Did you know that God uses even Satan to accomplish His purposes? Satan can only do the things that God permits him to do. If even the prince of demons is under God’s control, then how much more are presidents, kings, CEOs, and world leaders under the control of the King of kings and Lord of Lords? In today’s message, as Pastor Mark teaches about Nebuchadnezzar's dream, he shows you that God is in control of all world powers and world events. If God can use even evil kings like Nebuchadnezzar to accomplish His plans, how much more will He use His children to do great things for His glory and our good? 

Have you ever had a situation that made you so desperate for God’s help? Daniel and his three friends sure did! Unless they could do the impossible task of telling the king what his dream was and what it meant, they would be executed! There was nothing they could do except cry out to God for help. In today’s message, Pastor Mark teaches you that turning to God is the best thing you can do during those moments. While others may rely on their own strength, or succumb to fear and panic, as believers, we can put our faith in the God who holds the entire universe in the palm of His hands! What do you need His help with today? 

What are some of the biggest trials and difficulties that God brought you through? Maybe it was illness, broken relationships, or financial struggles. While those experiences were so painful at the time, looking back on them now, you can probably see God’s faithfulness and goodness working through those experiences. Today, Pastor Mark teaches you that as you grow in your faith, God will allow the trials in your life to get more difficult. He does this to show you how far you’ve come, and to teach you how to trust in Him in greater ways. God never allows you to go through trials that you’re not ready for, and He always uses them for your good. 

Have you ever made a stand like Daniel did in refusing to eat food that would defile him? At the moment, it may have not seemed like such a big deal. He just ate a vegetarian diet. But in today’s message, Pastor Mark highlights the importance of being faithful to God in the small decisions and opportunities in your life. In what areas of your life will you commit to being faithful to God? Maybe it’s in your sexual purity. Maybe it’s in your conduct and integrity at work. Commit to being faithful to God in that specific area in your life. God will give you the power to remain faithful, and He will reward you in ways you can’t even imagine!   

Do your non-Christian friends and co-workers know that you’re a Christian because of the things you do and don’t do? Maybe they notice that you don’t use foul language or get drunk. Maybe they’ve seen your work ethic and generosity. In today’s text, we see that Daniel had good judgment and strong convictions to be a faithful witness. Today, Pastor Mark teaches you that, like Daniel, you must let your actions reflect your love and faithfulness to Jesus. Living in a secular culture, it’s easy to compromise your faith and go with the flow of what everyone else is doing. Today, take a stand to be a faithful witness to God instead of conforming to the world.   

Satan is after our children so that he can ruin the next generation. Look at what they’re teaching students today, from elementary schools to universities. Our kids are being indoctrinated to think and act in ways that go against God, from gender fluidity and homosexuality to evolution and denying the existence of God. In today’s message, Pastor Mark teaches that this has been one of Satan’s oldest tactics. We see him doing this to the Jewish teenagers who are taken captive in Babylon along with Daniel and his friends. If you’re a parent, it’s vital to teach your kids God’s truth so that they are not led astray by the lies of this world. 

No child likes to be disciplined, and no parent likes to discipline their child. However, it’s necessary in order to correct the wayward behavior and teach them the proper way. The children may not see or understand the benefits now, but later on, they’ll reap the benefits that the discipline provided for them. In the same way, our heavenly Father also disciplines us because we are His beloved children. In today’s message, Pastor Mark teaches that God disciplined the nation of Israel by sending them to Babylon for 70 years. Afterward, the Israelites never worshipped idols again! In what ways have you benefitted from God’s discipline? 

Many people doubt that the book of Daniel was actually written by the biblical character Daniel because the prophecies contained in the book, written several hundred years before the actual events, are so accurate! They claim that there’s no way that anyone could have predicted those events so far back! In today’s message, Pastor Mark gives you several pieces of evidence to support the historical accuracy of the book of Daniel. But the strongest evidence is that Jesus confirms that the book was written by Daniel. You can have full faith in God’s word because everything He says is true and will be fulfilled! 

As Pastor Mark continues his teaching series, he’ll be reminding you that His people will be kings and priests in the New Jerusalem. God introduces the idea of a royal priesthood, describing Israel as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, and later John writes to the churches explaining that the church is a kingdom of priests also. The four living creatures echo this concept as well in Revelation, singing that God had redeemed people from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and they add that this ethnically diverse multitude is a kingdom of priests. You should be conducting your life here on Earth with this fact in mind!

The New Jerusalem, which is also called the Tabernacle of God, the Holy City, the City of God, and Heavenly Jerusalem, is literally heaven on earth. Today, Pastor Mark will be explaining the symbolism in the beautiful details that God will create in the future for His people who have received Jesus for salvation. The New Jerusalem will be a place of unimagined blessing. The curse of the old earth will be gone, and in the city is the tree of life “for the healing of the nations” and the river of life. The New Jerusalem is the ultimate fulfillment of all God’s promises and is God’s goodness made fully manifest.