Faith

John 15:5 (NIV) “apart from Me you can do nothing.”John 15:1:11 (ESV)"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”1 Corinthians 3:12-15 (NIV)“If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”John 14:1-3 (NIV)“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.”John 14:16-17 (NKJV)“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”John 14:18-19 (NKJV)“I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.”John 14:27 (NKJV)“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”John 16:8-11 (NIV)“When He comes, He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in Me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see Me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”John 16:20 (NIV)“Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”

I-SpyTruths to Live By1. God will lead you into difficulty, and He will be with you.John 16:33 (NLT)“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Psalm 23 (ESV) “He leads me.” “You are with me.” Romans 5:3-5 (ESV) “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” 2. If you don’t take a step, you will never arrive. Numbers 13:30-31 (ESV)“But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.” 3. Provision is inside obedience. Numbers 14:7-9 (ESV) “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” They are our bread Numbers 23:19 (ESV) “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Numbers 6:24-26 (ESV)“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

The Glory of ChristmasPart 2John 5:39 (NASB)“You examine the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is those very Scriptures that testify about Me.”Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)“Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”Isaiah 7:10-12 (NLT)“Later, the Lord sent this message to King Ahaz: “Ask the Lord your God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz. Make it as difficult as you want—as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead. “But the king refused. “No,” he said, “I will not test the Lord like that.”Isaiah 7:13 (NLT)“Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well?”Matthew 1:21-23 (ESV)“She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.”Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;”Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)...the government shall be upon His shoulder,and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.Isaiah 9:7 (ESV)“Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end,on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold itwith justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”Luke 4:18-19 (ESV)“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,because he has anointed meto proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captivesand recovering of sight to the blind,to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”Luke 4:30 (ESV)“But passing through their midst, he went away.”

The Glory of ChristmasGalatians 4:4 (NLT)“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.”Luke 1:26-27 (NIV)“God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.”Luke 1:28-30 (NIV)“‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.’”Luke 1:31-33 (NIV)“‘You will conceive and give birth to a Son, and you are to call Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end.’”Luke 1:34 (NIV)“‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’”Luke 1:35 (NIV)“‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.’”Luke 1:37 (ESV)“For nothing will be impossible with God.”Luke 1:38 (ESV)“Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.”Matthew 10:39 (ESV)“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”Matthew 1:20-21 (NIV)“An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.’”Matthew 1:24-25 (NIV)“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.”Mark 6:3 (NLT)“Then they scoffed, ‘He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary.’”

The Good News For and Through the Church The Good News in 4 Phrases 1. God with us. Matthew 1:23 (NIV)“‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).” Isaiah 14:7 (NIV)“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanuel.” John 1:14 (ESV)“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power.” John 3:16-17 (ESV)“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” “He who was the Son of God became the Son of man, that we who are sons of men have the promise that we can become sons of God.”- Pastor David Cook 2. God for us. Luke 19:10 (ESV)“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Titus 2:14 (NIV)“(Jesus) gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.” 1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV)“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” John 10:18 (NIV)“No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.” 3. God in us. 2 Corinthians 1:22 (NIV)“(God) set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” Colossians 1:26-27 (NIV)“The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)“Your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God…” 4. Us with God. Revelation 21:1-4 (ESV)“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 22:20 (ESV)“Surely I am coming soon.”

Love Makes All the Difference1 Corinthians 14:1 (ESV)“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts.”1 Corinthians 12:31 (NIV)“And yet I will show you the most excellent way.”1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV)“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”Love Makes All the Difference1 Corinthians 13:1 (NIV)“If I speak in the tongues of men (earthly) or of angels (heavenly), but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”1. Without love, our words push people away.2. Without love, our spiritual knowledge and mysteries inflates. 1 Corinthians 13:2 (NIV)“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge...but do not have love, I am nothing.”1 Corinthians 8:1 (NIV)“We know that ‘We all possess knowledge.’ But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.”3. Without love, our faith is dead. 1 Corinthians 13:2 (NIV)“If I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”4. Without love, giving is selfish. 1 Corinthians 13:3 (NIV)“If I give all I possess to the poor...but do not have love, I gain nothing.“You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving.” - Amy Carmichael, Missionary in India5. Without love, noble sacrifice is self-serving. 1 Corinthians 13:3 (NIV) “...Give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”Colossians 3:14 (ESV)“Above all these put on love.”What does love look like?1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Gifts of the Holy Spirit Matthew 16:18 (ESV)“I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” 1 Corinthians 12:1 (NIV)“Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed…” 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NIV)“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” “A spiritual gift is an ability that is empowered by the Holy Spirit and used to bless and equip other believers, to witness to unbelievers, to destroy the works of Satan and to highlight and give glory to the work and person of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NKJV)“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Ephesians 4:12 (NIV)“For building up the body of Christ…” Numbers 11:29 (NIV)“I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit on them!” Joel 2:28-29 (ESV)“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out My Spirit.” The church was given the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit to finish what Jesus started. 1. Jesus came to undo what satan and sin had done to humanity. Luke 4:16-19 (ESV)“He (Jesus) stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.’” 1 John 3:8 (ESV)“Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” Matthew 10:7-8 (ESV)“The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.” 2. The power and gifts of the Holy Spirit are to equip the church to carry out its ministry until Jesus returns. 1 Corinthians 1:7 (ESV)“You are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 14:12 (ESV)“Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.”1 Corinthians 14:1 (ESV)“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts.”

God the Holy Spirit Part 3John 16:7 (ESV)“It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.”The Help of the Holy SpiritTeaches and counsels you on what to do. (John 14:26)Makes you aware of sin. (John 16:7-8)Is with you in every situation. (1 Corinthians 3:16)Gives you illumination of the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 2:10-11)Reveals the unknown thoughts of God to you. (1 Corinthians 2:10-11)Gives you wisdom. (Ephesians 1:17-20)Guides you in truth for today and shows you what is to come. (John 16:13-15)Strengthens you in your human weakness. (Romans 8:26-27)Guarantees you eternal life through the righteousness of Jesus. (Romans 8:10-11)Enables you to produce good fruit. (Galatians 5:22-25)God the Holy Spirit Has Given You Spiritual Gifts2 Timothy 1:6 (ESV)“I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of My hands.”2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”1 Timothy 4:14a (ESV)“Do not neglect the gift you have...”1 Corinthians 12:1 (NIV)“Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.”1 Corinthians 12:3 (NIV)“I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed,’ and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.”1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NIV)“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NIV)“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He distributes them to each one, just as He determines.”1 Corinthians 12:18-20 (NIV)“In fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.”1 Corinthians 12:27-30 (NIV)“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?”1 Corinthians 12:7 (NIV)“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”Prayer“God, I ask You to show me what gifts the Holy Spirit has given me with which I might better serve You and others. I completely surrender my will to You and I am excited to know what supernatural gifts You have chosen to give me. I commit to You that I will give Jesus Christ all the credit and glory for any work or miracle You do through my life, my prayers, my actions and my obedience.I ask that You cleanse me and forgive me from any compromise, sin, wrong beliefs or pride. I ask that You deliver me of everything not pleasing to You, things that would keep me from being a clean vessel for You.Father God, thank You for loving me and sending Your Son Jesus for me. Jesus, thank You for exchanging Your life for mine. Holy Spirit, thank You for convicting me of my sin and introducing me to Jesus; and thank You for filling me with Your power and manifesting Your spiritual gifts through my life as You chose. Amen!”

God the Holy SpiritPart 2 John 16:7 (ESV)“It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.” Acts 1:4,5b (NIV)“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about…you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:8 (NIV)“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…” 1. The work of the Holy Spirit in and through our lives is for the sole purpose of bringing glory and honor to the Person and work of our Savior Jesus Christ. John 16:14 (NIV)“He will glorify Me because it is from Me that He will receive what He will make known to you.” Zechariah 12:10 (ESV)“I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on Me, on Him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over Him, as one weeps over a firstborn.” Acts 1:8 (NIV)“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses…” Colossians 3:17 (ESV)“Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus…” Proverbs 27:21 (NLT)“Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised.”

A Church Familiar with God the Holy Spirit John 14:26 (ESV)“The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name…” John 15:26 (ESV)“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth…” John 16:7 (ESV)“It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.” Acts 1:4-5 (NIV)“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” “The work of the Holy Spirit is to manifest the active presence of the God in the world, and especially in the Church.”- Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology The Activity of God the Holy Spirit 1. Is to bring life and to be a blessing. Isaiah 32:14-18 (ESV)“For the palace is forsaken, the populous city deserted…until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” Isaiah 44:3 (ESV)“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit upon your offspring, and My blessing on your descendants.” Isaiah 63:10 (ESV)“They rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; therefore He turned to be their enemy, and Himself fought against them.” 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”

Making Jesus Famous Question: Where did the need for missions begin? Genesis 3:1-7 (NIV)“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden”?’ The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, “You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.”’ ‘You will not certainly die,’ the serpent said to the woman. ‘For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” Answer: It began at the fall of mankind. Romans 5:12 (NIV)“Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.” Question: What is God’s heart for missions? Genesis 3:8-9 (NIV) “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” Answer: To restore those lost safely back into His family. Luke 19:10 (ESV) “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Question: Who is supposed to help restore those lost safely back into His family? Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.’” John 20:21 (NIV)“Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’” Acts 1:8 (NIV)“You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 16:9-10 (NIV)“During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 (NIV)“Now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” Answer: Those who are a part of God’s family are the ones who are to help restore those lost back into His family.

Jesus, Our ShepherdPart 2 John 10:1-16 (NIV)“‘Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.’ Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what He was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, ‘Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me—just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father—and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.’” When Jesus is Your Shepherd 1. You respond to His voice. John 6:37 (ESV)“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me…” 2. He stands guard over you. John 10:7-10 (NIV)“Therefore Jesus said again, ‘Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’” Acts 20:28-30 (NIV)“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.”

Jesus, Our ShepherdPart 1Ezekiel 34:23 (NIV)“I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.” John 10:1-17 (ESV)“‘Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.’ This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what He was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.’” “I am the good shepherd.” 1. You are a sheep. Psalm 100:3 (NIV)“Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.” Isaiah 40:11 (NIV)“He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.” Psalm 23 (NKJV)“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

The Church That Just Won’t QuitJames 1:2-4 (NIV)“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Acts 3:7-8 (NIV)“Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.” Acts 4:7 (NIV)“By what power or what name did you do this?” Acts 4:10 (NIV)“Whom you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead.” Acts 4:12 (NIV)“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other Name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:13 (NIV)“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:14 (NIV)“But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.” Acts 4:18 (NIV)“Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the Name of Jesus.” Acts 4:19-20 (BSB)“Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you instead of God. (We have made our choice.) We cannot help (ourselves from) speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:24 (NIV)“‘Sovereign Lord,’ they said, ‘You made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.’” Acts 4:25-27 (NIV)“You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against Your Holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed.” Acts 4:28 (NIV)“They did what Your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.” Acts 4:29 (NIV)“Now Lord, consider their threats and enable Your servants to speak Your Word with great boldness.” Acts 4:30 (NIV)“Stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the Name of Your Holy Servant Jesus.” Acts 4:31 (NIV)“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly.” Matthew 16:18 (ESV)“I will build My Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”

The Church Living Under the Kingship of Jesus Christ John 12:12-19 (NIV)“The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!’ Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: ‘Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.’ At first His disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about Him and that these things had been done to Him. Now the crowd that was with Him when He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that He had performed this sign, went out to meet Him. So the Pharisees said to one another, ‘See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!’” How Can God’s People Miss Being Under the Kingship of Jesus? 1. We selectively read and interpret biblical promises of what Jesus our King came to do. 2. We are consumed with defeating the wrong enemy. Ephesians 6:12-13 (ESV)“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” 3. Our primary focus is the earthly preservation of our nation. Philippians 3:20 (NKJV) “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Timothy 2:1-4 (NIV)“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.” How Do God’s People Live Under the Kingship of Jesus? 1. Become familiar with the heart and context of the whole Bible. 2. Become consumed with defeating the enemy of our King.3. Become consumed with the salvation of all people. Luke 19:10 (ESV)“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

The Church Jesus is Building 1 Timothy 3:14-15 (NIV)“…I am writing you these instructions so that…you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God…” Acts 5:42 (NIV)“Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house…”· Temple courts - Large gathering· House to house - Small group ministry Genesis 2:18 (NKJV)“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone…’” The Church Jesus is Building is Aware of Their Need for Each Other 1. Small groups remind us we are a part of the Family of God. 2 Corinthians 6:18 (NIV)“‘I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NLT)“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Romans 12:15 (NIV)“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” 1 Corinthians 12:26 (NLT)“If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.” 2. Small groups allow for care to be given and to be received. Acts 2:45 (NIV)“…They shared with anyone who was in need.” 3. Small groups help you become more mature in your faith. 1 Peter 2:2 (NASB)“Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.” 1 Corinthians 3:2-3 (NLT)“I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?” 4. Small group is a place you find allies. Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)“…Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT)“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

The Church Jesus is Building is the Church Resting in HimMark 4:19 (NIV)“The worries of this life...choke the Word, making it unfruitful.”Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”An Invitation from Jesus1. Come to Me.2. Take My yoke upon you.“I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

The Type of Church Jesus Builds to Destroy the Works of DarknessActs 20:28 (ESV)“He obtained [the church] with His own blood.”The Type of Church Jesus Builds to Destroy the Works of Darkness1. Is a church submitted to God’s Word over their desires, personal passions or feelings.2 Timothy 4:3 (NIV)“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”“We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behavior. ― John StottHebrews 4:12 (ESV)“For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”2. Is a church where the pastors and teachers teach and proclaim the whole counsel of the Scriptures.Acts 20:26-28 (ESV)“Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood.”Colossians 1:28 (ESV)“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”Romans 10:17 (NKJV)“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”

Matthew 16:13-18 (ESV)“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall notprevail against it.’”What is the “Rock” Jesus is talking about? Interpretation #1• The Church will be built on Peter. Interpretation #2• The Church will be built on God by Jesus as the Messiah and Savior of the world. What was Jesus saying?I will build my Church on top of the gates of Hell and its gates will crumble under its force.Matthew 16:19 (NIV)“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

The Ingredients of a Godly LegacyActs 20:17-38The Example of the Apostle Paul IntegrityActs 20:17-19 (NIV)“From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.” SteadfastnessActs 20:20-21 (NIV)“You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” BoldnessActs 20:22-24 (NIV)“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” FaithfulnessActs 20:25-31 (NIV)“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” GenerosityActs 20:32-35 (NIV)“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” ImpactActs 20:36-38 (NIV)“When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.”

1. Walk into the rebellion against your diehard sin knowing who is with you. Acts 4:1-13 (ESV)“And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, ‘By what power or by what name did you do this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by Him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Matthew 9:35-36 (ESV)“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” 2. Bring Christ and His provision to bear on your beliefs and desires. Joshua 1:8 (ESV)“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” 3. Enter with joy into your struggle against destructive daily habits. One of those schemes is this: “Don’t deal with your sin.” You can face sin instead of hiding it.You can own your sin instead of blaming others.You can accept your sin instead of making excuses.You can identify your sin as sin instead of minimizing it.You can acknowledge your sin instead of denying it.You can trust God with your sin instead of despairing. 4. Understand your real needs in the fight. Ephesians 4:17-24“Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!—assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” The goal of our rebellion with sin is not that we would be better rule followers, but that we would be more faithful Christ lovers. 5. We are called to do the same for others.

Moving from the Cave to the Castle1 Chronicles 11:10-19Who were these mighty men?1 Samuel 22- Distressed- Indebted- DiscontentedThere’s some Spiritual STRATEGY involved in moving from the cave to the castle.*Strategy - “A plan of action, a plan for military operations and movements during a war or battle.”1. Stare UpPsalm 121:1-2 -- “I will lift up mine eyes to the hills-from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.”Psalm 57 & 142Written by David while hiding in the cave of Adullam2. Strengthen Up1 Chronicles 11:10 -- “...Strengthened themselves with him...” - “Encouraged”1 Samuel 30:6 -- “...But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”3. Step Up1 Chronicles 11:10-11 -- “...With him...” “...Whom David had...” - He had their loyal service!VolunteersPsalm 110:3 -- “Your people will be volunteers in the day of your power.”4. Stand Up1 Chronicles 11:13-14 -- “...Took their stand...” - Stance of committed continuanceVs. 14 -- “...So the Lord brought about a great victory.”5. Speak Up1 Chronicles 11:16-17 -- “Oh that someone would give me a drink of water from the well in Bethlehem, which is by the gate.”I have a hypothesis...David was not physically thirsty...He was thirsty for the will of God to be realized!Job. 22:28 -- “Declare a thing and it shall be established.”6. Shore Up1 Chronicles 11:10 -- “...According to the Word of the Lord concerning Israel.” - David’s mighty men chose to give him a real picture of future victory! - Shore up their leaders’ faith!- David’s Mighty Men gave him a VISION of VICTORY!Proverbs 29:18 -- “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”Pastor Sam Walker // July 25, 2021

Living for God in an Ungodly Culture Message Reference - John 8:1-11 John 8:1-3 (NIV)“At dawn He appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around Him, and He sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.’” John 8:3b-6a (NIV)“They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing Him.” John 8:6b (NIV)“Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with His finger.” John 8:7a (NIV)“…they kept on questioning Him…” John 8:7b (NIV)“‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’” John 8:10-11 (NLT)“‘Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?’ ‘No, Lord,’ she said. And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I. Go and sin no more.’” Three Options to Reach Those in Need of Forgiveness From God 1. Condemn “You are too far gone.” 2. Condone“You are just fine the way you are.” 3. Compassionate confrontation “You are loved by God and in need of forgiveness.” “Now go and sin no more.”- Jesus Christ

God Wants to Use YouJohn 4:5-29 (NLT)“(Jesus) came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ He was alone at the time because His disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, ‘You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?’ ‘Jesus replied, ‘If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.’ ‘But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,’ she said, ‘and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?’ Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.’ ‘Please, sir,’ the woman said, ‘give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.’ ‘Go and get your husband,’ Jesus told her. ‘I don’t have a husband,’ the woman replied. Jesus said, ‘You’re right! You don’t have a husband—for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!’ ‘Sir,’ the woman said, ‘you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?’ Jesus replied, ‘Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about Him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.’ The woman said, ‘I know the Messiah is coming —the one who is called Christ. When He comes, He will explain everything to us.’ Then Jesus told her, ‘I am the Messiah!’ Just then His disciples came back. They were shocked to find Him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, ‘What do you want with her?’ or ‘Why are you talking to her?’ The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?’”Reaching Those Lost and Trapped by Sin in an Ungodly Culture1. Understand the perspective of the one you are reaching.2. Reach them with the love and grace of Jesus first.“Jesus replied, ‘If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me,and I would give you living water.’”3. Realize God has given you the Holy Spirit to share Christ with others.John 4:39 & 42 (NLT)“Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, ‘He told me everything I ever did!’ Then they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard Him ourselves. Now we know that He is indeed the Savior of the world.’”

Vision of Victory 1. Know you are free.John 8:36 (ESV)“So if the Son set you free, you will be free indeed.” 2. How to hold onto that freedom. 1 Peter 2:16 (ESV)“Live as people who are free…” Vision of Victory1 Samuel 17:26 (ESV)“And David said to the men who stood by him, ‘What shall be done for the man who kills the Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel?’”

Reaching Those Who Are Lost In an Ungodly Culture Luke 19:1-4 (NIV)“Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Him, since Jesus was coming that way.” 1. Don’t assume someone doesn’t want to know who Jesus really is. “He wanted to see who Jesus was.” 2. You cannot assess if someone is worthy of meeting Jesus. Luke 19:5-6 (NIV)“When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed Him gladly.” Verse 7“All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’” 3. Seek out those lost in your life so that they may be found. Luke 19:8-10 (NIV)“Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’” Romans 6:1-14 (NIV)“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to Him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” Acts 1:8 (NKJV)“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Being a Man of God in an Ungodly Culture Joshua 24:14-15 (NKJV)“Fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” The man of God… 1. Accepts that he is accountable to God for his family. 2. Chooses daily to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and to the Word of God. “Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” James 1:17 (NIV)“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Isaiah 3:12 (NKJV)“As for My people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.” 3. Is the protector of those God has assigned under his care. “Whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Ephesians 5:11 (NIV)“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”

Maintaining a Biblical Perspective in the Face of Pressure Daniel 6:10 (NIV)“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” Daniel 6:16a (NIV)“So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.” 1. We are to rest in the sovereignty of God’s plan. Daniel 3:17-18 (NIV)“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Acts 4:19-20 (NIV)“Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to Him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.’” 2. We find comfort in knowing what is impossible with man is possible with God. Daniel 6:14 (NIV)“When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.” Daniel 6:17 (NIV)“A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed.” Daniel 6:16b (NIV)“The king said to Daniel, ‘May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!’” Daniel 6:18 (NIV)“Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.” 3. Your greatest pressure point can become the place of your greatest encounter with God. Daniel 6:19 (NIV)“At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?’” Daniel 6:21 (NIV)“May the king live forever!” Daniel 6:22-23 (NIV)“My God sent His angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty. The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.” Psalm 46:1 (ESV)“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Daniel 6:24 (NIV)“At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.” 4. God will use your refusal to bow to an ungodly culture as a catalyst for revival. Daniel 6:25-27 (NIV)“Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth: ‘May you prosper greatly! I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For He is the living God and He endures forever; His kingdom will not be destroyed, His dominion will never end. He rescues and He saves; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.’”

Living a Life of Integrity in an Ungodly Culture “The blessing of our integrity will outlive us and guide others in the right path long after we are dancing on streets of gold. The impact and influence are eternal.” - Dr. Russ Frase, Fight for integrity Daniel 6:1-3 (ESV)“It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.” Living a Life of Integrity in an Ungodly Culture 1. Integrity positions you for an increase of influence. “Because an excellent spirit was in him.” 2 Samuel 22:26 (NLT)“To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.” 2. Integrity positions you to be attacked by an ungodly culture. Daniel 6:4a (NIV)“At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs.” John 15:18-20 (NIV)“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” Daniel 6:4b (NIV)“They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.” 3. Integrity can cause evil men and women to try to entrap you. Daniel 6:5-9 (NIV)“Finally these men said, ‘We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.’ So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: ‘May King Darius live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.’ So King Darius put the decree in writing.” Matthew 5:11 (NIV)“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” 4. A life of integrity remains faithful to God no matter what. Daniel 6:10-12 (NIV)“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: ‘Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?’” 1 Peter 2:11-12 (NIV)“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” Steps to help you live a life of integrity: 1. Be brutally honest about your current status of integrity. 2. Take full responsibility for the areas you lack integrity. 3. Remember, integrity is impossible without a life anchored to God and His Word. Psalm 119:105 (NIV)“Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

Warfare Wisdom…Defeating Our Enemies with the Knowledge of God We live in the middle of two great prophetic declarations of victory.- Matthew 16:13-19 “…I will build My church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”- Revelation 12:11 “And they over came him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.” Hosea 4:6“My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.”- “To be dumb or silent thus fail or perish.”- “To fail or perish because of ignorant silence.” Some Things We Need to KNOW Before We GO! Know your Enemy- This is one of the most important aspects of military warfare!- John 10:10 “The thief comes but for to steal, kill and destroy…” Know your Identity- John 1:12“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”- Like Jesus in the wilderness, the first thing the devil does is question His identity.- Matthew 4:3,6“…If you are the Son of God…” – the real temptation was to get Jesus to doubt His identity. Know your Authority- Luke 9:1“Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases.”- “Power” = miraculous power- “Authority” = supernatural delegated influence and jurisdiction 1. Operating in our GGA requires us to be surrendered and submitted to the authority of God.- We must be UNDER before we can ever be OVER!- James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” 2. Operating in our GGA requires us to be believers in the Authority of the Word of God.- Written Word = Jesus over the devil: “It is written…”- Spoken Word = Jesus model prayer: “Come kingdom of God, come Will of God…”- Job 22:28 “…Declare a thing…”- Isaiah 54:17 “…You shall condemn.” To declare as wrong. 3. Operating in our GGA requires us to be active members of the Family of God.- Luke 9:1 “…Called His twelve disciples together…” 4. Operating in our GGA requires us to be active in the Great Commission of God.- Matthew 28:19-20

Daniel 5:1-4 (NIV)“King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.” When Living for God in an Ungodly Culture: 1. There will be events and situations of deliberate mockery and blaspheme of God. 2. God is the One responsible for defending His own Name. Daniel 5:5 (NIV)“Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote.” Daniel 5:6 (NIV)“His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking.” Daniel 5:7-16 (NIV)“The king summoned the enchanters, astrologers and diviners. Then he said to these wise men of Babylon, ‘Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.’ Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled. The queen, hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. ‘May the king live forever!’ she said. ‘Don’t be alarmed! Don’t look so pale! There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.’ So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, ‘Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it. Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems…’” 3. Your godly life will attract those in need of God. Daniel 5:13-16 (NLT)“So Daniel was brought in before the king. The king asked him, ‘Are you Daniel? ...I have heard that you have the spirit of the gods within you and that you are filled with insight, understanding, and wisdom. My wise men and enchanters have tried to read the words on the wall and tell me their meaning, but they cannot do it. I am told that you can give interpretations and solve difficult problems. If you can read these words and tell me their meaning, you will be clothed in purple robes of royal honor, and you will have a gold chain placed around your neck. You will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom.’” Daniel 5:17 (NIV)“Then Daniel answered the king, ‘You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.’” 4. You will be faced with the temptation to sellout your character and God’s calling for an opportunity. Galatians 1:10 (NIV)“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Daniel 5:18-21 (NIV)“‘Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.’” Daniel 5:22-23 (NIV)“‘But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Inst

Living for God in an Ungodly Culture Lessons About Pride from King Nebuchadnezzar Proverbs 16:18 (NIV)“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Daniel 4:4-12; 18-33 (MSG)“I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home taking it easy in my palace, without a care in the world. But as I was stretched out on my bed I had a dream that scared me—a nightmare that shook me. I sent for all the wise men of Babylon so that they could interpret the dream for me. When they were all assembled magicians, enchanters, fortunetellers, witches—I told them the dream. None could tell me what it meant. And then Daniel came in. His Babylonian name is Belteshazzar, named after my god, a man full of the divine Holy Spirit. I told him my dream. ‘Belteshazzar,’ I said, ‘chief of the magicians, I know that you are a man full of the divine Holy Spirit and that there is no mystery that you can’t solve. Listen to this dream that I had and interpret it for me. ‘This is what I saw as I was stretched out on my bed. I saw a big, towering tree at the center of the world. As I watched, the tree grew huge and strong. Its top reached the sky and it could be seen from the four corners of the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant—enough food for everyone! Wild animals found shelter under it, birds nested in its branches, everything living was fed and sheltered by it…”“…‘This is what I, King Nebuchadnezzar, dreamed. It’s your turn, Belteshazzar—interpret it for me. None of the wise men of Babylon could make heads or tails of it, but I’m sure you can do it. You’re full of the divine Holy Spirit.’ At first Daniel, who had been renamed Belteshazzar in Babylon, was upset. The thoughts that came swarming into his mind terrified him. ‘Belteshazzar,’ the king said, ‘stay calm. Don’t let the dream and its interpretation scare you.’ ‘My master,’ said Belteshazzar, ‘I wish this dream were about your enemies and its interpretation for your foes. The tree you saw that grew so large and sturdy with its top touching the sky, visible from the four corners of the world; the tree with the luxuriant foliage and abundant fruit, enough for everyone; the tree under which animals took cover and in which birds built nests—you, O king, are that tree. You have grown great and strong. Your royal majesty reaches sky-high, and your sovereign rule stretches to the four corners of the world. But the part about the holy angel descending from heaven and proclaiming, “Chop down the tree, destroy it, but leave stump and roots in the ground belted with a strap of iron and bronze in the grassy meadow; let him be soaked with heaven’s dew and take his meals with the grazing animals for seven seasons”—this, O king, also refers to you. It means that the High God has sentenced my master the king: You will be driven away from human company and live with the wild animals. You will graze on grass like an ox. You will be soaked in heaven’s dew. This will go on for seven seasons, and you will learn that the High God rules over human kingdoms and that he arranges all kingdom affairs. The part about the tree stump and roots being left means that your kingdom will still be there for you after you learn that it is heaven that runs things. So, king, take my advice: Make a clean break with your sins and start living for others. Quit your wicked life and look after the needs of the down-and-out. Then you will continue to have a good life.’ All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Just twelve months later, he was walking on the balcony of the royal palace in Babylon and boasted, ‘Look at this, Babylon the great! And I built it all by myself, a royal palace adequate to display my honor and glory!’ The words were no sooner out of his mouth than a voice out of heaven spoke, ‘This is the verdict on you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your kingdom is taken from you. You will be driven out of human company and live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like an ox. The sentence is for seven seasons, enough time to learn that the High God rules human kingdoms and puts whomever he wishes in charge.’ It happened at once. Nebuchadnezzar was driven out of human company, ate grass like an ox, and was soaked in heaven’s dew. His hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a hawk.” 1. Pride causes us to return to what we know doesn’t work. “This is what I, King Nebuchadnezzar, dreamed. It’s your turn, Belteshazzar—interpret it for me. None of the wise men of Babylon could make heads or tails of it, but I’m sure you can do it. You’re full of the divine Holy Spirit.” 2. Pride inflicts pain on our relationships and to those we are in relationship with. “At first Daniel, who had been renamed Belteshazzar in Babylon, was upset. The thoughts that came swarming into his mind terrified him. ‘Belteshazzar,’ the king said, ‘stay calm. Don’t let the dream and its interpretation scare you.’” Proverbs 8:13 (NIV)“I hate pride and arrogance.” Proverbs 11:2 (AMP)“When pride comes then co

Living for God in an Ungodly Culture Daniel 3:1-7 (MSG)“King Nebuchadnezzar built a gold statue, ninety feet high and nine feet thick. He set it up on the Dura plain in the province of Babylon. He then ordered all the important leaders in the province, everybody who was anybody, to the dedication ceremony of the statue. They all came for the dedication, all the important people, and took their places before the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had erected.A herald then proclaimed in a loud voice: ‘Attention, everyone! Every race, color, and creed, listen! When you hear the band strike up—all the trumpets and trombones, the tubas and baritones, the drums and cymbals—fall to your knees and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Anyone who does not kneel and worship shall be thrown immediately into a roaring furnace.’ The band started to play, a huge band equipped with all the musical instruments of Babylon, and everyone—every race, color, and creed—fell to their knees and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.” Exodus 20:3-4 (ESV)“You shall have no other gods before (besides) Me.” You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” When Your Love for God Causes You to Stand Instead of Bow 1. You will be criticized for your choice. Daniel 3:8-12 (MSG)“Just then, some Babylonian fortunetellers stepped up and accused the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘Long live the king! You gave strict orders, O king, that when the big band started playing, everyone had to fall to their knees and worship the gold statue, and whoever did not go to their knees and worship it had to be pitched into a roaring furnace. Well, there are some Jews here—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have placed in high positions in the province of Babylon. These men are ignoring you, O king. They don’t respect your gods and they won’t worship the gold statue you set up.’” Acts 5:29 (ESV)“We must obey God rather than men.” 2. You will continue to be challenged to bow down. Daniel 3:13-15 (MSG)“Furious, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought in. When the men were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar asked, ‘Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don’t respect my gods and refuse to worship the gold statue that I have set up? I’m giving you a second chance—but from now on, when the big band strikes up you must go to your knees and worship the statue I have made. If you don’t worship it, you will be pitched into a roaring furnace, no questions asked. Who is the god who can rescue you from my power?’” Joshua 24:15 (ESV)“If it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” 3. You will receive courage from the Holy Spirit to stand. Daniel 3:16-18 (MSG)“‘Your threat means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up, O king. But even if he doesn’t, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference, O king. We still wouldn’t serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.’” “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”- Jim Elliot 4. You can be confident God is standing for and with you. Daniel 3:19-26,28 (MSG)“Nebuchadnezzar, his face purple with anger, cut off Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace fired up seven times hotter than usual. He ordered some strong men from the army to tie them up, hands and feet, and throw them into the roaring furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, bound hand and foot, fully dressed from head to toe, were pitched into the roaring fire. Because the king was in such a hurry and the furnace was so hot, flames from the furnace killed the men who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to it, while the fire raged around Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Suddenly King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm and said, ‘Didn’t we throw three men, bound hand and foot, into the fire?’ ‘That’s right, O king,’ they said. ‘But look!’ he said. ‘I see four men, walking around freely in the fire, completely unharmed! And the fourth man looks like a son of the gods!’ Nebuchadnezzar went to the door of the roaring furnace and called in, ‘Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the High God, come out here!’ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walked out of the fire…Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted in him! They ignored the king’s orders and laid their bodies on the line rather than serve or worship any god but their own.’” Acts 7:54-60 (NIV)“When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, a

Daniel 2:1-13 (MSG)“In the second year of his reign, King Nebuchadnezzar started having dreams that disturbed him deeply. He couldn’t sleep. He called in all the Babylonian magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and fortunetellers to interpret his dreams for him. When they came and lined up before the king, he said to them, ‘I had a dream that I can’t get out of my mind. I can’t sleep until I know what it means.’ The fortunetellers, speaking in the Aramaic language, said, ‘Long live the king! Tell us the dream and we will interpret it.’ The king answered the fortunetellers, ‘This is my decree: If you can’t tell me both the dream itself and its interpretation, I’ll have you ripped to pieces, limb from limb, and your homes torn down. But if you tell me both the dream and its interpretation, I’ll lavish you with gifts and honors. So go to it: Tell me the dream and its interpretation.’ They answered, ‘If it please your majesty, tell us the dream. We’ll give the interpretation.’ But the king said, ‘I know what you’re up to—you’re just playing for time. You know you’re cornered. You know that if you can’t tell me my dream, you’re out and out doomed. I see right through you—you’re going to slap together some fancy stories and confuse the issue until I change my mind. No way! First tell me the dream, then I’ll know that you’re on the up and up with the interpretation and not just blowing smoke in my eyes.’ The fortunetellers said, ‘Nobody anywhere can do what you ask. And no king, great or small, has ever demanded anything like this from any magician, enchanter, or fortuneteller. What you’re asking is impossible unless some god or goddess should reveal it—and they don’t hang around with people like us.’ That set the king off. He lost his temper and ordered the whole company of Babylonian wise men killed. When the death warrant was issued, Daniel and his companions were included. They also were marked for execution.”When it Seems Like an Ungodly Culture is Winning You Must Remember:1. Refuse to have a victim mentality and choose to make a difference. Luke 10:19 (NLT)“I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy…”John 16:33 (NIV)“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”Romans 8:37 (NIV)“We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”Romans 8:28 (NIV)“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)“We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”Revelation 1:5-6 (NKJV)“To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”Matthew 16:18 (ESV)“I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”2. Respond in the opposite spirit of the culture you are called to serve and reach. Daniel 2:14-16 (MSG)“When Arioch, chief of the royal guards, was making arrangements for the execution, Daniel wisely took him aside and quietly asked what was going on: ‘Why this all of a sudden?’ After Arioch filled in the background, Daniel went to the king and asked for a little time so that he could interpret the dream.”“Emotional health and spiritual maturity are inseparable. It is not possible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.” ― Peter Scazzero (Emotionally Healthy Spirituality)3. Release the matter into God’s hands, then rest in knowing He will take care of it. Daniel 2:17-18 (MSG)“Daniel then went home and told his companions Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what was going on. He asked them to pray to the God of heaven for mercy in solving this mystery so that the four of them wouldn’t be killed along with the whole company of Babylonian wise men.”Philippians 4:6 (NKJV)“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”4. Remember your life exists to bring glory to God. Daniel 2:24-30 (MSG)“So Daniel went back to Arioch, who had been put in charge of the execution. He said, ‘Call off the execution! Take me to the king and I’ll interpret his dream.’ Arioch didn’t lose a minute. He ran to the king, bringing Daniel with him, and said, ‘I’ve found a man from the exiles of Judah who can interpret the king’s dream!’ The king asked Daniel (renamed in Babylonian, Belteshazzar), ‘Are you sure you can do this—tell me the dream I had and interpret it for me?’ Daniel answered the king, ‘No mere human can solve the king’s mystery, I don’t care who it is—no wise man, enchanter, magician, diviner. But there is a God in heaven who solves mysteries, and He has solved this

Living for God in an Ungodly CultureThe Testing of Your Faith 1. In every test, obeying the Word of God seems irrational. “Unless there is the element of extreme risk in your exploits for God there is no need for faith.”- Hudson Taylor 2. Every test of faith is a stepping stone to something greater. Luke 16:10 (NIV)“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” 3. Every test determines which part of your faith is real and which part is counterfeit. “A Christian faith that is not anchored and submitted to the full counsel of the Word of God, is not Christian faith at all. It is a counterfeit humanistic faith striving to appease one’s conscience in the Name of God while being void of Him.” Romans 2:29 (NIV)“A person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code.” 1 Peter 1:7 (NLT)“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (ESV)“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” James 1:2-4 (NIV)“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Daniel 1:15-19 (NIV)“At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.”

Living for God in an Ungodly Culture Daniel 1:8 (NLT)“Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.” How to Pass the Test When Confrontation Comes: 1. Determine in your heart now that you will not compromise your convictions and commitments to God. Jeremiah 10:2 (NIV)“Do not learn the ways of the nations…” Jeremiah 10:5 (NIV)“They can do no harm nor can they do any good.” Jeremiah 10:6 (NIV)“No one is like you, Lord; You are great, and Your Name is mighty in power.” Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NIV)“This is what the Lord says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.’” 2. Respond with honor and respect. Daniel 1:8-10 (NLT)“He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel.” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)“You are a...royal priesthood.” Mark 11:17 (NIV)“…‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand.”

Living for God in an Ungodly Culture Daniel 1:1-6 (NIV)“In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god. Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility—young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.” The enemy uses culture: 1. To attack and shape your worldview. Romans 12:2 (NIV)“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” “We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behavior.” John Stott 2. To isolate you from other believers. “Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.” Dwight L. Moody Hebrews 10:25 (NLT)“Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.” 3. To indoctrinate you with new truth. Definition of indoctrination:“The process of teaching a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically.” Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” “We cannot continue to send our children to Caesar for their education and be surprised when they come home as Romans.”Voddie Baucham 4. To attack your God given identity. “The chief official gave them new names: To Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.” Daniel - “God is my judge”Belteshazzar - “Protector of the king; Lady, protector of the king” Hananiah - “Yahweh has been gracious”Shadrach - “Commanded by Aku” (pagan moon God) Mishael - “Who Is Like God?”Meshach - “Who is like the moon God Aku?” Azariah - “Yahweh is my helper”Abednego - “Servant of Nego” Isaiah 43:1-3 (ESV)“But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God.’” Isaiah 43:1-3 (ESV)“But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O _______________________, He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God.’”