Dream On! | God's Standards for Our Lives

You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. Visit our website and learn more about harvest partners@harvest.org when you risible, even though Christians are one arm should double wide in a world of compromise and moral you read Maurice's believers will never go wrong by making the Scripture are God you put God first, the principles of Scripture for the right decision decided to measure what we now know is 112 inches based on the size of a man's trouble is the very there is no absolute standard is right today on a new beginning after Greg Laurie speaks of the importance of following God's consistent on changing how we live a life of character and conviction. The most rewarding live. A lady was walking down the Southern California she saw something shiny in the sense that you reached out to process and often it was a leper. The genie appear to story is almost dry will grant you one wish whatever you desire will be yours. You said one with whatever the multiple witnesses he set out know it's hard in the world of genies we medic about all right well worthwhile. That's a hard one. So she pulls out a map of the Middle East that you happen to be carrying around with her and she said here's what I want genie I want peace in the Middle East. I want these nations are always in conflict to stop fighting with each other. The other way way if I only get that one wish, to go even bigger.

I want world peace, I want global peace genie, that's what I want. Give me world peace. The genie said, are you insane there's no way I can grant them a wish like that is just too big for something else. He said well I've never found the right man I need a man that's considerate and fun and loves to cook and loves housecleaning. I want to sit around. I need a man that will smother me with affection and tell me how wonderful I am. I need to find the perfect man. That's why Wikipedia what the perfect man. The genie said let me see that map again.

So this is actually not a joke about men. This is more about conflict in the Middle East will there ever be peace in the Middle East. The answer is yes and no.

But, unfortunately, is going to be noble for it.

Yes, the fact of the matter is the greatest conflicts in the world are going to happen in the future in the Middle East as a matter of fact, the battles of Armageddon, the final battles that will be fog would be fought in the Valley of Megiddo. The word Armageddon comes from the root word harm a ghetto. And so it's really talking about where the battle will be fought, so we know there's going to be a lot of conflict there. In the future, but ultimately there will be peace when Christ comes back and establishes his kingdom. How will this all in.

That's what the book of Daniel talked about among other things. Daniel is a powerful book that gives us overview of human history. It also gives us a penetrating look into our future as well. And because Daniel was writing about his future, which happens to be our past. We can see how accurate he is. Because Daniel predicted the success of kingdoms that would come after him and I would 2020 hindsight we can see the prophet, was 100% accurate. The Bible is the one book that dares to predict the future, not once, not twice but three times. But hundreds of times. Perfect accuracy. So in the case of Daniel give what he predicted for his future. Now our past happened as he said it would.

Can we not trust the Bible and what it says about are still distant future. The answer is yes, we can so much we learn the book of Daniel, we follow the kingdoms of the world from the kingdom. He was in Babylon right up to the Antichrist and it's a reminder to us that God is in control of what is happening in the world today. God is sovereign over the affairs of nations and over the leaders of nations and the one thing that really comes out clearly in the book of Daniel is the simple fact Jesus Christ is coming back again to establish his kingdom on earth. The parallel book to the book of Daniel would be the book of Revelation. You can really understand the book of Revelation.

Without a good understanding of the book of Daniel.

There's so much we learned in this book, among other things.

We learn how to identify the tactics of the devil and overcome them.

We also learned how angels are actively involved in the life of every believer at some of the greatest Bible stories are right here in the book of Daniel, like Daniel in the lion's den and Shadrach me shack in a Bendigo in the fiery furnace. But, among other things.

Daniel just tells us how to live a godly life in an ungodly place or the words of Larry the cable Guy how to get her done what we supposed to do light of the fact that Christ is coming back a great answer is given to us in Romans 13.

Let me read it to you and this is from the expanded translation.

The Phillips translation. It says this the night is nearly over. The day is almost on. Let us therefore fling away the things that men do in the dark.

Let us arm ourselves of the fine of the day, let us live cleanly as in the daylight, not in getting drunk or playing with sex nor in quarreling in jealousies, but let us be Christ men from head to foot and give no chances to the flesh that have its fling is not a great translation. How clear is that tells of what we should be focused on in these critical days and we have a wonderful example of that in the stories before us and Daniel wanted to in the lives of Daniel and his three buddies Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo. As you recall, Israel was conquered by Babylon. Why because Israel kept turning to false gods and idols of the Lord warned them through the prophets, and they ignored what the prophet said. Finally judgment came so the people of Israel were taken into captivity for 70 years under the rulership of Babylon.

Now the king of Babylon at that time the great Nebuchadnezzar. As for sort of the brightest best of Israel. Some of the young man that he could bring into his court school in the way of the Babylonians and in the culture of Babylon and in the worship of the false Babylonian gods, and among those that were brought in word Daniel Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo I believe that there were around 14 to 19 years old, very young men there were taken literally from from a very simple lifestyle that they would've lived to being in the very lab of luxury in the very palace of the king with the finest food in the world served to them each and every day the finest education the world can offer and it was Nebuchadnezzar's desire to seduce them to turn them into Babylonians to have them leave their Hebrew roots in their belief in Scripture and to think like a Babylonian, but there was one thing Nebuchadnezzar did not consider that was these boys had character, though they were very young, they had character what is character DL Moody, the great evangelist defined character" what you are in the dark" the measure of a man's character is what he would do if you knew he would never be found out her a story about pastor that caught a bus one Monday morning, he gave the fair to the driver and and then when he got back to see the notice that he had too much change and so I doubled the guy giving to exchange so we went back to the driver said excuse me sir, you gave me too much change in the driver said. Actually, pastor, I was in church last Sunday and I heard you talking about honesty and I was putting you to the test before say that pastor pass the test, but your be put to the test as well, and you don't even know it necessarily there are people that work with you that are related to you that live near you that are watching you because you've identified as a Christian, your San I know I knew I shouldn't have that harvest receipts to go my car though it's a good thing you're making your senator watching you and here's what a nonbeliever is watching you for.

Here's what they're hoping you do. They're hoping you mess up.

They want to see you be a hypocrite because then they don't have to be uncomfortable with the message, you proclaim and when you live a godly life. And when you stand in your principles and you treat people with love and kindness. It drives them insane. All right, so we are all being tested more than we may even realize and that was certainly happening was Shadrach me shack in the Bentley go Mr. Greg Moore, the second half of this message in just a moment.

So many suitors have commented on the help they received from these daily messages God's word ministers to them and often gets them through some of the darkest hours dear Pastor Greg, I wanted to let you know how much your daily radio ministry is meant to my wife and I at the beginning of the pandemic. My wife started chemotherapy for breast cancer.

It was a difficult time for us both, but I was thankful that I was able to be home during this time to help many mornings I would make breakfast and we listen to a new beginning on the radio while we ate your messages and especially your kindness that you always express while preaching was so important to us to give us hope to face this difficult challenge. Looking back, with my wife now healed of her cancer.

Both have such happy memories of those morning spent listening to you.

We will always be in your debt for your messages and your kindness. Thank you. These daily studies minister to you and your family and you let us know tell us your story by calling 1-866-871-1144 special number 866-871-1144 were in the book of Daniel. Today here on the new beginning as Pastor Greg brings us a message called simply dream on, let's quickly review what we saw in our first message that will dive into the one before us number one they had purpose and conviction. They had purpose and conviction, Daniel 18, says Daniel purpose, it is hard not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king see the king. One of them to either this table and they chose not to know we don't know exactly why the Bible doesn't tell us may be that they didn't want me, the king's food because while it was just awful food that sometimes comes into play.

Never of some and serve your horrible meal. You don't want to eat some. I don't think that was the reason MIB because the things that thinking was offering to them were foods that were forbidden in the Mosaic law, certain things, a Jewish person is not supposed to eat. Thirdly, and this is probably the real reason it may be because these foods are offered to pagan gods and they didn't want to do eat that food that would've been a compromise with them. Whatever it was they were making a stand in a relatively small area, but it mattered to them and consider this fact. Nebuchadnezzar was an intimidating person. This was a cruel and wicked king that we know from Scripture that when he took Israel captive. He took the king of Israel brought his sons will forum and killed the king's sons while he walks and then he gouged out the king's eyes so the last thing the king of Israel saw was a death of his own boys talk about cruelty, so that's a good mother dealing with yet they make this stand in this relatively small area were not getting eat of the food from the king's table. Bring me the second point from last time little compromises turning the big problem little compromises turning the big problem.

Pay attention.

The little things because one day become big things in a single moment in time we can make a decision that affects our entire life.

Therefore, those little tests. Matter number three this stand we make today determines this then we will take tomorrow. Let me say that again this then we take today will determine the stand. We will take tomorrow.

Daniel faced many tests in life and we think of them bravely standing up for the Lord will law was passed that no one could pray and Daniel prayed anyway and we think of Shadrach me shack and Abednego refusing to bow down before the golden image of the king that he erected so these are big stands.

They took but these little things prepared them for that. It was here that Daniel Shadrach me shack and Abednego took their first dance number four God will bless you when you make your stand for him. God will bless you when you make your stand for him. Daniel struck a deal with the man in charge of enforcing the king's well said you got eat this wood uses aquatic or not getting eat this. I'll make you a deal were getting what were getting eat and you guys he would you eat and let's do it for 10 days and and everything to be all right, that and the guy said, okay, fine. But if you are sickly looking.

I would lose my head and they responded buddy. Don't worry any vegetables. Don't panic. It's organic everything is fine right so this is not about what they were eating or not he. This is not Daniel's new book on diet that we need all study that way. This is a principled stand that they were making on their faith in God and the convictions that they were holding but it brings up a really good point because there we have this man enforcing the king's will and he goes along with the plan of Daniel Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo reminding us that when you take a stand for the Lord on principal. Even non-Christians are impressed they are and you know why non-Christians are impressed is because courage and conviction and principle are in such short supply these days. Proverbs 16 seven says when a man's ways please the Lord. He makes even his enemies be at peace with. So the 10 days pass and guess what, Daniel, Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo were healthy and strong. They look better than the people that have eaten all that other food from the king's table, reminding us of this single points when we make our stand for what is true God will bless us in a little with God is better than much without him.

You know when we really miss in life when we as Christians choose to not get on that merry-go-round of selfishness, drinking, drugs, parting, illicit sex, etc. you know you go your way in life and I'll go my and so you sale, just live for pleasure, do whatever I want. I got to be faithful to my spouse. I'm not going to care about my kids, to pursue my passions. Okay fine and the Christian says on the to be faithful to my spouse, to raise my children in the way of the Lord and I want to do what God wants.

Now let's fast forward 10 years now let's add 10 more years. Now let's add 10 more. Let's add even 10 more and now are getting later in life. Let's see who made the right decision and I guarantee when you get to that point.

If you put God first in the principles of Scripture.

First, you will come out of the end and know that you made the right decision when the other person is repeating the massive consequences of their actions over and over again and Daniel held his ground of the very end we get Daniel 121 Daniel remain there until the first year of King Cyrus not understand what that means when Jenny was taken captive. He was a young boy and another was in charge later Belshazzar was in charge. Remember the writing on the wall we get to that later. And then along comes Cyrus and the Medo Persian forces and they overcome Belshazzar and Daniel is still a counselor to the king, meaning that Daniel had been in a place of influence for 50 year, and no one can find a bad word to say about you know what this reminds me of Billy Graham, Billy Graham, who lived 99 years when Billy started his ministry. Pres. Truman was in office and we were wrapping up World War II. Then along came Pres. Eisenhower and and then Pres. Kennedy, then Pres. Johnson and then Pres. Nixon and then Pres. Carter and then Pres. Reagan and Pres. Bush Senior and then President Clinton. Of course, and then Pres. Bush the younger and then all the way to Pres. Obama. Billy Graham is been in this place of influence and he has been a counselor to presidents and a pastor to our country and a man of integrity. Billy made the world's most admired men list more than anyone in history. He was a wry man on the right place at the right time then people say who's going to take Billy Graham's place ready for the answer. Nobody and LME expand the answer. A lot of people no one can be the next Billy Graham. No one can stand in the shoes of Billy Graham but you can be the next you and you can be the next person that God will use in the area. He has placed you see, our job is not to take the mantle of Billy Graham. Our job is to carry on the torch to Billy Kerry and it's a torch of the gospel that must be passed from generation to generation. Because every generation needs to hear the gospel.

Daniel was a man in his day, Billy was that man in our day and the other men and women I might add that God will raise up the right people at the right time, the Daniel's, the Danielle's, the David's, the peters the balls that esters the Deborah was the list goes on and so that's what you need to make your stand for Christ. These guys did when they were kids. No other older men there still making that stand in the house.

The test for Greg Lord important encouragement today to follow in the footsteps of Daniel, Shadrach me shack and Abednego. And there's more to come in. This message called dream on West Greg were making available your new book, Lennon Dylan, Alice and Jesus. The spiritual biography of rock 'n' roll me ask you this what is it that drives your interesting cultural icons, especially in the music industry. I've always been a fan of pop culture always been interested in it. You have to understand that God has called me to be an evangelist and evangelist builds bridges to the culture. He lives in or she lives in. Take Paul on Mars Hill recorded in acts 17. At that time Athens was the cultural and intellectual center of the planet and also was a city that had thousands of altars are directed to various idols, various gods of the worship so Paul went sightseeing and took in the sights and sounds of Athens and the Bible says his spirit was disturbed and so he got up in front of the people in the town square. There effectively. The Areopagus and begin to speak to them, but it's interesting how we started.

He said men of Athens, I perceive that you are spiritual. One translation says religious, we might say today I see your into spirituality.

Then Paul quoted their own poets to build a bridge to the message that was based on the gospel so I take this concept and I use it in my preaching will often start one of my evangelistic messages that I would do one of our events that we call harvest crusades and I might start by quoting the movie start quoting a rockstar coating. The billionaires seen something that lines up with what the Bible tells us as an example, I would quote actor Jim Carrey who would say I wish everyone could be rich and famous and have everything they ever dreamed of. So they would realize that's not the answer. I'm not basing my message on what actors are rockstar say, but I use that to build a bridge to my listener and then I tell them what the Bible says okay so no shift gears over this book I've written titled Lennon Dylan Allison Jesus. So I'm exploring the lives of these people who had it all who been there done that about the T-shirt and in some cases had been the T-shirt and I'm showing through their lives that the things this culture offers are not really going to meet the deepest needs of our life.

Success isn't going to do it on a new record isn't going to do it.

Global fame isn't going to do it a bunch of cars and mentioned that won't do it. A bunch of girls that will do it no they need Jesus and I told the stories of those that found the answer they were looking for and became believers. People like Richie pur�e Carrey live grin of Kansas, Alice Cooper beyond the Mucci Roger McGuinn of the birds and many others that I also told the tragic stories of those that did not find the answer and how their lives ended like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin and Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse in Chester Bennington, and the list just goes on. So it's a book that shows what happens when you make the right and the wrong choices, but ultimately it's a book that I think will offer hope and say to you, there is no one that you know that is beyond the reach of God. That's right, and maybe even looking for some help in reaching out to someone who seems so far from God.

Maybe the things of this world of captured their attention. This can be such a great resource. Read it for yourself and then pass along to someone who needs this message again is called Lennon Dylan, Alice and Jesus and will send it to say thank you for your investment in spreading the gospel through harvest ministries and a new beginning were completely listener supported and were so thankful for your partnership so call us today at 1-800-821-3300.

We are here to take your call around the clock again. That's 1-800-821-3300 or write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 four just one line harvest.for the next time more on Daniel's encounter with King Nebuchadnezzar.

Join us here on new beginning*Bible feature Lori and everybody thinks for listening to this podcast to learn more about harvest ministries follow the show and consider supporting it. Just go to harvest.org to find out how to know God personally go to harvest.org and click on know God