Doug Addison on Prophetic Evangelism

What a great night at Ivy Manchester!
As promised – here are my notes from Doug’s teaching tonight.
The talk will be up on the church website for download in a couple of days.

People say ‘I’m spiritual, not religious’
The world has changed, evangelism hasn’t caught up.
This is an addition to the toolkit: Prophetic Evangelism. 2 scary words!
He’s been PRACTISING this for years.
If we have a good product, with eternal benefits – but people don’t want it, we need a marketing meeting!

We have had good intentions – but that’s not enough.
We have to become missionaries to the UK.
What do missionaries do? Figure out what people already believe. Study the language and the culture – fit the message into where people are. Not changing the message, just changing the way you share it.

Most people are open to Jesus, and to the power of God. We have to come up with ways to connect with people.
Today, if people are spiritual, that’s half way home – cos God is spiritual – and he’s in a good mood! He’s really into loving people.

People say, ‘Do you believe Jesus is the only way?’
(Jn 14;6) – how do they know that verse? Someone else told them – ‘How to get a Christian off your back.’
Because people value choice. They value making choices.
To connect, you don’t major in what they don’t believe; because they’ll shut you out & not listen to the rest.

Look at the context of John 14:6
He’s having a meeting with the insiders group there. Not his preaching message to the world.

There was a time when we just had to draw them back to their Christian memory, in most of our society, there’s no memory of Christianity.

So if they ask, emphasise the WAY: ‘You’re on your own journey, you need to find that out for yourself.’

Not everyone who followed Jesus believed in him.
We need to let people follow.
So when we hear from God (which we should – we got an upgrade a while back – the prophetic is back).

WAY – TRUTH – LIFE = a three step process.
Show them the way, the truth takes care of itself, & we end up leading them to life.

In NT – they were followers of the WAY. Show people the way!
Jesus at a wedding- doesn’t give them a message or a Messiah- gives them what THEY think they need – the wine.
Give them what they need, time, love, service.

Doug found that decisions don’t necessarily make disciples.
Used to be people would make a decision then get an experience. Now people now want an experience and then they make a decision.

Look up the encounters where Jesus & disciples met unbelievers –
Eg Jn 1:47f When Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward him, he said, “Here is a true descendant of our ancestor Israel. And he isn’t deceitful.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
Nathanael said, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God and the King of Israel!”

How do you KNOW me?

2 words of knowledge. It’s not that tough – all he told him was, ‘you’re an honest man.’

Word of knowledge = something about now, that gets impact. Encouragement. Opens people up to the gospel.
Word of wisdom = something that sounds too smart to be you
Word of prophecy = something about the future.
If you’re in the shallow end, it’s only 2 kicks to the deep end. Anyone can give encouraging words from God. It’s so easy, you’ll think you’re making it up, until they start to cry.

1) Use the gift to find the people. Wait for one who looks open. ‘I just took a course in encouragement, can I try it with you?’
2) We’re much more anointed OUTSIDE than inside.
3) People need to be encouraged everywhere!

John 4:16
He’s been talking about worship. At Jacobs well.
Jesus told her, “Go and bring your husband.” The woman answered, “I don’t have a husband.” “That’s right,” Jesus replied, “you’re telling the truth. You don’t have a husband. You have already been married five times, and the man you are now living with isn’t your husband.”
Not judging here!
He’s finding something to COMMEND. She’s got a mixed up relational life, but he finds something to commend – she’s honest!

If the enemy is having a go at you – it’s because the Lord has a great destiny in line for you!

We see people being pushed down – but the Lord has a great destiny for them – what they need is the power of Spirit to live it out.

Think about a person in your life who really needs God the most. Someone messed up. Now picture them saved, and filled with the Spirit. What ministry would they be drawn to? Worship? Evangelism? Finance?
Pray for them, see them as God sees them – potential.
This is what Jesus was doing.
See yourself like this.

People these days are into reality tv.
2 types:
1) You’re voted out – mean spirit, negative,
2) Makeover shows. Positive.
We need to have extreme prophetic makeover. Pimp my life! Do things to encourage people.

It worked for Jesus. A lot of Samaritans in that town put their faith in Jesus because the woman had said, “This man told me everything I have ever done.”

Jesus was only ever angry at religious people who pretended to know God but didn’t love.

OLD WAY vs New Way
Program vs Organic
Head knowledge about Bible vs No bible value, but may still love god
Prove it vs Experience it
Jesus is the only way vs Choices
Must pray the prayer vs Prayed it- no change
Truth!! Vs Absolute truth
Get conversions! Vs want to be loved.

We have to walk with people. Become the Bible for them.

What people think of Christians
Judgemental, narrow minded, out of touch, irrelevant, intolerant, no fun. After your money.
That’s not us.
We have to redefine this, one person at a time.

Tipping point; Malcolm Gladwell. 30 people can cause great change.
Paul stayed 3 or 4 years in various people’s

MASH units
MOBILE, ARMY, SURGICAL, HOSPITALs.

We need to be churches like that. By love and encouragement.

1. Get the wall down- word of knowledge. Something positive. Dream. Practical. Kindness.

2. Go from head to heart – Notice things they value. Clothing, tattoos, piercings. Music. Ring tones.

3. THEIR felt needs. Loved, listened to, practical help.

FOCUS on their experiences, gifts, calling/ passions.

Jesus operated in all the gifts the disciples did.
You should. Holy Spirit toolbelt. Pull out what‘s needed.
Practice!
The more you practice any gift, the better you get.

God is speaking all the time. Find something positive in their lives, because God created them.

You are strategically placed – and you didn’t even know it.

It’s the still small voice – learn to trust it.

If you see the –ve over people, you get a check in your spirit = a discerning spirit. How do you use that?
You’re seeing satan’s will. Don’t tell them satan’s will. Tell the opposite. To destroy the works of the enemy: ‘I can see that you’ve been under attack, been through a rough time – but God…!’

FLIP IT!
The kingdom of God is extremely positive.

Put words of knowledge into a sentence that makes sense to them. “When I look at you I see…’

Go out in twos or threes. Encourage people, and if you’re able to – tell them about God. Col 4:4 Please pray that I will make the message as clear as possible. When you are with unbelievers, always make good use of the time. Be pleasant and hold their interest when you speak the message. Choose your words carefully and be ready to give answers to anyone who asks questions.

Be salty – don’t throw salt in their wounds. Not insider language. Don’t speak Christianese.

Honour the process. Coming to Jesus happens over time. Find out where they are. Ask fact finding questions.
‘You seem spiritual.’
- I grew up in church
- I pray all the time
- I mediate…
Gauge where they are at and meet them there.

There’s an ANGEL in evangelism.
We need to bring the angel back into evangelism. Be the angel.
Ask God for the supernatural encounters!

Published in: on November 8, 2009 at 11:01 pm Comments (2)
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Still Small Voice

Get listening

Get listening


I’ve struggled with this.

We’ve been looking at the life of Elijah – go to the church website if you want to download the talks. This was the one I most wrestled with. His dark night of the soul. As he’s wandered into a wilderness place (ever been there?).

God speaks. God is present, glorious, in his word.

Not in howling wind,shattering the mountain. No  – not there.

Not in the earthquake. Not in the fire.

What does this mean? In 1 Kings 19. The King James Version calls it, “A still, small voice…” That’s 17th century English for a breeze. Literally – a calm, tiny (small as a grain of dust), voice.

That’s how God speaks to Elijah, in that internal audible way. Like a thought, an impression that comes..

then blows away again

and you wonder

Was that just me?

You have to get quiet to hear it.

And I’m often too busy, to hurried and harried. My heart’s already full. Full of what leaves me empty so I fill my diary again.

But when I slow down and listen, that little voice always speaks.
Always says pretty much the same thing

To me, anyway…

“I love you, I’m your Father. You’re my child.”

Always the same, always the same. That’s what he always says to me. The little voice of unconditional love.

He calls me ‘Man of God – then he says, ‘I’m your Father, I love you so much. You’re mine.”

It’s all I need to hear. I expect to hear it in eternity.

Thanks, Daddy.

Published in: on November 2, 2009 at 12:04 am Comments (3)
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When obedience gets annoying

I wrote a blog post about Catalyst earlier, I thought I made a fair point.

Then when I went to bed and God spoke to me about it, and told me it didn’t pass the THINK test (is it True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, Kind).

I told him I thought it was okay.

Ever tried telling God he’s wrong?

So here I am tired, and deleting it. But feeling better.

And looking forward to bed.

Published in: on October 9, 2009 at 3:32 am Leave a Comment

Book Reviewing – doing what I love, for free

Just been accepted by Thomas Nelson publishers as a review blogger and got a free book to look at.

I read a previous one by the author some years back so I’m looking forward to reading and reviewing it!
I review for Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers

Published in: on September 8, 2009 at 5:45 pm Leave a Comment

One thing leads to another

Ahab “considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam”

So what? Probably doesn’t mean much to you?

Last night we started a sermon series looking at the life of the fiery prophet Elijah (You can download talks from Ivy Manchester on itunes or from our website).

I said that in order to understand him you have to understand the culture and time he was living in (and to understand yourself you have know that too). Often we live unaware of our context – like a fish doesn’t know it’s wet!

Elijah lived in a very dark place, spiritually. It had been the jewel of God’s plan, the nation of Israel – intended to shine brightly for all nations, but for years now the lights were all going out. King Ahab was despicably evil, and his wife Jezebel made him look like a softy.

His story links back to Jeroboam, seven kings back, 58 years beforehand. Jeroboam who’d served Solomon refused to serve his son, and set himself up as king over ‘the ten tribes’ (The first North/ South divide?). Fearful that the people he now ruled might go to the temple in Jerusalem to worship, and to protect his position, Jeroboam set up ‘alternative worship.’ Not the kind where everyone sniffs incense, walks in a labyrinth and meditates on Kum By Yah over and over, but the kind that involved worshipping baby cows made of gold.

Anyone looking at their Bible would have known that worship of a golden calf wasn’t going to go down well with the real God. But he wasn’t bothered about that book. He wanted to do what was popular, what pleased the crowds, what kept them all coming. That’s what mattered most to Jeroboam, building his own kingdom.

He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.

He didn’t deny the reality of God, but in order to please the people, he mixed the worship of God with elements of popular paganism of his day. After all, it’s all the same God really… whatever works for you…

He made up a religion of convenience that suited his lifestyle. Under Jeroboam anyone could be a priest – it didn’t matter what God’s word says. As long as their hearts are right. And worship – anyone can worship, whenever and however they want – as long as they’re sincere… it doesn’t matter what God’s word or his prophets said. Because God’s really like a big cuddly baby cow who’s just there to provide for us and help us, and he never requires anything from us…

There’s a word for this. APOSTASY. From two Greek words that mean ‘Stand apart.’ He stood apart from what God had said, made his own way. And the nation followed. There are consequences of bad leadership, in a family, in business and in a nation.

His policy was in place for all the kings of Israel who followed him for generations! Jeroboam ends up being known as ‘the man who led Israel to sin.’

Principle? One thing leads to another. By the time of Ahab worship was by cultic sex with prostitutes, and child sacrifice.A downward spiral.

There were some good Kings in Judah, but not in Israel. And when I say bad leadership or good – what do i mean? Well the way the Bible defines good is this, time and again, the assesment boils down to whether they followed the Word of God, or made their own way apart from him.

For example, in the kingdom of Judah – King Asa “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in his ways.” That’s what caused the nation to prosper.

But in Israel it just goes from bad to worse and the lights keep getting put out one by one until you get to a guy called King Omri (1 Kings 16:25) – the verdict? The worst yet!

Until his son, Ahab comes along – he will only listen to prophets who tell him what he wants to hear, and he considers the sins of his ancestor Jeroboam to be trivial.

When things occur in our generation that previous generations would have been appalled at, watch out!

Warning__Morals_are_lower_than_they_appear-93qiue-s

If you’re a Brit – you might remember Mary Whitehouse?

When I was a teenager she was lampooned and became a byword for out of touch prudishness, but she was an Elijah for her day; I wonder what she would think of the sins that are nowadays considered trivial in our land? The effect that has on children?

Ahab worshipped Baal, the god of sex and convenience and money – and the children were sacrificed to him. Who is responsible for the state of our nation’s morality today? We are. The people who allow downward spirals to drift further down without raising an objection or even an eyebrow. The church has too often stood by rather than stood up to be counted, because the spirit of the age permits no tolerance of anyone who questions its edicts.

The spiritual darkness deepens and becomes tangible from one generation to another – until the Lord God puts the lights on. So Elijah (a person like us) stood before the king to declare, “The LORD lives – before Him I stand!” may the Elijahs rise again!

Published in: on September 7, 2009 at 12:23 pm Comments (1)
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A way in the desert

There are a lot of desert experiences, in life and in the Bible. Jesus himself went through it. In fact Mark’s gospel says the Holy Spirit ‘threw’ him there!

It’s natural for us to complain about being in the desert. It’s a bit of a Christian catchphrase – when you want to moan about God, but sound holy about doing it. “I’m going through a bit of a desert experience at the moment.”

What do you do in the desert? There’s no map (you could try a piece of sandpaper I suppose). You don’t know where you’re going, how you got there or when you’re getting out. Can I make a couple of suggestions?

1) Listen to God.
You’re in that season for a reason. It’s a test – but you’ll be blessed! God wants to teach you something – are you learning the lesson? The desert is where he breaks us of self sufficiency, or the need for self promotion. The desert is the place he teaches discipline and dependence on him. But our God makes a way in the desert! There is a voice in the desert! It’s calling out, “Prepare the way of the Lord!” The Lord can still make a way!
desertflower

2) Get thirsty.
The desert is where we get serious, we got solitude and we get silent before God. Here there is no ready source of any substance or distraction to slake our thirst. We realise here we don’t need more stuff, more company, more money, more of anything that doesn’t satisfy. We just need more of Jesus Christ , who cries out “If anyone thirsts – let him come to me and drink!”

Published in: on August 12, 2009 at 8:04 am Comments (2)
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A story I really don’t like

Matthew 25:24-30
Then the man who had received the one talent came. “Master,” he said, “I knew you were a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.”

His master replied, “You wicked, lazy servant. So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

“Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

I have to tell you – I don’t like that story!

If I was telling that story, I would have done it differently. I might even dare say – BETTER!

Here’s how:

If I was telling the story, every one of the three blokes in it (read the full story in your Bible if you don’t know it) would have got the same amount to start with. What’s this five, two, one thing? How unfair it that? After all, like you, I’d like to believe God’s an equal opportunity employer! But that’s not how Jesus tells the story. And I have to concede he knows what he’s actually talking about…

One gets five talents; one gets two and one gets one. Doesn’t seem fair does it?

But even if the story had to be that way, then what do you know what else I would have done differently than Jesus did? I’d change who would have succeeded, wouldn’t you?

It’d be a heroic story about the one talent guy; the underdog. I shout for the underdogs. (It’s a British thing).

I would have had the one-talent bloke do best! Heroicly, against the odds, somehow the bury and tremble plan WORKS!

And can you guess who would have really blown it? Who’d be the loser? The smart-alec five-talent guy – he’d have invested in the wrong stock and then bang- it would have been all over for him quicker than you can say, “Credit Crunch!”

But again, annoyingly, frustratingly, maddeningly – that’s not how the story gets told. While I’m opening my soul up here, I don’t much care for the master in this story. Why? Well for one thing he doesn’t seem to leave any clear instructions as to what to do!

He gives them a chance – but he doesn’t really tell them what to do with what they have. He leaves it all up to them! Like He expects them to use their imaginations with his stuff! Then when he eventually comes back, because one of them didn’t do what he thought they should do, the one-talent guy gets SLATED!

In fact (what would the union say about this?) this master is hard enough that he takes the one talent from the one guy, and gives it to the guy with the most. No way is that fair!

Then – he throws him out! He chucks him out and the description of where he ends up is basically – hell. Needless to say, I don’t like that bit either.

The more I read it, the less I find I like in this story!
But here is my problem. It is not my story to tell. Who’s story is it?

It’s YOUR story!

It’s the story Jesus tells, and it’s about US. It’s my story too. Because God has entrusted you with some things. You’re here as managing servants, stewards. Talents, treasures and time. We are supposed to act not as OWNERS but as STEWARDS. To act creatively on his behalf, in his interests, with whatever he’s given us on trust.

This story reminds me that some day – when history’s journey is over, we’re all going to stand before God and give an account for what we have done with what we have had. And we’ll all remember this story then.

So, have you heard the story?

The story is for me and for you. It’s ABOUT you and me. However many talents you got. Maybe you’re good with money, or good with words, or good with your hands… you HAVE talents! That’s NOT in question. The question is What have you done with them? Have you trusted God enough to use what he’s given you?
By the way, this isn’t an issue about, “Do we get to work our way to heaven?” That has already been secured for us in a relationship with Jesus Christ. If you have accepted God’s grace in your life, if you have come to the cross, and asked Jesus Christ to lead your life and forgive your sins, then some day when you die you will be with God in heaven. That is a promise he has given you.

That’s not the issue of this story. This story says there’ll SOON be a day when we (and everyone who has ever lived) will stand before the only God — and you will give an account – for your stewardship of life. What we did with our moments on his behalf, how we used our abilities on his behalf, what I did with my money on his behalf. Did I invest my life like the owner would have wanted it invested? Or did I just use it all on me… Was I grateful enough, did I trust him enough, to make a difference in the world around me and in other people’s forevers – with what I was given? Because I’m not an owner, I’m a steward.
And isn’t it amazing to remember now that the one judged most sternly is (surprise, surprise) not one who did something wild, wacky or wasteful- but the one who, out of fear, did nothing.

What would you do for God — if you were not afraid?

What would you do for God with your life — if you weren’t afraid?

I read this yesterday: “Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop…”

Hmmmm… Fear of failure. Afraid of what others think. Afraid of success. Afraid of whatever we’re afraid of.

What holds you back and keeps you digging holes to bury yourself in?

digging

I don’t like the story because it’s MY story about what I have to choose to do.

The story is about me. It asks the question, “Am I acting on behalf of the owner?” Do I know him well enough to know he loves me enough to do more than I can ever ask or imagine with what I give him.

I believe the story is about you. It’s your story.

If you don’t like the story, I know why.

What are you going to do – to give it a happy ending?

Published in: on August 3, 2009 at 8:08 pm Comments (3)
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Manchester Firsts.

Twelve24

Just reading the 4 page pull out in todays Manchester Evening News about the Urban Heroes awards ceremony we attended to celebrate the great work of the Message Trust got me feeling great about the city and hopeful for a fantastic future for people like Steph the overall winner and many more.

So here’s a quiz.

How many of these statements are true about the city I love to live in?

Vegetarianism was founded in Manchester

Suffragettes were founded in Manchester

The TUC was started in Manchester

The First Law of Thermodynamics was discovered in Manchester

The world’s first Industrial Estate was built in Manchester

The first computer was built in Manchester

The first canal was made in Manchester

The first Railway was in Manchester

Rolls Royce started in Manchester

The first submarine was made in Manchester

The first British aeroplane was designed and flown in Manchester

The first Transatlantic flight was from Manchester, by Mancunians

The first permanent professional orchestra was in Manchester

Top of the Pops started in Manchester

Roget’s Thesaurus started in Manchester (bonus point – what’s another word for Thesaurus?)

The first football league was set up in Manchester

The first gas supply was in Manchester

The first municipal parks were in Manchester

The first reservoirs were in Manchester

The first free public library was in Manchester

The first British matador was from Manchester (what a lot of bull!)

The first UFO landing pad is in Manchester

Answer? All of them (and many more) are true.

Innovation is in the water!

Published in: on July 8, 2009 at 8:37 am Leave a Comment
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Daniel Fast : Consistency Counts

Guess who the most consistent golfer is? That’s right – the Tiger. Take a look at the perfect swing right here -

Consistency counts – but how do we achieve it?

On day 2 of the Daniel fast and a couple of people have been in touch to ask whether chocolate counts as a vegetable. Someone suggested a chocolate orange was okay! I have managed to lay off tea and just go with hot water instead – and I love my tea! But it feels great to say no to something good, to say yes to Someone better.

I noted yesterday how from being a young lad, Daniel had a great love for God, and as long as he stayed intimately close to God, Daniel was given the wisdom he needed to be  consistently wise. And it all comes down to our practices in the end. Your practices will make you, or break you.

Tiger Woods started when he was 18 months old and uses what he calls the “over-kill method” when practicing. And it’s not just any practice. He repeats perfect swings until he burns them into his mind and body. Then, even under the most intense tournament pressure, those swings hold up. That’s how consistency is built, one practice at a time. The secret of success is in your PRACTICES. What you do in practice, you’ll do under pressure. And I’m not just talking about sport am I?

We’ll look at some of the key practices Daniel kept up, that helped him be consistently wise.

1) Go for God.

Daniel didn’t always have it easy. But whatever he faced, Daniel always kept in mind the size of his God, not the size of the problem. At one point he stood before the emperor – the most powerful man in the world at the time – but because he was used to being in the presence of God, he wasn’t freaked about that. He said to the King, “My God holds your breath in his hands, and owns all your ways…”

His friends were just the same. When the king wanted to make them bow down like everyone else in Chapter 3 they looked at the massive gold statue he’d made, and said, “Sorry your majesty, but our God’s a lot bigger than that.”

The Bible (Ps 110) says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” That doesn’t mean we have to be scared of God, if we know Him as Father. It means we have to have a right perspective. That God’s always Sovereign, in charge, all powerful, holy and good – he’s God – and we’re not.

I love Daniel 10. The young boy has become the old man by now, he has been praying and fasting – that’s his practice - and he’s seen visions of angels, but it’s like that’s not enough for him. Daniel starts off praying for understanding – he wants to understand the visions – not just have them, and he always wants to see and connect with God. it’s not clear whether he gets angels here or possibly a touch from the Lord of hosts…

one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!”

When you pray, when you worship – do you go for GOD?! Surely we want to encounter GOD!? We don’t just want answers – we want the One who is the Answer. We want His face not just his hand. We don’t just pray to meditate and think things through ourselves . Of course we want understanding and revelation and strength and wisdom and answered prayer– but not for their own sake!

We want GOD! Daniel CONNECTED to GOD! God who is the source of revelation about what had happened to him, and what was happening to him, and what would happen.

Don’t just pray through a list – even a good and worthy list – go for God’s face!

Whatever you’re going through – practice this – keep the size and the love and the POWER of God in mind. Whoever rules the nations’ governments, in Babylon or Britain – God’s on his throne! And if he appeared here so we got just a GLIMPSE of his majesty and awesome glory, we’d be trembling too! But then he’d touch you, and tell you – “You are deeply loved!”

Published in: on June 9, 2009 at 11:22 am Comments (2)
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Daniel Fast day one: Entering the King’s service!

We’re going through a series on Bible heroes at the moment on Sundays. Yesterday’s focus was on Daniel. If we were going to look for longevity in consistent wisdom in the Bible, I’d probably want to make a case for Daniel. Lots of other guys started out well and finished badly. Or they had a very chequered past and came through at the end. But Daniel had the kind of testimony sometimes people underplay – they feel they have to leave the church maybe and get into drugs or something so they come back having made good, then they’ll really have a testimony. I often counsel teens in church – YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THAT! You can have a story that says, “God has been faithful to me all my life, and he’s helped me live faithfully too.” That is a powerful story!

He was just a human being like us, but Daniel’s exemplary character leave him as one of very few people in the Bible who gets 5 stars all the way through his life, one of a very small number we read nothing negative about.  Over more than 70 years he lived the life God wanted him to and he left a legacy stretching over the reign of 3 kings in two of the greatest empires of ancient history. What was it that made him wise? Consistently wise? So he stands above the rest?

When the Babylonians invaded and took over Israel, Daniel was one of just a few young guys carried off back to Babylon to go through a kind of brainwashing (like The Manchurian Candidate if you ever saw the film?), taken to a foreign country to become part of that new culture, then when other Jews were brought in successive waves over the years the job of Daniel and co would be to help them become not good Jews, but good Babylonian citizens.

Download the talk from our church website if it helps, but one of the key points I highlighted as we read Daniel’s story was that Daniel and his friends – even though they were young, had a great love for God, lived out their faith publicly, and as long as he stayed intimately close to God, Daniel was blessed with skills and favour and courage and wisdom. The culture changed their names – replaced their Hebrew names and gave them all names that reflected Babylonian gods: Daniel became Belteshazzar, and his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah became – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

We know how Daniel ended up – prime minister, prophet, powerful and influential beyond belief. But remember how Daniel got started. A captive. A stranger in a foreign land. Powerless. His homeland was in ruins, he’d have to spend the whole of his life in exile from it. The king says, “You have to have your name changed, speak our language, learn our ways. Eat what we tell you. Forget what your god told you to do. Drink what we tell you. Forget what your God said to do… How do you handle that?

There were some things in the culture they ended up going along with – but other things they wouldn’t stand for (or bow down to!). They didn’t just assimilate. They could have given way to self pity having lost everything – parents, homeland, heritage, but when they met together, this little group, they’d tell each other – ‘Don’t forget who you really are! Don’t forget who the real God is! They can change our names – but they’ll never change our hearts.’

It all started with a decision Daniel made. When the prevailing culture tried to fill his plate, he resolved to do without – in order to do what God wanted him to do.

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… “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.”

At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.

The King James version says they looked ‘fatter’ than the rest – but I didn’t play that one up too much! I’m thrilled that many people stood to say they’ll join us in this ten day fast too, really going for God, going public with our faith, going together with others and going against the flow of our culture – praying each day for our city while fasting from rich food – eating fruit, vegetables and water. Today is day one!

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Daniel’s wisdom in the big, public arena, came from the small, disciplined, victories won in private. Jesus said he expected his disciples to fast (he said, ‘When- not ‘if’ you fast.) Fasting is a private discipline that if you practice it you’ll win public victories. What’s your experience of fasting been? Daniel fasting is a great way to start.

Published in: on June 8, 2009 at 2:50 pm Comments (1)
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