HopeLives365

Guest (Male): God's superstars thrive in adversity. God's superstars understand their identity. You can change Daniel's name, but you can't change his nature.

Narrator (Female): This is Hope Lives 365 with Pastor Mark Finley. Today's message: When God's Passion is My Passion, Part 2. Enjoy and remember you can always catch up with past messages and stay up to date with Hope Lives 365 and Pastor Mark by going to hopelives365.com. And now, Pastor Mark Finley.

Mark Finley: You can change Daniel's country, but you can't change his character. You can change Daniel's home, but you can't change his heart. You can change Daniel's surroundings, but you can't change his spirit. You can change Daniel's master and give him Nebuchadnezzar rather than Jehoiakim, but you can't change his mind.

We look there at First Peter, the second chapter. The New Testament church grew rapidly because there was a sense that, based on the prophetic word of the Old Testament, God raised up a body of believers that would impact the world. That's what enabled young people to become part of the New Testament church. They had a sense of identity. They identified with a movement in New Testament Christianity that was bigger than they were.

First Peter, chapter 2, verse 9 says: "But you are a chosen generation." Now here's Peter speaking to young people in his day, challenging them. He says you're a chosen generation, you're a royal priesthood, you're a holy nation, His own special people. Why? "That you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into this marvelous light."

Jesus raised up New Testament Christianity based on the prophetic word of the Old Testament to share the light and truth of God with the world. Jesus has raised up, based on the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, a last-day, end-time movement with a mission that is far larger than we could possibly accomplish. But empowered by His Spirit to take the gospel to the world, this is the generation that God is calling to understand their identity, to understand who they are and why they exist. There can be no higher calling. There can be no greater task.

During Hitler's Third Reich, millions of Jews were taken. These Jews that were taken were loaded on trains. They were jammed in boxcars. Not only Jews, but many others, but predominantly. As they were loaded on these boxcars, they were jammed together. Some suffocated to death in those boxcars where the conditions were so barbaric and inhuman.

A Jewish prince from a royal family and his son were captured. They were in hiding, and the Gestapo found them. This little boy, 11 years old, was jammed into one of the boxcars with his father. The boy almost died, and he almost was trampled to death as hundreds of people were herded into all these boxcars on the train. As the train rolled on all night, people suffocated in that train boxcar and some fell over dead. But the father knelt down and he kept holding his boy and holding his boy and holding his boy.

In the morning when they got to Ravensbrück, that dreaded concentration camp, the father looked up and saw those words over that iron gate wrought out in iron metal, "Arbeit macht frei," work makes you free. They were to be divided into three groups. The elderly and the sick would be killed in the gas chambers immediately. The young would be taken to another gas chamber and killed immediately. Those that had some measure of health would be forced to work.

The guards tore from that father his young son, that young prince. With tears running down Dad's face, he looked in the eyes of his son and he said, "Son, never forget that you're a prince. Never forget that you have royal blood running through your veins. Never forget who you are."

To a generation of Seventh-day Adventist young people, I say to you today, you've got royal blood running through your veins. It is no accident that God has called you to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Of the millions of young people in the world, God has called you. You are a person of destiny. You are one that of all the billions of youth in the world, God has chosen. You are not here today by accident. Those of you watching on Three Angels Broadcasting, you're not watching by accident. God's calling you to something big, something great for Him. Those of you watching over the internet, you're not watching by accident.

God has raised up an end-time movement, and He invites you to become part of that movement to proclaim His love and His grace to the world. God's superstars thrive in adversity. They know where to place their trust. God's superstars maintain their identity. They never lose sense of who they are in Christ. They never lose sense of why they're here in Christ.

God's superstars maintain their integrity. The Bible says in Daniel chapter 1, verse 8, "God's 21st-century superstars act with integrity." They have a sense of unswerving loyalty to God in their lives. The Bible says Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore, he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

The Bible says Daniel did what in his heart? Daniel purposed in his heart. What's another word for purposed? He decided. Daniel decided. Daniel determined. Daniel declared. Daniel decided in his heart that he would not defile himself. Another word for the heart is in the mind.

The wine flowed and sparkled in the glasses. Everything to tempt the taste and delight the eyes was upon those tables. Every article of sumptuous food that one could imagine was upon those tables. Everything was done to wow their senses. Everything was done to stimulate their senses. Everything was done to attract their taste buds. Everything was done to win their allegiance.

But Daniel purposed in his heart. Daniel decided in his mind. That feast was a feast that night in Babylon in honor to the Babylonian gods and in honor of their victory over Jerusalem. To eat that meat would have been to honor those Babylonian gods. To drink that wine and eat that meat would have been to defile mind and conscience. Since physical, mental, and spiritual natures of human beings are intertwined, Daniel knew that to defile his mind with that wine, even one glass socially, would be to put himself in a position of compromise. Therefore, he purposed in his heart.

Daniel would not yield his conscientious convictions. Daniel purposed, Daniel determined, Daniel decided. Daniel was not concerned about his reputation; he was concerned about his character. Daniel was not concerned about royalty; he was more concerned about loyalty. Daniel was not concerned about pleasing the king; he was concerned about pleasing the King of kings.

Dwight L. Moody once said, "If I take care of my character, my reputation is going to take care of itself." What led Daniel to make such a significant decision? Daniel knew he had royal blood running in his veins, so he didn't need to put royal dainties in his mouth. Daniel knew that he had a mission from a Ruler of the universe. Therefore, he did not need a commission from the ruler of Babylon. Daniel had bowed low before the King of kings in the prayer room, so he could stand tall before the king of Babylon in the throne room. Daniel knew that he had the approval of heaven, so he was willing, if necessary, to be reproved by the king of Babylon.

Prophets and Kings, page 482 says: "But Daniel did not hesitate. The approval of God was dearer to him than the favor of the most powerful earthly potentate, dearer than life itself. He determined to stand firm in his integrity, let the result be what it may." What was important to Daniel? The approval of God. Have you made a decision in your life where you have said the approval of God is the most important thing in my life? When a decision comes between doing what you want to do that may not be in harmony with God's will and doing what you ought to do, what decision do you make?

Narrator (Female): We'll be right back with Pastor Mark Finley. We thank you for listening and hope you're enjoying today's message. Our mission is to attractively present the Christ-centered biblical truths of Scripture in a practical, relevant way to people around the world so that they may experience the abundant life that Christ offers and effectively share with confidence His life-changing truths with others. You can support this ministry and help us reach even more by going to hopelives365.com/donate. And now, back to Pastor Mark Finley.

Mark Finley: You see, conversion comes at the point of a test. Deeper conversions come at the point of a test. When you do God's will when it's already in harmony with your own will, that is no test. But when you make a decision to do God's will when God's will runs contrary to your will, that's a test.

Now, Daniel recognized this vital truth: that if he compromised in this one point, he would continue to compromise. Prophets and Kings says God's richest blessings do not come to those who compromise their integrity. Can you say that together with me this morning? God's richest blessings do not come to those that compromise their integrity. Again: God's richest blessings do not come to those that compromise their integrity.

How many of you want God's richest blessings today? How many of you are going to do your will rather than God's? I knew some people were thinking. That's why you've always got to throw in a trick question. God's richest blessings come from those that do not compromise their integrity. How many want God's richest blessings again? How many want to say, "Lord, whatever You want me to do, I'm going to do it, even if it crosses my own will?" God wants to bless you abundantly.

Now look, I continue the reading of Prophets and Kings, page 482. This is a powerful statement. "Should Daniel and his companions, should they compromise with wrong in this instance by yielding to the pressure of circumstances, their departure from principle would weaken their sense of right and their abhorrence of wrong." See, it's not that the thing you do in compromise is always so grossly evil. It is not the thing you do necessarily, but it's the process that the mind goes through in doing it. Are you with me?

To make a decision that is contrary to the will of God when in my heart I know and am convicted by the Spirit and convicted by the Word it's wrong—it's not always that the thing I do is so wrong, but it is the process that leads me to do it, which is compromise. And one compromise leads to what? The next and the next and the next. Soon I'm doing things that I never imagined that I would ever do.

God is looking for a generation of youth that will maintain their integrity and be loyal to God at any cost in His Word, like Daniel who purposed in his heart to serve God. Daniel would not compromise his integrity by breaking God's law under any circumstances in his life. God's superstars know how to thrive in adversity. God's superstars understand the significance of who they are in Christ and who they are as a final end-time movement. They maintain their identity. They don't compromise their identity. They're unashamed of that identity. They sense that God's raised up a last-day movement.

God's superstars live lives of loyal integrity. Now there is one last thing about them. Daniel chapter 1, verse 9. They know where to place their trust. God's bigger than their problems. They sense the importance of identity, maintaining who they are. They recognize the significance of compromise. They thrive in adversity. They cling to identity. They maintain their integrity. But this last thing about them: they leave a legacy. God's superstars leave a legacy.

Daniel chapter 1, verse 9. Now God brought Daniel into favor and goodwill with the chief of the eunuchs. Because Daniel was loyal to God, Daniel could make an impact on the whole Babylonian Empire. He left a legacy. Daniel chapter 1, verse 20. The Bible says you come to the end of Daniel 1. In all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in his realm.

Daniel was elevated to the head of the class in Babylon. He impressed and influenced the professors and the university of Babylon. When you thrive in adversity, when you understand your identity, when you purpose in your heart to serve God and you maintain your integrity, God blesses what you do and you become an impact on scores of people around you. You leave a legacy. You leave footprints in the sands of time and life for Jesus Christ every place you go. Daniel left a legacy. He was elevated to the highest position eventually next to the king of Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar trusted Daniel. He sensed Daniel was a man of integrity. God honors His superstars. In my imagination, I see three men. They are walking down streets of gold. They're in a land called glory. They're in a place called eternity. And I see Daniel, and he's arm in arm with the man on his right, and that's Nebuchadnezzar. Because in Daniel chapter 4, you have the only chapter in the book of Daniel not written by Daniel. It is Nebuchadnezzar's testimony of coming to a knowledge of the true God through Daniel.

Then I see another man, Cyrus. Daniel influenced him for the kingdom. Daniel left a legacy. Daniel was a difference maker. Daniel was a world changer. Young people today who thrive in adversity, who are not overwhelmed by the little problems of life, young people today who know their identity as Bible-believing Seventh-day Adventist Christians, young people today who purpose in their heart will leave a legacy. They will be difference makers. They will be world changers for Jesus.

If Jesus does not come, when life is over, when you lay in the grave, who's going to stand around reciting all your wonderful accomplishments? Are they going to stand in awe of your titles? Or are they going to share what a spiritual blessing to them you were and the godly life you lived? Are they going to share how compassionate you were, how you listened to their problems, how you encouraged them with a Bible promise, how you helped them carry their burdens, how you shared Jesus and His truth with them? Will they list your degrees, your awards, the number of committees you were on, the amount of money you had? Never.

They will share the blessing you have been to them. Will you leave behind a newspaper column of accomplishments telling people how important and great you were, or will you leave behind a grateful legacy of people that have been led to Jesus Christ because of the legacy you left? You see, there is nothing wrong with titles. Titles are good things to have. But if it ever comes down to the choice between a title and a testimony, take the testimony every day.

Nebuchadnezzar may have had the title, but Daniel had the testimony. Pharaoh may have had the title, but Moses had the testimony. The king of Egypt may have had the title, but Joseph had the testimony. Queen Jezebel may have had the title, but Elijah had the testimony. Herod may have had the title, but John the Baptist had the testimony. King Agrippa may have had the title, but Paul had the testimony. Herod may have had the title, but Peter had the testimony. Pilate may have had the title, but on that cross, with nails through His hands and a crown of thorns upon His head, Jesus had the testimony.

God's superstars have something to live for, to share God's truth with others. God's superstars leave a legacy. They have a task to fulfill. They have a work to finish. One all-consuming passion fills the mind of God's superstars today. They are not interested in their titles. They are not interested in their accomplishments. They are not interested primarily in their bank accounts. They have no self-inflated importance.

God's superstars want to leave a legacy for Jesus Christ. They want, during this time that they're on earth, to impact other lives for the kingdom. One all-absorbing thought influences everything they do. One all-embracing purpose fills their life: to share Jesus Christ and His love with others. Your influence can make a difference. You can leave a legacy for the kingdom today. Would you like to say, "Lord, I am not going to give up in adversity. Whatever the devil throws at me, I know where to place my trust. God is bigger than my problems."

Today, would you like to say, "Lord, I sense that I am part of a movement that is far greater, far bigger than I am. I cannot turn my back on the Christ that's called me to His last-day movement. There's nothing grander, nothing bigger, nothing greater. Lord, when it comes to a decision between my will and Yours, I want to purpose in my heart to serve You. And Lord, the goal of my life, the goal of my life, is to leave a legacy, to touch somebody's life for Jesus, to influence somebody for the kingdom of God."

Everything earthly will be consumed in the flames of the presence of God when He comes. Houses gone. Cars gone. Titles and degrees gone. But one thing will last forever: when you share Jesus with somebody, when you share His truth with somebody, when your heart is filled with a passion to touch somebody for Jesus, that is going to last forever. "So they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and as the stars forever and ever and ever." Do you want to commit your life today to something big? Do you want to commit your life today to something grand? Do you want to say, "Jesus, just now I'm going to stand to my feet and I'm going to say, 'Lord, I want to be part of a generation called by God for this special last-day movement to touch Jesus for His kingdom.'"

Guest (Male): God's superstars thrive in adversity. They know where to place their trust. God's superstars maintain their identity. They never lose sense of who they are in Christ, never lose sense of why they're here in Christ. God's superstars live lives of loyal integrity. One last thing about them: they leave a legacy. God's superstars leave a legacy. They have a task to fulfill. They have a work to finish. One all-consuming passion fills the mind of God's superstars today. They want to leave a legacy for Jesus Christ.

Narrator (Female): You've been listening to Hope Lives 365 with Pastor Mark Finley. We hope you've enjoyed today's message and remind you that you can find more in our many ministry resources at hopelives365.com. And you can support this ministry by going to hopelives365.com/donate. And now, a final thought from Pastor Mark.

Mark Finley: Christ knows your heart. Christ understands your mind. You may be going through some adversity, but Jesus is preparing you to be a superstar for Him. Purpose in your heart to serve God. As Daniel did that, God blessed him. God blessed him, and heaven's blessings were poured out. Daniel left a legacy for all eternity.