Let me ask you, are you longing for peace, for power, for vivid answers to prayer and direction that God would give you personally?
If that's what you're looking for, we're going to learn how to get that today. Thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. Living on the Edge is an international teaching and discipleship ministry motivating Christians to live like Christians.
We're in the middle of our series, Momentum, How to Ignite Your Faith. For the past couple of programs, Chip's been studying the lives of specific Bible characters and unpacking what their examples teach us about following Jesus now. Today, Chip continues looking at the life and faith of Daniel and how amid a wicked and godless culture, he stood firm on God and his promises. Well, there's a lot to get to, so go in your Bible to Daniel chapter 1 as we join Chip for the second half of his talk, Learning to Get God's Best for Your Life. There was a reason these 15 and 16-year-old boys in Babylon's wicked, immoral, sexual culture were pure.
They had parents who taught them, this is true, this is false, this is the true God, these are temptations and false gods. This will allow you to experience grace and the good life and blessing of God and this will bring destruction. This will be real attractive on the front end and will bring death. This will be hard on the front end and it will bring life.
Choose this day who you'll serve. And I tell you what, that happens with intentionality. That happens by modeling it. That happenings by saying, what's going to go into the mind of my life, my kid's life? What kind of person am I? Because here's the deal that's scary. Parents, you know, we read all these books, all these techniques. You want to know what your kids are going to really be like?
Just go home and look in the mirror for about 20 minutes. They're going to be like me! They're going to think like me! They're going to drive like me! They're going to be a people-pleasing, workaholic like me! They're going to drink and start out with just one glass of wine before I went to bed like me and into three or four glass of wine. I'm trying to hide it like me. They're going to be a secret porn addict like me and they're going to be, they're going to be just like you! They're going to be just like me! The greatest parenting advice I can give you is, be a great, godly person.
Walk with Christ, and you know, you can mess up a bunch, your kids will end up probably a lot like you. Which really takes a lot of pressure off. So second, God then positions godly people in places of influence. The reason they ended up in Babylon was God. But it wasn't like, he didn't put them in this like, holy huddle, okay, we're gonna be a small group. Daniel, what should we do now?
We're gonna just hide out in the corner of the castle. They ended up the top students. They ended up the people that led the nation. Daniel, at one point in his life, for like, tons, decades, ends up the number two guy calling the shots in the pagan world, why? Because he's getting God's best, why? Because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
And Daniel said, it's really hard, it's really upstream, but by my convictions and the courage, and I know what's true, I'm gonna do life God's way. And so God placed some of you. He's put you in neighborhoods. He's put you as coaches on teams. He's put you as vice presidents and key managers, places all over the place, why?
He doesn't wanna take you out. He wants to place you there, but he wants the kind of people that are holy and winsome, not the kind of people who hold up placards and say that, you know, God hates people. Have you ever been to church?
See, I didn't grow up in church, so I remember, I went to church one time, and it was like, wow, the music was really good, and I think that guy really loves God. And then I tried to get out of the parking lot, everyone was a jerk. Beep, beep, beep, beep, don't get out, beep, beep, beep.
And I'm thinking, were they in the same room I was in? You understand what I'm saying? And see, that's the dichotomy. The world looks at us and goes, man, I hear that Jesus stuff and a little Bible on your desk and you've invited me to go to church. Well, how come you don't tell the truth and how come you took part of the credit for my business deal and how come they don't want you to be perfect? They know you're not, believe me, and they know I'm not.
But they're looking for you to be real. Yes. And so he then prospers those who follow his ways over the ways of the world. Isn't that interesting?
There are a lot of really smart guys, a lot of really smart people. But each time, if you read chapter one, God gave favor to Daniel and his friends with the official. God gives favor to Daniel before the king.
God gives favor. And the chapter one ends with a very interesting little line. You almost miss it, but the very end of chapter one ends with verse 21, and Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
The timeline, 539 BC. Translation, for a very, very long time, a very, very godly man got all of God's best and he changed his world. Well, how does that play out for us?
Daniel's confidence in God's promises and God's character were the secret to his convictions and courage. See, everyone is betting their life on a truth proposition. The world has a truth proposition. Cosmo says, if you look like this, then you'll be successful and happy. And Entertainment Tonight and E whatever will tell you this. And Forbes will say, if you can get enough of this and that and enough zeros and enough power, then that's what's gonna happen. And then people will tell you, if you can just be famous and be your own little American Idol and you can create Facebook and you have a whole world around you and you can tell people, I just burped, and that I'm going for coffee and my dog. We're creating, no, seriously, are you kidding me?
We're creating worlds where we're the star of our own show. There's a way that seems right to men, but the way therein is death. The truth proposition will either be that, and that's called the world system, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
That's the Babylonian of our world. Or you will say to yourself, you know something? History, personal experience, all dictate that, you know, God has come in the person of Jesus. He lived a perfect life. He died upon a cross for me to demonstrate his love. He rose from the dead, not in some mysterious, I need some angel here or there, or some wise person who claims to have some experience.
For over 40 days to 500 eyewitnesses in a resurrected body, he told us what would happen, when would it happen, and how it's going to happen. And he says, I love you and I have your best now. Take up your cross and follow me. Swim upstream and I'll put my blessing upon your life and a blessing upon your relationships and blessing upon your finances. And you know what? It will be hard, it will be difficult, but you'll be the kind of Daniel that people say, you know, how did you guys stay married after all you've been through? How did you ever forgive him after he did that?
I'm not sure what's going on, but you know, your kids, they seem like they actually like you, and how did they turn out like that? And you know what? One group of people will say, I believe in the character of God that he is good and that he is just and indeed is holy, and I believe the promises in his word are the key to the fear of God and walking in a path that produces the outcomes that he promised. And you'll either do that or you'll believe something else. I mean, that's life. You either do that or you believe something else. But the key is people of conviction and people of courage, and people that make God's word and the character of God the core of their life, it births convictions and courage.
So you ask, well, what is that? Notice, conviction is refusing to compromise in spite of the cost. I mean, there was a big cost. It could have costed his life, but Daniel didn't compromise. His three friends in the fiery furnace, they didn't compromise.
When he gets to be 80 years old and it's illegal to pray, first thing he does, he opens the windows three times a day, he starts praying and he ends up in a lion's den. It doesn't mean it won't be hard and difficult and painful. Conviction is refusing to compromise in spite of the cost. And by the way, well, how do you get convictions?
I'm back. They're more caught than taught. You rub up against people that have them.
Proverbs 13, 20, he who dwells with wise men will be wise, but the companion of a fool will suffer harm. Your kids catch convictions from you. My kids still tell the story. I can't even remember the movie. It was like a PG movie. And they still tell the story.
I just remember it was real popular. I took all my family. We're sitting in the row, and in the first 10 minutes, they used God's name in vain three times. And I just thought, I remember sitting there and the Spirit of God said, now, and it was a cute little movie.
I can't remember what it was. And I won't tell you because then you'll email me, well, I watched that and I thought it was okay, all that, so we'll skip that. But I remember watching this movie, and they used God's name, and I just thought to myself, if they used my mother's name, would I get up and say, wait a second, what do you mean, damn Martha? That's with my mom's name.
I'd fight over that. And so here I am sitting in this cutesy little movie where my kids, and so I remember going, hey, guys, what, Dad? We're leaving. What do you mean we're leaving? We're leaving. Dad, you're an idiot.
Okay, yeah, probably. Get up, we're going. And I remember we marched out of there, and we went out there, and I just told the people, I'm real sorry, but that was very offensive to me. That God died me, love for me, and my boy said, well, what are you doing, Dad? I said, well, did you hear what they said? Well, yeah, but everyone says it, I know. That's not how we're gonna live, guys. Okay, Dad? He loves me. He told me never take his name in vain. How can I passively just sit here and let people say that and call it entertainment?
I mean, think of how small that was. Well, they're in college and co-ed dorms. They had lots of people offer them drugs.
They had much opportunities where they were attracted to someone that they knew really wasn't following the Lord and had to make tough decisions about their sexuality. Convictions are caught. Parents, they'll get caught from you.
Single people, who you hang around with will determine, you show me your friends, I'll show you your future, period. You're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram, and he'll be back to continue today's teaching in just a minute. But first, today is the last day of our mid-year match, so now's the time to partner with us because every dollar we receive until midnight tonight, July 9th, will be doubled for greater impact. To get your gift in, go to livingontheedge.org or call us at 888-333-6003. That's 888-333-6003, or visit livingontheedge.org. And thanks in advance for doing whatever God leads you to do.
Well, here again is Chip. The second way of convictions, it's by personal discovery, and we have come to the day where we have become, I just call them, pablum Christians. I don't know if you've done this, but my wife, I don't really get this. My kids are real small, you know, women, you sort of heat stuff, and then you taste it before you give it to the baby. I never really liked that. But it's all ground up, and I mean, really, really, really ground up. So it's real, real smooth. So it's kind of pre-digested for the little babies.
Tastes terrible. Most believers in our day are not eating spiritual steak and potatoes, and serving themselves their own meal. They listen to the radio, or they read a little bit of a Christian book, and this teacher thinks that, and this teacher thinks that, and I always feel really warm and gooey when I read that guy. And you know what, I don't feel very good, so I think I'll put on a Christian song. God loves me, I love me, I'm okay, you're okay, okay.
And you know what, there's a place for that, but I got news for you. When you're really tempted, some little song, or what some person thinks on the radio, does not have the power to give you the sheer guts and courage to swim upstream and say, thus says the Lord, I have courage and convictions. It comes when your nose is in this book, and you're reading it little by little, and saying, God, please speak to me.
I'm not earning any favor, I want to know you. And when his word comes off the page, and the Holy Spirit codifies it in your heart, it gives you the power to do what you want to do. The psalmist said, if your word had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
See, this is your diet. Jesus will tell us just a little bit later that transformation doesn't come by going to religious activities or trying harder. Transformation, convictions, come when the word of God, by the Spirit of God in the human heart, in the context of community of other people, gives birth in your soul where your life changes. And so you do what's right, not because you ought or should, but because God says it, and it's a conviction you have.
And there's a big difference between convictions and beliefs. I was in college, and I just made, I just kind of, I didn't actually fill out one of those surrender cards, but a few months earlier, I told God I'm all in, and I really want to walk with you. And I was sincere as I could be, and I was an RA.
I wanted to make a little extra money, resident assistant, you know, where you sort of counsel people on the floors and sit in the little box with the window and people sign in and out and all that. And so we had training. They had the psychologists come from Western Union University, and there was 80 of us. And one of the exercises, we all got against a long wall, and they said the middle of the room is zero, and to the far right is 100 points. I highly agree with this statement. And then way, way over here, after they made it, was I totally disagree with this statement. So they asked all kinds, we were doing values, clarification, and sensitivity training.
Some of you will remember that. And so they asked this question. Do you believe that premarital sex is okay? There's 80 people in the room. 75 of the people are huddled around the plus 100 over here, okay?
I mean, this is the 70s, coed dorms, life is crazy, sex is available. And two people are over here, they're Christians, I know them, they're in this Bible study, and they're holding hands, and they're at 100 points. We don't believe in that. Now, they didn't have all the research to know that people who live together and have sex before marriage have a much higher rate of divorce, have a much higher incidence of infidelity, have a much higher actual sexual dysfunction. But theirs was just a conviction, kind of like Daniel was just, this is wrong because God says it, and he has first-rate sex, not second-rate sex for us. Now, so you've got two people here, and you've got 75 or 76, whatever it is, and we have one person right where it's zero. Can't imagine who this person might be.
And he was at the one-yard line. Because, you know, if you would have asked me before, Chip, do you believe premarital sex is okay? No, I don't believe that. But now you put all these good-looking girls that are all going, saying, I think it's okay, and two people on the Bible side are thinking, I really think it's wrong.
I want it to be, I believe, but I don't want those girls thinking I'm, you know, not available, right? You understand what I'm saying? Do you understand the average Christian in our day is filled with beliefs that you think you believe and they're not convictions? And under pressure and test, you cave. And when you cave, then you have marriages that don't work and debt that consumes you and loneliness that haunts you and jobs that are boring because you took it for the money instead of for how God made you. And what we're talking about is God wants you to get the best but he says there's a pathway to get his best and that pathway involves his word, his character, his truth, the community of God's people, but it requires convictions, not just beliefs. But Daniel doesn't have convictions, then he had courage. And we miss what courage is. Courage is refusing to conform even when you're afraid.
They grow out of convictions. I mean, Daniel was afraid. I've never met anyone who's taken a stand, who's confronted their boss, who's confronted someone in a relationship, who said, you know what, I love you, you love me, but we gotta have first best and I know there's economic issues but we can't keep living together. Let's spend some time apart, let's go through some counseling and then let's get married in six months. But what if I lose him? Well, what if you lose him?
Then he probably wasn't worth having. You gotta get real with yourself. We got people that love God with all their heart and the truth is, you know, they're sincere and you know what, without the prescription drugs, they're a mess. We got people that started out with, you know, I'm whined down, it's just one glass of wine.
Fact is, you've never had one glass of wine before you go to bed. You know, one and done is not a part of you. And so these addictions occur and there's this pool and there's this, so many Christians that were such guilt and it breaks God's heart.
They live with this, oh, I know I'm not quite what I'm supposed to be and I don't get these unresolved anger issues and you know, I shouldn't be doing this and I got this and I got that. And God says, how about you, are you ready? Here's the word. How about you repent? Meta, the word is noia. Change, noia, mind.
It's just coming to a day like today and realizing you live in a Babylonian culture, even inside the church that is filled with the messages of the people and Cosmo and Fortune and media that says this is really gonna deliver and it's not. And it's saying, you know, I'm on the wrong road, I'm gonna get off the exit ramp, I'm gonna do a U-turn. Okay, God, I'm really afraid but I wanna be on your road.
I really want your best and I'm scared. Courage is doing what you know is right even when you're afraid. It grows out of convictions and notice it's sustained by comrades. Jesus summed up really all of what Daniel was teaching us in John eight and Paul does it in Romans 12. Basically what we've heard, if we wanted to summarize all that we've said, Daniel's life reveals that getting God's best is a no, yes proposition. No, longer be conformed to this present world system. No, yes, allow myself to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. That's getting truth and you heard about written truth and right people and music.
Why? So that I can end up religious and weird. I mean look at the verse, is that what it says?
So I can never have any fun anymore? Stop allowing yourself to be conformed to this world but literally allow yourself to be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you might prove, test, experience what God's will is. This is the good part. That which is good, acceptable and perfect. And just plug in relationships that are good, acceptable and perfect.
Finances that are good, acceptable and perfect. A future that's good, acceptable and perfect. That's God's will. And Jesus says it's not about trying hard, it's embracing truth and you can't do it alone that brings transformation. You'll know the truth and the truth will set you free.
Two very simple things on paper, very difficult in real time is I want you to ask an answer, the no and the yes question. The no question is what or who do you need to say no to to experience God's best? As I've been talking, as you've been listening and some of you have been trying to push it down, that little fluttering, that spirit of God that keeps saying, you need to let go of that, you need to make that step, what is it? And could you please hear, if you could see Jesus right now, the arms would be out open, please, please, please, please, what I have for you is so much better. But they have to be embraced by the eyes of faith and it means you'll have to let go of maybe some friends or some people or some issues.
What or who is that for you? The next recommendation is sort of like an opportunity to spiritually dry out. Consider a three, five or 10 day media fast. Even after three days, you'll be completely shocked of how different you looked at life.
You go 10 days and don't turn on the radio in the car, don't watch any TV and don't surf the net. First of all, you'll get bored and angry and irritable and you'll wonder why? Because you're stuffing stuff. I mean, there's a reason we eat when we're not hungry, there's a reason we have to turn on stuff all the time.
Most of us don't like who we are or are uncomfortable. But once you see that, think God's grace can deal with it. Second, what do you need to say yes to in order to renew your mind and experience God's good, acceptable and perfect will? What if you said, you know something, I'm gonna take 20 minutes at lunch or 20 minutes before I get out the door or 20 minutes before I go to bed and if I've sort of been in the faith for a while but not in the Bible, I'd start in the book of James and I would just read a paragraph.
Two max, but a paragraph or two. And I'm gonna pray, God, please speak to me and then read the paragraph quickly that's the preview and then I'm gonna read it slowly and out loud and it's real simple. But it'll take it from I read a little bit to letting you meditate and the truth sink into your heart.
And if you're brand new, I encourage you maybe start in the book of Mark or the book of John, one of the big ones and just read a couple paragraphs to renew your mind. You're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram and the message you just heard, learning to get God's best for your life is from our series Momentum. Chip will join us in studio to share some insights from today's talk in just a minute.
You know, sometimes the best way to develop a new skill or habit is by learning from someone with more experience. And that principle is the same for spiritual growth too. And that's what Chip's showing us in this series. Stay with us as we focus on six familiar biblical characters whose lives teach us valuable lessons like overcoming evil with good, discovering your purpose and finding authentic community.
So if you wanna grow your faith, stay with us for every part of this series. Chip's with me in studio now with a super important reminder. Before I come back and provide some specific application to today's message, I just wanna let you know that we're coming to the end of the mid-year match. Today is the last day and I'm so grateful. And I wanna thank all of you that have given so generously up to now.
And I just know because a lot of you are like me and you kinda wait to the last minute, a number of you have intended to, you're going to, you've wanted to, you've decided to do it and then forgot at least two or three times. And I just wanna remind you, never has there been a better time to give to Living on the Edge because together we're reaching the next generation. Together we're equipping pastors and leaders here and around the world.
And together we're discipling God's people. And so I would just ask you to take a moment today and go online and make that gift. Or if you write a check, as long as it's postmarked by midnight tonight, it will be doubled dollar for dollar. We are so grateful for your generosity.
Turn those good intentions into action. It will make a difference in people's lives now and forever. If you'd like to join us, there's never been a better time than today. Thanks to a handful of donors, every gift we receive before midnight tonight will be doubled.
Regular mail needs to be postmarked before midnight. To be part of this mid-year match, go to livingontheedge.org and click the donate button on the homepage or call 888-333-6003. That's 888-333-6003 or visit livingontheedge.org. App listeners, tap donate and thank you in advance for doing whatever the Lord leads you to do.
Well, with that, here's Chip with his application. Daniel's life is an exciting, amazing story of how ordinary, regular people like us, even without parental support, even in a hostile environment can get God's best. And we learned the answer is really embedded in Romans chapter 12, verse two. Don't be or stop allowing the world to conform you to its mold, but allow yourself to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Now, I went through this with a group of 20 young professionals in California and we got to talk about all of this. And so let me give you sort of what I learned the most. What I learned the most was they told me the media fast had the biggest impact on them.
I mean, these are people that are, I mean, they're on their iPhones, they're on the computer, they're on T, you know, the whole bit, video games. And they just said, we stopped, some for three days, some for seven, and we had no idea how much that was influencing our thinking. The second thing they told me was, and I watched him, I happened to be traveling. And so one of the other guys led part of the group and they actually made each other make commitments of what they were gonna memorize out of the Bible and how much they were gonna read.
I mean, they pushed it way more than me. And then when I came back, they were telling me, hey, Chip, excuse me, but we did this thing last week. It wasn't like in the booklet or something, but we all realized we needed to push each other to really make it a priority to memorize some key passages and to really read a lot more than we were.
So they do a media fast and they push each other to get in God's word. And then I heard the stories of life change. I heard the stories of, you know, that problem with lust I had, you know, that problem with materialism, you know, that conflict I had with my girlfriend.
Do you get the picture? Now, what do you need to do? What do you need to say no to?
And what do you need to say yes to in terms of renewing your mind? Here's what I can tell you. Go do it.
It worked for Daniel and God will have it work for you. Great application, Chip, thanks. Hey, before we go, let me give you one last reminder about our mid-year match. So many of you have already been incredibly generous and I want to thank you for partnering with us. But if you've been meaning to and haven't given yet, you have until midnight tonight to be part of our match. Your gifts enable us to help Christians live like Christians before time runs out, go to livingontheedge.org or call 888-333-6003. That's 888-333-6003 or visit livingontheedge.org. App listeners, tap donate and thank you in advance for giving whatever God leads you to give. Well, until next time, this is Dave Druey saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge.
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