Drawing A Line In The Sand

Services

SunDAY: 9 AM Sunday School, 10:30AM Worship /TuesDAY 6 pm prayer/ WedNESDAY 6PM Bible study

May 05, 2024

 Pastor Henry M. Boyd
 Daniel 1:8-20
 Daniel, stand for God

Key Sermon Points:

  1. Making the stand for God
    1. Our lifestyle should reflect what we believe
    2. If we believe that God is the Way, the Truth and the Life, then we ought to live that way
    3. People ought to be able to see God in us
    4. When we don't handle things right that doesn't reflect well on God
    5. Our neighbors may look at things differently, but there will be times when we must draw a line in the sand like Daniel
    6. We are called to maintain a lifestyle that shows our faith and God's kingdom (Matthew 4:11-12)
    7. People that would not cross certain lines
      1. Joseph (Genesis 39:7-12)
      2. Jesus when the adulterous woman was brought before him and he wouldn't condemn her (John 8)
      3. Daniel
    8. Never cross a line that God has drawn (Exodus 34:15)
  2. The request was granted
    1. Daniel's request to the chief eunuch could cost the eunuch his life
    2. Daniel's request was based upon his conviction
    3. Daniel trusted his situation to God
    4. Daniel trusted God in faith when he drew the line (he trusted God first and then stood on what he believed)
    5. Beliefs are what we know to be true
    6. Conviction is a deeper level of what we hold in our heart
    7. Beliefs can be shaken and may be negotiable
    8. A conviction involves a commitment to do something and are not negotiable
    9. A conviction is a God-given boundary
    10. We may have a request, but we must pray about the request that God has given us the conviction and it must line up with God's Word
  3. Remember God is always working behind the scenes
    1. Just because we don't see it, doesn't mean that God isn't working behind the scenes (Isaiah 45:15)
    2. The Lord gave Daniel compassion and favor in the sight of the eunuch
    3. God gave the young men knowledge & skills
    4. It was God that gave Israel to the Babylonians, gave Daniel favor, and his friends wisdom, knowledge & understanding and favor with the king
    5. God is always working behind the scenes on our behalf (at work, in the hospital, etc.)