Living as Lights in a Hostile Culture
Summary
Living in a world that often feels like Babylon, we are called to be agents of hope and redemption. The story of Daniel and his friends in ancient Babylon serves as a powerful example of how to live faithfully in a culture that is often hostile to the values of God's kingdom. Daniel and his companions did not rage against the culture nor did they hide from it; instead, they engaged with it courageously and sacrificially, seeking the welfare of the city while remaining true to their faith. This is a call for us to live as citizens of heaven, strategically positioned to bring light into the darkness and to be salt in a world prone to decay.
The narrative of Daniel 5, where King Belshazzar witnesses the writing on the wall, is a vivid reminder of the consequences of living in defiance of God. Belshazzar's arrogance and disregard for the Most High God led to his downfall, illustrating the futility of building self-centered empires. In contrast, Daniel's life of faithfulness and integrity shines as a beacon of hope and truth, even in the midst of a corrupt society. This story challenges us to interpret the "writing on the wall" in our own lives and to live in a way that points others to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We are called to bring Jesus into every relationship, leveraging our lives for the gospel through our words, deeds, and faith. This involves speaking up about the hope we have in Christ, living out our faith in tangible ways, and trusting in God's sovereignty over the kingdoms of this world. As we engage with the culture around us, we must remember that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven, and our mission is to shine the light of Christ in a world that desperately needs it.
Key Takeaways:
- Strategic Positioning for God's Mission: Each of us is strategically placed in this world to be a light in the darkness, much like Daniel in Babylon. Our true citizenship is in heaven, and we are called to live as ambassadors of God's kingdom, seeking the welfare of our communities while pointing others to the hope found in Christ. [00:54]
- Faithful Engagement in a Hostile Culture: Daniel and his friends exemplified how to engage with a culture that is often hostile to God's values. They did not conform to the culture nor did they isolate themselves from it. Instead, they lived courageously and sacrificially, seeking the welfare of the city while remaining faithful to God. [04:47]
- Interpreting the Writing on the Wall: The story of Belshazzar's downfall serves as a warning against arrogance and defiance of God. We are called to interpret the "writing on the wall" in our own lives, recognizing the futility of building self-centered empires and instead living for God's glory and purposes. [20:07]
- Living a Life Leveraged for the Gospel: We are called to bring Jesus into every relationship and to leverage our lives for the gospel through our words, deeds, and faith. This involves speaking up about the hope we have in Christ, living out our faith in tangible ways, and trusting in God's sovereignty over the kingdoms of this world. [32:12]
- Trusting in God's Sovereignty: In a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain, we must remember that God is sovereign over the kingdoms of man. Our hope is not in earthly leaders or systems, but in Christ alone. We are called to shine the light of the eternal reality in which we now live, pointing others to the hope found in Jesus. [54:54]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:54] - Prayer and Introduction
- [03:19] - Daniel's Faithful Witness
- [04:47] - Living in a Hostile Culture
- [05:39] - Belshazzar's Reign
- [07:16] - Babylon's Defiance
- [08:05] - The Writing on the Wall
- [09:20] - Word, Deed, and Faith
- [11:23] - Belshazzar's Mockery
- [13:19] - Prophetic Fulfillment
- [14:50] - The Antichrist Spirit
- [16:20] - Learning from History
- [20:07] - Divine Intervention
- [22:24] - The Reality of God's Presence
- [25:13] - Daniel's Interpretation
- [29:10] - The Message of Judgment
- [31:24] - Our Role as Modern Exiles
- [32:12] - Bringing Jesus into Relationships
- [36:39] - The Desperation of the World
- [39:33] - The Church as a Lampstand
- [45:25] - Personal Testimonies
- [50:51] - Total Surrender to God
- [54:54] - Trusting in God's Sovereignty
- [57:16] - The Call to Mission
- [58:25] - Responding to the Writing on the Wall
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Daniel 5:1-31
- Jeremiah 29:7
- Matthew 5:13-16
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Observation Questions:
1. In Daniel 5, what actions did King Belshazzar take that demonstrated his defiance against God? How did these actions lead to his downfall? [20:07]
2. How did Daniel and his friends engage with the culture of Babylon without conforming to it? What specific actions did they take to remain faithful to God? [04:47]
3. What was the significance of the "writing on the wall" in Daniel 5, and how did it serve as a warning to Belshazzar? [21:02]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of Christians as "agents of redemption" in a world that often feels like Babylon? [04:47]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the story of Belshazzar teach about the consequences of arrogance and defiance against God? How can this be applied to modern contexts? [20:07]
2. How does the sermon suggest Christians should interpret the "writing on the wall" in their own lives? What does this mean for their daily actions and decisions? [09:20]
3. In what ways does the sermon encourage believers to bring Jesus into every relationship? How can this be practically achieved in today's society? [32:12]
4. How does the concept of "strategic positioning" for God's mission challenge the way Christians view their roles in their communities and workplaces? [03:19]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like you were living in a "modern Babylon." How did you respond, and what might you do differently now to be a light in that situation? [31:24]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of speaking up about the hope in Christ. Identify one relationship where you can intentionally share your faith this week. What steps will you take to do this? [32:12]
3. Consider the "writing on the wall" in your own life. Are there areas where you might be building self-centered empires? How can you realign your priorities to focus on God's glory? [20:07]
4. How can you leverage your time, talent, and treasure for the gospel in your current context? What specific actions can you take this month to seek the welfare of your community? [50:51]
5. The sermon calls for total surrender to God's sovereignty. What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God's control? How can you begin to surrender that area to Him? [54:54]
6. Reflect on the idea of being a "lampstand" in your community. What practical steps can you take to ensure that your light shines brightly for others to see? [38:27]
7. How can you prepare yourself to interpret the "writing on the wall" for others who may be seeking answers? What resources or support do you need to be effective in this role? [23:27]
Devotional
Day 1: Strategic Positioning for God's Mission
In a world that often mirrors the challenges faced by Daniel in Babylon, believers are called to be strategically positioned as lights in the darkness. This means living as ambassadors of God's kingdom, with a focus on seeking the welfare of our communities while pointing others to the hope found in Christ. Our true citizenship is in heaven, and we are tasked with living out this reality in our daily lives. This involves engaging with the culture around us, not by conforming to it or isolating ourselves from it, but by courageously and sacrificially living out our faith. As we do so, we become agents of hope and redemption, much like Daniel and his friends. [00:54]
Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV): "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare."
Reflection: How can you actively seek the welfare of your community today, while pointing others to the hope found in Christ?
Day 2: Faithful Engagement in a Hostile Culture
Daniel and his friends provide a powerful example of how to engage with a culture that is often hostile to God's values. They did not conform to the culture nor did they isolate themselves from it. Instead, they lived courageously and sacrificially, seeking the welfare of the city while remaining faithful to God. This approach challenges us to live out our faith in tangible ways, even when faced with opposition or hostility. By doing so, we can have a transformative impact on the world around us, just as Daniel did in Babylon. [04:47]
1 Peter 2:12 (ESV): "Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."
Reflection: In what specific ways can you engage with your community this week, demonstrating your faith through actions that reflect God's love and truth?
Day 3: Interpreting the Writing on the Wall
The story of Belshazzar's downfall serves as a vivid reminder of the consequences of living in defiance of God. His arrogance and disregard for the Most High God led to his downfall, illustrating the futility of building self-centered empires. In contrast, Daniel's life of faithfulness and integrity shines as a beacon of hope and truth. This story challenges us to interpret the "writing on the wall" in our own lives, recognizing the futility of self-centered pursuits and instead living for God's glory and purposes. [20:07]
Proverbs 16:18 (ESV): "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
Reflection: What "writing on the wall" might God be revealing in your life today, and how can you respond in a way that aligns with His purposes?
Day 4: Living a Life Leveraged for the Gospel
We are called to bring Jesus into every relationship and to leverage our lives for the gospel through our words, deeds, and faith. This involves speaking up about the hope we have in Christ, living out our faith in tangible ways, and trusting in God's sovereignty over the kingdoms of this world. As we engage with the culture around us, we must remember that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven, and our mission is to shine the light of Christ in a world that desperately needs it. [32:12]
Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV): "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."
Reflection: Identify one relationship where you can intentionally bring the hope of Jesus this week. What specific actions or words can you use to reflect His love and truth?
Day 5: Trusting in God's Sovereignty
In a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain, we must remember that God is sovereign over the kingdoms of man. Our hope is not in earthly leaders or systems, but in Christ alone. We are called to shine the light of the eternal reality in which we now live, pointing others to the hope found in Jesus. This involves trusting in God's sovereignty and living in a way that reflects His eternal kingdom, even amidst the challenges and uncertainties of this world. [54:54]
Daniel 2:21 (ESV): "He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust more deeply in God's sovereignty, and how can you actively demonstrate that trust today?
Quotes
1. "He's been living as an exile in ancient Babylon now for well over 60 years, almost 70 years at this point. We followed this story, we followed his story really from his captivity as a teenager in ancient Babylon, from ancient Jerusalem, he's captured, he's taken into ancient Babylon and we've watched as he and his friends have stood firm, faithfully, lovingly, wisely pointing even the king of the country, Nebuchadnezzar to the most high God that he did not know of. They've lived this life faithfully even at the risk of their own lives." [00:03:19] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "And so he and his friends, they've been immersed in a land that's hostile, a hostile culture. They've lived and leveraged their lives for the most high God and they've lived as living testimonies. They didn't rage. As in, they didn't rage. They didn't rage in anti -culture, even in the midst of Babylon. But they didn't hide as a subculture either. They faithfully pursued the welfare of the city just as the prophet Jeremiah told them to. And they lived as even sacrificial but courageous, sacrificial, sacrificial, there's a new word, sacrificial but also courageous as like a cross culture." [00:04:00] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "In a world not their own, in a land not their own. Agents of redemption, even in this hostile world. They've walked in God's favor even when it led through the fire, not just from the fire. And God delivered them through that fire, not just around it. And their witness in the midst of the fire with the very presence of Christ with them in the midst of it. Yeah, Old Testament, Christophany, go back and listen to the old passages we just preached. But they did this with the faith in the true king and that testimony became a witness even to the king who had captured them." [00:04:49] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "This is the gospel that God became a man and he lived the life we couldn't live and he died the death that we and Babylon and Medo Persia and even all of the Jews of Jerusalem and Israel and everybody. He died the death we all deserve to die because of sin and he took the weight of eternal condemnation on his self and he paid it in full. He died the death we all deserve to die because of sin and he took the weight of eternal condemnation on his self and he paid it in full." [00:33:55] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "one with enough glory to pay what we stole was God of glory himself in the flesh in Christ Jesus and he paid it all on the cross and he said it is finished and through his resurrection from the dead he paved a way to eternal life and not just an eternal life that starts one day when we die but an eternal life that starts the moment we place our faith in what Christ did at the cross and our hope and what he has secured for us eternally and when we do that the separation is bridged the distance covered and his Holy Spirit floods us from the inside out infiltrates us, transforms us, makes us new and takes us on a journey of transformation and sanctification this is the gospel and all of this now he doesn't remove you from the world he sanctifies you through the fire of this world and as we live in it we testify to the truth of the one who has saved us even in Babylon it's not just a message of condemnation it's the way of salvation Jesus said I didn't come to condemn the world but to save a world that stands condemned already the writings on the wall. Love isn't silent. Love speaks. Love tells. Love testifies. The fallen world is bound by the deception of its own rejection, but ours is a commission to illuminate the writing on the wall and the hand that saves." [00:34:56] (105 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "There's something awesome about that that's more mysterious than I can even fathom. The great commission to make disciples who make disciples, plant churches that plant churches from the neighborhood to the nation, shining even in the midst of Babylon until Jesus comes back. May your homes be outposts for the kingdom of heaven. May your children be like arrows in the hands of a mighty warrior. For the kingdom of God, may risen church be a beacon and an invitation, a gospel saturation that grows and multiplies and plants seeds that grow and flourish and produce fruit from here to the end of the earth. It's not about finding fulfillment. It's about fulfilling his great commission." [00:53:11] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Remember, the writing is on the wall. King Jesus is at the door. Our hope is not in any earthly king or kingdom, but in Christ alone. And we must and are called to shine the light of the eternal reality. The eternal reality in which we now live. So if you're in Christ, then your role is to call attention to the writing on the wall, to bring Jesus into every relationship, and to leverage your life for the gospel, time, talent, and treasure. Again, not to earn salvation, but because you have it." [00:57:00] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "If you are a Christian, you've been called to live as a missionary wherever you are. If you're not a Christian, I mean really a Christian, someone who's received not only the grace of God, but his commission and his spirit, you're not a Christian. You're not a Christian. So let's pray. Lord, help me let us all have the power to be disciples of Jesus Christ. Then first of all, I'm really glad you're here. And I want you to know you're welcome here. And you're welcome to process through this and ask questions, to pray with us. This is a safe place to ask those questions." [00:57:21] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Satan's, listen, his top priority isn't simply to cause chaos in the world. His top priority is to keep you from Jesus. That's it. Comfortably numb to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He wants you to think you're just not ready, and that you'll deal with it tomorrow. But again, tomorrow's not the day. It's not promised. The writing's on the wall today. So how will you respond? Let's pray." [00:58:15] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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