\00:48:49.42
a person shall be put
to death for his own sin."
00:48:49.46\00:48:53.60
So this isn't something that
God put a stamp to prove on,
00:48:53.63\00:48:57.67
it just happened.
00:48:57.70\00:48:59.43
So even so God lifted
00:48:59.47\00:49:03.27
His divine
restraint from the lions.
00:49:03.30\00:49:07.31
You know, some people say,
00:49:07.34\00:49:08.68
well the reason
Daniel didn't get eaten
00:49:08.71\00:49:11.65
is 'cause those
are toothless lions,
00:49:11.68\00:49:14.62
they were old,
they weren't hungry,
00:49:14.65\00:49:17.72
blah, blah, blah.
00:49:17.75\00:49:19.45
Well, you tell that to princes
00:49:19.49\00:49:21.99
and the governors
who were involved,
00:49:22.02\00:49:23.89
because those who brought
00:49:23.93\00:49:25.93
the false
charges against Daniel,
00:49:25.96\00:49:28.83
they were, the
lions pounced on them
00:49:28.86\00:49:32.63
and they were devoured.
00:49:32.67\00:49:34.47
So, there's always a somber side
00:49:34.50\00:49:39.27
to the salvation of God's people
00:49:39.31\00:49:41.38
when you think about it
00:49:41.41\00:49:43.24
because anytime
00:49:43.28\00:49:46.92
Eve's seed is delivered,
00:49:46.95\00:49:51.55
there's a bruising of the
Satan of the serpent's head.
00:49:51.59\00:49:54.42
I like that.
00:49:54.46\00:49:55.79
So, this is when we look at
00:49:55.82\00:50:00.76
Chapters 2, 3 and 4,
00:50:00.80\00:50:02.76
Nebuchadnezzar praise God's,
00:50:02.80\00:50:05.07
Daniel's God in an
increasingly reverent way.
00:50:05.10\00:50:11.01
Chapter 5, Belshazzar did not.
00:50:11.04\00:50:15.78
But now in Chapter 6,
00:50:15.81\00:50:17.48
there he is clearly
impacted by what God has done,
00:50:17.51\00:50:21.52
so let's look at verse 25 to 27.
00:50:21.55\00:50:26.86
It says, King Darius,
00:50:26.89\00:50:29.39
he's gonna announce a supreme
of the word of Daniel's God.
00:50:29.42\00:50:33.63
King Darius, Daniel 6:25 wrote,
00:50:33.66\00:50:37.73
"To all peoples,
nations, and languages
00:50:37.77\00:50:40.07
that dwell in all the earth,
peace be multiplied to you.
00:50:40.10\00:50:43.04
I make a decree that in
every dominion of my kingdom
00:50:43.07\00:50:46.98
men must tremble and
fear before the God of Daniel.
00:50:47.01\00:50:51.58
For He is the living
God, and steadfast forever,
00:50:51.61\00:50:57.52
His kingdom is the one
which shall not be destroyed,
00:50:57.55\00:51:01.22
His dominion
shall endure to the end.
00:51:01.26\00:51:04.49
He delivers and rescues,
00:51:04.53\00:51:06.53
and He works signs and
wonders in heaven and on earth,
00:51:06.56\00:51:10.27
who has delivered Daniel
00:51:10.30\00:51:14.90
from the power of the lions."
00:51:14.94\00:51:19.01
You know, after God had
delivered Shadrach, Meschach,
00:51:19.04\00:51:22.48
and Abednego from
the fiery furnace.
00:51:22.51\00:51:24.61
Nebuchadnezzar had written
the decree that people had to,
00:51:24.65\00:51:29.18
couldn't say
anything against God, right?
00:51:29.22\00:51:31.62
So now we have King Darius
00:51:31.65\00:51:35.22
who is writing this decree.
00:51:35.26\00:51:37.56
And I don't know if
Darius was fully convinced,
00:51:37.59\00:51:42.10
he didn't call
Him the Most High God,
00:51:42.13\00:51:44.37
he was a polytheist,
00:51:44.40\00:51:46.10
but he did have
a respect for God.
00:51:46.13\00:51:48.70
And look at this,
let's look back at verse 26
00:51:48.74\00:51:52.74
where he said,
mentioned fear and trembled.
00:51:52.77\00:51:56.01
Let's take note of what he says.
00:51:56.04\00:51:58.58
He is the living God.
00:51:58.61\00:52:01.28
So he saw as to his
nature, He was an eternal God.
00:52:01.32\00:52:05.65
And then he said,
He steadfast forever,
00:52:05.69\00:52:08.32
His kingdom is the one
which shall not be destroyed.
00:52:08.36\00:52:11.06
So he sees God's sovereignty
00:52:11.09\00:52:13.70
and he knows that His
kingdom is gonna come to an end.
00:52:13.73\00:52:17.17
So he did see him as
unparalled without rival.
00:52:17.20\00:52:22.37
And in verse 27, he
says, He delivers and rescues,
00:52:22.40\00:52:26.78
He's a
delivering and rescuing God,
00:52:26.81\00:52:29.64
He works signs and wonders
00:52:29.68\00:52:31.25
in the heaven and
the earth, Darius said.
00:52:31.28\00:52:33.92
So He's a supernatural
miracle working God.
00:52:33.95\00:52:37.85
Even the pagan
king could see that.
00:52:37.89\00:52:40.86
So, you know, it's
just interesting to me,
00:52:40.89\00:52:43.93
here Daniel is a
captive in a strange land,
00:52:43.96\00:52:47.46
but his devotion
has a major impact.
00:52:47.50\00:52:52.47
His life was a witness
that testified to God's power
00:52:52.50\00:52:56.97
and God can use
you in that way too.
00:52:57.01\00:52:59.17
That's right.
00:52:59.21\00:53:00.54
So verse 28 says,
00:53:00.58\00:53:01.91
"So this Daniel
prospered in the reign of Darius
00:53:01.94\00:53:06.58
and in the reign
of Cyrus the Persian."
00:53:06.61\00:53:10.42
Following God.
00:53:10.45\00:53:13.29
If we are faithful,
and serve Him continually,
00:53:13.32\00:53:17.26
it can be costly.
00:53:17.29\00:53:19.89
But He is Lord
of all and over all,
00:53:19.93\00:53:24.00
and He is able to deliver.
00:53:24.03\00:53:25.50
That's right.
00:53:25.53\00:53:26.87
The Bible tells us,
00:53:26.90\00:53:28.57
He gives us the
victory in Christ Jesus.
00:53:28.60\00:53:33.27
And so when we are
true to God and like Daniel,
00:53:33.31\00:53:37.65
walk in the spirit
and show covenant loyalty,
00:53:37.68\00:53:42.38
you know, I love...
00:53:42.42\00:53:44.35
We'll get to
this but Daniel said,
00:53:44.39\00:53:46.52
once when he was praying to God,
00:53:46.55\00:53:48.52
"Oh, you are a
God who keeps covenant
00:53:48.56\00:53:51.06
with those who
keep covenant with you."
00:53:51.09\00:53:52.79
That's right.
00:53:52.83\00:53:54.56
We just have to be
like the early church
00:53:54.60\00:53:57.70
when Peter said, you know,
we must obey God and not man.
00:53:57.73\00:54:03.20
We should, as Jill
said, expect oppositions.
00:54:03.24\00:54:08.81
And you may be walking
through a fiery furnace
00:54:08.84\00:54:12.28
right now just like Shadrach,
Meschach, and Abednego.
00:54:12.31\00:54:16.58
You may feel like
00:54:16.62\00:54:18.62
you've been thrown
into the lions' den,
00:54:18.65\00:54:22.16
but I guarantee you,
if you would honor God,
00:54:22.19\00:54:26.16
he says, humble
yourselves before the Lord.
00:54:26.19\00:54:29.50
He will exalt you.
00:54:29.53\00:54:31.13
In other words, He
will lift you up in honor,
00:54:31.17\00:54:34.90
if you honor Him.
00:54:34.94\00:54:36.81
And I think that,
00:54:36.84\00:54:38.71
I always think of like Daniel
coming out of the lions' den
00:54:38.74\00:54:42.58
when they roll back the stone.
00:54:42.61\00:54:44.58
What does that make you think
00:54:44.61\00:54:45.98
of when they roll back the stone
00:54:46.01\00:54:48.98
and Jesus came
triumphant from the cave?
00:54:49.02\00:54:51.69
That's right.
00:54:51.72\00:54:53.05
Hallelujah. Praise the Lord.
00:54:53.09\00:54:54.42
Amen. Wow, what a study.
00:54:54.46\00:54:56.22
How can you extract
so much from one story?
00:54:56.26\00:54:59.46
Even your single
verse is amazing.
00:54:59.49\00:55:01.50
Yeah, indeed.
00:55:01.53\00:55:02.86
And we're gonna give
each of our panelists
00:55:02.90\00:55:04.23
an opportunity to summarize
00:55:04.27\00:55:05.60
what's on their
heart, Pastor Kenny?
00:55:05.63\00:55:08.00
Well, I've been
drawing a lot from this,
00:55:08.04\00:55:10.84
you know, God calls
some to live for Him
00:55:10.87\00:55:13.74
and God calls some as
witnesses to die for Him.
00:55:13.78\00:55:17.35
And so we look either way,
God shows that He still rules,
00:55:17.38\00:55:20.42
that He is still in control.
00:55:20.45\00:55:22.35
I just, the question is
as is in my heart I'm asking,
00:55:22.38\00:55:25.25
do I love Jesus really enough
that I would stand for right,
00:55:25.29\00:55:29.29
what is right
even if it costs me,
00:55:29.32\00:55:31.16
as it were your job, if
it costs you your family,
00:55:31.19\00:55:34.00
and the bottom line
if it costs you your life
00:55:34.03\00:55:35.90
and by the grace of
God, that's what we wanna do,
00:55:35.93\00:55:39.33
willing to give
our life for Jesus.
00:55:39.37\00:55:40.74
That's right. That's
powerful, Pastor Kenny.
00:55:40.77\00:55:42.67
I want that in my own
heart and life for sure.
00:55:42.70\00:55:46.88
I think sometimes
when you face persecution,
00:55:46.91\00:55:50.65
you can be afraid.
00:55:50.68\00:55:52.01
But I just want to
encourage you right now
00:55:52.05\00:55:53.68
not to fear
00:55:53.72\00:55:55.52
because the Lord
Jesus is walking beside you.
00:55:55.55\00:55:58.05
He says, "Fear
not, for I am with you."
00:55:58.09\00:56:01.62
And He wants to walk
00:56:01.66\00:56:02.99
right beside you
through the midst of your trial.
00:56:03.02\00:56:06.23
That's right.
00:56:06.26\00:56:07.60
You know, Daniel went
through a time in trouble.
00:56:07.63\00:56:10.17
This was
Daniel's time of trouble.
00:56:10.20\00:56:12.07
And we are also,
as the Bible tells us
00:56:12.10\00:56:15.00
gonna go through
a time of trouble.
00:56:15.04\00:56:16.77
And just as God didn't deliver
Daniel from the lions' den
00:56:16.81\00:56:21.64
but saved him through it.
00:56:21.68\00:56:23.01
God will also not deliver
us from that time of trouble
00:56:23.04\00:56:26.38
but save us through it,
00:56:26.41\00:56:27.75
and just as God sent the angels
00:56:27.78\00:56:29.65
in to shut the
mouths of the lions,
00:56:29.68\00:56:31.45
God will also send angels
to us to deliver us through.
00:56:31.49\00:56:35.09
I'm reading
Psalms 91:9 through 11,"
00:56:35.12\00:56:37.33
Because you have made
the Lord, who is my refuge,
00:56:37.36\00:56:40.23
even the Most High,
your dwelling place,
00:56:40.26\00:56:42.83
no evil shall befall you,
00:56:42.86\00:56:44.73
nor shall any plague
come near your dwelling,
00:56:44.77\00:56:47.60
For He shall give His
angels charge over you,
00:56:47.64\00:56:50.37
to keep you in all your ways."
00:56:50.41\00:56:52.21
Amen.
00:56:52.24\00:56:53.58
I just wanted to read a
comment from the lesson,
00:56:53.61\00:56:56.14
from the quarterly.
00:56:56.18\00:56:57.65
And this is what it says, "Yes,
Daniel is miraculously saved,
00:56:57.68\00:57:01.38
his faithfulness
rewarded, evil punished.
00:57:01.42\00:57:03.85
God's honor and
power vindicated."
00:57:03.89\00:57:06.79
But what we see here
00:57:06.82\00:57:08.79
is a many example
of what will happen
00:57:08.82\00:57:11.49
on a universal scale.
00:57:11.53\00:57:13.46
God's people delivered,
00:57:13.50\00:57:15.90
evil punished and
the Lord vindicated
00:57:15.93\00:57:18.80
before the cosmos.
00:57:18.83\00:57:20.17
Amen. Wow, what a story.
00:57:20.20\00:57:21.77
We have just been blessed.
Have we not been blessed?
00:57:21.80\00:57:24.01
Praise the Lord. Yeah.
00:57:24.04\00:57:25.37
You know, I'm a
pastor, I like amens,
00:57:25.41\00:57:26.74
can we get an amen?
00:57:26.78\00:57:28.11
Amen.
00:57:28.14\00:57:29.48
Daniel has so much
more to unfold to us
00:57:29.51\00:57:31.55
and since I covered
the topic on jealousy,
00:57:31.58\00:57:33.85
ponder this thought.
00:57:33.88\00:57:35.22
I modified it some but it says,
00:57:35.25\00:57:36.65
jealousy is the
dragon in paradise,
00:57:36.69\00:57:39.89
the darkness in light, and
the most bitter of emotions
00:57:39.92\00:57:43.53
in the sweetest
of circumstances.
00:57:43.56\00:57:45.76
We pray that the Lord
will remove any jealousy
00:57:45.79\00:57:48.20
from your heart.
00:57:48.23\00:57:49.56
Join us next time,
00:57:49.60\00:57:50.93
from the stormy sea
to the clouds of heaven,
00:57:50.97\00:57:53.50
God bless you.
00:57:53.54\00:57:55.04