1 00:00:03,420 --> 00:00:10,050 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Good morning church. We just finished up a 2 00:00:10,130 --> 00:00:14,570 Speaker 1: series on Acts and we're about to jump into 30 3 00:00:14,570 --> 00:00:18,620 Speaker 1: weeks on the book of Romans. Side note, start reading it, 4 00:00:18,910 --> 00:00:22,270 Speaker 1: start studying it, start listening to it. A young man 5 00:00:22,329 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: asked me recently, he said, what three books should I read? 6 00:00:24,700 --> 00:00:29,660 Speaker 1: I said, my advice is Genesis, Gospel of John, and Romans. 7 00:00:31,010 --> 00:00:33,590 Speaker 1: Now this morning, before we jump into Romans, we're going 8 00:00:33,610 --> 00:00:35,690 Speaker 1: to take a look at one of the most beloved 9 00:00:36,390 --> 00:00:41,530 Speaker 1: Old Testament figures. But before doing so, I've got a 10 00:00:41,590 --> 00:00:46,190 Speaker 1: question for you. What are the principles that you most 11 00:00:46,370 --> 00:00:51,330 Speaker 1: deeply live by? Suffice you to pull out a sheet 12 00:00:51,350 --> 00:00:53,700 Speaker 1: of paper or your phone and write down the principles 13 00:00:54,350 --> 00:00:59,770 Speaker 1: that shape your relationships, your spiritual life, your job. What 14 00:00:59,790 --> 00:01:02,250 Speaker 1: would they be? Could you turn to a neighbor? And 15 00:01:02,270 --> 00:01:04,250 Speaker 1: by the way, I won't have you turn to a neighbor. 16 00:01:05,190 --> 00:01:11,390 Speaker 1: And all the introverts said, amen. Could you say, here's 17 00:01:11,430 --> 00:01:16,270 Speaker 1: the principles that are most important to me. One of 18 00:01:16,290 --> 00:01:19,450 Speaker 1: the gifts that my father gave to me was to 19 00:01:19,610 --> 00:01:23,230 Speaker 1: think through my principles and then through the power of 20 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:26,820 Speaker 1: the Holy Spirit and other believers, try to live by 21 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:30,860 Speaker 1: those principles. So he had thought through what his principles 22 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:37,050 Speaker 1: were for parenting, for finances, for ministry, for learning the scripture, 23 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:40,430 Speaker 1: his marriage, etc. And years ago, I don't know why 24 00:01:40,470 --> 00:01:42,949 Speaker 1: this story popped into my mind, but probably 25 years ago, 25 00:01:45,590 --> 00:01:47,430 Speaker 1: I had a chance to go with my mom and 26 00:01:47,450 --> 00:01:52,250 Speaker 1: my dad and my wife to Russia in January. Maybe 27 00:01:52,290 --> 00:01:56,410 Speaker 1: I shouldn't say chance to go in January. But we went. 28 00:01:56,430 --> 00:02:00,060 Speaker 1: It was beautiful. And it was a three-day pastor's conference. Now, 29 00:02:00,090 --> 00:02:01,860 Speaker 1: one of the principles my dad had thought through in 30 00:02:01,900 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 1: his life is he's had a lot of success. And 31 00:02:04,260 --> 00:02:08,180 Speaker 1: when you have success, people want to treat you differently 32 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: and better sometimes than others. One of the things that 33 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:12,820 Speaker 1: my father would say to me is he said, I 34 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,820 Speaker 1: don't want people to treat me differently. We all have 35 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:17,459 Speaker 1: a gift. We're all made in the image of God. 36 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:20,220 Speaker 1: Don't treat me better was a principle he tried to 37 00:02:20,260 --> 00:02:23,500 Speaker 1: live by. So we show up in Russia. It's freezing. 38 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:25,919 Speaker 1: And I'll never forget as we're pulling up, our host 39 00:02:25,940 --> 00:02:27,260 Speaker 1: came out and he said, look, we have all the 40 00:02:27,300 --> 00:02:30,700 Speaker 1: pastors staying over here. But for you, Josh, we have 41 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:36,820 Speaker 1: these really special accommodations. And without any hesitation. My dad said, 42 00:02:36,900 --> 00:02:40,179 Speaker 1: thank you for wanting to treat me well, but I 43 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 1: have a principle that I want to be treated differently 44 00:02:42,300 --> 00:02:45,380 Speaker 1: than other people. Can you please put me with the 45 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:50,930 Speaker 1: pastors over there? No hesitation. Why? Because that was a 46 00:02:50,970 --> 00:02:54,889 Speaker 1: principle he had thought through. See, the reality is the 47 00:02:54,910 --> 00:03:00,940 Speaker 1: decisions you make tomorrow are shaped by the principles you 48 00:03:00,980 --> 00:03:06,380 Speaker 1: choose today. The decisions you and I make tomorrow are 49 00:03:06,450 --> 00:03:12,290 Speaker 1: shaped by the principles we develop today. Now, the person 50 00:03:12,310 --> 00:03:14,970 Speaker 1: we're going to look at is the person of Daniel, 51 00:03:15,630 --> 00:03:22,380 Speaker 1: who is a person of principles. Daniel rooted his identity 52 00:03:23,139 --> 00:03:25,859 Speaker 1: in the character of God and what God said about him. 53 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:31,389 Speaker 1: And he brought those principles to Babylon, right? That's why 54 00:03:31,430 --> 00:03:34,790 Speaker 1: he could stand up when tempted and pressured in such 55 00:03:34,830 --> 00:03:38,450 Speaker 1: a powerful way, because he had cultivated and thought through 56 00:03:39,250 --> 00:03:43,150 Speaker 1: what those principles were. You see, you don't develop convictions 57 00:03:43,220 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: in Babylon. You bring them into Babylon. You don't develop 58 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:54,290 Speaker 1: convictions in Babylon. You bring them into Babylon. Now, I 59 00:03:54,310 --> 00:03:56,690 Speaker 1: remember when I was in high school, this story popped 60 00:03:56,730 --> 00:03:58,350 Speaker 1: into my mind. I'm going to use a few stories 61 00:03:58,380 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: to motivate students because we have a lot of high 62 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 1: school and college students who will, like Daniel, be stepping 63 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:07,380 Speaker 1: into a very different situation. The question will be, how 64 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:11,900 Speaker 1: do I faithfully follow Jesus in a different place? So 65 00:04:11,940 --> 00:04:14,690 Speaker 1: I thought back when I was, I think, 90, 91. 66 00:04:14,690 --> 00:04:19,190 Speaker 1: Do you remember when Magic Johnson came down with HIV? 67 00:04:19,250 --> 00:04:22,710 Speaker 1: How many of you remember that announcement? Now, Magic Johnson 68 00:04:22,810 --> 00:04:25,950 Speaker 1: is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. 69 00:04:26,550 --> 00:04:28,230 Speaker 1: And I was sitting in my room in Julian, grew 70 00:04:28,250 --> 00:04:30,890 Speaker 1: up in the mountains of San Diego, listening. Probably the 71 00:04:30,940 --> 00:04:35,300 Speaker 1: radio station was either B100 or 91X, if I remember. 72 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:39,660 Speaker 1: And what came across is they said, we have an announcement. 73 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:43,710 Speaker 1: The great basketball player, Magic Johnson, has HIV. Now, if 74 00:04:43,730 --> 00:04:45,870 Speaker 1: you're 40 and under and somebody says, tell me about 75 00:04:45,890 --> 00:04:50,510 Speaker 1: the pandemic, you say the pandemic was... This is the 76 00:04:50,570 --> 00:04:53,860 Speaker 1: participatory part of the program. It was COVID, right? If 77 00:04:54,330 --> 00:04:59,979 Speaker 1: you're 40 plus, the pandemic was HIV, the AIDS virus. Well, 78 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:01,600 Speaker 1: I'm sitting in my room and I hear this and 79 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 1: I was stunned. I thought, I'm not going to get 80 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:05,779 Speaker 1: to see him play basketball anymore. And how could this 81 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:09,430 Speaker 1: happen to Magic? He's like the nicest guy ever. Well, 82 00:05:09,450 --> 00:05:11,050 Speaker 1: I didn't know this at the time, but it turns out, 83 00:05:11,089 --> 00:05:15,720 Speaker 1: let's just say his lifestyle caught up to him. But 84 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: shortly after this, I remember some young adults got the 85 00:05:19,020 --> 00:05:21,510 Speaker 1: idea that they wanted to help young people, which at 86 00:05:21,570 --> 00:05:25,990 Speaker 1: that time included me, Gen X, avoid the mistakes that 87 00:05:26,010 --> 00:05:29,390 Speaker 1: Magic Johnson made. So they had a tape that they 88 00:05:29,410 --> 00:05:31,410 Speaker 1: gave to people with a list of questions you would 89 00:05:31,490 --> 00:05:34,970 Speaker 1: ask somebody before you would sleep with somebody. Now, if 90 00:05:34,990 --> 00:05:37,570 Speaker 1: you want to avoid what happened to Magic Johnson, probably 91 00:05:37,589 --> 00:05:40,630 Speaker 1: good question to ask. Like, have you slept with somebody 92 00:05:40,670 --> 00:05:44,070 Speaker 1: else in the past six months? Have you taken intravenous drugs? 93 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: But when I heard about this, I remember thinking, how 94 00:05:47,580 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 1: realistic is this? Is this really going to help young 95 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:54,380 Speaker 1: people in the heat of the moment say, you know what? 96 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:58,020 Speaker 1: I just want to be responsible. Let me take out 97 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:00,900 Speaker 1: my note and ask you some questions. It doesn't work 98 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:05,940 Speaker 1: that way. See, if we don't develop convictions before the 99 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:11,450 Speaker 1: temptation or challenge or Babylon comes, we're likely going to 100 00:06:11,490 --> 00:06:16,250 Speaker 1: make decisions that we regret. This is where Daniel steps 101 00:06:16,310 --> 00:06:19,930 Speaker 1: into the picture. In Daniel chapter 1, verses 1 through 8. 102 00:06:19,930 --> 00:06:22,250 Speaker 1: Not Daniel 1 through 8. I told someone recently that 103 00:06:22,270 --> 00:06:24,349 Speaker 1: they're like, you're preaching on 8 chapters? I was like, no, 104 00:06:24,350 --> 00:06:28,110 Speaker 1: 8 verses. Although last week, I'm pretty sure George preached 105 00:06:28,290 --> 00:06:32,049 Speaker 1: on eight chapters, if I'm not mistaken. So it's possible, 106 00:06:32,089 --> 00:06:36,030 Speaker 1: but we're going to look at eight verses. Daniel 1, 107 00:06:36,029 --> 00:06:38,950 Speaker 1: verse 1. It says, in the third year of the 108 00:06:38,990 --> 00:06:44,360 Speaker 1: reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, 109 00:06:44,390 --> 00:06:49,130 Speaker 1: came to Jerusalem and besieged it. Now, the larger story 110 00:06:49,210 --> 00:06:53,480 Speaker 1: is told in 2 Kings chapter 25. But what happens 111 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: is if you have Jerusalem, and this is like roughly 112 00:06:56,220 --> 00:06:59,779 Speaker 1: 6th century BC, which is not a very big city. 113 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:04,630 Speaker 1: It's not now, it wasn't then. And for two years, 114 00:07:05,330 --> 00:07:10,620 Speaker 1: Nebuchadnezzar and his army surrounded Jerusalem. Can you imagine being 115 00:07:10,650 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 1: in there, peering over the walls, seeing the most powerful, 116 00:07:14,180 --> 00:07:16,340 Speaker 1: or one of the most powerful armies in the world, 117 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: just waiting to starve you out? Well, they hit a famine, 118 00:07:22,420 --> 00:07:25,260 Speaker 1: and eventually there's a breach in the wall, and the 119 00:07:25,380 --> 00:07:28,380 Speaker 1: Israel king's men, they tried to flee, get away. The 120 00:07:28,420 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 1: Babylonians come in, and they destroy the city. They burn down, 121 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 1: destroy the temple. And actually, the king at that time, Nebuchadnezzar, 122 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:40,750 Speaker 1: took the last king of Israel... put his sons right 123 00:07:40,790 --> 00:07:44,980 Speaker 1: before him and slaughtered him. And then according to the text, 124 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:50,260 Speaker 1: gouged out his eyes and took him to Babylon. Now 125 00:07:50,460 --> 00:07:54,620 Speaker 1: killing his sons meant your reign is done. There's a 126 00:07:54,660 --> 00:07:57,770 Speaker 1: new king in town. And that was the last thing 127 00:07:57,790 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: he saw. Nebuchadnezzar was a ruthless king. You also got 128 00:08:05,660 --> 00:08:09,420 Speaker 1: to realize, this is probably the lowest point at this 129 00:08:09,580 --> 00:08:13,710 Speaker 1: point in the history of Israel. Now, why? Go back 130 00:08:13,710 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 1: 400 years earlier. And during the time of King Solomon, 131 00:08:17,340 --> 00:08:19,820 Speaker 1: they have so much wealth that people from around the 132 00:08:19,860 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 1: world are coming to see God's blessing and God's power 133 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:27,580 Speaker 1: and get wisdom from Solomon and there's peace in the land. Now, 134 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:33,300 Speaker 1: four centuries later, Assyria exiled Israel. Judah is exiled by Babylon. 135 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 1: Babylon is destroyed. And Jeremiah writes a book called Lamentations 136 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:44,150 Speaker 1: because they're lamenting the loss. This is where Daniel steps in. 137 00:08:44,170 --> 00:08:49,330 Speaker 1: In verse 2 it says... And the Lord gave Jehoiakim, 138 00:08:49,650 --> 00:08:53,170 Speaker 1: now the king of Judah, into his hand with some 139 00:08:53,190 --> 00:08:56,559 Speaker 1: of the vessels of the house of God. And he 140 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:58,900 Speaker 1: brought them to the land of Shinar, which, by the way, 141 00:08:58,980 --> 00:09:02,020 Speaker 1: is modern-day Iraq, to the house of his God and 142 00:09:02,059 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: placed them in the vessels of the treasury of his God. Now, 143 00:09:04,900 --> 00:09:08,540 Speaker 1: if you're paying close attention, the text just revealed something 144 00:09:08,610 --> 00:09:11,709 Speaker 1: else very important about Nebuchadnezzar, that he broke one of 145 00:09:11,730 --> 00:09:15,310 Speaker 1: the commandments. And the commandment he broke was number... I'm 146 00:09:15,330 --> 00:09:19,010 Speaker 1: just kidding. I know it's still summer. He actually broke 147 00:09:19,030 --> 00:09:25,590 Speaker 1: the number one commandments. Don't have any gods before me. Now, 148 00:09:25,809 --> 00:09:27,690 Speaker 1: as a kid, I remember hearing that, going, don't have 149 00:09:27,710 --> 00:09:29,969 Speaker 1: any gods before me. Does that mean there's other gods 150 00:09:30,050 --> 00:09:33,310 Speaker 1: and just make God number one? Like, that doesn't make sense. 151 00:09:34,010 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 1: That's not the point of it. It's saying, don't put 152 00:09:36,940 --> 00:09:41,099 Speaker 1: any other gods in my presence. Don't compare any other 153 00:09:41,140 --> 00:09:45,450 Speaker 1: gods to me. I alone am God. Isaiah 43.10, there 154 00:09:45,470 --> 00:09:48,130 Speaker 1: was no God formed before and there's no God formed after. 155 00:09:49,270 --> 00:09:54,190 Speaker 1: What did Nebuchadnezzar just do? He took vessels and treasuries 156 00:09:54,490 --> 00:09:56,449 Speaker 1: from the house of the one true God and did 157 00:09:56,470 --> 00:09:59,510 Speaker 1: what with them? He put them in the house of 158 00:09:59,550 --> 00:10:07,650 Speaker 1: the fall gods so not only is nebuchadnezzar ruthless he's 159 00:10:07,730 --> 00:10:12,550 Speaker 1: also godless but notice i don't want to miss this 160 00:10:12,610 --> 00:10:19,460 Speaker 1: before we keep going why did nebuchadnezzar defeat israel It's 161 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:23,540 Speaker 1: not because he was so militarily brilliant. It's not because 162 00:10:23,580 --> 00:10:27,750 Speaker 1: he was patient. It's not because they're so powerful. That's 163 00:10:27,780 --> 00:10:30,770 Speaker 1: not why they won. They won because verse 2 says, 164 00:10:30,990 --> 00:10:36,229 Speaker 1: and the Lord gave Jehoiakim, king of Judah, into his hand. 165 00:10:37,350 --> 00:10:42,689 Speaker 1: The only reason this happened is because God sovereignly allowed 166 00:10:42,770 --> 00:10:47,500 Speaker 1: it to happen. Now, I don't know why, always, probably 167 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 1: more often than not, I don't know why, God allows 168 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:55,300 Speaker 1: bad things to happen. But at this point, Nebuchadnezzar and 169 00:10:55,340 --> 00:11:01,350 Speaker 1: Babylon seemed unbeatable and undefeated. What we're told is God 170 00:11:01,390 --> 00:11:05,690 Speaker 1: is sovereign and he's in control and he's doing this 171 00:11:05,790 --> 00:11:10,230 Speaker 1: for a purpose. Will we trust him? You know what's 172 00:11:10,270 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 1: incredible about the story? you can still see the sovereignty 173 00:11:14,620 --> 00:11:18,630 Speaker 1: of the hand of God today in Babylon. Now, what 174 00:11:18,650 --> 00:11:23,910 Speaker 1: do I mean? Isaiah chapter 13 and Jeremiah chapter 50. 175 00:11:23,910 --> 00:11:27,490 Speaker 1: So Jeremiah is written right around, roughly around this time, 176 00:11:27,530 --> 00:11:30,050 Speaker 1: but shortly before the structure of Babylon. Isaiah is written 177 00:11:30,390 --> 00:11:36,420 Speaker 1: two centuries before, eighth century. Isaiah 13, Jeremiah 50 says this, 178 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 1: Babylon will be destroyed forever. It will never be rebuilt. 179 00:11:43,220 --> 00:11:48,530 Speaker 1: And jackals, owls, and hyenas will live there. Now, a 180 00:11:48,570 --> 00:11:52,330 Speaker 1: friend of mine is an archaeologist who lives in Jordan, 181 00:11:52,890 --> 00:11:56,330 Speaker 1: just east of Israel. Has an amazing YouTube channel called 182 00:11:56,470 --> 00:12:01,729 Speaker 1: Expedition Bible. He's an archaeologist. And he got permission from 183 00:12:01,770 --> 00:12:07,199 Speaker 1: the Iraqi government to go into ancient Babylon and do 184 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:11,060 Speaker 1: a documentary of what he saw. Now what's fascinating is 185 00:12:11,220 --> 00:12:13,540 Speaker 1: what did Isaiah 13 and Jeremiah 50 say? It'll be 186 00:12:13,580 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 1: destroyed and never be rebuilt. To this day, it's like 187 00:12:16,980 --> 00:12:21,660 Speaker 1: a graveyard. It's still never been rebuilt. In fact, Saddam 188 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:27,140 Speaker 1: Hussein's palace bumps right up against ancient Babylon. And he 189 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:31,860 Speaker 1: took photographs of, take a wild guess, what he recorded. Jackals, owls, 190 00:12:31,940 --> 00:12:37,329 Speaker 1: and hyenas living there to this day. Friends, God is sovereign. 191 00:12:37,929 --> 00:12:43,170 Speaker 1: Babylon seemed undefeated, but everybody seems undefeated who challenges the 192 00:12:43,270 --> 00:12:46,579 Speaker 1: one true God. And Daniel knew that, which is why 193 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:48,700 Speaker 1: we're going to see his boldness emerge in a minute 194 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:53,790 Speaker 1: when he stands up to Nebuchadnezzar. All right, verse 3. 195 00:12:53,790 --> 00:12:56,990 Speaker 1: It says, then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, 196 00:12:57,410 --> 00:13:00,089 Speaker 1: to bring some of the people of Israel, both of 197 00:13:00,130 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 1: the royal family and the nobility, youths without blemish of 198 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:06,740 Speaker 1: good appearance, skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding, learning, 199 00:13:06,780 --> 00:13:09,140 Speaker 1: competent to stand in the king's court, and to teach 200 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:14,510 Speaker 1: them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. Now, a eunuch, 201 00:13:14,750 --> 00:13:18,980 Speaker 1: quite obviously, was a castrated male, and a king would 202 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:20,979 Speaker 1: put a eunuch in charge of his harem because he 203 00:13:21,020 --> 00:13:24,640 Speaker 1: couldn't impregnate his harem. But this is his chief eunuch. 204 00:13:25,260 --> 00:13:29,580 Speaker 1: So here's Daniel, exiled in a foreign land, and he's 205 00:13:30,220 --> 00:13:33,970 Speaker 1: one person away from the king. So he has the 206 00:13:34,179 --> 00:13:36,809 Speaker 1: ear of the chief eunuch who now has the ear, 207 00:13:36,890 --> 00:13:40,330 Speaker 1: so to speak, of the king. Daniel is close to 208 00:13:40,370 --> 00:13:43,429 Speaker 1: the king in this. Now, I do find it fascinating 209 00:13:43,850 --> 00:13:49,380 Speaker 1: how differently Pharaoh treated Israel than how Nebuchadnezzar did. Pharaoh's 210 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:51,420 Speaker 1: approach was, we're going to put them in Goshen in 211 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 1: a different land. We're going to impress them, enslave them, 212 00:13:55,330 --> 00:13:59,010 Speaker 1: and use them as a resource. Nebuchadnezzar was a little 213 00:13:59,030 --> 00:14:02,510 Speaker 1: bit more like, let's assimilate them and let's find the 214 00:14:02,650 --> 00:14:06,790 Speaker 1: best of the best to serve in the king's court. 215 00:14:07,620 --> 00:14:10,440 Speaker 1: Very different model. And by the way, what's he looking for? 216 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:15,340 Speaker 1: It says basically those without blemish, good appearance, smart, brilliant, 217 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:17,500 Speaker 1: stand in king's court. In other words, the best of 218 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:23,310 Speaker 1: the best like Pastor Nate. I mean, honestly, he's fit. 219 00:14:23,510 --> 00:14:26,730 Speaker 1: He's got a full head of hair. He's smart. If 220 00:14:26,790 --> 00:14:30,250 Speaker 1: we get exiled to Babylon, they're taking him just for 221 00:14:30,270 --> 00:14:34,310 Speaker 1: the record. Now, kidding aside, here's Daniel in a foreign 222 00:14:34,330 --> 00:14:40,910 Speaker 1: land and he's being brought into the king's court. But 223 00:14:40,950 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: what's so interesting to me is what Daniel considers concerning 224 00:14:46,270 --> 00:14:51,050 Speaker 1: that he won't do and what doesn't concern Daniel. Daniel's 225 00:14:51,350 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 1: not concerned about the language and literature of this polytheistic 226 00:14:57,940 --> 00:15:02,580 Speaker 1: pagan nation. He's not concerned to learn that. At least 227 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:07,810 Speaker 1: he doesn't express that in the text. Why? I actually 228 00:15:07,890 --> 00:15:13,590 Speaker 1: think if we know God's word well, we know what 229 00:15:13,630 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 1: we believe and why we believe it. We're not afraid 230 00:15:17,220 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 1: or threatened by ideas that are contrary to God's word. 231 00:15:21,340 --> 00:15:26,610 Speaker 1: In fact, I think we actually invite it. So now 232 00:15:26,620 --> 00:15:29,850 Speaker 1: I'm full-time at Biola and Talbot, but for 21 years, 233 00:15:30,070 --> 00:15:33,270 Speaker 1: full-time and part-time, I was at Capistrano Valley Christian School, CVCS, 234 00:15:33,290 --> 00:15:36,970 Speaker 1: teaching Bible teaching. And maybe my second year teaching got 235 00:15:36,990 --> 00:15:38,210 Speaker 1: together with a friend of mine. I was like, we 236 00:15:38,230 --> 00:15:41,190 Speaker 1: got to take our students to the most godless, secular 237 00:15:41,230 --> 00:15:43,630 Speaker 1: place we can think of. We'll bring in atheists, agnostics, 238 00:15:43,690 --> 00:15:45,790 Speaker 1: talk to our students. So for years, we'd take our 239 00:15:45,830 --> 00:15:52,080 Speaker 1: students at CVCS to Berkeley. The first year we went, 240 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 1: over 20 years ago, I kid you not, there were 241 00:15:54,020 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 1: people living in trees. They were pro-choice, but they were 242 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:02,820 Speaker 1: living in trees so the trees would not get cut down. 243 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:07,550 Speaker 1: Our Southern Orange County students had like no context for this. 244 00:16:08,430 --> 00:16:14,100 Speaker 1: We brought in atheists, agnostics, Unitarian reverends to challenge our students. 245 00:16:14,580 --> 00:16:17,530 Speaker 1: I'm not afraid. Why? Because Christianity is true. And if 246 00:16:17,620 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: we know what we believe, we should invite conversations and 247 00:16:21,740 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: interaction with people who see the world differently. Daniel shows 248 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 1: no concern there. But here's the question for Daniel. And 249 00:16:29,940 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 1: it's the same kind of question you and I ask 250 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:35,300 Speaker 1: in different ways. The question is, how do I navigate 251 00:16:35,460 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 1: living in an environment that is unsympathetic to my beliefs? 252 00:16:42,980 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 1: How do we navigate living in a different environment... that 253 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:51,820 Speaker 1: is unsympathetic or in some ways against what we deeply believe. 254 00:16:53,020 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: And one of the key answers is building principles rooted 255 00:16:56,750 --> 00:17:00,770 Speaker 1: in the person and character of God. We see Daniel 256 00:17:00,790 --> 00:17:15,050 Speaker 1: do that. Let's turn to verse 5. It says, In 257 00:17:15,090 --> 00:17:20,330 Speaker 1: other words, for three years, they went to Babylon University. 258 00:17:21,550 --> 00:17:25,830 Speaker 1: For three years. To be taught a completely different way 259 00:17:26,710 --> 00:17:30,639 Speaker 1: of seeing the world. Now, don't miss how deeply they 260 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 1: would want to fit in. I mean, imagine, first off, 261 00:17:34,460 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 1: if you're Daniel's friend, you're thinking, wow, they selected us 262 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 1: to be in with the king. What's the pressure they're feeling? 263 00:17:41,020 --> 00:17:43,940 Speaker 1: If we do whatever the king says, we'll have security. 264 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:48,270 Speaker 1: We'll have a good reputation. We'll have education. We'll have food. 265 00:17:48,570 --> 00:17:53,890 Speaker 1: Our lives will be so much easier if we just 266 00:17:53,950 --> 00:17:59,930 Speaker 1: fit in and do whatever the king says. Now imagine 267 00:17:59,950 --> 00:18:03,070 Speaker 1: you're 16 years old, which might be the age that 268 00:18:03,109 --> 00:18:08,920 Speaker 1: Daniel roughly was. You've been taken from your family. Your 269 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:13,379 Speaker 1: city's been destroyed. You're standing before the most powerful king 270 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:18,980 Speaker 1: on the earth. Do you really think you'd refuse the 271 00:18:19,060 --> 00:18:25,780 Speaker 1: king's food? Now, all of us say yes, because all 272 00:18:25,820 --> 00:18:30,260 Speaker 1: of us are the heroes of our own stories. But 273 00:18:30,300 --> 00:18:34,879 Speaker 1: the question is, have we built principles like Daniel? Is 274 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:39,600 Speaker 1: our identity rooted in God? And are we willing to 275 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:45,449 Speaker 1: sacrifice something when push comes to shove, living faithfully as 276 00:18:45,510 --> 00:18:52,110 Speaker 1: a follower of God? Verse 6 says, Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, 277 00:18:52,150 --> 00:18:55,430 Speaker 1: and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. And the chief 278 00:18:55,470 --> 00:19:00,080 Speaker 1: of the eunuchs gave them names, Daniel, Shack, Rack, and Benny. 279 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:02,820 Speaker 1: If you don't know Shack, Rack, and Benny, you need 280 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:06,629 Speaker 1: to go back and watch an old episode of... Veggie tales, 281 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 1: says all the people who were tortured and raised on it. 282 00:19:12,220 --> 00:19:16,980 Speaker 1: Of course, the names are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Now 283 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:23,660 Speaker 1: notice what's happened with Daniel. They've changed Daniel's home. They've 284 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:30,350 Speaker 1: changed Daniel's education. They've changed his language. And now they've 285 00:19:30,530 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 1: even changed his name. But one thing they cannot change 286 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:42,609 Speaker 1: are the principles that Daniel brought with himself to Babylon. 287 00:19:44,570 --> 00:19:48,659 Speaker 1: And don't miss how significant a name change was. When 288 00:19:48,700 --> 00:19:55,940 Speaker 1: God gives a promise to Abram, changes his name to Abraham. Sarai, Sarah. 289 00:19:56,780 --> 00:20:03,730 Speaker 1: Jesus calls Peter a rock. Names mean something. But what's 290 00:20:03,810 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 1: so interesting to me here is is why is it 291 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 1: the food that trips up Daniel? Why can they change 292 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:14,870 Speaker 1: everything in his life, but all of a sudden the food, 293 00:20:14,910 --> 00:20:19,650 Speaker 1: he's like, time out, that's going too far. Well, that 294 00:20:19,690 --> 00:20:22,929 Speaker 1: brings us to verse 8, which by the way, one 295 00:20:22,950 --> 00:20:25,010 Speaker 1: of my favorite verses in the Bible that I think 296 00:20:25,050 --> 00:20:28,520 Speaker 1: is the heart of the book of Daniel. Why he 297 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:32,520 Speaker 1: could be a faithful steward through such pressure and temptation 298 00:20:32,660 --> 00:20:39,300 Speaker 1: in Babylon. Verse 8 says, but Daniel resolved that he 299 00:20:39,340 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 1: would not defile himself. By the way, what tense is resolved? 300 00:20:48,310 --> 00:20:52,450 Speaker 1: You're like, it's still summer. You're killing me, McDowell. Resolved 301 00:20:52,550 --> 00:20:57,930 Speaker 1: is past, isn't it? See, Daniel didn't bring his convictions 302 00:20:58,030 --> 00:21:01,010 Speaker 1: to Babylon. Daniel brought his convictions to Babylon. He did 303 00:21:01,050 --> 00:21:05,230 Speaker 1: not develop them there. Daniel resolved that he would not 304 00:21:05,270 --> 00:21:07,510 Speaker 1: defile himself with the king's food or with the wine 305 00:21:07,530 --> 00:21:10,169 Speaker 1: that he drank. Therefore, he asked the chief of the 306 00:21:10,230 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 1: eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. Now, what's 307 00:21:17,540 --> 00:21:21,119 Speaker 1: wrong with the food? When I was a kid and 308 00:21:21,140 --> 00:21:22,620 Speaker 1: I hear this story in Sunday school, I thought, well, 309 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:25,060 Speaker 1: the food was obviously sacrificed to idols. I just believed 310 00:21:25,100 --> 00:21:27,639 Speaker 1: that for years until I actually read the story. It 311 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:32,050 Speaker 1: doesn't say that. It doesn't say the food was sacrificed 312 00:21:32,070 --> 00:21:35,179 Speaker 1: to idols, right? Now, the other possibility is that the 313 00:21:35,270 --> 00:21:40,270 Speaker 1: food was non-kosher. And they had laws about what they 314 00:21:40,290 --> 00:21:43,430 Speaker 1: would eat, given the time of Moses, hundreds of years earlier. 315 00:21:44,050 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 1: But they're in Babylon, at least for a season, none 316 00:21:46,980 --> 00:21:49,100 Speaker 1: of the food is kosher, and they have to survive, 317 00:21:49,140 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 1: so I'm not sure if that's it. What hit me 318 00:21:52,460 --> 00:21:54,639 Speaker 1: as I was thinking this through, I think it's more 319 00:21:54,740 --> 00:22:02,139 Speaker 1: what food represents. I think... Food represents now that I 320 00:22:02,190 --> 00:22:07,920 Speaker 1: would be fully dependent upon the king. I think that's 321 00:22:07,940 --> 00:22:10,740 Speaker 1: what it represents. So imagine you have a pet and 322 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:13,859 Speaker 1: your pet relies upon you for everything. Your pet is 323 00:22:13,900 --> 00:22:18,050 Speaker 1: going to die unless you give it what? Food and water. 324 00:22:18,609 --> 00:22:21,710 Speaker 1: And it can literally eat from your hand. That's what 325 00:22:21,770 --> 00:22:25,440 Speaker 1: makes it a pet. I think maybe at this point, 326 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:28,420 Speaker 1: Daniel's like, you can change my name. We can change 327 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:32,090 Speaker 1: our language. You can change where I live, but I 328 00:22:32,150 --> 00:22:36,710 Speaker 1: will not eat the king's food because now the king 329 00:22:36,810 --> 00:22:44,149 Speaker 1: is literally sustaining me. That's going too far. Regardless of 330 00:22:44,170 --> 00:22:48,440 Speaker 1: the exact reason, Daniel had convictions and eating the king's 331 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:50,900 Speaker 1: food was going too far. Now, by the way, what 332 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:55,980 Speaker 1: could Nebuchadnezzar do? We already saw that he's A, ruthless, 333 00:22:56,530 --> 00:23:00,890 Speaker 1: and B, godless. He didn't fear the Lord. He could 334 00:23:01,290 --> 00:23:07,030 Speaker 1: end Daniel's life in a moment. But Daniel asked if 335 00:23:07,050 --> 00:23:10,350 Speaker 1: he could not defile himself. So let me ask you again. 336 00:23:11,609 --> 00:23:14,909 Speaker 1: What are the principles that you live by? Can you 337 00:23:14,930 --> 00:23:20,790 Speaker 1: write them down? Are they rooted in Scripture? What are 338 00:23:20,810 --> 00:23:24,060 Speaker 1: the hills you'll maybe compromise on? What are the hills 339 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:30,459 Speaker 1: you'll die on in terms of your faithfulness before the Lord? Now, 340 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 1: some of these are big questions. Some of these are 341 00:23:32,020 --> 00:23:34,700 Speaker 1: smaller questions. For me, a smaller one is I enjoy 342 00:23:34,780 --> 00:23:38,649 Speaker 1: using YouTube. To me, it's an amazing resource for two reasons. 343 00:23:38,910 --> 00:23:43,460 Speaker 1: Equip Christians and reach non-Christians. That's why I do it. 344 00:23:44,330 --> 00:23:46,270 Speaker 1: When I got into that space, I realized, oh, this 345 00:23:46,330 --> 00:23:50,659 Speaker 1: is like a Darwinian survival of the fittest for clicks 346 00:23:50,820 --> 00:23:55,660 Speaker 1: and views. And some people do anything. Clickbait to get views, 347 00:23:55,940 --> 00:23:59,300 Speaker 1: to get money, to build a platform. But that's not 348 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:02,230 Speaker 1: why I'm on it. So my principle is, and I'm 349 00:24:02,250 --> 00:24:06,389 Speaker 1: not saying I perfectly do this, to be appropriately provocative. Meaning, 350 00:24:06,450 --> 00:24:08,750 Speaker 1: you've got to provoke people to watch your stuff, but 351 00:24:08,790 --> 00:24:11,690 Speaker 1: how do you do it in a way that's appropriate? 352 00:24:12,619 --> 00:24:14,669 Speaker 1: And so when opportunities come along, like, oh, if I 353 00:24:14,710 --> 00:24:16,570 Speaker 1: attacked this person or if I did that, I'd get 354 00:24:16,590 --> 00:24:18,629 Speaker 1: a ton of views and I'd make money. It doesn't 355 00:24:18,730 --> 00:24:21,990 Speaker 1: draw me in because that's not my principle of why 356 00:24:22,010 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 1: I do it. What are the principles of your job? 357 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:31,020 Speaker 1: Principles of your marriage? Principles of living out faithfully your 358 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:37,119 Speaker 1: life in your neighborhood? What are those principles? Because think 359 00:24:37,140 --> 00:24:38,690 Speaker 1: about the way you cut a log. If you cut 360 00:24:38,730 --> 00:24:42,959 Speaker 1: a log, the way it comes out is what? It's 361 00:24:42,980 --> 00:24:46,770 Speaker 1: the way it goes in. That's the power of principles, 362 00:24:47,130 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 1: thinking through them ahead of time. So I want to 363 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:53,380 Speaker 1: close by telling you two stories. Two stories of people 364 00:24:53,420 --> 00:25:00,119 Speaker 1: who found themselves in unexpected situations, but who both brought 365 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:05,169 Speaker 1: with them convictions to that situation. One, it ended well. One, 366 00:25:05,190 --> 00:25:09,190 Speaker 1: it cost the person something. First one was a college 367 00:25:09,210 --> 00:25:11,609 Speaker 1: student by the name of Jana. Years ago at a 368 00:25:11,869 --> 00:25:15,689 Speaker 1: public university in our wonderful state, which will remain unnamed. 369 00:25:16,730 --> 00:25:19,500 Speaker 1: She was in a class, and one of the assignments 370 00:25:19,540 --> 00:25:24,300 Speaker 1: they got was to analyze pornography. To watch it and 371 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:28,680 Speaker 1: analyze it sociologically. As a Christian, she had issue with this. 372 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:31,340 Speaker 1: Call my dad, she's like, what do I do? She said, 373 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 1: ask the professor if he'll let you out. She's like, 374 00:25:33,300 --> 00:25:35,020 Speaker 1: can I get another assignment? He's like, nope, if you 375 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:37,820 Speaker 1: don't watch this, it'll affect your grade. Call my dad again, 376 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 1: she's like, what do I do? He's like, well, why 377 00:25:39,980 --> 00:25:43,359 Speaker 1: don't you propose to your teacher that he allow you to... 378 00:25:44,900 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 1: Write a paper and give a presentation why pornography is 379 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:50,100 Speaker 1: damaging to society and you should be allowed out of 380 00:25:50,140 --> 00:25:53,490 Speaker 1: this assignment. She went to the professor and he accepted. 381 00:25:53,510 --> 00:25:56,170 Speaker 1: Then she called my dad back and was like, now 382 00:25:56,210 --> 00:26:00,270 Speaker 1: what do I do? Gave her some content. She gave 383 00:26:00,330 --> 00:26:03,330 Speaker 1: her presentation before the class. And it was done what 384 00:26:03,369 --> 00:26:06,899 Speaker 1: she reported back. The teacher said, you know what? That 385 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:10,340 Speaker 1: was a compelling presentation. Not only do you not have 386 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 1: to do this assignment, anybody else who wants an alternate assignment, 387 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:15,720 Speaker 1: I will give you one. And according to this young 388 00:26:16,119 --> 00:26:17,970 Speaker 1: woman at the time named Jana, she said half the 389 00:26:18,010 --> 00:26:24,630 Speaker 1: class got up and walked out. She didn't anticipate that situation, 390 00:26:25,430 --> 00:26:31,449 Speaker 1: but she brought her convictions with her. A different situation. 391 00:26:32,250 --> 00:26:34,590 Speaker 1: Some of you are U.S. women's soccer fans. You might 392 00:26:34,650 --> 00:26:38,270 Speaker 1: recognize the name Jaylene Hinkle. A number of years ago, 393 00:26:38,290 --> 00:26:40,109 Speaker 1: about a decade plus ago, she was one of the 394 00:26:40,170 --> 00:26:46,459 Speaker 1: best female soccer players in her position. She was invited 395 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:49,060 Speaker 1: up to play on the U.S. women's national team, but 396 00:26:49,119 --> 00:26:53,200 Speaker 1: was already somewhat of a controversial figure because after the 397 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:57,400 Speaker 1: 2015 ruling of Obergefell versus Hodges, the Supreme Court ruling 398 00:26:57,460 --> 00:27:01,270 Speaker 1: on same-sex marriage, she posted this on social media. She said, 399 00:27:01,950 --> 00:27:05,090 Speaker 1: I believe every fiber in my body that was written 400 00:27:05,090 --> 00:27:08,470 Speaker 1: 2,000 years ago in the Bible is undoubtedly true. This 401 00:27:08,510 --> 00:27:11,930 Speaker 1: world may change, but Christ and his word never will. 402 00:27:12,690 --> 00:27:15,090 Speaker 1: She didn't attack somebody. She didn't even mention the issue. 403 00:27:15,109 --> 00:27:17,790 Speaker 1: She just signaled, I'm a Christian, and I think God 404 00:27:17,830 --> 00:27:19,490 Speaker 1: got certain things right, and I'm going to live my 405 00:27:19,550 --> 00:27:23,170 Speaker 1: life according to it. Well, after this, sometime later, she 406 00:27:23,190 --> 00:27:28,359 Speaker 1: was invited up to the National Women's Soccer Team. But 407 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:31,310 Speaker 1: one thing the team was... you could say forced to do, 408 00:27:32,030 --> 00:27:35,290 Speaker 1: was to wear a certain jersey in support of gay pride. 409 00:27:36,970 --> 00:27:38,270 Speaker 1: Now you might hear this and say, you know what? 410 00:27:38,390 --> 00:27:41,510 Speaker 1: She should wear it. She should just be a witness 411 00:27:41,550 --> 00:27:44,550 Speaker 1: from the inside. It's just a jersey. You're welcome to 412 00:27:44,609 --> 00:27:48,109 Speaker 1: make that argument. I'm talking about the predicament that Jalene 413 00:27:48,290 --> 00:27:53,310 Speaker 1: found herself in with her convictions before the Lord. So 414 00:27:53,350 --> 00:27:55,990 Speaker 1: she went out and she said, after three days of 415 00:27:56,080 --> 00:28:00,119 Speaker 1: prayer and reflection, she chose to withdraw from the women's 416 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:04,680 Speaker 1: national team rather than wear the jersey. She said, quote, 417 00:28:04,700 --> 00:28:07,140 Speaker 1: if I never get another national team call up again, 418 00:28:07,180 --> 00:28:09,240 Speaker 1: then that's a part of his plan and that's okay. 419 00:28:10,619 --> 00:28:13,430 Speaker 1: This is powerful. Maybe this is why I was meant 420 00:28:13,530 --> 00:28:19,550 Speaker 1: to play soccer, to show other believers to be obedient. 421 00:28:21,090 --> 00:28:28,300 Speaker 1: That's conviction. That's principles. Talk is cheap, but when it 422 00:28:28,460 --> 00:28:33,419 Speaker 1: costs you something and you value faithfulness, that's when our 423 00:28:33,460 --> 00:28:37,860 Speaker 1: witness speaks. I want to close with a quote for 424 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:41,870 Speaker 1: you that might put this in context. Years ago, I 425 00:28:41,910 --> 00:28:44,570 Speaker 1: had a chance to interview one of my favorite thinkers. 426 00:28:44,610 --> 00:28:49,430 Speaker 1: You might recognize the name Os Guinness. British thinker, brilliant thinker. 427 00:28:50,050 --> 00:28:52,660 Speaker 1: And he's in his 80s. And towards the end of 428 00:28:52,670 --> 00:28:56,580 Speaker 1: the interview, I said, actually, I probably said, Dr. Guinness, 429 00:28:58,500 --> 00:29:00,760 Speaker 1: I'm curious, what do you think your legacy will be? 430 00:29:00,780 --> 00:29:05,690 Speaker 1: I'll never forget what he said. He goes, Sean, legacy 431 00:29:05,750 --> 00:29:10,110 Speaker 1: is a secular idea. All that matters is God says, 432 00:29:10,190 --> 00:29:19,300 Speaker 1: well done, my good and faithful servant. He was exactly right. Someday, friends, 433 00:29:19,340 --> 00:29:24,270 Speaker 1: your career is going to end. Someday, your reputation will disappear. 434 00:29:24,370 --> 00:29:27,110 Speaker 1: People are going to forget you, and they're going to 435 00:29:27,170 --> 00:29:33,350 Speaker 1: forget me. Your accomplishments will be forgotten. But there's one 436 00:29:33,430 --> 00:29:37,200 Speaker 1: sentence that will matter in the end. Well done, my 437 00:29:37,260 --> 00:29:53,690 Speaker 1: good and faithful servant. who have their identity first in 438 00:29:53,730 --> 00:29:57,910 Speaker 1: the character of God and build principles that through the 439 00:29:58,030 --> 00:30:00,350 Speaker 1: power of the Holy Spirit and the strength of other 440 00:30:00,390 --> 00:30:06,930 Speaker 1: believers enable us to live them out with conviction. Because remember, 441 00:30:08,710 --> 00:30:12,650 Speaker 1: the decisions you make tomorrow are shaped by the principles 442 00:30:12,890 --> 00:30:17,979 Speaker 1: you choose today. You don't develop convictions in Babylon. You 443 00:30:18,020 --> 00:30:22,650 Speaker 1: bring them to Babylon. So what are the convictions that 444 00:30:22,690 --> 00:30:26,450 Speaker 1: shape your life? Are they biblical? Have you written them down? 445 00:30:26,470 --> 00:30:30,040 Speaker 1: Have you shared them with somebody? If you want to 446 00:30:30,060 --> 00:30:34,360 Speaker 1: be a faithful witness, like Jaylene and Jana and Daniel, 447 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:38,700 Speaker 1: we've got to cultivate those, build them into our lives, 448 00:30:39,260 --> 00:30:42,820 Speaker 1: and be willing to live and die for them. I 449 00:30:42,840 --> 00:30:47,380 Speaker 1: think that's what Jesus asks us to do. Amen. Hey friends, 450 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:50,280 Speaker 1: if you enjoyed this show, please hit that follow button 451 00:30:50,420 --> 00:30:53,200 Speaker 1: on your podcast app. Most of you tuning in haven't 452 00:30:53,260 --> 00:30:55,560 Speaker 1: done this yet, and it makes a huge difference in 453 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:58,530 Speaker 1: helping us reach and equip more people and build community. 454 00:30:58,710 --> 00:31:03,340 Speaker 1: And please consider leaving a podcast review. Every review helps. 455 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:06,040 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to The Sean McDowell Show, brought to 456 00:31:06,080 --> 00:31:09,700 Speaker 1: you by Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, where 457 00:31:09,720 --> 00:31:13,860 Speaker 1: we have on-campus and online programs in apologetics, spiritual formation, 458 00:31:13,940 --> 00:31:16,500 Speaker 1: marriage and family, Bible, and so much more. We would 459 00:31:16,540 --> 00:31:19,480 Speaker 1: love to train you to more effectively live, teach, and 460 00:31:19,540 --> 00:31:22,320 Speaker 1: defend the Christian faith today. And we will see you 461 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:23,940 Speaker 1: when the next episode drops.