1. THE BOOK OF DANIEL Godly living in ungodly times Part 1 / Daniel 1 Overcoming Our Culture
As God is calling us to PRAYFirst
He is doing so in the midst of society that is growing farther and farther from God
Book of Daniel – shows us what it is to live a godly life in ungodly times
Chapter 1 – shows how to overcome a culture that is trying to change us
Read Chapter

2. 1. CULTURE TRIES TO CHANGE YOUR IDENTITY
7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. 
Just like Daniel – our culture is trying to rename us
Names are amazing accurate to how our culture is trying to change us today

3. Culture tries to cause GENDER confusion Daniel: “God is my judge” 
Belteshazzar: “Lady, protect the king” 
Culture tries to cause
GENDER confusion
This is one of the saddest and destructive attacks of the world
Romans 1 – says it will happen
Need to realize why
When we reject the creator / we reject his created plan and design
The greatest goal is grace to find Jesus / who restores order in our lives
Realize what is healthy that satan is twisting
When satan gets this – destroyed your relationships, future and impact
Text notes
In adolescence natural moment of gender identity
Where you come to terms with who you are
World – is working to make sure that momemt of questioning steals your identity

4. Culture tries to change your SPIRITUAL attitude
Hananiah: “Yahweh has been gracious” 
Shadrack: “I am fearful of God” 
Culture tries to change
your SPIRITUAL attitude 
If God exists and is good – why do these bad things happen
You don’t want to serve God – he’s not gracious
He is against you – be afraid
Everything God says not to do – is for your good
Summarize the 10 commandments: “Don’t destroy yourself”
- sex before marriage – don’t hurt yourself
- Sabbath – rest – don’t hurt yourself
- do not lie/steal – don’t destroy yourself
But world wants to say – God is being bad
Never a moment of any day – he is not good
Do not covet – destroyed my joy, my peace, my relationships

5. Culture tries to change your COURAGE TO SERVE & LEAD
Mishael: “Who is what God is?” 
Meshach: “I am despised, contemptible and humiliated” 
Culture tries to change
your COURAGE TO SERVE & LEAD 
Christians should be afraid and ashamed of their intolerance
Christians shouldn’t try to push their values on everyone else (not ours – God’s)
You don’t agree – we’ll sue you, take your government support, your scholarships,
Even your freedom
“I’m part of we the people too”
Separation of church and state
Goal – not that I would interfere with gov’t
It’s that government wouldn’t interfere with us
Satan wants to steal our calling to be salt and light
STORY OF FAILING AT FUNERAL

6. Culture tries to change your God-given PURPOSE
Azariah: “Yahweh has helped” 
Abednego: “Servant of Nebo” 
Culture tries to change
your God-given PURPOSE 
Serve the world’s priorities instead of God
Salt & light – rescue and bless, serve and heal

7. TO CHANGE YOUR IDENTITY:
WHEN CULTURE TRIES
TO CHANGE YOUR IDENTITY:
PRESS IN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST 
Small Group at church
this is who I am and who I belong to
Who are you and what do you believe.
We’ll become members of Costco, Netflix, American Fam
Why – because we know its important to who we are
Look what the Bible says
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

8. “Together you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a member of that body.” (1 Co 12:27)
Our identity is part of His body – about doing good works
Church – teaches us the truth / grace to live it out
Marriage of DJ & Tiffany – body of Christ / changed their lives

9. 2. CULTURE TRIES TO CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE
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 this way
Eat what we eat, think like we think, do what we do
Pop culture, Social Media
Seems so harmless – some can be part of the joy of culture’s creativity
But look at Daniel and His resolve

10. Daniel wouldn’t change God’s DAILY priorities for the world’s
PROMISES of “MORE” & “better”.
World often offers us more / chasing after more
Does God prosper – yes but not at the cost of our foundation
If you can only get more by giving up your daily Jesus centered priorities

11. TO CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE: PRESS IN TO YOUR DAILY
WHEN CULTURE TRIES
TO CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE:
PRESS IN TO YOUR DAILY
JESUS-CENTERED PRIORITIES 
Why we are focusing on prayer – tracking it
Have our journals / join in prayer night
The small things you do daily (habits) determine your godliness and greatness
Your life’s legacy
Family’s victory
Community’s destiny
Look at what jesus said
PRAYFIRST

12. “I am the vine, and you are the branches
“I am the vine, and you are the branches. If any remain in me and I remain in them, they produce much fruit. But without me you can do nothing.” Jn 15:5
Prayer – every day – connecting to life
Daniel does it 3 times a day
How we overcome

13. 3. CULTURE TRIES TO CHANGE YOUR REALITY
10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink The king would then have my head because of you.”
We will all die if we don’t do it the world’s way
Only the world’s way is true and bring success and brings love
10 days
10 is number for testing in the bible
-10 commandments – our love for God
- tithe is 10 percent of money – our trust
- 10 days before Pentecost
- revelations – 10 days of testing as a church

14. TO CHANGE YOUR REALITY:
WHEN CULTURE TRIES
TO CHANGE YOUR REALITY:
PRESS IN TO A
DISTINCT STEP OF FAITH 
Some tithe, dating relationships – no more sex
10 days of purity
10 days no tv or no social media – world won’t fall apart without you
Water baptism
Romans 6:3 / Rachel story
One day but right now I still want to do things my own way
Step of faith
Baptism – whose I am / what I believe/ what reality is
WATER BAPTISM

15. “For we died [to this world] and were buried with Christ by baptism
“For we died [to this world] and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.” (Ro 6:3–4)

16. “In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.” (1:20)
Look at the result

17. Learning more of who you are in Christ (church membership)
Press in to . . .
Learning more of who you are in Christ (church membership)
Your daily Jesus-centered priorities (daily prayer commitment)
A distinct step of faith in what you believe (water baptism)
Look at the result