Thrive.Church Weekly Message

[Daniel 4:1-3] King Nebuchadnezzar sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: "Peace and prosperity to you! [2] "I want you all to know about the miraculous signs and wonders the Most High God has performed for me. [3] How great are his signs, how powerful his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, his rule through all generations.

God __________________ us because He loves us.

[Daniel 4:7-8] When all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers came in, I told them the dream, but they could not tell me what it meant. [8] At last Daniel came in before me, and I told him the dream. (He was named Belteshazzar after my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)

You can know a lot about God and still not be ___________________ to him.

[Daniel 4:25-27] You will be driven from human society, and you will live in the fields with the wild animals. You will eat grass like a cow, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses. [26] But the stump and roots of the tree were left in the ground. This means that you will receive your kingdom back again when you have learned that heaven rules. [27] "'King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.'

God will __________ us if we refuse to __________ ourselves.

[Daniel 4:29-31] Twelve months later he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon. [30] As he looked out across the city, he said, 'Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.' [31] "While these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, 'O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom.

There is a _________ in heaven and you are __________ Him.

[Daniel 4:34, 37] "After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal. [37] "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud."

Pride is a barrier to __________________.

[James 4:6b] "God opposes the proud but favors the humble."

[Daniel 3:1-6] King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. [2] Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up. [3] So all these officials came and stood before the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. [4] Then a herald shouted out, "People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king's command! [5] When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar's gold statue. [6] Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."

Don't bow down to the _________________ of this world.

[Daniel 3:16-18] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. [17] If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. [18] But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up."

We may not know God's _________________, but we do know God's _________________.

We can still love God even if the ____________ doesn't come.

[Daniel 3:24-25] But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, "Didn't we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?" "Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did," they replied. [25] "Look!" Nebuchadnezzar shouted. "I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!"

Our faith should be in God's _________________ not in our desired _________________.

[Daniel 3:29] Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!"

God is always with us in our _________________.

[John 16:33] I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

God doesn't always _________________ us from the fire but He will take us _________________ it.

God will use your fiery furnace to bring _________________.

[Daniel 2:1-3] One night during the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had such disturbing dreams that he couldn't sleep. [2] He called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, and he demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed. As they stood before the king, [3] he said, "I have had a dream that deeply troubles me, and I must know what it means."

God may speak to people through __________________.

[Daniel 2:4-5] Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, "Long live the king! Tell us the dream, and we will tell you what it means." [5] But the king said to the astrologers, "I am serious about this. If you don't tell me what my dream was and what it means, you will be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be turned into heaps of rubble!

No PERSON on earth can _____________________ the future.

[Daniel 2:10-11] The astrologers replied to the king, "No one on earth can tell the king his dream! And no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer! [11] The king's demand is impossible. No one except the gods can tell you your dream, and they do not live here among people."

It is only possible to know the _____________ if God tells you.

[Daniel 2:15-18] He asked Arioch, "Why has the king issued such a harsh decree?" So Arioch told him all that had happened. [16] Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant. [17] Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened. [18] He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon.

A life of __________________ will give you nerves of steel.

[Daniel 2:25-29] Arioch quickly took Daniel to the king and said, "I have found one of the captives from Judah who will tell the king the meaning of his dream!" [26] The king said to Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar), "Is this true? Can you tell me what my dream was and what it means?" [27] Daniel replied, "There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can reveal the king's secret. [28] But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed.

When we face ______________________ we must remember there is a __________________ in heaven.

[Philippians 4:19 KJV] But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

God is looking for people who refuse to ________________.

[Daniel 1:1-2] During the third year of King Jehoiakim's reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. [2] The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god.

God wants us to turn from the ________________ and turn to ________________.

God never loses ________________.

God always uses _____________________ to shape us and define us.

[Daniel 1:3-5] Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah's royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. [4] "Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men," he said. "Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon." [5] The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service.

This world is trying to change your ____________________.

[Daniel 1:8] But 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.

You cannot make a difference unless you’re ____________________.

[Romans 12:2a ESV] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind...

[Matthew 22:34-40] But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. [35] One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: [36] "Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?" [37] Jesus replied, "'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' [40] The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."

Jesus says that ________________ is the most _____________________ rule.

[Luke 10:29] The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Jesus says that your ________________ should be your neighbor.

[Luke 10:36-37] "Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?" Jesus asked. [37] The man replied, "The one who showed him mercy." Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go and do the same."

God wants us to love Him with our ________________ being.

[1 Corinthians 10:31] So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Following rules is easy, but having a ___________________ with God takes work.

Many people know ___________ God, but do not know God.

[1 John 4:7-8] Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. [8] But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

When you follow God you don't get to ________________ the people you love.

[John 13:34-35] So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. [35] Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."

[John 4:6-9] Jacob's well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. [7] Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Please give me a drink." [8] He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. [9] The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, "You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?"

Jesus was not concerned with what _________________ _________________.

[John 4:10-15] Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water." [11] "But sir, you don't have a rope or a bucket," she said, "and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? [12] And besides, do you think you're greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?" [13] Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. [14] But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life." [15] "Please, sir," the woman said, "give me this water! Then I'll never be thirsty again, and I won't have to come here to get water."

Jesus is offering something to quench the thirst in our _________________.

[John 4:19-22] "Sir," the woman said, "you must be a prophet. [20] So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?" [21] Jesus replied, "Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.

Don't _________________ the Lord when He tries to direct you.

[John 4:25-29] The woman said, "I know the Messiah is coming--the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." [26] Then Jesus told her, "I AM the Messiah!" [27] Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, "What do you want with her?" or "Why are you talking to her?" [28] The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, [29] "Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?"

The things you once thought were so _________________ aren't as important once you come face to face with Jesus.

[John 4:39-41] Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, "He told me everything I ever did!" [40] When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, [41] long enough for many more to hear his message and believe.

You are not too _________________ to be used by God.

[Luke 6:1-2] One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, his disciples broke off heads of grain, rubbed off the husks in their hands, and ate the grain. [2] But some Pharisees said, "Why are you breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?"

The Sabbath was a _________________ of rest.

[Luke 6:3-11] Jesus replied, "Haven't you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? [4] He went into the house of God and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests can eat. He also gave some to his companions." [5] And Jesus added, "The Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath."

Saving life always took ________________ on the Sabbath.

We are called to follow _________________ not a bunch of _________________.

[Luke 6:6-11] On another Sabbath day, a man with a deformed right hand was in the synagogue while Jesus was teaching. [7] The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely. If he healed the man's hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath. [8] But Jesus knew their thoughts. He said to the man with the deformed hand, "Come and stand in front of everyone." So the man came forward. [9] Then Jesus said to his critics, "I have a question for you. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?" [10] He looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, "Hold out your hand." So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! [11] At this, the enemies of Jesus were wild with rage and began to discuss what to do with him.

Jesus wasn't defying the Sabbath but their ______________ of the Sabbath.

Jesus is the one who brings us _________________.

[Hebrews 4:9-11 NIV] There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; [10] for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. [11] Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

Because of Jesus we don't need to _________________ to be made right with God.

[Matthew 11:28]

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

[Luke 10:38-40 ESV] Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. [39] And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. [40] But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."

It is _______________ to be distracted by __________ things.

[Luke 10:41-42 ESV] But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, [42] but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

Martha’s _________________ was ________________ activity she put on herself.

[Hebrews 12:5-6] And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, "My child, don't make light of the LORD's discipline, and don't give up when he corrects you. [6] For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child."

I should consider what is important to ______________ over what is important to _________________.

[Matthew 5:48] But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

The _________________ important thing is spending _________________ with Jesus.

I might have to _________ ________ of some things to make time for the _____________________ thing.

[Matthew 12:38-40] One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority." [39] But Jesus replied, "Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. [40] For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.

God doesn't do ___________ for your personal enjoyment.

[Luke 11:29-30] As the crowd pressed in on Jesus, he said, "This evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah. [30] What happened to him was a sign to the people of Nineveh that God had sent him. What happens to the Son of Man will be a sign to these people that he was sent by God.

The ____________ and ____________________ of Jesus is the sign that the world needs.

Are you looking for a ___________ or a ______________?

[John 12:37] But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him.

A sign might ____________ the way but it is not the ____________________.

It is easy to get __________________ to God working around us.

[John 6:30-35] They answered, "Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? [31] After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, 'Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" [32] Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, Moses didn't give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. [33] The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." [34] "Sir," they said, "give us that bread every day." [35] Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

People want a ___________ but Jesus is giving them ___________.

Temptation is when we are _______________ to act against to God's will.

We don't have to yield to _______________ unless we choose to.

[Matthew 4:1-4] Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. [2] For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. [3] During that time the devil came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread." [4] But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say, 'People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

We are often tempted by the things we _______________.

[Matthew 4:5-7] Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, [6] and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, 'He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.'" [7] Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, 'You must not test the LORD your God.'"

Pursuing _______________ always leads to _________________.

[Matthew 4:8-11] Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. [9] "I will give it all to you," he said, "if you will kneel down and worship me." [10] "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, 'You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.'" [11] Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

The pursuit of _______________ will often bring ____________________.

[Hebrews 4:14-15 NIV] Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet he did not sin.

Temptation may look ______________ but it is a _____________.

[James 4:7 NIV] Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Jesus fought temptation with the _______________ of the _______________.

[Psalm 119:11] I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

The Word of God can break any _______________.

[1 Corinthians 10:13] The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

Temptation is only a ________________, you provide the answer.