“Stand Out”

Stand series

Week 1

Tim Bycroft, Lead Pastor  

THE POINT EXISTS TO WELCOME THE UNCHURCHED TO BECOME FULLY DEVOTED FOLLOWERS OF JESUS. 

Pointing People to God  

Pointing People to Jesus  

Pointing People to Community 

A church characterized by Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness.

HOW DO WE STAND OUT, IN THE RIGHT WAYS, AT THE RIGHT TIME, AND FOR THE RIGHT REASON?  

King Nebuchadnezzar was the Babylonian king. Babylonians were the enemies of the Israelites, God’s people. 

Daniel 1:3-4,  “Then the king (Nebuchadnezzar) 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 (Ashpenaz) was to teach them (the kidnapped boys) the language and literature of the Babylonians”    

Verse 5, “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.”

YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE PRESENCE OF GOD A PRIORITY IN YOUR LIFE

Ephesians 6:10-15, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 

verse 6 and 7, “Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.” 

“The chief official gave them new names: 

• to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; 
• to Hananiah, Shadrach; 
• to Mishael, Meshach
• to Azariah, Abednego.”

Verse 8,  “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself [in] this way.”

DANIEL MADE A PREDETERMINED RESOLUTION.  

Daniel 1:12-15,  “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said.

“At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.” The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days.

At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king.”

verse 18-19, “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 no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service.”