Participants: Jay Rosario & Daniel McGrath (Host), Nestor Soriano
Series Code: E
Program Code: E000020
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00:20 Hello again, my name is Jay Rosario,
00:22 your host for the Engage program, 00:25 which is a series dedicated to address 00:29 kind of contemporary issues and challenges facing 00:33 young Christians all over the world. 00:36 And joining us today is my good friend, Dan McGrath. 00:40 Dan, how's it going? 00:41 Good, Jay, thanks for having me here. 00:43 Today we're gonna talk about something 00:44 that's probably universally. 00:47 You said this show is for people all over the world. 00:49 One of the things that people all over the world 00:50 doesn't matter who you're, 00:51 where you've come from, is peer pressure. 00:54 And to talk about this we've invited our good friend, 00:56 Nestor Soriano, to come back. 00:58 And Nestor, thanks for coming again. 01:00 Hi, Dan, good to see you. Good to see you. 01:01 Good to see you. Good to see you. 01:02 Now Nestor, once again, I know you, Dan knows you, 01:06 heard you sing, loved your music. 01:09 But for those that may not know who you're, 01:12 tell us where you come from and etcetera. Sure. 01:16 My name is, my full name is Nestor Soriano. 01:18 I grew up in the city of Chicago 01:21 and currently I am a student in the Andrews University 01:26 of Theological Seminary, 01:27 earning my Masters of Divinity degree. Nice. 01:31 Well, Nestor, it's definitely good to have you here 01:32 and every subject that we have been 01:34 kind of unfolding has been 01:36 very fascinating, very relevant. 01:38 And the subject we're gonna tackle today 01:41 is the subject of peer pressure. 01:43 Now Nestor, why is peer pressure 01:46 an important subject to talk about? 01:47 Well, let's think about, how I even came here. 01:52 Dan and you both invited me, you both pressured me. 01:55 We did put a little pressure on you-- 01:57 You did put a little pressure. 01:58 You had pressure from your peers 02:00 to do something good. 02:01 Yeah, so it's a positive it was a positive way. 02:05 Peer pressure is in a positive way 02:07 for you to invite me. 02:08 I think that peer pressure to answer your question, 02:09 peer pressure is important because it impacts every one 02:13 like Dan said right here in the introduction. 02:16 And in fact peer pressure can also be used 02:19 by us to influence others. 02:20 So it's definitely has a strong impact on people. 02:24 Right and it seems like every--pretty much 02:26 everyday we kind of-- I mean peer pressure 02:29 can has a very strong sound to it, but we kind of-- 02:33 We use it in a negative sense. 02:34 We're using it in a negative sense mostly, 02:36 but we peer pressure people, to, 02:38 maybe go to a restaurant that we like 02:40 or maybe we go oh, there's an excellent book 02:43 that you need to read. 02:44 That some level of peer pressure. 02:45 But what we're gonna be addressing primarily, 02:47 even though we're gonna address 02:48 the positive peer pressure like you mentioned. 02:51 Is the peer pressure that we mostly refer to 02:54 when it's pressure from fellow peers that are towards us, 03:01 probably trying to get us to number one, 03:04 go to a place that probably is not the best place to go to, 03:07 be involved in a particular activity, 03:11 do certain things, make bad decisions. 03:14 Do you have a-- what is peer pressure? 03:17 How do we define peer pressure? Sure. 03:20 I think when we think about peer pressure, 03:22 I was just talking about this with a friend, 03:23 how can I summarize peer pressure in one word? 03:27 And I thought of the word, influence. 03:30 Now you've heard the term, leadership. 03:33 Leadership is also influence. 03:34 So I think the difference between 03:36 leadership which is influencing 03:37 and peer pressure which influences the-- 03:39 is the idea of social influence. 03:41 So that's how I would define peer pressure. 03:44 In fact the dictionary when I read it, 03:46 said that peer pressure is social influence 03:49 by ones own peer group. So it's definitely-- 03:52 There's definitely social influence involved. 03:56 Have you ever had, maybe a case 04:01 or maybe an experience of peer pressure? 04:04 Maybe you were the one applying the pressure 04:08 or maybe you were the one receiving the pressure. 04:11 I don't know, have you guys ever been 04:12 in any either fence-- other side of the fence. 04:16 Well, you know, I went to school at a public university. 04:21 You know, no Adventist really, 04:24 they're probably a handful of us, 04:25 so there's a lot of pressure. 04:26 You know the pressure to go and to the parties and to drink. 04:31 Those are very real and those are things that 04:33 Adventist that go to public universities experience. 04:36 I mean 70% of students 04:38 they graduate from Adventist schools 04:39 go to a public school after for college. 04:41 So, you know, I definitely felt peer pressure. 04:44 You know, thankfully the Lord kept me 04:46 from stumbling in that way. 04:48 But some of my friends were not so, 04:51 you know, they didn't have the victory that I did. 04:54 And, you know, because they put themselves 04:58 in that environment where their peers influence them. 05:01 And so I think, you know, that something that 05:04 we have to address. 05:05 My good friend went to law school 05:07 and you know law school is all about drinking. Mm-hmm. 05:11 You know, for those of us that haven't gone to law school 05:13 we would know that but, you know, 05:16 to be a faithful Adventist 05:17 when everybody else is doing that, it's hard. 05:20 Right. Right. Let's be honest. Yeah. 05:23 So is it possible maybe to resist negative peer pressure? 05:28 Is it a possibility and if so, how? 05:32 Definitely, I think that it is possible 05:35 to avoid negative peer pressure. 05:39 I think that, you know, when we think about peer pressure, 05:42 I think of an example in my case. 05:45 I can remember when I was younger, 05:49 when I was a child, 05:50 several of the neighborhood friends on my street 05:53 and I lived in the city of Chicago 05:55 and on that street there's North Sawyer Avenue. 05:58 One afternoon, my sister and I decided to go outside 06:01 and just to play in the neighborhood 06:03 and the neighborhood kids 06:05 peer pressured us into playing tag. 06:08 And it was an innocent game, but what happened was, 06:12 one of the--I was running from one of the-- 06:18 I guess you could say the enemies or the opponents. 06:20 Right. And she was trying to chase me. 06:21 Well, unfortunately she didn't see a car coming 06:24 and she got hit. 06:27 From that instance of peer pressure, 06:30 you know, especially young people 06:31 we don't really know what kind of influence 06:33 that game would be-- a game would have 06:34 especially on a semi-busy street. Yeah. 06:39 Can you give us some examples of 06:41 maybe negative peer pressure from the Bible? 06:43 Sure, definitely, I think that 06:46 one instance that I think of, 06:48 is a story that I think we have heard before. 06:51 It's found in 1 Kings okay. 1 Kings. 06:53 Let's go to 1 Kings, Chapter 11, Verses 3 and 4. 06:56 Those of us-- those of that are viewing 06:58 want to encourage them to open their Bibles as well. 07:00 1 Kings, Chapter-- First Kings 11. 07:02 Eleven. Verses 3 and 4. 07:05 Now we know Solomon was a wise individual 07:07 but there was one thing he wasn't wise about. 07:10 And one thing he wasn't wise about 07:12 was the multiplicity of women that he had in his life. 07:14 Yes. And let's look at-- 07:16 He had quite a few. He had quite a few. 07:18 In fact, we'll read the number here. 07:19 But the scripture says, beginning with verse 3, 07:22 "And he had 700 wives." 07:25 Now can you imagine having 700 wives? 07:28 That's-- I can't. 07:30 None of us are-- I know none of us are married. 07:33 But even individuals, you know, who are married, 07:36 how can you imagine having 700 wives? 07:38 Now the scripture says, 07:40 "And he had 700 wives princesses and 300 concubines. 07:45 And his wives turned away his heart." 07:47 He had 1,000 women 07:50 but they all turned his heart away from God. 07:53 Now, look at what verse 4 says, 07:55 "For it was so, when Solomon was old 07:58 that his wives turned his heart after other gods 08:02 and his heart was not loyal to the Lord, 08:03 his God, as was the heart of father David." 08:07 There is a prime example of peer pressure, 08:10 turning a wise man's heart away from the true God. 08:16 It's interesting because 08:17 when you think of you can easily say, 08:19 oh, peer pressure really is only affected to those 08:22 that are--to the weak, to those that are-- 08:25 maybe you're not strong. 08:27 But I mean, can you--king Solomon, 08:30 can you get anybody, anymore prestigious, 08:32 anymore driven, anymore solid than him 08:35 and yet he was a victim of peer pressure. 08:37 So it's obviously something that's realistic 08:38 and something that's very powerful. 08:42 Let's think of peer pressure in a negative way in 2012. 08:46 I'm actually in this, maybe in this last decade or so. 08:50 I was pastoring in the State of Wisconsin 08:52 for three years and I can remember 08:54 young people making decisions for Christ saying, 08:57 you know, I'm going to follow Him all the way, 08:59 I'm going to get rid of the influences in my life 09:01 specifically music and movies 09:03 that might--that are weighing me down. 09:05 And so they would make a commitment right, 09:07 but when they would go back into their own peer group. 09:09 Now we're talking about peer pressure right. 09:11 When they would get back into their own peer group, 09:15 their friends would negatively impact them 09:16 to go back into the things 09:19 that they committed themselves to follow. 09:21 And it has a very strong influence 09:24 and I'm seeing here from the passage 2, 09:26 the closer that someone is to you 09:28 the more intimate someone is to you, 09:30 the greater chance that individual 09:31 has to influence you. Wow. 09:34 Yeah, that makes sense because you kind of-- 09:35 you're more out of vulnerable position 09:38 or maybe you can find in that person more 09:40 and I guess that's why it's peer pressure 09:42 because it wouldn't be pressure 09:44 if it's not people that you love, 09:45 people that you trust, people that you hang out with, 09:47 and spend time with. 09:48 And I guess that really answers-- 09:49 the next question is how can we resist peer pressure? 09:54 And I guess part of that is somehow 09:57 how you just answered it and that is making sure 09:59 that we open up and have friendship with people 10:05 that are not gonna turn our hearts away from the Lord, 10:09 but rather are gonna turn our hearts to the Lord. Exactly. 10:13 And, you know, Nestor, 10:14 you grown up in a big city like Chicago. 10:17 Have you had any experiences of that? 10:20 Maybe of seeing people that you know 10:24 who were may be walking in the negative way 10:26 that were kind of given positive peer pressure 10:29 and you were able to turn around, 10:30 maybe your own story or somebody else's, 10:32 are you familiar with any? 10:33 Sure, are you talking about in a positive sense? 10:35 In a positive sense. Yeah, I think so, I think so. 10:39 I can think of my own conversion story. Right. 10:44 My friend, Peter and a friend of mine, 10:49 Wesley, they came to my door 10:50 when I was a freshman in the college 10:52 I didn't really have a purpose in life, 10:53 I was just caught in this web of secularism in the world. 11:00 But my friends came, they knocked on my door, 11:02 and these two individuals came dressed up 11:04 in business casual clothes like we're dressed today, 11:07 nice slacks and a nice shirt. 11:09 And I was intrigued not just by the fact 11:13 that they were dressed up because these guys were, 11:15 you know, they were the funny guys in school. 11:18 But there was something genuine about the experience 11:21 and I was working on a paper, 11:23 one hour turned into two hours, 11:25 two hours turned into three, 11:26 and the entire evening we talked-- 11:28 they were telling me and talking to me 11:30 about how God was working in their lives, 11:34 how Christ is coming soon, 11:35 and how they wanted to have a deep-- 11:37 they wanted to follow Jesus all the way. 11:39 That was appealing to me 11:40 and that had a powerful influence, 11:42 a good influence on my life. 11:44 When I made a decision to follow Christ 11:47 then I in turn used that, 11:51 I guess that relationship with God, 11:52 that good influence to influence 11:55 and impact others as well and praise the Lord 11:58 that God has used me to lead people 12:00 to make decisions for Him 12:01 and I found no greater joy than that. 12:03 Amen, praise God. That seems like-- 12:05 It seems like all of us even though we don't recognize it, 12:08 somehow we exert some kind of an influence, 12:11 it could be positive or negative. 12:13 And I remember my own experience, 12:15 you know, I had a big, big, difficulty with profanity, 12:19 growing up partly because of music 12:20 that I listen to which is very, very negative 12:23 but also the association that I had. 12:25 And I always felt a pressure 12:28 to maybe laugh at certain jokes that were inappropriate, 12:34 that I knew that I shouldn't have laughed, 12:36 and this is probably right towards the point 12:38 where I'm becoming a Christian and finding Christ 12:41 or Christ finding me, I should say. 12:42 And it was very, very difficult 12:45 and it almost seemed like when I wrapped myself around 12:48 individuals that were positive that kind of were edifying. 12:53 It was such a--a kind of like a relief as I, oh, wow. 12:56 I felt like I could just, I mean, 12:59 I don't want to say put your guard down, 13:00 but it almost feels like you could-- 13:02 you're at home, home base. 13:04 And I think that's one of the things 13:05 that is so cool about having a solid group of young people 13:09 that you may be confide in, 13:11 that I can keep you accountable, 13:13 and they will not lead you astray. 13:15 And is there any other counsel that Bible gives us 13:18 on this subject of peer pressure-- 13:20 Sure, we looked at a negative example of peer pressure. 13:22 I've talked about my own experience 13:24 with positive peer pressure. 13:25 Let's look at an example in scripture 13:27 of positive peer pressure. 13:29 Turn with me to the Book of John, 13:30 fourth book of the New Testament. 13:32 John in the first Chapter, 13:34 we find this instance of good peer pressure. 13:39 In John Chapter 1, we know that 13:42 John, the Baptist appears here 13:43 and Jesus appears on the scene 13:45 and beginning with verse 35 of John Chapter 1. 13:49 The scripture says, again the next day 13:51 John stood with two of his disciples 13:53 and looking at Jesus as he walked he said, 13:55 behold, the Lamb the Lamb of God. 13:57 The two disciples heard him speak 13:59 and they followed Jesus. 14:00 And what happened in this story is that 14:03 these two disciples of John ended up staying with Jesus 14:06 and staying with Him overnight, 14:08 listening to what He had to say. 14:09 Look at verse 40, one of the two 14:11 who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, 14:14 Simon Peter's brother. 14:16 So after he spent time with Christ, 14:19 notice the first thing that he did. 14:20 Here's an example of good peer pressure. 14:22 Verse 41, "He first found his own brother Simon 14:27 and said to him, we have found the Messiah," 14:30 which was translated the Christ, and he brought him to Jesus. 14:33 A good peer pressure. 14:34 Now, when Jesus looked at him He said, 14:35 "you are Simon, the son of Jonah, 14:37 you shall be called Cephas." 14:38 But it doesn't stop there, 14:39 these are the first two disciples, 14:41 Andrew and his brother Peter. 14:43 Look at this, Verse 43, 14:45 the following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee 14:47 and he found Philip, and said to him follow me. 14:51 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 14:54 And look here's verse 45, 14:56 and Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 15:00 we have found him of who Moses in the law 15:02 and also the prophets wrote, 15:03 Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 15:05 And of course sometimes when we introduce people to God, 15:09 some people object, he objected in verse 46, 15:12 and Nathaniel said to him, 15:13 can anything good come out of Nazareth? 15:15 But Philip, he used good peer pressure 15:18 and Philip said to him, come and see for yourself. 15:22 And we know later on in the story 15:23 that Nathaniel followed. 15:25 John the Baptist had two disciples, 15:27 one of them was Andrew, 15:28 Andrew got Peter, that's three. 15:30 And then Jesus found Philip, Philip then found Nathaniel. 15:34 First five disciples and we can see 15:37 there are many disciples who are won because of what? 15:39 Good peer pressure. Good peer pressure, wow. 15:40 So it's almost like peer pressure, 15:42 positive peer pressure is a method to win souls. 15:46 Yes. Just to evangelize. 15:48 And the opposite is just as true 15:49 negative peer pressure will be one that will create-- 15:51 Yeah, you read in the book messages to young people 15:54 that we all have an influence 15:55 that extends to those around us. 15:58 Whether good influence or bad influence and that, 16:00 you know, that influence that we exert 16:02 could lead someone to Jesus like theirs did 16:05 or you know as we looked for those wives 16:09 that Solomon had led him in a bad direction. 16:12 So it's very interesting that. 16:14 Yeah, it seems like there's a level of humanity 16:20 though even with bad peer pressure, 16:22 like I guess one question we could ask is, 16:25 why do we give into bad peer pressure? 16:28 If we know it's bad. Yeah. 16:30 Why do we give in? 16:32 The thing is that, that's a really good question. 16:34 I think the reason, the reason why we fall into 16:39 bad peer pressure 16:41 is rooted in this idea of identity and individuality. 16:46 I think that for a Christian 16:49 that we need to find first our identity in Christ. 16:53 Now, I wanna show you a passage and scripture, 16:55 in fact a scripture that was confrontational to me 16:58 when I first heard it, when I was first giving-- 17:01 when I first heard stirring messages 17:04 that the Lord used-- 17:05 the Lord uses individual that challenge me. 17:07 There's a passage that stuck with me 17:09 and if you go to Matthew, Chapter 19, verse 29. 17:12 You'll see this passage, 17:13 its sounds like a very depressing passage, 17:17 but actually there is hope in this passage, okay. 17:20 Matthew, Chapter 19, verse 29, 17:22 "And everyone who has left houses 17:24 or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife 17:26 or children or lands for my name sake 17:29 shall receive an hundredfold and inherit eternal life." 17:32 Now if you look at a parallel passage in the gospels 17:35 we'll see-- we see Jesus saying 17:37 who ever hates so and so and so that doesn't-- 17:39 Jesus is not saying you should hate these individuals, 17:42 but what Jesus is saying, 17:44 what He's saying is I want you to follow me first. 17:48 It's an appeal to us to follow 17:50 God first before anything else. 17:52 And I think that as Christians 17:54 to answer your question this is where our identity, 17:57 our individuality should be. 17:59 It should be grounded in following Jesus first. 18:04 And if we're rooted in Christ, 18:06 then if my anchor is deep in Christ, 18:11 any type of storm that might try to pressure me 18:13 left or right, to or fro that's not going to move me 18:16 because my identity is firm on the rock of Christ. 18:20 That's interesting because I have-- 18:21 I know a few people that have a pretty powerful 18:26 will power to be able to resist, 18:28 people that are not as easy to influence and to sway. 18:33 Actually, yeah, Dan is one of them. 18:36 Dan, you're known to be kind of one who's kind of, 18:39 you know, you're not easily swayed, 18:40 you know, what's your secret when it comes to that? 18:42 Even though, even though some times which I persuaded, 18:44 you know, maybe eat at a restaurant 18:46 or maybe wear something else 18:49 or whatever the situation might be. 18:50 It seems like you're one 18:52 that's kind of hard to influence. 18:55 And I don't mean that's a bad way. 18:57 My family would say it's because I'm Irish, but-- 18:58 Okay, that's what it is. It's in your genes. 19:01 And I think I've just always grown up, 19:03 you know, being stubborn. 19:06 Good thing or bad thing 19:07 when it comes to my walk with the Lord, 19:09 I take that very seriously 19:11 and if it goes against my principle like, 19:13 you know, there's no way that I'll even consider it. Nice. 19:16 So and if once my mind is made up like that, 19:18 you know, it's very easy for me to resist those things 19:20 because I don't even dwell on them, it's like, no. 19:24 Wow. So-- 19:25 So Dan, you're one of the fortunate ones that has 19:27 that inherent ability-- Well, there are things 19:30 that people pressure me to do, you know-- 19:33 Yeah, I--you know, by nature I tend to be more-- 19:36 my nature a little more of a people pleaser. 19:39 And high school, even in the middle school, 19:43 you know, I always I could remember different instances 19:47 and experiences where I knew 19:50 I shouldn't have that my friends were encouraging me 19:53 to do some thing, I knew that I probably shouldn't do it 19:55 because it's not good and it leads to bad effects. 20:00 But I think the fear of rejection. 20:04 The longing to be accepted, 20:06 which in and of itself is not bad. 20:09 These things are not bad. 20:10 I think by nature God created us for-- 20:13 to long to be accepted and to not want to be rejected. 20:17 And I think these are very significant realities 20:20 that motivates young people, 20:24 young adults to maybe give in to different activities 20:28 or participate in anything 20:29 that they're not supposed to it 20:31 because there's a fear there. 20:32 We can even, even go a step further 20:35 for the young professionals that are working, 20:37 you know, with their jobs. 20:38 You know, if the boss tells them to do something, 20:41 may be they have to work, you know, 20:42 half an hour into the Sabbath hours Friday 20:45 because sundown is at 4.30. Right. 20:47 You know, if you don't do this you're gonna loose your job. 20:49 That's a very strong pressure. Yeah. 20:53 You know, what do you gonna do? 20:55 And those are things that, you know, 20:57 people face and they are very real issues 20:59 that we have to work with because 21:01 the world doesn't keep the Sabbath. Right. 21:03 Yeah, that's right. 21:04 And I think that a very good solution 21:05 to that especially when we come to issues 21:07 where we're really tested by fire. 21:11 Our principles and our decisions 21:12 should already be made up. 21:14 So like you're talking about your will power, 21:16 your principles already decided prior 21:18 to people pressuring you to do something. 21:20 So I definitely think that is one solution. 21:23 And if we look at our individuality and identity, 21:28 once we have that and we're firm in Christ 21:30 then God can use us to exert positive peer pressure. 21:34 Isn't that what the gospel 21:35 commission is about, Matthew 28? 21:36 Right. To go and make disciples. 21:38 You can't make disciples 21:39 unless you're disciple first. Right. 21:40 And your purpose is to then bring people 21:44 into the sense of belonging into the Kingdom of God. 21:47 Right. To that community. 21:48 Right. Yeah, it's interesting. 21:49 I have a good friend of mine 21:51 that was just recently baptized in my church 21:54 and he the only Christian in his home really. 21:58 The only committed Christian in his home and he works-- 22:00 he is a musician, he works at a music store. 22:03 And his kind of a boss, leader, supervisor, 22:07 was trying to apply pressure 22:09 and going back to what Dan was saying 22:10 on this whole issue of the Sabbath. 22:12 And you know it wasn't a struggle for him. 22:16 He simply said, you know, what? 22:18 No, this is something that is from the Bible. God said it. 22:22 And if I don't get this day off, then I quit. 22:28 And the boss was so shocked, 22:31 like wow, you know, what happened to you? 22:35 How can you put your job on the line for a religious, 22:39 you know, epiphany that you had? 22:41 And he is keeping the Sabbath. 22:43 He is heavenly above the church and I think that, 22:46 you know, I wish that, that would be more common 22:48 amongst young people and young adults. 22:51 So I guess the question would be, 22:53 you know, we're talking about individuality, 22:54 finding a firm purpose and identity with Christ 22:57 in order to resist this, 22:58 but I guess the million dollar question is, 23:00 how do we get that individuality? 23:02 How do we get a solid identity with Christ that doesn't, 23:07 maybe tempt us to try to compromise our convictions 23:12 and our standards in order to fit in? 23:14 How do we get that individuality, 23:16 that solid experience? Sure, that's a good question. 23:19 I think, I alluded this already 23:20 but I want to-- I want to go to a bible text 23:23 to show this one idea, okay. 23:25 Daniel chapter-- Daniel, Chapter 1, okay. 23:29 So we know the story. 23:33 Daniel Chapter 1 and we know that Daniel, 23:40 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were all alone 23:43 that the king wanted them to feed them certain food 23:47 and they wanted them to learn the literature 23:51 and the wisdom of their culture. 23:54 But the scripture says 23:56 and this is very powerful in verse 8. 23:59 "But Daniel purposed in his heart 24:01 that he would not defile himself 24:03 with the portion of the king's delicacies 24:05 nor with the wine which he drank, 24:06 therefore, he requested to the chief of the eunuchs 24:09 that he might not defile himself." 24:12 It's interesting that he purposed in his heart 24:14 that he wouldn't do that. 24:15 And I think of a very powerful quote 24:18 that I have here that I read from Ellen White 24:20 and this is from, 24:22 I believe the fourth volume of the manuscripts 4MR, 24:26 Page 129, Paragraph 1. 24:28 "Lessons of great importance maybe learned 24:30 from the history of Daniel and his companions. 24:33 These youth were bound together 24:34 in their sacred bonds of Christian fellowship." 24:36 See there's good pressure there, right? 24:38 Daniel's name is placed first on the record 24:41 because he exerted a strong influence 24:43 over the other three. 24:45 Who looked upon him as a leader. 24:47 Had he failed to take a firm stand for the right? 24:50 Had he pleased and indulged himself, 24:52 his companions also would have failed, 24:53 they would not have handed down to us 24:55 as young men signally honored by 24:57 the God of Heaven. Mercy. 24:59 Wow, so Daniel's faithfulness. That's right. 25:02 Is what encouraged his other three friends 25:04 to maintain faithful? That's right. Wow. 25:07 And if he would have been unfaithful 25:08 then that would have somehow 25:11 influence his other three friends 25:13 to be unfaithful as well. Exactly. 25:14 So I guess the power of influence, 25:16 we don't realize how much power we do have. 25:20 What are some practical things 25:22 because these are concepts in a minute? 25:25 In one minute. In one minute. 25:28 What are some practical things a young person 25:29 maybe who is striving to be a Christian, 25:31 striving to have an authentic experience of God? 25:34 What are maybe two or three practical things 25:36 that young person can do right now 25:38 in order to protect themself 25:39 from negative peer pressure 25:41 and get involved in positive peer pressure? Sure. 25:44 I think first of all, you know, if you--you know, 25:48 if a young person out there 25:49 who really wants to follow God, 25:51 who wants to follow good peer pressure, 25:54 first spend time in the word, allow God to feel your heart, 25:58 to feel your soul. 25:59 Because until you notice, 26:00 until you realize that there is a problem, 26:02 there isn't a problem. 26:03 But when you come to scripture 26:04 and you realize that there are different set of principles 26:06 which are contrary to what most of the world teaches. 26:10 You'll be confronted and the word of God 26:11 will show you what that ideal is, 26:13 that's number one. 26:14 God will speak to you through the conscience. 26:17 Number two after you spend time in the word of God 26:20 I would encourage that individual 26:22 to spend time in prayer and to speak to God personally 26:25 about that struggle to give his or her life 26:28 over to Christ fully and to say, 26:29 God give me the strength 26:31 because I believe that's the strength 26:32 that God gives you strength to withstand, 26:35 our position gives me the strength, 26:36 gives all of us the strength. 26:38 So definitely Bible study, definitely prayer. 26:42 And three, I think this is very practical. 26:44 I think that once God shows you that 26:46 maybe some of the values that you hold 26:49 are different from the values 26:50 that some of your friends have. Of course. 26:53 Then what you should do is, 26:55 of course, you should separate yourself, 26:57 not leave and abandon those individuals, 27:00 but still show-- try to find a common bond 27:03 whether it's eating out together 27:04 or playing--playing basketball or something, 27:06 find common bond. Sure. 27:08 But, but at the same time as you slowly 27:10 let go off maybe some of the friends 27:12 that you have that might be 27:13 influencing you the wrong way. 27:17 Find another peer group, another community 27:21 that will help you grow in your faith to the Lord. 27:23 And that's exactly what God did with me. 27:25 I had friends that were taking me down, 27:27 but look at the friends He's given me here, 27:28 you know, he's given me, 27:29 Dan, he's given me, Jay. Praise God. 27:30 I have many other friends who loved the Lord 27:32 and who influenced me the right way. 27:34 Well, Nestor, I already feel positive peer pressure 27:36 even just talking to you all. 27:38 Nestor, thank you so much for being in our show 27:39 and I appreciate the insights 27:41 that you've given us. Thank you. 27:43 For those that are watching it's--as you can see, 27:46 maybe you're surrounded by negative peer pressure, 27:48 positive peer pressure is just around the corner. 27:51 Get yourself around young people 27:52 who love the Lord, join a small group, 27:54 get involved in the church, and I believe that 27:56 God is gonna bless you in this Christian warfare. 27:59 God bless you until next time. |
Revised 2014-12-17