Staying Cool When Things Get Hot: Feeling Dissatisfied No More

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Learn more@harness.org and while you're there, browse our library of free e-books designed to help you grow in your faith is all I want to do another would say I want to make. The problem is so many people are frustrated as they never get with her surgeon today. Pastor Greg Laurie points out, pleasure isn't what treasure we should seek closer we should seek to have a figurative one. We think that you reserve moments leading.

We want to hold onto the happiness as quickly as you today on the new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie hope is real joy comes on another level level but can't be captured by a snapshot level that brings the richest also delivers us from the most fiery trial of three young men were in a real fiery trial of their case it was literal because they were put up are referred to know when talking about I'm talking about. You really do you allude God talking about the Pep Boys that so no one thought you know I'm talking about Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo out of the end up in this furnace of fire. They ended up there because they would not deny God, and bow before a false image. It's a story of how they stood up for what was right even at the risk of losing their own lives because they had character, so here are Daniel, Shadrach Misha in the Bendigo living in Babylon now hunted for good Jewish boys and up in a place like that. Well, God warned Israel to stop turning idols of both God but Israel did it again and again.

The Lord said if you don't turn from these false gods ominous in doing the captivity for 70 years, yet they ignored God's warning. Another conquered by Nebuchadnezzar exactly as God said they would be no Nebuchadnezzar.

He wanted them to abandon their faith. He wanted them to embrace the pagan Babylonian culture and religion. It was the intention of Nebuchadnezzar Torres every vestige of identification between the Israelites and their God, and he gave a decree that he wanted Israel, brightest and best brought into his court so he could have been indoctrinated in the ways of Babylon and that's where our story begins, Daniel chapter 1 verse one. Let's read it. By the way I'm reading from the new living translation during the third year to enjoy Kim's ring and Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it with his armies.

The Lord gave him victory over King Joachim of Judah. Interesting that says the Lord gave him victory when Nebuchadnezzar returned to Babylon.

He took with him some of the sacred objects from the temple of God and place them in the treasure house of his God in the land of Babylon. Then the king ordered Aspen as it was in charge of the palace officials bringing some of the young men of Judah's royal family and other noble families would been brought to Babylon as It so here. Clearly, the king is looking for young Israeli men to corrupt verse four. Select only strong, healthy and good looking young man. He said make sure they're well versed in every branch of learning and are gifted with knowledge and good sense of the poise needed to serve in the your royal palace PCs young men the language in the literature of the Babylonian verse five the king assigned them a daily ration of the best food and wine from his own kitchen's. Now they were to be trained for a three year period and some of them would become advisors this royal court. Their names are given. Verse six Daniel Hannan, I Michelle and Azariah, those with their names given to them as good Jewish boy but the chief official renamed them with Babylonian names had and I was called Shadrach. Michelle was called me shack. Azariah was called the Bendigo, but Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to him by the king.

He has the chief official for permission to eat other things. Instead. There so it is believed by many commentators at these four young men were somewhere between 14 and 19 years old. They were teenagers. Clearly they were raised in believing homes by godly parents. Nebuchadnezzar wanted to change that. So we change their names. What he could not change their hearts with their world as they knew it literally changed overnight. They went from a simple God-fearing culture to a decadent one.

These young men torn away from mother and father were placed in this alien culture of paganism and unparalleled luxury. Up to this time they would've lived in basic conditions.

Now there in the very palace of the great Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon of that day was an amazing city. In fact, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world included the hanging Gardens of Babylon.

They were surrounded by jaw-dropping opulence, but there was no reverence for the Lord God in this place everyone cowered in fear before King Nebuchadnezzar wonder if this is happened to you recently. Your world has changed your living in a new place. Maybe you're in a college campus or your businesses send you to a different city is what you need to know no matter where you go in this big old planet. If you're a follower of Jesus Christ, God will still be with you and God was with them in this pagan culture Nebuchadnezzar could change their names.

What he could not change their hearts. They had a God to serve and they understand to make it understand that Daniel and Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo were facing heavy duty temptation. The world was their oyster. They were given the finest education before them with the most delicious foods and wine and the entire planet. Nebuchadnezzar was sure such young men would be seduced by all of this luxury, but he had not considered. One thing they had character, their mothers and fathers raise them right. So here they are the king's court.

You're allowed to eat of the food from his kitchen and yet they decided to make a stand and not do it.

I find this very interesting because this doesn't necessarily to us seem like a big deal but this is where they made their first stand. Verse eight Daniel made up his mind to not defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king or if you're the king James version or new King James it says Daniel purposed in his heart to note that follows no. Why would it be the filing himself to either the food made in the king's kitchen. I can only offer a guess. I think one obvious reason would be that it violated the dietetic laws given by the Lord to Israel, but I think perhaps another reason this is food was dedicated to the false gods about a lot and so Daniel and the boys said were not going to do that because in their minds that was compromise.

You know sometimes there are things that we will simply choose to not do because we are a Christian, and sometimes these so-called liberties can vary from person to person you know we have different metabolisms right will remember Steve Wilburn, our youth pastor and he is his church up in LA now court churches doing very well.

I've known Steve for years and he just wire. He doesn't have any weight on it when he was a younger man in his 20s and eat like a horse.

I would see Steve you watch what's going to happen. Your metabolism will change and you'll start putting on weight. Guess what is metabolism never change. I've been in and out burger with them purely to double doubles fries and I just had my one little hamburger and he doesn't gain weight, and I do energizing crazy.

I know I don't. I love you but I wish I had is metabolism and for some they may be able to do a certain thing and it's not necessarily wrong, but for another baby was a contents of the little more tender if they were to do that same thing that would be a violation. Romans 1423 says whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Another translation of that verse says if anyone believes that something he wants to do is wrong. He should do it. He sends if he does rip he thinks it's wrong to him.

It is wrong, so Daniel made a stand here because for him it was wrong to read more will have the second half of his message in just a moment, everybody Greg Laurie here encouraging you to join us as we give her what we call harvest that home is worship the message of the word of God. You can watch it with your family and your front room where you can watch it on the go on your tablet on your phone or your computer.

Take it with you. Take the word of God with you. Join us or harvested home harvest today. Pastor Greg is focusing on the trials. By Daniel Shadrach me shack and Abednego explained in Daniel chapter 1 another temptation here was just the basic appeal of the food and wine, of course, but also this was the way to climb the corporate ladder about a lot. I mean if you wanted to succeed in Babylon make nice with the king right yes you do eat food from his kitchen don't go home be like your boss say I want to take you to lunch and you say I don't want to go to lunch with you, boss. That's on the very smart thing to do and if you do decide to go eat lunch with your boss any orders you something. That's probably a good thing to eat it. If you can take the food and throw it on the floor. You don't want to offend him, so there was an intimidation factor in play. Nebuchadnezzar was powerful and he was wicked. You know when he captured the king of Israel, he forced the king to watch his own sons be put to death and then he counts the king's eyes out.

That was a kinda guy. Nebuchadnezzar was, you want to mess with a person like this. And yet, Daniel, Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo make their stand right here. We are not eating of that food or drawing the line right here in the same way there's going to come a time when you need to make your stay for Jesus Christ.

Are you going to be able to stand in that day, Daniel did verse eight he made up his mind to not file himself or the king James is purposed in his heart. This is what we need more of today purpose there to be a Daniel there to standalone Dare to have a purpose firm dare to make it no Paul wrote to Timothy you will fully known my purpose. Could you say that to someone. What would you say your purposes. Maybe the best way to find out your purpose would not be to ask you what it would be to ask someone that knows you really well. Hey, what is his purpose.

What really gets our guy going. What really makes a girl excited. What is it that drives them in life that your purpose, what would you say your purpose really some of the rod is likely hey my purposes to just have fun. For another, they might say my purpose in life is to experience pleasure. Another might say my purpose in life is to be successful. Another would say I want to make money. Another would say I want to be happy. The problem is if you chase after happiness.

You'll never find it. But if you seek to be a holy person you'll find happiness is a byproduct know we should not seek pleasure. We should seek purpose. We should not seek success. We should see significant said. Daniel made a deal with the men was in charge of enforcing the king's will is a looking guy you can eat all the food from the king's kitchen. We don't want to do this and I you eat your rich luxurious foods in the boys and I reckon it just eat vegetables and drink water for 10 days� He who comes up best when it's all said and done. Another man identified as a cheap official in Daniel 19 had great respect. The Bible tells us for Daniel. You see when you take a stand for the Lord on parental even non-Christians are impressed.

That's because it's so hard these days to find people that have conviction and courage. Proverbs 16 seven says when a man's ways please the Lord.

Even his enemies are peace with the king's official so guys know Mrs. because if you look unhealthy and weak after your little fast. I went to get in trouble with the king. Daniel reassures him. Listen, don't panic. It's organic will be fine. Just give us our vegetables and water usage or other food will see how it turns out, this reminds us that a little with God is better than much without them repeat that a little and I would put that in quotes with God is better than much without I'd rather have God's words than the world's best. What's the world's best. I don't know you know all the things world celebrates.

I guess, but what is God's worst what's the worst thing about being a Christian, I would say probably the worst thing is persecution.

Perhaps a being ostracized, being mom sometimes being assaulted and in some cases even being put to death. That's one of the worst things about being a Christian I would rather have God's worst of the world's best.

I'd rather be in a storm with Jesus than anywhere else. Without him, but then there's the other side, then there is eternity and then whatever was the discomfort the hardship or even the death of a person on this side is all sorted out when we get to the other side and will receive our reward and we get the big picture so you just denim what is true and what we really miss is Christians only get off that merry-go-round of selfishness, drinking, drugs, illicit sex parties.

Whatever you know you go your way in life.

And although mine. Let's compare notes later see who made the right decision.

I'm up for that, or you you know you want to live that life you can go live it if you want to attend a similar stand for the Lord will see how that turns out. Well it turned out very well because when it was all said and done, they were healthier looking that everyone else and God bless them, because they were faithful in the small things and now the king has a dream and it's a troubling dream. It's a nightmare and he wants to find out what the meaning of the dream is so he calls and all of his astrologers and magicians and other weirdos that were on the palace payroll says you guys gotta figure this out. I had this dream.

What is it me. They said tell us a dream and and will make ups.

I made a bold will give you the mystical interpretation. Nebuchadnezzar said if you're any good to know what the dream is and the interpretation so you tell me what my dream was stated no because they're all phony and so he was ticked off and said I want all of you kill will as it turns out Shedrick B Jacob and the going Daniel were kind of on the palace payroll as advisors so they would have been killed to Daniel so go hold on hold on let me see the king of telling the drink, so Daniel walked in the king's court and says I know what you drinking you dreamt of a giant statue my rights apart yes yes okay the statute that head of gold chest and arms of silver belly and thighs of brass and legs of iron and feet of clay is alright so far.

Yes, that's it. Here's what it means. King the first part of this dream that's Babylon you are. They had a goal that you but one day you're going to be overtaken by another nation represented his arms and chest of silver. So God is telling you. Your kingdom will be overtaken one day. That's the meaning of your dream.

The king says in Daniel 247 your God is a God of God, the Lord over kings a revealer of mysteries you been able to reveal the secret did King Nebuchadnezzar believe in the Lord. After that, no infected actually went from bad to worse as we come to chapter 3 of Daniel a Daniel himself is out of the picture momentarily and this is Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo, the king has erected a 90 foot image covered in gold so he took the dream where Babylon was represented by head of gold and made a statue of gold, probably a replica of himself and he told everyone of the kingdom, to worship it and talk about missing the point. He wants everyone to engage in fulltilt idolatry and standing out like three sore thumb. There were those three holy boys Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo they wouldn't see.

They understood what the Bible set and they knew with the second commandment said the second commandment said do not make idols of any kind.

You shall not worship or bow down to them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, and I will not share my affection with any so everybody and Babylon down. They stood up straight, that figure better to burn on earth bow in heaven and on earth burn in hell. Learning a lot from strong resolve shown by these four godly young man, Pastor Greg Laurie with his message staying cool when things get hot and there's more to come here on a new beginning. Now we realize.

Sometimes interruptions happen as you listen to these studies, but you can hear what you miss by going to our website. Today's full presentation is available there again is called staying cool when things get hot attack. You can even download an MP3 and listen at your convenience.

Either way, it's free of charge, but we hope you remember that it's your support that helps keep the studies coming your way our web addresses harvest.org yesterday were making available to resources from the renowned children's author Sally Lloyd Jones a book called near and also something called babies carry along Bible, yes, let me ask you something is the grandfather of five grandchildren who has spent a lot of time with grandkids sitting on his lap reading books to speak to the person who wants to spend more quality time with his or her grandkids. Okay, I give them some tips on how they can make the most of that time reading something that teaches them about God a lot of things coming to my mind, I would start with this put away the electronic devices and sit down and open about, there's nothing like a book I read some things in the digital format like Kindle or Apple books, but I still prefer a book I love to turn pages. I lived here Mark pages I love to underline key things and there's something very special about a book that you open up, especially a book similar to the one that were offering and I'll tell you about it in a moment. But here's what I would say to a parent or grandparent on teaching the word of God, your children number one will be boring. I think I think too often, you know, we feel equipped to give them a lecture and it's almost like you're talking down to them, don't talk down to them talk to them and engage them and involve them in the conversation on number two. Don't go too long.

You know I think sometimes those they were going to do devotions with the children so everybody gather around the table and the way it's presented is almost negative.

A baby do it outside baby do it in a park, maybe do it at an unexpected time and just introduce it and it's great if you can have a great way to introduce it and I have a resource for you, especially if your children are very young up to around age 4 or 51 is a book written by my friend Sally Lloyd Jones.

That is simply titled near and is based on Psalm 139 and it is telling the child about how they're never alone. God is with them wherever they go. It's written in a way a child can understand. All you have to do is read it to them or if they're old enough let them read it for themselves. And we also have another book that were including and it's called babies carry along Bible it's beautifully illustrated high-quality hardcover book that will, I think, survive even a toddler, and they can carry around and read it and open and close it is much as they want. And even if they don't understand all the words they see the pictures of Daniel in the lion's den and Jesus calming the storm and David and Goliath and other great stories of the Bible and it's a great way to get them started with their own personal Bible, so we encourage you to order a copy of near and also babies carry along Bible by our good friend Sally Lloyd Jones who I would describe as an expert in writing to children. She understands how a child thinks she knows how to speak in a language the child can understand her writing is fun but it's also deep and she has a great biblical knowledge and conveys scriptural truth in a very effective way to people of all ages, especially children, so you can order your copy of near and babies carry along Bible and will send them to you immediately for your gift of any size.

Yeah, that's right, there such great resources. They capture a child's imagination with the wonderful pictures and text and then while they are engaged in points them back to their heavenly father. What better way to spend quality time with your kids or grandkids. So get in touch today with your donation and will send you near and babies carry along Bible to say thanks and we won't be mentioning this much longer.

So contact us soon write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org next time. Pastor Greg points out will all eventually face our own fiery trial in life counsels is to make a stand now, not when the crisis is coming up next time you're on a new beginning.

Pastor Greg Moore and everybody thinks or listening to this podcast to learn more about harvest ministries follow the show and consider supporting it. Just go to harvest.org and find out how to know God personally go to harvest.org and click on know God