Sermon Notes

Unshakable
Week 1
"Standing Firm in Faith"

1 Peter 2:9 "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Over the next three weeks, we will illustrate our calling to live as witnesses in a dark world through the life of Daniel.

Today: Daniel 1 & 2

Daniel 1:1-2 (The Kingdom of Judah in exile)

Crisis 1- what happened? How did we get here?

Did God fail? Are the gods of Babylon greater than the Lord?  No, the Lord told you this would happen because you kept rejecting Him and going after other gods.

Vs. 3-7: Daniel and his friends are now slaves in a foreign land, not because they had sinned but because others had sinned. (We believe a lie when we think our sin and disobedience won't hurt anyone but ourselves.)

“What is your sin going to cost me?” (Many spouses and children have had that same question.)

Daniel and his friends are teenagers born into nobility. Most likely, it was their parents, grandparents, and other adult figures in their lives (such as the king of Judah) who were responsible for their current exile.

Daniel and his friends determined not to follow the examples of their previous generations. (Today, I feel many of you are first-generation or returning-generation believers.) You are declaring that we reject the behaviors and examples of past generations and are blazing new trails of faithfulness to God.

I want to say something about crises and challenges; they often become the platform to proclaim who God is. Gifts, callings, and anointings are released in times of trouble, darkness, and pressure.

It was because of this exile that we even know who Daniel was. We know of God’s faithfulness to His people because they saw Him be faithful even in Babylon.

Ezekiel 11:16 God Will Be Their Sanctuary in Exile

“Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.’”

God is so good; He even goes with them into exile and protects them while they are there.

Vs 8- Daniel purposed in His heart… (a pre-choice choice)

He made a decision about who he would be before he knew what he would face.

You may not get to choose your circumstances, but you can choose your convictions.

You may not get to choose your temptations, but you can establish your boundaries.

You may not get to choose what happens to you, but you can determine who you will be when it happens.

The situation you may face	The decision you make today
1. Someone begins gossiping about a friend or coworker.	I've already decided I won't participate in conversations that dishonor people who aren't present.
2. You're attracted to someone who isn't your spouse.	I've already decided I won't entertain secret conversations or emotional relationships that threaten my marriage.
3. You're offered an opportunity to get ahead by compromising your integrity.	I've already decided that success isn't worth sacrificing my character.
4. Someone insults you, attacks you online, or treats you unfairly.	I've already decided I won't allow someone else's behavior to determine my character.
5. You're pressured to compromise your beliefs to fit in.	I've already decided that acceptance isn't worth abandoning my convictions.
6. You experience financial pressure and are tempted to compromise your generosity.	I've already decided that God comes first in how I manage my money.
7. You're alone with your phone and tempted to view pornography.	I've already decided what I will and won't allow into my mind, and I've established boundaries before temptation arrives.
8. Someone hurts you or betrays your trust.	I've already decided I will pursue forgiveness rather than allow bitterness to control my heart.
9. Life gets busy, and your schedule becomes overwhelming.	I've already decided that prayer, worship, and time in God's Word and church are priorities, not leftovers.

“What decision do you need to make today so you won't have to wrestle with it tomorrow?”

Babylon changed their names, the location, and their education, but Daniel drew the line at their food. Lev. 11:44-47 (Be holy for I am holy, distinguish between clean and unclean)

Their diet was one way they stayed set apart and honored God in exile.

-Being a light in a dark world means you will have to engage with it. You do not need to be afraid of it. Remember, they had to learn the language and literature of Babylon.

Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

But you must know the lines you will not cross.

 “Are you willing to sacrifice comfort, success, security for the sake of what you believe in?”

Daniel’s world had collapsed and was spinning. We see him hold on tight to his prayer practice and his practice of approved dietary commands.
 When your world is spinning, hold on to something that is solid.

Similar to Daniel in exile, early Christians faced pressure from the darkness around them. Roman culture, Heresies, persecution, and temptation were trying to destroy the earliest generations of Christianity. One way they held together was to write down what they knew to be true and hold on to it through whatever storm that came.

The Apostles' Creed developed over time, but most of it was used as early as the first-century church, especially when they were being baptized. Declaring what they believed and where their allegiance was.
 
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

When you aren’t sure in a dark world, hold on tighter to what we are sure of.

Daniel 1:17 -21 (These young men stood out in the middle of these dark times to both protect their people and to be a witness to the king).

Chapter 2

Crisis 2: The king has a dream, and no one can tell him what it was or what it means.

Vs. 12-20 Daniel and his friends sentenced to death (Once again, crisis becomes the platform to proclaim the Lord)

Do open doors of opportunity only look like promotions and blessings, or can they look like a test?

Notice, Daniel (a teenager) didn’t fall apart but respectfully responded, went and found his friends, and prayed.

Vs. 12- the world's wisdom had fallen short. The gods of Babylon and the king found the limits of their power.

Define crises: A need or moment when something bigger than themselves arises. All of their knowledge, wealth, influence, and power can solve their problem. (Everyone will face moments like these. This is a great opportunity for us to be present in people's lives.)

This crisis creates the opportunity for the king to meet Daniel, who then introduces the king to God. God gave this dream to the king, not to Daniel, so the king would need to meet Daniel and realize there is a god greater than Babylon’s.

Vs. 27-30: Daniel humbly points to God, not himself. That’s the light we shine. It is not our own; it’s the Lord's light in a dark world.

A different spirit. Daniel doesn’t consult the stars; he doesn’t use magic spells or incantations; he doesn’t perform secret rituals; and he doesn’t claim to have special powers. He simply asks his friends to join him in prayer to the God he knows hears him and may graciously answer. Then he immediately points to God's faithfulness, not his own. Daniel is not seen as a superior magician but as a faithful servant who knows his God and has a relationship with him.

In times of trouble, can we shine that same light?

 Can we not fall apart but instead take this need to the Lord and give him the glory?

Can we hold fast to what we know and stand firm in the face of challenge?