Standing Firm Without Standing Apart

The 16 fundamental truths of the Assemblies of God provide a foundation for faith and practice, but living them out in today’s world requires wisdom and courage. In a time when our culture is increasingly at odds with Christian values, it’s easy to feel out of place or even threatened. Yet, the story of Daniel offers a powerful blueprint for how to live faithfully in a world that does not honor God. Daniel and his friends were taken from their homeland, stripped of their cultural identity, and immersed in a society that was openly hostile to their faith. Despite this, Daniel did not lose sight of who he was—his name, Daniel, meaning “God is my judge,” remained his true identity, even as the world tried to rename him and reshape him.

God’s people in exile faced a critical question: How do we remain faithful in a place that pulls us away from God? The answer was not to isolate themselves or to assimilate into the culture, but to engage with conviction and compassion. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God instructed the exiles to build homes, plant gardens, raise families, and seek the peace and prosperity of the city where they had been placed. This was a radical call—not to escape or resist, but to bless and serve the very place that felt foreign and even hostile.

Daniel’s life demonstrates that it is possible to learn the language and literature of the culture, to work for its good, and yet to draw clear lines where faithfulness to God is at stake. He was trained among the wise men of Babylon, even in practices that conflicted with his faith, but he never compromised his convictions. Instead, he pointed to the God who reveals mysteries and brings true wisdom. The challenge for us is the same: not to blend in or withdraw, but to be a steady light—insulated from the world’s values, yet fully engaged for its good.

God’s call is not to curse the city or to separate from it, but to love it, pray for it, and work for its flourishing. Like Daniel, we are placed where we are on purpose. Our influence is not random, and our faithfulness in the midst of a challenging culture can change lives. The world does not need angry voices or silent saints, but steady lights who live boldly, love deeply, and trust God’s faithfulness in every circumstance.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Identity in Exile: The world may try to rename and redefine us, but our true identity is rooted in God’s calling and purpose. Like Daniel, we must remember who we are, even when surrounded by competing labels and pressures. Our value and direction come from God, not from the names or roles the world assigns us. Holding fast to this identity is the foundation for living faithfully in any environment. [15:57]
• 2. God’s Sovereign Placement: Where we find ourselves—whether in a challenging workplace, a secular classroom, or a city that feels far from God—is not an accident. God places His people intentionally, sometimes even in places of discomfort or loss of influence, to shape us and to spread His word. Recognizing God’s hand in our placement transforms frustration into purpose and calls us to seek His mission right where we are. [25:28]
• 3. Faithful Engagement, Not Isolation or Assimilation: The temptation is either to withdraw from a hostile culture or to blend in and lose our distinctiveness. God’s call is a third way: insulate our hearts from the world’s values, but engage the world with love and integrity. This means learning the culture, working for its good, and drawing clear lines where faithfulness to God is at stake. [27:18]
• 4. Seeking the Shalom of the City: God’s surprising command to the exiles was to seek the peace and prosperity—shalom—of the city where they lived. This goes beyond mere survival or self-preservation; it is a call to active blessing, prayer, and service for the good of all. When we work for the flourishing of our communities, we reflect God’s heart and become agents of His peace and justice. [28:41]
• 5. Steady Light in a Dark World: The world does not need more angry voices or silent saints, but steady lights—people who stand firm in truth, show mercy, and offer hope. Like a lighthouse, our role is not to chase every storm or problem, but to remain steadfast, shining God’s light in the place He has planted us. Faithfulness in the midst of opposition is both a witness to others and a means by which God shapes us for His purposes. [37:32]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:30] - Introducing the 16 Fundamental Truths
• [01:45] - Assemblies of God Position Papers
• [03:01] - Christians and Citizenship: Key Principles
• [05:00] - Launching the Daniel Series
• [06:15] - The Crisis of Exile
• [07:38] - Living Faithfully in a Hostile Culture
• [09:35] - Challenges for Young Believers
• [11:26] - Who Was Daniel?
• [12:44] - The Significance of Daniel’s Two Names
• [14:41] - Identity and Cultural Pressure
• [17:11] - Babylon’s Strategy: Shaping Identity
• [20:16] - False and True Prophets in Exile
• [22:06] - Jeremiah’s Blueprint for Exiles
• [24:09] - God’s Surprising Message: Engage, Don’t Escape
• [27:18] - Don’t Assimilate, Don’t Isolate—Engage
• [29:17] - Daniel’s Engagement with Babylonian Culture
• [31:14] - Faithful Presence in Every Generation
• [33:05] - The Church’s Role in Teaching Engagement
• [34:55] - Rethinking Separation and Engagement
• [36:11] - Praying for the City’s Prosperity
• [37:32] - Being a Steady Light in Babylon
• [38:50] - God’s Faithfulness in Our Placement
• [40:13] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Jeremiah 29:4-7 (ESV) — > Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 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.

Daniel 1:3-7 (ESV) — > Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

Observation Questions

1. According to Jeremiah 29:4-7, what specific instructions did God give to the exiles living in Babylon? What was surprising about these instructions? ([22:06])
2. In Daniel 1:3-7, what was King Nebuchadnezzar’s strategy for the young men taken from Judah? How did this strategy affect their identity? ([17:52])
3. The sermon mentions that Daniel was given a new name in Babylon. What did his original name mean, and what did his Babylonian name mean? Why is this significant? ([14:00])
4. What does the word “shalom” mean in the context of Jeremiah 29:7, and how does it go beyond just “peace”? ([27:58])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God told the exiles to build homes, plant gardens, and seek the prosperity of Babylon instead of telling them to separate or resist? What does this reveal about God’s purpose for His people in difficult places? ([24:09])
2. The sermon says, “The danger isn’t living in Babylon. The danger is allowing Babylon to live in you.” What does this mean for Christians today? ([16:34])
3. Daniel learned the language and literature of Babylon but drew clear lines when it came to his faith. What might it look like for a Christian today to “learn the culture” but not compromise their convictions? ([29:17])
4. The pastor said, “God’s call is not to curse the city or to separate from it, but to love it, pray for it, and work for its flourishing.” How does this challenge common Christian responses to a culture that feels hostile? ([28:41])

Application Questions

1. The world often tries to label us by our job, background, or failures. What are some “names” or labels you feel the world has tried to put on you? How can you remind yourself of your true identity in God this week? ([15:57])
2. Think about your workplace, school, or neighborhood. Do you see your placement there as random, or do you believe God has put you there on purpose? How might your attitude or actions change if you saw your presence as part of God’s plan? ([25:28])
3. When faced with a culture that doesn’t share your values, do you tend to withdraw, blend in, or engage with conviction and compassion? What is one practical step you can take to engage more faithfully where you are? ([27:18])
4. God told the exiles to “seek the shalom” of the city. What is one way you can actively work for the peace and flourishing of your community this month? ([28:41])
5. The sermon said, “The world does not need angry voices or silent saints, but steady lights.” In your daily life, what does it look like to be a “steady light” rather than reacting with anger or withdrawing in silence? ([37:32])
6. Is there a situation in your life right now where you feel outnumbered, overlooked, or out of place because of your faith? How can Daniel’s example encourage you to stand firm and trust God’s faithfulness? ([38:50])
7. The pastor challenged the church to pray for the city’s prosperity and to serve until people see God’s light through us. What is one specific way you can pray for and serve your city or community this week? ([36:11])