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It Is Written with John Bradshaw | John Bradshaw - Daniel The Prophet: The Fiery Furnace | April 6, 2025
- ♪[dramatic, triumphant theme music]♪
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- ♪[music ends]♪♪
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- ♪[reflective music]♪
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- >>john bradshaw: in the third chapter of the book of daniel
- 00:00:21.377 --> 00:00:23.947
- We find a story, an historical account
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- That's also prophetic in nature,
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- And it speaks directly to earth's last days.
- 00:00:29.352 --> 00:00:32.689
- The book of daniel was written 2,500 years ago,
- 00:00:32.689 --> 00:00:35.358
- 600 years before revelation.
- 00:00:35.358 --> 00:00:38.428
- It was written to reveal events that would take place
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- In the latter days and at the time of the end.
- 00:00:40.930 --> 00:00:44.701
- As amos wrote, "surely the lord god does nothing,
- 00:00:44.701 --> 00:00:48.071
- Unless he reveals his secret[s] to his servants the prophets."
- 00:00:48.071 --> 00:00:52.208
- The young man daniel who wrote the book of daniel
- 00:00:52.208 --> 00:00:54.677
- Was a slave in babylon.
- 00:00:54.677 --> 00:00:57.046
- Babylon was located in the fertile crescent,
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- A region that stretches north from israel and jordan,
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- Up to lebanon, syria, and southern turkey,
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- And down through iraq and iran to about the persian gulf.
- 00:01:05.822 --> 00:01:09.993
- Egypt, lydia, and medea were also
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- Significant middle-eastern powers.
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- But babylon was by far the dominant nation.
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- Nebuchadnezzar came against jerusalem three times.
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- On the first occasion in 605 bc,
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- He forced king jehoiakim of judah to break with egypt
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- And sign a treaty with babylon.
- 00:01:29.679 --> 00:01:31.848
- Jehoiakim didn't honor his end of the bargain,
- 00:01:31.848 --> 00:01:34.951
- And things didn't turn out well for him or for judah.
- 00:01:34.951 --> 00:01:39.989
- "the lord sent against him raiding bands of chaldeans,
- 00:01:39.989 --> 00:01:43.593
- "bands of syrians, bands of moabites,
- 00:01:43.593 --> 00:01:46.162
- "and bands of the people of ammon;
- 00:01:46.162 --> 00:01:48.331
- "he sent them against judah to destroy it,
- 00:01:48.331 --> 00:01:50.967
- "according to the word of the lord which he had spoken
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- By his servants the prophets."
- 00:01:53.603 --> 00:01:55.238
- You find that in 2 kings, chapter 24.
- 00:01:55.238 --> 00:01:59.209
- God told judah they would be under babylonian rule
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- For 70 years.
- 00:02:02.612 --> 00:02:04.681
- "after seventy years are completed at babylon,
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- I will visit you and perform my good word toward you,
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- And cause you to return to this place."
- 00:02:12.055 --> 00:02:14.924
- And then we read a well-known bible verse. [whoosh]
- 00:02:14.924 --> 00:02:19.095
- "for i know the thoughts that i think toward you, says the lord,
- 00:02:19.095 --> 00:02:22.332
- "thoughts of peace and not of evil,
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- To give you a future and a hope."
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- Jeremiah 29:11.
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- That was said in the context of god assuring a rebellious people
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- That the trial, as severe as it was,
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- Was intended to lead them to a better future,
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- To a place of faith.
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- The trials god allows to come to you are for the same purpose.
- 00:02:41.951 --> 00:02:46.256
- There might seem to be nothing redemptive
- 00:02:46.256 --> 00:02:48.758
- In a challenging diagnosis or a financial scrape or a job loss,
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- But anything god permits he permits to encourage you
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- To come closer to him.
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- Too often people allow their trials
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- To push them away from god. it shouldn't be that way.
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- Hardships are a time to lean in to god,
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- Not to get angry with god or harden your heart.
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- Judah was going into 70 years of captivity.
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- God was permitting that for their good.
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- [whoosh] ♪[orchestral music swells]♪
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- [tinkling sound of wind-blown sand]
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- [whoosh, distant bell rings]
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- [wind blowing, sand swishing]
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- Without a doubt, one of the most remarkable stories
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- In the entire bible is found in daniel, chapter 3.
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- First, let's recap.
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- While a teenager, daniel was taken from his home in judah,
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- Forcibly relocated to babylon,
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- And pressed into the service of the king of babylon.
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- In chapter 1, when beginning their training,
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- Daniel and his friends refused to eat the food
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- Provided by the king, choosing instead of follow a simple diet
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- That honored god. they excelled.
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- And when the king himself examined them,
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- They were found to be "ten times better"
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- Than all of their colleagues.
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- Then in daniel 2, daniel interpreted the king's
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- Remarkable dream of a statue made from gold, silver,
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- Brass, and iron, standing on feet of iron and clay.
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- A stone, cut out without hands, not of human origin,
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- Crashed into the image and broke it to pieces,
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- And the entire thing was swept away,
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- While the stone became a great mountain that filled the earth.
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- That's the return of jesus.
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- Daniel interpreted this dream to mean that kingdoms would arise,
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- First babylon, then medo-persia,
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- Then greece and rome, and then rome would divide.
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- Daniel predicted in around 600 bc
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- What would take place in the world
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- Over the next 2,500 years and beyond.
- 00:04:49.345 --> 00:04:53.649
- Daniel's predictions have proven to be stunningly accurate.
- 00:04:53.649 --> 00:04:57.587
- Clearly, the word of god can be trusted and believed.
- 00:04:57.587 --> 00:05:02.925
- And now the incredible daniel, chapter 3,
- 00:05:02.925 --> 00:05:05.728
- A life-and-death story that prefigures events
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- In the end of time.
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- It's a story with big implications,
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- And if you consider it carefully, it will shine a light
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- On the prophecies of earth's final days.
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- After the dream of daniel 2,
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- The image made from different metals,
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- King nebuchadnezzar had his artisans construct an image
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- Made entirely out of gold.
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- His dream had made clear that babylon would not last forever,
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- But here, he shook his fist in god's face,
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- Making it clear that in his mind
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- Things were going to work out differently.
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- The story starts bluntly:
- 00:05:43.533 --> 00:05:46.169
- "nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold."
- 00:05:46.169 --> 00:05:50.039
- And it was like nothing that had ever been seen.
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- Its "height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits.
- 00:05:53.509 --> 00:05:58.147
- "he set it up in the plain of dura,
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- In the province of babylon."
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- Sixty cubits high is around 90 to 100 feet, around 30 meters.
- 00:06:01.751 --> 00:06:06.289
- Now, babylon used the sexagesimal system
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- Of numbering, a system based on the number six.
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- Most nations today use the decimal system,
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- Based on the number 10.
- 00:06:15.598 --> 00:06:17.767
- The babylonian system gave us 60 seconds in a minute,
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- 60 minutes in an hour, 360 degrees in a circle, and so on.
- 00:06:21.204 --> 00:06:26.776
- And if you're wondering about 666 in the book of revelation,
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- You're making a good connection--
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- With that number connecting directly to babylon.
- 00:06:33.516 --> 00:06:37.420
- So, this image was roughly the height of a nine-story building.
- 00:06:37.420 --> 00:06:42.058
- Whether that was all statue or if the height
- 00:06:42.058 --> 00:06:44.427
- Included a pedestal, we really don't know,
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- But either way it was tall.
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- And being as it was erected on a plain,
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- It would have been visible for miles.
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- Solid gold, gleaming in the shining middle-eastern sun--
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- The king was making a statement.
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- He summoned anyone who was anyone to come
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- To the dedication of the image,
- 00:07:07.350 --> 00:07:09.018
- Something shadrach, meshach, and abed-nego did.
- 00:07:09.018 --> 00:07:12.054
- While they knew this was going in a bad direction,
- 00:07:12.054 --> 00:07:15.157
- They did everything they could to comply.
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- They were obedient to civil authority
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- As far as they were able.
- 00:07:21.831 --> 00:07:23.533
- But then, [whoosh]
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- "then a herald cried aloud: 'to you it is commanded,
- 00:07:25.434 --> 00:07:30.373
- "'o peoples, nations, and languages, that at the time
- 00:07:30.373 --> 00:07:33.743
- "'you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre,
- 00:07:33.743 --> 00:07:37.146
- "'and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music,
- 00:07:37.146 --> 00:07:40.983
- "'you shall fall down and worship the gold[en] image
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- That king nebuchadnezzar has set up."
- 00:07:45.221 --> 00:07:47.123
- They knew what god had said:
- 00:07:48.090 --> 00:07:50.393
- "don't make graven images. don't worship them."
- 00:07:50.393 --> 00:07:53.496
- The king had commanded, but god had forbidden.
- 00:07:53.496 --> 00:07:58.000
- So, what do you do in a situation like this?
- 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:00.336
- The herald continued: "and whoever does not fall down
- 00:08:00.336 --> 00:08:03.839
- "and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst
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- Of a burning fiery furnace."
- 00:08:07.643 --> 00:08:09.545
- Now, that upped the ante considerably.
- 00:08:09.545 --> 00:08:12.815
- The passage says that when the people heard the music play,
- 00:08:12.815 --> 00:08:16.452
- They all bowed down and worshiped the golden image.
- 00:08:16.452 --> 00:08:21.657
- Couldn't shadrach, meshach, and abed-nego
- 00:08:21.657 --> 00:08:23.392
- Have found a workaround?
- 00:08:23.392 --> 00:08:24.994
- Couldn't they have bent down to tie their sandals
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- Or to scratch their ankles
- 00:08:27.563 --> 00:08:29.065
- Or to, to look at something on the ground?
- 00:08:29.065 --> 00:08:31.400
- No. they wouldn't even give the impression
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- That they were compromising.
- 00:08:34.403 --> 00:08:36.005
- They didn't want it to even look like
- 00:08:36.005 --> 00:08:38.207
- They were worshiping that statue.
- 00:08:38.207 --> 00:08:40.509
- At that time, someone in the crowd approached the king
- 00:08:40.509 --> 00:08:42.845
- And informed him that shadrach, meshach, and abed-nego
- 00:08:42.845 --> 00:08:45.281
- Did not bow down.
- 00:08:45.281 --> 00:08:46.749
- They were brought before the king, who was furious.
- 00:08:46.749 --> 00:08:51.454
- He told them that if they cooperated, all would be well.
- 00:08:51.454 --> 00:08:54.924
- "but if you do not worship, you shall be cast
- 00:08:54.924 --> 00:08:57.927
- "immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
- 00:08:57.927 --> 00:09:01.697
- And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?"
- 00:09:01.697 --> 00:09:05.401
- They were facing certain death,
- 00:09:06.369 --> 00:09:09.305
- Caught between courage and compromise,
- 00:09:09.305 --> 00:09:12.141
- Caught between what they knew to be right and saving their lives,
- 00:09:12.141 --> 00:09:15.678
- Between obeying god and paying the ultimate price.
- 00:09:15.678 --> 00:09:20.883
- ♪[somber music]♪
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- What do you do when you're a young man,
- 00:09:22.184 --> 00:09:25.087
- You're in proximity to wealth and position,
- 00:09:25.087 --> 00:09:27.723
- You've got a great job in the king's inner circle,
- 00:09:27.723 --> 00:09:30.793
- And the most powerful man on the planet says,
- 00:09:30.793 --> 00:09:34.330
- "worship an idol or else,"
- 00:09:34.330 --> 00:09:36.999
- And when everyone else is doing it?
- 00:09:36.999 --> 00:09:40.369
- Peer pressure is nothing new.
- 00:09:40.369 --> 00:09:42.938
- Whether it's teenagers experimenting with drugs,
- 00:09:42.938 --> 00:09:45.641
- Alcohol, or immorality, the culture at work
- 00:09:45.641 --> 00:09:48.911
- And the pressure to go along with the crowd,
- 00:09:48.911 --> 00:09:51.547
- The pressure to lie to get ahead or to misrepresent the facts
- 00:09:51.547 --> 00:09:55.151
- To get more sales, it's real.
- 00:09:55.151 --> 00:09:57.820
- The eyes of a nation were on three foreigners who didn't eat
- 00:09:57.820 --> 00:10:02.892
- The same food or drink the same wine or worship the same gods
- 00:10:02.892 --> 00:10:07.596
- As everyone else there that day.
- 00:10:07.596 --> 00:10:10.800
- What would they do?
- 00:10:10.800 --> 00:10:12.935
- You know, god is looking for people who will dare
- 00:10:12.935 --> 00:10:16.338
- To live their faith, who'll take their cue not from other people
- 00:10:16.338 --> 00:10:20.943
- But from heaven, who rely on the bible as their guide for life,
- 00:10:20.943 --> 00:10:26.816
- Even when other people don't.
- 00:10:26.816 --> 00:10:29.585
- God is looking for people who've looked at the cross
- 00:10:29.585 --> 00:10:32.588
- And decided they want to honor jesus.
- 00:10:32.588 --> 00:10:34.924
- And if you've ever wondered how that works out,
- 00:10:34.924 --> 00:10:37.560
- Watch and see what happens next.
- 00:10:37.560 --> 00:10:40.896
- The boys responded, "o nebuchadnezzar,
- 00:10:40.896 --> 00:10:43.499
- "we have no need to answer you in this matter.
- 00:10:43.499 --> 00:10:46.402
- "if that is the case, our god whom we serve
- 00:10:46.402 --> 00:10:49.271
- "is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace,
- 00:10:49.271 --> 00:10:52.975
- And he will deliver us from your hand, o king."
- 00:10:52.975 --> 00:10:56.479
- Was this bold? was it courageous?
- 00:10:56.479 --> 00:10:58.948
- No. it's what people of faith do.
- 00:10:58.948 --> 00:11:03.953
- The king asked, "who is the god who [is able to] deliver you
- 00:11:03.953 --> 00:11:06.689
- From my hands?"
- 00:11:06.689 --> 00:11:07.923
- Well, shadrach, meshach, and abed-nego knew who that god was.
- 00:11:07.923 --> 00:11:12.895
- Keep this in mind--when another pagan ruler had sought
- 00:11:12.895 --> 00:11:17.366
- To kill god's people, god opened up the red sea.
- 00:11:17.366 --> 00:11:21.203
- Israel escaped, and the pharaoh lost his life.
- 00:11:21.203 --> 00:11:25.207
- They knew that story.
- 00:11:25.207 --> 00:11:26.709
- Only 100 years or so before this, an angel slew
- 00:11:26.709 --> 00:11:30.546
- 185,000 assyrian soldiers
- 00:11:30.546 --> 00:11:35.217
- As they were positioned to attack jerusalem.
- 00:11:35.217 --> 00:11:37.720
- The boys knew that story.
- 00:11:37.720 --> 00:11:40.022
- Only a couple of years before this,
- 00:11:40.022 --> 00:11:42.191
- They'd been faithful to god when they just arrived in town,
- 00:11:42.191 --> 00:11:44.493
- And subsequently god revealed to daniel the king's dream
- 00:11:44.493 --> 00:11:48.764
- And what it meant.
- 00:11:48.764 --> 00:11:50.933
- God had come through for the hebrew boys and for his people
- 00:11:50.933 --> 00:11:54.737
- Again and again, and they knew this.
- 00:11:54.737 --> 00:11:57.239
- So they had reason to be confident
- 00:11:57.239 --> 00:11:58.741
- In god's providence now.
- 00:11:58.741 --> 00:12:01.343
- And that's true for you.
- 00:12:01.343 --> 00:12:03.345
- You have the entire history of the bible demonstrating to you
- 00:12:03.345 --> 00:12:07.750
- That god is faithful.
- 00:12:07.750 --> 00:12:08.918
- You have your own experience of how god time and again
- 00:12:08.918 --> 00:12:12.922
- Has come through for you, provided for you,
- 00:12:12.922 --> 00:12:14.623
- Done wonders for you.
- 00:12:14.623 --> 00:12:16.959
- When a friend of mine was visiting a prison,
- 00:12:16.959 --> 00:12:19.628
- He spoke to a rough inmate about god.
- 00:12:19.628 --> 00:12:21.730
- The man said he wasn't interested.
- 00:12:21.730 --> 00:12:23.599
- He said god wasn't real.
- 00:12:23.599 --> 00:12:24.834
- So my friend asked him, "was there ever a time in your life
- 00:12:24.834 --> 00:12:31.173
- When god did something for you?"
- 00:12:31.173 --> 00:12:32.541
- The man thought about that.
- 00:12:32.541 --> 00:12:34.443
- He said, "you know, there was a time, one time."
- 00:12:34.443 --> 00:12:37.913
- He said, "i was fleeing the police
- 00:12:37.913 --> 00:12:41.183
- "when i lost control of the stolen car i was driving.
- 00:12:41.183 --> 00:12:44.520
- "it went up a bank, launched into the air; it flipped
- 00:12:44.520 --> 00:12:48.123
- "and was going to land right on its roof.
- 00:12:48.123 --> 00:12:50.059
- I called out, 'god, save me!'"
- 00:12:50.059 --> 00:12:52.595
- He said, "everyone who saw the car afterwards was convinced
- 00:12:52.595 --> 00:12:55.231
- There's no way anyone could have made it out of there alive."
- 00:12:55.231 --> 00:12:58.834
- The man walked away without a scratch.
- 00:12:58.834 --> 00:13:01.570
- A week later, after reflecting on that,
- 00:13:01.570 --> 00:13:03.606
- That man gave his heart to jesus,
- 00:13:03.606 --> 00:13:06.508
- And he's a christian today.
- 00:13:06.508 --> 00:13:08.344
- You don't want to forget what god has done.
- 00:13:08.344 --> 00:13:12.014
- A friend of mine texted to let me know
- 00:13:12.014 --> 00:13:13.883
- That wildfires were heading towards his house.
- 00:13:13.883 --> 00:13:16.852
- His neighborhood was burning street by street,
- 00:13:16.852 --> 00:13:20.256
- And the flames were now at the top of his street.
- 00:13:20.256 --> 00:13:23.759
- Now, my wife and i, we prayed.
- 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:25.327
- No doubt others were praying as well.
- 00:13:25.327 --> 00:13:27.463
- We prayed specifically that god would change the direction
- 00:13:27.463 --> 00:13:30.466
- Of the wind and spare our friend's home
- 00:13:30.466 --> 00:13:32.935
- And the other houses on his street.
- 00:13:32.935 --> 00:13:35.671
- He got back to me later. the wind changed direction.
- 00:13:35.671 --> 00:13:40.109
- His house and the other houses on that street were spared,
- 00:13:40.109 --> 00:13:44.747
- Even though all around them
- 00:13:44.747 --> 00:13:47.116
- Houses were completely destroyed.
- 00:13:47.116 --> 00:13:49.018
- Now, come on. how good is our god?
- 00:13:49.018 --> 00:13:51.720
- So when you hear stories like that
- 00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:53.222
- Or you experience something like that,
- 00:13:53.222 --> 00:13:55.224
- Remember those stories and let them grow your faith
- 00:13:55.224 --> 00:13:58.560
- And strengthen your confidence in god.
- 00:13:58.560 --> 00:14:01.030
- That's what shadrach, meshach, and abed-nego did.
- 00:14:01.030 --> 00:14:04.700
- They remembered god's greatness.
- 00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:08.570
- And notice what they said:
- 00:14:08.570 --> 00:14:10.239
- "our god whom we serve is able to deliver us
- 00:14:10.239 --> 00:14:14.376
- "from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us
- 00:14:14.376 --> 00:14:18.414
- "from you hand, o king.
- 00:14:18.414 --> 00:14:20.449
- "but if not, let it be known to you, o king,
- 00:14:20.449 --> 00:14:24.019
- "that we do not serve your gods,
- 00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:26.822
- Nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."
- 00:14:26.822 --> 00:14:30.826
- That is faith!
- 00:14:30.826 --> 00:14:34.964
- "god can deliver us. we believe god will deliver us.
- 00:14:34.964 --> 00:14:38.400
- "but if he doesn't,
- 00:14:38.400 --> 00:14:39.635
- We're still not going to worship your image."
- 00:14:39.635 --> 00:14:42.204
- That's one of the greatest stands made in the entire bible.
- 00:14:42.204 --> 00:14:46.809
- It's like joseph: i'm not sinning against god.
- 00:14:46.809 --> 00:14:49.778
- It's like jacob:
- 00:14:49.778 --> 00:14:51.213
- "i will not let you go unless you bless me!"
- 00:14:51.213 --> 00:14:53.949
- It's like abraham:
- 00:14:53.949 --> 00:14:55.617
- "god [shall] provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering."
- 00:14:55.617 --> 00:15:00.556
- God is able.
- 00:15:00.556 --> 00:15:04.360
- "but if he chooses not to, if we burn,
- 00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:08.697
- We're still not bowing down."
- 00:15:08.697 --> 00:15:11.133
- What an example!
- 00:15:11.133 --> 00:15:12.801
- Anyone can have faith when things are going smoothly.
- 00:15:12.801 --> 00:15:15.337
- The test of your faith is what you do
- 00:15:15.337 --> 00:15:17.973
- When you don't get what you ask for.
- 00:15:17.973 --> 00:15:21.310
- Does the fact that someone was not healed
- 00:15:21.310 --> 00:15:23.012
- Mean that god isn't god?
- 00:15:23.012 --> 00:15:24.780
- You didn't get the job, and, and now god stopped being god?
- 00:15:24.780 --> 00:15:27.916
- Your spouse leaves you, your kids make poor decisions,
- 00:15:27.916 --> 00:15:30.519
- You were victimized somehow, and god is no longer god?
- 00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:35.024
- That cannot be true.
- 00:15:35.024 --> 00:15:36.125
- Even when things are rough, god is still god.
- 00:15:36.125 --> 00:15:41.563
- So what does the most powerful man in the world do
- 00:15:41.563 --> 00:15:44.867
- When three teenagers defy him?
- 00:15:44.867 --> 00:15:48.337
- And what does god do?
- 00:15:48.337 --> 00:15:49.838
- Nebuchadnezzar was so mad the expression on his face changed,
- 00:15:49.838 --> 00:15:53.409
- And he gave the command
- 00:15:53.409 --> 00:15:54.476
- To heat the furnace seven times higher than usual.
- 00:15:54.476 --> 00:15:58.847
- Now, whether that's actual seven literal times high
- 00:15:58.847 --> 00:16:02.551
- Or symbolic doesn't really matter.
- 00:16:02.551 --> 00:16:04.353
- He made it hotter, and in iraq, with its abundant resources
- 00:16:04.353 --> 00:16:09.058
- Of oil and so forth, he had the means to do so.
- 00:16:09.058 --> 00:16:12.161
- He gave the order for the young men
- 00:16:12.161 --> 00:16:13.395
- To be cast into a fiery furnace.
- 00:16:13.395 --> 00:16:15.731
- And the heat was so intense that the soldiers,
- 00:16:15.731 --> 00:16:19.368
- Who threw those young men into the flames,
- 00:16:19.368 --> 00:16:21.670
- Were themselves killed.
- 00:16:21.670 --> 00:16:24.039
- In those boys went.
- 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:26.708
- Three young men, likely still teenagers,
- 00:16:26.708 --> 00:16:30.546
- Cast into a furnace like garbage might have been.
- 00:16:30.546 --> 00:16:34.149
- Their lives sacrificed because of the arrogance and pride,
- 00:16:34.149 --> 00:16:39.354
- Because of the rebellion in the heart of a man
- 00:16:39.354 --> 00:16:41.490
- Who one chapter earlier had said,
- 00:16:41.490 --> 00:16:44.526
- "truly your god is the god of gods,
- 00:16:44.526 --> 00:16:47.096
- The lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets."
- 00:16:47.096 --> 00:16:50.566
- But none of that is what's most fascinating about this story.
- 00:16:50.566 --> 00:16:54.470
- As i said earlier, this story is history--and prophecy.
- 00:16:54.470 --> 00:16:59.741
- It's a story about what happened about 600 years
- 00:16:59.741 --> 00:17:01.944
- Before jesus was born.
- 00:17:01.944 --> 00:17:03.479
- And it's a story about what is going to happen
- 00:17:03.479 --> 00:17:06.882
- In the end of time before jesus returns.
- 00:17:06.882 --> 00:17:10.285
- As we've learned, the book of revelation is built
- 00:17:10.285 --> 00:17:13.122
- Upon the book of daniel, and because history repeats,
- 00:17:13.122 --> 00:17:18.160
- We're going to see the same scenario
- 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:20.162
- Repeated in the close of time.
- 00:17:20.162 --> 00:17:22.898
- In daniel 3, a king makes an image and commands people
- 00:17:22.898 --> 00:17:27.769
- To worship it, contrary to the word of god.
- 00:17:27.769 --> 00:17:30.839
- In revelation 13, in the heart of the global end-time conflict,
- 00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:36.178
- There's another image, an image to the beast.
- 00:17:36.178 --> 00:17:40.349
- Verse 15 says, [whoosh]
- 00:17:40.349 --> 00:17:42.184
- "he was granted power to give breath
- 00:17:42.184 --> 00:17:43.919
- "to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast
- 00:17:43.919 --> 00:17:46.321
- "should both speak and cause as many
- 00:17:46.321 --> 00:17:49.024
- As would not worship the image of the beast to be killed."
- 00:17:49.024 --> 00:17:54.029
- An image again--this time, not an actual statue
- 00:17:54.029 --> 00:17:59.168
- But an image of a likeness to the beast of revelation 13,
- 00:17:59.168 --> 00:18:04.640
- Combining the trappings of religion
- 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:08.043
- And the might of the state.
- 00:18:08.043 --> 00:18:09.878
- Just as we see in daniel 3.
- 00:18:09.878 --> 00:18:13.682
- Just as nebuchadnezzar compelled the conscience of all,
- 00:18:13.682 --> 00:18:16.185
- The same will happen again.
- 00:18:16.185 --> 00:18:18.187
- And just as the king of babylon threatened the faithful ones
- 00:18:18.187 --> 00:18:21.590
- With death, revelation 13 says
- 00:18:21.590 --> 00:18:23.959
- The same scenario will play out once more.
- 00:18:23.959 --> 00:18:27.129
- Those who won't worship the image of the beast
- 00:18:27.129 --> 00:18:30.132
- Will be threatened with death.
- 00:18:30.132 --> 00:18:31.733
- No, god's not trying to scare anyone--that's the devil's mo.
- 00:18:31.733 --> 00:18:35.938
- God's trying to prepare everyone.
- 00:18:35.938 --> 00:18:40.042
- Christianity is surrendering your heart to jesus
- 00:18:40.042 --> 00:18:42.678
- So that when things are going well,
- 00:18:42.678 --> 00:18:44.479
- You're turning to him like a flower turns to face the sun.
- 00:18:44.479 --> 00:18:47.216
- And when things are not going so great, you'll do the same.
- 00:18:47.216 --> 00:18:52.354
- And in all things, you'll be faithful,
- 00:18:52.354 --> 00:18:54.289
- According to god's word.
- 00:18:54.289 --> 00:18:56.625
- But this story that overshadows events
- 00:18:56.625 --> 00:18:59.394
- To take place in the world at the end of time,
- 00:18:59.394 --> 00:19:02.497
- How did this story turn out?
- 00:19:02.497 --> 00:19:05.000
- What became of the three young men thrown into a kiln
- 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:09.838
- Heated seven times hotter than usual?
- 00:19:09.838 --> 00:19:14.309
- "these three men, shadrach, meshach, and abed-nego,
- 00:19:14.309 --> 00:19:18.480
- "fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
- 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:23.885
- "then king nebuchadnezzar was astonished;
- 00:19:23.885 --> 00:19:26.688
- "and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors,
- 00:19:26.688 --> 00:19:31.059
- "'did we not cast three men bound into the midst
- 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:34.730
- "of the fire?' they answered and said to the king,
- 00:19:34.730 --> 00:19:36.965
- "'true, o king.' 'look!' he answered,
- 00:19:36.965 --> 00:19:41.169
- "'i see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire;
- 00:19:41.169 --> 00:19:46.375
- "'and they are not hurt,
- 00:19:46.375 --> 00:19:48.410
- And the form of the fourth is like the son of god.'"
- 00:19:48.410 --> 00:19:54.783
- The three worthies, as they're often called,
- 00:19:54.783 --> 00:19:57.886
- Weren't harmed by the flames of that furnace
- 00:19:57.886 --> 00:20:01.023
- Or troubled by the intense heat.
- 00:20:01.023 --> 00:20:03.625
- Instead, when they stood for god,
- 00:20:03.625 --> 00:20:06.261
- Jesus appeared and stood for them.
- 00:20:06.261 --> 00:20:09.531
- The pagan king was able to say he saw a fourth person
- 00:20:09.531 --> 00:20:13.135
- Who was like the son of god
- 00:20:13.135 --> 00:20:15.570
- Because he had seen jesus in them.
- 00:20:15.570 --> 00:20:18.640
- He called to them to come out of the furnace,
- 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:20.342
- "these men on whose bodies the fire had no power;
- 00:20:20.342 --> 00:20:23.979
- "the hair of their head was not singed
- 00:20:23.979 --> 00:20:26.048
- "nor were their garments affected,
- 00:20:26.048 --> 00:20:27.749
- And the smell of fire was not on them."
- 00:20:27.749 --> 00:20:31.320
- All that was damaged by the fire
- 00:20:31.320 --> 00:20:34.389
- Were the babylonian ropes that bound them.
- 00:20:34.389 --> 00:20:37.125
- See, when god allows you to step into the furnace of affliction,
- 00:20:37.125 --> 00:20:40.362
- It's to burn out of your life whatever is babylonian.
- 00:20:40.362 --> 00:20:44.800
- As malachi wrote, "he shall purify the sons of levi...,
- 00:20:44.800 --> 00:20:48.470
- "that they may offer unto the lord
- 00:20:48.470 --> 00:20:50.772
- An offering in righteousness."
- 00:20:50.772 --> 00:20:53.709
- Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying,
- 00:20:53.709 --> 00:20:55.644
- "'blessed be the god of shadrach, meshach,
- 00:20:55.644 --> 00:20:59.181
- "'and abed-nego, who sent his angel and delivered his servants
- 00:20:59.181 --> 00:21:01.817
- "'who trusted in him, and they have frustrated the king's word,
- 00:21:01.817 --> 00:21:05.320
- "'and yielded their bodies,
- 00:21:05.320 --> 00:21:06.988
- "'that they should not serve nor worship any god
- 00:21:06.988 --> 00:21:10.759
- "'except their own god!
- 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:12.461
- "'therefore i make a decree that any people, nation,
- 00:21:12.461 --> 00:21:16.231
- "'or language which speaks anything amiss against the god
- 00:21:16.231 --> 00:21:19.968
- "'of shadrach, meshach, and abed-nego
- 00:21:19.968 --> 00:21:22.170
- "'shall be cut in pieces,
- 00:21:22.170 --> 00:21:24.639
- "'and their houses shall be made an ash heap;
- 00:21:24.639 --> 00:21:27.843
- "because there is no other god who can deliver like this.'
- 00:21:27.843 --> 00:21:31.747
- "then the king promoted shadrach, meshach, and abed-nego
- 00:21:31.747 --> 00:21:36.318
- In the province of babylon."
- 00:21:36.318 --> 00:21:39.054
- Looking ahead to earth's last days, we can say with the king,
- 00:21:39.054 --> 00:21:43.058
- "there is no other god who can deliver like this."
- 00:21:43.058 --> 00:21:45.927
- That's 100 percent undeniably true.
- 00:21:45.927 --> 00:21:50.432
- With an eye on the end of time, daniel 3 reveals that god
- 00:21:50.432 --> 00:21:53.602
- Is faithful, he is able, and that he's a great deliverer.
- 00:21:53.602 --> 00:21:58.306
- Three captives revealed to the world,
- 00:21:58.306 --> 00:22:00.208
- In a story that survived more than 2,500 years,
- 00:22:00.208 --> 00:22:05.113
- That when you make a stand for god, jesus stands with you.
- 00:22:05.113 --> 00:22:11.853
- Are you willing to make a stand today?
- 00:22:11.853 --> 00:22:14.923
- Is there an area of your life
- 00:22:14.923 --> 00:22:16.358
- You need to surrender more fully to god?
- 00:22:16.358 --> 00:22:18.760
- Maybe it's a matter of making a decision for the first time.
- 00:22:18.760 --> 00:22:21.930
- Amidst the prophecies and the symbols and the stories,
- 00:22:21.930 --> 00:22:24.766
- We see that daniel is a book of salvation.
- 00:22:24.766 --> 00:22:28.470
- Three chapters in and we see that god is doing all he can
- 00:22:28.470 --> 00:22:32.040
- To reach a pagan king.
- 00:22:32.040 --> 00:22:34.643
- This idolater was special to god,
- 00:22:34.643 --> 00:22:37.446
- As are all the sinners of the world.
- 00:22:37.446 --> 00:22:41.783
- Judah was in babylon so god could get through
- 00:22:41.783 --> 00:22:43.985
- To their hard hearts, and while they were there,
- 00:22:43.985 --> 00:22:47.055
- God wanted to use them to reach this hardened
- 00:22:47.055 --> 00:22:51.726
- Middle-eastern monarch.
- 00:22:51.726 --> 00:22:54.529
- What would become of king nebuchadnezzar?
- 00:22:54.529 --> 00:22:57.999
- Would he give his heart to the god of heaven?
- 00:22:57.999 --> 00:22:59.835
- We'll find that out next time.
- 00:22:59.835 --> 00:23:01.937
- But what will become of you?
- 00:23:01.937 --> 00:23:04.406
- Jesus died for you.
- 00:23:04.406 --> 00:23:05.974
- God wants for you to be in heaven.
- 00:23:05.974 --> 00:23:10.212
- The spirit of god is speaking to your heart,
- 00:23:10.212 --> 00:23:13.815
- Inviting you to make a decision for jesus.
- 00:23:13.815 --> 00:23:18.653
- Why don't you make that decision for jesus now?
- 00:23:18.653 --> 00:23:21.423
- Invite him to take your sins and give you the gift
- 00:23:21.423 --> 00:23:25.594
- Of everlasting life, knowing that he will.
- 00:23:25.594 --> 00:23:29.097
- Jesus died for you. god loves you.
- 00:23:29.097 --> 00:23:32.334
- And if you'll make the decision right now,
- 00:23:32.334 --> 00:23:34.870
- You can become a saved child of god.
- 00:23:34.870 --> 00:23:39.241
- Now, there's something i want you to see,
- 00:23:39.241 --> 00:23:40.842
- Something i'd like to give you.
- 00:23:40.842 --> 00:23:42.043
- It's a little book that i've written to go along
- 00:23:42.043 --> 00:23:43.778
- With this very series of programs.
- 00:23:43.778 --> 00:23:46.014
- It's absolutely free, and i'd love you to get it right now.
- 00:23:46.014 --> 00:23:50.318
- >>announcer: to get today's free offer,
- 00:23:50.318 --> 00:23:52.220
- "the stories of daniel,"
- 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:53.722
- Call 800-253-3000.
- 00:23:53.722 --> 00:23:56.424
- That's 800-253-3000.
- 00:23:56.424 --> 00:23:59.661
- You can request "the stories of daniel"
- 00:23:59.661 --> 00:24:01.496
- Online at iiwoffer.com.
- 00:24:01.496 --> 00:24:05.300
- You can write to the address on your screen
- 00:24:05.300 --> 00:24:06.968
- Or text "freedaniel" to 71392.
- 00:24:06.968 --> 00:24:11.106
- "the stories of daniel," faith-building stories
- 00:24:11.106 --> 00:24:14.409
- Given by god to prepare you
- 00:24:14.409 --> 00:24:15.977
- For the major events of earth's last days.
- 00:24:15.977 --> 00:24:19.080
- "the stories of daniel,"
- 00:24:19.080 --> 00:24:21.016
- Call 800-253-3000.
- 00:24:21.016 --> 00:24:23.852
- Go to iiwoffer.com
- 00:24:23.852 --> 00:24:26.521
- Or text "freedaniel" to 71392.
- 00:24:26.521 --> 00:24:30.358
- Grow your faith as you prepare for the return of jesus.
- 00:24:30.358 --> 00:24:33.895
- >>john: thank you for remembering that it is written
- 00:24:35.530 --> 00:24:37.599
- Exists because of the kindness of people just like you.
- 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:41.403
- To support this international life-changing ministry,
- 00:24:41.403 --> 00:24:43.939
- Please call us now at 800-253-3000.
- 00:24:43.939 --> 00:24:48.343
- You can send your tax-deductible gift
- 00:24:48.343 --> 00:24:50.045
- To the address on your screen,
- 00:24:50.045 --> 00:24:51.479
- Or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com.
- 00:24:51.479 --> 00:24:55.550
- Thank you for your prayers and your financial support.
- 00:24:55.550 --> 00:24:57.752
- Our number again is 800-253-3000,
- 00:24:57.752 --> 00:25:01.356
- Or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com.
- 00:25:01.356 --> 00:25:05.060
- >>john: let's pray together now.
- 00:25:06.161 --> 00:25:07.996
- Our father in heaven, in jesus' name we come to you,
- 00:25:07.996 --> 00:25:10.265
- Thanking you that you are a great deliverer,
- 00:25:10.265 --> 00:25:13.001
- Thanking you that you would even go after the heart
- 00:25:13.001 --> 00:25:15.103
- Of a hardened middle-eastern monarch,
- 00:25:15.103 --> 00:25:18.106
- And grateful that in time of huge distress,
- 00:25:18.106 --> 00:25:21.643
- You delivered the three young men who were faithful.
- 00:25:21.643 --> 00:25:25.513
- We are grateful that you deliver us.
- 00:25:25.513 --> 00:25:28.583
- And right now there's somebody in the midst
- 00:25:28.583 --> 00:25:30.418
- Of a, a fiery furnace experience.
- 00:25:30.418 --> 00:25:33.688
- Deliver that one right now,
- 00:25:33.688 --> 00:25:35.690
- Or keep that person's faith strong,
- 00:25:35.690 --> 00:25:39.461
- Even in the midst of difficulty.
- 00:25:39.461 --> 00:25:42.163
- Lord, we look forward to the day when jesus returns.
- 00:25:42.163 --> 00:25:45.634
- We're thankful that one day gravity will lose its hold
- 00:25:45.634 --> 00:25:48.470
- On the soles of our feet,
- 00:25:48.470 --> 00:25:50.138
- And we will go up to be with you forever.
- 00:25:50.138 --> 00:25:55.076
- So now take our hearts, make us yours.
- 00:25:55.076 --> 00:25:58.346
- We believe you're coming back for your own.
- 00:25:58.346 --> 00:26:00.482
- Friend, would you make that decision to jesus right now?
- 00:26:00.482 --> 00:26:03.551
- Would you say, "jesus, be my lord and savior.
- 00:26:03.551 --> 00:26:05.887
- I trust you with my life. change my heart.
- 00:26:05.887 --> 00:26:08.490
- I give it to you now." if you pray that prayer,
- 00:26:08.490 --> 00:26:10.258
- You know that god will do what only god can do.
- 00:26:10.258 --> 00:26:13.695
- Then when we say "amen," you can know that your burden
- 00:26:13.695 --> 00:26:15.897
- Has been taken, your sins have been assumed by jesus,
- 00:26:15.897 --> 00:26:20.735
- And they were borne to the cross for you.
- 00:26:20.735 --> 00:26:23.371
- We thank you, dear lord.
- 00:26:23.371 --> 00:26:24.673
- Keep us, we pray. we trust in you.
- 00:26:24.673 --> 00:26:27.475
- And we believe that the god who saved shadrach, meshach,
- 00:26:27.475 --> 00:26:31.079
- And abed-nego saves us now through faith in jesus.
- 00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:34.582
- In jesus' name we pray. amen.
- 00:26:34.582 --> 00:26:38.286
- Thank you so much for joining me.
- 00:26:38.286 --> 00:26:40.121
- I'm looking forward to seeing you again next time.
- 00:26:40.121 --> 00:26:42.123
- Until then, remember:
- 00:26:42.123 --> 00:26:43.625
- "it is written, 'man shall not live by bread alone,
- 00:26:43.625 --> 00:26:46.828
- But by every word that proceeds from the mouth of god.'"
- 00:26:46.828 --> 00:26:50.398
- ♪[dramatic, triumphant theme music]♪
- 00:26:50.398 --> 00:27:23.531
- ♪[music ends]♪♪
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