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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. I'm so glad you're here. Today,

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<v Speaker 1>we're going to continue our series called Unshakable. Rick is

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<v Speaker 1>taking us through the Book of Daniel and that so

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<v Speaker 1>we'll be equipped to handle whatever curveball life throws at us,

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<v Speaker 1>even the most difficult trials. Let's join Rick right now

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<v Speaker 1>for a very important message. It's the final part called

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<v Speaker 1>will You Stand Strong for God?

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<v Speaker 2>Publicly number three. Standing for God gives God an opportunity

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<v Speaker 2>to do a miracle. The truth is most people have

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<v Speaker 2>never seen an absolute, true miracle in their life, and

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<v Speaker 2>the reason why is because they never put themselves out

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<v Speaker 2>on a limb. Never be afraid to go out on

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<v Speaker 2>a limb. That's where the fruit is. Never be afraid

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<v Speaker 2>to rock the boat. If Christ is your captain, you'll

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<v Speaker 2>never see miracles until you stay and you walk on

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<v Speaker 2>the water. You got to jump out of the boat

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<v Speaker 2>to walk on water. When you stand for God at work,

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<v Speaker 2>at school, with a neighbor with a skeptic when every

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<v Speaker 2>time you do that, it gives God an opportunity to

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<v Speaker 2>do a miracle. Now, if you live a life of safety,

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<v Speaker 2>you play it safe, nothing ventured, nothing, You will never

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<v Speaker 2>see any miracles in your life. I've seen a lot

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<v Speaker 2>of miracles in my life because I've done enormously outrageous things.

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<v Speaker 2>I will often paint myself into a corner and then say, God,

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<v Speaker 2>how are we going to get out of this? You

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<v Speaker 2>put yourself in a position where you trust God so much.

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<v Speaker 2>Of God, I'm absolutely bound to fail unless you bail

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<v Speaker 2>me out. I'm so far out there right now. God,

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<v Speaker 2>There's no way this is going to happen unless you

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<v Speaker 2>bail me out. God. You never know that God can

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<v Speaker 2>solve your problems if you never have any problems. You

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<v Speaker 2>never know that God can do a miracle in your life,

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<v Speaker 2>if you never risk anything, if you never have any

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<v Speaker 2>effort to say, Okay, God, I'm willing to do what's unpopular,

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<v Speaker 2>and in this case, what was illegal, because I know

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<v Speaker 2>what you said to do. Of course, Daniel saw a

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<v Speaker 2>miracle because he gave God that opportunity. He went home

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<v Speaker 2>through the doors open. So I'm going to just keep

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<v Speaker 2>praying like I've always been praying. I'm not going to

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<v Speaker 2>hide it. I'm not gonna wimp out. I'm not going

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<v Speaker 2>to fake it. I'm just going to do it right

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<v Speaker 2>in the open. I'm gonna bow my head at lunch

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<v Speaker 2>in front of everybody else, and I'm gonna pray. I

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<v Speaker 2>don't care what they think. And he allows God to

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<v Speaker 2>do a miracle. Now here's what happens, verse nineteen to

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<v Speaker 2>twenty three. It says this, at first light of dawn,

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<v Speaker 2>the king got up. See they caught Daniel and they

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<v Speaker 2>throw him into the pit. Okay, so he's thrown into

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<v Speaker 2>the pit. And the Bible says, I don't have time

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<v Speaker 2>to go into this that when Darius heard that Daniel

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<v Speaker 2>was the guy who had broken this law, he was heartbroken.

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<v Speaker 2>In fact, you can go back and read this chapter,

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<v Speaker 2>because he loved Daniel. It's Darius the king. And in fact,

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<v Speaker 2>he goes, you know, this is the guy who's gonna

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<v Speaker 2>put in charge of the entire kingdom. And now, because

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<v Speaker 2>of my stupid ego, I signed a dumb law because

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<v Speaker 2>of some political wonks who got me to sign it.

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<v Speaker 2>And now my favorite guy in the entire kingdom is

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<v Speaker 2>going to be eaten by lions. And if you'll go

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<v Speaker 2>read the passage, it says he couldn't sleep that night.

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<v Speaker 2>He says he couldn't eat, he couldn't he fasted and said,

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<v Speaker 2>he took no entertainment, so he didn't watch TV. And

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<v Speaker 2>so this guy, his stomach's churning because he knows that

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<v Speaker 2>Daniel is a true believer, and although he's not one,

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<v Speaker 2>he knows he's seen Daniel work and seeing Daniel have

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<v Speaker 2>miracles in his life. And when he hears Daniel's throwing

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<v Speaker 2>into a into the lions den, into the pit, he

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<v Speaker 2>just can't sleep. He stays up all night, doesn't eat,

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<v Speaker 2>doesn't entertainment. He's nervous. And so the next morning, at

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<v Speaker 2>the light of first dawn, here's where the story picks up.

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<v Speaker 2>At the light of first dawn, the king got up

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<v Speaker 2>and hurried to the pit filled with lions, and when

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<v Speaker 2>he got there, he called out to Daniel in an

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<v Speaker 2>anguished voice, Daniel, Daniel, servant of the Living God. Has

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<v Speaker 2>your God, whom you serve conneally, not him? Has your God,

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<v Speaker 2>whom you serve condellally, been able to rescue you from

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<v Speaker 2>the lions? Legitimate question? He's worried about it, and this

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<v Speaker 2>is what it says. Going next verse. Daniel answered, O King,

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<v Speaker 2>my God sent his angel and he shut the mouths

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<v Speaker 2>of the lions, and they have not hurt me. At

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<v Speaker 2>all because God knew I've done nothing against or you,

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<v Speaker 2>o King. The King was overjoyed and gave orders to

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<v Speaker 2>lift Daniel out of the pit. Are you still in

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<v Speaker 2>the pit? Have you been lifted out? The King was overjoyed,

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<v Speaker 2>gave orders to lift Daniel out of the pit. And

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<v Speaker 2>when Daniel was lifted out, there was not a single

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<v Speaker 2>scratch on his body because he had trusted God. That's

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<v Speaker 2>friends called miracle. There are a lot of very famous paintings. Michelangelo,

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<v Speaker 2>Raphael and so many other great painters have painted Daniel

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<v Speaker 2>in the Lions then because of this historic moment, and

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<v Speaker 2>it says he came out without a scratch on his body.

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<v Speaker 2>Has God ever rescued you out of a pit? Well, first,

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<v Speaker 2>you got to take a risk to end up in

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<v Speaker 2>a pit, I mean have you're in a pit of

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<v Speaker 2>your own making. But you praise God in that pit?

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<v Speaker 2>He said, you know, he says, God came to my rescue,

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<v Speaker 2>and so he gave God an opportunity to do a miracle.

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<v Speaker 2>And the King's overjoyed. So standing for God's a victory

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<v Speaker 2>over fear. It builds my faith in character. It gives

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<v Speaker 2>God an opportunity to do miracle. Number four, it encourages

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<v Speaker 2>other believers to stand up. When you stand up for

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<v Speaker 2>God at work or on the field, playing the game,

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<v Speaker 2>or anywhere else, it encourages other believers they see your courage.

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<v Speaker 2>You know how courage is contagious. Do you ever see

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<v Speaker 2>brave heart? I mean, when he's brave, everybody else is brave.

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<v Speaker 2>You got a cowardly leader. Everybody else is a coward

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<v Speaker 2>everybody else wants to win about courage is contagious. When

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<v Speaker 2>you step out for God and you go, I'm in,

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<v Speaker 2>I'll do this, I'll speak up for God at work,

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<v Speaker 2>you know what, other people start coming out of the shadows.

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<v Speaker 2>Paul says this in Philippians one fourteen. Because of what

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<v Speaker 2>I've been through, many Christians here have gained confidence and

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<v Speaker 2>they've become more bold in telling others about Christ. Your

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<v Speaker 2>boldness will encourage other people to be bold. That's a benefit.

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<v Speaker 2>Number five not only is an encouragement to other believers

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<v Speaker 2>when you stand up for God. Number five, it's a

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<v Speaker 2>powerful example to unbelievers. In fact, I honestly think it

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<v Speaker 2>may be this and how you handle pain may be

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<v Speaker 2>your two greatest witnesses, your two greatest testimonies. Your two

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<v Speaker 2>greatest examples to your unbelieving friends, neighbors, relatives, coworkers. How

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<v Speaker 2>you handle pain and how you handle rejection, I think

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<v Speaker 2>may be your two most greatest witnesses. It's a powerful

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<v Speaker 2>example to believers when you say, sorry, I can't do this.

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<v Speaker 2>My conscience will not allow me to this. I will

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<v Speaker 2>not violate my conscience. I cannot do everybody's doing it,

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<v Speaker 2>but I can't and I won't because my God says,

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<v Speaker 2>don't do it. It's a powerful example unbelievers. Let me

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<v Speaker 2>just give you free real quick. Here these verses. We

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<v Speaker 2>see it in the lives of Peter and John, Acts

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<v Speaker 2>four thirteen. It says when the council they're in Jerusalem

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<v Speaker 2>saw the boldness of Peter and John, they were amazed

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<v Speaker 2>at their boldness, their courage, since they knew they're just

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<v Speaker 2>ordinary men. But they had been with Jesus. You know

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<v Speaker 2>where you get your courage being with Jesus. You stand

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<v Speaker 2>strong when you kneel often. The more time you spend

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<v Speaker 2>with Jesus, the stronger you're going to be. You stand

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<v Speaker 2>strong when you kneel often. They were ordinary men. These

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<v Speaker 2>Peter and John were not some kind of intellectual, towering

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<v Speaker 2>giants or super talented, you know, superstars. They're just they're fishermen,

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<v Speaker 2>normal people, and the enemy. He looks at me, goes,

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<v Speaker 2>you guys are incredibly bold for just being ordinary guys.

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<v Speaker 2>It's obvious you've been with Jesus. I can't think of

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<v Speaker 2>a finer thing to be said about you that it worked.

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<v Speaker 2>People go, she's just a normal person. He's just a

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<v Speaker 2>normal person. I don't know how where they get that boldness.

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<v Speaker 2>I certainly wouldn't have that kind of boldness. They've obviously

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<v Speaker 2>been with Jesus. The more time he's been with Jesus,

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<v Speaker 2>the more courage you're gonna have. Here's an example in Darius.

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<v Speaker 2>And actually because of this incident, this pagan king becomes

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<v Speaker 2>a believer. It's the second guy that that Daniel has

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<v Speaker 2>led to faith in God. Daniel, Chapter six, verse twenty five.

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<v Speaker 2>Here on the screen it says, So after he saw

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<v Speaker 2>all of this happen, it says, then King Darius, since

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<v Speaker 2>this proclama to every nation, race language on earth, I

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<v Speaker 2>decree that the God of Daniel is to be honored

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<v Speaker 2>and worshiped in every part of my kingdom, For he

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<v Speaker 2>is the living God. Can you believe in unbelievers rightness.

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<v Speaker 2>He stepped across the line. He is the living God,

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<v Speaker 2>the one who endures forever. His kingdom will outlast all

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<v Speaker 2>human kingdoms. Whoa because Daniel was afraid, No, because Daniel

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<v Speaker 2>was confident, Daniel was secure, Daniel was fearless. Daniel was

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<v Speaker 2>willing to go to the pit. He said, he is

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<v Speaker 2>the one who endures forever. His kingdom will outlast all

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<v Speaker 2>the others. And here's what the rest of that verse says.

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<v Speaker 2>He is a god who rescues and saves. He's still

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<v Speaker 2>doing that today, rescuing people and saving people. And he

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<v Speaker 2>does miracles, just as you rescued Daniel from the power

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<v Speaker 2>of the lions. So Daniel continued to be successful during

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<v Speaker 2>the reign of King Darius, and then in the following

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<v Speaker 2>reign of Cyrus the Persian. The guy just keeps going

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<v Speaker 2>whine because he stands firm, stands strong, He will not

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<v Speaker 2>wimp out, and as a result, a king comes to God.

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<v Speaker 2>Wouldn't you like that to happen in your life, that

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<v Speaker 2>your boss came to Christ because you stood strong. What

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<v Speaker 2>an amazing story. Let me give you one more example.

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<v Speaker 2>The Bible says in Matthew too. After Jesus was born

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<v Speaker 2>in Bethlehem, wise men from the east. Do you know

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<v Speaker 2>where that is? It's the babylon in Persian Empire. The

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<v Speaker 2>wise men came from Iraq and Iran, from Babylon and Persia.

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<v Speaker 2>Wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, asking where

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<v Speaker 2>is the one who's been born King of the Jews.

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<v Speaker 2>We saw his star from the east and have come

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<v Speaker 2>to worship him. Now leave that up there for a minute.

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<v Speaker 2>Let me just give you a couple of questions about this.

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<v Speaker 2>How in the world do a bunch of pagan wise

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<v Speaker 2>men in they're not Jews. How in the world did

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<v Speaker 2>they know the prophecy of the Messiah? How in the

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<v Speaker 2>world do they know the King of the Jews is

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<v Speaker 2>to be born and their star is a sign. How

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<v Speaker 2>in the world would they even know that? These guys

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<v Speaker 2>are pagan magi, they're like astrologers, they're from Iraq and Iran,

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<v Speaker 2>they're Babylonians and their Persians. Why did the wise men

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<v Speaker 2>show up at jesus birth because of Daniel, Because eighteen

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<v Speaker 2>generations earlier a guy stood for God in a pagan culture,

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<v Speaker 2>and he prayed in the open, and he spoke about

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<v Speaker 2>God and the open and even led too of the

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<v Speaker 2>emperors to faith in God. God, and both those emperors

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<v Speaker 2>proclaimed gods. Daniel's God is the real God. And so

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<v Speaker 2>for his eighty ended up being eighty five years. His writings,

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<v Speaker 2>his faith, his testimony was known throughout Babylon and throughout Persia,

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<v Speaker 2>Iraq and Iran, and eighteen generations later guys are showing

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<v Speaker 2>up in Jesus birth. That's why the wise men were

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<v Speaker 2>at Christmas because of Daniel. That is the long term

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<v Speaker 2>impact of standing for Christ. It's not only a model

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<v Speaker 2>for your children and your grandchildren and great grandchildren and

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<v Speaker 2>future generations could talk about how you stood up in

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<v Speaker 2>a culture that was going pagan, but you stood up.

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<v Speaker 2>You had the guts and the character. They said, hmm,

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<v Speaker 2>I'll get on my knees and stand strong. And generations later,

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<v Speaker 2>not just Christians, not just believers, Pagans knew that the

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<v Speaker 2>Messiah was gonna be born, and they show up when

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<v Speaker 2>they see the star because of this guy. That is

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<v Speaker 2>the power of a sole, single person who will say

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<v Speaker 2>I will not bend, I will stand firm for God.

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<v Speaker 2>All right, there's one more. I just want you to

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<v Speaker 2>remember these six benefits. Okay, go home, put them on

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<v Speaker 2>your frigerate. Here's the sixth one. Standing strong for God

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<v Speaker 2>will be rewarded in eternity. Standing strong for God will

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<v Speaker 2>be rewarded in eternity. Jesus promised it. And those rewards

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<v Speaker 2>are going to last forever and ever and ever and

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<v Speaker 2>ever ever. Your fear is going to last about ten

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<v Speaker 2>seconds or maybe at the most p a few minutes

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<v Speaker 2>when you have that count encounter. But when you do

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<v Speaker 2>the right thing, the fear subsides, but the rewards go

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<v Speaker 2>on for trillions and trillions and trillions of years. Jesus

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<v Speaker 2>said this in the Discernment on the Mount Matthew five,

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<v Speaker 2>consider yourself blessed. If people put you down or throw

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<v Speaker 2>you out or speak lies about you because of me.

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<v Speaker 2>Notice he doesn't say people put you down or throw

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<v Speaker 2>you out because you're an idiot, or because you're rude

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<v Speaker 2>and impulsive and you're mean and you're obnoxious. A lot

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<v Speaker 2>of Christians are obnoxious. That not because of Jesus. That's

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<v Speaker 2>just because you're obnoxious. Okay, So don't blame all the

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<v Speaker 2>people who don't like you. I can't blame all the

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<v Speaker 2>people who don't like me. On Jesus, because I've got

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<v Speaker 2>plenty to dislike about me. But he says, consider yourself blessed.

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<v Speaker 2>If people put you down, or throw you out, or

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<v Speaker 2>speak lies about you because of me. If that happens,

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<v Speaker 2>be happy knowing that you will be rewarded greatly. Circle

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<v Speaker 2>the word greatly. You will be rewarded greatly in heaven.

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<v Speaker 2>And remember that you're in good company. They did the

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<v Speaker 2>same thing to all my witnesses before you, all the prophets,

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<v Speaker 2>all the spokesmen, all the godly people. For thousands of years,

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<v Speaker 2>since Daniel, for twenty five hundred years, people have been

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<v Speaker 2>getting put down for being a Christian, for being a

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<v Speaker 2>follower of Christ, for being standing firm on moral or

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<v Speaker 2>ethical or truth issues. You'll be rewarded now. Never forget

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<v Speaker 2>these six benefits because they'll help you stand strong. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>I want to kind of wrap it up and ask

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<v Speaker 2>you this question. Are you going to end well? Are

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<v Speaker 2>you going to end strong? In your life? Most people,

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<v Speaker 2>even Christians, do not end their life strong. This is

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<v Speaker 2>a guy who starts his life strong as a teenager.

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<v Speaker 2>He becomes strong in his twenties and thirties. He stays

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<v Speaker 2>strong in his forties and fifties and sixties, and now

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<v Speaker 2>he's ending strong at eighty two years old. He's not

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<v Speaker 2>even finished yet. Because he passes this test, God gives

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<v Speaker 2>him the greatest blessing, and the rest of the book

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<v Speaker 2>we're not going to even cover that part. There are

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<v Speaker 2>the prophecies about how the world is going to end.

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<v Speaker 2>God told this guy, the only guy, how the world

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<v Speaker 2>was going to end, and scholars, Bible scholars have studied

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<v Speaker 2>it ever since. And Daniel made his greatest contribution in

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<v Speaker 2>life at eighty five years of age. I know people

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<v Speaker 2>who start checking out at fifty five, Well, let somebody

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<v Speaker 2>else do the service at church. We've served long enough,

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<v Speaker 2>Well let somebody else do the gave. And we've given

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<v Speaker 2>to five building programs. Well we're just gonna coast. You

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<v Speaker 2>realize that God might have planned your greatest impact at

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<v Speaker 2>eighty five, and for many of you, that's a long

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<v Speaker 2>way off. Still, as I said, the word retirement is

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<v Speaker 2>not in the Bible. I want you to start strong.

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<v Speaker 2>I want you to get strong, I want you to

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<v Speaker 2>stay strong, and I want you to end strong. His

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<v Speaker 2>most important contribution was at eighty five years of age.

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<v Speaker 2>What kept him strong kneeling daily to stand strong conversation

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<v Speaker 2>with God three times a day, every day for eighty

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<v Speaker 2>five years. They're going to make you strong. Wow.

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<v Speaker 1>Such an encouraging message from Rick. And you know what,

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<v Speaker 1>I've got some great news for you today. Pastor Rick

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<v Speaker 1>has pulled together three hundred and sixty five of his

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<v Speaker 1>most popular devotionals and put them all together in a

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<v Speaker 1>brand new book called Daily Hope Devotional three hundred and

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<v Speaker 1>sixty five Days of Purpose, Peace and Promise. I know

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<v Speaker 1>Pastor Rick has always said it's so important to start

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<v Speaker 1>your day focused on God. In this book, it's going

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<v Speaker 1>to help you do just that. Every devotional has a

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<v Speaker 1>Bible verse that leads you into God's Word. It has

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<v Speaker 1>a teaching that explains God's message and shows you how

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<v Speaker 1>to apply God's Word in your life so you can

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<v Speaker 1>live the life that God created you to live now.

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<v Speaker 1>These devotionals provide a framework to start your day with

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<v Speaker 1>God's word. They will help you deepen your faith and

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<v Speaker 1>grow closer to the Lord. And by beginning each day

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<v Speaker 1>focused on God's promises, You'll be equipped to face any

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<v Speaker 1>challenge with strength and peace. This devotional book is also

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<v Speaker 1>a wonderful way to share God's love with others, so

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<v Speaker 1>be sure and request your copy when you partner with

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<v Speaker 1>Daily Hope to take the word of God to a

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<v Speaker 1>hurting world. To get this great resource, it's really easy.

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<v Speaker 2>You just go to.

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<v Speaker 1>Pastorick dot com to get your copy. That's Pastorick dot com.

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<v Speaker 1>Or just text the word hope to seven oh three

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<v Speaker 1>to oh nine. Again the word hope to seven oh

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<v Speaker 1>three oh nine And thanks so much for your support.

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<v Speaker 1>Your gift to Daily Hope means so much to us

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00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:32.759
<v Speaker 1>because it helps us share the hope of Jesus Christ

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00:20:32.839 --> 00:20:35.839
<v Speaker 1>to people all around the world. Be sure to join

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<v Speaker 1>us next time as we look into God's word for

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<v Speaker 1>our daily hope. This program is sponsored by Pastor Rick's

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<v Speaker 1>Daily Hope and your generous financial support.