1. Tendency of Inwardness
When Wendall Woodall was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, he began recording his journey in a book called Shuffle. His faith in Christ fueled his sense of humor and gave him a basis for daily living. Among his strategies was the habit of volunteering. “A big part of my life is volunteering,” he wrote. “Specifically, I’m talking about when we serve, assist, or in some way help those who are less fortunate than we are…. The Parkinson’s brain tends toward smallness—small steps, small motions, etc. I would say that our brains also tend toward inwardness….It would be so much easier just to stay home and isolate myself from all human contact … But just as I stretch out my fingers, I also stretch out my soul.”
When we serve, it takes our minds off our desire to be served. The danger of being a lover of self is inherent within each of us, regardless of our health. But as we put aside our own desires and become more selfless, we will enrich those around us, show God’s love wherever we are, and develop the mind of Christ.
[Slide I intentionally look for ways to get out and serve others so that I’m not just focusing on me and my problems. That’s why I volunteered. Wendall Woodall
2. There is a temptation for Christians to withdraw from the world – just wait out our time on earth and then go to heaven, even if the rest of the world goes to hell. Tendency for anonymity at church as well.
3. Not an option we are in the world, just not of the world– John 17.14-18 (NLT)
14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.
4. We are part of God’s plan and our world needs you to be the person God called us to be.
a. People others can relate to
b. People of compassion, not judgmental or mean
c. People who lead others to God, not drive them away
5. Daniel’s character before Darius – Daniel 6
I. Daniel was Distinguished by His Exceptional Character (6.1-4; especially vv.3-4)
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.
A. Daniel’s Exceptional Work Ethic (6.1-2)
1. Capable and rose in Leadership Role – 1 of 3 Officials; Became THE Official
2. Faultless; without Error; Blameless – does nothing worthy of criticism – 6.4
B. Daniel’s Outstanding Appearance
1. He did not look like his culture – Stood out from the crowd
2. If we want to fit into the culture, we do not want to influence it for Jesus; we just want to make it easy on ourselves
3. Daniel was exceptional and impacted his culture – 6.3
II. Daniel was Distinguished by an Excellent Spirit (Ruach) – 6.3
What kind of spirit is in you?
A. The Presence of God’s Spirit Produces Notable Differences
1. In Daniel – Spirit-led Courage (6.8-10; 22-24)
10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.
2. In Us – Galatians 5.16-26
a. Works of the Flesh = Way of the World
b. Fruit of the Spirit = product of HS’ work in Us
B. Don’t Stop the Spirit – 1 Thessalonians 5.19
Before and After
The media has covered many heartwarming scenes of toddlers, born deaf, hearing for the first time after a cochlear implant. That is a true “before and after” scenario—to go from not hearing to hearing with the flip of a switch.
It wasn’t the result of flipping a switch, but the apostles of Jesus had their own “before and after” experience: pre-Pentecost versus post-Pentecost. Jesus had promised to send the Holy Spirit to give them power to fulfill the Commission He had given them. And the Spirit was poured out on them in Jerusalem at Pentecost. Before that moment, the disciples had been fearful, uncertain, and isolated behind closed doors in Jerusalem (Acts 1:12-13). After Pentecost, everything changed. Peter preached a bold sermon and thousands believed in Christ (Acts 2:41). In the following days, the apostles preached boldly in Jerusalem and worked powerful miracles in defiance of orders not to preach.
The Holy Spirit can make the same difference in our lives if we will remain submitted and obedient to Him—being filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).
1. We must be careful not to quench the Spirit in our Lives – it affects others
The village atheist was not a bad man; he simply didn’t believe in God and had no interest in church. There was only one church in that area and one day its building caught on fire. The whole town ran toward it to extinguish the flames, including the village atheist. Someone said to him, “This is something new for you, I’ve never seen you running to church.” To which he replied, “This is the first time I have ever seen the church on fire.”
2. How Can we Quench the Spirit?
a. Through Neglect – 2 Timothy 1.6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,
b. Through Fear – 2 Timothy 1.7 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
[USN feared Kamikaze pilots in WWII – no fear of dying – what if we were unafraid of this world?
• We can fear people and quench the Spirit
• We fear the Spirit and quench his presence
c. Through legalism and formalism that smothers the warmth of God’s love – connect people to God, when they fall in love with him they are anxious to obey
d. The problem – if we quench the Spirit, we look like the world
Application – God has an Extraordinary Plan for YOU!
1. God Intends to Change the World – with Your Help –
a. As God’s Coworkers (Timothy in 1 Thessalonians 3.2)
b. As Ambassadors for Christ – 2 Corinthians 5.20
While Secretary of State during the Regan presidency, George Shultz kept a large globe in his office. When newly appointed ambassadors had an interview with him and when ambassadors returning from their posts for their first visit with him were leaving his office, Shultz would test them. He would say, "You have to go over the globe and prove to me that you can identify your country." They would go over, spin the globe, and put their finger on the country to which sent--unerringly.
When Shultz’s old friend and former Senate majority leader Mike Mansfield was appointed ambassador to Japan, even he was put to the test. This time, however, Ambassador Mansfield spun the globe and put his hand on the United States. He said: "That’s my country Shultz said, "I’ve told that story, subsequently, to all the ambassadors going out. ’Never forget you’re over there in that country, but your country is the United States. You’re there to represent us. Take care of our interests and never forget it, and you’re representing the best country in the world.’ "
2. God Expresses His Wisdom in the World – Through You – Ephesians 3.10
10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
a. You display the wisdom of God
b. You are the most important organization in the world – “No other plan.”
1. Daniel made a difference in his world – Daniel 6.25-28
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. 26 I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. 27 He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.” 28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
a. 4 Kings with positive impact
b. He survived, thrived and influenced his captors
c. Not because he was a shrewd politician; manipulative; mean or heartless
d. It was because he walked in integrity
2. When we display the exceptional qualities of Jesus we do not repel people but attract them to Jesus – John 12.32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.
3. Live with an Exceptional Character empowered by an Excellent Spirit to Help Change the World by expressing God’s Wisdom as the body of Christ
