Victory Church Providence

Main Scripture: Daniel 3:13–30

Main Message: True faith is not just trusting God when life is good. It means standing firm, remaining faithful, and continuing to trust God even when life gets difficult.

We all enjoy the blessings of faith, but what happens when following Christ becomes difficult?

Life brings trials, tests, troubles, and unexpected challenges.

Our faith will be tested.

We must be willing to stand alone, make hard choices, and go against the crowd.

Faith must be more than a Sunday morning experience.

Key Thought: We need a faith that doesn't just work when things are going well, but also when we're walking through the fire.

King Nebuchadnezzar built a golden image and commanded everyone to worship it.

Anyone who refused would be thrown into a fiery furnace.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down because they served the one true God.

Even when threatened with death, they refused to compromise their faith.

Their obedience to God put them directly in trouble.

Scripture: Daniel 3:16–18

Obeying God does not mean we will be exempt from trouble.

Sometimes standing for what is right means standing alone.

The world will pressure us to compromise our beliefs.

We cannot follow the crowd just because everyone else is doing it.

Our faith must remain strong even when it's unpopular.

We must put God's Word above the opinions of society.

Important Lesson:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego declared that God was able to deliver them, but even if He didn't, they still would not bow.

Trust God even when He doesn't answer the way we expect.

Don't compromise to get a job, relationship, money, or acceptance.

Faithfulness should never depend on how convenient life becomes.

Key Quote: "Our God is able, but if not, we're still not gonna bow."

Scripture: Daniel 3:24–25

God doesn't always deliver us from the fire, but He promises to be with us through it.

When the three men were thrown into the furnace, a fourth person appeared with them.

God was already there in the middle of their trouble.

The fire that was meant to destroy them actually burned away the ropes that bound them.

Trials can remove things that have been holding us back.

God has a purpose even in our difficult seasons.

Important Lesson:

We cannot always avoid trials and suffering.

God promises His presence through the difficult seasons.

Don't allow the fire to leave you bitter, hateful, or defeated.

Come out of the fire with your joy, faith, and good attitude intact.

Don't let what you've been through change your heart.

Key Quote: "God may not deliver you from trouble, but He surely will deliver you through the trouble."

Scripture: Daniel 3:26–30

You cannot have a testimony without a test.

The greater the test, the greater the testimony.

God has a purpose in what you're going through.

What the enemy meant for evil, God can use for good.

Your testimony is not just for your personal enjoyment; it can bless and encourage others.

People are watching to see if your faith works when life gets difficult.

Your experience can show others that God is faithful.

Important Lesson:

Don't be a fair-weather Christian.

Stay faithful when the heat gets turned up.

Let your trials strengthen your testimony.

Your story can encourage someone else to keep trusting God.

Key Quote: "You can't have a testimony without a test."

Don't bow to the pressures of this world.

Don't compromise your relationship with God.

Trust Him even when you don't understand what He's doing.

Remember that God is with you in the fire.

Come out of your trials stronger, not bitter.

Let your life become a testimony of God's goodness and faithfulness.

Don't bow: Stand firm in your faith, even when it's unpopular.

Trust God in the fire: He may not remove the trouble, but He will be with you through it.

Protect your testimony: Don't allow difficult seasons to make you bitter.

Never compromise: Remain faithful even when God doesn't answer on your timetable.

Be an example: Your testimony can encourage others to trust God.

The central message of the sermon

Remember: The same God who was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fire is with us in our trials today.

Closing Scripture References:

Daniel 3:16–18

Daniel 3:24–30

Isaiah 43:2

John 16:33

1 John 5:19

Pastor Richard and Pastor Lisa have a vision that reaches beyond the four walls of the church.

Their mission trips, including the trip to Kenya, demonstrate obedience to God's calling.

God-given dreams can become reality when we take action and trust Him.

Their support of missionaries helps spread the Gospel and build relationships with believers around the world.

Their example encourages the church to look beyond itself and reach a hurting world with the hope of Christ.

Their global ministry also inspires and equips the church to grow in faith and leadership.

Key Scripture: Proverbs 25:2 — Understanding the hearts of others.

Honoring spiritual leaders is biblical and important.

Pastoring is a demanding responsibility that involves prayer, preparation, sacrifice, and criticism.

Pastor Richard's commitment to prayer and seeking God's direction is an example to the congregation.

Church members are encouraged to check on their pastors, pray for them, and support them.

Pastor Richard demonstrates a genuine burden for the lost and a desire to see people saved.

The congregation is called to follow godly leadership as leaders follow Christ.

Key Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 — Recognize and esteem those who labor among you in the Lord.

Pastor Richard and Pastor Lisa have opened their hearts and doors to people from different backgrounds and nations.

Members from Liberia expressed gratitude for the pastors' welcome, support, and continued ministry in Liberia.

Their personal relationships with church members demonstrate humility, compassion, and genuine care.

Their ministry helps people grow spiritually and discover their God-given potential.

Key Scripture: Matthew 25:35–40 — Serving others as an expression of serving Christ.

Pastor Richard and Pastor Lisa have faithfully pursued the vision God placed in their hearts for Victory Church.

Their commitment to seeking God's wisdom and understanding strengthens the congregation.

Tithes and offerings help support the church, expand ministries, reach the community, and bring people to Christ.

Giving is an act of obedience, gratitude, and worship.

The congregation is encouraged to partner with the pastors in fulfilling God's vision.

Key Scripture: Proverbs 29:18 — The importance of vision and following God's direction.

The youth ministry expressed appreciation for the pastors' love, prayers, teaching, and guidance.

Pastor Richard and Pastor Lisa encourage young people to grow in their relationship with God.

Their example helps the next generation develop confidence, faith, and a desire to serve the Lord.

Their investment in young people is helping shape future Christian leaders.

Life groups provide a safe environment for fellowship, meaningful conversations, and spiritual growth.

Pastor Lisa's patience and encouragement have helped members overcome fear and become more confident.

Emerging Leaders classes develop spiritual maturity, leadership skills, and personal growth.

Participants are learning to share the Gospel with family, friends, and coworkers.

Leadership training equips members to serve their communities and make a difference beyond the church.

The pastors' investment in people creates a lasting impact that extends to future generations.

Pastor Richard invests time in mentoring and encouraging young adults.

Life groups create opportunities to ask questions, build relationships, and strengthen faith.

Young adults are encouraged to become more than church attendees and to live out God's Word.

The pastors' prayers, wisdom, and personal involvement help shape young adults into the people God has called them to be.

Church members testified to Pastor Richard's consistent commitment to prayer.

His actions reflect the message he preaches, demonstrating faithfulness and integrity.

Members who have known him for decades testified to his consistency and trustworthiness.

The congregation prayed for God's protection, strength, encouragement, and continued blessing over Pastor Richard, Pastor Lisa, and their family.

The church was encouraged to participate actively in honoring its pastors.

Appreciation should not be limited to one special day but expressed throughout the year.

Members were invited to join a blessing line to personally thank and honor Pastor Richard and Pastor Lisa.

The service concluded with an opportunity for the congregation to express love, gratitude, and support.

1. Change Your Mindset

2. Trust God as Your Provider

3. Have Faith in Difficult Seasons

📖 Genesis 26:12 — “Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year an hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him.”

4. Persevere and Don't Give Up

📖 Galatians 6:9 — “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

5. Give with a Cheerful Heart

Don't let fear, lack, or difficult circumstances control your mindset. Keep walking by faith, remain faithful, and trust God through every season. Your current situation does not determine what God can do in your future!

Introduction

Brokenness is difficult but can lead to strength and blessing.

The heart represents the whole inner person—mind, will, and emotions.

David and Psalm 51

After serious sin, David responds with repentance.

God desires a “broken spirit” and “contrite heart” more than outward sacrifice.

True devotion begins in the heart.

What Biblical Brokenness Means

Humility and surrender.

Recognizing dependence on God.

Letting go of pride, self-reliance, and pretense.

Surrendering the whole of life to God.

Responding to Suffering

Everyone experiences pain and hardship.

What matters is how we respond.

We can become bitter or better, hardened or humble.

God can use suffering to transform us.

Three Responses

Resist what God is doing.

Run from difficult circumstances.

Respond with surrender: “Yes, Lord.”

Jacob and True Blessing

Jacob sought God's blessing but needed character transformation.

His encounter with God changed his identity.

Biblical blessing is more than material prosperity; it includes transformation.

Personal Testimony

The speaker describes a season of having little while waiting on God.

He eventually surrendered his desires and concluded: having God was enough.

That surrender became a defining experience of brokenness.

The Goal

God wants believers to become more like Jesus.

Brokenness and surrender are presented as ongoing parts of spiritual growth.

Conclusion

God is near to the brokenhearted and humble.

The appropriate response is to bring God our pain, pride, failures, and desires.

Central message: Brokenness → surrender → transformation → blessing.

Welcome, blessing, and encouragement to the congregation.

Emphasis on being part of a church family.

Lighthearted interaction with the congregation.

Encouragement to bring physical Bibles rather than relying solely on phones.

Avoid distractions from texting and social media.

Introduction of the sermon title: “Power Encounters.”

A power encounter is described as experiencing God’s power in a real and tangible way.

It moves beyond intellectual or philosophical arguments into an experience of God’s authority.

Biblical power encounters demonstrate Jesus Christ’s authority over spiritual forces.

The Book of Acts provides examples of God’s power confronting darkness, wickedness, and demonic oppression.

The sermon identifies an ongoing conflict between:

Light and darkness.

Truth and deception.

Good and evil.

Holiness and sin.

Christians are encouraged to recognize that spiritual opposition exists.

Personal example:

A church prayer gathering for the nation was met with opposition from an atheist organization.

Main point:

As the church moves forward, the preacher believes spiritual opposition will attempt to resist its progress.

Christians should not respond with fear but with awareness and preparation.

Reference to 2 Corinthians 2:11:

Christians should not be ignorant of the enemy’s devices.

Warning signs are presented as preparation rather than reasons for fear.

Ephesians 6:10:

“Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”

The believer's strength comes from:

God.

God’s Word.

God’s presence.

Spiritual battles cannot ultimately be fought through human strength.

Acts records the beginning and expansion of the Christian church.

The Gospel spreads:

From Jerusalem.

Throughout the Roman Empire.

Ultimately toward the nations.

Paul continues preaching even while imprisoned.

The church's mission is to proclaim the Gospel.

The Gospel offers:

Forgiveness of sins.

A new relationship with God.

A transformed life.

The Gospel continues despite opposition.

The church's work depends completely on the Holy Spirit.

God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.

The disciples' transformation illustrates this:

Before Pentecost: fear, self-doubt, shame, and hiding.

After receiving the Holy Spirit: boldness, conviction, and courage.

Central question:

What made the difference?

Answer:

The power of the Holy Spirit.

Believers need spiritual power to:

Serve God.

Serve the church.

Witness to Jesus.

Face spiritual opposition.

Psalm 144:1 is used to describe God training believers for spiritual battle.

Spiritual strength and victory are developed through:

Scripture.

Prayer.

Learning to operate spiritually.

Christians are encouraged not to fight from a mindset of defeat.

Instead, they should recognize the victory already accomplished through Christ.

Illustration: the preacher’s childhood baseball team

His team was undefeated.

Although he was not the strongest player, he had confidence because he knew astrong team was behind him.

He pitched a one-hit game.

Application:

Confidence comes from knowing who is behind you.

Christians can face spiritual battles because Christ has already won the victory.

Colossians 2 is used to explain Christ’s victory.

Christ:

Removed the record of sin.

Nailed it to the cross.

Disarmed principalities and powers.

Triumphed over them.

The cross appeared to be defeat but ultimately represented Christ’s victory.

Because Christ has victory, believers can fight from a position of victory rather than defeat.

1 Corinthians 2 is introduced.

Paul emphasizes that his ministry did not depend on:

Human wisdom.

Persuasive speech.

Intellectual ability.

Instead, it depended upon:

Demonstration of the Spirit.

God’s power.

The goal is for faith to rest in God’s power rather than human wisdom.

The preacher encourages listeners to experience God personally.

Personal experience is presented as something that cannot easily be argued away.

The emphasis is not on:

Emotionalism.

Fanaticism.

Sensationalism.

Rather, the emphasis is on a genuine personal encounter with the living God.

Believers are encouraged not to stop serving because of:

Hurt.

Offense.

Betrayal.

Disappointment.

Discussion of “church hurt.”

The church is made up of imperfect people.

Jesus is the only perfect person.

God works through imperfect people who can understand and sympathize with oneanother.

Main exhortation:

Keep serving.

Keep coming.

Keep giving.

Keep helping.

Keep blessing.

Keep moving forward.

Illustration:

Things that stop moving eventually weaken, deteriorate, or become unusable.

Spiritual growth likewise requires continued movement, even if it is only a small step.

God is described as omnipresent—present everywhere.

However, the preacher distinguishes God's general presence from moments when God makes His presence especially evident.

The early church experienced God in a powerful and tangible way.

Christianity is presented as more than doctrinal statements:

It is a living relationship with God.

It involves experiencing His presence.

God's presence and power make His reality tangible.

1 Corinthians 2: faith should rest in God's power.

Luke 24:32: the disciples' hearts “burned” as Jesus opened the Scriptures.

The preacher desires listeners to experience a similar spiritual awakening.

Psalm 34:8: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”

Faith is presented as something to be personally experienced, not merely intellectually observed.

Worship creates an atmosphere for people to seek God's presence.

Spiritual encounters bring renewal and refreshing.

Acts is referenced regarding “times of refreshing” from God's presence.

Believers can become weary through:

Spiritual battles.

Job difficulties.

Sickness.

Discouragement.

Old patterns of thinking.

God's presence provides renewed strength.

Key idea:

New levels require new strength.

God restores the soul.

The preacher connects restoration with bringing something back to its proper condition—and ultimately making it better.

God can restore:

Joy.

Peace.

Spiritual strength.

What has been lost or stolen.

Believers are encouraged to seek a fresh touch from God.

The congregation is asked to stand.

The worship team returns.

Prayer for:

The Holy Spirit's presence.

Hunger and thirst for God.

Spiritual strength.

Refreshment.

Awareness of spiritual opposition.

Congregants are invited to:

Leave their seats.

Pray.

Kneel.

Seek the Holy Spirit.

Receive prayer from the ministry/prayer team.

Final emphasis:

“Lord, I need Your Holy Spirit.”

“Lord, I need Your touch.”

Believers should seek a personal encounter with the power of the Holy Spirit, recognize that Christ has already won the victory, and continue moving forward in faith, receiving God's strength, refreshment, and restoration.

“The struggle is real. But the victory is assured this morning.”

Life may bring trials and difficulties, but God never gives up on us. He continues to give us grace and strength.

“You are in a spiritual battle whether you realize it or not this morning.”

The message emphasizes that our battles are not only physical or visible. We must recognize the spiritual dimension and depend on God's power and presence.

“Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”

“Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles ofthe devil.”

Our strength comes from the Lord, and we are called to stand firm in spiritual battles.

“We do not wrestle against flesh and blood.”

The sermon points to Ephesians 6:12 and reminds us that there are spiritual forces behind the battles we face.

“God doesn't want us to live in fear. God doesn't want us to live in ignorance.”

Instead, believers are encouraged to understand spiritual realities through God's Word and to walk in faith rather than fear.

“There's more than meets the eye with what's going on in your life.”

The story of Elisha reminds us that what we see naturally isn't always the complete picture.

“Lord, open his eyes that he may see.”

“Those who are with us are more than those who are with him.”

Just as Elisha's servant discovered that God's heavenly forces surrounded them, we can trust that God is greater than what stands against us.

“There is a power and there is an authority in the name of Jesus Christ.”

The sermon repeatedly points believers back to the authority and power found in Jesus.

“In My name, they will cast out demons.”

“It's not a formula, it's a relationship.”

Following Jesus isn't about copying someone else's method or trying to find the perfect formula for spiritual success.

“It's about getting on your face, getting to know God in His Word, in prayer.”

“That they might be with Him.”

Before Jesus sent His disciples out to preach, heal, and minister, He called them to be with Him.

“It's relationship.”

Our ministry flows out of our relationship with God.

“There's always a fresh revelation, there's always something God speaks to you.”

The sermon encourages believers to continually spend time in Scripture because God'sWord continues to speak into different seasons of our lives.

“It's not enough to just say I repent.”

“There's got to be some fruit, there's got to be a manifestation of a changed life.”

Real repentance isn't merely words—it produces tangible changes in the way we live.

“This is not child's play. This is not something that we just mess around with.”

The message calls for biblical discernment and warns against treating spiritual matters casually or as a formula.

“You've got the authority. You've got to use it right now.”

The sermon encourages believers to stand in the authority they have through Christ rather than allowing fear or oppression to hold them back.

“Lord, restore what the enemy has stolen.”

The closing prayer focuses on restoration:

“Lord, I pray you'd restore their joy.”

1. Pray over our children

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit.”

Don't let an unfinished season convince you that God is finished with you.

If God started something in your life, believe again, begin again, and keep going. There may be obstacles, delays, discouragement, and seasons when you don't see progress—but God's Spirit is greater than the opposition.

It's not by might. It's not by power. It's by His Spirit.