Staying Cool When Things Get Hot: Preparation, Practice, and Planning Doesn't Hurt

You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God this at our website and learn more about harvest partners@harvest.org or later living, for some it will be the pure pleasure to do the wrong thing though is your intention times and overwhelming emotion Greg Maurice's resolve before him.

This did you make today will determine what you will make tomorrow take steps now to be prepared to rental and makes them razor-sharp. They also over little good luck pastors and wanted out. Luck is when ration meets opportunity. As believers we don't depend on long handle more today on the new beginning. Greg Laurie shows the wisdom and letting preparation as it relates to the fiery trial award is stop turning idols. What Israel did it again. The Lord said of you from these false gods to bring Babylon, led by Nebuchadnezzar, yet they ignored God's warning and the Lord did exactly what you said he would do no Nebuchadnezzar. He wanted them to abandon their faith. He wanted 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 them indoctrinated 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 bring in 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 boys needed to serve in the your royal palace cc 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. 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. By the way, each one of those names reflected an attribute of the true God of Israel, but the chief official renamed them with Babylonian names had and I was called Shadrach. Michelle was called Misha.

Azariah was going to 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. So here they are the king's court. They'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 a compromise with Daniels able to 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 as we come to chapter 3 of Daniel a Daniel himself is out of the picture momentarily returns later in the book and this is Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo, the king has erected a 90 foot tall God image covered in gold. He wants everyone to engage in fulltilt idolatry and so he called the whole kingdom together for a big celebration. It was a number one show and Babylon. In fact, it was the only show in Babylon.

It was called Babylonian idol.

There were contestants who sang and there were three judges no wrong. So okay and so this celebration had a song they would play the theme song. The Babylonian idol. The theme song that everyone was about to and everyone did. So imagine the scene thousands and thousands of people bowing down before and 90 foot gold image standing out like three sore thumbs. There were those three holy boys Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo they wouldn't so the king calls amid as I give you guys a second chance. Just be good boys and bow before the image see what happens.

Daniel three verse 14 Nebuchadnezzar said true Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo that you refuse to serve my God to worship the gold statue. I've set up. I'll give you one more chance if you dial down and worship the statue I have made. When you hear the sound of musical instruments, all will be well. But if you refuse you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace what God will be a little rescue you from my power then Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo replied all Nebuchadnezzar. We do not need to defend ourselves before you were thrown into the blazing furnace, a God whom we serve is able to save us will rescue us from your power, your Majesty, but even if he doesn't, your Majesty can be sure we will never serve your gods worship the gold statue you have set up your Majesty, let's just get this straight we bowing something to help. We wanted to tell you that right now. See they understood what the Bible set and they knew with the second commandment set 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 they said look, if God rescues, that's great. If he doesn't double go to be in his presence. What were not going to bow this into this sooner or later you're going to be asked to bow before someone probably won't be made out of solid gold, and it will be 90 feet tall, but it will be some kind of an idle or someone will say, look, this is what everyone thinks this is groupthink now this is politically correct. You have to agree with us, you can be saying the Bible says that's and so you have to conform you have to say when we say you want to do what we do is it will I'm sorry the Bible teaches something different that suppressor right there. Or maybe you're in a classroom, and the professor gets up and make some statement and you're the only person that is occurred to stand up and say excuse me, I actually disagree with what you just said rum might be another situation.

Your friends are all going to go out and party from work and will get a drink or you have someone come on, don't be such a party pooper. Don't be a stick in the mud. What's wrong with you. It'll be the pure pressure to do the wrong thing. So here's a question, are you gonna bow or are you going to stand your ground, you decide that now you decide that now become a day when you'll be tempted to have sex with your girlfriend before you're married, say, will I have the strength to stand on that day you decide what you're going to do in the backseat of a car in the front row of the church you figure it out right now salmon to make a stand and I'm nothing to do that.

I want to do what's right. See, that's why we need to make the stent in the small areas that gives us the ability to make a stand in the larger more challenging areas so everybody and Babylon bowed, but they stood up straight, that figure better to burn on earth bow in heaven than the bow on earth and burn in hell for them.

It was win-win.

So like what Paul said to live is Christ and to die is gain. Hey, if I live, fantastical, serve the Lord by dying go to him. Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message just a moment whatever you send us a letter and email or post a comment on social media. We read every word. Going with heroin.

Two hours every day left of clinic it would look better. Greg on the radio you change the way I thought about God and Elliott electric teenage daughter to grind the best way I can look God, thank you so much.

It's so great to hear how these lessons God's word impacted this man and his family and if you have a story to tell Pastor Greg an email Craig at harvest.again, that's great@harvest.org now. Pastor Greg continues today's message called staying cool when things get hot from the pages of church history. The story is told of a Christian. He was arrested. He was brought before the Roman Emperor. He was told to renounce his faith. The Emperor said give up Christ's Rob Benish. The Christian said you can't banish me from Christ, for he said I'll never leave you or forsake you the roller said all confiscate your property. The Christian said my treasures are laid up in heaven. You can't touch them. The Emperor said that I'll kill you in the Christian said I've been dead to the world in Christ for 40 years. My life is hid with Christ in God. You can't touch it.

And so the Emperor turned to his court and discussed and said what can you do with such a man my responses. Let's pray we have a lot more of a lot more men than women like that upon hearing this insubordination on the part of these three teenagers.

The king flies into a rage lesson is furnace was hot but he was hotter. Nobody denies Nebuchadnezzar. Let's pick the story at Daniel three verse 19 Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo. His face became distorted with rage.

Any command of the furnace preheated seven times hotter than usual. Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo and throw them into the blazing furnace so they tied him up and threw them into the furnace fully clothed, and because the king and his anger at the men in such a hot fire in the furnace. The flames leapt out and killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in so Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo securely tied fell into the roaring flame.

But suddenly as he was watching Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and explained it was advisors generally tie up three men and throw them in the furnace. Yes we did that, your Majesty, they said, look, Nebuchadnezzar shouted, I see four men unbound walking around on the fire there not heard by the flames in the fourth looks like the sun. I love that store staying cool with things get hot, you might wonder if you can make the stand of a Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo well as I said earlier, you determine that by the decisions you're making today.

Maybe there will never be a test of this caliber, but test will come.

God will always great temptations of the fiber of your life you will never give you more than you can handle the never be tempted above your capacity to resist. The Bible says, but there will with the temptation being a way of escape, that you may be able to bear. First Corinthians 1013, but here's the key to their courage. It was their companion. Nebuchadnezzar said someone walking around with them and he looks like the son of God. Now in fairness to another translation of this with a son of the gods. I don't think Nebuchadnezzar had the spiritual insight to know that this might be a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus, which I believe it was by the way, I do think he saw 1/4 guy and they were walking around like it was a stroll in the park on a Sunday afternoon. Hey, how's it going I don't know what you're walking around in the furnace who knows that but he saw the power of God on display. So are you in a fiery trial right now. Are you in the hot waters of temptation, know this, you're not alone. Jesus is with you each step of the way that makes a big difference doesn't it Isaiah 43 God says when you because of the waters, I will be with you when you pass of the rivers will not sweep over you when you walk to the fire.

You will not be burned, the flames will not set you ablaze. This is what I would call a Christ softening of Christ. Softening is an appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament know Jesus being God's eternal beginning ON, so we talked about Jesus being born in the manger about the gun which he was. But of course he made many appearances in the Bible.

Before that, and I think this is one of them. I think it was the Lord himself walking with them to their fire.

Guess what the Lord is walking with you your fire. Jesus said hello I am with you, even to the end of the age. Hebrews 13 Jesus says I will never leave you or forsake you.

God was with them in this time of great let me say this.

This is only true for the true believer. If you're not a believer in the Lord viewed not as Christ to come in your life. You learn of the assurance that God is in you know God is around and you can call on the name of the Lord, but you don't have a relationship with him. You may know about him, but that doesn't mean you know him. These young men knew him. That's what they can stare death in the face and say were not good about can you do that you live in fear and trepidation of death.

I don't think anyone looks forward to it.

Even the committed Christian, but the follower of Jesus knows when that day comes, they will go into God's presence. They know God will walk with them through the days leading up to it and God will be there on the other side waiting to welcome them with open arms into eternity. That is the hope of the Christian and only the Christian, the nonbeliever has no such promise you walk through life alone. You don't have God with you, and you certainly don't have God in you, and then one day when you enter eternity you will meet God, but it will be a brief meeting. I'm sorry to say, because he will not find your name written in the book he will firmly but sadly say the part for me. I never knew you workers of iniquity. But if you know him now. He'll know you then if you stand up for him now to stand up for you then if you say come in the my life now will say enter ran to my presence then what if you say I don't want you now. Then you'll think apart for me. Then you determine what's gonna happen. On the other side and I have closing. Do you have this relationship with God. Do you have this Savior walking with you through life or do you find yourself alone. I don't know what you're chasing after maybe your pursuing funnier pursuing pleasure.

Whatever it is your pursuing it's only can leave you empty the only appropriate pursuit. He should have in life is the pursuit of God and if you'll seek first the kingdom of God, he will give you all the things that you need in life and you'll have is joy in your love is please mail of the hope of heaven. If you don't follow the Lord will have to face that judgment, not the last thing God wants. That's why he sent Jesus Christ to come to this earth go to La Crosse and die in your place.

Jesus was fully God and fully man absorbed the father's wrath in our place at the cross of Calvary, he shed his blood for every sin we have ever committed a full turn from that sin and embrace him as Savior and Lord. He will forgive us and we can start a new life with Ken never alone. Have you asked Christ to come in your life. If you haven't I want to give you an opportunity to ask you and right now as we close in prayer. So if you've never asked Jesus to forgive you of your sin if you don't have that hope of heaven.

You don't have this relationship with God. We went talking about respondent. This invitation that I extend now as we pray together. Let's all bow our heads if you would please and everyone praying father I pray now for these that may not yet know you these that have joined us in our hearing this message and don't have this assurance of the go to heaven when they die.

I pray Lord that your Holy Spirit will convict them of their sin and convince them of their need for Jesus and help them become now we would amen to Greg Laurie important word of prayer. And if you know you need to make a change today in your relationship with the Lord. Pastor Greg will come back to help you do that in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes that if you weren't able to hear all of today study from Pastor Greg.

You can hear today's entire presentation online@harvest.org. Listen from the beginning or fast forward to the part you missed or you can even download the MP3 to hear later, the message title is staying cool when things get hot. Just go to harvest.org.

What were so happy to have author Sally Lloyd Jones with us today.

A good friend of the ministry and we are making available to excellent children's books of hers right now near and babies carry along Bible Sally. I remember my wife and I dropping off our kids with a babysitter or at Sunday school when they were small and it was a bit traumatic for them at first. You know they are used to having the people who love them close by your book near explains to young children that the God who loves them. Most is always close by. Is that right yes I think well I know you can and we can all remember being children and anyone of the face of childhood.

One of the biggest phase is abandonment so positive why it's a stressful going to school I mention at least I remember as a child. Children tend to his now that you're coming back. I don't know they don't know that this isn't you dropping them off rather as a seven amendment and so there's a lot of things in childhood and I think we address those fears by telling the child the truths that yes things can be scary, but we are never ever by ourselves, and we have father in heaven. He is with us and place to us and we can always talk to him and he takes care of us and makes us strong and brave and you know I think that's important for little 129 and you do such a great job of explaining that relatable language in your new book called near and would like to send a copy of that your way along with Shelley's resource babies carry along Bible. It's a sturdy little board book for small children with 10 of their favorite stories told in rhyme and it even has its own little carrying handle bill right in.

Listen. Both of these resources to you to say thank you for your donation right now that were only able to mention this.

A short time longer to write us today at 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 will Pastor Greg, a couple of moments ago you talk to the importance of coming to the Lord to have our sins forgiven. That's right if somebody listening right now wants to do that. Could you help them yeah I can do that David be happy to the book of Isaiah we read these words seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous man their thoughts let them return to the Lord and he will have mercy on them and to our God, for he will freely pardon listen. That's God's word to you and let me address this to the person who is never asked Jesus Christ to come into their life. Why don't you do it now that versus seek the Lord while he may be found, God is touched your heart today perhaps and you thought I need this relationship of the Lord. One of these days on them to make that commitment to Christ no, don't wait for one of these days. This is the day this is your moment, seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.

Listen God is near to you and he is ready to come into your life and there's another part of this verse when it says let us return to the Lord.

I want to also extend an invitation to you that have fallen away from your faith. You fallen away from the Lord, and you need to make a recommitment. So if you want Jesus Christ to come into your life if you want your sin forgiven, if you want to go to heaven when you die, or if you fallen away from the Lord, and you want to return to them. Pray this after me right now, Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I also know that your Savior and I need your help. I need your forgiveness come in the my life and forgive me of all of my sins, I choose to follow you from this moment forward be my Savior be my Lord be my God in be my friend.

Thank you for hearing this prayer. Thank you for answering this prayer in Jesus name I pray, amen. And I want you to know on the authority of Scripture. If you just prayed that prayer and minute Christ is heard you and he is forgiven you, so God bless you and we want to help you begin to grow in your new faith. We want to send you some resource materials we call our new believers growth packet it will answer some of the questions you might have and get you started off right. So get in touch for your new believers growth packet will set it free of charge if you prayed with Pastor Greg for the first time today. Write a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300.

We can take your call anytime around the clock again at 1-800-821-3300 or go to harvest.org click know God was next time Pastor Greg launches a new series on some of the most words. Jesus ever spoke cover the practical application of the sermon on the Mount next time you beginning and the preceding podcast possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God learn how to become harvest partners sign up for daily devotions and find resources to help you grow in your faith harvest.org