Staying Cool When Things Get Hot | Staying Strong Under Pressure

We are glad you're joining us for a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast supported by harvest partners get more encouraging audio content. When you subscribe to pastor Craig daily depots. Learn more and sign up@harvest.org will produce something easy. Drawings will monitor is spiritual today on a new beginning for Greg Laurie points out trials and play an important role in the life of especially toward the spring. Maybe in the workout, you know, we work out situations like Jim broken down in order to be built on its hoarders or walk is one that was under such intense pressure for such a long time. It became solid and walk is a good object lesson times are pressure Greg Laurie points to your place by three young men refused to engage in idle working with a face would surely spell the demise was a little boy I was about Junior pyromania pyromaniac is someone who plays with fire, not a good idea. I like to set things on fire, especially army men, you know those little green army men you get a bunch of the little bag in the various shapes, you know, some were laying on the ground with the rifle some work done on one knee holding the rifle. I think there was one guy with binoculars right back. One time I I was like the Army men on fire at home alone and God. My favorite movie right and then the newspaper I see army men on, far never burn army men on newspaper that sold in the newspapers on fire and I threw them into the wastebasket made out of like bamboo and then it caught on fire. 14 is able to get it under control. What is it with my grandparents. We had a big blast kind of furnace. One of those floor furnaces and I love to take my army men and put them on the graves of the furnace and watch them build in the drop down. You can always tell good you can smell burning plastic over our floor furnace was a painting of Jesus. A familiar one on these not really looking at you, you sort of looking away.

And so here is the burning furnace and here's Jesus sort of looking away, probably rolling this visor be good at what I'm doing as a little boy will I bring that up because I want to talk about a furnace and I want to talk about Jesus, but the furnace I want to talk about was not my grandparents house. It was in Babylon and it was very hot and it was set up by King Nebuchadnezzar.

For anyone who would not bow before the image he erected, and Jesus was there not looking away with indifference but fully engage because it's a story of Shadrach me shack in a Bendigo in the burning fire. One night Nebuchadnezzar has a crazy dream given to him by God and in this training. He saw this great image and he didn't understand it and so he called in all of his soothsayers and clairvoyants of astrologers and palm readers and all the rest of the guys you dabbled in all this wickedness some black magic. If you want to call it that.

That's it.

Okay you guys if you're worth anything. Tell me what I just read and tell me what it means they settled on you. Tell us what you got double interpreted all you right in other words, you'll just make up something if you're worth anything, you'll know the dream and the interpretation.

So what is it so we there's no way you could know this all really good and you are all dead men and have all put to death. So now there only to be executed and so they show up at the house of Daniel Shadrach me shack in the Pentagon say the kings really ticked off. It all of you advisors are all gonna die Daniel so far. What is happening. Well, he had this dream and he does know the dream means to me sometime when we pray about it, so Daniel praise and the Lord reveals to him the dream of the King and the interpretation he shows up in front of the king says here's what you dread, you saw giant image and it had a head that was made out of gold and it had arms of silver belly and thighs of brass legs, a barn fee to play in a rock came out of a mountain encrusted toes that your dream yes it will to.

Here's the interpretation Daniel went on to explain and then the king sent a response in Daniel 247 your God is a God of gods and the Lord's overall King sees a revealer of mysteries for you been able to reveal the secret. After this, you would've thought that Nebuchadnezzar would've believed in the Lord God in your life apparently knew about God, but he didn't know God is chapter 3. Open around 16 to 20 years have passed and the king is erected a 90 foot statue of himself covered in gold. It was the ultimate sulfate.

There was then he said okay and I want everybody to fall down and worship this image standing up like three sort Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo or the King's or have a soft spot for okay because I'm to give me another chance. You know, I know you reconsider. Come on to spout down like you guys like Avenue around the palace to crank up the theme song is down in your knees and everybody else everything to be great. Here's a response. Daniel 317 were thrown into the blazing furnace. He will rescue us from your power, your majesty, but even if he doesn't, you can be sure will never serve your God.

You know he's really ticked off.

Look at what happens. Daniel 319. Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo.

His face became distorted with Ray to see that happen this week and some assume that I was Nebuchadnezzar held dear.

You define me, the most powerful man on earth he commanded the furnace we heated seven times hotter than usual, and he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo throw them into the blazing furnace so they tied them up room in the furnace, fully clothed, because the king and his anger that demanded such a hot fire in the furnace.

The flames leapt out and killed the soldiers as he threw the three men in so Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo securely tied fell down under the roaring flames then suddenly as he was watching Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed it was advisors didn't we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace. Yes, your Majesty, that's what we did look says Nebuchadnezzar, I see four men unbound walking around in the fire, they arty been hurt by the flames and the fourth is like the son of God while I love the passage so what's going on here will and fairness. This phrase, the son of God could also be translated son of the God's. I don't know that Nebuchadnezzar thought this was Jesus or had any concept of Jesus, but I think that he just knew over that dude was. He was powerful and he didn't want to mess with them but they were in this large furnace walking around like it's a stroll in the park and there is not three verse four. And I believe it was Christ himself, walking with Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo in the fiery furnace might've even brought some sunscreen I don't know but listen I told the story to my grandkids the other night and they said, but Papa Jesus is in the Old Testament. He was born again, he is in the New Testament, which is a pretty good insight for little kids right to send you guys are actually right. But don't forget Jesus is always existed. He's part of the Trinity and he pops up in the Old Testament to and when he does, we call it a Christ often and I believe this is a Christ. Often the word Jesus makes an appearance. Walking with them and you know what when you're going to your fiery trial is with you as well. Jesus said low. I am with you, even to the end of the eight and Jesus said in Hebrews 13. I will never know never know.

Never leave you or forsake you back to my pyromania. Unlike my situation where I put my army men in my grandparents floor furnace. Jesus is not looking away. He's watching you he's engaged with you.

He's helping you and he is there with you in fact were told in James one I told you to turn there as well. James one from a modern translation says that all kinds of trials and temptations trodden here lies my brothers don't treat them as intruders but Fred realized they come to chest your faith and to producing you a quality of endurance and let the process go on until you are fully developed and find that you become men of mature character men and women of integrity with no weak spot for Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message in just a moment or so encouraged when we hear the pastor Greeks teachings are making an impact on people's lives and relationships dear Pastor Greg message.

He recently gave about going to seminar casting forgetting that my flesh didn't want to do and I know that obedience brings a blessing and we are to be obedient to God and not R/I don't know how your message came to me today. They came at the right time God is never late right gives us what we need when we need it and I needed your message today. Pastor Greg May God bless you and your family. It's a blessing to know that God is using his word to touch hearts, pastor, Greeks studies impacted your life would you let him know drop an email to grading@harvest.org now more for pastor Greeks message: staying cool when things get hot. Why does God allow trials what is going to have us go through hardships. Here's a simple answer. God allows trials in our lives, so we will grow up spiritually by going to the gym you go to the gym to work out.

You effectively break down muscle to build up muscle. One problem people have sometimes as they try to do too much weight too many reps and they get themselves in trouble.

You need to build up to it. Be careful. And then as you get stronger you can handle more weight you can handle more reps, etc. but that is how you get stronger and I go to the gym.

I don't go that often.

I don't like to go to the gym. I'm always happy when I leave it I'm I like to be done with it. I don't understand people say just had a good workout plot good just like a guy endurance. I put up with it because my case. As you get older it's about maintaining mobility. Now you see is not just doing weights is mobility. Get up from C to don't see you know you move bend over things like that. Sometimes people is getting older soon on this old old you are Jennifer to theirs that I know I've just defended a bunch of people but just remember what I have one finger pointing out. I have three pointing back at me like you can stop the aging process. But you have something to say about the shape herein. It's on the same way. Spiritually will say oh it's so hard to be a Christian woman he strength that will maybe you need a good workout and you know what you did to get that workout you get it in fiery trials in difficult situations. Trials are like God gym were broken down in order to be built-up. You need to go through them. It'll make you stronger. As a result, trials produce something easy times will not produce and that is spiritual toughness.

James 13 says, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience, patience is an unfortunate translation.

I would say it comes from a Greek word that means toughness, heroic torrents or perseverance. So the way you get stronger is by going through difficult situations that bolster and build up your faith and if you don't go through these times your faith is going to remain weak and ineffective.

You want to grow spiritually, you have to get through these things, so don't run from them, as we already read that one translation don't treat these things as intruders but as friends. So you might pray Lord use me for your glory just blessed me today in the trial, using supreme Lord must be a problem with our connection. I prayed for a blessing and a trial came I did mess for a trial asked for a blessing that you know the trials can be blessings in disguise because they're preparing you you want to be that blessing you must be prepared to be whipped into shape by God himself. That's why James is counted all joy when you fall into various trials and that can be translated multicolored trials. Each one is a little different than the one that preceded it. So look there going to come. There's no getting around these things.

You will be tested. The question is will you pass or fail, Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo pass the test with flying colors.

The king had to back up and change his tune. How do they do it.

They didn't. By making this then earlier in life.

When the foundation of life is laid, and then they were able to make the stand. Later in life when they were more set in their ways.

Listen wrong to be pressured to bow before some kind of idol in our life.

John reminds us in his epistle, little children, keep yourself from idols and I lose anyone or anything that takes the place of God is a 90 foot golden image qualify absolutely does a supercool car that you're obsessed with qualified possibly does your cell phone that you can go 2 inches without qualified baby could a relationship he and I could be, especially if it was more important than your relationship with God. Could a career being idle. I think it could be worse here so obsessed with being successful that it brings problems in your spiritual life is nothing more important to you than God himself. Lots of things can become idols. Lots of things can take the place of God in our life.

So let's be careful to not bow before any of them because all of us will have our faith tested. Some of you are having it tested right now some situation.

You've recently gone through and and it was hard for you to stand up and say I'm a Christian. I believe this would do that thing. And as you stand up for him. He will stand up for you. It'll be worth it. You'll see is coming world leader one day that will be very similar to Nebuchadnezzar he to correct an image and he too will demand worship.

The Bible calls him the Antichrist, the beast initially will emerge on the scene is a man of peace, what solutions to all the conflicts that we see around the planet today but then he will reveal his true colors because one of the things Antichrist will do as he will rebuild the temple, there will be 1/3 temple for the Jewish people in the Israel and in the temple he will rent an image of himself and command everyone to worship Jesus in Matthew 24 called this the abomination of desolation.

He says when you see the abomination of desolation and then he says let the reader understand that's interesting because some people say where you can understand Bible prophecy. It's much too complex really will. Jesus said, let the reader understand that I told you the word revelation means unveiling it is God's desire not to conceal but to reveal to uncover to make it clear. In fact, in Daniel chapter 12.

Remember we read earlier that some of these Jews are going to be revealed to believers living in the last days. I believe were in the last days and I believe an antichrist is coming, it's possible this man is alive on earth. Even today, but there is already the spirit of antichrist out there.

I don't mean literal antichrist. I mean it's anti-Christ, the prefix anti-can also be translated instead of Christ. There's a mentality of things that are offered to us instead of Christ or sometimes in opposition to Christ. So we have a choice in life.

Antichrist were Jesus Christ hell or have that's our choice that we make in life is one day this man will come on the scene is going to be a bad time and will be during the tribulation. That is coming upon the earth, but we have a promise that for all to believers. Jesus will come and catch us to be with him in heaven before any of this even begins. And I believe on the go are you coming with me about a preacher that was talking to this church. How many of you want to die and go to heaven one day everybody raise her hand. One little boy wasn't raising his hand up the preacher said son don't you want to die and go to heaven one day says yes, but I thought you were getting a load up right now and we want to die. Now nobody wants to die at all and if in fact you are the generation that is walking this earth when Christ comes for his people.

You actually will not die caught up in the presence of the Lord. It's a glorious thing will that's escapism you better believe it. It's escapism. I call it the great escape and it'll be there for every follower of Christ. Now look if that doesn't happen in my lifetime and I don't know that it will, I hope will when I die I'll go to heaven. So one way or another I'm going to heaven. That's why Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo could face off with Nebuchadnezzar because they were in a win-win situation then you no matter what date we don't want to go to that stinking fiery furnace working to go to heaven. Working to live forever. Only the Christian house and hope. So I ask you in closing you have that whole, as you listen to this message right now. Are you certain that if you were to die today. You would go to heaven. Similarly, you know I'm trying to be a good person from a good person and I'm religious. I'll get they haven't really no heaven is not for good people that were good." Heaven is not for religious people. Heaven is for forgiven people. The only way I'll get to heaven is by being forgiven of your sin and the only way you can be forgiven of your sin is by asking Jesus Christ to do it because only Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sin that so we sing about the cross all the time to talk about his death all the time and celebrate his resurrection all the time because at the cross.

He defeated death, and he forgives sin, but you must ask him to forgive you. So in closing were going to pray. If you've ever asked Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sin if you don't have the confidence that you will go to heaven when you die when it's you respond to this invitation that I want to extend now in prayer. If you need Jesus in your life. Please respond as we pray let's all pray father, thank you for your word to us, Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to this earth and walking among us in living a perfect life then dying a perfect death and rising again from the dead and now we pray for every person that is listening. If they don't know you personally Lord that they just know about you, but they don't know you, let this be the day when everything changes in Jesus name I pray for Pastor Greg Laurie, if you know you need to make a change in your relationship with the Lord today.

Pastor Greg will help you with that in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning wraps up with pastor Greg you just released her new book, Lennon Dylan, Alice and Jesus yeah and were making it available right now through a new beginning. Yes, let me ask you in researching and writing the book what you suppose rock stars and for that matter. Celebrities of all different stripes. Why do they seem to self-destruct so often. I think a lot of these folks are our damaged goods and so many of them come from broken homes, so many of them come from horrible backgrounds or they come from horrible poverty or something else and and they want to be noticed. They want their life to matter. They want their life to have meaning and I think there's actually searching for fulfillment through fame and fortune their thinking. If I can one day be famous if I could one day live in a mansion if I can 1 Day Dr., Rolls-Royce or Ferrari or whatever it is that I one day he had people chanting my name that would bring happiness and of course that's not true and they climbed to the top of the mountain and they find out there's nothing there so I think many of them are really just on a search for the meaning of life, but they are born with the talent as a singer as an actor as a performer of some kind and so many of them rocket quickly to the top and then is like the worst thing that can happen when you don't have a support structure to help you deal with all that adulation, fame and success in all that money you make. I mean, I know it's a cliché when we read the stories of these folks said just spend money like crazy and they find themselves bankrupt and then trouble will be there not prepared for that kind of a life they just like to sing or are they like the performer they like to do something else and then they have this incredible success that can be absolutely. In many cases devastating to them but I think a lot of these guys are searching for peace and meaning. Why are they here on this earth.

It just about this. Don't take the wrong course in life don't think that things will fill that void in your life or a career will do it, or success will do it, or sex will do it, or any other thing. What you really want what you really need is a relationship with Jesus Christ and discover his plan for your life and get to know him and then you'll have that happiness and that peace that you've longed for throughout your entire life is right is such a strong evangelism tool and a fascinating group of many biographies of so many of the names we know well the subtitle is the spiritual biography of rock 'n' roll and would like to send you pastor Greg's new book, Lennon Dylan, Alice, and Jesus is her way of saying thank you for your investment in these daily studies where completely listener supported. We couldn't be here each day without the generosity of listeners like you.

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Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or go online to harvest.org Pastor Greg or somebody listening right now knows that they need to ask the Lord to forgive them of their sins. Could you help them with that right now you know a Dave.

I love to do that. It's an amazing thing to me that over the years I've heard so many stories of people who have come to know Christ. Listening to this broadcast and will say things like I prayed the prayer with you with the end of the program that one guy wrote me and said I pulled my car over to the side of the road and prayed that prayer in Christ came in the my life just incredible and I like to lead you in that same prayer look, I don't have some super special prayer it's it's a basic prayer based on scriptural principles of what it means to believe in Jesus Christ.

I mean if we want to get real technical. The only sinners prayer if you will. We often call this prayer a sinner's prayer. The only real sinner's prayer in the Bible is a guy who just prayed God be merciful to me a sinner solidly join a prayer similar to that. But this is a prayer will you will be acknowledging your need for Jesus and putting your faith in him solicit if you want to go to heaven when you die if you want to know that you are a child of God. If you want the Lord to forgive you of your sins.

Just pray these words. If you would, Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner and I'm sorry for my sin and I turn from that sin. But I know that you died on the cross of Calvary for my sin and rose again from the dead, so forgive me Lord, I choose to follow you from this moment forward. I want you to be my Savior. I want you to be my friend. I want you to be my God, thank you for hearing my prayer and answering my prayer in Jesus name I ask this amen. Now I want to help you start growing spiritually so I have something to send you at no charge.

It's my gift to you.

It's called the new believers packet and then it is a copy of the New Testament in a very friendly understandable translation called the new living translation also has some notes that I wrote hundreds of notes. Actually, that will encourage you in this commitment you've made these notes will answer a lot of the questions you probably have right now there's some other materials in this packet as well so order your copy of the new believers packet immediately and thanks for giving me the opportunity to lead you on that prayer and I wanted to be the first to save you. Welcome to the family of God element vessel in our contact information so you can get that free new believers growth packet. Just call us at 1-800-821-3300 were here 24 seven to take your call. That's 1-800-821-3300 or write a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or go online to harvest.org and click on know God will Pastor Greg takes us into the fourth chapter of Daniel urging message called no one is beyond the reach of God join us here on a new beginning. Pastor and Bible teacher Greg for an new beginning for podcasts made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God if this show has impacted your life. Share your story, leave a review on your favorite podcast and help others find help