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Rick Warren

Rick Warren - When You're Pressured To Conform (Part 2)

June 1, 2025 | S25:E22

Rick Warren - When You're Pressured To Conform (Part 2)
Pastor Rick shares biblical truth and practical tools for living the full life God desires for everyone.
#Faith #TrustGod #Wisdom #Humility #Religion #PromisesofGod #WordofGod #inActive #Courage #RickWarren #Shame #Authority #Reputation #Deception #1Corinthians16:13

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Rick Warren | Rick Warren - When You're Pressured To Conform (Part 2) | June 1, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Pastor rick warren: daniel's character in this story we're
  • 00:00:21.003 --> 00:00:23.305
  • Gonna look at in the weeks ahead has tested many, many times, and
  • 00:00:23.305 --> 00:00:27.142
  • Each time he passed the test, god gives him more influence,
  • 00:00:27.142 --> 00:00:30.946
  • More power, and here's important, more insight.
  • 00:00:30.946 --> 00:00:34.950
  • 1 corinthians 16:13, "stand true to what you believe.
  • 00:00:34.950 --> 00:00:39.888
  • Be courageous.
  • 00:00:39.888 --> 00:00:41.757
  • Be strong!"
  • 00:00:41.757 --> 00:00:43.125
  • And we need women and men of courage today in a culture
  • 00:00:43.125 --> 00:00:47.196
  • That's turning wrong into right, and darkness into light, and
  • 00:00:47.196 --> 00:00:50.866
  • Sweet and bitter, and all those things we looked at last week.
  • 00:00:50.866 --> 00:00:53.735
  • Now, there's a fourth test revealing in daniel's life, and
  • 00:00:53.735 --> 00:00:58.841
  • That is that this test revealed his humility, and god
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  • Loves humility.
  • 00:01:03.479 --> 00:01:04.847
  • And daniel's humility shows in how he was tactful with
  • 00:01:04.847 --> 00:01:08.417
  • The authority.
  • 00:01:08.417 --> 00:01:09.985
  • When he couldn't do what the, the authority asked him to do,
  • 00:01:09.985 --> 00:01:12.654
  • He says, "i can't do this.
  • 00:01:12.654 --> 00:01:13.989
  • It's again--it's against my, my values.
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  • I--it's morally wrong for me.
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  • It's, it's a--violates my conscience."
  • 00:01:18.694 --> 00:01:21.997
  • He still is very tactful with the authority, showing
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  • Great humility.
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  • And the way that daniel made his appeal to king nebuchadnezzar
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  • And the authorities show his respect.
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  • And he knew that god had allowed this pagan leader.
  • 00:01:33.675 --> 00:01:36.378
  • He wasn't a christian, he wasn't a godly man, but he knew he had
  • 00:01:36.378 --> 00:01:39.148
  • Allowed this pagan leader in his life to be his boss.
  • 00:01:39.148 --> 00:01:42.384
  • Some of you have bad bosses.
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  • God allowed them in your life, god allowed them in your life.
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  • And some of you are gonna have bosses who ask you to do
  • 00:01:50.359 --> 00:01:53.128
  • Something that is dishonest, or wrong, or whatever, and you
  • 00:01:53.128 --> 00:01:56.865
  • Gotta know how to make an appeal.
  • 00:01:56.865 --> 00:01:58.734
  • Now here's what the bible says, daniel chapter 1, verse 8 and
  • 00:01:58.734 --> 00:02:01.370
  • The following, "then daniel asked the chief official," this
  • 00:02:01.370 --> 00:02:06.074
  • Is the chief of staff of the palace, "for permission to eat
  • 00:02:06.074 --> 00:02:10.045
  • Other things instead."
  • 00:02:10.045 --> 00:02:11.413
  • No, no, he didn't demand, he didn't, he didn't rebel.
  • 00:02:11.413 --> 00:02:13.649
  • He didn't say, "i demand my rights."
  • 00:02:13.649 --> 00:02:15.117
  • No, he just asked permission, "can i have permission to be
  • 00:02:15.117 --> 00:02:16.785
  • Exempted from this?"
  • 00:02:16.785 --> 00:02:18.654
  • "now god had given the chief official great respect
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  • For daniel."
  • 00:02:22.291 --> 00:02:23.659
  • But this official said to daniel, "i'm afraid of my lord,
  • 00:02:23.659 --> 00:02:28.297
  • The king, who ordered that you eat his food and wine, and if
  • 00:02:28.297 --> 00:02:33.669
  • You aren't as healthy as these other guys in the program,
  • 00:02:33.669 --> 00:02:36.905
  • I fear the king will
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  • Have me beheaded!"
  • 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:39.575
  • Now that's a legitimate concern.
  • 00:02:39.575 --> 00:02:42.544
  • [congregation laughing]
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  • If somebody threatens to cut your head off, that's not
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  • A fake fear.
  • 00:02:48.050 --> 00:02:49.384
  • That's a real fear.
  • 00:02:49.384 --> 00:02:50.719
  • So it says, "so next, daniel talked it over with the guard
  • 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:56.124
  • Appointed to look after him."
  • 00:02:56.124 --> 00:02:57.859
  • See, he's going to a supervisor now.
  • 00:02:57.859 --> 00:03:01.029
  • And notice, he says, "he talked it over."
  • 00:03:01.029 --> 00:03:02.698
  • He doesn't make demands.
  • 00:03:02.698 --> 00:03:04.900
  • He's not belligerent.
  • 00:03:04.900 --> 00:03:06.702
  • He just talked it over, he talked it over.
  • 00:03:06.702 --> 00:03:09.071
  • He gets a discussion, not a demand, "talked it over with the
  • 00:03:09.071 --> 00:03:11.974
  • Guard appointed to look after daniel and his three friends.
  • 00:03:11.974 --> 00:03:14.743
  • And daniel offered a suggestion."
  • 00:03:14.743 --> 00:03:16.678
  • See how humble he is?
  • 00:03:16.678 --> 00:03:18.213
  • He said, "okay, how about this, how about this, you guys?
  • 00:03:18.213 --> 00:03:20.515
  • How about you test us for ten days on a diet, let's just make
  • 00:03:20.515 --> 00:03:26.088
  • It simple, vegetables and water, okay?
  • 00:03:26.088 --> 00:03:28.523
  • Okay, how about that?
  • 00:03:28.523 --> 00:03:29.891
  • You know, that way you don't have to prepare anything.
  • 00:03:29.891 --> 00:03:31.226
  • You have to cook anything just vegetables and water.
  • 00:03:31.226 --> 00:03:33.328
  • So how about this?
  • 00:03:33.328 --> 00:03:34.696
  • We'll do it for ten days and then see how healthy we look
  • 00:03:34.696 --> 00:03:39.034
  • Compared to the young men eating the king's food.
  • 00:03:39.034 --> 00:03:42.738
  • And then you can decide, you can decide," he leaves it up
  • 00:03:42.738 --> 00:03:46.208
  • To this guy, the authority, "'whether or not uh to let us
  • 00:03:46.208 --> 00:03:49.845
  • Continue eating our diet.'
  • 00:03:49.845 --> 00:03:51.680
  • So the attendant, the guard, agrees," fine,
  • 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:54.449
  • Let's try it, okay?
  • 00:03:54.449 --> 00:03:55.784
  • He's getting a compromise here.
  • 00:03:55.784 --> 00:03:57.152
  • Can we have a win-win here?
  • 00:03:57.152 --> 00:03:58.487
  • "and at the end of the ten days, daniel and his friends looked
  • 00:03:58.487 --> 00:04:03.158
  • Healthier and better nourished than any of the others in the
  • 00:04:03.158 --> 00:04:06.361
  • King's training program.
  • 00:04:06.361 --> 00:04:08.297
  • So after that, the guard let them eat their own food," go
  • 00:04:08.297 --> 00:04:11.633
  • Ahead, man.
  • 00:04:11.633 --> 00:04:12.968
  • So he wins.
  • 00:04:12.968 --> 00:04:14.336
  • And when the two or three--"when the 3-year training program was
  • 00:04:14.336 --> 00:04:17.172
  • Completed," this indoctrination program, "all the young men were
  • 00:04:17.172 --> 00:04:21.643
  • Brought to king nebuchadnezzar, who talked with each one of
  • 00:04:21.643 --> 00:04:25.080
  • Them individually.
  • 00:04:25.080 --> 00:04:27.316
  • None of them impressed the king as much as daniel and his
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  • 3 friends.
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  • So they were each promoted to positions in the
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  • King's service."
  • 00:04:37.326 --> 00:04:38.660
  • Circle the word "promoted."
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  • This is the first promotion, we're gonna see five of them in
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  • Daniel's lifetime, that even though he never gives up on his
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  • Integrity, he never compromises his convictions, he still soars,
  • 00:04:45.834 --> 00:04:51.039
  • He still thrives in a pagan, ungodly, secular, anti-culture,
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  • Anti-god culture.
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  • And so, this is the first of his promotions.
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  • He's not just surviving, he's thriving, he's growing
  • 00:05:01.850 --> 00:05:03.919
  • In influence.
  • 00:05:03.919 --> 00:05:05.287
  • Now remember, after three years of training, he's still only 18
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  • Years old.
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  • This guy's a young, young man, he's a young man.
  • 00:05:08.957 --> 00:05:11.560
  • Now, i wanna stop right here before we go any further and,
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  • And explain to you something.
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  • What do you do when someone is in authority and they ask you to
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  • Do something to violate your conscience?
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  • You need to know how to make an appeal.
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  • You need to know how to make your case.
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  • What do you do when somebody in authority asks you to violate
  • 00:05:29.277 --> 00:05:32.948
  • Your conscience, do something you know is wrong, do something
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  • You know would be disobedient to to what god says to do?
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  • Here's what you do, and there's six things.
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  • Daniel did this the right way.
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  • Number one, first thing you do is develop a reputation
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  • For responsibility.
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  • Now, before you ever make an appeal to your employer or
  • 00:05:51.466 --> 00:05:55.437
  • Anybody else, you got to develop a reputation for responsibility.
  • 00:05:55.437 --> 00:06:00.308
  • Notice that in that passage, it said, "the chief officer had
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  • Great respect for daniel."
  • 00:06:03.578 --> 00:06:05.414
  • He had done that.
  • 00:06:05.414 --> 00:06:06.748
  • He had developed a reputation for responsibility.
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  • Evidently, even as a 15-year-old kid, daniel stood out for his
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  • Good attitude, for his responsibility, for his
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  • Consistency, for his loyalty, for his other
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  • Character qualities.
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  • Let me show you a verse.
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  • You might want to write these verses down because they're
  • 00:06:20.295 --> 00:06:21.630
  • Not on your outline.
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  • But the bible says this, proverbs 22:29, "if you do your
  • 00:06:22.998 --> 00:06:27.669
  • Job well, leaders will notice and you will serve
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  • Before kings."
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  • Serve before kings means you're gonna get a promotion.
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  • This literally happened with daniel.
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  • If you do your job well, leaders will notice and you'll serve
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  • Before kings.
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  • The fact is people with great responsibility notice people who
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  • Are responsible.
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  • People with great responsibility, leaders, notice
  • 00:06:51.193 --> 00:06:55.897
  • People who are responsible because they understand how
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  • Important responsibility is.
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  • You see, christians should have the best reputation in
  • 00:07:01.570 --> 00:07:05.407
  • The marketplace.
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  • We should be known as the most responsible employees.
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  • We should be known as the best citizens in the nation.
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  • We should be known as the hardest workers.
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  • We should be known as the most trustworthy people, that we are,
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  • That we're the most consistent.
  • 00:07:24.259 --> 00:07:26.628
  • You see, if you go to work, and you're a slacker, and you
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  • Take time off all the time, and you leave early, and you take
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  • Longer lunch breaks, and you use up office resources, and you
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  • Talk on the phone, and you play solitaire on your computer, and,
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  • And you're just a general slacker, and if somebody comes
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  • Along and says, "i want you to do this," you're like, "well,
  • 00:07:43.945 --> 00:07:46.214
  • I can't because i'm a christian," eh, wrong answer.
  • 00:07:46.214 --> 00:07:50.619
  • They're not gonna pay any attention to you at all.
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  • If, on the other hand, you're the best employee, you're the
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  • Most responsible, you're the most consistent, you're the
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  • Hardest worker, they're gonna listen.
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  • And somebody listens to daniel because he already had a track
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  • Record of being consistent, and he was already, you know, being
  • 00:08:04.833 --> 00:08:11.740
  • Exactly who god wanted him to be.
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  • So, the starting point is to develop a track record.
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  • Now, number two, the second key to making a case is to be humble
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  • Not belligerent.
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  • Be humble, not belligerent, because attitude
  • 00:08:25.287 --> 00:08:29.791
  • Determines acceptance.
  • 00:08:29.791 --> 00:08:31.993
  • When i'm teaching you how to make a case to an authority,
  • 00:08:31.993 --> 00:08:36.364
  • School, work, or whatever, i'm not teaching you how to make
  • 00:08:36.364 --> 00:08:38.767
  • A demand.
  • 00:08:38.767 --> 00:08:42.604
  • Daniel is not--once he's told this new law, he's gonna have to
  • 00:08:42.604 --> 00:08:45.941
  • Eat this food, he doesn't make a sign said, "i won't eat!"
  • 00:08:45.941 --> 00:08:49.811
  • And he, you know, protesting around the courthouse,
  • 00:08:49.811 --> 00:08:53.348
  • "i won't eat!
  • 00:08:53.348 --> 00:08:54.683
  • No bad food!"
  • 00:08:54.683 --> 00:08:56.017
  • You know, he's not turning this into a national situation here.
  • 00:08:56.017 --> 00:09:01.289
  • He's not rebelling.
  • 00:09:01.289 --> 00:09:02.657
  • He's not hardening the attitudes.
  • 00:09:02.657 --> 00:09:04.726
  • He's humbly going behind the scenes, saying, "can we work on
  • 00:09:04.726 --> 00:09:07.829
  • This, okay?
  • 00:09:07.829 --> 00:09:10.332
  • Can we work this thing out?"
  • 00:09:10.332 --> 00:09:11.967
  • He's not making a demand.
  • 00:09:11.967 --> 00:09:13.835
  • He's humble.
  • 00:09:13.835 --> 00:09:15.170
  • He's not belligerent.
  • 00:09:15.170 --> 00:09:16.538
  • Notice this verse, might write it down.
  • 00:09:16.538 --> 00:09:17.872
  • Proverbs 25, verse 6 says this, "when you stand before the
  • 00:09:17.872 --> 00:09:22.577
  • King," and anytime you see the word king in the bible, just
  • 00:09:22.577 --> 00:09:24.646
  • Means a leader, an authority.
  • 00:09:24.646 --> 00:09:26.581
  • Anytime you see somebody, when you stand before somebody in
  • 00:09:26.581 --> 00:09:28.917
  • Authority, your boss or anybody else, the judge or whatever,
  • 00:09:28.917 --> 00:09:32.420
  • "don't try to impress him and pretend to be important."
  • 00:09:32.420 --> 00:09:36.291
  • Like, "well, we've got all this voting block here, and we could
  • 00:09:36.291 --> 00:09:39.127
  • Really take you out of the office," and you threaten them,
  • 00:09:39.127 --> 00:09:42.330
  • Threats never work.
  • 00:09:42.330 --> 00:09:43.732
  • Be humble or you'll stumble.
  • 00:09:43.732 --> 00:09:46.201
  • Develop a reputation for being responsible.
  • 00:09:46.201 --> 00:09:48.136
  • Be humble, not belligerent.
  • 00:09:48.136 --> 00:09:49.771
  • Okay, number three, don't be deceptive or manipulative, don't
  • 00:09:49.771 --> 00:09:55.110
  • Be deceptive or manipulative.
  • 00:09:55.110 --> 00:09:57.145
  • If you've got a case to make with the government, with the
  • 00:09:57.145 --> 00:10:00.148
  • Irs, with your boss, with the teacher, anybody, and you go,
  • 00:10:00.148 --> 00:10:03.718
  • "sorry, i just can't do this, okay?
  • 00:10:03.718 --> 00:10:06.054
  • It's against my conscience.
  • 00:10:06.054 --> 00:10:07.522
  • It violates my beliefs."
  • 00:10:07.522 --> 00:10:11.092
  • You can't lie about it.
  • 00:10:11.092 --> 00:10:12.861
  • And if you try to strengthen your case by being deceptive, or
  • 00:10:12.861 --> 00:10:15.764
  • Manipulative, or deceitful, god does not honor dishonesty.
  • 00:10:15.764 --> 00:10:20.902
  • And if you lie, god says, "okay, you're on your own.
  • 00:10:20.902 --> 00:10:24.139
  • You don't have my defense.
  • 00:10:24.139 --> 00:10:25.840
  • I'm not gonna help you out in this situation because you're
  • 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:27.876
  • Lying about it."
  • 00:10:27.876 --> 00:10:29.244
  • And so you don't try to strengthen your case
  • 00:10:29.244 --> 00:10:31.479
  • With deception.
  • 00:10:31.479 --> 00:10:32.847
  • Here's what the bible says, 2 corinthians 4:2, "we reject all
  • 00:10:32.847 --> 00:10:38.219
  • Shameful and underhanded methods."
  • 00:10:38.219 --> 00:10:40.755
  • In other words, we don't do office politics.
  • 00:10:40.755 --> 00:10:43.892
  • We're not politicking behind the scenes to get the corner office.
  • 00:10:43.892 --> 00:10:46.728
  • "we reject all shameful and underhanded methods.
  • 00:10:46.728 --> 00:10:49.998
  • We do not try to trick anyone and we do not distort the word
  • 00:10:49.998 --> 00:10:54.469
  • Of god."
  • 00:10:54.469 --> 00:10:55.837
  • This is integrity here.
  • 00:10:55.837 --> 00:10:57.172
  • "we tell the truth before god, and all who are honest
  • 00:10:57.172 --> 00:11:01.710
  • Know that."
  • 00:11:01.710 --> 00:11:03.044
  • God will honor your honesty, okay?
  • 00:11:03.044 --> 00:11:05.814
  • Number four, the fourth thing is to appeal to their goals and
  • 00:11:05.814 --> 00:11:11.086
  • Their interest, appeal to their goals and their interests, the
  • 00:11:11.086 --> 00:11:15.523
  • Goals of those in authority or whoever making this law or
  • 00:11:15.523 --> 00:11:18.460
  • Policy that you can't abide by.
  • 00:11:18.460 --> 00:11:20.795
  • You start with what they want, not what you want.
  • 00:11:20.795 --> 00:11:26.034
  • Now this is exactly what daniel does, and he's very wise
  • 00:11:26.034 --> 00:11:29.070
  • In doing this.
  • 00:11:29.070 --> 00:11:30.438
  • And daniel gets the people and goes, "okay, let's, let's look
  • 00:11:30.438 --> 00:11:31.940
  • At this.
  • 00:11:31.940 --> 00:11:33.274
  • I think we got the same goal here.
  • 00:11:33.274 --> 00:11:34.609
  • We're just trying to get at a different way.
  • 00:11:34.609 --> 00:11:35.977
  • You want me to eat this food because the king thinks it'll
  • 00:11:35.977 --> 00:11:37.812
  • Make me more healthy.
  • 00:11:37.812 --> 00:11:39.214
  • Okay, i don't have a problem with that.
  • 00:11:39.214 --> 00:11:40.949
  • I want to be healthy.
  • 00:11:40.949 --> 00:11:42.283
  • In fact, i want to be healthy more than you or the king want
  • 00:11:42.283 --> 00:11:44.686
  • Me to be healthy.
  • 00:11:44.686 --> 00:11:46.020
  • So we don't have a problem with the ultimate goal.
  • 00:11:46.020 --> 00:11:48.056
  • We're just disagreeing on how to get to that goal.
  • 00:11:48.056 --> 00:11:51.626
  • You want me to be healthy, so let's talk about this.
  • 00:11:51.626 --> 00:11:55.764
  • Could we try a ten-day test?
  • 00:11:55.764 --> 00:11:58.800
  • Can you, can you go with me that far?
  • 00:11:58.800 --> 00:12:00.468
  • Can you make that step?
  • 00:12:00.468 --> 00:12:01.836
  • How about we just try a ten-day test and see if it'll work
  • 00:12:01.836 --> 00:12:04.439
  • This way.
  • 00:12:04.439 --> 00:12:05.807
  • And, and then, if it works, great, we got a win-win.
  • 00:12:05.807 --> 00:12:09.043
  • You win, i win, everybody wins, everybody gets what they want.
  • 00:12:09.043 --> 00:12:12.147
  • If it doesn't work, then you decide, okay?
  • 00:12:12.147 --> 00:12:16.050
  • You're still in charge.
  • 00:12:16.050 --> 00:12:17.385
  • You're still the authority.
  • 00:12:17.385 --> 00:12:18.987
  • We--but we're gonna start with your goals."
  • 00:12:18.987 --> 00:12:22.056
  • I wish christians in politics would understand this principle,
  • 00:12:22.056 --> 00:12:26.728
  • That you don't get your way by pressing people and creating
  • 00:12:26.728 --> 00:12:30.799
  • Wars over it.
  • 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:32.167
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:12:32.167 --> 00:12:39.541
  • Pastor rick: friends, one of the most powerful ways you can
  • 00:12:43.344 --> 00:12:46.014
  • Transform your spiritual life is to memorize scripture.
  • 00:12:46.014 --> 00:12:51.119
  • God tells us in proverbs 7:2, "guard my words as your most
  • 00:12:51.119 --> 00:12:55.924
  • Precious possession.
  • 00:12:55.924 --> 00:12:58.359
  • Write them down, and also keep them deep within your heart."
  • 00:12:58.359 --> 00:13:06.267
  • Now here's how i want to help you memorize god's word.
  • 00:13:06.267 --> 00:13:09.304
  • We've put together a new packet,
  • 00:13:09.304 --> 00:13:11.206
  • A new set of cards with verses
  • 00:13:11.206 --> 00:13:13.308
  • From the bible for you to memorize.
  • 00:13:13.308 --> 00:13:15.343
  • They're very beautiful and they
  • 00:13:15.343 --> 00:13:16.778
  • Will keep these bible verses,
  • 00:13:16.778 --> 00:13:18.947
  • God's word, before you
  • 00:13:18.947 --> 00:13:21.049
  • Every day, helping you to memorize the word of god.
  • 00:13:21.049 --> 00:13:25.153
  • I hope you'll take advantage of this new resource.
  • 00:13:25.153 --> 00:13:27.889
  • Female announcer: don't miss this opportunity to get these
  • 00:13:27.889 --> 00:13:30.258
  • Brand-new scripture cards based
  • 00:13:30.258 --> 00:13:31.926
  • On the key verses found in the
  • 00:13:31.926 --> 00:13:33.361
  • Reenergize life guided experience.
  • 00:13:33.361 --> 00:13:36.764
  • All this month, every financial gift received will be matched by
  • 00:13:36.764 --> 00:13:40.134
  • A very generous donor up to $50,000.
  • 00:13:40.134 --> 00:13:44.305
  • Pastor rick: next law, number five, you must choose the right
  • 00:13:47.609 --> 00:13:51.579
  • Place, time, & words.
  • 00:13:51.579 --> 00:13:54.682
  • Choose the right place, the right time, and the right words
  • 00:13:54.682 --> 00:13:58.586
  • To appeal to the authority who've asked you--and by the
  • 00:13:58.586 --> 00:14:01.256
  • Way, if you're a teenager, and you wanna go out on friday
  • 00:14:01.256 --> 00:14:03.524
  • Night, and your parents say no, you need to use these
  • 00:14:03.524 --> 00:14:05.927
  • Laws, okay?
  • 00:14:05.927 --> 00:14:07.829
  • I'm teaching you how to make a case to your parents on this,
  • 00:14:07.829 --> 00:14:12.400
  • And, and the first thing is the right place.
  • 00:14:12.400 --> 00:14:15.904
  • What's the right place?
  • 00:14:15.904 --> 00:14:17.238
  • Always privately.
  • 00:14:17.238 --> 00:14:19.908
  • You don't get authorities to change by confronting them
  • 00:14:19.908 --> 00:14:23.044
  • Publicly and standing on the courthouse steps.
  • 00:14:23.044 --> 00:14:25.513
  • All you do is solidify their opposition.
  • 00:14:25.513 --> 00:14:28.182
  • You make them mad.
  • 00:14:28.182 --> 00:14:29.550
  • They can't lose face.
  • 00:14:29.550 --> 00:14:30.885
  • They can't back down.
  • 00:14:30.885 --> 00:14:32.253
  • But if you go back behind and in a, in a humble and, and simple
  • 00:14:32.253 --> 00:14:36.124
  • Way, "can we work this out?"
  • 00:14:36.124 --> 00:14:38.526
  • And you don't--you do it privately.
  • 00:14:38.526 --> 00:14:42.463
  • You confront, and you make a case, and you, you make your
  • 00:14:42.463 --> 00:14:46.467
  • Appeal to an authority, any authority in your life, you do
  • 00:14:46.467 --> 00:14:48.970
  • It privately, and then you need to do it the right time.
  • 00:14:48.970 --> 00:14:52.173
  • I would not advise you to lobby your parents when they're tired,
  • 00:14:52.173 --> 00:14:57.345
  • Or they've had a bad day, or they're frustrated, or they
  • 00:14:57.345 --> 00:14:59.814
  • Haven't eaten yet.
  • 00:14:59.814 --> 00:15:01.616
  • Wait till the glucose goes up in their body, and they're a little
  • 00:15:01.616 --> 00:15:05.753
  • More relaxed, and, and they're not--there's the right time and
  • 00:15:05.753 --> 00:15:09.290
  • The wrong time to bring up an issue with your husband,
  • 00:15:09.290 --> 00:15:11.926
  • Your wife, or anybody else, right time.
  • 00:15:11.926 --> 00:15:14.529
  • And then the right words means you should do it in a polite
  • 00:15:14.529 --> 00:15:18.800
  • And, and pleasant way.
  • 00:15:18.800 --> 00:15:20.234
  • Let me show you a verse, write this down, proverbs 16:21.
  • 00:15:20.234 --> 00:15:24.639
  • Proverbs 16:21 says this: "a wise mature person is known for
  • 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:31.579
  • His understanding.
  • 00:15:31.579 --> 00:15:33.181
  • The more pleasant his words, the more persuasive he is," the more
  • 00:15:33.181 --> 00:15:39.120
  • Pleasant his words, the more persuasive he is.
  • 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:43.257
  • If you wanna be persuasive, you've gotta be pleasant.
  • 00:15:43.257 --> 00:15:48.062
  • That's what the bible says.
  • 00:15:48.062 --> 00:15:49.497
  • So, why don't you write this down?
  • 00:15:49.497 --> 00:15:51.199
  • I'm never persuasive when i'm abrasive.
  • 00:15:51.199 --> 00:15:55.370
  • Write that down, i'm never persuasive when i'm abrasive.
  • 00:15:55.370 --> 00:15:59.807
  • I wish i could teach that to politicians on both sides of
  • 00:15:59.807 --> 00:16:03.444
  • The aisle.
  • 00:16:03.444 --> 00:16:05.947
  • You don't build yourself up by tearing everybody else down.
  • 00:16:05.947 --> 00:16:10.251
  • You're never persuasive when you're abrasive.
  • 00:16:10.251 --> 00:16:13.388
  • If you've got an arrow to shoot, dip it in honey first, okay?
  • 00:16:13.388 --> 00:16:19.494
  • In other words, you want to, you catch more flies with, with
  • 00:16:19.494 --> 00:16:24.632
  • Honey than vinegar, so you be sweet.
  • 00:16:24.632 --> 00:16:28.536
  • You're never persuasive when you're abrasive.
  • 00:16:28.536 --> 00:16:31.239
  • Now, then number six, the sixth thing when you're making a case
  • 00:16:31.239 --> 00:16:34.175
  • To authority is this: trust god if they reject your appeal.
  • 00:16:34.175 --> 00:16:40.014
  • Trust god if they reject your appeal.
  • 00:16:40.014 --> 00:16:44.786
  • Now, in this case, daniel's appeal worked, but if your
  • 00:16:44.786 --> 00:16:47.989
  • Appeal doesn't work and you've appealed to your boss, "boss,
  • 00:16:47.989 --> 00:16:51.225
  • I can't do this," okay?
  • 00:16:51.225 --> 00:16:54.629
  • Then you hold on to the promise of romans 8:28.
  • 00:16:54.629 --> 00:16:58.599
  • In romans 8:28, that great promise says this, "and we know
  • 00:16:58.599 --> 00:17:02.837
  • That in all things god works for the good of those who love god
  • 00:17:02.837 --> 00:17:09.243
  • According to his purpose."
  • 00:17:09.243 --> 00:17:10.578
  • It's not a promise for everybody.
  • 00:17:10.578 --> 00:17:11.946
  • It's a promise for those who love god and trust his purposes.
  • 00:17:11.946 --> 00:17:15.116
  • God works for good.
  • 00:17:15.116 --> 00:17:16.451
  • Not everything is good in the world.
  • 00:17:16.451 --> 00:17:17.952
  • There are bad leaders in the world, there are bad laws in the
  • 00:17:17.952 --> 00:17:22.223
  • World, there are bad policies in the world, there are bad people
  • 00:17:22.223 --> 00:17:27.061
  • In the world, but god says, "you know what?
  • 00:17:27.061 --> 00:17:29.964
  • I can even use that for good in your life if you will trust me."
  • 00:17:29.964 --> 00:17:34.702
  • All things will work together for good, even the bad stuff.
  • 00:17:34.702 --> 00:17:37.805
  • It's not good, but it's-- it--gotta work it for good.
  • 00:17:37.805 --> 00:17:41.542
  • Now, daniel does all the right things in making his appeal, and
  • 00:17:41.542 --> 00:17:45.613
  • As a result, he gets the exemption.
  • 00:17:45.613 --> 00:17:48.216
  • He doesn't have to violate his conscience.
  • 00:17:48.216 --> 00:17:50.451
  • Now, remember this, this kid is 15 years old, he's taking on the
  • 00:17:50.451 --> 00:17:58.359
  • Most powerful man in the world, he's challenging that guy.
  • 00:17:58.359 --> 00:18:03.331
  • Where in the world did a teenager like that get that kind
  • 00:18:03.331 --> 00:18:06.601
  • Of wisdom, get that kind of grace, and get that kind of
  • 00:18:06.601 --> 00:18:10.605
  • Courage, and that kind of discipline at that young an age?
  • 00:18:10.605 --> 00:18:15.910
  • What gave daniel the courage to stand alone and not conform to
  • 00:18:15.910 --> 00:18:20.915
  • The values of his society?
  • 00:18:20.915 --> 00:18:24.218
  • Well, daniel lived in close relationship to god.
  • 00:18:24.218 --> 00:18:27.121
  • Daniel walked with god.
  • 00:18:27.121 --> 00:18:29.690
  • He knew god as his friend.
  • 00:18:29.690 --> 00:18:31.459
  • He had god's presence in his life, he had god's promises in
  • 00:18:31.459 --> 00:18:34.729
  • His heart, he had god's power in his spirit, he had god's people
  • 00:18:34.729 --> 00:18:39.367
  • Around him, he had god's protection.
  • 00:18:39.367 --> 00:18:41.802
  • He just was fearless.
  • 00:18:41.802 --> 00:18:45.273
  • Now, when you have to confront an authority in your life,
  • 00:18:45.273 --> 00:18:49.410
  • This is gonna happen in your life at some point if it hadn't
  • 00:18:49.410 --> 00:18:51.579
  • Already, you're gonna have to make a moral stand at some
  • 00:18:51.579 --> 00:18:54.815
  • Point, you need to remember four things.
  • 00:18:54.815 --> 00:18:57.685
  • Write these down, four things you need to remember.
  • 00:18:57.685 --> 00:19:00.288
  • When you feel like i'm all alone, i'm out here on a
  • 00:19:00.288 --> 00:19:03.257
  • Limb, and my boss or somebody's asked me to do something
  • 00:19:03.257 --> 00:19:06.627
  • I know--my boyfriend, anybody's asked me to do something i know
  • 00:19:06.627 --> 00:19:08.796
  • Is wrong and i'm feeling all alone, you need to remember
  • 00:19:08.796 --> 00:19:11.799
  • Four things.
  • 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:13.167
  • Number one, i wrote them here on the board, first, i have jesus
  • 00:19:13.167 --> 00:19:16.070
  • With me.
  • 00:19:16.070 --> 00:19:18.272
  • Jesus said, "i will never leave you, and i will never
  • 00:19:18.272 --> 00:19:21.976
  • Forsake you."
  • 00:19:21.976 --> 00:19:23.311
  • So, you're never really ever completely alone.
  • 00:19:23.311 --> 00:19:26.480
  • You may feel alone in that moment, but you're not.
  • 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:30.251
  • Jesus is with you.
  • 00:19:30.251 --> 00:19:31.619
  • He says, "i'm with you."
  • 00:19:31.619 --> 00:19:32.954
  • Number two, he says, "i have the holy spirit in me."
  • 00:19:32.954 --> 00:19:35.957
  • I don't only have jesus with me, i've got god's spirit in me.
  • 00:19:35.957 --> 00:19:40.928
  • And the bible says, "greater is he that is in you, than he that
  • 00:19:40.928 --> 00:19:45.600
  • Is in the world," which means you have an unfair advantage,
  • 00:19:45.600 --> 00:19:49.804
  • 'cause you guys got spirit in you and your carnal boss
  • 00:19:49.804 --> 00:19:53.241
  • Does not.
  • 00:19:53.241 --> 00:19:54.842
  • So, you have the holy spirit, jesus with me, the holy spirit
  • 00:19:54.842 --> 00:19:58.246
  • In me.
  • 00:19:58.246 --> 00:19:59.580
  • Number three, i have the promises of god to me.
  • 00:19:59.580 --> 00:20:03.451
  • There are over 6000 promises from god to you in this book, in
  • 00:20:03.451 --> 00:20:07.955
  • The bible, and you can claim those promises when you are
  • 00:20:07.955 --> 00:20:12.526
  • Going through difficult times.
  • 00:20:12.526 --> 00:20:14.428
  • And not only that, number four, i have god's family around me.
  • 00:20:14.428 --> 00:20:19.734
  • If you don't have a small group, you're not in a member of
  • 00:20:19.734 --> 00:20:22.236
  • A church, you're not gonna have the support to stand alone when
  • 00:20:22.236 --> 00:20:26.240
  • The heat's on in, in your life.
  • 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:28.676
  • Now this message today is desperately needed because, as
  • 00:20:28.676 --> 00:20:32.546
  • I said, as the culture becomes more secular, more hostile to
  • 00:20:32.546 --> 00:20:37.985
  • People of faith, more unbiblical, and anti-christian
  • 00:20:37.985 --> 00:20:42.423
  • Valage--values, the pressure on you to conform is gonna go up
  • 00:20:42.423 --> 00:20:47.261
  • And up and up and not go down, and how you respond, how you
  • 00:20:47.261 --> 00:20:53.567
  • Respond to that is gonna determine how much god is able
  • 00:20:53.567 --> 00:20:57.071
  • To bless your life and whether you will continue to be promoted
  • 00:20:57.071 --> 00:21:00.408
  • And promoted in god's kingdom.
  • 00:21:00.408 --> 00:21:04.078
  • So i wanna end with just some clear advice from saint paul.
  • 00:21:04.078 --> 00:21:07.248
  • I'm gonna read to you, and we'll close with this, 2 corinthians
  • 00:21:07.248 --> 00:21:10.051
  • Chapter 6.
  • 00:21:10.051 --> 00:21:11.585
  • I love it out of the message paraphrase, and it
  • 00:21:11.585 --> 00:21:13.821
  • Pretty much sums up the courage and the character of daniel.
  • 00:21:13.821 --> 00:21:18.859
  • 2 corinthians 6:4--14 to the first verse of 7, chapter 7,
  • 00:21:18.859 --> 00:21:25.900
  • "don't become partners with those who reject god.
  • 00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:30.538
  • How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong?
  • 00:21:30.538 --> 00:21:33.841
  • That's not partnership; that's war.
  • 00:21:33.841 --> 00:21:37.311
  • Is light best friends with darkness?
  • 00:21:37.311 --> 00:21:40.181
  • Does christ go struggle--strolling with
  • 00:21:40.181 --> 00:21:42.216
  • The devil?
  • 00:21:42.216 --> 00:21:43.918
  • Do trust and mistrust hold hands?"
  • 00:21:43.918 --> 00:21:45.820
  • You know, belief and unbelief hold hands?
  • 00:21:45.820 --> 00:21:49.090
  • "who would think of setting up pagan idols in god's
  • 00:21:49.090 --> 00:21:52.093
  • Holy temple?
  • 00:21:52.093 --> 00:21:55.062
  • But that's exactly what we are, each of us is a temple in whom
  • 00:21:55.062 --> 00:22:01.502
  • God lives.
  • 00:22:01.502 --> 00:22:04.004
  • God himself put it this way: 'i'll live in them, and i'll
  • 00:22:04.004 --> 00:22:11.212
  • Move into them; i'll be their god and they'll be my people.
  • 00:22:11.212 --> 00:22:20.187
  • So leave the corruption and the compromise...i'll be a father to
  • 00:22:20.187 --> 00:22:25.559
  • You and you will be my sons and daughters!'
  • 00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:31.832
  • With promises like this,
  • 00:22:31.832 --> 00:22:33.167
  • Dear friends, let's make a clean break with everything that
  • 00:22:33.167 --> 00:22:38.606
  • Defiles or distracts us, both within and without.
  • 00:22:38.606 --> 00:22:45.279
  • Let's make our entire lives fit
  • 00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:48.182
  • And holy temples for the worship of god!"
  • 00:22:48.182 --> 00:22:53.521
  • Let's bow our heads.
  • 00:22:53.521 --> 00:22:56.290
  • The world desperately needs daniels today.
  • 00:22:59.860 --> 00:23:06.500
  • Character doesn't matter anymore to most people.
  • 00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:09.737
  • It just doesn't matter.
  • 00:23:09.737 --> 00:23:12.573
  • But god is looking for men and for women who are unafraid of
  • 00:23:12.573 --> 00:23:18.479
  • Challenging our culture, who are unafraid of the disapproval of
  • 00:23:18.479 --> 00:23:23.517
  • Others, men and women who are daniels, modern-day daniels, who
  • 00:23:23.517 --> 00:23:29.790
  • Have conviction and character rather than compromise and
  • 00:23:29.790 --> 00:23:37.298
  • Caving in to culture.
  • 00:23:37.298 --> 00:23:39.800
  • Instead of conforming, they are being transformed by god.
  • 00:23:39.800 --> 00:23:45.306
  • And this is my challenge to you.
  • 00:23:45.306 --> 00:23:48.476
  • Regardless of what's happened in the past of your life, your past
  • 00:23:48.476 --> 00:23:53.414
  • Is past, it's over, it--what matters is the direction your
  • 00:23:53.414 --> 00:23:56.484
  • Feet are headed right now.
  • 00:23:56.484 --> 00:23:58.686
  • Will you have the courage to be a daniel in your culture?
  • 00:23:58.686 --> 00:24:06.126
  • Will you have the courage to be a daniel where you work,
  • 00:24:06.126 --> 00:24:11.499
  • As a man of god, as a woman of god?
  • 00:24:11.499 --> 00:24:14.668
  • Will you be a daniel and have the courage to stand for your
  • 00:24:14.668 --> 00:24:18.739
  • Convictions where you live, where you go to school,
  • 00:24:18.739 --> 00:24:25.145
  • On that campus?
  • 00:24:25.145 --> 00:24:29.016
  • You might just pray, "dear god, i want to be a daniel.
  • 00:24:29.016 --> 00:24:34.388
  • I want to be a person of integrity, and humility, and
  • 00:24:34.388 --> 00:24:41.028
  • Generosity, and discipline, and courage, and i want your
  • 00:24:41.028 --> 00:24:51.171
  • Blessing on my life more than i want the approval of
  • 00:24:51.238 --> 00:24:55.442
  • Our culture.
  • 00:24:55.442 --> 00:24:58.112
  • And i'm willing to stand unafraid and unashamed.
  • 00:24:58.112 --> 00:25:05.219
  • God, you have told us what to do.
  • 00:25:05.219 --> 00:25:07.922
  • Now give us the courage to do it, in your name, amen.”
  • 00:25:07.922 --> 00:25:13.727
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:25:13.727 --> 00:25:23.270
  • Pastor rick: hi everybody.
  • 00:25:26.807 --> 00:25:28.208
  • Today i want to ask you to join with "daily hope" as we focus on
  • 00:25:28.208 --> 00:25:31.946
  • Fulfilling the great commission of jesus christ.
  • 00:25:31.946 --> 00:25:34.848
  • You know sharing jesus with others is the most important
  • 00:25:34.848 --> 00:25:37.751
  • Thing you can do.
  • 00:25:37.751 --> 00:25:39.119
  • If we join together, we can reach across the whole world
  • 00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:43.157
  • With the message of christ.
  • 00:25:43.157 --> 00:25:44.758
  • Now right now through "daily hope," we're able to take the
  • 00:25:44.758 --> 00:25:47.928
  • Good news of jesus into almost every country of the world,
  • 00:25:47.928 --> 00:25:51.865
  • Including regions where it's difficult or even dangerous to
  • 00:25:51.865 --> 00:25:56.236
  • Share the good news of the gospel.
  • 00:25:56.236 --> 00:25:58.439
  • And it's even being translated into 25 different languages and
  • 00:25:58.439 --> 00:26:02.543
  • Counting, and by translating into these 25 languages, we're
  • 00:26:02.543 --> 00:26:06.981
  • Able to reach over 80% of the world's population.
  • 00:26:06.981 --> 00:26:10.651
  • That's why i'm so excited to
  • 00:26:10.651 --> 00:26:12.152
  • Tell you that some incredibly
  • 00:26:12.152 --> 00:26:14.154
  • Generous friends have stepped
  • 00:26:14.154 --> 00:26:15.823
  • Forward and offered to double
  • 00:26:15.823 --> 00:26:17.558
  • Every single dollar you give
  • 00:26:17.558 --> 00:26:19.893
  • In support of "daily hope."
  • 00:26:19.893 --> 00:26:21.395
  • Thanks to the matching grant, your gift will now go twice as
  • 00:26:21.395 --> 00:26:25.499
  • Far, and together, we can watch god transform the lives of
  • 00:26:25.499 --> 00:26:29.903
  • People with the hope of jesus christ.
  • 00:26:29.903 --> 00:26:34.575
  • Male announcer: when you give to "daily hope," you're helping
  • 00:26:34.642 --> 00:26:37.311
  • Share the hope of jesus with people everywhere.
  • 00:26:37.311 --> 00:26:40.547
  • And right now, your gift will be doubled by the $50,000 matching
  • 00:26:40.547 --> 00:26:45.285
  • Grant, and we'll send you 52 bible memorization cards based
  • 00:26:45.285 --> 00:26:49.923
  • On scriptures found in the "reenergize your life" book.
  • 00:26:49.923 --> 00:26:57.865
  • ♪♪♪
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  • ♪♪♪
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