Momentum - Learning to Get God's Best for Your Life, Part 2

Let me ask, do you want God's best for your life.

Are you longing for peace for power for vivid answers to prayer and direction that God would give you personally, if that's what you're looking for you to learn how to get that today right here. Thanks for joining us for this Tuesday edition of living on the with Chip Ingram serves as our Bible to daily international discipleship program and debris picture continues his look like then how Daniel in the midst of the wicked culture was able to get God's best for his life, tell the wicked culture partly feel uncomfortably finding God for your life may be a real challenge of you missed the first part of this message. Let me encourage you to download what you think about five days message there and all of the previous messages in the series are already for their pellets. Join Chip for the conclusion of his message.

Learning to get God's best for your life. Daniel chapter 1 there was a reason these 15 and 16-year-old boys and Babylon's wicked, immoral sexual culture were pure. They had parents who taught him.

This is true this is false. This is the true God. These are temptations and false gods. This will allow you to experience grace and the good life and blessing of God and this will bring destruction.

This will be real attractive on the front end and will bring death. This will be hard on the front and and it will bring life choose this day you will serve what that happens with intentionality that happens by modeling the happenings by saying what's going to go into the mind of my life, my kids life. What kind of person am I because here's the deal.

That scary parents unit. We read all these books all these techniques you want to know what you can really be like this, look in the mirror about 20 minutes you like me to think like me to drive like me to people pleasing workaholic like me to drink. Start out with just one glass of wine growing about like me into three or four glass of wine and try to hide it like me to be a secret porn addict like me to get to be a leader like you just let me the greatest parenting advice I can give you is be a great godly person walk with Christ and you know you can mess up a bunch of kids and a polyglot like you, which really takes a lot of pressure off. So is there a second job in positions godly people and places of influence. The reason they ended up in Babylon was God. But it wasn't like eating premise like holy huddle okay with only a small group. Daniel what should we do now really is hide out in the corner.

The castle they ended up the top students.

They ended up the people that led the nation Daniel at one point his life for like tons decades ends up the number two guy calling the shots in the pagan world. Why is get God's best.

Why because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And Daniel said I it's really hard to really upstream, but by my convictions and the courage and I know what's true, I'm to do life God's way. So God place.

Some of you he put you in neighborhoods. He put you as coaches on teams. He put you advice presence in key managers and places all over the place. Why want to take you out. He wants to place you there.

We want the kind of people that are holy and winsome. Not the kind of people hold placards and say that you know God hates people.

Have you ever been to church in a sudden drop in church so I'm around at the church one time is like wow the music was really good. I think that guy really loves God and then to try to get on the parking lot. Everyone is a jerk.

I'm thinking were they in the same room.

See that's a dichotomy, the world looks at us and goes and I hear that Jesus stuff in the Bible on your desk needed by me to go to church.

How come you don't tell the truth and how come he took part of the credit for my business deal and outcome. They don't want you to be perfect.

They know you're not for believe me. And then on not there looking for you to be real and so he then prospers those who follow his ways over the ways of the world. An interesting a lot of really smart guys a lot of really smart people each time. If you read chapter 1 God a favor to Daniel and his friends with the official God gives favor to Daniel before the king.

God gives favor in the chapter 1 ends with a very interesting little line almost miss it. But the very end of chapter 1 ends with verse 21, and Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus. The timeline 539 BC translation for a very very long time. A very very godly man got all of God's best, and he changed his world will how does that play out for us.

Daniel's confidence in God's promises in God's character with the secret to his convictions encourage you everyone is betting their life on a truth proposition. The world has a truth proposition. Cosmo says if you look like this than you be successful and happy and entertainment tonight and eat whatever will tell you this, and Forbes will safe you can get enough of this and that enough zeros enough power then that that's what's going to happen and then people will tell you if you can just be famous and you know your own little American Idol and you can you create Facebook and have a whole world around you, and you can tell people I just burped you know and and I'm going for coffee and my dog in it. You know you're creating no serious are you can make work creating worlds where were the star of our own child, there's a way that seems right to amend the way there and the truth proposition will either be that and that's called the world system, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. That's the Babylonian of our world or you will save yourself into something history personal experience all dictate that you know God has come in the person of Jesus. He lived a perfect life. He died upon the cross for me to demonstrate his love, he rose from the dead, not to some mysterious I need some angel here or there are some wise person who claims to have some experience for over 40 days to 500 eyewitnesses in a resurrected body.

He told us what would happen when would happen and how it's going to happen and he says I love you and I have your best now, take up your cross and follow me swim upstream and I'll put my blessing upon your life, and a blessing upon your relationship and blessing upon your finances and you know what it will be hard it will be difficult, but you'll be the kind of Daniel people set how did you guys stay married after all you've been through. How did you ever forgive him after he did that what what I'm not sure what's going on but you know your kids that make they seem like they actually like you and how they turn out like that and you know what one group of people will say I believe in the character of God that he is good and that he is just the need is holy and I believe the promises in his word are the key to the fear of God and walking in a path that produces the outcomes that he promised and you either do that really cements matches this life even do that dreamily. Some else but the key is people of conviction and people of courage and people that make God's word and the character of God.

The core of their life. It Earth's convictions encourage Seattle. What is that notice conviction is refusing to compromise.

In spite of the cost when there is a big caustic at a cost is like that Daniel didn't compromise his three friends in the fiery furnace.

They didn't compromise we just be 80 years old and it's illegal to pray first thing he does. He opens a window three times a day. He starts crying and he ends up in a lion's den doesn't mean you won't be hard and difficult and painful conviction is refusing to compromise.

In spite of the cost model. I will how to get convictions back there more competent thought. You rub up against people that have Proverbs 1320 he who dwells with wise will be wise, but the companion of the fool suffer harm your kids catch convictions from you. My kids till still the story. I can't even remember the movie was like a PG movie and I still tell the story I dismember is real popular.

I took all my family were sitting in the row and in the first 10 minutes they use God's name in vain.

Three times and I just thought I member sitting there in the spirit of God said now it was a cute little movie.

I can't member what was I will tell you because a new email me my life that I thought was okay to let school skip that. But, but I member watching this movie, the use God's name and I just thought myself.

If they used.please my mother's name when I get upset, wait a second. What you mean. Damn Martha is of my monthly fight over that and so here I am sitting in this cutesy little movie for my kids so I member the guys but it really merely were leaving and unity but yet probably get up on and remember we marched out of there. We went out there and I just told the people you I'm real sorry, but that was very offensive to me that God died me love for me and in my boys will we do that, did you hear with it will yeah but everyone says I know that's not how we can live guys can't.

He loves me. He told me never take his name in vain. How can I passively sit here what people say that and call it entertainment. Think how small that was Butler there in college and coed dorms. They had lots of people from drugs they have much opportunities where they were attracted to someone that they knew really wasn't follow the Lord and had to make tough decisions about their sexuality convictions are cocked parents get caught from you single people who you hang around with will determine you show me your friends show you your future. The second wave convictions is by personal discovery and we have come to the day where we have become. I just call him pablum. Christians I don't if you done this, but my my wife.

I don't really get this. My kids are real small you know women you were to heat stuff. Then you taste it before you give to baby never really like that but it's it's it's it's all ground up and I mean really, really, really round up so it's real real smooth soaks, predigested little babies. Most believers in our day are not eaten spiritual steak and potatoes and serving themselves their own meal. They listen to the radio read over the Christian but this teacher thinks that the city thinks that I always feel really warm and gooey. When I read that guy and you know I don't feel very good sucking up non-Christians on his knee. Me, I'm okay you're okay okay and you know what, there's a place for that, but I got news for you when you're really tempted some little song or what some person thinks on the radio does not have the power to give you the sheer guts encouraged to swim upstream and safe. Thus says the Lord. I have courage and convictions. It comes when your nose is in this book and your reading it little by little and saying God please speak to me.

I know I'm not earning any favor.

I want to know you and when his word comes off the page, and the Holy Spirit codifies it in your heart gives you the power to do what you want to do. The psalmist said if your word had not been on my delight I would've perished in my flexion seek. This is this is your diet Jesus will tell us just a little bit later. That transformation doesn't come by going to religious activities or trying harder. Transformation convictions come when the word of God by the spirit of God in the human heart in the context of community of other people gives birth in your soul where your life changes and so you do what's right, not because you are not or should, but because God says it, and it's a conviction you have is a big difference point convictions and beliefs. I was in college I just made. I just, I didn't actually fill out one of the surrender cards but a few months earlier. I told God I am all in and I really want to walk with you and Emma sincere as I could be in and I was in RA I wanted to make a little extra money residences that you know are you sort of counsel people in the floors and sit in a little box with the window and people sign in and out all that and so we had training they had the psychologist come from Western University and there is 80 of us and one of the exercises we all got against the long wall and they said the middle the room is zero to the far right is 100 points. I highly agree with this statement, and then way way over here after they made it was I totally disagree with the statement so the asphalt currently doing values clarification and sensitivity training so we remember that and so they asked this question, do you believe that premarital sex is okay is 80 people in the room 75 of the people are huddled around the +100 of your okay I mean this is a 70s coed dorms like this crazy sex is available and to people are over here there Christians.

I no longer in this Bible study and their holding hands and there like 100 points. We don't believe that now they didn't have all the research to know the people who live together have sex before marriage of a much higher rate of divorce have a much higher incidence of infidelity have much higher no actual sexual dysfunction. But there's was just a conviction. Look-alike Daniel was just, you know this is wrong because God says that he has first rate sex not second rate sex for us now so you get to people here and yet 75 or 76. Whatever it is, and we have one person write word zero can imagine who this person might be, and he was at the 1 yard line is enough if you would've asked me before Chip deeply criminal sex is okay, no, I believe, but now you put all these good-looking girls that are all gone.

So nothing is okay and to people in a Bible sizing. I really think it's wrong. I want to be, I believe, but I don't want those girls like you know not available using the same you understand the average Christian and our day is filled with beliefs that you think you believe in their not convictions, and under pressure and test you cave and when you cave they have marriages that don't work and death that consumes you and loneliness that haunts you in jobs that are boring because you took it for the money. Instead of for how God made you talking about is God.

Once you get but he says there's a pathway to get his best and that pathway involves his word. His character is truth community of God's people, but it requires convictions not just beliefs but Dana does not convictions and have courage. And so we we miss what courage is. Courage is refusing to conform even when you're afraid they grow out of convictions. Daniel was afraid I've never met anyone has taken a stand is confronted their boss is confronted someone in a relationship.

Who said you know what, I love you you love me, but we have first best, and I know there's economic issues that we can keep living together. Let's spend some time apart.

Let's go through some counseling memos get married six months. But what if I lose, and what if you lose, and that he probably wasn't worth having. You can get real with yourself. We have people that love God with all their heart, and the truth is, you know there's sincere and you will without the prescription drug service people would start out with you and I wind down just one last watch. Fact is, you never had one glass, one for you. You one and done is not a party you and so these addictions occur and there's this pool and there's this.

So many Christians that was sent to kill and break Scott's heart.

They live with this so I know I'm not supposed to be and I'll get his unresolved anger issues and unite all should be doing this and I got this I got that and cuts his how about you ready. Here's the word. How about you repent meta-word is Noya change Noya mind. It's just is just coming to a day like today and realizing you live in a Babylonian culture even inside the church that is filled with the messages of the people in Cosmo and fortune and media that says this is really going to deliver and is not in it, saying you know I'm on the wrong road.

I'm getting off the exit ramp on the do you turn okay got.

I'm really afraid that I want to be on your road. I really want your best, and I'm scared. Courage is doing what you know is right even when you're afraid it grows out of convictions and notice it's it's sustained by comrades. Jesus sums up really all of what Daniel was teaching us in the John eight and Paul does it in Romans 12. Basically what we've heard, if we wanted to summarize always said Daniel's life reveals that getting God's best is a no yes proposition. No longer be conformed to this present world system. No yes. Allow myself to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. It's getting truth and you you heard about written truth and right people and music.

Why so that I can end up religious and weird that would only look at the verse.

What is that what it says so I can never have any fun anymore stop allowing yourself to be conformed to this world but be literally allow yourself to be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you might prove test experience what God's will is this is the good part that which is good, acceptable and perfect and just plug in relationships that are good acceptable and perfect finances that are good acceptable and perfect. A future it's good acceptable and perfect. That's God's will and Jesus says is not about trying hard. It's embracing truth and you can't do it alone brings transformation.

You know the truth and the truth will set you free to very simple things on paper very difficult in real time as I want you to ask and answer the know and the yes question the know question is what or who do you need to say no to experience God's best. As I've been talking as you been listening and some of even try to push it down. That little fluttering that spirit of God to keep saying you need to let go of that you need to make that step one is an and could you please hear Phuket if you could see Jesus right now I'm to be on open please please please I have for you is so much better, but they have to be embraced by the eyes of faith.

That means you have to let go of maybe some friends for some people were some issues. What or who is that for you. The next recommendation is sort of like an opportunity to spiritually dry out. Consider a three, five or 10 day media fast, even after three days shall be completely shocked of how different you look at life you go you go 10 days no turn on the radio in the car. Don't watch any TV and don't surf the net. First of all you get bored and angry and irritable and you wonder why is because your stuff and stuff and there's a reason we eat and were not hungry.

There's a reason we have to turn on stuff all the time. Most of us don't like who we are uncomfortable but once you see that think that's great. Compete with second what do you need to say yes to in order to renew your mind and experience God's good acceptable and perfect will. What if you said you know something I'm gonna take this little book mark in 20 minutes at lunch or 20 minutes before I get out the door for 20 Ms. before I go to bed if I've sort of been in the faith. For a while, but not in the Bible and start the book of James, and I'll just read a paragraph to max but a paragraph or two and unit testing of God, please speak to me in the read paragraph quickly. That's a preview and then I'm gonna read it slowly and out loud and that you not just it's real simple video taken from I read a little bit for letting you meditate in the true sink into your heart and if you're brand-new.

I encourage may start book of Mark, John, on the big ones just read a couple paragraph to renew your mind should write some specific application for today's message. If you're just joining us, listening to Living on the Edge with shipping room chips message today. Learning to get God's best for your life is from his series momentum how to ignite your faith from the base camp of Romans 12 ship leaves this Old Testament trek exploring the lives of some of the most famous men of the Bible from Abraham and Joseph to Moses and Daniel Tripp helps us appreciate how these men of faith lived out the practicalities of true spirituality and with continual encouragement, ship fires, the momentum of our own faith journey.

No momentum is one of those series you're going to want to keep handy and listen to from time to time because these lessons from Chip are well worth revisiting for your convenience, you'll find all of the discounted momentum resources on our website for pricing and ordering information. Just go to LivingontheEdge.org or were always happy to talk with you when you give us a call at 1-888-333-6003. Now here's Chip with a great email before I come back and talk about some real application from Daniel's life. I got an email from a current. Daniel is a really exciting story dear Chip by you discovered a broadcast about a year ago and I was instantly intrigued just kind of the way the messages came off there's something authentic and useful here. Well I got hooked. I began studying taking notes on nearly every sermon series. I'm 24 years old and I started my first real world job right after graduating.

Well, I've never been so alone in all my life I was forced to examine my life because I was miserable and finally came to the realization that I was the only one who could be held responsible for filling that gigantic hole in my heart. Christ was missing was about that time I discovered your radio broadcast and I started reading your book the R12 book Living on the Edge dear to experience true spirituality, you know, it's funny how I relate your journey because I played basketball in college as well and I grew up with this amazing passion for playing ball to the point where the sport in my identity. In it became my idol. Basketball is a great avenue for revealing my deeply rooted pride.

My eyes were opened about how I was driven in large part because of listen to the broadcast and then reading your books I got of the Bible for the first time and as I begin to study, I realized I could be different.

The Holy Spirit did a deep work in my life and now I have drive instead of being driven.

With the help of a lot of people my life. I'm deliberately working on becoming R12 Christian. I've offered my body as a living, moving, sweating, breathing, working, playing and straining sacrificed all the way to overcoming evil with good. I must say my life has never made so much sense. So I never get the chance to save face to face on this side of heaven. Thank you for your assist eternally grateful. Your sister in Christ. I want you to know that those kinda emails are why Living on the Edge exist. It's helping Christians live like Christians and because of your generosity were able to have airtime like what you're listening to right now, and then create small-group material that helps people like you just heard become R12 Christians. I want to thank you very much for your generosity friendship with the Ministry of Living on the Edge is blessed you. Would you consider partnering with us financially. Your support is so appreciated and so needed right now were able to offer resources at substantial discounts, sometimes even giving them away.

Our dream is to see Christians really live like Christians. An important part of the process is helping people get into God's word. When you support Living on the Edge you're helping get biblical resources into the hands of people all over the world. So on behalf of Chip and the staff you're Living on the Edge.

Thank you for your generous support of this ministry sending a gift is easy just go to LivingontheEdge.org and click on the donate button on our homepage or give us a call at 1-888-333-6003 will now here's Chip with some final thoughts from today's talk. Daniel's life is an exciting amazing story of how ordinary regular people like us even without parental support, even in a hostile environment can get God's best and we learn the answer is really embedded in Romans chapter 12 verse two. Don't be or stop allowing the world to conform you to its mold but allow yourself to be transformed by the renewing of your mind that I went through this with the group of 20 young professionals in California and we got to talk about all of this and so let me give you sort of what I learned the most.

What I learned the most was.

They told me the media fast had the biggest impact on them. I mean, these are people that are. I mean there on their iPhones are on the computer there on tea into the whole bit video games and they just said we stopped some for three days, some for seven and we had no idea how much that was influencing our thinking. The second thing they told me was and I watched him. I happen to be traveling and so one of the other guys led part of the group and they actually made each other make commitments of what they were going to memorize out of the Bible and how much they were gonna read me.

They pushed it way more than me and then when I came back they were telling me hate Chip excuse me, but we did this thing last week. It wasn't like in the booklet or something, but we all realize we need to push each other to really make it a priority to memorize some key passages and to really read a lot more than we were. So they do a media fast and they push each other to getting God's word and then I heard the stories of life change. I heard the stories of you know that problem with lust I had in that problem of materialism unit that conflict I had with my girlfriend. Did you get the picture. Know what you need to do. What do you need to say no to and what you need to say yes to in terms of renewing your mind.

Here's what I can tell you go do it.

It work for Daniel got a have it work for you as we ramp up today's broadcast we've been talking about becoming an R12 Christian or as Chip says a Christian that really lives like a Christian from Romans chapter 12 as part of the ongoing ministry of Living on the Edge.

Chip and the team have created R12 online and interactive pathway to becoming an authentic R12 Christian R12 online is a free online Bible study uses interactive tools for deeper study and life application of Romans 12.

If you're looking for an online Bible study tool check out R12 online that LivingontheEdge.org today. Just click, I am all in button will tomorrow.

I'm Living on the Edge. Chip continues his current series momentum how to ignite your free, so be sure to join us that for Chip and the entire team is really saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge