God's in Control

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Sermon

Great Weekend

almost 150 in attendance

35 salvations

Principals have already asked Randy to come back

Randy wants to come back!

Tonight we are going to start our Fire and Faithfulness Series

Specifically we are talking about how God is in Control

Everything is crazy around us - out of control

But we are not the 1st people on earth to experience this.

This guy named Daniel did as well.

Let’s check out this video:

I know that God is in control, but to be honest, sometimes my circumstance can make me feel like God is far away. Can anyone relate?

Daniel and his friends show us that having faith in God despite our circumstance is worth it.

Daniel and his friends - royalty - taken into captivity - changed their name - to try and change their identity

someone ever try to change your identity? to put you in a box, a stereotype?

you hang out with so-and-so

your a athlete - jock, nerd, ...

your brother ran a sub 2 in the 800 therefore you....

you messed up that one time...

your parents are ...

mom says you will never get it right, dad says you suck, teacher says your ruining your life

After changing their name, they try to change their diet… their habits

laws of Food

Why - food preservation

again the heart of the change - to change/control every habit

So Daniel has a choice to make - the world’s way or God’s way

God gives him favor with the guy in charge of him - God is in control!

asks for 10 days to prove his diet

at the end of 10 days they looked healthier and stronger than all the others

God’s way is best

Habit of obeying God paid off physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually

God helps Daniel and his friends in every way!

Daniel 1:17 NIV

17 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.

God gave them gifts that they used to further show their Identity in the one true God

And the result:

Daniel 1:19 NIV

19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.

God made them the best in the kingdom!

God is always in control, even when it doesn’t look like it.

Like Daniel, we may find ourselves in situations that are out of our control, feeling the pressure to conform to the world’s standards.

But Daniel and his friends showed us that it is possible to trust that God is still on your side when he seems absent and our circumstances are tiresome.

Group Questions:

Sadie began video by asking if it’s possible for believers to thrive in our world today, considering how our culture hates God. How would you answer her question? How has it been easy or difficult for you to live life as a Christian in our culture?

As believers, we’re always going to be put in situations where we must choose our faith in God over the pressure to conform to the world’s standard. In what ways did Daniel’s choice to faithfully obey God’s food laws, instead of the king’s, help him in the end?

Choosing God’s way over the world’s way can be hard - especially when those in authority expect you to make certain decisions. But Daniel and his friends show us that it’s worth it to stand firm in what you believe in. In what ways have you had to choose God’s way over the world’s way? What kind of experiences have led you to make countercultural decisions?

Challenge: Read Daniel 1 this week.