Faith

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. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven.’”

Daniel 5:23 (NIV)

“‘You had the goblets from His temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.’”

Daniel 5:24-28 (NIV)

“Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription. ‘This is the inscription that was written:

MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN

‘Here is what these words mean:

Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.

Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.’”

Jeremiah 27:4-7 (ESV)

“Give them this charge for their masters: ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: This is what you shall say to your masters: “It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me. Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant, and I have given him also the beasts of the field to serve him. All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson, until the time of his own land comes. Then many nations and great kings shall make him their slave.”’”

Daniel 5:29 (NIV)

“Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

Daniel 5:30-31 (NIV)

“That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom.” 

5. God is the only one who holds the authority to pass final judgment, not you. 

John 12:47-48 (NLT)

“I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I ...

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 come dishonor.”

Proverbs 13:10 (AMP)

“Through pride…come nothing but strife.”

James 3:16 (KJV)

“For where there is…strife, there is confusion and every evil work.”

3. Pride hinders spiritual growth. 

1 Peter 5:5-6 (NKJV)

“Be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”

Psalm 138:6 (NLT)

“Though the LORD is great, He cares for the humble, but He keeps His distance from the proud.”

Isaiah 57:15 (NLT)

“I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble.”

4. Pride attracts the loving discipline of your Heavenly Father. 

“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.’

Hebrews 12:6 (NIV)

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as His son.”

5.  God will honor your humility in His discipline with restoration and intimacy.  

Daniel 4:34-37 (MSG)

“At the end of the seven years, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked to heaven. I was given my mind back and I blessed the High God, thanking and glorifying God, who lives forever: His sovereign rule lasts and lasts, His kingdom never declines and falls. Life on this earth doesn’t add up to much, but God’s heavenly army keeps everything going. No one can interrupt His work, no one can call his rule into question. At the same time that I was given back my mind, I was also given back my majesty and splendor, making my kingdom shine. All the leaders and important people came looking for me. I was reestablished as king in my kingdom and became greater than ever. And that’s why I’m singing—I, Nebuchadnezzar—singing and praising the King of Heaven.”

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, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’…they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him… While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep.”

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 one. He is letting King Nebuchadnezzar in on what is going to happen in the days ahead. This is the dream you had when you were lying on your bed, the vision that filled your mind: While you were stretched out on your bed, O king, thoughts came to you regarding what is coming in the days ahead. The Revealer of Mysteries showed you what will happen. But the interpretation is given through me, not because I’m any smarter than anyone else in the country, but so that you will know what it means, so that you will understand what you dreamed.’”

1 Corinthians 6:20(NASB)
“You have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God.”

Psalm 115:1 (NLT)
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your Name goes all the glory.”

Living for God in an Ungodly Culture

The 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.’”