1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:16,100 Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. 2 00:00:16,100 --> 00:00:22,720 To get connected or to give online, go to hcv.church or give.htv.church. 3 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:26,960 If at any point during this message you feel called to make a change in your life, text 4 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,400 change me to 970-00. 5 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:32,280 Thank you and enjoy the message. 6 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:37,240 If you're joining us from home online, thank you for welcoming us into your home. 7 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:40,040 We're so glad that you're tuning in. 8 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:48,520 Mark Twain said, few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example. 9 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:51,680 Let me read that again. 10 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:58,200 Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example. 11 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:05,320 See each of us, all of us gathered here this morning and online, we're either a good example 12 00:01:05,320 --> 00:01:07,360 or a bad. 13 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:09,520 It's not one or the other, right? 14 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:10,960 It's good or bad. 15 00:01:10,960 --> 00:01:13,720 You can't have both. 16 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:16,480 And I want to challenge you this morning. 17 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:20,580 What is your example to others today? 18 00:01:20,580 --> 00:01:24,320 Your family, your friends, your coworkers, your classmates. 19 00:01:24,320 --> 00:01:33,120 Because see, I think a lot of people in church today, they pretend to be something on Sundays 20 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:37,560 and then through the week they happen to be something different. 21 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:41,560 Almost as if they're putting on a show or playing a game. 22 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:46,800 But if you're in a relationship with Jesus, it's not about just reading the Bible, it's 23 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:49,920 about applying the Bible to your life. 24 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:55,080 It's about seeing the scriptures become a part of who you are. 25 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:57,880 Because see, people are going to watch you. 26 00:01:57,880 --> 00:01:59,280 They're going to look at how you live. 27 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,320 They're going to see how you treat your family. 28 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:05,280 They're going to see how you interact with others on your job. 29 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:09,720 They'll look at how you function as a follower of Jesus. 30 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:13,220 And believe it or not, there's people within our culture that are going to evaluate God 31 00:02:13,220 --> 00:02:16,760 based on your decisions. 32 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:23,040 There's going to be people within our culture that evaluate God based on your words and 33 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:28,600 how they see you interact with others. 34 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:33,560 Integrity is very, very important. 35 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:38,200 Being an example to others is probably one of the most important things you'll ever do 36 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,840 in your life. 37 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:43,120 Paul wrote this to the church in Corinth. 38 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:48,560 The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourself. 39 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:52,120 Your lives are a letter written in your hearts. 40 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:56,480 Everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. 41 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:58,800 Second Corinthians 3 2. 42 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:03,200 Paul wrote this in Philippians 2. 43 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,720 Work hard to show the results of your salvation. 44 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:11,120 Obeying God with deep reverence and fear, for God is working in you, giving you the desire 45 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:13,720 and the power to do what pleases him. 46 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:18,320 Do everything without complaining or arguing so that no one can criticize you. 47 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:22,860 Live clean innocent lives as children of God shining bright lights in a world full of crooked 48 00:03:22,860 --> 00:03:25,800 and perverse people. 49 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:29,200 It's a challenge for all of us, friends. 50 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:33,580 But Paul is saying to the church, hey, I love you. 51 00:03:33,580 --> 00:03:36,480 I wanted to be with you, but I'm in prison. 52 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:38,400 I couldn't be there. 53 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:40,040 And he was admonishing them. 54 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:45,480 Don't compromise yourself spiritually just because I'm not there watching. 55 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:49,480 But be an example of Jesus to the world. 56 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:52,720 You know, and I share all of this this morning because we're kicking off a new series for 57 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:54,440 the month of May. 58 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:57,960 We're going to go into the book of Daniel and we're going to look at godly living in 59 00:03:57,960 --> 00:03:59,560 an ungodly culture. 60 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:03,360 If you do not know, Daniel is in the Old Testament. 61 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:05,920 It's a part of the major prophets. 62 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:09,720 In the Old Testament, it's broken into different sections. 63 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:11,920 We had the major and the minor prophets. 64 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:12,920 And hear me out. 65 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:15,480 It's not that Daniel was more important than the minor prophets. 66 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:18,480 It's just that it was a larger book. 67 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:22,120 This book also includes the exile in the Babylon. 68 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:29,920 The exile was when the Jewish people lived roughly from 600 BC to 538 BC in Babylon. 69 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:30,920 They were in exile. 70 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:35,240 They were taken away from their homeland. 71 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:36,400 And why, you say? 72 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:37,400 How did that happen? 73 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:40,920 Well, for hundreds of years, the Jewish people were living in sin. 74 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:46,600 They refused to turn back to God, even though God was constantly challenging them to return 75 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:48,640 to him through the prophets. 76 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:50,520 So God allowed, that's right, he allowed. 77 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:56,300 And when you read Daniel this week, chapter one, you'll see that God allowed King Nebuchadnezzar, 78 00:04:56,300 --> 00:05:01,040 the king of Babylon, to conquer Jerusalem and all the people. 79 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:06,920 Babylon was located in modern day Iraq and was the dominant superpower of that time period, 80 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:09,400 much like the United States today. 81 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:13,360 The Jewish people were taken into captivity during three different evasions. 82 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:19,200 The first group of people taken into captivity were young men of nobility and influence. 83 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:21,380 Daniel in fact was part of this group. 84 00:05:21,380 --> 00:05:25,560 In the second invasion, the Babylonians took the influential people, the older people, 85 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:31,800 the communities, officers, soldiers, priests, the wealthy, the prophets. 86 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:35,520 In the third invasion, the remaining people were taken, except for the poor. 87 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:38,720 They were left behind because they had no influence. 88 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:43,800 And what I want you to see is the Babylonians, what were they attempting to do? 89 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:47,160 They were attempting cultural assimilation. 90 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:52,680 What they were doing is they were taking these young, influential young men of power, and 91 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:57,980 they were trying to indoctrinate them into the world of the Babylonians. 92 00:05:57,980 --> 00:06:02,480 They wanted the Babylonian culture to become a part of who they were so that they could 93 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:07,680 defeat the Jewish people from the inside out. 94 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:12,360 See the Babylonians were attacking their very identity. 95 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:17,640 And I just personally believe that this book, if you will, this series that we're doing, 96 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:19,800 applies greatly to us today. 97 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:25,760 Because see Babylonian culture was all about sensual pleasure, meaning the people focused 98 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:30,720 on whatever they wanted to do, whatever made them important as individuals. 99 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:34,760 There was no right or wrong, it was just whatever they felt. 100 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:38,520 It was the kind of just do it mentality. 101 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:40,440 They worshiped and believed whatever they wanted. 102 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:42,840 There was pluralism of gods. 103 00:06:42,840 --> 00:06:48,020 There was no absolute truth, which leads us to our first thought this morning as we kick 104 00:06:48,020 --> 00:06:49,520 off the book of Daniel. 105 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:53,760 See Jesus followers are considered exiles. 106 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:58,840 Now some of you may be sitting there, wait, how am I an exile, Chris? 107 00:06:58,840 --> 00:06:59,840 How is it? 108 00:06:59,840 --> 00:07:06,040 I was born here, I was raised here, I've grown up in this country, many of us in this tri-state 109 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:10,120 area, how can I be considered an exile? 110 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:15,560 Well, Peter addresses all those in a relationship with Jesus with these words in 1 Peter 1, 111 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:17,040 1 and 2, 11. 112 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:23,020 I am writing to God's chosen people who are living as foreigners. 113 00:07:23,020 --> 00:07:28,280 Another translation puts it exiles and then another says strangers. 114 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:33,960 Dear friends, I warn you as temporary residents and foreigners. 115 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:40,080 Paul writes in Philippians 3 20, but we are citizens of heaven where the Lord Jesus Christ 116 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:44,440 lives and we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our savior. 117 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:51,720 John 15 19, Jesus's word says the world would love you as one of its own if you belong to 118 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:54,720 it but you are not part of the world. 119 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:55,960 You're no longer part of that world. 120 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:59,640 I chose you to come out of the world so it hates you. 121 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:00,640 So what is Jesus saying? 122 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:05,400 He's saying you're no longer a part of the world, you know, you no longer identify with 123 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:08,840 it but I'm sending you to it. 124 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:13,000 Therefore if you're in a relationship with Jesus, you can relate to Daniel and his friends 125 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,720 when we read this in Daniel 1 3. 126 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:20,320 Then the king ordered Aspen as his chief of staff to bring to the palace some of the young 127 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:26,240 men of Judas royal family and other noble families who had been brought to Babylon as 128 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:28,160 captives. 129 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:33,040 So if it is true, if you're in a relationship with Jesus morning and you're in exile, you're 130 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:34,800 no longer living in this world. 131 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:40,840 How do we live a countercultural life when culture tells us that everything we believe 132 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:42,880 is wrong? 133 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:46,280 If our culture says that Jesus is teaching there, they're not true. 134 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:48,560 There is no one absolute truth. 135 00:08:48,560 --> 00:08:54,760 How do we live that in a culture and bring change which leads us to our next thought? 136 00:08:54,760 --> 00:09:00,040 See exiles should influence culture positively. 137 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:02,560 Exiles should influence culture positively. 138 00:09:02,560 --> 00:09:08,320 See when Daniel was taken into captivity, he was around 14 or 15 years of age. 139 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:12,600 Nebuchadnezzar of course was focusing on the younger generation because they were of a 140 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:17,120 teachable age, meaning they can learn something new. 141 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:22,360 Right, quite often what happens with older generations is that people become set in their 142 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:28,160 ways and it makes it very difficult for people to change and accept new beliefs. 143 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:32,520 While the younger generations, they embrace change and a new outlook. 144 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:37,480 For example, let's just take our culture and the technology that is now rapidly spreading 145 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:39,980 throughout our culture. 146 00:09:39,980 --> 00:09:45,360 My 15 month old Phoenix can operate an iPhone. 147 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:46,600 I'm not making that up. 148 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:47,760 He can pick it up. 149 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:49,000 He knows how to open it up. 150 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:53,120 He knows what buttons to push and you think, well, how, how does he do this? 151 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:56,640 Because I even think that myself is because he learns from us. 152 00:09:56,640 --> 00:10:01,840 He sees his brothers and his sisters and his moms and his dads and everybody around him. 153 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:02,840 What are they playing with? 154 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:05,160 Their phones. 155 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:09,920 So he's able to quickly identify, oh, this must be important. 156 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:14,320 I need to learn what it is and how to use it. 157 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:18,780 To remember these young men, Daniel was 14 or 15 years old. 158 00:10:18,780 --> 00:10:26,440 He was brought into the king's court and listen, it means that he was not living a bad life. 159 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:32,600 See quite often, if you're like me, when I hear captivity or exile or captive, what do 160 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:33,600 you think? 161 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:38,480 You think someone is chained up or locked away or put in prison or living this difficult 162 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:45,360 life when in reality these young men were living a life of privilege. 163 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:49,240 They had privileges more than any of us probably have ever experienced. 164 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:52,760 For example, they were given an education. 165 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:56,420 Babylon was the education capital of the world at this time. 166 00:10:56,420 --> 00:11:02,240 The schools that they would attend were much compared to our Harvard or Yale and they would 167 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:09,200 be learning literature and technology, history, language, but focusing on Babylonian culture. 168 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:14,760 After three years of this education, the young men would then serve in the king's court and 169 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:17,880 this was considered an honor and a privilege. 170 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:23,200 So not only were they educated, not only were they getting promoted, but they had the privilege 171 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:26,480 of eating at the king's table. 172 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:29,920 And friends, please understand this was choice meats, choice vegetables. 173 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:36,560 Okay, if you've ever been on a cruise ship, think dinner buffet on a cruise ship, the 174 00:11:36,560 --> 00:11:38,040 best of the best. 175 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:42,760 So these men, they're being immersed in Babylonian culture. 176 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:48,120 Now there were some Jewish people, there were some of the Jews that were exiles that refused 177 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:51,240 to move into Babylon and become a part of the culture. 178 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:56,080 They actually separated away from the city, away from the people and they wouldn't engage 179 00:11:56,080 --> 00:12:02,440 and that was based on a prophecy from Hananiah that we read about in Jeremiah 20 and 11 and 180 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:08,040 it says this, Hananiah spoke in the sight of the people saying, this is what the Lord 181 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:09,560 says. 182 00:12:09,560 --> 00:12:14,320 Even so within two full years, I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon 183 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:16,900 from the neck of all the nations. 184 00:12:16,900 --> 00:12:22,040 So there was this prophet named Hananiah that was speaking to the Jewish people and he was 185 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:25,880 saying that God would set them free in two years. 186 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:28,740 Don't worry about your captivity, God will set you free. 187 00:12:28,740 --> 00:12:33,720 Don't engage in the culture, don't get around the people, God's gonna break you out. 188 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:36,160 Just don't interact, separate. 189 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:42,200 Jeremiah the prophet, he heard this prophecy and he has this response, a very important 190 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:46,920 response in Jeremiah 29 verses four through seven. 191 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:51,600 This is what the Lord of heaven's armies, the God of Israel says to all the captives, 192 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:55,680 he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem. 193 00:12:55,680 --> 00:12:58,600 Build homes and plan to stay. 194 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:01,960 Plant gardens and eat the food they produce. 195 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:03,720 Marry and have children. 196 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:08,240 Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. 197 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:14,440 Multiply, do not do in dual way and work for the peace and prosperity of the city where 198 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:16,840 I sent you into exile. 199 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:21,800 Pray to the Lord for it for its welfare will determine your welfare. 200 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:22,800 Interesting. 201 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:30,640 So, so you have a false prophecy saying separate, don't engage in culture. 202 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:34,680 Be distinctly the opposite, but then you hear the prophecy from God. 203 00:13:34,680 --> 00:13:38,720 This was God telling the people, no, engage. 204 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:41,720 Don't separate, don't isolate, don't avoid. 205 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:43,680 In fact, engage. 206 00:13:43,680 --> 00:13:47,520 Be a part of the culture, live within the culture, multiply. 207 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,520 And then he even says, pray for the city. 208 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:57,560 It says pray for Babylon because when it prospers, you will prosper. 209 00:13:57,560 --> 00:13:59,560 Is that how we live? 210 00:13:59,560 --> 00:14:03,640 I mean, let's be honest. 211 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:08,120 The term Christian can't even be used in the United States because of all the derogatory 212 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:10,480 thoughts that people have about that word. 213 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:11,720 Oh, you're a Christian. 214 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:13,240 Oh, you're no good. 215 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:14,240 You hate others. 216 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:15,800 You judge others. 217 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:18,320 You won't accept people, right? 218 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:22,680 When in reality, if people hear that I'm a follower of Jesus, they should say, well, 219 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:24,880 I need to go to you for advice. 220 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:26,440 I need to go for you to be accepted. 221 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:29,760 I need to go to you as an example of how to live my life. 222 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:31,760 It's the complete opposite of what we read here. 223 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:37,080 It's because quite often Christians separate from society rather than engage in it. 224 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:43,000 When in reality, if we're going to bring positive change, we're called to engage. 225 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:49,160 We're called to be in part of the world, of the culture, of the city, of the job that 226 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:51,480 God has called us to. 227 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:53,880 But we don't assimilate. 228 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:56,560 We engage, but we don't assimilate. 229 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:57,560 What's the difference? 230 00:14:57,560 --> 00:15:02,200 When we engage, we don't allow culture to change what we believe. 231 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:05,520 We don't allow culture to dictate how we think. 232 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:12,040 We base who we are on who God says we are. 233 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:14,160 Which leads us to our next thought. 234 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:20,400 So we have to guard because culture attacks a person's identity. 235 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:24,640 Culture attacks a person's identity. 236 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:27,320 This happens by trying to rename a person. 237 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:28,640 And let's be honest. 238 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:30,200 We all know the name is very important. 239 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:34,520 In fact, it's the first thing that you ask a person when you're getting to know someone. 240 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:35,520 Right? 241 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:40,540 A name provides more than an identification, more than a meaning. 242 00:15:40,540 --> 00:15:44,080 The name is who the person is. 243 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:45,640 I mean, think about it. 244 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:50,480 When a woman chooses to get married, she will take on the new last name. 245 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:56,680 She is saying that my life is going to be better with this man that I am choosing to 246 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:57,680 marry. 247 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:03,580 So if you're, stop, if you're currently dating someone and your life is not currently getting 248 00:16:03,580 --> 00:16:09,640 better than what you currently were when you were alone, maybe that's a sign you shouldn't 249 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:12,160 marry them. 250 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:13,840 Your life is supposed to get better. 251 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:14,840 Okay? 252 00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:16,320 Improve. 253 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:22,000 And you know, in fact, that it's a labor of love if you take on the last name of Schlatterbeck. 254 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:25,120 I mean, just think about that. 255 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:27,280 That's a labor of love. 256 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:32,200 I mean, for the first 10 years, Jess fought with me about shortening it to just back. 257 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:33,640 Can we just change it, please? 258 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:37,840 She said, no, you chose to get married, therefore we're keeping it. 259 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:42,760 So just pause and think about the name that you were given at birth. 260 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:44,880 There's meaning to that name. 261 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:47,000 My name is Christopher. 262 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:49,240 Christopher means Christ follower. 263 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:54,640 In fact, it's kind of interesting, when I used to travel and fly, my plane ticket literally 264 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:56,600 would say Christ Schlatterbeck. 265 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:57,600 See? 266 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:02,520 So it's, comes in handy to have a long last name. 267 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:07,840 When the plane speaks of my identity, right? 268 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:08,840 So let's go back to Daniel. 269 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:16,100 In Daniel 1, 6 through 7, we have Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 270 00:17:16,100 --> 00:17:20,640 These were the four young men that were chosen from the tribe of Judah. 271 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:22,560 Let's look at the meanings. 272 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:25,920 Daniel means God is my judge. 273 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:29,960 Hananiah means Yahweh is gracious. 274 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:37,560 Mishael is who is what God is, and Azariah means Yahweh has helped. 275 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:39,880 I mean, all powerful names. 276 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:41,640 And what do those names speak to? 277 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:42,960 They speak to the Hebrew God. 278 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:45,260 They speak to the true God. 279 00:17:45,260 --> 00:17:50,480 The Babylonians, they attempt to remove God from their names. 280 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:52,400 Continuing on in Daniel. 281 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:56,640 The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names. 282 00:17:56,640 --> 00:18:04,720 Mishael was called Belteshazzar, Hananiah was called Shadrach, Mishael was called Meshach, 283 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:07,160 and Azariah was called Abednego. 284 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:10,160 Now, notice the meanings. 285 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:16,080 Belteshazzar meant Baal will protect his life. 286 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:19,760 Shadrach meant command of Aku. 287 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:28,600 Meshach means who is what Aku is, and Abednego meant servant of Nebo. 288 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:30,720 All Babylonian gods. 289 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:31,720 And what is it? 290 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:35,360 Those gods went directly against their birth names. 291 00:18:35,360 --> 00:18:41,440 Now, what I want you to notice is these men, they didn't complain. 292 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:45,760 They didn't argue that their names were being changed. 293 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:47,760 And I want us all to hear this. 294 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:53,240 It's not what a person calls you, it's what you answer to. 295 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:56,480 It's not what a person calls you, it's what you answer to. 296 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:59,300 It's not what culture calls you or defines you. 297 00:18:59,300 --> 00:19:01,840 It's not what the bully called you in school. 298 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:05,980 It's not what your parents or a teacher or a coach said about you. 299 00:19:05,980 --> 00:19:08,900 It's not what the enemy calls you. 300 00:19:08,900 --> 00:19:11,640 It's what you answer to. 301 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:15,160 See, Proverbs 23 7 says, 302 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:20,160 For as he thinks within himself, so he is. 303 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:23,880 See, the question this morning is 304 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:25,900 what do you believe about yourself? 305 00:19:26,860 --> 00:19:28,760 What do you believe about yourself? 306 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,880 Do you have God's view of you written on your heart? 307 00:19:37,120 --> 00:19:39,080 See, that's what's most important. 308 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:43,100 Jesus calls you friend, forgiven, loved, redeemed, 309 00:19:43,100 --> 00:19:46,160 bold, confident, fearless, strong, free, unique, 310 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:50,180 chosen, co-heirs, conquerors. 311 00:19:50,180 --> 00:19:52,360 Is that how you live your life? 312 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:55,720 Ephesians chapter two, verses four through six says, 313 00:19:55,720 --> 00:20:00,400 but God, so rich in mercy, he loves you so much 314 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:04,000 that even though we are dead, because of our sins, dead, 315 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:08,560 he gave us life when he raised Jesus from the dead. 316 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:11,360 It is only by God's grace that you have been saved. 317 00:20:11,360 --> 00:20:13,720 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ 318 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:15,240 and seated us with him. 319 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:18,120 Now notice, seated with him in the heavenly realms 320 00:20:18,120 --> 00:20:20,000 because we are united with Christ. 321 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:23,800 See, God gave us a new life, therefore you are living 322 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:25,600 this new kingdom life. 323 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:29,320 So this morning, take a self-assessment. 324 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:35,040 Think about what you do daily, how you live your life. 325 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:37,620 Think about your daily choices, your daily actions. 326 00:20:37,620 --> 00:20:39,200 Does it reflect Jesus? 327 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:44,200 Do other people see these positive qualities 328 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:45,600 coming out in your life? 329 00:20:46,820 --> 00:20:49,720 Or do you just simply fit into the crowd? 330 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:51,880 Do you just simply go along with the culture? 331 00:20:53,340 --> 00:20:56,920 I mean, if you're a young woman, do not allow 332 00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:00,880 the latest TikTok fashion trends to influence 333 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:03,380 or compromise your dress. 334 00:21:03,380 --> 00:21:05,040 Just being honest. 335 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:09,840 All that is saying is you're trying to get attention 336 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:14,240 from a young man and that attention means nothing. 337 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:18,760 If you're a young man, are you living for acceptance 338 00:21:18,760 --> 00:21:21,400 and applause of people or friends? 339 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:24,200 You know, you're frantically worried about, 340 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:26,680 oh, I gotta make more money, I gotta gain more influence. 341 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:31,680 I wanna be defined as successful by society standards. 342 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:33,680 Friends, they're all just lies. 343 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:38,760 We have to base our success off of God's standards. 344 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:44,640 We can't allow our culture to influence our identity 345 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:48,480 as sons and daughters of God, as co-heirs. 346 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:50,920 I mean, think about what that means, co-heirs. 347 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:53,120 The Bible says that we're co-heirs with Jesus. 348 00:21:53,120 --> 00:21:56,880 That means we have all of God's blessings. 349 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:59,880 Which leads us to our next thought. 350 00:21:59,880 --> 00:22:02,200 Culture just doesn't attack your identity. 351 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:04,840 Culture attacks a person's appetite. 352 00:22:06,120 --> 00:22:08,160 Look at Daniel 1, 5 and 8. 353 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:11,320 The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine 354 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:14,920 from his own kitchens, but Daniel was determined 355 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:17,640 not to defile himself by eating the food and wine 356 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:19,400 given to them by the king. 357 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:21,800 He asked the chief of staff for permission 358 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:24,680 not to eat these things, but to eat them. 359 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:27,320 The chief of staff for permission not to eat 360 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:29,680 these unacceptable foods. 361 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:33,880 See, foods at the king's table would have compromised 362 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:35,640 Jewish customs and laws. 363 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:36,920 Why? 364 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:41,920 Because choice meat in Babylon was either pork or horse flesh. 365 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:47,120 According to Jewish customs, that was hooved animals, 366 00:22:47,120 --> 00:22:51,240 and they couldn't eat or they would be considered unclean. 367 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:53,560 Also in Babylon, the way the food was prepared, 368 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:56,640 the food was fully drained of blood, 369 00:22:56,640 --> 00:23:00,480 because quite often when they were serving the king's dinner, 370 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:04,880 they would first sacrifice the animal to the Babylonian gods, 371 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:07,600 drain the blood, before the drain blood was fully drained, 372 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:11,800 they would then cook it and serve it to the king. 373 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:18,560 Again, this is going against Jewish law and customs. 374 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:20,840 But what do we see Daniel doing? 375 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:23,120 He lives with conviction. 376 00:23:23,120 --> 00:23:26,160 He was trying to erode his convictions 377 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:28,440 because it would erode his behavior. 378 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:30,800 It would compromise who he was. 379 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:33,320 I mean, think about it, it could have been real easy 380 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:36,120 for Daniel and his friends just to give in and eat. 381 00:23:36,120 --> 00:23:39,440 I mean, they were hundreds of miles from home. 382 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:42,000 They were the first group of people taken into exile. 383 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:43,960 No one was watching. 384 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:45,120 No one would have seen it. 385 00:23:45,120 --> 00:23:48,200 It was perfectly acceptable within culture, 386 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:50,760 but yet he didn't. 387 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:52,600 I mean, think about it, Daniel, 388 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:55,320 he had every right to be mad at God. 389 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:57,600 I can't believe you allowed me to be taken into exile, 390 00:23:57,600 --> 00:24:00,280 into captivity, why am I in this land? 391 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:04,280 Well, I'm not believing in you anymore, God, I'm eating. 392 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:06,880 And in both those instances, 393 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:09,080 isn't it true that the same can happen to us? 394 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:12,200 It could be at work, it could be at school. 395 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:14,240 Oh, no one knows I'll go to church. 396 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:16,160 I only go to church on Sunday. 397 00:24:17,360 --> 00:24:20,360 No one knows that I'm a Jesus follower that I believe in. 398 00:24:20,360 --> 00:24:24,200 I can laugh at that joke, I can make fun of that person. 399 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:26,400 I can watch that video. 400 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:28,720 I can overindulge in that beverage, 401 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:31,480 that food, no one will ever know. 402 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:35,200 Well, let's be honest, you could be mad at God. 403 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:37,840 You could be here this morning, you're just mad at God. 404 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:39,600 A prayer was an answer. 405 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:41,400 There was a death in the family. 406 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:44,880 There's an illness, there's a pain from your past. 407 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:46,840 And you're mad at God. 408 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:48,840 You're mad at God. 409 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:52,920 And you're angry at God. 410 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:55,280 And you just give in, you compromise. 411 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:57,840 You're not worried about your integrity. 412 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:00,200 You're not worried about influencing others. 413 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:03,840 You're not worried about being a good example to our culture. 414 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:07,760 Look at 1 Peter 2, 11 again. 415 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:10,480 Dear friends, I warn you as temporary residents 416 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:14,920 and foreigners, keep away from worldly desires 417 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:18,000 and wage war against your very souls. 418 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:19,280 See, here's the reality. 419 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:23,000 If you are a person of principle, 420 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:25,480 if you live with conviction, 421 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:27,360 everyday decisions become easy. 422 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:31,600 But see, so many people struggle with decisions 423 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:33,800 because they don't live with principles. 424 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:37,480 They don't allow the Bible to dictate for them how to live 425 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:39,760 because they don't open and read it. 426 00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:41,920 And therefore it's really easy 427 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:44,840 to give in to these cultural temptations 428 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:48,960 because you begin to believe lies about yourself, 429 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:51,480 which leads us to our next thought. 430 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:55,560 See, God's favor rests on people of integrity. 431 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:57,760 God's favor rests on people of integrity, 432 00:25:57,760 --> 00:25:59,880 Daniel 1, 9 through 21. 433 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:04,520 Now God had given the chief of staff 434 00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:07,840 both respect and affection for Daniel. 435 00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:11,280 So Daniel goes to the chief of staff and says, 436 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:13,360 please test us for 10 days 437 00:26:13,360 --> 00:26:16,240 on a diet of vegetables and water. 438 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:17,840 Daniel said at the end of the 10 days, 439 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:20,520 see how we look compared to the other young men 440 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:22,720 who were in eating the king's food, 441 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:26,080 then make your decision in light of what you see. 442 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:29,680 Now notice Daniel, he did not demand his own way. 443 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:31,320 He did not put his foot down. 444 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:32,480 This is what it's gonna be. 445 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:34,560 I'm not eating that food. 446 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:36,160 You can kill me if you want. 447 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:37,000 I'll be a martyr. 448 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:39,040 He didn't say any of that. 449 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:42,240 He trusted God and his principles. 450 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:45,360 In fact, he didn't even have to argue his point. 451 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:48,480 All he said was, give me 10 days. 452 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:54,440 Give me 10 days and let's see which way is the right way, 453 00:26:54,440 --> 00:26:57,440 the Babylonian gods or my God. 454 00:26:58,520 --> 00:27:00,920 Continuing on in Daniel. 455 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:02,000 At the end of the 10 days, 456 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:05,000 Daniel and his three friends looked healthier 457 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:06,560 and better nourished than the young man 458 00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:09,760 who had been eating the food assigned by the king. 459 00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:13,040 God gave these four young men an unusual appetite 460 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:16,040 for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. 461 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:18,040 And God gave Daniel the special ability 462 00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:20,960 to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams. 463 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:22,440 Truth. 464 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:24,840 When we walk with godly principles, 465 00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:27,080 when we walk with truth and convictions, 466 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:30,040 God's favorite is evident in our lives. 467 00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:36,440 These men were healthier, wiser, 468 00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:37,920 and more importantly, 469 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:40,720 they had a connection with God unlike any other. 470 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:44,560 Daniel was able to interpret the dreams of the king. 471 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:48,640 Continuing on. 472 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:50,560 Whenever the king consulted them in any matter 473 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:53,280 requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, 474 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:55,200 he found them, these four men, 475 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:58,240 10 times more capable than any of the magicians 476 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:00,320 and enchanters in his entire kingdom. 477 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:01,960 Daniel remained in the royal service 478 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:06,160 until his first year of the reign of King Cyrus. 479 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:08,840 Notice the king, Nebuchadnezzar, 480 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:12,640 would come to them for advice, for guidance. 481 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:17,120 He knew that these men believed in the Hebrew God, 482 00:28:17,120 --> 00:28:20,400 however, he went to them for guidance and advice. 483 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:21,400 What did this do? 484 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:24,480 It opened up opportunities for them 485 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:26,520 to share about God's goodness, 486 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:29,960 understanding, is that how we live our lives? 487 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:33,880 And notice this just wasn't at the beginning 488 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:36,120 of Daniel's exile. 489 00:28:36,120 --> 00:28:38,480 Daniel was 14 or 15 years old 490 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:40,880 when he was taken into exile. 491 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:43,520 When Daniel left exile, 492 00:28:43,520 --> 00:28:46,360 it was with four kings later, 493 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:49,280 Nebuchadnezzar, Balthasar, Darius, 494 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:51,200 and then it said Cyrus. 495 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:56,440 Daniel held a prominent position through four kings. 496 00:28:56,440 --> 00:29:00,240 He left Babylon somewhere in his 80s. 497 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:03,680 Daniel honored God and what happened, 498 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:06,280 God's favor rested on him. 499 00:29:06,280 --> 00:29:08,880 And I want to challenge you this morning. 500 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:11,800 Are you living a life of integrity? 501 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:14,800 Are you living a life of principle? 502 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:18,920 Because when we do, God's favor rests on us. 503 00:29:18,920 --> 00:29:20,760 We are called to engage our culture, 504 00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:24,200 not separate from it, not run from it, engage it. 505 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:26,600 But we engage it with conviction and principle. 506 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:29,400 We don't engage it with argumentative attitudes 507 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:31,240 and negativity. 508 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:35,040 We engage it with God's Spirit empowering us 509 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:37,000 to live a Spirit-filled life, 510 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:40,960 seeing meaning and hope released into other people, 511 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:43,080 seeing signs, wonders, and miracles released 512 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:47,920 into other people through our relationship with him. 513 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:52,120 So let's look at four steps to daily living with integrity. 514 00:29:52,120 --> 00:29:53,600 First one's this. 515 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:55,760 Just make better choices. 516 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:58,360 Look at Matthew 7, 13 through 15. 517 00:29:58,360 --> 00:30:02,240 We can enter God's kingdom only through the narrow gate. 518 00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:05,480 The highway to hell is broad and its gate is wide 519 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:07,720 for many who choose that way. 520 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:10,840 But the gateway to life is very narrow 521 00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:15,200 and the road is difficult and only a few ever find it. 522 00:30:15,200 --> 00:30:16,880 Here's the reality. 523 00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:20,460 Every day, we make hundreds of decisions, 524 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:24,640 but we only remember a few. 525 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:26,480 A few. 526 00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:28,520 Every day, we make hundreds of decisions, 527 00:30:28,520 --> 00:30:30,800 but we only remember the big ones. 528 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:34,200 The small ones are the insignificant ones. 529 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:35,800 You know what happens? 530 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:37,160 They go on autopilot. 531 00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:40,840 They don't get our full attention. 532 00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:42,920 We don't pray about it. 533 00:30:42,920 --> 00:30:46,040 We just live our life. 534 00:30:46,040 --> 00:30:47,960 But see, my challenge to you this morning is 535 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:51,440 what if those smaller decisions become just as important 536 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:53,160 as the major ones? 537 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:55,600 What if those smaller decisions, 538 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:58,880 whether to eat that food, drink that drink, 539 00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:02,080 say that word, argue that point, 540 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:08,120 flip that person off, right? 541 00:31:08,120 --> 00:31:12,320 What if they got just as much attention 542 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:14,400 as that relationship you need to have? 543 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:18,360 That new job that's a must. 544 00:31:19,280 --> 00:31:20,720 I've gotta relocate. 545 00:31:20,720 --> 00:31:23,640 I've gotta find the right school. 546 00:31:23,640 --> 00:31:27,680 Major decisions, oh, we talk to God, 547 00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:29,640 you know, come on, God. 548 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:34,240 But those minor ones, we control. 549 00:31:35,680 --> 00:31:37,440 I wanna challenge you this morning. 550 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:44,280 Allow the vision for your life to change. 551 00:31:44,280 --> 00:31:45,680 See, if our vision for our life 552 00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:47,920 is focusing on God's kingdom, 553 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:51,840 then every decision we make will become important. 554 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:54,560 Every decision we make will become important 555 00:31:54,560 --> 00:31:58,000 because we realize that we're an example to others 556 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:01,160 everywhere we go, with every word we speak, 557 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:04,800 with every smile we share, 558 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:06,440 with every action that is done. 559 00:32:07,480 --> 00:32:09,160 Daniel 1, five and eight, 560 00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:11,960 the king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine 561 00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:12,880 from his own kitchens, 562 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:15,440 but Daniel was determined not to defy himself 563 00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:18,040 by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. 564 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:20,640 He asked the chief of staff of permission 565 00:32:20,640 --> 00:32:23,040 not to eat the unacceptable foods. 566 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:26,440 Proverbs 16, nine, we can make our plans, 567 00:32:26,440 --> 00:32:28,240 but the Lord determines our steps. 568 00:32:30,520 --> 00:32:35,520 Life is not a set and forget process. 569 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:38,280 It's not an autopilot. 570 00:32:38,280 --> 00:32:42,120 Life, daily life has got to be a connection with the spirit. 571 00:32:42,120 --> 00:32:44,240 We have to constantly be reminding ourselves 572 00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:47,000 of our values, our purpose and our goals. 573 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:48,040 And I want to challenge you today, 574 00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:50,120 let's be a people where every decision we make 575 00:32:50,120 --> 00:32:51,840 is a decision for the kingdom, 576 00:32:52,760 --> 00:32:55,160 which leads us to our next step. 577 00:32:55,160 --> 00:32:58,000 You got to develop some positive habits. 578 00:32:58,000 --> 00:33:00,640 Listen, when we read Daniel 1, five and eight, 579 00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:04,240 all that food piled before him, right? 580 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:07,880 It was the best buffet he has ever seen, 581 00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:10,440 but he would not defile himself. 582 00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:13,720 That was because he established positive habits 583 00:33:13,720 --> 00:33:17,800 within his life because he was focused on eating food 584 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:21,320 that would bring life to his body. 585 00:33:21,320 --> 00:33:22,920 And I want to challenge, it's not just food, 586 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:25,320 it's a lifestyle, right? 587 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:27,040 It's not just about the food we eat. 588 00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:29,280 That's not the focus of this talk. 589 00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:31,680 It's about healthy habits in life. 590 00:33:31,680 --> 00:33:33,800 For example, if you're a person, 591 00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:36,600 it's always known as one that is running late. 592 00:33:37,840 --> 00:33:39,400 I know that's not anyone here. 593 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:44,400 It may not be a problem for you, right? 594 00:33:45,640 --> 00:33:48,600 You may be okay with it, you're just always a little late, 595 00:33:50,160 --> 00:33:52,000 but it impacts others, true or false. 596 00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:56,840 And see, what we need to do is, 597 00:33:56,840 --> 00:33:59,720 we need to identify bad habits. 598 00:33:59,720 --> 00:34:02,840 Then one by one, begin to change them. 599 00:34:02,840 --> 00:34:04,680 It's interesting, I looked up real quick, 600 00:34:04,680 --> 00:34:09,680 I said, just did a quick Google search, American bad habits. 601 00:34:09,760 --> 00:34:14,480 This popped up, six bad habits that Americans do daily 602 00:34:14,480 --> 00:34:17,800 that are spreading like wildfire across the world. 603 00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:19,600 You ready to hear them? 604 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:24,600 Eat too much fast food, watch way too much TV, 605 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:30,040 spend hours on social media, skip lunch, overwork, 606 00:34:30,040 --> 00:34:35,040 and spend too much money on wants rather than needs. 607 00:34:37,320 --> 00:34:41,240 Question, is that a good example to the rest of the world? 608 00:34:42,800 --> 00:34:45,320 That's what our influence is right now 609 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:47,920 currently within the culture. 610 00:34:47,920 --> 00:34:50,120 Those six things are spreading like wildfire 611 00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:51,400 around the world. 612 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:54,600 And I wanna challenge you, be a person that's different. 613 00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:59,600 What you need to do, and what I was challenged to do 614 00:34:59,800 --> 00:35:03,760 this week, write down some bad habits, maybe 10. 615 00:35:03,760 --> 00:35:04,880 We all have them. 616 00:35:05,880 --> 00:35:10,000 Write them down, and then put an arrow over that says, 617 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:13,120 this is a good habit that will change that bad habit. 618 00:35:13,120 --> 00:35:16,800 And then begin to focus on one at a time, 619 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:20,000 and don't go off of one until it's completely changed 620 00:35:20,000 --> 00:35:21,400 for the positive. 621 00:35:21,400 --> 00:35:23,800 And then suddenly, you'll begin to change 622 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:26,960 and then suddenly, you'll begin to see yourself 623 00:35:26,960 --> 00:35:29,760 becoming a person of character and principle. 624 00:35:29,760 --> 00:35:31,680 Philippians 4, 8 through 9. 625 00:35:31,680 --> 00:35:33,480 Dear brothers and sisters, one final thing, 626 00:35:33,480 --> 00:35:35,440 fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, 627 00:35:35,440 --> 00:35:37,680 pure, lovely, and honorable. 628 00:35:37,680 --> 00:35:39,800 Think about those things. 629 00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:43,480 Think about them that are excellent, worthy of praise, 630 00:35:43,480 --> 00:35:45,440 keep putting into practice all you have learned 631 00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:47,480 and received from me, everything you heard from me 632 00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:51,280 and saw me doing, then the God of peace will be with you. 633 00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:52,680 See, that's integrity. 634 00:35:52,680 --> 00:35:57,360 Next, we have to learn to keep your agreements. 635 00:35:58,240 --> 00:36:01,880 Every day, we make agreements both with ourself 636 00:36:01,880 --> 00:36:03,360 and with others. 637 00:36:03,360 --> 00:36:05,840 And if you're anything like me, we live these busy lives 638 00:36:05,840 --> 00:36:09,560 and we're intent to keeping every agreement that we make. 639 00:36:09,560 --> 00:36:12,880 Let's be honest, we break several every day, true or false. 640 00:36:13,960 --> 00:36:15,480 Because if we don't break them with others, 641 00:36:15,480 --> 00:36:17,040 we break them with ourselves. 642 00:36:17,040 --> 00:36:19,640 If we break them with ourselves, does that make sense? 643 00:36:19,640 --> 00:36:23,960 It's this counter-tutive thing where we tear ourselves down. 644 00:36:23,960 --> 00:36:27,360 We erode ourselves because we don't keep our agreements. 645 00:36:28,360 --> 00:36:29,560 What did Daniel do? 646 00:36:29,560 --> 00:36:31,200 He kept his agreement. 647 00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:35,320 Daniel 1, 12 through 15, test me. 648 00:36:35,320 --> 00:36:38,160 Allow me to eat vegetables and water. 649 00:36:38,160 --> 00:36:42,520 Let me look at my life at the end of those 10 days. 650 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:43,680 And what did they see? 651 00:36:43,680 --> 00:36:45,480 What did they find? 652 00:36:45,480 --> 00:36:48,200 Those men were better nourished. 653 00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:50,800 They'd eaten better, I mean they were better. 654 00:36:52,000 --> 00:36:56,560 See, when we focus on not keeping our commitments 655 00:36:56,560 --> 00:37:00,680 with others, then our word becomes null and void. 656 00:37:01,840 --> 00:37:04,680 People don't trust us, they don't accept us. 657 00:37:05,680 --> 00:37:08,480 If you say you're gonna do something, do it. 658 00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:12,920 Be true to it, otherwise you're just lying. 659 00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:14,120 And then there's so many people, 660 00:37:14,120 --> 00:37:15,920 then they'll justify their actions. 661 00:37:15,920 --> 00:37:16,760 Well, I was late. 662 00:37:16,760 --> 00:37:20,120 I didn't show up because, well, yeah, I committed to that, 663 00:37:20,120 --> 00:37:21,520 but this came up. 664 00:37:21,520 --> 00:37:23,000 That's an excuse. 665 00:37:24,080 --> 00:37:25,760 That's all it is. 666 00:37:25,760 --> 00:37:27,320 An excuse, what's an excuse? 667 00:37:27,320 --> 00:37:29,880 It's a lie, it's a sin. 668 00:37:29,880 --> 00:37:32,240 And thus it separates us from God. 669 00:37:33,440 --> 00:37:37,480 We need to become a people that keep our agreements. 670 00:37:37,480 --> 00:37:40,480 And even more importantly, it's just as true 671 00:37:40,480 --> 00:37:42,560 as the agreements you make with yourself. 672 00:37:43,400 --> 00:37:46,320 If you're gonna start a diet and get healthier, 673 00:37:46,320 --> 00:37:48,240 stick with it. 674 00:37:48,240 --> 00:37:50,280 Don't justify your actions by saying, 675 00:37:50,280 --> 00:37:53,160 well, I like bread every once in a while. 676 00:37:54,040 --> 00:37:57,320 Like we always make excuses for the things that we like 677 00:37:57,320 --> 00:37:59,200 and those things aren't good for us. 678 00:38:00,480 --> 00:38:03,560 And if we wanna be a people of principle and purpose, 679 00:38:03,560 --> 00:38:06,320 stay committed to the agreements 680 00:38:06,320 --> 00:38:08,360 that you make with yourself and with God. 681 00:38:09,400 --> 00:38:10,840 Proverbs 11.3. 682 00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:15,960 Honesty, God's good people. 683 00:38:15,960 --> 00:38:18,720 Dishonesty destroys treacherous people, 684 00:38:20,920 --> 00:38:22,560 which leads us to our final step. 685 00:38:23,840 --> 00:38:25,320 You gotta raise others up. 686 00:38:26,200 --> 00:38:28,520 Stop thinking about yourselves. 687 00:38:28,520 --> 00:38:31,240 Daniel 1, 20 to 21, whenever the king insulted them 688 00:38:31,240 --> 00:38:34,120 in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, 689 00:38:34,120 --> 00:38:36,280 he found them 10 times more capable 690 00:38:36,280 --> 00:38:38,600 than any magicians and chanters in the entire kingdom. 691 00:38:38,600 --> 00:38:40,720 Daniel remained in the world's service 692 00:38:40,720 --> 00:38:45,160 until his first year of the reign of King Cyrus. 693 00:38:45,160 --> 00:38:46,640 Daniel, what did he do? 694 00:38:46,640 --> 00:38:50,320 He was in captivity, he was in hostage, he was a prisoner. 695 00:38:50,320 --> 00:38:55,040 He lifted up the king that was holding him captive. 696 00:38:56,440 --> 00:38:58,600 He spoke life into him. 697 00:38:59,840 --> 00:39:03,840 But yet so often within our culture, we get mad at it. 698 00:39:03,840 --> 00:39:06,720 We get mad at our president, we get mad at our government, 699 00:39:06,720 --> 00:39:10,400 we get mad at the other church, we get mad. 700 00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:12,160 You know, we get mad at everybody 701 00:39:12,160 --> 00:39:15,160 because it doesn't line up with us. 702 00:39:15,160 --> 00:39:19,720 In my ways, in my ones, and it's gotta be about God 703 00:39:19,720 --> 00:39:21,840 and what God wants and what God wants us 704 00:39:21,840 --> 00:39:24,880 to bring life to others, Hebrews 10, 24. 705 00:39:24,880 --> 00:39:27,280 Let us think of ways to motivate one another 706 00:39:27,280 --> 00:39:29,120 to acts of love and good works. 707 00:39:29,120 --> 00:39:31,560 1 Thessalonians 5, 11, encourage each other 708 00:39:31,560 --> 00:39:34,320 and build each other up just as you're already doing. 709 00:39:35,800 --> 00:39:40,400 Integrity, the meaning of life, 710 00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:43,400 is about building others up. 711 00:39:43,400 --> 00:39:47,320 Integrity is not just about you keeping to yourself 712 00:39:47,320 --> 00:39:49,200 and holding these convictions and these principles, 713 00:39:49,200 --> 00:39:51,680 it's about bringing that into other people. 714 00:39:51,680 --> 00:39:54,240 I mean, Jesus told us he came to serve. 715 00:39:56,640 --> 00:39:57,880 Who are you serving? 716 00:39:59,240 --> 00:40:00,080 Right? 717 00:40:00,080 --> 00:40:07,320 See, I mean, let's be honest. 718 00:40:13,480 --> 00:40:18,480 No one cares about your daily Facebook and Instagram posts. 719 00:40:20,280 --> 00:40:22,720 Just being honest, no one cares 720 00:40:24,160 --> 00:40:25,560 because it's just a show. 721 00:40:25,560 --> 00:40:30,560 What matters is what you're doing with other people. 722 00:40:30,560 --> 00:40:31,800 That's all that matters. 723 00:40:32,680 --> 00:40:36,840 We need to become a people where we're in the world, 724 00:40:36,840 --> 00:40:38,960 living in the world with our culture 725 00:40:38,960 --> 00:40:40,600 and lifting those people up 726 00:40:42,640 --> 00:40:45,040 because that's what God calls his people to do. 727 00:40:45,040 --> 00:40:52,040 Come, Holy Spirit. 728 00:40:52,040 --> 00:40:55,240 God, I'm just thankful for each and every person here. 729 00:40:57,760 --> 00:41:01,640 I'm thankful for the truth that we find in your word. 730 00:41:05,360 --> 00:41:07,440 God, I just speak this truth 731 00:41:07,440 --> 00:41:10,240 in each and every one of us this morning, God. 732 00:41:10,240 --> 00:41:15,440 God, I just speak this truth in each and every one of us this morning, God. 733 00:41:21,640 --> 00:41:22,640 Yes, God. 734 00:41:22,640 --> 00:41:29,640 Holy Spirit, come. 735 00:41:29,640 --> 00:41:34,640 Yes, Lord. 736 00:41:34,640 --> 00:41:41,640 So I just want to pray for anybody this morning. 737 00:41:41,640 --> 00:41:56,640 As I was sharing these words, you just sensed that you were compromising. 738 00:41:56,640 --> 00:41:57,640 It doesn't matter what it was. 739 00:41:57,640 --> 00:41:59,640 I'm not going to ask you what it was. 740 00:41:59,640 --> 00:42:01,640 But you're here this morning and you felt, 741 00:42:01,640 --> 00:42:05,640 and I'm just compromising there and there and there. 742 00:42:05,640 --> 00:42:08,640 It's almost as if God was holding you up. 743 00:42:08,640 --> 00:42:11,640 And there, it's almost as if God was highlighting 744 00:42:11,640 --> 00:42:13,640 these little areas of compromise in your life. 745 00:42:15,640 --> 00:42:17,640 And he's saying, come home. 746 00:42:18,640 --> 00:42:21,640 Saying, stop compromising because that compromise 747 00:42:21,640 --> 00:42:25,640 is a way to walk away from God, not towards him. 748 00:42:33,640 --> 00:42:35,640 Yes, God. 749 00:42:35,640 --> 00:42:37,640 So if there's anybody here this morning, 750 00:42:37,640 --> 00:42:38,640 just go to a place of prayer. 751 00:42:38,640 --> 00:42:40,640 I don't want to point anybody out. 752 00:42:40,640 --> 00:42:44,640 Anybody here this morning, you felt, yeah, Chris, I'm compromising. 753 00:42:44,640 --> 00:42:45,640 There's this area in my life I'm compromising. 754 00:42:45,640 --> 00:42:47,640 So you just slip your hand out. 755 00:42:47,640 --> 00:42:51,640 Come, Holy Spirit. 756 00:42:51,640 --> 00:42:55,640 Yes, God. 757 00:42:55,640 --> 00:42:59,640 Just identify areas, God, where we compromise, 758 00:42:59,640 --> 00:43:03,640 where it just chips away at our integrity. 759 00:43:03,640 --> 00:43:07,640 Yes, God. 760 00:43:07,640 --> 00:43:08,640 Now just go before him. 761 00:43:08,640 --> 00:43:11,640 Just go before him right now and say, just God, forgive me. 762 00:43:11,640 --> 00:43:13,640 That's all it is. 763 00:43:13,640 --> 00:43:15,640 You know, whatever it may be, forgive me for that lie. 764 00:43:15,640 --> 00:43:16,640 Forgive me for stealing. 765 00:43:16,640 --> 00:43:20,640 Forgive me for looking at that. 766 00:43:20,640 --> 00:43:22,640 Whatever it may be, just say that. 767 00:43:22,640 --> 00:43:28,640 Hey, God, forgive me. 768 00:43:28,640 --> 00:43:33,640 Have a conversation with Jesus. 769 00:43:33,640 --> 00:43:36,640 Thank you, Lord. 770 00:43:36,640 --> 00:43:40,640 Come, Holy Spirit. 771 00:43:40,640 --> 00:43:42,640 Change us, God. 772 00:43:42,640 --> 00:43:46,640 Yes, Lord. 773 00:43:46,640 --> 00:43:50,640 Yes, Lord. 774 00:43:50,640 --> 00:43:53,640 Come, Holy Spirit. 775 00:43:53,640 --> 00:43:55,640 Yes, God. 776 00:43:55,640 --> 00:43:58,640 You know, you heard Rhett share during our worship song there 777 00:43:58,640 --> 00:44:04,640 that his love is pursuing your heart this morning. 778 00:44:04,640 --> 00:44:06,640 You know, and I was going to blow by this this morning, 779 00:44:06,640 --> 00:44:08,640 but I remember two weeks ago when I shared 780 00:44:08,640 --> 00:44:18,640 that I made a commitment to God that I was going to do this every Sunday. 781 00:44:18,640 --> 00:44:19,640 The Holy Spirit comes. 782 00:44:19,640 --> 00:44:22,640 If there's anybody here, no one looking around, 783 00:44:22,640 --> 00:44:26,640 no one going to your own place. 784 00:44:26,640 --> 00:44:35,640 There's anybody here that says, yes, Chris, I need to just accept that love. 785 00:44:35,640 --> 00:44:38,640 I need to come into that relationship with Jesus this morning. 786 00:44:38,640 --> 00:44:40,640 I've been compromising. 787 00:44:40,640 --> 00:44:41,640 I've walked away from God. 788 00:44:41,640 --> 00:44:46,640 Maybe you knew him when you were younger. 789 00:44:46,640 --> 00:44:49,640 If there's anybody here that just needs to experience that love this morning, 790 00:44:49,640 --> 00:44:52,640 no one looking around, just slip your hands up. 791 00:44:52,640 --> 00:44:57,640 Just slip your hand up real high. 792 00:44:57,640 --> 00:44:59,640 Yes, God. 793 00:44:59,640 --> 00:45:02,640 Yes, God. 794 00:45:02,640 --> 00:45:04,640 So there's several hands raised around the room. 795 00:45:04,640 --> 00:45:05,640 We all pray this together here. 796 00:45:05,640 --> 00:45:07,640 We're a family. 797 00:45:07,640 --> 00:45:12,640 We all pray the prayer with each and every individual that has their hands raised. 798 00:45:12,640 --> 00:45:16,640 Jesus, forgive me. 799 00:45:16,640 --> 00:45:19,640 I'm a broken person. 800 00:45:19,640 --> 00:45:22,640 I want to experience your love. 801 00:45:22,640 --> 00:45:25,640 I've walked away from you. 802 00:45:25,640 --> 00:45:28,640 I've made bad choices. 803 00:45:28,640 --> 00:45:31,640 I have sin in my life. 804 00:45:31,640 --> 00:45:37,640 But I want to experience your new life. 805 00:45:37,640 --> 00:45:39,640 I receive you. 806 00:45:39,640 --> 00:45:42,640 I believe in you. 807 00:45:42,640 --> 00:45:48,640 So, please, heal me now with your Holy Spirit in Jesus' name. 808 00:45:48,640 --> 00:45:50,640 Amen. 809 00:45:50,640 --> 00:45:53,640 Now, listen, if you prayed that prayer, I saw a couple of hands raised. 810 00:45:53,640 --> 00:45:57,640 If you prayed that prayer, I need you to take out your phone. 811 00:45:57,640 --> 00:45:59,640 It's okay. 812 00:45:59,640 --> 00:46:03,640 And text changeme to 9700. 813 00:46:03,640 --> 00:46:07,640 And when you text changeme just right, I prayed that prayer. 814 00:46:07,640 --> 00:46:09,640 And you say, well, why would I do that, Chris? 815 00:46:09,640 --> 00:46:11,640 Because I need to follow up and pray with you this week. 816 00:46:11,640 --> 00:46:16,640 I need to call you and give you some next steps. 817 00:46:16,640 --> 00:46:20,640 Next steps, like for some of you, start with why today. 818 00:46:20,640 --> 00:46:22,640 You say, well, Chris, what's start with why? 819 00:46:22,640 --> 00:46:29,640 Start with why is just an introduction to HTV and how God wants to use you to change our community. 820 00:46:29,640 --> 00:46:33,640 Like, if you're looking for ways to change your community, partner with us. 821 00:46:33,640 --> 00:46:38,640 Meet Rudy at the Welcome Hub right after this, 20, 30 minutes. 822 00:46:38,640 --> 00:46:42,640 And become a part of what God's doing here in our community of faith. 823 00:46:42,640 --> 00:46:46,640 It's very important that you plug in. 824 00:46:46,640 --> 00:46:49,640 Now, let's all stand together. 825 00:46:49,640 --> 00:46:52,640 It's interesting how I want to close. 826 00:46:52,640 --> 00:46:57,640 How I want to close, actually, I did a memorial service this past Wednesday. 827 00:46:57,640 --> 00:46:59,640 And we played this song that we're about to sing. 828 00:46:59,640 --> 00:47:01,640 And I was sitting right in that seat. 829 00:47:01,640 --> 00:47:07,640 And I literally began to weep because of the words that we're about to sing. 830 00:47:07,640 --> 00:47:13,640 And I believe that God challenged me that you need to sing these words over yourself this morning. 831 00:47:13,640 --> 00:47:15,640 Can you do that? 832 00:47:15,640 --> 00:47:20,640 Because this song is about who you are if you're in a relationship with Jesus. 833 00:47:20,640 --> 00:47:23,640 You are chosen. 834 00:47:23,640 --> 00:47:26,640 You are loved. You are forgiven. 835 00:47:26,640 --> 00:47:38,640 So as we sing together, just sing out and experience the identity that God has for you. 836 00:47:56,640 --> 00:47:58,640 .