Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons Podcast, where you can listen to audio from our most
recent sermons and more.
Thanks for listening, and be sure to add this show to your library if you'd like to automatically
receive new episodes each week.
Good morning.
If you've got your Bible, and I hope you do, I want to invite you to join us in Daniel
chapter 6.
I want to echo what Pastor Dave said about our first-time guests.
We're so glad that you're here, and at the end of the service, if you wouldn't mind stopping
back by here to the table to my left, the Connect table, my wife and I would be back there.
We would love to meet you, be able to answer any questions that you have about our church,
or just simply be able to say thank you for worshiping with us.
Also, we do have some Bibles that are in the back at that Connect table.
And so if you do not have a copy of God's Word, whether you're a visitor, member, you've
been visiting for a while, wherever you find yourself here, we want to encourage you to
stop back by there, grab one of those as well.
Also, at the end of the service, the first song was getting going, and like, I was standing
there, I was like, I feel like I'm missing something.
And so I look back, and I had my Bible.
I look back.
I had my iPad with my notes in it.
I'm like, what am I doing?
I realized I did not have my Lord's Supper elements.
So I scooted back there and grabbed those.
We will be taking the Lord's Supper together at the end of the service.
And so if you did not grab those, and you're a follower of Jesus Christ, and you would like
to partake in that with us today, we want to encourage you to go back there before the
end of the service and do so.
You can do right now.
I promise it's not going to bother me in the slightest.
We do want to celebrate.
We got the baptistry out next service during our Hispanic service.
Pastor Juan will be baptizing several from their congregation that have come forth as followers
of Jesus Christ.
And so we will pray for them in just a moment as they prepare for that, and we can celebrate
that with them.
I do want to remind you, so let me tell you kind of how, like, a little bit of how we're
structured and how we're staffed.
Let me kind of let you in on the inside of how things happen.
So when we're in a meeting, all right, I get to be the guy that has, like, a lot of
ideas, and I get to throw things out during our staff meetings, and no one typically says
no.
They're just like, okay, okay.
Everybody brings great input.
Everybody brings great insight.
But for a lot of my ideas, the two people who then get put or given the burden of the
kind of wrestling with those is Dave and Joel Van Ham, all right?
Dave is given the burden of the logistics.
Joel Van Ham is given the burden of the finances.
And sometimes my ideas create complications in logistics and finances.
So every day when I stand up here and talk about how many more people I want you to invite
to this, it drives them a little bit in the panic mode and then step into faith for the
logistics and the finances.
All right.
So we need lots of candy.
We're going to buy lots of hot dogs.
We're going to have a lot of fun.
The Dunkin' booth is going to be insane.
All right.
And so you want to come out, you want to be there, want to remind everybody this is a
church-wide event, right?
We want everyone from the youngest of the young to the most life-experienced, all gathered
outside in the parking lot, having a great time.
We want you to invite.
I've walked into several restaurants in Lexington and seen stacks of these like set out there
at the cash register.
It brings joy to my heart and a little bit of panic for Dave and a little bit of panic
for Joel.
All right, so grab these, take them, pass them out.
Oh man, we can't wait to see.
This is not about how many people we can get to an event.
This is not what this is.
That's not who we are.
That's not our heartbeat.
This is an opportunity for us to be able to connect with people who might not know who
Jesus Christ is and be able to share about the gospel of Jesus Christ with them.
And so please, please, please take some invites and make sure that we're doing these.
Also, we do have our studies are coming up starting next week.
Would love for you to be a part of those.
Would love for you to get those, to get connected in one.
We got one, two, three, four, five, six that are being offered.
All right.
So just real quick explanation.
Tim Scholl is going to be leading one.
That's continuing the Danville, Danville, Daniel conversation.
All right.
So what I talk about this Sunday, they'll talk about and discuss next Sunday.
So you want to be a part of that.
Daniel and Leslie Howard are going to be doing one.
We're talking about parenting with godly principles.
Now I'm not giving the titles.
I'm just kind of giving you a quick explanation of what these are.
Parenting with godly principles.
Mike C is going to be leading one, impacting those around you with the gospel through hospitality
and what that means and what that looks like.
And if you don't know Mike C, I'm just going to tell you, I don't know a more qualified individual
to talk about welcoming and hospitality than Mike C.
And so you'll want to be there for that.
Kareem Cobb is going to be talking about eliminating distractions so that you can find focus on the
purpose that God has for you.
Again, Kareem's one of the, we've been blessed with a wonderful Bible teacher in our congregation.
She'll want to be there with that for her.
Russell Roberts will be doing a study in Proverbs and all the richness of the wisdom that is
in Proverbs.
So you can come and be a part of that.
And then I was talking to Chris and Leanne Roberts and I'm leading one and the goal with
like talking through them and kind of seeing this is to try to not confuse anyone.
All right.
So we're going to be looking at different historical views on end times prophecy.
Right.
That either excited you or just put you to sleep with the end times prophecy.
Chris asked, he's like, so you're going to answer all the questions.
You've got it all figured out.
I was like, absolutely not.
Right.
We don't have that, but we do want to see what the Bible says on end times and what we can
look to and what we can, what we can understand and what we can put our hope in in Christ on
that.
So we want you to come and be a part.
So let me read to you this morning, Daniel 6.
I'm starting in verse 26 and read through 27 before we go to the Lord in prayer.
It says, I make a decree that in all my royal dominion, people are to tremble in fear before
the God of Daniel for he is the living God enduring forever.
His kingdom shall never be destroyed and his, and his dominion shall be to the end.
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.
Would you pray with me?
God, we come to you this morning, Lord, thanking you for all that you have done and Lord, all
that you are doing.
God, I thank you for Miss Jackie as she came during our nine o'clock time, Lord, and faithfully
shared her story about her savior and how you've saved her, Lord, and how you're using her for
for your name and your renown.
God, I thank you for Pastor Juan and his ministry and the men and women who come forth today
professing faith in Christ as their Lord and Savior and obedience through baptism.
God, we pray that you will continue to grow them and strengthen them, Lord, as they walk with you.
God, be with us today as we study your word.
Be with us today as we talk about Daniel, but Lord, as we look to you.
May we not just see Daniel, but may we see the God of Daniel.
And we ask all these things in Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
A little confession as we get into this.
This morning when I got here, I'd already sent my notes in and had written out my message
and my outline of what we would do and began to sit down this morning and just pray through
and consider and go through.
And the plan was this morning that we would work completely through Daniel chapter six this
morning.
And as I'm kind of going back over, like polishing up some things, you know, looking and diving in a
little bit more into my notes, God, as he always is faithful to do when you study this word.
So he's working on me, right?
Like this is not like, hey, God, give me a word for everybody else.
Like the approach to God's word is like, God, give me a word for me.
Give me a word for me.
Like God, work and move in my heart and my life so that we can grow together, Lord, with
what you have for us.
And this morning as I was going through, God began to work and move and teach and dive in
for me.
And so we're not going to go all the way through Daniel six.
We're actually only going to go through the first four verses of Daniel six this morning.
And the impression, what God is impressing on my heart this morning is this, and it's been
something that we've talked in part about as we've gone through this.
But as we look at the story of Daniel, right?
It's a story of a man who, he's not a pastor.
He's not a vocational missionary.
He's not a leader of a church.
He's a government worker.
Not only is he a government worker, but we see other government workers in scripture, like
King David as a government worker, as the king, but Daniel is not in that same context.
It's not just that Daniel is in a secular government, but Daniel is in a pagan, a pagan government.
He's in a government that takes life as they please.
He's in a government that celebrates and orchestrates horrific sexual acts.
He's in the very depth of working in this pagan, ungodly government, and he doesn't do so in an isolation where he's just like, I've got to do this, and man, I'm going to show up and do my nine to five.
And when I go home, I'm not going to be a part of that anymore.
He shows up, and in spite of all that could happen and take place to him, in spite that it could cost him his finances, his future, or even his life,
he stands firm.
He stands firm in who he is.
And in what we've seen in scripture, is he's not afraid to say it.
And what we've seen, and if you haven't been with us, do yourself the favor and go and read Daniel 1 through 5.
And you'll see all of this that has been happening, transpiring in his life.
But as we looked at, like in the testimony of Nebuchadnezzar, in the testimony that we'll see later, or that we saw later last week,
is that it's not even just in the moment he speaks that we're revealed in scripture,
but we find even the parts of his life that scripture doesn't cover,
because we saw five chapters over the span of 70 years,
is Daniel is a godly leader.
He's a godly leader.
Not because his vocation requires it.
Not because it's popular.
Not even because people seek it out from him, even though sometimes they do.
It's because of who he is.
And when I look out into our world,
when I look out into the culture that we have,
that we live in,
sometimes I think like as
like things that get recorded sometimes that people could maybe take out of context,
our solution a lot of times,
my fear is this,
is our solution is
more churches, more churches, more churches, more churches, more churches.
Now let me explain.
My fear is that we think
what the solution that this world needs
is more organizations.
And I don't think that's the solution.
I think the solution,
I know the solution
is Jesus.
And I believe
wholeheartedly
that
what is going to go
and help connect
the brokenness
in our world
to Jesus
is not hoping that
an organization will do it.
but is that
godly
men
and women
whether you're a pastor,
a teacher,
a construction worker,
a lawyer,
a nurse,
a stay-at-home mom,
regardless of what you do
for the majority of your day,
the impact that you will have
is as a godly
man
and woman
and woman of God.
Like, the Bible
is written
to all of us
about this is who we are to be.
And this is who we are to follow.
And as we follow Christ,
this is what he does
and this is who we become.
And so I love the story
of Daniel
and I hope
you have too.
And I actually believe
that the story
of Daniel
is more relatable
to you
than it even is to me.
because every day
I get to come
and work
and be a part
of one of those
wonderful organizations.
Right?
But you,
you,
you go to the government buildings.
You go to the schools.
You go to the businesses.
You go to the places
and here's
what culture
wants to do.
Culture
wants
to shut
you
up.
But you've got a message.
You're a person of hope.
And what we're finding
from Daniel
is that it's not easy
and it,
and it may,
it may
cost you.
It may.
But it's worth it.
It's worth it.
So let me read
and kind of
explain a little bit.
We won't get
to the lion's den today.
We'll get there.
We'll get there next week.
First four verses.
It pleased
Darius
to set over
the kingdom
120
satraps
to be throughout
the whole kingdom.
And over
them
three
high officials
of whom
Daniel
was one
to whom
these satraps
would,
should give
account
so that
the king
might suffer
no loss.
verse three.
Then
this Daniel
became
distinguished
above all
the other
high officials
and satraps
sought to
because
an excellent
spirit
was in him
and the king
planned to set
him over
the whole
kingdom.
Then,
verse four,
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
was found
in him.
So what's
happened
and what's
taken place?
The Medes
and the
Persians,
they've
overthrown
the Babylonians.
What we saw,
Belshazzar
was taken,
chapter five,
verse 30
tells us,
and killed
as the
last of
the Babylonian
rulers
and Darius
the Mede
receives the
kingdom
and this is
where we
find ourselves.
This is what
God said
would happen
in Nebuchadnezzar's
dream that
Daniel interpreted
in Daniel
chapter two.
We see the
fall
of the
empires
and this is
important to
note
going all the
way back to
Daniel one
as Judah
has been
taken by the
Babylonians
and then going
to Daniel two
of the fall
of the empires.
All of this
is happening
in the very
hand of God.
So it's not
that it's
through
military strength
and might
God saying
I'm doing this
I'm working
in this
this is me
and Daniel's
the man
for the job
Daniel one
he's 15
he's somewhere
around
85
years
old
when we
see this
happening
and taking
place.
So Darius
comes in
he comes
and he
establishes
his
form
of government.
Now
you and I
in the
United States
we're
we're a little
used to
this
every
four to
eight years
right
depending if
a president
gets reelected
or not
we see
changes
that happen
and take
place
in a federal
level.
Sometimes
you may
like those
changes
sometimes
you may
not like
those changes
your opinion
is asked
when you vote
and then
after that
it's kind
of over
with
right
but for
the time
of people
who live
in empires
this is not
what they would
see as the
norm.
You've got a
Babylonian
culture
and a
Babylonian
leadership
strategy
and in
comes
Darius
with his
completely
different
culture
completely
different
people
from a
completely
different
land
and he
comes in
and they
overthrow
and he's
going to
now
establish
his form
of government.
Well
imagine this
imagine if
you've got
a
Republican
president
and this
Republican
president
picks for
himself
a
Republican
vice
president
and then
the next
election
the Democrat
wins
and the
Democrat
now I know
this is not
how our
government
works so
don't overly
pick me
apart on
this
my last
government
class was
in seventh
grade but
I do
know
and this
Democrat
president
says
you know
what
I really
like all
the things
you're doing
I really
don't disagree
with them
at all
in fact
there's
areas that
I'm going
to change
but you
know what
you're
second in
charge
let me
keep
them
let me
keep
them
now
take out
political
parties
I'm just
imagining
whatever side
that lands
on their
people aren't
going to
like it
Darius
comes in
in his
government
and he's
establishing
all that
will happen
and all
that it
will be
and it's
new leaders
are coming
things are
being divided
differently
things are
going to be
done
differently
but there's
Daniel
and Daniel
we're going
to keep
and not only
are we going
to keep
Daniel
we're not
going to
keep Daniel
as a
consultant
hey tell us
how things
were done
tell us
what worked
what didn't
work
Daniel
now for
the second
time as
an outsider
this is what
happened with
Nebuchadnezzar
it's going to
be what
happens with
Daniel
is
elevated
he's elevated
to the highest
level
of leadership
answering
only
to the
king
why
how can
this
slave
like you
realize
like Daniel
won
that's who
he was
his people
were
overtaken
and he
wasn't given
a choice
he was
taken
he was
taken
by the
Babylonians
this
boy
who's
become
an elderly
man
is
taken
as a
slave
elevated
in a
pagan
government
system
under
Nebuchadnezzar
now
elevated
again
in
another
pagan
governmental
system
how does
this
happen
how does
this
happen
you
have
verse
three
verse
three
tells us
that
it
happens
about
midway
through
because
what
Darius
had
seen
was
an
excellent
spirit
that
was
in
him
now
this
is
the
same
thing
that
Nebuchadnezzar
saw
not
godly
men
looking
for
godly
characteristics
not
godly
men
on their
knees
in
prayer
and
fasting
desiring
what
God
is
going
to
do
and
what
they
needed
to
do
but
that
pagan
governmental
workers
kings
those
who
lived
to
kill
saw
in
Daniel
something
that was
different
it
wasn't
his
thoughts
on
economics
it
wasn't
Daniel's
craftiness
in
war
it
wasn't
Daniel's
political
acumen
they
saw
even
through
their
lostness
that
Daniel
was
different
in
his
spirit
in
him
and
so
this
week
and
next
week
we're
going
to
look
at
these
pieces
for
Daniel
in
this
encounter
but
this
morning
what
I
want
to
talk
to
you
about
is
having
a
godly
reputation
is
having
a
godly
reputation
somewhere
I've
said it
I know
a thousand
times
I know
a thousand
times
if not
more
and I'm
sure
you have
as well
we've
made
statements
centered
around
that
I
don't
care
what
people
think
about
me
I'm
just
going
to
be
faithful
to
the
Lord
and
here's
what
I
think
maybe
you
think
I
don't
want
to
judge
your
heart
but
here's
what
I
think
that
I'm
saying
oftentimes
when I
make
that
statement
I'm
hiding
it
under
a
facade
of
Pharisee
that's
what
I'm
doing
that's
what
I'm
doing
what
I'm
saying
is
I'm
going
to
be
obedient
and
they're
going
to
see
my
obedience
and
I
don't
care
if
I
got
to
be
a
jerk
about
it
and
I
don't
care
if
they
like
me
or
they
don't
like
me
it's
just
going
to
be
my
obedience
to
God
but
what
we
see
here
from
Daniel
is
that
you
can
have
a
godly
reputation
even
amongst
lost
people
and
that
we
should
be
working
toward
that
like
folks
isn't
that
what
Jesus
did
it
I
mean
like
the crowd
that was
running
to
Jesus
that
wanted
to
hang
out
with
Jesus
that
wanted
to
hear
more
about
Jesus
were
not
the
religious
elites
like
the
main
descriptions
of those
around
Jesus
that
we
see
are
the
outcasts
the
moral
failures
and
they're
drawn
to
him
he
speaks
truth
in a
way
that
they
hear
and
they
want
more
of
him
they
want
more
of
what
he
has
and
so
what
I
want
us
to
see
is
that
like
having
a
godly
reputation
not
only
in
the
church
is
important
but
having
a
godly
reputation
from
people
outside
the
church
is
important
for
the
growth
of
the
kingdom
it's
not
just
what
we
are
in
here
it's
who
we
are
out
there
at
the
ball
field
at
the
birthday
party
at
the
office
in
spite
of
what
it
may
cost
to
be
who
we
are
so
what
does
it
look
like
to
have
a
godly
reputation
well
a couple
things
that I
think
we
can
draw
from
and
learn
here
from
Daniel
in
the
first
is
that
we
must
have
a
godly
heart
we
must
have
a
godly
heart
Daniel
here's
what
Daniel
has
done
Daniel
has
brought
his
faith
into
every
aspect
of
his
life
from
the
counsel
that
he
gives
the
king
in
his
government
job
to
who
he
is
with
his
friends
right
like
we
saw
that
in
Daniel
chapter
2
or
Daniel
3
with
Shadrach
Meshach
and
Abednego
hey
our
life
could
be
on
the
line
let's
pray
and
they're
like
yep
cool
that's
what
we're
gonna
do
right
this
is
what
we
see
we
see
the
godly
counsel
that
he
gives
now
somewhere
along
the line
like
we
have
kind
of
taken
our
world
and
said
well
there's
my
professional
world
and then
there's
my
profession
of
faith
world
love
and
what
we
have
to
be
is
a
people
that
says
there
is
no
separate
between
those
two
that
when
I
go
where
I'm
at
whether
it's
for
professional
whether
it's
for
fun
or
whether
it's
my
profession
of
faith
in
my
congregation
of
fellow
believers
that
we
are
men
and
women
of
God
and
what
I
do
and
what
I
say
and
who
I
am
remains
consistent
within
those
you
know
in
our
world
in
our
context
in
our
culture
like
this
is
where
this
has
kind
of
bled
in
and
happened
we've
talked
about
the
separation
of
church
and
state
and
somewhere
along
the
line
a
misunderstanding
of
historical
U.S.
separation
of
church
and
state
has
impacted
the
average
Christian
American's
heart
and
what
has
become
is
the
separation
of
church
state
and
everything
else
in
our
life
which
by
the
way
when
we
look
at
how
our
government
is
set
and
we
understand
the
history
of
what
our
government
came
from
in
England
the
goal
of the
separation
of
the
church
and
state
was
never
that
the
church
would
not
be
a
part
of
the
state
and
government
working
that's
what we
want
we want
men
and
women
of
faith
in
the
state
but it
was
to
keep
the
state
out
of
the
church
so that
Washington
doesn't
tell
Willow Ridge
what to
do
but that
godly
men
and
women
go
and
they
work
in
government
through
their
faith
but we've
seen
we've
seen
where we've
separated
and what we
want to be
is the people
that infiltrate
that go to
that passionately
pursue
all areas
for the
name
and the
work
of
God
so what
does that
look like
what
does this
to have
a godly
reputation
what does
it mean
to have
a godly
heart
well
the first
is to
be a
person
of
Christ
like
wisdom
of
Christ
like
wisdom
look at
James
I was
on the
screen
James
3
17
but
the
wisdom
from
above
is
first
pure
than
peaceable
gentle
open
reason
full
of
mercy
and
good
fruits
impartial
and
sincere
and
sincere
I
believe
I
believe
the
reason
why
in a
lot
of
these
instances
the
king
kept
Daniel
around
was
because
Daniel
was a
wise
man
but
his
wisdom
was not
the
wisdom
of the
world
his
wisdom
was
the
wisdom
of
God
in
every
encounter
that
we've
seen
in
scripture
when
it's
an
opportunity
for
Daniel
to
get
political
what
Daniel
does
is
Daniel
gets
biblical
Daniel
gets
biblical
so
would
you
and
I
be
willing
to
be
people
of
godly
reputation
because
what
comes
from
us
is
Christ
like
wisdom
biblical
wisdom
that
this
is
what
comes
from
us
and
James
here
gives
us
this
piece
of
what
this
should
look
like
he
says
that
they're
pure
that
they're
pure
that
they're
of
god
but
the
wisdom
but
the
wisdom
from
above
is
first
pure
it's
not
secular
it's
not
selfish
it's
not
sinful
it's
of
god
then
what
we
see
is
it's
peaceable
this
word
peaceable
what
it means
is
a
lover
of
peace
a
lover
of
peace
so
to
ask
yourself
the
question
then
is
what
comes
from
me
does
it
create
peace
or
does
it
create
chaos
is
what
comes
from
me
the
peace
of
god
or
the
dissension
of
man
it
says
that
what
should
come
from
us
is
gentle
there's
gonna be
a couple
places
that we
look at
this
here
in just
a minute
as well
and try
to understand
this
but this
word
for
gentle
just
simply
means
considerate
of
others
considerate
of
others
like
imagine
that
the
wisdom
that you
give
the
person
that you
are
the
reflection
of your
heart
is you're
simply
considerate
of
others
that
you're
empathetic
for what
they're
walking
through
that
you're
excited
for
them
when
you
can
be
right
that
you
are
considerate
to
others
are you
gentle
are you
open
to
reason
that
just
feels
like a
phrase
that
could
be
taken
a lot
of
different
ways
right
are
you
open
to
reason
this
phrase
open
to
reason
actually
means
submissive
a word
that we
don't
like
Ephesians
521
calls
all of
us
who
are
Christians
to
submit
to
one
another
all
of
us
open
to
reason
in
the
qualifications
that we
find
for
elders
both
in
first
timothy
and
in
titus
a
form
of
this
word
is
used
for
the
leaders
in
the
church
in
the
understanding
of
teachable
are
you
teachable
here's
what
open
to
reason
means
right
like
in
your
are
you
prideful
and
always
have
to
be
right
or
are
you
willing
to
submit
yourself
not
only
to
God
above
but
to
the
authorities
that
God
has
put
over
you
not
submitting
in
areas
of
sin
but
submitting
in
areas
of
obedience
are
you
open
to
reason
are
you
full
of
mercy
are
you
full
of
mercy
when
we
think
about
the
mercy
of
God
what
do
we
think
about
in
the
mercy
of
God
when
we
think
about
the
mercy
of
God
we
think
about
his
willingness
and
his
ability
to
forgive
and
his
willingness
and
ability
to
extend
grace
so
in
your
heart
of
who
you
are
of
what
God's
called
you
to
do
and
God's
called
you
to
be
is
this
what
marks
you
are
you
full
of
good
fruits
are
you
full
of
good
fruits
that
it
calls
us
to
you
see
forgiveness
just
isn't
an
eternal
setting
but
the
forgiveness
is
an
external
action
as
well
are
you
able
to
walk
away
are
you
able
to
let
it
go
are
you
able
to
where
people
want
to
be
around
you
and
with
you
because
the
good
things
of
God
is
not
just
what
you
talk
about
but
the
good
things
of
God
are
what
people
experience
when
they're
around
you
are
you
impartial
and
sincere
these
this
word
in
the
original
language
means
unwavering
and
carries
with it
the idea
of
without
hypocrisy
very
simply
put
are
you
who
you
say
you
are
you
who
you
say
you
are
I
hear
us
as
Christians
lots
of
times
and
rightfully
so
we
do
not
want
to
be
a
hypocrite
before
the
Lord
we
do
not
want
to
be
a
hypocrite
before
one
another
but
church
we
should
equally
not
want
to
be
a
hypocrite
in
front
of
the
lost
people
that
God
has
called
us
to
reach
with
his
truth
because
why
should
I
believe
what
you
say
if
I
can't
believe
who
you
are
a
godly
reputation
a
godly
heart
Christ
like
wisdom
but
also
when
we
see
from
God's
word
second
to
be
a
person
full
of
the
spirit
full
of
the
spirit
the
spirit
of
God
Galatians
5
22
through
23
but
the
fruit
of
the
spirit
is
love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
self
control
against
such
things
there
is
no
law
here's
what's
beautiful
about
both
of
these
passages
what
we
see
in
James
3
and
Galatians
5
what
the
world
wants
is
what
God
is
calling
us
to
be
not
self
righteous
not
know-it-all
not
argumentative
but
full
of
Christ
like
wisdom
being
people
of
truth
nowhere
does
being
a
person
on
mission
and
on
witness
to
the
lost
world
means
that
you
and
I
should
be
quiet
or
back
down
from
the
truth
of
God's
word
and
that
exact
opposite
Jesus
never
did
Daniel
doesn't
but
that
we
are
called
within
it
to
bring
in
the
sweetness
of
the
goodness
of
God
be
a
person
full
of
the
spirit
but
the
fruit
of
the
spirit
where
you
go
today
where
you
go
tomorrow
love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
self
control
against
such
things
there
is
no
law
do
not
go
out
and
bring
the
bitterness
of
the
world
in
of
gossip
and
slander
and
grudges
and
bitterness
that
often
times
the
world
consumes
us
with
be
a
person
of
love
be
a
person
of
godly
love
godly
love
is the
word
that's
used
here
in
Paul's
writing
to
the
church
at
Galatia
godly
love
that
is
unmerited
godly
love
that
is
great
godly
love
that
is
transforming
and
unchangeable
this
is
the
love
that
sent
Christ
to
die
and
this
is
the
love
that
Christ
displayed
on
the
cross
be
a
person
of
that
love
and
while
this
love
is
filled
with
emotion
it
is
not
based
on
emotion
but
this
love
is
based
on
the
character
of
the
one
who
loves
this
love
above
all
seeks
to
save
be
a
person
of
joy
be
a
person
of
joy
we
saw
it
with
Daniel
in the
midst
of
the
chaos
in the
midst
of
what's
going
on
no
it's
not
on
our
circumstances
because
joy
is
an
internal
determination
that's
not
based
on the
external
circumstances
of the
world
but it's
based
in who
we
are
in
Christ
it's
what
we
see
in
Shadrach
Meshach
and
Abednego
as they
waits
joy
is
an
internal
and
eternal
confidence
in
God
be
a
person
of
peace
be
a
person
of
peace
is
a
lot
like
joy
and
love
joy
and
love
in
the
Bible
are
not
always
limited
to
and
connected
to
an
emotion
and
the
circumstances
of the
world
peace
here
is
the
word
that
comes
from
the
peace
that
we
receive
because
of
the
work
that
Christ
did
on
the
cross
a
peace
where
sinners
are
declared
innocent
and
where
those
who
think
they
are
unlovable
find
love
you see
peace
isn't
simply
about
an
emotion
of
trying
to
be
happy
but
it's
being
a
person
who
takes
every
moment
every
opportunity
to
point
people
to
Jesus
be
a
person
of
peace
be
a
person
of
patience
I read
in one
of my
commentaries
the author
who put
it
frankly
and he
said
patience
is the
quality
of
putting
up
with
others
when
one
is
severely
tired
patience
is the
quality
of
putting
up
with
others
isn't
that
what
God
does
with
us
you
see
patience
is
putting
up
with
and
loving
and
desiring
the best
for
others
even
when
they
don't
deserve
it
and
I don't
know
about
you
but
I feel
like
that's
me
with
the
Lord
all
the
time
as
he's
kind
and
patient
to
me
you
see
being
patient
with
those
who
deserve
it
and
only
those
who
deserve
it
is
actually
working
against
the
gospel
it's
alive
Satan
and
it's
from
the
pits
of
hell
but
be
patient
with
all
as
Christ
is
with
you
are you
a
person
of
patience
be
a
person
of
kindness
and
goodness
kindness
and goodness
is
choosing
to be
good
choosing
to be
good
to
those
who
do
not
deserve
your
goodness
it's
comparable
to
divine
kindness
that
God
shows
toward
all
of
mankind
and
the
common
grace
whether
the
greatest
sinner
or the
greatest
saint
sees
the
beauty
of
the
sunrise
in
the
morning
the
greatest
sinner
and
the
greatest
saint
experience
the
coolness
of
the
morning
breeze
the
greatest
sinner
and
the
greatest
saint
all
look
out
and
experience
the
beauty
of
creation
the
common
grace
that
God
gives
us
but
also
the
kindness
the
divine
kindness
that
shows
all
of
his
children
the
saving
grace
you see
God
is good
to all
God
is good
to all
those
who
follow
him
and
those
who
don't
and
that
you
and
I
must
be
people
of
kindness
and
goodness
not
just
to
the
people
who
deserve
it
who
are
brothers
and
sisters
in
Christ
but
those
who
may
one
day
be
and
even
those
who
will
continue
to allow
their hearts
to be
hardened
as they
reject
the gospel
of
Christ
be
kind
be
good
be a
person
of
faithfulness
being
faithful to
others
as
Christ
has been
faithful to
you
these
last
three
faithfulness
gentleness
and
self
control
very
specifically
are
how
we
deal
with
the
world
around
us
they
are
characteristics
that
should
be
brought
into
the
church
but
largely
speaking
when
we
see
these
what
Paul
is
referring
to
is
how
they
deal
with
people
who
are
not
part
of
the
church
are
you
a
person
that
people
can
count
on
are
you
a
person
that
people
can
trust
are
you
a
person
who
gives
your
word
and
does
what
you
say
be
a
person
of
faithfulness
be
a
person
of
gentleness
be
a
person
of
gentleness
all right
this
when we
looked at
being
gentle
earlier
and
looking
at
gentle
here
oftentimes
gentleness
is referred
to as
a
weakness
but
the
truth
of
this
word
is
that
gentleness
is
actually
not
weakness
but
gentleness
is
meekness
Christ
was
meek
and
so
if
Christ
is
meek
then
what
does
it
mean
in
gentleness
isn't
a
limitation
of
strength
gentleness
is not
an
inability
of
strength
in fact
quite
the
opposite
being
gentle
is
the
controlling
of
strength
oh
I
could
light
them
up
I'm
sure
you
could
but
what
should
you
do
well
you
know
Jesus
turned
over
the
table
he
absolutely
did
he
did
he
turned
over
the
table
but
how
many
times
did
he
sit
down
at
the
table
with
sinners
be
gentle
be
self
controlled
be
self
controlled
self
controlled
biblically
speaking
is the
quality
that
gives
victory
over
the
flesh
self
controlled
is what
it's
described
as
even
within
Christ
as
he
walks
amongst
this
world
without
bringing
the
dirtiness
of
this
world
on
him
be
self
controlled
but
you don't
understand
I had
to
no
you
didn't
your
flesh
is weak
but
he
is
strong
be
self
controlled
under
the
power
of
the
Holy
Spirit
the
last
thing
that
I
think
is
very
interesting
I
think
this
is
very
interesting
we're
going
to
wrap
up
with
this
when
these
kings
saw
Daniel
this
is
what
they
saw
when
pagan
kings
saw
Daniel
they
described
him
as a
different
spirit
in
him
why
well
these
kings
remember
it's
like
in
order
to
become
king
what
needs
to
happen
to
the
old
king
death
who
wants
if
you
want
to be
the
next
king
then
what
does
history
tell
us
happens
to
people
what
do
they
do
they
try
to
kill
the
king
so
the
king
is
looking
around
and
saying
who's
someone
that
doesn't
want
to
kill
me
there's
this
Daniel
he's
good
he's
special
but
here's
the
deal
not
everyone
loved
Daniel
not
everyone
liked
Daniel
not
everyone
wanted
Daniel
to be
around
here's
the
truth
if
you
walk
in
to
what
God
has
for
you
next
being
a
person
of
godly
reputation
being
a
person
of
godly
heart
who
walks
in
the
spirit
with
Christ
like
wisdom
if
your
belief
is
everyone
in
the
room
is
just
going
to
love
you
because
you
just
ooze
Jesus
guess
what
it
ain't
going
to
happen
it's
not
going
to
happen
Jesus
in
the
sermon
on
the
mount
tells
everyone
you're
blessed
when they
persecute
you
it's
going
to
happen
and it
happens
to
Daniel
look at
verse
four
then
the
high
officials
and
satraps
sought
to find
a ground
for complaint
against
Daniel
with
regard
to the
kingdom
pause there
for just a
moment
they
didn't
like
him
they
didn't
like
him
they
didn't
like
that
he
said
that
he
prayed
for
you
and
then
he
actually
did
they
didn't
like
that
he
was
kind
and
courteous
they
didn't
like
that
he
was
a
person
of
truth
they
didn't
like
his
humility
they
didn't
like
it
let's
look and
see
what
they
did
though
they
wanted to
find a
ground
for
complaint
but
they
could
find
no
ground
for
complaint
or
any
fault
because
he
was
faithful
and
no
error
or
fault
was
found
in
him
here's
what
they
did
they
opened
up
the
FBI
the
CIA
and
the
IRS
they
went to
human
resources
and
they
said
give
us
everything
you
got
give
us
every
time
he's
been
late
give
us
every
lie
you've
ever
heard
him
tell
give
us
every
moment
of
indiscrepancy
that
you've
seen
give
us
every
moment
and
they
searched
back
through
now
remember
the
Babylonians
kept
records
of
everything
archaeologists
today
are still
finding
Babylonian
records
they
wrote
about
everything
they
went
back
and
they
searched
and
they
searched
and
they
searched
and
they
could
not
find
politicians
could
not
find
one
bad
thing
that
he's
done
imagine
having
that
personnel
file
at
work
not
one
you
see
it's
not
just
about
your
heart
but
it's
also
about
godly
integrity
you
see
here's
the
truth
Daniel
simply
was
who
he
said
he
was
a
man
of
God
no
negligence
no
corruption
no
laziness
no
stretching
of
the
truth
so
maybe
they're
like
you
know
what
guys
maybe
we've
just
gotten
this
wrong
maybe
you
know
what
maybe
Daniel
is
who
we
should
be
what
we
should
do
and
what
we
should
look
like
nah
instead
what
we'll
see
next
week
is
they'll
take
what
he
holds
the
most
dear
his
relationship
with
God
and
his
obedience
to
him
and
they'll
use
it
against
him
because
they
know
they
know
that
no
matter
what
Daniel
will
not
break
from
his
God
I
hope
I
hope
that
I
would
be
a
man
who
would
take
my
reputation
before
others
as
serious
as
Daniel
does
as
he
stands
in
his
standing
before
the
Lord
and
his
standing
before
men
this
seems
impossible
yeah
and
here's
the
truth
of
it
all
Daniel's
not
this
person
because
of
who
he
is
Daniel
is
this
person
because
of
the
spirit
that
is
in
him
would
you
pray
with
me
God
we
thank
you
for
the
truth
of
your
word
for
the
beauty
of
your
word
God
we
thank
you
that
throughout
scripture
the
testimony
of
the
faithfulness
of
the
men
and
women
of
God
that
you
give
us
but
their
goodness
is
not
found
in
them
alone
the
Bible
tells
us
Lord
very
plain
and
simply
that
we're
all
sinners
all
sinners
who
desperately
need
to be
saved
and
that
salvation
comes
through
Christ
in
Christ
alone
and
it's
not
the
work
of
our
hand
that
deeds
that
make
us
righteous
but
it's
the
work
of
God
we
put
our
faith
in
it's
the
work
of
Christ
on
the
cross
that
makes
us
new
that
makes
us
whole
that
makes
us
possible
so
that
every
moment
of
hope
every
moment
of
peace
every
moment
of
joy
every
moment
of
faithfulness
every
moment
of
love
is
not
of
me
Lord
but
it
is
of
you
and so
God
as we
prepare
this
morning
to
partake
in
the
Lord's
Supper
God
may
the
truth
of
there
is
not
one
here
who's
good
enough
ring
true
for
us
but
because
of
Christ
and
because
of
his
has
done
we're
not
just
made
okay
we
move
beyond
acceptable
and
becoming
sons
and
daughters
of
the
living
God
I
pray
if
there's
anyone
here
today
who
does
not
know
Christ
as
their
Lord
and
Savior
I
pray
that
today
would
be
the
day
that
they
recognize
and
submit
to
the
truth
of
your
word
that
all
have
sinned
that
all
have
gone
astray
that
there's
not
one
who
is
righteous
but
that
God
loves
us
enough
that
he
sent
his
son
Jesus
to
die
on
the
cross
and
that
in
his
death
the
wrath
of
God
was
poured
out
on
him
to
set
us
free
from
the
bondage
of
sin
and
the
destination
of
hell
that
every
bit
of
wrath
we
deserve
he
took
on
and
that
for
those
who
put
their
faith
hope
and
trust
in
Christ
we
made
sons
of
God
Lord
draw us
to
yourself
convict
us
of
our
sin
bring
us
to
salvation
for
your
name
and
for
your
glory
and
it's in
Jesus
name
we
pray
amen
that's
it
for
this
week's
message
be
sure
to
check
back
next
week
for
a
new
episode
and
in
the
meantime
you
can
visit
us
online
at
willowridgechurch.org
or by
searching for
Willow Ridge Church
on Facebook
Instagram
and YouTube
thanks again
for listening