More Than Bread

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In Daniel 9, we see Daniel going into a time of fasting and prayer and mourning. Let me say this, I'm so convinced that if we want to make a difference in our world, if we want our stories to be wrth reading, if we want a taste of God's glory, at some point we will have to take the same journey. At some point our hearts will have to groan for the brokenness, groan for the sinfulness, groan with desperation for the people around us. 

I believe that today in this seasons, God is looking for people who will let their hearts groan. People who will sit down and weep for people in their communities who desperately need the hope of God. So God, would you break my heart for the things that break yours!

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In this episode of When Lion’s Roar, we are heading into chapter 8. Remember Daniel 7 marks a transition in Daniel, shifting from history to prophecy; shifting from stories and lessons learned from God’s work and words spoken in Babylon to God’s future work. Chapter 8 contains a pretty dramatic, very draining vision given to Daniel of "the time of the end." It's time of wrath and spiritual battle in the heavenlies, the time of the end.

So in this episode I want to chat a bit about the time of the end and how we prepare for it, because every day, it's just a bit closer! 

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In Daniel 7 we move from history to prophecy. And just as Daniel opened his book  by peering behind the curtain of history to tell us that God was the hand behind  Nebuchadnezzer's victory over Isreal, now he looks forward to the end of time to tell us that Jesus is the King of the Kingdom that will not be shaken. Every other kingdom including the Kingdom of America will one day be nothing more a chapter in the story, but the Kingdom of God is forever. 

So in the midst of this dramatic prophetic vision, my challenge is simply this, "Don't miss Jesus!"

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More Than Bread is a podcast passionately dedicated to helping people dive into the Bible and feast on every Word that comes from the mouth of God, so that we can find our place in a Kingdom that will never end led by a King who will never be voted out. And isn’t that why Daniel is such a good book for these days, because that’s what he did. He found his place in a Kingdom that would never end, led by a King who would never be voted out. So in this episode of When Lion’s Roar, we are doing a bit more review of chapters 1-6 before we head into chapter 7. 

What is the most important principle/truth that you learned about thriving when lions roar? 

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Chapter 7 marks a significant transition from the stories and lessons of chapter 1-6, to the prophecies of Daniel 7-12. So let's take an episode or two to review what it takes to thrive, even when the lion roars. And the first point to review is that God is in control. The story of Babylon conquering Jerusalem is not a tragic story of evil overcoming good. God gave Jerusalem over to Babylon. God decided.  As we’ve worked our way through the book of Daniel we’ve seen again and again that Daniel clearly saw God's hand in everything that happened and that truth helped him thrive in the most difficult of times. And his control goes well beyond government all the way down to your single solitary life. He has a plan to see your thrive and He is always working for your good.

Nothing is beyond him. Nothing catches him unaware. No power in the world is  greater than his power, no wisdom in the world is deeper than his wisdom. No  hate in the world is greater than his love. No evil in the world is more real than his goodness. And He is calling you to thrive!

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The story of Daniel 6 is the story of a man whose life was so centered on God, saturated with God, that he simply could not imagine a life without prayer, even for a day. Faced with a 30-day prayer pause or time with the lions? If Daniel had asked my opinion I would have said, "You know you can pray without bowing your head. You can pray silently. It's just 30 days. It's ok, God will understand. He's put you in a place of influence. Don't lose that. Praying in secret is the lesser of two evils." But not Daniel, for Daniel prayer was too precious. Prayer was more precious than life itself. In essence Daniel was saying, "You can take my life before I will give you my prayer. 

There's no price too great to pray... How about us, is prayer anywhere near that precious for us? Perhaps Daniel's story will encourage, convict and inspire us!

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In Daniel 6, Daniel is over 80 years old. Don't miss that. He's 80 years old and he's just as committed, courageous and on fire for God as he was at 15. He's seen a lot., been through more. But along the way he has developed a deep trust in God, a vital prayer life and a conviction that praying for his leaders matters. In the days to come, it’s my prayer that followers of Jesus will develop the same; a deep trust in God, a vital prayer life, and a conviction that praying for others, including our leaders, really matters.

To go a step beyond that it's simply my prayer that we will be different. That we will be known for the size of our hearts and the quality of our love. And it's my deep hope that in the days to come we will pick up the broom and pray. What does that mean? Listen in and find out!

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We live in turbulent, chaotic, uncertain times, maybe not as bad as, but at least similar to the days of Daniel. In some ways, the question asking, hand-wringing, heart-judging, and apocalypse warnings that are taking place...is normal. It happens in times of transition. Change is difficult, but even more than that, times of transition bring about a sense of uncertainty. We don't like uncertainty. But do you know what I've found?  I've found that times of uncertainty can become times  of catalytic spiritual growth. Times of transition are often times when God wants to deepen our faith or change our paradigm or make us more humble and draw us closer to himself. 

So what do we need in times like this, we need people like Daniel. What we need more than anything is a church that will not stop praying, no matter how loud the lions roar!

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In his book, “Follow Me” Jan Hettinga, writes, “The ultimate issue in the universe is leadership. Who you follow and what directs your life is the single most important thing about you.” So when it comes to politics, I've been saying to people, "Regardless of your vote, please, before you vote, make sure you can name your leader." Because if your leader is Christ and you have embraced the gospel; if you are a Jesus-apprentice, surrendered to the King of Kings; if Christ is your King, then you have a deep, unshakeable hope that in December, God will still be in control of whomever thinks they are in control.

BUT...He isn't our King, if He doesn't get our ears. This episode will explore what happens when we don't "incline our ears to God."

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Have you ever stepped into a sacred space? From a fiery furnace to a deep dark mine shaft; God shows up in some of the most unexpected places. Have you ever had a moment or a season where you experienced that lifting up of God into his presence. This is what we need today. I think about the different paths that I’ve traveled to encounter God.  Moments that took on a "take-off-your-shoes-this-is-holy-ground" feel. And what I realize is that each of those moments were shaped by a decision to humble up.  

See when we humble up, God lifts us up. God opens up a sacred space to encounter His presence. So isn't it time to humble-up?