The Life that Pleases God- Pastor Leandro

Good morning, family. It's such an honor and a blessing to speak into your life from right here in McKinney, Texas at Life Fellowship Church onto your tablets wherever you are on the Pando app. It's just incredible technology, right? We can go into over 2 million tablets. It's pretty incredible. My name is Logan Williams. My TDC number is 1490218. I have four TDC numbers after that, which means I came back to prison four times. I understand being caught in that loop that you just can't seem to get this thing figured out. And I know as well as many of you that are watching how easy it is to go back to prison once you've been once. It's just so easy. And so, man, I'm here to speak to that because I know there is a lot of anxiety. There's a lot of hopelessness. There's a lot of doubt. There's a lot of people that just want to throw in the towel in a lot of the places that you're at. I want to encourage you not to do that, to dig in now, to dig in now, because when you hit that gate, that enemy is going to come at you with whatever flavor of temptation you like, whether it's drugs, whether it's a woman, whether it's money, whether it's this, whether it's that. He's coming. He's coming. And you need to be ready. You need to be ready. We want you to know that we pray for you here. We have two very powerful prayer meetings. And we pray for you. And if you send in a prayer request, it's put up here on stage and prayed over by many people. We love you. We care about you. We want you to know that you're part of our church family. And if you're anywhere near the DFW Metroplex, when you get out, we want you to come visit us, even if you don't live near here, man, come see us. Look for me. I would love to spend the afternoon with you, have a conversation with you, get some lunch with you, all of that, man, please, please come. Man, I wanted to just read a scripture over you guys today. One that's very near and dear to my heart. It's a scripture that has pulled me through some, some really dark times. And I just want to read it over you. It's Psalm 139. I want to read the first 18 verses. Just kind of, I know you've got your earbuds in, just kind of close your eyes and just let God's word just wash over you. It says in verse one, Oh Lord, you have searched me and know me. You know, my sitting down and my rising up. You understand my thoughts far off. You comprehend my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. There's not a single word on my tongue, but behold, Oh Lord, you know it all together. You have hedged me behind and before and laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. It is high. I cannot attain it. Where can I go from your spirit or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there, your hand shall lead me and your right hand shall hold me. If I say surely the darkness shall fall on me, even the night shall be light about me. Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness and the light are both alike to you for you formed my inward parts. You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise you for I'm fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are your works and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in secret and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance being yet unformed. And in your book, they were all written. The days fashioned for me when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are your thoughts to me. Oh, God, how great is the sum of them. If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sands of the earth. So it's an awesome scripture that we need to have in our hearts that God fearfully and wonderfully made us, that he planned our days out in advance, and he has a plan and a purpose for our life. And not only that, but he thinks about us. more times than the number of grains of sand on the earth. Like, do you believe that? To just be totally transparent with you guys, there are days that I have a hard time believing that. There are days that I do have doubt, I do have apprehension, that I do have anxiety. I think it stems from how I was growing up, you know. I wasn't the best, I wasn't the worst, I was just kind of right in the middle. I didn't get picked first on the playground, I didn't get picked last. I played football and I was pretty good at it. I tore up my knee in high school and that was over. I was just never really noticed, you know.

And when you grow up like that, it's hard to imagine yourself being set apart. It's hard to imagine that God has fearfully and wonderfully made you, but this is what the word of God says. And so when I start believing those lies, you know, I'm working here at a church as a pastor, which is mind blowing to me, and the enemy will come in with all the lies. You haven't been saved long enough, you don't know enough about the Bible, you didn't go to seminary, you got 14 felony convictions, you did drugs for 30 years, you did nine and a half years in prison, you've been divorced. All the things trying to tell me I'm not qualified. But listen, God has placed me here. And when I start to go down that road, man, those things will shut me down if I keep listening to them. They will, but then I can go back to a Psalm 139. No, no, no, no, no. You're fearfully and wonderfully made. God has a plan for your life and he set the days out before you ever, you were ever even formed in your mother's womb. And to go along with that, he's thinking about me so much that if you counted his thoughts, just about me, just about you,

there would be more numerous than the grains of sand of the earth. And I want you to just get that in your heart, guys. God loves you. He fearfully and wonderfully made you and he cannot stop thinking about you. So when I go to those dark places, man, I come right back to Psalm 139. I just speak it over my life, man. I just speak it over my life and it's pulled me out of some really dark times. And I know that many of you in the places that you're at, it's dark, I know, I know. But you need to have a go-to scripture, a scripture that you can anchor your life to, knowing that, yes, man, I may be here right now. I may have had a catastrophe in my life that has brought me to prison, but this is going to be the thing that catapults me into knowing him and the plan and purpose that he has for my life. The biggest catastrophe in my life has turned into be the biggest blessing because it was at that point, what I thought was the worst day of my life was the beginning, the beginning of what I now, the life I'm living today, man. But it's hard to have that awareness all the time. So when you go down those dark roads, you need to have a scripture

that you can anchor yourself to, that gives you hope, that encourages you, that encourages you in the Lord. And if you don't have one, use mine. Use Psalm 139, use it, please take it. And ask God to bring you another one. Man, I love you guys, you guys are amazing. I love speaking into your life. I love, I just, my heart is that you can find the willingness to surrender to him like I somehow did because it's so worth it, man. That's my hope and my prayer for all of you. Father, I just lift up all the men and women that are listening. I just, man, I just thank you, God. I know that this, just the fact that they clicked on the Life Fellows, this sermon right here, that they clicked on this, is just proof that you are after them. They could be watching movies, they could be watching whatever else is on that tablet, but they're watching this today. And God, I pray that just you would take that and encourage someone that's discouraged right now into saying, hey man, the reason you did that is because my spirit is in you. The reason you did that is because I'm drawing you to me. I have left 99 to go find you. And that I think about you more than the grains of sand on the earth.

God, I pray that these truths would just be washed over them and just lodged in their hearts where they can live from them, man. That they can have that anchor. even in the midst of the places that they're at. So God, I pray that this message that they hear, man, I pray those seeds fall on fertile soil, God, that you would bring the increase. And if there's anyone listening right now that does not know you, God, I pray that you would just show them Romans 10 that says that anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. It is just that simple. It is just that simple. Just call upon the name of the Lord Jesus. He will change your life. He will show you your seat at the table for all who call upon his name. And so God, we love you. We thank you. We give you all the praise and glory in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. And you guys know I just have one more question for you. Whose house? God's house. Let's give him some praise. ♪ Jesus, Lord, we adore you, Jesus, Lord, we adore you ♪ Well, good morning, Life Fellowship.

We're so excited to have you all here with us today. Won't you please stand and join us in this time of worship? Let's put our hands together. ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ This is where worship starts, here in the temple of my heart ♪ ♪ Remembering who you are and all you've done ♪ ♪ This is your majesty, all I have tasted and I've seen ♪ ♪ Remembering who you are once again ♪ ♪ I see the Lord forever glorified ♪ ♪ His throne stood and lifted high ♪ ♪ And all of the kingdom in Christ you are ♪ ♪ You are the Lord, you are, you are the Lord ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ This is eternity, deep, calling deep inside of me ♪ ♪ I'm right where I'm meant to be, here with you ♪ ♪ You're there with me, stretching as far as I can see ♪ ♪ I'm right where I'm meant to be, more times than I see ♪ ♪ When I see the cross, before and before the night ♪ ♪ Tossing and lifting high, the call of the kingdom, it cries, you are, you are the joy ♪ ♪ Standing upon the throne, a God who is free and one ♪ ♪ Father, the spirit of joy, you are, you are the joy, you are the joy, you are the joy, you are the joy ♪ ♪ Yes you are, you are the joy, holy one, you are the joy, worthy one, you are the joy, holy one, you are the joy ♪ ♪ You are the joy, worthy one, you are the joy, holy one, you are the joy, worthy one. You are the joy, holy one. You are the joy, worthy one. I seek the Lord, forever close my eyes. You talk to the lips that lie You call out the kingdoms and rise, you are

You are the Lord The city of God the God The God who was three and one The Father, the Spirit, the Son, you are You are the Lord Holy One You are the Lord Worthy One You are the Lord Holy One You are the Lord Worthy One You are the Lord Jesus be the center of my family Jesus be the center of this church Jesus be our all in all Maybe we've made this complicated More than it was ever meant to be Hasn't it always been about the same thing? Lord, bring us back to simple things You be the center of it all My heart belongs to You My Savior all in all You're the one I hope for today For the beauty of Your name My soul will live to say Jesus, I love You Teach us to discern the moment When to serve and when to sit here at Your feet Keep us awake to what's important

Just like Mary chose the baby Holy You be the center of it all My heart belongs to You My Savior all in all You're the one I hope for today For the beauty of Your name My soul will live to say Jesus, I love You Holy You be the center of it all My heart belongs to You My Savior all in all You're the one I hope for today For the beauty of Your name My soul will live to say Jesus, I love You Oh, how I love You Oh, how I love You Jesus, I love You Oh, how I love You Oh, how I love You Jesus, I love You Oh, Jesus, we love You Come on, can you begin to lift up your voice And say, Jesus, how I love You Jesus, how I adore You Jesus, You are my everything Jesus, You are my all in all My whole life, for the glory, my whole world, for your only everything, for the honor of your name. My whole life, for your glory, my whole world, for your only everything, for the honor of

your name. And in my days, tell the story, let it be, of your own and everything, for the honor of your name. My whole life, for your glory, my whole world, for your only everything, for the honor of your name. And in my days, tell the story, let it be, of your own and everything, for the honor of your name. Oh, how I love you. Oh, how I love you. Jesus, I love you. Oh, how I love you. Oh, how I love you. Jesus, I love you. My whole life, for your glory, my whole world, for your only everything, for the honor of your name. And in my days, tell the story, let it be, of your own and everything, for the honor and glory of your name. And my whole life, for your glory, my whole world, for your only everything, for the honor of your name. And in my days, tell the story, let it be, of your own and everything, for the honor of your name. My whole life, for your glory, for your honor, for your Jesus, everything, everything is for the glory of your name. And in my days, tell the story, let it be, let it be, of your own and everything, for the honor of your name. Oh, how I love you. Oh, how I love you. Jesus, I love you. Oh, how I love you. Oh, how I love you.

Jesus, I love you. All for you, are the center of it all. My heart belongs to you. My Savior, Lord. You're the one we hold on to, for the beauty of your name. My soul will live to say, say, Jesus, I love you. My soul will choose to say, Jesus, I love you. My soul will live to say, say, Jesus, I love you. My soul will live to say, say, Jesus, I love you. My soul will live to say, say, Jesus, I love you. Yes, my soul will live to say. Jesus, I love you. My soul will live to sing. Jesus, I love you. I love you, I love you. Oh, how I love you, Jesus. Oh, how I love you, Jesus. Come on, can you just pour your love on him for a minute? We pour our love on you, Jesus. We pour our love on you, Jesus. How I love you. Oh. How I love you, my love. How I love you. I really do, I really do. How I love you. How I love you. How I love you, I worship and adore you. Jesus, how I love you, Jesus. Jesus, we love you.

God, we adore you, we honor you. We love you so much, God. We're so worthy of your worship. We're so worthy, God. We're so worthy of our prayers. Come on, would you just lift up a sound of worship in this room this morning, God? We glorify you. We glorify you, Lord. And all the saints and angels will bow before you. And all the elders cast their crowns before you. Of God and King. And all the saints and angels they bow before you. And all the elders they cast their crowns before you. Of God and King. Come on, let's sing. You are worthy of it all. You are worthy of it all. For from you are all things. To you are all things. Come on, sing it to me. You deserve all the glory. Yes, you do, Lord. Oh, you deserve all the glory. Oh, you deserve all the honor. Just you, King Jesus. The one who saved me. The one who redeemed me. Oh, Jesus, we worship you.

Come on, you can sing this together this morning. We sing all the saints and angels they bow before your throne. And all the elders they cast their crowns before you. Of God and King. And all the saints and angels they bow before your throne. And all the elders they cast their crowns before you. For the Lamb of God we sing. You are worthy of it all. You are worthy of it all. For a crown You are of. You deserve the glory, Lord. Holy You, Jesus. You are worthy. You are worthy of it all. Yes, You are. You are worthy of it all. For from You, for from You are all things, and to You are all things. You deserve the glory. You deserve our glory. Let's just begin to let a sound arise in this room of gratitude and gratefulness for what Jesus has done for us. Come on, if He's been good to you, would you just let a sound arise out of your mouth this morning? Hear your children singing this morning. Hear your children singing this morning. Oh, we adore You. We honor You in this place. We glorify You in this place, Jesus.

Come on, let's sing this together. Day and night, night and day, let incense arise. Day and night, night and day, let incense arise. Day and night, night and day, let incense arise. Day and night, night and day, let incense arise. Day and night, night and day, you are worthy of the Lord. You are worthy, you are worthy of the Lord. For from you, for from you are all things. And to you are all things, you deserve the glory. You are worthy, you are worthy of the Lord. You are worthy of the Lord. For from you, for from you are all things. And to you are all things, you deserve the glory. Come on, can we sing? Sing day and night. Day and night, day and night, day and night, day and night. We join with heaven. We join with heaven. We say day and night, night and day, day and night, day and night, night and day. Day and night, day and night, day and night, day and night. Can you hear us in the glory, Lord? Oh, day and night, night and day, day and night, night and day. Oh, all of the glory, all of the glory, it's yours, it's yours, it's yours. All of the glory, all of the glory, it's yours. You get all of the glory, all of the glory. All the honor, all the praise, all the glory, Jesus. Come on, can we sing now? All of the glory, all of the glory, all of the glory, it's yours. You are all deserve to be honored. You are all deserve to be praised.

All of the glory, all of the glory, all of the glory, it's yours. Jesus, King Jesus, you're worthy of it all Come on, don't you believe that this morning? For from you are all things and to you are all things You deserve the glory Come on, can we sing that one last time to Jesus? You're worthy of it all You're worthy of it all For from you are all things and to you are all things Jesus, you deserve the glory You are worthy of it all, Lord, you are worthy of it all You deserve the glory As I was worshipping to this song over the weekend Asking the Lord to speak to me So I could share with you right now That line that says Day and night, night and day, let incense arise Just got highlighted by the Lord And so I started to ask What does that mean? Day and night, night and day, let incense arise So you go back in Scripture in the Old Testament in Exodus And God specifically talks about incense And he tells the Israelites Specific instructions about how he wants incense Burnt in his temple And he has a specific location he wants that incense It just so happens it's right at the place before the holiest of holies Where the veil on the curtain is And that incense is burning and it's arising as a pleasing aroma to the Lord Before the high priest steps in to the presence of the Lord

And it's on an altar made of gold With specific instructions about the incense itself Specific ingredients, equal measures With a specific instruction to the Israelites that this is only to be used for him This type of incense It's not for personal use, he specifically says that So as we unpack all of that What does that mean for us today on this side of the cross? And so the Lord highlighted Psalm 141 too Because I was like, what is our incense? And that scripture tells us Let my prayer be set before you like incense Let the lifting up of my hands be the evening sacrifice Day and night So our incense is prayer and worship And that's the location, like the altar To enter in the presence of the Lord Prayer and worship But remember that instruction about not being for personal use So we can pray for the desires of our heart and things that are going on in our lives And there is nothing wrong with that But there's a but, a however Are we willing to submit our will to God's will? For his glory, his will, not our personal use And in our worship, the things that we adore, that we put first Is that God or is it things of this world? For our personal use Money, power, social media, likes, acceptance Whatever you want to put in that place that we struggle with And we all do, I do too

But it's just a reminder as God was unpacking all of these things that blew me away Is that I need to make sure that not just today, right now To enter his presence, that we have praise and worship and prayer But also when I'm home alone I don't just jump right into my bible plan Those are good things But make sure I pray and I worship him so I can enter his presence and get the fullness that God has for us. And I don't know about you, but I know for myself, the times I've rushed through and did the Bible plan, I might've gotten something that stuck with me, but many times I missed out on the full measure God had. But when I fully set aside that time and I worshiped him and praised him, and then I enter a time of prayer, before I even get into scripture, I'm already, God's downloading things on me. And I know he does that for you too. So I'm reminded myself that we just need to give all of that to him, not for our personal use, but for his use, his glory, his will to be done. So praise God that we have an opportunity always to step into his presence. And let's just remember how to do that in a way that's pleasing aroma to him that rises day and night, day and night. Heavenly father, we're so grateful that you give us instructions. We need direction. We need clarity. Your word says without vision, we perish. So Lord, thank you for the instructions on how we can be in your presence and we don't have to put on a performance. We can just be obedient and submitted to your will, making sure we put you first, not these other things, not for our personal use, but for your use in your glory. So Lord, I pray all of us today in this moment, we'll be reminded of what you want us to do

in our relationship with you. And you would open up our hearts and our minds for the word that's going to be shared with us this morning. We pray all these things and all the people in the house of God said, amen. Well thank you. Welcome to life fellowship. Please take your seats. We're so glad that you are with us this morning. We have an incredible word of God. It's part two from pastor Leandro on staff. Amazing man of God. I hope you enjoyed the message he gave to us last Sunday. But this one is even better. So get ready and turn your attentions to the screen. Happy Sunday and welcome to life fellowship church. And we're so glad that you chose to be here today. If you're new here, text new to five, 10, 10. We'd love to connect with you, answer any questions you may have and help you discover all that's happening at life fellowship. Jesus taught us to pray your kingdom come, your will be done. Generosity is one of the ways we actively participate in that prayer. Every act of giving becomes an investment in something eternal. People find hope, relationships are restored, faith grows stronger at life fellowship. We do not give simply to maintain what exists. We give some more people can experience the life changing hope of Jesus. Thank you for responding as God leads you. I'm excited for all that God wants to do today. Me too. So let's get ready for today's message. Good morning, Life Fellowship.

Good morning, good morning. Hey, welcome to Life Fellowship Church. My name is Leandro. I'm one of the pastors here on staff, been part of this family for almost five years and so honored and blessed to be here today sharing God's word with you. And I'm sure God is going to speak to us, speak to our hearts. So I want to invite you just to prepare your hearts. I want to also say a big welcome to all the guys and girls in the correctional facilities, your family to us. Let's give it up one more time to everybody that is watching us online. We love you. Thank you so much for tuning in, for being here with us, worshiping God. Hey, we're going to continue our series called Unshakable where we are studying about a faith that is unshakable. And today we're going to continue in the book of Daniel and today's chapter number six. Last week we talked about the writing on the wall, right? And this week we're going to talk about Daniel in the lion's den. And many of people already heard about this story. If you haven't heard, no problem at all. We're going to explore the whole chapter, the whole chapter six, and I'm sure God is going to speak loudly to your heart. Before we start, let me put some background story to you and a little bit of study on what we're going to talk about. The book of Daniel is divided into two big parts. One part is the historical part and the other part is the visions and prophecies and everything that he had in the second part. So this first part goes from chapter number one to chapter number six, and that's the historical part. Life of Daniel tells us about how Daniel survived in pagan kingdoms like Babylon, and now the middle Persian kingdom, and how God used him in the midst of kingdoms that were

ungodly, that were not worshiping God, that were actually worshiping other gods, and how God used him even though he was in an environment that was not inviting to the presence of God. So, with that in mind, we have to remember that every scripture that we read is not about the character, it's about God's working through the character. So, in the book of Daniel, it's not about being like Daniel, it's about use your life to do the same things that Daniel did, but let God use you through the things that you do. So, let me give you an example. You actually live the way God wants you to live, and let God work through you. So, we're going to see things in Daniel's life that will show us a life that pleases God, that God continues to use, that God continues to call him in the midst of all craziness that was happening around him, he still calls him. Because when we read chapter number six, we all remember that God saved him from the lion's death, but at the end of the day, there were so many things happening before that. You know, Daniel, we remember that God saved Daniel from the lion's death, but actually God's miracle and God's work was being doing all over the chapter number six, all over chapter number one, two, three, four, five. So, there are things and attributes that are important to you and I to have the life that God wants us to have, a life that pleases him. And that's what I believe that God wants to speak to us, is more than just be like Daniel, is what is the life that he has for you and I, for us to live, that will please him. Because at the end of the day, he wants to use all of us, not just Daniel, he wants to use you at your workplace, he wants to use you in your relationships, in your family, in your school, whatever you are, he wants to use your life. So, we're going to talk about all the aspects of Daniel's life. And it's interesting because chapter number six starts with all authorities looking for something in Daniel's life to accuse him. And when they look to those things, they could find no thing. And at the end of the chapter number six, it ends with the king declaring that the God of Daniel was the God of gods and his kingdom would now pass. So, between that start to that end, there is a lot for us to learn today. So, I want to invite you to open with me Daniel chapter six, verse three to five. Daniel chapter six, verses three to five, it says this, then this Daniel began to distinguish himself among the commissioners and the satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit and the king intended to appoint him over the entire kingdom. And then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel

regarding government affairs. But they could not find, they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption because he was trustworthy and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. Then this man said, we'll not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him regarding the law of his God. Daniel chapter number six is a new kingdom being established. Last week, if you remember, we talked about the Babylonian kingdom that was over in King Belshazzar. And now there's a new kingdom being established, the Persian, the Middle Persian kingdom. And the kingdoms change, the kings change, but Daniel is still the same. And you know, Daniel's integrity didn't start here, which by the way, this is our first, first thing that I want you to remember that Daniel has integrity. He's the man of integrity is the character that remains faithful. Daniel is a man of integrity. And Daniel's integrity doesn't start in chapter number six. If you go back to chapter number one, you're going to already see Daniel's integrity. And the verse eight says this, that Daniel was not the Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice of food or wine, which he drank. So Daniel chose to not defile himself with those choices. He was a man of integrity. He had a conviction in the Lord. And that conviction was what was leading his life. Was not about the offering or the environment he was in, it was about maintaining the conviction he had. He was a man of integrity, you know? And then on chapter number six, when the enemies tried to find something to accuse him, they could not find. So let's accuse him on something that he will, that we are sure that he's gonna do. That is his faith, that is his praise, that is his worship to his God. So they tried to find something in his faith.

And then when we see, when we look to Daniel, conviction, Daniel's influence in Babylon, we see that even though he had influence, he still had the conviction, a stronger conviction. He did not try to do anything else, but just to serve the Lord. If you remember chapter number two with the king Nebuchadnezzar, he interpreted the dream of the king Nebuchadnezzar. And he still gave all the glory to the Lord. Chapter number three, it's gonna talk about the fury furnace. And that's a great also story to say that God's power is present in Babylon. In chapter number four, we will, Daniel will speak the truth to king Nebuchadnezzar, even though that could cost his life. In chapter number five, he speaks the truth to king Belshazzar, even though that could cost his life as well. And then in chapter number six, he's being examined and they could find no ground. So what a life, imagine this, over and over and over again, this man is being almost persecuted. There's so many things happening against his life, but he still was found full of integrity because he had a conviction, you know? And integrity is not the claim that we have no weakness, is the refusal for us to live a double life.

Because when you have a conviction in the Lord, you gotta follow that conviction. You gotta follow what the Lord tells you. You don't change according to the circumstances, even if that will cost your life. Even if that will cost you a good deal, apparently a good deal, an apparent good deal, you don't live according to that. You live according to what the Lord tells you. You live according to the Lord's direction to your life. And that's why the enemies couldn't find any failure in his character. They went to his faith. But for you and I today, let's ask ourselves, when nobody's checking, when we are at work and nobody's checking, do we still work our best? Because Daniel had an extraordinary spirit, and he was doing with excellence everything that was given to him. When we are at home, are we the same person that we are in public? With words, so, are the same words that I speak in front of people the same words that I speak on their back? In private, does my private life support my public testimony? Is there any area in our lives that we've been negotiating that are non-negotiables? That are non-negotiables?

Because integrity will cost. Integrity is costly, but it's never, never negotiable. We cannot negotiate integrity. But as we look to the Daniel's life, we gotta be careful because again, the purpose is not to say we need to live a life just like Daniel. We do not, we should not pretend that our life should look like Daniel. When we look to God's word, to the mirror of God's word, we definitely gonna find places that maybe there are some inconsistencies that are hidden habits, that are words that we should not have said, that are, Actions that we need to confess that are places that maybe you're living different from your conviction. You're living a double life. But the answer is not, you know, to hide. The answer is not just to hide that part of your life. The answer is run back to Christ. Go back to Christ. Because in Christ, because of his faithfulness, you can be whole again. You can be restored. You know, our hope is not that we have been always faithful. Our hope is that Jesus Christ had been perfectly faithful. He has been perfectly faithful. And because of that, we can always be restored. 1 John chapter 1 verse 9 says that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us. Romans chapter 8 verse 1 says this, there is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ. So if God's showing you something today, we do not need to hide. We do not need to pretend. We just need to not stay the same. We need to go back to him. We need to come to Christ. In Christ, there is forgiveness for our failures, cleansing for our compromise, and grace to stop hiding and start walking in truth. And that's a life that counts. You know, we sing, and I said that in the first service, and we sing just a few minutes ago, my whole life for your glory, my whole life, my whole world for you only. We sing, if my days tell the story, let it be for your glory. You know, if I look at my life, there are places that things are not the way I want.

And maybe you do too. I don't have everything I want. But you know what? If my life tells his story, if my life counts for his glory, that's the best life I can have. That's the best life I can have. And that's for you and I. He has a story to write through our lives. Do you think Daniel wanted to leave all this? After knowing that God will do all this, probably he would. I don't know. Just guessing here. But the truth is, no matter what you're passing through, no matter what you're going through, if your life tells God's story, if your life tells that God's working power through you, tells about that working power of God, that's what really counts. That's where it really matters. That's why God calls you and I for integrity. For us to live with integrity, go back to your convictions, go back to what God has called you. Go back to your calling. Don't live for yourself. Live for God. Because that's the best life that you can have. Second and very important aspect that we see in the life of Daniel, that God used him, that God used that aspect to show his glory, is faith. And faith is a devotion that cannot be interrupted. So Daniel chapter 6 verse 10 says this, now when Daniel learned that the document was signed, he entered his house and his roof chamber, he had windows open toward Jerusalem. And he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and offering praise before his God, just as he had been doing previously. So faith is the devotion that keeps God's first, when obedience becomes costly. And this is beautiful to study about the life of Daniel because you see that, let me give you a backstory really quick here. So authorities were looking for something to blame Daniel and they could find no thing. So they have this great idea. Let's go to the King, King Darius, and tell him, hey, why don't you just place a decree that everybody that worships this, worship other God than you, they should be thrown in the lion's den. So king thought, okay, great idea. Let's create that decree. So he creates the decree, he signs the decree. So everybody that would worship other God than not the king will be thrown in the lion's den. And that's exactly what happened to Daniel. But the Bible tells us in the verse 10 that we just read that when Daniel heard about that, what is the first thing that he does? He goes back to his house and pray. Daniel show us that the most important thing was his relationship with God. And the circumstances could change even though it could be threatening to his life, he was still faithful to God. That was his lifestyle. And like I told you,

this doesn't start here. Daniel didn't start praying just because the things became a little bit harder for him or because persecution was coming against him. Not because of that, he had this life before. And because he had this life before, he was able to respond in prayer. He was able to continue to have this life of prayer and relationship with God. So whatever we do in private reflects in public. Whatever we leave in private with God will be reflected in public. It's beautiful to see because the crisis did not create Daniel's faith. The crisis revealed Daniel's faith. And that's the calling for you and I today. How is our prayer lives? How's our worship? Are we really putting God first? Because I recognize there are so many things that can come in between us and God. What are the things that are maybe interrupting our relationship or devotion to God? Some of us, it's our busyness. Some of us, maybe your tiredness, your fear, you're fearful and you don't go to the Lord. Maybe comfort, you're too comfortable. Maybe disappointment. So you're disappointed on God, you're disappointed for something else. Or maybe you're trying to please everybody around you, but not please God. So the question is, do we seek God daily or only when we have a problem? Do we pray first or we just tried everything else and then we go and pray? Do we obey God only when it's easy or we obey God when it costs us something? And that's where faith becomes real to you and I because when we tell the truth and that costs, we do that because of our faith, because we love God, because we know this is the right thing to do. When we need to tell the truth and that will disappoint maybe somebody that we love, but we need to say the truth. When following Christ will make you misunderstood, maybe by your work colleagues, but you're going to follow Christ. You're not going to do things because everybody else is doing. You're going to do things because of your conviction of the God whom you love. When you choose between comfort and conviction, and you choose conviction, even though it's going to cost your comfort. But if you see in the life of Daniel, even though he was a man of faith, he still went to the lion's den. He still went to the lion's den and that means a lot to us, because faith is not faith to say, God is going to prevent me from going to the lion's den.

Faith says, even if I go through the lion's den, God's going to be with me. That's what faith is and that's the kind of faith that God is expecting and giving to us today. Is that faith, even though we pass through hard situations, even though we are persecuted, even though we're going to lose some deals, we're going to lose some agreements, we may lose some relations. relationships. But we're going to be truthful. We're going to be faithful. We're going to be faithful to the conviction that we have, be faithful to the Lord. And, you know, if we see Jesus, Jesus, a lot of times he would withdraw, he would withdraw himself from the crowd to pray, to keep relationship with God, with the Father. And the reason that he would do that, being the son of God in an earthly life, is because he loved his communion with the Father. He loved being with the Father, nurtured that relationship. And that was his conviction that more important than see the crowds cheering and happy because he made miracles here and there, the most important thing was being close to his Father. So a lot of times there were parties because he made this great miracle, but he still withdrew himself and went to talk to the Father because that was the most important thing he could do. And I'm telling you, this is the life that God, that pleases God, is a life that knows that your faith is in him. And no matter what happens around you, you keep your faith in him. In fact, Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6 says that without faith it's impossible to please him. Maybe you're here today and you think, my faith doesn't look like that. My prayer is not, my prayer life is not that consistent. I have fear. I let fear, let dizziness, disappointment interrupt my devotion. And I've been not putting God first. But again, the answer is not hiding from God. The answer is running back to God. Their answer is go back because just like God was speaking through Daniel to pagan kingdoms, to people that didn't deserve, to people that wouldn't worship him. God speak to us saying, my sons and my daughters, you know me and I love you so much to let you on your own. Your best life is with me. Come back. Do not hide anymore. Do not let little things decide what is, is there any part of your life that you need to surrender right now to the Lord? That you know that you being far from him, that you know that you need to bring to his altar and say, Lord, change this right now. The days today, the life change happens today because God is calling you. God is calling you. Hebrews chapter 12 verse 2 says that Jesus is the

founder and perfecter of our faith. So he's not just giving you faith. He's going to perfect that faith as you keep going back to him. So it's not about being perfect. It's not about having a perfect faith and, and all the time it's about going always back to him and trusting him. Remember Hebrews chapter 4 verse 16 says, therefore let's approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help for help at a time of or need. So today, if your devotion has been interrupted, Christ invites you to return, come back son and daughter of Christ. Come back. That's your calling. Come back. He's invited you back because he wants the full of you. He wants your heart completely. He wants your life completely. Is there any part of her life that you need to surrender to him? That's your time. That's your time. Throughout this, we see that faith is not just a reaction to danger. Faith is a lifestyle. It's a rhythm that we see in Daniel's life, Daniel's life. And that's the rhythm that God expects from you and I as well. Last but not least, we see in Daniel's life, humility. So we see humility, and humility in this case is the influence submitted to God. We're going to read the verses 21 to 23 together. Then Daniel spoke to the king, O king, live forever. My God sent his angel and shut the lion's mouth. And they have not harmed me since I was found innocent before him. And I also told you, O king, I have committed no crime. Then the king was very glad and gave orders for Daniel to be lifted up out of the den. So Daniel was lifted up out of the den and no injury or whatever was found on him because he had trusted in his God. You know, humility does what is right and trust God with the outcome. Because like we said, Daniel had influence. In fact, the Bible would say that the king had so much care for Daniel that when he needed to be thrown in the lion's den, when he realized, he got desperate. He went back home and he fasted. He had no entertainment. He couldn't sleep through the night because he was concerned that Daniel would be killed by the lions. But he could not deny his decree anymore. He could not do that anymore. Even when he throws Daniel into the lion's den, he says this, Daniel, may your Lord, the one you serve, save you from this. And that's exactly what the Lord does. But my point is, Daniel had all the influence, but he still decides to not manipulate, to not use his power to find the outcome he wants. And sometimes, how many times you and I,

if we have the power, we're going to twist the situation to make the outcome we want. We need to use our influence, submit it to God, surrender to him, just let him do his will. Daniel didn't use his power to change the outcome because he knows that his life was not on the king's hand. It wasn't a king of king's hand. King's hand. It wasn't a king of king's hand. And you know that your life is the king of king's hand. He's the one that says, when you're going to go to live with him in eternity, there's not anybody here. It's God. And you can trust God. But let me ask you a few questions. When we have authority, do we serve, do we use the authority to serve or to control the situation? When people listen to us, do we use words that will honor God or just to protect ourselves? When we are misunderstood, do we tell the truth in peace or we manipulate the story? When we cannot control the outcome, do we still obey God? Do we still obey God when we cannot control what's going to happen next? Humility says, I'll do whatever is right and I'll leave the outcome with God. That doesn't mean that we never speak. That doesn't mean that we never take action. That doesn't mean that we let people do wrong without wisdom and responsibility. But that means that we refuse to use simple methods to get the result we want. Humility refuses to manipulate what faith has already placed in God's hands. And if we're honest, many of us, maybe we have struggled with this. We feel afraid and we want the control. We want to do something about that. We want to control the outcome. When we feel accused, the first reaction is to defend ourselves. When we feel wrong, we want revenge. When the outcome is uncertain, we feel tempted to manipulate so we can have the outcome we want. But I want to remind you to look through the cross of Jesus Christ. In Philippians chapter 2, verse 5 says this, have this attitude yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus, who was already existed in the form of God, did not exist in the form of God. not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a bond servant and being born in the likeness of man. Verse eight, in being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by become obedient to the point of death and death on a cross.

Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, he had all the authority, but he did not use his power selfishly. He was falsely accused, he was mocked, he was rejected, he was condemned, but he still trusted the Father. That's true humility. So if there's any areas in our lives that we've manipulated, controlled, retaliated, used or influenced selfishly, we do not need to hide. Christ knows everything. It's time to go back to him. Just say, God, make me whole again. Whatever I lost trust in you and try to control, try to take the steering wheel of my life, wherever it is, just allow me, just help me to be wise and give again the steering wheel control to you because you're the one that knows everything. We in our limited minds, we feel like sometimes we know more than God knows, but God knows your future. God knows why he created you. God knows why he put you in the family you are. God knows why he put you in this community. God knows all this. So why we're taking control of all this? And he just let God take the steering wheel and drive our lives.

So humility is influence surrender, not abused. It's trusting Lord for the outcome. It's doing what's right and trusting God for the outcome. And we're gonna finish by reading chapter six, verse 25 and 27. It says this, then Darius the king wrote to all peoples, nations and populations of all languages who were living in all the land. May your peace be great. I issue a decree that in all realm of my kingdom are to tremble in fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God and enduring forever. And his kingdom is one which will not be destroyed and his dominion will be forever. He rescues, saves and performs signs and miracles in heaven and on earth. And he who has also rescued Daniel from the power of the lions. So Daniel chapter number six does not end by saying, Daniel is great. All the historical part of the book of Daniel ends by saying, the God of Daniel is great. So my question is, when people look to our story, will they see that our God is great? What is the type of life that we are trying to live? Is to make our name great or is to make his name great? And I know you want to live that life. I know you want to make his name great, whatever your goal.

And you know why I know? Because he brought this word to you today. That's the word he brought to me. That's the word he brought to you. That's what he did through Daniel's life. That's what he wants to do through your life. Daniel's life prepared the testimony, but God's deliverance in that lion's den just revealed his loving power through him. It's not to exalt Daniel, it's not to exalt any man. No, it's not to exalt any man. It's to exalt God. Amen. Let's stand up together. Praise Jesus. Praise. Jesus it's beautiful to see how Daniel throughout the whole entire book kept integrity kept the faith and kept humility he was always being found in the middle of the kingdom to be a help help to the king to the Kings God always honored him because of his heart he that didn't say that he didn't pass through hard situations actually the entire book shows him passing through hard situations but the reality is God was with him all the time every time God was with him so whatever you're at right now that's a promise to you God is with you my brother and my sister just surrender your heart to him sir surrender who you are to him and I'm sure he's gonna bless you he's gonna use you powerfully it's worth it to deny to reject some something that it's appealing but it will compromise your faith it's worth it to quiet all the distractions and keep your faith to him and keep your devotion to him it's good to not have your hands on the steering wheel and let him drive your life let's pray together put your hand on your hearts let's pray together father thank

you so much for your word thank you for speaking to us this morning father we pray that this word father just find a place on our hearts father let us create roots and bring fruits to you father we pray father that even though the circumstances around us changes father let us be found with integrity father we pray that even when obedience father becomes costly to us father we pray that we continue to choose to obey you father we pray that whenever our influence is tested we don't use that for on our own benefit father we listen to you and we do what you want father we pray that you continue to bring your people closer to you father that our brothers and sisters father that were able to look themselves in the mirror of God's Word today and they were convicted father and I pray that you just bring them back to you father let them see father that you love them so much and that's the reason you brought this word to them today father let them see that you have a new life father without the compromise let them see father that you have a beautiful and powerful story to write through them through every single one of them because that's what you did with people that didn't deserve father with people that were far from you we still did still have done that father and you're still doing because it's not about people it's about you your name being glorified we love you and this we pray in Jesus mighty name and all God's people in the house come on say hey man amen let's give it up for Jesus all right all right all right praise God praise God I hope that message really creates roots in your heart bring fruits to the Lord thank you so much once again for coming we will have the prayer team coming forward so if you have any prayer request if you committed your life to Christ today or if you're just recommitting your life to Christ today we want to pray with you or maybe you just have a regular prayer request come forward we want to pray with you also if you haven't been baptized yet we have baptisms going on at the end of this month and we want to invite you to go online find more information and join us for baptisms okay amen all right I'm gonna pray for you play a blessing over you and you have a good Sunday father thank you so much for every single

person here for coming and always blessing us with your amazing presence thank you father for our brothers and sisters that just came to worship you for speaking your word father continue to to remember to remind us during this week father that your will is perfect father that you have great plans for all every single one of us but we pray that we we actually get excited for your word for everything that you have for us and when we go home and open our Bibles father just let those words speak more than mere words speak close to our hearts bring us have revelation bring us enjoyment of your word we praise you and we pray in jesus mighty name and all god's people in the house come on say hey man amen amen god bless you everybody have a good weekend