by Pastor Bruce Hills
Acts 8:26-40
Never judge anyone on the outside because you don't know what's happening to their inside.
How can we be the right person at the right place at the right time?
1. Philip knew the voice of the Spirit of God (v29)
- we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit supernaturally in this natural world
2. Philip did what the Spirit told him (v30)
- even though the instruction wasn't full, Philip obeyed just the word
- we have finite minds with limited senses. Obey Him even if it doesn't make sense at all
3. Philip initiated contact
- engage in conversation (v30)
4. Philip focused the conversation in Jesus (v35)
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Discerning the Times - Set Apart
Pastor Wilson Teo
Book of Daniel 1:1-21
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. 3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family[a] and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego. But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food. 16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.
v2 "the lord" refers to "Adonay" which means ruler, owner or sovereign
How do you see God in your situation right now?
Is God our adonay only in good times or is He also your Adonay in your difficult times?
Big Idea :
Discern unbiblical practices by knowing biblical values and take our stand as christians even when it is disadvantageous.
v8 "the royal food and wine" were first offered to babylonian gods. Means Kosher meal prepared according to Jewish dietary laws.
1. God's Favor was with Daniel through the officials
2. God gave Daniel Wisdom to choose an alternative to the food they were to take.
Why do we choose the minority over the majority?
Because we are choosing the value of honouring God. Jesus Christ is the source of my life. We have to be prepared because the babylonian system in the world will challenge our belief of honouring God.
Many times, we misplace the source of God, because we are unable to let go of something we value over God.
Who is the source of your life today?
Our Lord Jesus Christ must be our source
James 1:5
If any of you need wisdom, ask God for it. He will give it to you. God gives freely to everyone. He doesn't find fault.
When we are connected to God's life source, we will find life and God's blessings
A. Discern with God's eyes. See and discern from God's perspective.
B. Live with God's values and conviction that God has instructed you. They will attract attention but they will also bring life.
C. Trust in God's provisions. Because our Lord Jesus is the only source that we need.
Book of Daniel 1:1-21
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. 3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family[a] and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego. But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food. 16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.
v2 "the lord" refers to "Adonay" which means ruler, owner or sovereign
How do you see God in your situation right now?
Is God our adonay only in good times or is He also your Adonay in your difficult times?
Big Idea :
Discern unbiblical practices by knowing biblical values and take our stand as christians even when it is disadvantageous.
v8 "the royal food and wine" were first offered to babylonian gods. Means Kosher meal prepared according to Jewish dietary laws.
1. God's Favor was with Daniel through the officials
2. God gave Daniel Wisdom to choose an alternative to the food they were to take.
Why do we choose the minority over the majority?
Because we are choosing the value of honouring God. Jesus Christ is the source of my life. We have to be prepared because the babylonian system in the world will challenge our belief of honouring God.
Many times, we misplace the source of God, because we are unable to let go of something we value over God.
Who is the source of your life today?
Our Lord Jesus Christ must be our source
James 1:5
If any of you need wisdom, ask God for it. He will give it to you. God gives freely to everyone. He doesn't find fault.
When we are connected to God's life source, we will find life and God's blessings
A. Discern with God's eyes. See and discern from God's perspective.
B. Live with God's values and conviction that God has instructed you. They will attract attention but they will also bring life.
C. Trust in God's provisions. Because our Lord Jesus is the only source that we need.
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