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PATHWAYMAGAZINE OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF LIONS II MAR Page 6 APR 2018 AMERICA’S COMING STORM PTV.ORG Page 12 THE MOST AMAZING PROPHECY IN THE BIBLE Page 16 JESUS: MAN, MYTH, OR MESSIAH? Page 20 DEVOTIONALS Page 24 courageous living in a pagan world DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS “The most important task a parent or grandparent has is to lead their child or grandchild to faith in Jesus Christ.” Visit ptv.org/thegift to request your copy today WELCOME TO PATHWAY MAGAZINE In this issue of Pathway Magazine, we are going to take an in depth look at the life and book of a faithful man, Daniel. Daniel's life in Babylon isn’t all that different from ours today. Daniel was taken to a foreign country with foreign gods and told to conform, but he didn’t. He chose to follow God. His example is one we should follow. As believers in Christ, we are aliens and strangers in this world. Our citizenship is in Heaven, but we are called to be faithful here for as long as the Lord gives us. The book of Daniel should fill us with a sense of urgency to share the gospel, for in this book, we see what God has in store for the end of days. I hope Daniel’s life will encourage and embolden you to live courageously and faithfully. Sincerely, Dr. Robert Jeffress 4 PATHWAY MAGAZINE | MAR/APR ‘18 STAFF TABLE OF CONTENTS Nate Curtis OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF LIONS 6 Editor-in-Chief LISTENER AND VIEWER TESTIMONIES 10 Ginny Lauren Hulette Managing Editor AMERICA’S COMING STORM 12 Patrick Heatherington THE MOST AMAZING PROPHECY IN THE BIBLE 16 Director of Marketing & Operations JESUS: MAN, MYTH, OR MESSIAH? 20 Derrick Jeter DAILY DEVOTIONALS 24 Writer Jennifer Stair CONNECT WITH US Writer Joseph Sneed TELEVISION Writer • TBN Saturdays 9:30p Central | Sundays 1p Central Kariss Lynch • TCT Writer Sundays 9a Central • DAYSTAR Vickie Sterling Sundays 5p Central | Fridays 9p Central Digital Producer Visit ptv.org/station-locator/ to find a station near you. Victoria Manley Customer Service RADIO Lana Couch • American Family Radio Network • Bott Radio Network | 12p Central Donor Care Associate • Christian Satellite Network (CSN) Shea Lowery • Salem Media Group Donor Care Associate • Sirius XM Family Talk | 4:30p Central Visit ptv.org/station-locator/ to find a station Darren Starr near you. Digital Editor DIGITAL Dian Williams • Facebook: @drjeffress Administrator • Twitter: @robertjeffress • Apple/Android/Windows Apps Michael Baker • ptv.org Logistics Coordinator • Podcast • Oneplace.com Abigail Miller • Apple TV Social Media Coordinator • iCampus.firstdallas.org PATHWAY MAGAZINE | MAR/APR ‘18 5 OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF LIONS Excerpted from dr. robert jeffress' series, courageous living in a pagan world: a study of the book of daniel 6 PATHWAY MAGAZINE | MAR/APR ‘18 eter Cartwright was a But in chapter six, instead of preacher in the 1800s. deposing Daniel along with the Legend says that before outgoing king, Darius recognized one sermon, an associate Daniel’s courageous spirit. What set Pwarned him that General Andrew Daniel apart? Jackson (later, President Jackson) DILIGENCE was in attendance. Because he was a captive from To his shock, Cartwright loudly Judah, Daniel was a slave to the responded, “Who is General Babylonian kings. But instead of Jackson? If he does not repent of growing bitter, he chose to serve his sins and become converted, he them faithfully for many years. will go to hell like anyone else.” Part of his faithfulness involved COURAGE IS DOING WHAT IS RIGHT WITHOUT REGARD FOR CONSEQUENCES. The congregation gasped, expecting speaking hard truths to his masters, Jackson to challenge Cartwright to trusting God with the results. a duel. However, after the service, General Jackson congratulated When Persia conquered Babylon, Cartwright on his courage.1 the new king Darius recognized Daniel’s skill, diligence, and Courage is doing what is right courage, and appointed him without regard for consequences. commissioner over one-third of his The book of Daniel is a primer on empire (6:2). Daniel continued to courage, with chapter six giving work diligently for his new boss. the prime example. Let’s examine Eventually, Darius planned to place this chapter to see how to be Daniel over his entire empire (6:3). courageous in our own lives. Working faithfully for a long time Courage at Work at something worthwhile will always bring a harvest—although In Daniel 5:31, Darius, the leader not always when we want. God of the Medo-Persian Empire, rewards in His timing. conquered Babylon, just as Daniel had predicted. PATHWAY MAGAZINE | MAR/APR ‘18 7 DANIEL’S PRAYER LIFE GAVE HIM THE COURAGE TO GO INTO THAT DEN OF LIONS. IT REMINDED HIM THAT ALL THAT REALLY MATTERED IS WHAT GOD THINKS. However, when promotions and obedience to Jehovah illegal (6:5). payoffs do come, so does jealousy But they did so under the guise of and attacks from unprincipled patriotism (6:6–8). They proposed people. You need character to stand a decree to King Darius that would firm. forbid prayer to anyone except CHARACTER the king for 30 days. This played upon the king’s ego, as well as his Some of the other bureaucrats pragmatism. So Darius signed the (called satraps) had been passed injunction, “according to the law of over for promotion and became the Medes and Persians, which may jealous of Daniel. So, they not be revoked” (6:8). Not even the conspired to catch him in some king could change this law. scandal (Daniel 6:4). However, Daniel was godly. He was not How did Daniel respond? perfect, but there was nothing in BOLDNESS his life to disqualify him from his work. When Daniel heard the news, he prayed with the windows open, as Courage in Public always (6:10). He changed nothing in his routine. He was not about Since the satraps could find nothing to waiver in his devotion to the wrong with Daniel’s professional Eternal King because of some life, they turned instead to his temporary ruler. faith. They conspired to make 8 PATHWAY MAGAZINE | MAR/APR ‘18 DISCIPLINE 27:59–60, 65–66). And just as For many years, Daniel had God delivered Jesus alive from the prayed three times a day to God. tomb, He did so for Daniel (Daniel Daniel understood the critical 6:21–23)! In a sense, Daniel was principle of carving out time for brought back from the dead. communication with the Lord. We will most likely never be thrown CONSISTENCY into a pit full of starving lions. But Daniel did not develop a prayer we can learn several principles on life the moment trouble arose. He how to face adversity from Daniel’s had nurtured it for decades. It takes example. 100 years to grow a redwood—it REFUSE TO BE PARALYZED BY FEAR takes 6 months to grow a squash. When Satan throws his flaming To withstand the storms of life, arrow of fear, block it with faith develop the life-long discipline of (Ephesians 6:16). God may not prayer. deliver you from death, but your Courage in Storms Heavenly Father will accomplish His perfect purpose in your life and When Daniel’s enemies discovered He will bring you safely home. that he had broken the law by praying to God, they gleefully KEEP A CLEAR CONSCIENCE reported the news to Darius Obeying God as best you can (6:11–13). The king realized that in every area of life gives you he had been tricked, but too late. incredible courage to face adversity. But before he had Daniel thrown Suffering for your own sins brings into a den of lions as punishment, no reward, and it saps your strength he told him, “Your God whom you (1 Peter 2:20). constantly serve will Himself deliver REMAIN IN CONTACT WITH GOD you” (6:16). Through Daniel’s godly witness over many years, he Daniel’s prayer life gave him the had impacted the most powerful courage to go into that den of lions. man in the world. It reminded him that all that really matters is what God thinks. This The lion’s den was Daniel’s tomb. attitude will give you the same A stone was rolled over its entrance, courage to face the lions in your and a royal seal was placed on the life, as well as the courage to speak stone so that no one would remove as boldly as a lion in a pagan world. it (6:17). A similar fate happened 1. M.H. Chamberlin, “Rev. Peter Cartwright, D.D.,” Illinois to Jesus, many years later (Matthew State Historical Society, Volume 7, (Springfield, IL: Phillips Brothers, State Printers. 1902), page 54. PATHWAY MAGAZINE | MAR/APR ‘18 9 LISTENER AND VIEWER TESTIMONIES Anne from Florida read Dr. Jeffress’ She uses what she learns from the book, A Place Called Heaven, program to help teach her Sunday and she said the message of hope school class. She says: found in the book inspired her to “I have learned so much from your share the gospel with others. She teaching and I use what I learn says: when I teach my Sunday school “It is very easy to become a ‘tired’ class. In fact, at our last fellowship believer and let that feeling of gathering I served communion tiredness rule your life. But after because I remembered during your I read your book, A Place Called lesson on the Lord's Supper that it Heaven, I made it my goal to speak does not say anywhere in the Bible to other people about the hope we that a woman could not serve have only in Jesus.