REMAINING STRONG DURING DIFFICULTY AND DISCOURAGEMENT

Story of Jeremy Levin CNN

Jerry, then , is part love story, part action-adventure, part mystery. ABC calls it "Held Hostage" and airs it Sunday at 9. But Sis Levin thinks it should have been titled "Deadly Silence." kidnaped on March 7, 1984, Jeremy Levin, CNN bureau chief in Beirut he became the first of several Americans to be abducted in that city. They blindfolded beat him. They blindfolded him and chained him in an unheated room. He saw now one for 343 days. He felt isolated, hopeless and afraid. He needed to talk. But, he thought if he talked to himself that he’d go crazy.

He contemplated talking to God. But he had rejected his Jewish heritage. He committed that he would only believe in things he could touch, see, or feel. But, there was so little to touch or feel in that room. So, he decided to talk. Soon he realized the conversation went two ways. He started to recall his childhood teaching and what he learned about Jesus. It started to make sense and he knew Jesus Christ truly was exceptional.

He made the choice. He chose to believe. Now how would he live? How would he continue in his situation.

Jeremy wrote, “You can’t play games by assuming the external trappings, while holding back from total acceptance.”

“I decided it was necessary to accept it all. It had to be all or nothing.” -Jeremy Levin

West Bank Diary: Middle East Violence as Reported by a former American Hostage

Daniel 1:8–17 (NASB95)

8 But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials, 10 and the commander of the officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking more haggard than the youths who are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king.” 11 But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 “Then let our appearance be observed in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days their appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food. 16 So the overseer continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables. 17 As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams.

1. Seemingly Small Decisions Determine Destiny.

a. Will you live with Character or by Charade?

The inner Life is the most precious thing you possess. Money can’t give you inner peace. Degrees can’t give you purpose. Popularity cannot give you meaning. When you sell your convictions for those morsels, you will slowly lose your soul. Have you truly decided to follow Jesus? Will your faith, your belief that you have been designated by God as an imager of Him? That your greatest Destiny awaits you? Or do you simply claim Christianity as a family habit and your faith leaks away under any pressure?

We often sign letters with the word, SINCERELY. The phrase ‘without wax’ is derived from the Latin words sin (without) and ceras (wax). According to tradition associated with the phrase, “without wax” was used as a mark of authenticity by ancient Greek and Roman sculptors. Because many artisans used colored wax to hide cracks and chips in their sculptures, those artisans who refrained from the practice allegedly marked their pieces with the stamp “sincere / without wax” to signal the integrity of their work.

With

Insincerity just can’t hold the water

A vase or jar that was cracked and then plugged with a quick fix of colored wax would inevitably melt when sitting in the elements of sun and wind. Then, when the owner wanted to store oil or water in it, the leak would be exposed and the precious liquid wasted. The vessel was exposed and those who sold it.

Every leader must regularly decide whether to practice a life of cover-ups and charades or a life of authenticity. Authenticity is closing the gap to the best of our ability between what we say we are and who and what we really are. It is certainly tempting to practice on-the-spot, surface patching of our chips and cracks. That shallow mending, however, just doesn’t stand the pressure that life throws at us.

Will you be the same person when your family is not around?

Will you stay the course when temptation arises.

b. You can hide from people, but you cannot hide from your Conscience.

You will always be under pressure to conform.

Romans 12:1–2 NASB95

1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

b. Daniel remained faithful in the Details.

In the end, it doesn’t matter how much money you earned. It won’t matter what job you held. Popularity won’t make it. Living a long life won’t satisfy. Being right with God is what matters. And that comes down to your CHARACTER. ETERNITY starts now.

Daniel understood that Nebuchadnezzer planned to entice him away from God by chipping away at the small convictions. Tempting Daniel and his friends to drop the behaviors that they promised to practice to HONOR GOD. Behind the food choices really was a relationship issue. Would he be faithful to the Lord of all Creation despite being in a difficult and discouraging environment.

You may think choosing not to set your alarm on Sunday for Lifegroup and worship is a big deal. You make it 2 times a month… That’s only giving God 24 hours a year. Kiefer Southerland might have been able to more in 24 hours than I could in a lifetime, but God will not be impressed. Why? because its really a character issue. Your don’t skip out on what is important to you. Whether it’s work, play, video games, dinner dates, Netflix bingwatching. By the way, since less than 20% of people attend church on any given Sunday, and since the rise of the mega church, those who go to church think 2x a month IS DEEP COMMITMENT. We are a long way off from Daniel.

Listen, if Jesus tracked your calendar, what you actually did the past month, would He be prominent? If He examined your generosity to His church and to those in need through your Venmo or Zelle app, would Starbucks rank higher than Him?

If you ever wonder why God doesn’t seem real to you like He does for Daniel, ask yourself, do you live for God like Daniel? Don’t expect to see God do big things in your life unless you’ve been faithful in the little things.

2. Daniel remained confident that God watches over His holy ones.

Tony Evens story as a greyhound worker

People who flourish under pressure:

Live unashamed of Jesus.

Will not sell out when others do.

Remember the bigger Picture of eternity.

Matthew 10:28 NASB95

28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

ILLUSTRATION

a. Tony Evans told the story of how when he was at seminary, he worked for the Greyhound Bus Lines at night, loading the buses.

b. There were a lot of other man working there, but night after night they would just sleep or play video games, and were content to let Tony do all the work of loading the buses.c. He could have gotten resentful but he knew that he was working for God and needed to work conscientiously whether others were working or not.

d. A few weeks later, all the other lazy man were fired. It turns out, there was a secret window above, where the workers could be viewed by supervisors.

e. Not only did Tony keep his job, but was given a raise and a promotion because he had been doing the right thing when others were doing the wrong thing!

3. That's what Daniel did. When you do the right thing you have nothing to fear and even though no one else sees, God sees and will reward you!

Would rather die than deny God.

“Your goal is not to know every detail of the future. Your goal is to hold the hand of the One who does and never, ever let go.” Max Lucado

Where has your conscience been challenged as of late?

What is God calling you to start doing?

What is God calling you to stop doing?

Where do you need to be more open about your faith?