When Culture Shifts

Landing Place Church

When Culture Shifts

Message Notes

September 7, 2014 • Mark Hardacre

Message Notes:

Daniel 1:1-6 (NLT) During the third year of King Jehoiakim's reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god. Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah's royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. "Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men," he said. "Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon." The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah.

Dan 1:7 (NLT) The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego.

When Culture Shifts

1. It Will Try To Rename You.

From Daniel: ‘God is my judge’ To Belteshazzar: ‘Lady, protect the king’

 Focus from God to Man

From Hananiah: ‘Yahweh has been gracious’ To Shadrach: I am fearful of God

 Focus from God is Good to God is Bad

From Mishael: ‘Who is what God is?’ To Meshach: ‘I am despised, contemptible and humiliated’

 Focus from Confidence to Cowardice

From Azariah: ‘Yahweh has helped me’ To Abednego ‘Servant of Nebo’

 Focus from Son to Slave

When Culture Shifts You Better Know Who You Are

2. It Will Try to Tame You.

Dan 1:8 (NLT) But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.

When Culture Shifts, Don’t Lose Your Convictions

Dan 1:9-14 (NLT) Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel. But he responded, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded. Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. "Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water," Daniel said. "At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king's food. Then make your decision in light of what you see." The attendant agreed to Daniel's suggestion and tested them for ten days.

3. It Will Try to Claim You.

Dan 1:15-20 (NLT) Well, at the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the youths who had been eating the food supplied by the king! So after that the steward fed them only vegetables and water, without the rich foods and wines! God gave these four youths great ability to learn, and they soon mastered all the literature and science of the time; and God gave to Daniel special ability in understanding the meanings of dreams and visions. When the three-year training period was completed, the superintendent brought all the young men to the king for oral exams, as he had been ordered to do. King Nebuchadnezzar had long talks with each of them, and none of them impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they were put on his regular staff of advisors. Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.

Response:
1. In what way is culture trying to change you?
2. In what ways are you being called to change culture?
3. Where do you find your identity?

How Will This All End

October 12, 2014 • Mark Hardacre

Message Notes: Matt 24:3 (NLT) Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, "Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?" Matt 24:12-16 (NLT) Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. "The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about—the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place." (Reader, pay attention!) The 70 Sevens Dan 9:24-27 (NLT) "A period of seventy sets of seven has been decreed for your people and your holy city to finish their rebellion, to put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a ruler—the Anointed One—comes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, despite the perilous times. "After this period of sixty-two sets of seven, the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, and a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple. The end will come with a flood, and war and its miseries are decreed from that time to the very end. The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him." 1. The Church Age 2. The Rapture 3. The Rise of the Anti-Christ 4. The Tribulation 5. The Second Coming of Christ 6. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb 7. The Millennium 8. The Last Rebellion 9. The Great White Throne Judgment—Rev 20:11-15 10. Eternity: Rev 21-22 Dan 12:1-4 (NLT) "At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase." Dan 12:8-13 (NLT) I heard what he said, but I did not understand what he meant. So I asked, "How will all this finally end, my lord?" But he said, "Go now, Daniel, for what I have said is kept secret and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined by these trials. But the wicked will continue in their wickedness, and none of them will understand. Only those who are wise will know what it means. "From the time the daily sacrifice is stopped and the sacrilegious object that causes desecration is set up to be worshiped, there will be 1,290 days. And blessed are those who wait and remain until the end of the 1,335 days! "As for you, go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days, you will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for you." How to Live Wisely in the Last Days 1. Follow God, not culture. 1 Thess 5:23-24 (NLT) Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 2. Be ready for Christ’s return. Matt 24:42 (NLT) "So you, too, must keep watch! For you don't know what day your Lord is coming. 3. Make the most of this life. Eph 5:15-18 (NLT) So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

Exceptional Qualities

October 5, 2014 • Mark Hardacre

Message Notes: Dan 6:1-5 (NIV) It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God." 2 Cor 3:17-18 (NLT) For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. Rev 4:6-7 (NLT) In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal. In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. Ezek 1:10,28 (NLT) Each had a human face in the front, the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle at the back…This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground… Exceptional Qualities 1. The Ox: the face of a servant 1 Cor 9:19 (NLT) Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 2. The Man: the face of Love John 13:34-35 (NLT) So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." 3. The Eagle: the face of Respect Mark 7:37 (NLT) They were completely amazed and said again and again, "Everything he (Jesus) does is wonderful. Matt 5:13-14 (NLT) “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. "You are the light of the world —like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. 4. The Lion: the face of Boldness Prov 28:1 (NLT) The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions. How Should We Respond to Culture? John 1:14 (NIV) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  Grace because we all need a Savior.  Truth because it’s what sets people free. Response: 1. Which of the four E.Q.’s do I need to work on? 2. How will I do that this week? 3. With whom do I need to share grace and truth?

Handwriting on the Wall

September 28, 2014 • Mark Hardacre

Message Notes: Dan 5:1-6 (NLT) Many years later King Belshazzar gave a great feast for 1,000 of his nobles, and he drank wine with them. While Belshazzar was drinking the wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver cups that his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar, had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem. He wanted to drink from them with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. So they brought these gold cups taken from the Temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. While they drank from them they praised their idols made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Suddenly, they saw the fingers of a human hand writing on the plaster wall of the king's palace, near the lampstand. The king himself saw the hand as it wrote, and his face turned pale with fright. His knees knocked together in fear and his legs gave way beneath him. The king shouted for the enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers to be brought before him. He said to these wise men of Babylon, "Whoever can read this writing and tell me what it means will be dressed in purple robes of royal honor and will have a gold chain placed around his neck. He will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom!" Ps 139:16 (NLT) You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. Dan 5:13-16 (NLT) So Daniel was brought in before the king. The king asked him, "Are you Daniel, one of the exiles brought from Judah by my predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar? I have heard that you have the spirit of the gods within you and that you are filled with insight, understanding, and wisdom. My wise men and enchanters have tried to read the words on the wall and tell me their meaning, but they cannot do it. I am told that you can give interpretations and solve difficult problems. If you can read these words and tell me their meaning, you will be clothed in purple robes of royal honor, and you will have a gold chain placed around your neck. You will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom." Dan 5:23-24 (NLT) For you have proudly defied the Lord of heaven and have had these cups from his Temple brought before you. You and your nobles and your wives and concubines have been drinking wine from them while praising gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone—gods that neither see nor hear nor know anything at all. But you have not honored the God who gives you the breath of life and controls your destiny! So God has sent this hand to write this message. Handwriting On the Wall Dan 5:25-26 (NLT) "This is the message that was written: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. This is what these words mean: Mene means 'numbered'—God has numbered the days of your reign and has brought it to an end. ü We forget that our days are numbered. Heb 9:27 (NLT) … each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment. Dan 5:27 (NLT) Tekel means 'weighed'—you have been weighed on the balances and have not measured up. ü We allow our lives to get out of balance. Ecc 4:6 (GN) It is better to have only a little, with peace of mind, than be busy all the time… Dan 5:28 (NLT) Parsin (sing. Peres) means 'divided'—your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians." ü We ignore the warning signs. Þ The risk of sinful choices increases. Þ My emotions are inconsistent. Þ I am less productive. Þ I can’t hear God. Dan 5:29-31 (NLT) Then at Belshazzar's command, Daniel was dressed in purple robes, a gold chain was hung around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom. That very night Belshazzar, the Babylonian king, was killed. And Darius the Mede took over the kingdom at the age of sixty-two. Turning Points 1. Live with a sense of purpose and urgency. Ps 39:4-5 (NLT) "Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath." 2. Put first things first. Psalm 90:12 (LB) Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; helps us to spend them as we should. Matt 6:33 (NLT) Seek the Kingdom of God above all else (first), and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 3. Do it now! 2 Cor 6:2 (NLT) For God says, "At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you." Indeed, the "right time" is now. Today is the day of salvation.