Navigating Babylon: Embracing Our Heavenly Citizenship

Devotional

Day 1: Heavenly Citizenship**

As citizens of heaven, our ultimate allegiance is to God's kingdom. This higher citizenship should influence our thoughts, speech, and actions, setting us apart from the world. We are temporary residents on earth, and our values should reflect our eternal home. [01:22]

Philippians 3:20 (ESV): "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."

Reflection: In what ways can you remind yourself daily that your ultimate allegiance is to God's kingdom? How can this perspective change the way you interact with others today?

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Day 2: Cultural Climate**

America is increasingly becoming a post-Christian nation, but our foundation remains rooted in God. Despite cultural shifts, we must remember our historical and spiritual roots, standing firm in our faith and values. [03:21]

Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.' But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'"

Reflection: How can you stand firm in your faith and values amidst a shifting cultural climate? What specific actions can you take today to reflect your commitment to God's ways?

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Day 3: Spiritual Reality of Babylon**

Babylon represents pride, confusion, and defiance against God. This spirit is evident in today's culture, but as believers, we are called to stand against it. Recognizing this spiritual battle helps us remain vigilant and faithful. [15:45]

1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV): "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world."

Reflection: What are some ways you can remain vigilant against the spirit of Babylon in your daily life? How can you actively resist cultural pressures that go against your faith?

**

Day 4: Identity in Christ**

The enemy seeks to reshape our identity and values, but we must stand firm in our God-given identity. Knowing who we are in Christ and speaking it over our lives is crucial for resisting cultural pressures and fulfilling our destiny. [18:25]

Ephesians 1:4-5 (ESV): "Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will."

Reflection: How can you remind yourself of your God-given identity today? What specific truths about your identity in Christ can you speak over your life to resist cultural pressures?

**

Day 5: Strengthening Our Relationship with Jesus**

In these perilous times, it is essential to deepen our relationship with Jesus. Knowing God intimately will empower us to resist cultural pressures and remain steadfast in our faith. This experiential knowledge and intimacy with God will enable us to take action and stand firm. [26:43]

John 15:4-5 (ESV): "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to deepen your relationship with Jesus? How can you make abiding in Him a daily practice to empower you to stand firm in your faith?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we began a new series titled "A Different Kingdom," focusing on how Christ followers can navigate a Babylonian culture. Using the book of Daniel as our guide, we explored the concept of being citizens of heaven, as highlighted in Philippians 3:20. This foundational truth reminds us that our ultimate allegiance is to a higher kingdom, which influences how we think, speak, and live. We are temporary residents on this earth, and our values should reflect our heavenly citizenship.

We discussed the current cultural climate, noting that America is increasingly becoming a post-Christian nation. Despite this, our foundation remains rooted in God, as evidenced by historical documents and national symbols like "In God We Trust." Jesus' prayer in John 17 emphasizes that while we are in the world, we are not of it. This distinction is crucial as we navigate a culture that often opposes Christian values.

We delved into the story of Daniel and his friends, who were taken captive to Babylon. Despite their circumstances, they remained faithful to God. The Babylonian strategy to assimilate them involved changing their identity, diet, language, and worship. This mirrors the enemy's tactics today, aiming to reshape our identity and values. However, Daniel and his friends resisted these changes, demonstrating the importance of knowing and standing firm in our God-given identity.

We also touched on the spiritual reality of Babylon, which represents pride, confusion, and defiance against God. This spirit is evident in today's culture, but as believers, we are called to stand against it. We must pray for our Babylon (our nation) while refusing to conform to its demands. Strengthening our relationship with Jesus is essential for the days ahead. Knowing God intimately will empower us to resist cultural pressures and remain steadfast in our faith.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Christian nation, but our foundation remains rooted in God. Despite cultural shifts, we must remember our historical and spiritual roots, standing firm in our faith and values. [03:21]
3. Spiritual Reality of Babylon: Babylon represents pride, confusion, and defiance against God. This spirit is evident in today's culture, but as believers, we are called to stand against it. Recognizing this spiritual battle helps us remain vigilant and faithful.

4. Identity in Christ: The enemy seeks to reshape our identity and values, but we must stand firm in our God-given identity. Knowing who we are in Christ and speaking it over our lives is crucial for resisting cultural pressures and fulfilling our destiny.

5. Strengthening Our Relationship with Jesus: In these perilous times, it is essential to deepen our relationship with Jesus. Knowing God intimately will empower us to resist cultural pressures and remain steadfast in our faith. This experiential knowledge and intimacy with God will enable us to take action and stand firm.

### [03:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:46] - Introduction to the Series
[01:22] - Citizens of Heaven
[02:35] - Living in a Post-Christian Nation
[03:21] - America's Christian Foundation
[04:32] - Jesus' Prayer in John 17
[05:51] - The World vs. God's Kingdom
[07:16] - Spiritual Battle Against Babylon
[08:38] - Daniel and His Friends in Babylon
[10:01] - God's Protection and Judgment
[11:24] - Living Under God's Umbrella
[13:07] - The Babylonian Strategy
[15:45] - The Spirit of Babylon Today
[17:06] - Identity and Labels
[18:25] - Speaking God's Truth Over Our Lives
[19:47] - Confessing Jesus Publicly
[21:03] - Praying for Our Babylon
[22:24] - The Importance of Non-Conformity
[25:18] - Strengthening Our Relationship with Jesus
[26:43] - Knowing God Intimately
[28:05] - Raising Children in God's Word
[29:26] - Closing Prayer and Ministry Time

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Philippians 3:20 say about our citizenship and how should it influence our lives? [01:22]
According to John 17:14-18, what is Jesus' prayer for His followers in relation to the world? [04:32]
In Daniel 1:8, what decision did Daniel make regarding the royal food and wine, and why was this significant? [13:07]

Interpretation Questions

How does understanding our heavenly citizenship, as described in Philippians 3:20, change the way we view our daily lives and decisions? [01:22]
What does Jesus' prayer in John 17:14-18 reveal about the relationship between believers and the world? How should this shape our interactions with the culture around us? [04:32]
Why was Daniel's decision in Daniel 1:8 to not defile himself with the royal food and wine an important act of faith and identity? How does this relate to resisting cultural pressures today? [13:07]

Application Questions

Reflect on your daily life. In what ways can you better align your thoughts, speech, and actions with your heavenly citizenship? [01:22]
Jesus prayed for His followers to be in the world but not of it. How can you practically live out this balance in your workplace, school, or community? [04:32]
Daniel and his friends resisted the Babylonian culture by holding onto their God-given identity. What are some specific ways you can stand firm in your identity in Christ amidst cultural pressures? [13:07]
The sermon mentioned the importance of not conforming to the demands of our "Babylon." What are some current cultural trends or pressures that you feel tempted to conform to, and how can you resist them? [23:47]
Strengthening our relationship with Jesus is crucial for resisting cultural pressures. What steps can you take this week to deepen your intimacy with God? Consider specific practices like prayer, Bible study, or worship. [26:43]
The sermon highlighted the importance of speaking God's truth over our lives. What negative labels or identities have you accepted that you need to replace with God's truth? [18:25]
How can you actively pray for your "Babylon" (your nation or community) while also refusing to conform to its ungodly demands? What specific prayers or actions can you commit to this week? [21:03]

Sermon Clips

1. "You are a citizen of heaven. Your citizenship, although it might be America or Brazil or wherever you're from, ultimately, you're of a higher kingdom. And because you're part of a different kingdom, a higher kingdom, you think differently. You speak differently. Your values have shifted from the temporal, low-level things of this world to a city that is being prepared for you. I want you to get that in your spirit." [01:22] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "So let's be clear. Because we are temporary residents, this world is not your home, we have to ask the question, how do I live on this broken planet? How has God called me to live as I see the morality and the culture shifting all around me? And that's what we're going to study for the next four weeks. And I believe it's going to make you stronger, define your purpose." [02:35] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "There is a protection in God. You can live in Psalm 91. He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will abide under the shadow of the Almighty, and he will protect me from every attack of the enemy. But here's the key. You got to stay under the umbrella. So if you would see it as an umbrella, and when you are following God, and you're convicted of sin, and you repent, and you do your best to get back up, he says, I will not forsake you. I will not leave you." [10:01] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "You are not what your mama said, or your uncle said, or your coach said, or your teacher said, unless they were agreeing with the word of God. But let me tell you who you are today. You are sons and daughters of the King. You are children in his house. You are more than conquerors. You are heirs of salvation. You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. And when I begin to learn who I am, and I speak that over my life, it begins to define my destiny." [18:25] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Strengthen your relationship with Jesus for the days ahead. Lean in. I would appeal to you. Get to know God like never before. If you're a casual church attendee, fall in love with Jesus. If you're a spectator, get in and get planted and serve and give and become part of the body. Go into essentials or discover. Get yourself rooted and planted in the house of the Lord. Maybe not for what you're going through this week, perhaps for some, but for what's coming, for what's up ahead for our planet." [25:18] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Pray for your Babylon, but do not conform to its demands. Pray for Babylon. Are we praying for California and America? You bet. God bless the USA. You know, I get to travel about the nation. I was just back in Birmingham and Oklahoma and I meet pastors and say, Hey, I'm Dave. How you doing? And they're like, where are you from? Oh, San Francisco, Barry. And they kind of go, Oh, I'm sorry. You know, it's like we've been written off by a lot of the nation. It's over for California. Save Nevada or whatever." [22:24] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "The way you raise your children, bringing them to the house of God, speaking the word of God over them, letting them experience the presence of God on the weekend will do something on the inside of their spiritual DNA. And they may rebel for a little bit. Come on. Bible says, raise up a child in the way they should go. And when they are older, they will not depart from it. But there's a gap in there called middle school and high school, where just lock them in a room and slide food under the door, man, and pray your best prayers." [28:05] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "We are not against anybody. You know, Christians and evangelicals, many of us, there's been a lot of people on their soapbox, and they're coming against different groups and organizations. And we've been painted into this picture like we're legalistic and angry, and we're against people. We are not at all. Jesus loves all people. He loves mankind, and we are to emulate his life. Are you with me? But what we are against, by nature of the system, we are against the demonic flow and the spirits of this world that are coming against us." [07:16] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "The tide is against you. Your destiny is a heavenly home and to be fashioned more and more into the image of Christ, and you are the spiritual salmon that is swimming upstream. And the world and the spirit of this world is against you. And some bad advice usually is this. Hey, bro, just go with the flow. We are not going with the flow. And I would give you this tip, too. Watch where the flow is going. A lot of times, it's just circling the drain, all right? So move in the other direction." [08:38] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world. It's customs, behaviors, and values, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Isn't it interesting that God's good and pleasing and perfect will for every one of you is directly connected to you being a non-conformist? Not a rebel, not on a soapbox, not an angry evangelical, just something in your spirit that says, we will not bow to the king's idol." [25:18] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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