 Amen well it's great to be here tonight in VBC Fresno and it's great to see you the big crowd that we have here and of course I'm grateful to see brother Jared and Miss Heidi and their family and they were a huge blessing in our church and they're a great blessing here so please pray for them and support them and just take care of them because you know they really helped us out and so it's good to see them and I'm grateful for their friendship and for the great work that they're doing here so it's good to be here and so we're there in Daniel chapter number one and if you look at verse number one again Daniel 1 the Bible says in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem and besieged it and of course as we begin Daniel chapter number one we begin with king Nebuchadnezzar doing what taking the children of Judah into captivity into Babylon and of course one of those people who gets taken is Daniel look if you would have verse number three it says in verse three it says and the king that's Nebuchadnezzar spake unto Ashfin as the master of his eunuchs that he should bring certain of the children of Israel and of the king seed and of the princes verse four children in whom was no blemish but well favored and skillful in all wisdom and cunning and knowledge and understanding science and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace here we see that Nebuchadnezzar he wants the best the best he wants the cream of the crop it's not enough to take just the whole nation no he wants to take children who are the best who are skillful in learning skillful in knowledge and notice the purpose at the end of verse four it says and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the caldeans and of course one of these people who gets taken is Daniel but the whole goal the point of Nebuchadnezzar taking the taking someone like Daniel was to do what was to teach them the learning and tongue of the caldeans you see the goal for Nebuchadnezzar with Daniel and and his friends was to take them and to change what they had been taught in Judah was to change what they had learned from the law of God was to change their even their vocabulary their speech to assimilate them to the culture of Babylon and in the same way you in this room you know if you're saved you have to understand that the king of Babylon Satan wants to take you and wants to change you he wants to conform you into a Babylonian to change the way you should speak to change what you should be doing for God to make you be like one of them and so understand that salvation is only the beginning you know just because you're saved doesn't mean you're done understand that Satan the king of Babylon he wants to take you and he wants to make you learn the way of Babylon make you learn the learning of the caldeans make you learn how they speak how they live to change the way that God wants you to be look at verse number six it says now among these were of the children of Judah Daniel had an eye on Michel and Azariah verse seven unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belta Shazzar and to Hananiah of Shadrach and to Meshach of Meshach and to Azariah a bednego and so the goal as we see was to take them and to change them from being people who were of God's people of the nation of Judah to now conforming them to being of the world to be of Babylon and so understand that there's a goal today to change you as well but notice notice what Daniel does in verse number eight it says Daniel one it says those but Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself it's that Daniel he did what that he purposed in his heart and today I'm preaching on Daniel's purpose in his heart see what is a purpose a purpose is an intention or is an objective it's something that you choose to do in your life and in life we got to make purposes in life and here we see that Daniel he purposed he chose his intention his objective in Babylon was to not defile himself see Daniel was a man with character who said you know what I'm not going to change the way I am I'm not going to defile myself to please the world defile myself to please the king of Babylon I'm going to stay who I am stay true to the Bible stay true to the word of God and it began where it began with a purpose where in his heart and we see the character of a man like Daniel a character that says you know what it makes no difference what my friends are doing it makes no difference what anyone else is going to do I'm going to purpose to do what God wants me to do and tonight as Christians even if you're saved you want a purpose in your heart to make decisions to follow the Lord regardless no matter what it makes no difference what your family does it makes no difference what your friends do it makes no difference with the king of Babylon or what the Babylonians want to do you want a purpose in your heart to live for God to be a man of God or a woman of God and to stay true to a God wants you to be because you have to understand that there's an agenda tonight to change you to assimilate you to do what to look to conform your life like the image of the Babylonians to look like one of the world and so tonight I'm preaching on the purposes of your heart you're going to have purposes objectives intentions in your heart things that will not change no matter what where you decide this is who I am this is what I'm going to do but it begins with a decision where it begins in the choice in your heart and it's something only you can do one thing I've learned for myself in my life that I've noticed is that I cannot force someone to make those intentions I cannot impose intentions on my kids I cannot make those decisions for my wife or for my family that's on their own in the same way you nobody can force you to make those decisions in your heart you must come to the place where you decide to be like Daniel purpose in your heart to not change to be what God wants you to be stay true to the word of God and purpose in your heart that no matter what anyone else does you will be true to the bible and so tonight I'm preaching on the purposes of your heart and in this chapter in Daniel chapter one we see four things that I I want to take away and show you of things that you had a purpose in your life and so number one tonight you got a purpose to live the christian life you got a purpose to number one live the christian life look at verse number eight again Daniel one eight the bible says it says but Daniel notice purpose in his heart that he would not defile himself with a portion of the king's meat nor with the wine which he drank therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself I want you to notice how it says that Daniel purpose in his heart noticed that he would not defile himself you see Daniel did not wait for the meat to come Daniel did not wait for the wine to come Daniel did not wait to make that choice and decide you know what now that the meat's in front of me now that the wine's in front of me what am I going to do no Daniel purpose in his heart before the option even became available before the wine showed up before the meat showed up Daniel had already decided what he was going to do he was already purpose in his heart and about the christian life is that the only way you live the christian life is on purpose you must purpose in your life to live the christian life one thing I remember back that my my father a lot taught me one thing that pastry menace has said is that the only way you can live the christian life is on purpose in the same way if you're going to be in a race if you're going to win that race you're not going to win it by accident you're going to win it on purpose you're going to win it with intention with objection go for what's a luke chapter nine luke nine and so the christian life can only be lived on purpose you're not going to succeed in the christian life by accident don't think that if you're sitting here and you're wondering I wonder if I'm going to be blessed in the christian life I wonder if I'm going to finish the race that God has before me you know if you're wondering those things it's probably not going to happen you must purpose to finish you must purpose to win if you have seen in your life that you must overcome it's not going to happen by accident you must purpose in your heart to live the christian life luke nine look verse number 61 luke nine 61 luke nine 61 the bible says and another also said notice lord I will follow the here we have a man who comes to the lord Jesus christ and he says lord hey I'm willing to follow you hey lord I'm willing to be a christian hey lord I'm willing to live for you this man says he wants to do these things he wants to live for god but notice but then he says but let me first go a bit of them farewell which are at my home which are at home at my house notice this man who says hey I'm willing to live that life hey I'm willing to follow lord I'm willing to obey the bible but then he says but but what but he has something he's looking behind him he's he's bogged down with his mind with something else notice the response from Jesus the verse 62 it says and Jesus said unto him don't notice no man having put his hands to the plow notice and looking back is fit for the kingdom of god see it's not possible to live the christian life if you're going one way but you're looking a different way see this man here he did not purpose in his heart to follow the lord why because while he said he wanted to follow god while he said he wanted god to clean up his life all the while his mind was on something else his mind was on someone else see in order to succeed in this life it's not possible for you to look back and move forward in the christian life you cannot look back you know the bible says about Abraham that Abraham if he had been mindful of the country from which he came out of he might have had opportunity to return again see when you're looking back in your life and you're not sure if you should be going forward looking back will only cause you to go backwards if you're going to live the christian life hey there's no looking back i have decided to follow Jesus no turning back you must look forward put your hand to the plow and just purpose in your mind in your heart and say you know what i'm going to win and so if you think about your life you know some people wonder i wonder if i'm going to be in this thing for the long haul and it's one thing we know as statistic is that most people come and go most people after seven years or so they quit the christian life and what what did it come down to it came down to the fact that they just didn't purpose in their heart because why because the struggles will come the hard times will come you know that thing that you're afraid of in your life is going to come but here's the thing it comes down to a choice in your heart that you chose to finish the race to purpose in your heart and it's something that you must choose for yourself to be like daniel and you purpose no matter what anyone else does i'm going to purpose to not defile myself go to james chapter one james one if you would james chapter one see one thing about david or daniel is that daniel he was not wavering in his decision daniel was not doubting about what he should do daniel knew what he was going to do daniel purposed in his heart and that's why daniel was a man who we see of great character a man of great faith a man who got protected and got blessed a man who finished with his course with joy why because he purposed in his heart james one look verse number six james one sixth the bible says but let him ask in faith nothing wavering notice for he that waver is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed for let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the lord notice a double minded man is unstable in all his ways see this man here in james six he wasn't purposed in his heart to live for god he wasn't purposed in his heart to finish the race that was set for him and you and your life you cannot be double minded in the christian life why because the sea will come the waves will come you will get knocked around in life but you and your heart and in your mind you must purpose to do what to live the christian life why because you're not going to win in the christian life by accident you're going to win when you purpose when you decide to win and here's the thing the only way you can lose in the christian life is to quit if you want to win the christian life just purpose in your heart never to quit purpose in your heart to stay with it purpose in your heart to not defile yourself to be conformed to this world why because babel on what they want you to do is to leave here and go back to look like one of them to speak like them to live like them and if you're double minded you're not going to make it because if you're double minded whatever you're worried is going to happen is going to happen to you in the christian life you know I remember when I first got saved and I started trying to go to church and living for God and going soul winning in my mind I knew that there were things that I had to give up if I was going to live for God and I prayed to God I said God you know what I know that's the cost but if that's the cost I'm willing to do it I'm willing to let it go and then here's the thing that's a choice you need to make on your own in your heart decide you know what I'm not going to waiver I'm going to be faithful I'm going to be consistent I'm not going to let myself to be defiled by Babylon so number one you must purpose to live the christian life why because the christian life can only be one on purpose and here's the thing if you know if you remember back what Jacob told Reuben Jacob told Reuben unstable as waters thou shalt not excel if you're wavering and unstable you're not going to make it so what you what you should do is you get stable you should get committed and realize that the way to win is to be committed to be faithful to be stable but it comes down to a choice of you purposing in your heart that you're not going to quit purpose in your heart so tonight if you don't know hey I don't know if I'm going to make it in the long haul then choose right now say God I'm going to purpose to make this to the end I'm going to purpose to be a christian I'm going to purpose to not change but it all begins with you making a choice in your heart go back to Daniel chapter one so what do you see about Daniel see a man who a man of great character a man who did what that he purposed in his heart and you you must purpose to live the christian life you're not going to win in the christian life for anything on accident it's going to come with you making a choice in your heart to purpose to make it your intention to be resolved to win in the christian life but number two not only should you purpose to live the christian life but number two you should purpose to keep a good testimony you should purpose to keep a good testimony Daniel one look at verse number 10 the bible says in verse 10 and the prince of the unix sent it to Daniel I fear my lord the king who hath appointed your meat and your drink for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children who which are of your sort then shall he make me endanger my head to the king and here we see an interaction between Daniel and the prince of the unix so the prince of the unix was not a believer he was a Babylonian and notice what he says he says he said in verse 10 he said I fear my lord the king see the lord of the prince of the unix was the king of Babylon but Daniel and I'm sure Daniel feared feared his lord the king which was who which was god Daniel feared the lord and here we see an interaction between somebody who's not saved and Daniel and goes on in verse number 11 it says then said Daniel to Melzar whom the prince of the unix had set over Daniel had an eye in Michel and Azariah he said prove thy servants what does that mean he's saying hey try me he's saying watch him he said prove thy servants I beseech thee ten days and let them give us pulse to eat and water to drink so get the story here you know the king of Babylon he takes Daniel and he takes his friends and he wants to give them meat to eat and wine to drink to defile them but the prince of the unix fears the king and if I don't give you this Daniel the king may kill me but Daniel says you know what try me prove me and give us pulse to eat and water to drink verse 13 it says then let our then let our countenances be looked upon before thee and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat and as thou seeest deal with thy servants verse 14 so he consented to them in this matter notice and proved them ten days so here we have the prince of the unix who he has to give Daniel meat and wine and Daniel says you know what try me prove me give me pulse to eat and give me water to drink and for ten days what is the prince of the unix doing he's just watching Daniel he's just wondering what's going to happen as he sees everyone else eating of the meat drinking of the wine he gives Daniel what he gives Daniel beans and water and for ten days I could just imagine the prince of the unix just doing what just watching Daniel just seeing what's going to happen seeing will he continue in this or will he give up and what you must understand that you as a Christian that people are watching you you may have family that's not saved you may have friends who are not saved and you say what are they doing they're just watching you and they're just wondering you know what's going to happen with them what's going to happen with them they're giving up the meat they're giving up the drink and they're choosing this pulse and this water and they're just watching and they're just wondering and they're just going to see hey is is this person going to make it or are they going to fail and you as a Christian you must purpose in your heart to keep a good testimony because whether you like it or not you know once you got saved and started coming to this church you now have a testimony and people are watching you and people are wondering what is going to happen to this person and you must purpose in your heart to keep a good testimony go if you were to Luke go back to Luke Luke 14 so understand when you when you in your life when you purpose to live for God you must understand that people will be watching you and people are watching you now whether that's fair or not you know that's just life you know life is not fair and whether you want to live that life or not understand that you have a testimony and your testimony could either be a great victory for the cause of Christ or it could be a great shame for the cause of Christ but understand that people are watching you and people are wondering what's going to happen to you Luke 14 look at verse number 20 Luke 14 verse 28 the Bible says for which of you notice intending to build here we have someone who wants to build their life who says hey I'm going to build my life for God I'm going to clean up my life I'm going to live right for which of you intending to build a tower sit if not down first and count at the cost whether he have sufficient to finish it verse 29 less happily after he had noticed laid the foundation this person began to build this tower the foundation was laid hey people knew hey look at this the foundation's been laid and in the same way hey once you start going to church once you start going soul winning once they see you cleaning up your life changing the way you dress stopping stop watching what you're doing stop drinking what you're drinking hey the foundation has been laid people are already watching you but notice what it says and is not able to finish it notice all that behold it begin to mock him see you know truth is you know people they don't want you sit they don't want you to succeed and you must understand that they're waiting to mock at you they're waiting to laugh at you look at verse 30 it says saying notice this man began to build and was not able to finish you know oftentimes the reason why we don't begin building for God is because we're afraid of people mocking us we're afraid of being made fun of but you know what they mocked to the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross over and over you know he died for you is it okay for you and your life if people just mock you a little bit you know nobody's asking you to dine across nobody's asking you to pay for some sins so why don't you just choose to hey are they going to talk about you yes they're going to talk about you will they lie about you yes they will lie about you will they make fun of you yes they will but you know what who cares just endure the cross you know it makes no difference what the world does this world hates your Savior who died for you can you just please choose to live for God and if they mock at you who cares and the truth is you know people hope you fail and this is my theory people hope that you know that I feel that you feel not because they want you to necessarily fail but they want you to fail because they're afraid because they're afraid you know what what if they're right and the truth is we are right the truth is that there is a hell that whether they want to believe it or not there is only one way it's not of works if they don't believe on Jesus Christ they will die and go to hell and so they want you to fail not because of you but because they're afraid that you're right and look that you ought to have pity for them that makes me have pity for people who are watching me and they're hoping I fail because not because of me but because they're afraid that we're right and you know what we are right the bible is a truth and here's the thing that should make you have pity on them because you know what they need you to show them that this is real and it is real that that without the Savior they will die and go to hell and so people are watching you but understand they may mock you but deep down I believe they're mocking because they're afraid that you're right and you are right and so be assured knowing that hey you know what God is true the bible is real if they don't believe the truth they're going to die and go to hell you should have pity on these people and choose to build and if they mock you that is a light affliction that is nothing let them make fun of you it doesn't matter we have all of eternity so you should do what you should understand that people once you live for God they will be watching you go to Matthew 5 if you would Matthew chapter number 5 and so you should purpose to live a life of having a good testimony purpose to live a life of having a good testimony go to Matthew 5 Matthew 5 and look verse look verse number 14 it says Matthew Matthew 5 14 it says ye are the light of the world Matthew 5 14 it says ye are the light of the world a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid it says in verse 15 neither do you may light a candle and put it under a bushel but on a candle stick and it give it light unto all that are in the house understand the Bible says here that ye you're the light of the world you are a city that is set on a hill and in the same way if you were to look at a hill or a mountain and you see a city up there look you can't hide that city it's it's you can see it you can watch it it says that it says what it says you're a candle and the reason people light up a candle is to give light to an entire room and when you light a candle you don't put it under a bushel to hide it you do it so that people can see in the room and notice verse 16 it says notice let your light so shine before men in the same way that you cannot hide a city that is on a hill God says you know what in the same way you ought to let your light so shine before men sounds like God doesn't want you to be ashamed that you're a Christian sounds like God doesn't want you to be ashamed that you believe the Bible that you go so when you go to church you shouldn't be ashamed of your things the buses let your light so shine before men notice that they may see what that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven see God wants people you'll God wants you to show people what your good works and let God be glorified in those things see God doesn't mind you being different in fact God wants you to be different God wants you to stand out in the world God wants you to shine in the world full of darkness full of wickedness the Bible says that God wants to purify to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works what does it mean to be peculiar it means to be different and look this world wants to conform men to look like sodomites that's ridiculous you know you as a man look like a man and here's the thing you should let your works glorify God meaning what meaning you should be a soul winner you should be faithful a church you should read your Bible don't let these things ashamed you the world should be ashamed for the wickedness in the filth that they enjoy today but you as a Christian you ought to let your light so shine before men it's okay if people see that you're different you know a praise the Lord you're supposed to be different and don't allow a little mockery to scare you you know boldness is something that we as Christians ought to have being bold is a quality of being filled the spirit and so as Christians you have to understand that your your testimony has power and you ought to endeavor purpose in your heart to have a good test in life because people are watching you and your testimony has value and it has great power for people in your life go through to Acts chapter 11 Acts chapter 11 and obviously in our churches we don't believe in lifestyle evangelism obviously we believe in confrontational soul wedding where we go door to door and we give people the gospel so this this is not a substitute for soul wedding but you know what your testimony still has a lot of power see once your once your friends who are not saved or your family who's not saved but once they hear hey the foundation was late they began to go in a church they began trying to live for God they began this little fad but once they see you quit what does that tell them about Christianity it tells them it doesn't work it tells them it's not real it tells them it's just a phase but once they see you consistent not changing year to year growing staying the same God blessing you God helping you that has great value and then they begin to see little by little say you know what maybe he's right maybe he does have something to show me but when you quit and then you fail people will mock at that and you know what it's not going to help your testimony it's not going to help them get saved it's just going to be something that people look at and say you know what it was just a phase it's not real Acts chapter 11 look at verse number 26 Acts 11, 26 it says and when he had found him in verse 26 here we have it says when he had found him talking about Paul he brought him onto Antioch notice and he came to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church and taught much people notice and the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch you have to understand about the word Christian is that the people of Antioch they saw these people who are different these people who stood out from the crowd that were not like the world and as a mocking term they referred to them as Christians ain't no praise the Lord for it I'm glad today to be identified as a Christian and you ought to be proud and glad to be identified as a Christian something that the world once came up with as a mockery but you know God turned that into a blessing and praise the Lord that we can be called Christians today but here's the thing they were identified as Christians by what? by their works by what they did by the way they lived their life so you and your life say hey I don't want to be different you know God wants you to be different God wants you to conform to the image of his dear son not conform to the image of what the king of Babylon wants you to do so what should you do number one you should purpose to live the Christian life but number two you should purpose to keep a good testament go back to Daniel chapter number one Daniel one and when you look at Daniel we see that Daniel he kept his good testimony Daniel one look at verse number 15 Daniel 115 it says that at the end of the 10 days in verse 15 notice their countenances appeared fair and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat notice verse 16 thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat and the wine that they should drink and gave them pulse you know I wonder what kind of impact this had on the prince of the eunuchs and on Melzar here who when they see Daniel deciding to live for God deciding to not change and Daniel fulfilling his course I wonder what sort of impact that had on the prince of the eunuchs he probably thought you know what man there's something to the God of Daniel for what just happened and in the same way that that could be your testimony when your friends and your family while they may mock you right now you changing your life being faithful purposing your heart not to quit you staying in it that can have a great influence and impact on the people in your life so you should choose purpose in your heart to do what to keep a good testimony because whether you like it or not people are watching you you know I don't like to be watched but you know what people are going to watch you and you know what that's okay you got to let your light so shine before me that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is heaven so number one this evening you have a purpose to live the Christian life why because you're not going to win by accident it's going to be done on purpose number two you have a purpose to keep a good testimony but number three you have a purpose to have the right attitude purpose to have the right attitude look verse number 12 Daniel 112 the Bible says notice he says prove thy servants he says watch me and test me I beseech thee ten days and let them give us pulse to eat and water to drink look verse 13 notice then let our countenances be looked upon before the notice and the countenance of the children of the that eat of the portion of the king's meat and as thou seest deal with thy servants he got a purpose to have the right attitude here we have Daniel telling the prince of the newings he says you don't approve thy servant try me and then what does he say and then he says watch he says let our countenance be looked upon he's saying look at my face you see what is your countenance your countenance is a it's a person's face or it's a facial expression and I could imagine Daniel after ten days could you picture Daniel looking sad or disgruntled or moping over what just happened Daniel said you know what look at my face and look at their face look at my attitude and look at their attitude I'm sure Daniel was not acting like he was sick acting like he was depressed acting like he was upset I'm sure Daniel was just happy and here's the thing you in your life you ought to have the right attitude you've got a purpose in your life to have the right attitude why because it not only matters what you do but it matters how you do it God wants you to have the right attitude and the things that you do and you could tell the right attitude by the countenance of the face you could look at someone's face and you could see you know what this person doesn't care about what I'm talking about they don't care about the Bible they think they're doing right but here's the thing God wants you to derive but God cares about your attitude too God wants you to have the right countenance have the right attitude in the Christian life why because it not only matters what you do but how you do it go to Matthew chapter from 6 go to Matthew 6 and so you've got a purpose to have the right attitude Daniel who was in prison he said try me and after 10 days he looked at my face and they look at their face why because you ought to have the right attitude I'm sure Daniel was not upset Daniel did not have a face of being disgruntled he wasn't forced to do it I'm sure Daniel looked happy he looked pleasant and you ought to have the right attitude Matthew 6 verse number 16 the Bible says notice moreover in verse 16 says moreover when you fast notice be not as the hypocrites of a sad countenance it says when you fast don't be like a hypocrite when you have a sad countenance notice for they do what for they disfigure their faces that they might appear unto men to fast very last saying to you they have their award notice but thou when thou fastest notice anoint thine head and wash thy face see why would somebody want to look disgruntled when they're fasting because they want to make it they want to act like they're so spiritual and like it's this big chore but you know God wants you to have a different attitude God doesn't want you to act like it's a it's a heavy burden or it's a chore God wants you to be happy he wants you to anoint your head he wants you to be cheerful when you do it he wants you to have the right attitude verse number 18 it says notice that thou appear not unto men to fast but unto thy father which is in secret and thy father which seeeth in secret shall award thee openly see God says here that when you fast you ought to have the right attitude when you fast you say this guy want me to fast he wants you to fast but he wants you to fast with the right attitude this guy wants you to go to church he wants you to go to church but he wants you to go church with the right attitude with the happy countens this guy want you kids to obey your parents he wants you to obey but with the right attitude you know one thing we teach our daughters is that they must obey right away but with a smile and have the right attitude it's not right for our kids to obey us with the wrong attitude that is disobedience And we as God's children, when we take orders from the Lord, we should do it with the right attitude. You know, men at work, you ought to obey your boss, but obey him with a right attitude. In church, when you come to church, you come with the right attitude. You don't come upset, you don't come disgruntled, because God's not pleased with that. God says, when you fast, hey, don't look like you're disgruntled, don't look like you're upset. Hey, anoint your head, be happy, have the right attitude, and do it. Why? Because as children of God, we should be joyful people. I'm sure Daniel wasn't complaining. Daniel was just happy doing what he was going to do. And you, in the same way, God wants you to have the right attitude in your life. Go to Philippians 2, Philippians chapter number 2. But you've got a purpose in your life to have the right attitude. You say, is it done on purpose? It's done on purpose. And if you're someone who's always upset, always disgruntled, you ought to change that. You say, that's just how I am. You know what? You're choosing to be like that. You ought to choose to have the right attitude. Philippians 2, look, verse number 14. Philippians 2, 14. Notice it says, do all things. That is a command from God. God says, hey, do all things. But notice it says, without murmurings and disputings. You say, does God want me to do all things? Yeah, God wants me to do all things. Is God pleased when I do all things? He's pleased when you do all things. Notice, without murmurings and disputings. See, God wants you to do all things having what? Having the right attitude. And don't think, hey, I come to church three times a week. If you're here with the wrong attitude, that's not right. God wants you to have the right attitude. If you're going to work with the wrong attitude, that's not right either. God wants you to obey your boss as unto the Lord. Wives, when you're supposed to submit to your husband, you're supposed to do with the right attitude. That's what God wants from you. The Bible says, do all things. Notice, without murmurings and disputings. Notice verse 15. It says that he may be blameless and harmless. The sons of God, without rebuke, notice in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom he shined his lights in the world. See, in this world of wickedness and perverseness, one of the ways we shine as lights in the world is not just what we do, but it's how we do it. See, you can do right, but you can do right in the wrong way. You can obey God, but you can obey God with the wrong attitude and God will not be pleased. And here's the thing, if you're going to live the Christian life, you've got to realize that God wants you to do all things, but he wants you to do all things with the right attitude, without murmurings, without disputings. What is a murmuring? A murmuring is a subdued or private expression of discontent or dissatisfaction. And the truth is, hey, people can see it on the countenance. People can see it in the faces of people when they're just discontented, the disgruntled, things aren't going their way. God doesn't want you to have that attitude. God wants you to have the do all things, but with the right attitude. God is disputing, just arguing, complaining all the time. Look, you can do right, but you can do right in the wrong way. When our kids obey us, but they obey us with the wrong attitude, that is not right. And we need to correct that in the same way. As God's people, we've got to do things, obey the Lord, obey the Lord, but with the right attitude. And so the question is, when the world sees you, do they see someone who's just disgruntled, who's just upset, or do they see someone with a good countenance, with the right attitude, happy to serve the Lord? Because the joy of the Lord is our strength. The Bible says rejoice ever more. We as God's people should be happy people. And no matter what affliction or trial, whatever we think we're going through, we should go through it with a right attitude and obey the Lord in the right way. It is not right to obey God having the wrong attitude, and there's no reward. God doesn't like that, God does not please. The Bible says, I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the Lord, as God's people should be happy. Do all things having the right attitude. Number one, if you would, Daniel one. So number one, this evening, I said, you got a purpose to live the Christian life. Why? Because the Christian life will not be one by accident. Number two, you got a purpose to keep a good testimony, because whether you like it or not, people are watching you. Number three, you got a purpose to have the right attitude. And number four, this evening, Daniel one, look at verse number nine. Well, number four, this evening, you got a purpose to not be rude. Purpose to not be rude. Now, this one I wrote specifically for a day like today. A day where knowledge is definitely increasing, but you know what? Unfortunately, grace is not increasing. A day where we're so right, that we're so right that we become jerks about it and everyone else is just an idiot. And so, in our lives, we got to see you like Daniel. We got a purpose to not be rude as God's people. Daniel one, look at verse number nine. Daniel one nine, the Bible says, now God had brought Daniel into favor and turned to love with the Prince of the Unix. Notice what it says. Daniel into what? Into favor and tender love with the Prince of the Unix. See, could you imagine Daniel being rude to this man? Being a jerk to this man? You think this man would love and care for Daniel if he was rude to him? If he was impolite and he was just a jerk to him? No. I'm sure Daniel was a kind man. Daniel was not rude. And what he got to do, he brought into favor and tender love with the Prince of the Unix. Verse ten, it says, in the Prince of the Unix said unto Daniel, I fear my Lord the King, and your drink, for why should he see your face is worse liking than the children which are of your sort? Then shall he make me endanger my head to the King. Then it said Daniel to Melzar, whom the Prince of the Unix had said over Daniel, had an eye on Michel and Azariah. Notice what he says in verse twelve. He says, prove, notice thy servants. Notice the respect that Daniel had for Melzar. He said, prove thy servants. See, he was being respectful. He was being kind. He was submitting himself unto Melzar, who was over him in the Prince. He said, prove thy servants. Notice, I beseech thee. Here we have Daniel being a very humble man. He says, I beg you. He's not being rude. He's not being forceful. He's not being a jerk. He's being respectful, and he's being humble. It says, I beseech thee ten days and let them give us pulse to eat and water to drink. You see, test, Daniel had a testimony of not being a jerk. Of not being rude. And here's the thing, it's done on purpose. And you, in your life, as you go soul winning, as you deal with your unsaved friends, as you deal with your unsaved loved ones, you've got a purpose in your life to not be rude. Purpose in your life to not be a jerk. Purpose in your life to not just think you know it all, because you think just because you're saved, yes, you're saved doesn't make you smarter than the whole world. And today we see an attitude that says, just because I'm saved and I have the truth, then I'm just, I've ever passed to be a jerk to everyone. But that's not right. You've got to be kind to people. You've got to show humility. You've got to be respectful. Because you think people are not going to respond to you when you're just a jerk to them. Go if you go to 2nd Timothy, chapter 2, 2nd Timothy 2. So number four is you've got a purpose to not be rude. And it's done on purpose. Will people be rude to you? Yes, but you've got a purpose in your heart to not be rude to people. And oftentimes I feel like when we get saved, we're so right about salvation that we're just jerks to our unsaved loved ones. And I've been at fault at this. When I first got saved, you know, maybe we get overzealous. And we just kind of want to cram the truth down people's throat. And we do it in the wrong way. We do the right thing, but we do it with the wrong attitude. And it turns out to backfire in us. And it's not right. 2nd Timothy 2, look at verse number 24. 2nd Timothy 2, 24, the Bible says, And the servant of the Lord must not what? Must not strive. What does that mean? You've got to not be, someone who's always striving, getting into fights, arguing, striving with people. Notice, but be what? But be gentle unto all men. App to teach. Notice, patient. See, when it comes to dealing with people out soul winning, the Bible says we ought not to be quick to strive. You know, if you're someone who's constantly getting into fights out soul winning, you know, one thing that our pastor always says is that we're supposed to contend for the faith, but not to be contentious. And if you're just constantly out there getting to fight after a fight after a fight at every single door, there's something wrong with you. Notice that the servant of the Lord must not strive, but do what? But be gentle unto all men. App to teach. Notice, patient. Notice what it says in verse 25. In what? In meekness. That's humility. That's being approachable. In meekness, instructing those that oppose themselves, if God per-adventually will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. Notice to the world, dealing with the world, the Bible says we've got to be gentle unto all men. Not quick to strive. Not quick to fight. To do what? To instruct them to help them, to recover them out of the snare of the devil. See, people don't know that they're in a trap. And it doesn't help when we go to them and we're rude and we're just trying to fight them and cramp things down the throat. We need to help them see the light. Because these people are blinded. And what blind people need is a guide to help them, not somebody to push them down over. And sometimes we use our salvation and I'm a Baptist to put ourselves above people and step on them down. But people don't need that. You know, obviously once in a while we go solo and we get into fights, we get into arguments, we get into the flesh that happens. But if it's happening again and again and again, then you're the problem. Why? Because a servant of the Lord must not strive but be apt to teach. Go to Ephesians 4 if you would, Ephesians chapter 4. So we see Daniel doing what? We see Daniel purposing to what? To not be rude. He was respectful. He was humble. Ephesians 4, verse 13 it says till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God in Ephesians 4 verse 13, till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. He wants us to become a perfect man a complete Christian. Notice that we henceforth be what? No more children. And when it says no more children, it doesn't mean that you're just a child by physical age. It means that there are people who are adults physically but that they may be babes in Christ. They may be still young in the faith, children in the faith, tossed to and fro in verse 14 and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie and wait to deceive. Notice verse 14, but what? But speaking the truth in love. It can be a man that you can have the truth but you can spread the truth in a loving way. See one of the signs of Christian maturity is you being able to have the truth until to spread the truth in a loving way. To speak the truth but in love with meekness. It says, but speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is the head even Christ. So when it comes to you at the door or how about this, when it comes to you with your unsaved loved ones, with your family, you know, what do they think about when they talk to you? Do they think, man, this person just keeps bombarding me, ramming things down my throat or do they see someone with meekness, gentleness. Speaking the truth, having the truth, yes, not compromising on the truth, but speaking the truth in love. And so here's the thing, don't use your salvation as a green card or as a pass to just step all over people because God wants you to speak the truth but he wants you to do it in a loving way. To not be rude. So like Daniel, hey, you can have the truth but you know what, he was still respectful and he still humbled himself under the authority that God put over him and he spaked the truth what in love. So you and your life as a Christian when you go out and deal with the world, hey, purpose in your heart to not be rude to people and it's done on purpose. Don't say, that's just how I am. Well then you got to change and learn to have some meekness and gentleness and become a servant of the Lord, someone who is gentle with meekness and not striving, right? Speaking the truth in love. So a good test is, hey, how do you treat your unsaved loved ones? Are you rude to them? Are you a jerk to them? Do you force things down their throat or do they say, hey, this person, they love me? They're kind to me. They're respectful to me. Why? Because you can have the truth but you can spread it in a wrong way. So you got to have the right attitude and we do it and purpose in your heart to not be rude. Go back to Daniel chapter 1 if you would, Daniel 1. So tonight, you got to purpose in your heart to live the Christian life. You will not win in anything. You will not win in the Christian life by accident. It will be done only on purpose when you choose to do it. Number two, you got to purpose in your heart to keep a good testimony because whether you like it or not, you now have a testimony. The foundation has been laid. Number three, you got to purpose to have the right attitude. God is not pleased with you doing right in the wrong way. God wants you to do right with the right attitude. Number four, you got to purpose to not be rude and here we see in Daniel 1, we see God blessing Daniel in the end. Daniel 1, look at verse number 16 again. It says, thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat and the wine that they should drink and gave them pulse. As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill and all learning and wisdom and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Now at the end of the days that the king had said that he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar and the king communed with them and among them all was found none like Daniel and Anaya, Michel and Azariah. There first stood they before the king and in all matters of wisdom and understanding that the king acquired of them he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. And here we see that God, he did what for Daniel? He had that he blessed them. God gave Daniel what? He gave him knowledge. He gave him skill. The king of Babylon saw him ten times better than everyone else. And here's the thing, in Daniel 1 before Daniel got to Babylon, he didn't know what was going to happen. He didn't know God would bless him. He didn't know God would be with him, but you know what? He purposed in his heart to do what's right. And you in your life, you don't know what God can do in your life. You don't know what can happen five years down the road, ten years down the road, twenty years down the road, but it begins with you purposing in your heart. To make decisions in your heart, to decide I'm not going to change. I'm not going to compromise. I'm going to live for God. No matter who else leaves, no matter who else changes, no matter who else quits on God, I'm going to purpose in my heart to do what's right. To live the Christian life. To keep a good testimony. To have the right attitude. And to not be rude. Why? Because that is the way we live in the Christian life. We win by being stable, by being committed to not quitting on the Lord. Let's go ahead and pray. Heavenly Father, I thank you for tonight. I thank you for this church. And I just pray that you be with everyone and bless this church and to help them continue to do this great work on it. And I just thank you for the opportunity to preach your work. And I ask that you bless the rest of the evening. God, I love you. I'm just saying pray. Amen.