Isaiah House Podcast Andrew Ownby

Tough as Nails Part 5

This episode was made possible by resources through Life Church Open Network, who provides free resources for churches around the world. A special thanks goes to Church of the Valley for making their discussion questions available.

Background music is URL Melt by Unicorn Heads.

Icebreaker: What is your favorite candy?

Daniel and the Lion’s Den

How do you thrive when culture is in crisis?

Darius set up 120 leaders throughout the whole kingdom, and over those he had 3 officials, and Daniel was one of them, and these leaders would have to give an account to Daniel. Daniel became distinguished above all the other officials because of an “excellent spirit was in him.” So the administrators and satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel for his conduct in his governmental affairs, but they couldn’t find anything. They couldn’t find any corruption in him because he was trustworthy. He was neither corrupt nor negligent. They said among themselves “We will never find any basis for charges against Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”
Quote from St. Francis “Preach the gospel, and if necessary use words”
Daniel is a good example of this. What are some of Daniel’s character traits that resulted in his jealous peers not being able to dig up dirt on Daniel?
Four characteristics
1. Integrity
Do what’s right, even when no one is looking
2. Consistency
Live your values over a long period of time.
3. Authenticity
People know when you are real. No one likes hypocrites or fakers, and even if you can fool all your friends and family, God knows where your heart is in all you do.
4. Humility





So these high officials come to the king and say “All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.”
The king thinks this is a pretty good idea and signs it into law.
Low and behold, Daniel hears about this law, but he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Daniel didn’t go out of his way to disobey the king, but he didn’t buckle under pressure either.
How easy would it have been for Daniel to change his daily routine just a tiny bit, so that no one would see him pray during this 30 day timeframe?
Well the leaders who had conjured up this plan went and ran to the king saying “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” and he said “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.”
This law could not be changed, even by the king.
They said “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
But when the king heard this, he was much distressed, and set in his mind to deliver Daniel. He worked all day until the sun wen down to rescue him, but the men said “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”
So the king had Daniel thrown in the lion’s den with a message. “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you.
They sealed the den with a stone, the king sealed it with his signet that nothing should be changed concerning Daniel. But the king was not happy. He didn’t eat, he refused the evening entertainment, and he couldn’t sleep. At the break of day, the king went in haste and cried out to Daniel in a voice of anguish. “O Daniel, servant of the living God

Ice Breaker:
What is your favorite late night snack?

Daniel 5:1-4

King Belshazzar has a great feast for a thousand of his lords.

He drank wine in front of the 1000, and when he tasted it, he sent for the vessels of gold and silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem. So they did and his lords, wives, and concubine all drank out of the cups and praised the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Immediately fingers of a human hand appears and writes something on the wall.

This unnerves the king, his color changed, (it was like he had seen a ghost). He started yelling for all his enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologer to come tell him what it meant. He offered a reward to whoever could explain it to him purple clothing, a gold chain, and to be the 3rd ruler of the kingdom. But, no one can tell him what it means.

So then the queen speaks up and tells him about Daniel, who in the King’s father’s days that had the spirit of the holy gods, a man who had light, understanding, and wisdom like the wisdom of gods, who because of his ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems was made chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers.

So Daniel comes in and the king explains to him his situation and offers the reward to Daniel, to which Daniel says “let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another, nevertheless I will read interpret the writing for you.

Daniel starts out by explaining that the Most High God gave his father the kingship, greatness, and glory, and it was because of that Most High God that the nations trembled and feared before him. Then Daniel tells him how his pride grew and how God humbled him by making him like a beast of the field who lived with the wild donkeys, and ate grass like ox, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will.

Then Daniel says “And you his son, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven” You brought the vessels of his house in before you and you all drank out of them praising the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways you have not honored.

Then Daniel translates and interprets the writing on the wall.
Mene: God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end
Tekel: You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting
Peres(Pee rez): Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes (meeds) and Persians.

That night King Belshazzar the Chaldean was killed, and Darius the Mede who was about 62 received the kingdom.

1st Question: Belshazzar failed the test and was found in pride and worshiping idols. What are common idols in our culture today?
Where your money is, there will your heart be also.

Houses 32.8%
Groceries 8.6%
Healthcare 8.1%
Utilities 6.6%
Living Expenses 56.1%

Cars 15.9%
Dinning Out 5.6%
Entertainment 5.6%
Apparel 3%
Gifts 2.2%
Consumer Electronics 2
Alcohol & Tobacco 1.4
Travel Lodging 1.4
Toys and Hobbies 1.3




How have you seen some of these common idols effect your life or relationship with God?

Why is it so hard to live as if our days are numbered?

Does our culture emphasis living for the moment or living with purpose? Why or Why not?

Thinking about how God is weighing what we do with our day let’s look at Hebrews 9:27 (And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment)
& 2 Corinthians 5:10 (For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.)

If we live with the understanding that our days are numbered and one day our lives will be weighed by the Lord, how might that change the way we live?

A life not numbered and out of balance, is eventually divided.

This podcast was based on discussion questions from the Life Church Open Network series "Tough as Nails."

Background music is titled "URL Melt" by the Unicorn Heads



Tough as Nails Part 3

Icebreaker: Who is someone in your life that you would be most willing to listen to, if they were to confront you?

Today’s narrative comes from Daniel 4.

Nebuchadnezzar had a dream:

A tall and great tree in the midst of the earth. It’s tops reached to heaven, and visible to everyone. It’s leaves were beautiful and it’s fruit was abundant, and was food for all. Animals used it for shade, birds lived in the branches, and flesh was fed from it. Then a holy one came down from heaven and said “Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Leave the stump, to have dew fall on it and its portion, to let his mind be that of a beast for seven periods of time, so that at the end the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.

Nebuchadnezzar had made a decree that all the wise men should come, then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers, but they couldn’t do it.

He asked Daniel, and said “you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you”

Daniel knew alright, and his face showed it. He was dismayed for a while because his thoughts alarmed him. The king said “let not the dream or interpretation alarm you”

“My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!

Gives the interpretation, then confronts the king

 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.” Daniel 4:27

Relationship needs to be the context of confrontation.

Ever have a stranger walk up to you and disagree with you.

Josh McDowell said “Rules without a relationship leads to rebellion. Truth without a relationship leads to rejection.”

Relationships happen face-to-face, shoulder-to-shoulder.

Daniel has invested 30 years of his life serving the king

We should be asking ourselves how well established our relationship is when confronting others.

Restoration should be the goal of confrontation.

How many times have you confronted someone and the goal was to be right, instead

Am I confronting to be right or for restoration?

*Discussion*

Humility is the posture of effective confrontation.

When you are confronting someone, the root issue is pride.

Galatians 6:1

Am I confronting with pride or humility?

Hope has to be given for confrontation to sink in.

Am I confronting to provide hope, or humiliation?

This podcast was based on discussion questions from the Life Church Open Network series "Tough as Nails."



Tough as Nails Part 2

Ice Breaker:

What is the hottest you’ve ever been?

What would be worse during a summer in Phoenix, no AC in your car the entire summer or no AC in your house for a week?

King Nebuchadnezzar

· King of Babylon

· Statue that was 90ft tall 9ft wide

· Plain of Dura

· Dedication, some estimate 300k people there.

Daniel 3:4-6

 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

When the music played, everyone bowed. Every religious leader, every teacher, every political leader, every market worker. Men and women, young and old. Except for 3.

This made the king made, and he cranked up the furnace 7x hotter.

Daniel 3:21-23

So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans, and other clothes were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

These three didn’t make their decision to be tough as nails in this moment, they had pre-decided. They proved this when they refused to eat the king’s meat sacrificed to idols.

We bow or stand in public.

There will always be people watching. Will we choose the difficult right, over the easier wrong?

Ephesians 6:11-13

 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Why might it be difficult to stand up for God instead of just blending in?

What are some ways our culture lures us to blend in, rather than stand for God?

Think of a time when you took a step to stand for God or share your faith with someone else. How did it make you feel?

1 Peter 1:7 says that when your faith stays strong in trials, it honors God and helps reveal Jesus to the world. Hebrews 11:16 says without faith, it is impossible to please God. Have you seen this in someone else’s life, how did it point to Jesus?

The account of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is a good example of this, as is the early church, and the countless stories we have of follower of Christ who have been tough as nails, in the face of persecution.

What step will you take this week to be a person that boldly stands for God?



Background music is titled "URL Melt" by the Unicorn Heads

This podcast was based on discussion questions from the Life Church Open Network series "Tough as Nails." 



What did you want to be when you grew up and why?



When you were younger what were some things you swore you would never do when you were an adult that you do now?



Read

Ephesians 4:14



What are some of the dangers of being “tossed back and forth” and allowing culture to shift/shape your identity?



Why is it important to be “tough as nails” in today’s culture?



What are some ways you feel tested as a Christian?



What are some steps we can take to make sure we become thermostats and stay away from being thermometers?



Why is it so easy for people to choose the worlds labels over God’s?



Read Ephesians 1:3 and 2 Corinthians 5:17

What do these two passages teach us about who we are in God’s eyes? How should this impact the way we live?

Read Some of these passages this week and reflect on who God says you are (Ephesians 1:3-8, Romans 5:1, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Psalm 139,

Philippians 4:13, and Proverbs 28:1)





Background music is titled "URL Melt" by the Unicorn Heads

We’re talking about self-esteem. What is it, why does it matter, and what does the Bible say about it.

Thanks to Heather for this episode’s topic. If you have a topic you would like covered. Please get those to me by sending your messages through the link below!

https://anchor.fm/isaiahhouse/message