Edge of No Return

Intro

Skydiving: there is that moment of no return where, once you’ve jumped, you can’t go back.

Edge of No Return Moments

First Day of School

Picture Day

First Date

The words we speak

Unshaken & Unafraid

Psalm 62:2 ESV

2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

When our lives are built with God as our foundation, we have the ability to stand against the flow of society when our culture tells us to “bow”

When we have these edge of no return moments, it not only affects us, but those around us that watch us

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Daniel 3 Skit

Be Countercultural

Notice how all the important people, all the leaders, the who’s who of people - all just followed the king’s decree.

Check out Jesus words in Matthew 5

Matthew 5:11–12 ESV

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

It’s inevitable, when we stand for Jesus, it’s going to make someone mad at some point.

Can’t watch certain movies

Can’t listen to certain music

Can’t attend certain events

Can’t play certain video games

Culture will try to belittle you and tell you how lame or weak you are, but that is where you edge of no return moment comes!

BUT, instead of just living a life of can’t and shouldn’ts - Jesus goes on and tells us what we should be doing...

Matthew 5:13–16 ESV

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

We are called to help shape the culture, not just run from it!

Salt:

add flavor

creates a craving

has many uses

When culture gets darker, we are the Church can shine the brightest!

Think of a flashlight when you’re in a completely dark place.

Stand Strong

Never bow down to anything but God.

Whatever you bow to and give glory to will have power and control over you.

Bowing to idols:

excessive time

spending money

not being able to live without it

You can’t influence if you look the same

vs 18 - “even if God DOES NOT rescue us, we will not serve your idols”

Dirty Sock Theory - if you put a clean sock and dirty sock in a bag, which one will influence the other.

Pretending to “fit in” with culture so you can gain influence DOESN’T WORK!

Two things to know when it comes to NOT bowing down

Know yourself

Know your identity in God

Who has God made you to be

What gifts and talents do you have that that the enemy would love to exploit or distract you from?

Know your God

Who does God say He is

Who is God to you? Just a thought? The Creator of the universe?

Does God love you? How do you know?

Standing with God in the easy times, He will stand with you in the fire

Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego stood alone when the rest of the empire bowed.

Their obedience to God brought a nation to their knees for God!

Daniel 3:29 ESV

29 Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.”

Prayer