Greater Things Changing the World

Sermon Quick Summary
At South Bay Community Church, we are entering our final week of annual Prayer and Fasting. In this message, we are continuing our theme of Greater Things focused on Changing the World. The essential truth to anchor us is: God is still in control and gives us confident hope in the present darkness of this broken world. In Daniel's day, the Lord gave King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah bringing many Israelites into slavery in Babylon as a result of the providential judgement foretold to Israel. Unpacking the scripture, Daniel and his friends were ripped from their homeland and taken to the Babylonian empire as captives with attempts to strip them of their identity. There is an important distinction that modern day Daniels Changing the World face the sin of greed, racism, and dehumanization. People with God's call on their lives in Changing the World have the lessons from African American history of faith in God's will and ways. Aligning with God can cost social rejection or isolation, professional consequences, public criticism, or personal discomfort. God is with us, whatever the cost. There are five divine invitations to be like Daniel and the countless others who have gone before us to Change the World for Greater Things. 1. Exhale. 2. Listen in Prayer. 3. Align with God's Word. 4. Commit and Stay the Course. 5. Be Courageous.

At South Bay Community Church, we are entering our final week of annual Prayer and Fasting.
 If you haven’t joined us yet, it is not too late. There’s still time to lean in, draw near to God, and align your heart with the Lord's heart for the greater things Jesus promised His followers; these promises are available through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. So far, we’ve explored Greater Things & Connecting with God. Minister Paula Fuller encouraged us to deepen our love relationship with God through spiritual practices and rhythms that enable us to experience more of God’s power and presence in our lives. Minister Philip Thompson invited us to consider Greater Things & Growing Together in community. That message reminds us something uniquely special occurs when 2 or 3 are gathered in Jesus’ name.
 
In this message today, we are continuing our theme of Greater Things focused on Changing the World.
 Changing the World is a paralyzing notion with injustices, reversals of beneficial programs, and political turmoil occurring now all around us the past few weeks. Even though changing the world is part of our mission, it’s a daunting notion. When we see so much social injustice, political turmoil, and environmental crises all around us, the idea of changing the world can feel despairing, even paralyzing, especially in the divisive political climate we find ourselves in now.  One has only to follow the headlines from this week alone to be aware of the unprecedented number of controversial executive orders already signed. For example, the Defense Intelligence Agency recently ordered pause on special emphasis programs. These programs paused include Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday, Black History Month, Women's History Month, Holocaust Days of Remembrance, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Pride, Juneteenth, Women's Equality day, National Hispanic Heritage Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and National American Indian Heritage Month, and the elimination of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. The inequitable redistribution of power and wealth and the deep fear that plagues brothers and sisters around immigration and deportation is unfolding before our eyes. We are in very deep trouble as a nation not following the heart of God. Also,, there are a myriad of social and environmental concerns. The devastation from the fires in Southern California is heartbreaking requiring a long-term vision and commitment to rebuilding, restoring and healing for the people and the land. Locally in Fremont, there is a battle waging to criminalize the unhoused.
 Recent events reflect problems within our world and our nation in general. It can leave us wondering: "What difference can I make? Does it even matter if I try?" The world feels heavy; our nation feels heavy; even our personal lives may feel heavy.
 
The essential truth to anchor us is: God is still in control and gives us confident hope in the present darkness of this broken world.
 The same God who created the heavens and the earth is at work. God looks to us as followers who are God's hands and feet to align with God's work and make an impact for greater things. History repeats itself. As Solomon wisely wrote in Ecclesiastes, "There is nothing new under the sun."

In Daniel's day, the Lord gave King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah bringing many Israelites into slavery in Babylon as a result of the providential judgement foretold to Israel.
 The Bible remains our steadfast guide as a testament to God's unchanging presence and power. What can we learn today from Scripture to give us hope and direction for this present darkness? Let's read Daniel 1:1-11: 1"During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god. 3Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. 4'Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,' he said. 'Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.' 5The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service. 6 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. 7The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego. 8 But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. 9 Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel. 10 But he responded, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.”11Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

Unpacking the scripture, Daniel and his friends were ripped from their homeland and taken to the Babylonian empire as captives with attempts to strip them of their identity. There is an important distinction that modern day Daniels Changing the World face the sin of greed, racism, and dehumanization.
 For several decades, prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah had warned the children of Israel repeatedly about their disobedience, idolatry and injustice. Eventually, judgment came in the form of Babylonian conquest. In 605 B.C., King Nebuchadnezzar surrounded Jerusalem and took the first wave of captives to Babylon. Among these captives were young men from the royal family and nobility Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. It is likely they were teenagers approximately 17 years old. Think about this. Teenagers were ripped from their homes, families, and everything familiar. They were placed in a foreign empire with an agenda to strip their identity and reshape them into loyal servants of Babylon. The Bible tells us they were enrolled in a rigorous three-year program to learn the language, literature, and culture of the Babylonians with the goal of serving in the king’s palace. King Nebuchadnezzar’s plan was for the Hebrew boys to be completely assimilated and acculturated into the Babylonian way of life in every way. Daniel’s capture and forced relocation to Babylon reminds us of the experiences of our African brothers and sisters during the transatlantic slave trade. While Daniel’s exile was a result of his nation’s historical context and prophetic fulfillment, the enslavement of African people was rooted in human sin.
 Greed, racism, and dehumanization are sins that persist today. Enslaved Africans and other oppressed people faced unimaginable cruelty and systemic efforts to erase their cultures, preserved dignity, heritage, and spiritual strength. Daniel and his friends held on to their identity and their trust in God even in a foreign land. Their faith and resilience birthed spirituals, movements for justice, and cultural legacies that still inspire and strengthen us today. God’s presence was evident not because God caused the suffering, but because God was present through that suffering. Working for justice, restoration, and greater things is the key to giving us hope for this broken world now. As followers of Jesus, we too are foreigners in a strange land; this broken world is not our home. The darkness of this world is trying to assimilate and acculturate us. We can relate to Daniel. .So where was God in Daniel's story? God was right there with Daniel. God was present even in exile orchestrating events behind the scenes. Our God is sovereign over every king, empire, and president.
 "The Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into Nebuchadnezzar's hand” (Daniel 1:2). God was never absent; God was actively working out God's purposes even in their providential judgment. As we continue through Chapter 1, we see Daniel’s defining moment. Despite the pressure to conform, Daniel "resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine" (Daniel 1:8). This wasn’t just about dietary preferences: it was a matter of his faith and commitment to God. It is likely the royal food likely violated Jewish dietary law (perhaps having been offered to idols). Daniel’s refusal was a courageous stand to maintain his spiritual integrity. The Bible says God had already given Daniel favor with the chief of staff, who genuinely liked Daniel but was fearful. The chief worried that if Daniel and his friends looked weaker or less healthy than the others, it would cost the chief of staff his life as the one responsible.
 Daniel did not give up; he didn’t quit at the first no. In verses 12-14, we see Daniel approached the guard appointed by the chief of staff and proposed an alternative solution: He proposed a ten-day test where they would eat only vegetables and drink water. God honored Daniel’s conviction. Verse 15 states that at the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. So their persistence and perseverance paid off. and they were allowed to continue their diet.1.Which is where we get what is often called the Daniel fast. .By the end of Chapter 1, we see that God didn’t just sustain them, but God elevated them. Verse 17 records that God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.18When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service. Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom. This is the same God we serve today. This is simply God’s way. Even in exile, even in seasons of chaos, oppression, injustice, and hell on earth, God is present even when we don’t see God or feel God. God was at work in and through Daniel and the other young men. Daniel’s faithfulness led to favor and influence. The same God who worked through Daniel wants to work through us to change the world for greater things. Friends, that’s good news should be an encouragementi.to us. It may look dark, but God is still God

People with God's call on their lives in Changing the World have the lessons from African American history of faith in God's will and ways.  
 Andréa Crouch sang, “Through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus, I've learned to trust in God." Trials and struggles are the unavoidable result of sin in this world. God is still on the throne. Hardships that are personal, social, national, or global may feel overwhelming, and we may be frustrated, fed-up, and fighting mad at what is happening around us. But we have biblical testimony and a history of faith within the African American experience to remind us of God's sustaining power of perseverance and resilience when we follow God's ways. Sometimes God uses frustration and anger as a catalyst for us to greater things to change the world for God's Kingdom.
 Consider the life of Rev. Richard Allen (1760–1831). Born into slavery in Philadelphia, Allen purchased his freedom and1.became a powerful preacher during a time when racial oppression sought to silence Black voices. Despite facing discrimination even within the church, Allen refused to compromise his faith or identity. When he and other African American worshippers were forcibly segregated during a prayer meetinga.at St. George’s Methodist Church, Allen and his companions walked out in.an act of courage and conviction. Born out of that experience, Allen founded .the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, the first independent Black denomination in the United States.
 Allen's leadership was rooted in the same kind of faith and resilience that we see in Daniel. He stood firm, trusted in God's calling, established a movement that would provide spiritual refuge, and also advocated for justice and equality. Like Daniel, Allen's life teaches us that conviction and courage in the face of adversity can change the world. His story is a testament to how God can use ordinary people to do extraordinary and greater things when we align with God's plan, will, and ways.
 A critical truth is that it is not our strength, influence, platform, or power. It is about standing in God's truth, having the courage to act in partnership with God, and trusting that God's Holy Spirit will work through us giving us the strength, influence, and platform. When we align with God's purposes, we become vessels of God's transformative power, like Daniel and Richard Allen.
 
Aligning with God can cost social rejection or isolation, professional consequences, public criticism, or personal discomfort. God is with us, whatever the cost.
 Challenging the world's status quo can mean facing social rejection or isolation.  Taking a stand for biblical values in workplaces, schools, or families can lead to being misunderstood, ostracized, or the loss of friendships. Standing firm in our faith can have professional consequences. Refusing to engage in unethical practices or speaking out against injustices can cost job opportunities, promotions, or even result in termination. Standing firm in our faith can result in public criticism. Speaking truth to power, advocating for justice, or sharing an unpopular biblical stance can invite harsh criticism, especially in the era of social media and cancel culture. Criticism from those we deem as brothers and sisters in Christ can be especially painful. Standing firm in our faith can mean personal discomfort because we are required to step out of our comfort zone or stand with marginalized communities even when it challenges our worldview.
 Our strength is that God is with us, whatever the cost. God's Kingdom cannot be shaken. Jesus declared that in this world we will have tribulation, but be of good cheer for Jesus has overcome the world.
 
There are five divine invitations to be like Daniel and the countless others who have gone before us to Change the World for Greater Things.

1. Exhale.
 When you hear disturbing news pause, take a deep breath, and exhale. God is on the throne. We center ourself in God's Presence. In a breath prayer, You can inhale: God in on the throne, then exhale: God's Presence is near. We are not alone, and God's Spirit is as close as our breath. Psalms 46:1-2 says, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea." Whatever it may look like, God is working.

2. Listen in Prayer.
 Prayer is not just about speaking. It is about listening. What would God have me to do? Sometimes God leads us to act, and other times God calls us to wait. Either way, God's guidance anchors us. Jeremiah 33:3 says, "...I will tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." God tells us what we need to know. Listening in prayer is the primary invitation.

3. Align with God's Word. 
Align your heart and actions with Scripture, even when it goes against the cultural grain. See Romans 12:2. Fasting helps us quiet the noise of the world so we can hear God's voice more clearly. Prayer and fasting prepare us to step into the greater things God has planned for us.
 
4. Commit and Stay the Course
 Staying the course means trusting God in the hard moments as well as the easy moments. See Galatians 6:9. Learning to trust God is similar to growth of a bamboo shoot. After planting for the first few years nothing seems to be happening as you water, nurture the soil, and wait. Beneath the surface the roots are spreading wide and deep with strength to support later rapid growth. Later the unseen growth makes sudden strong growth possible.
 Similarly commit to God's work even without immediate results. Stay the course and God's faithfulness will break through with strength and power in God's prefect timing.

5. Be Courageous.
 Step boldly wherever God sends you. Opportunities to step boldly can arise in your family, your community, or beyond. See Deuteronomy 31:6: "So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you." Faith in God can change the world for greater things. Rosa Parks exhibited courage and conviction when she refused to give up her seat on the segregated bus in Montgomery Alabama in 1955. Rosa Parks wrote “I was not tired physically, or no more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day. I was not old, although some people have an image of me as being old then. I was 42. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.”
 
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FAMILY GROUPS
Sermon Quick Summary
-For further explanation of any statement in the Quick Summary, review that section and consider the questions for that section.

At South Bay Community Church, we are entering our final week of annual Prayer and Fasting.
In the series of sermons the past few weeks during Prayer and Fasting, what has resonated with you to include in your spiritual practices?

In this message today, we are continuing our theme of Greater Things focused on Changing the World.
-What attempts by some at changes in your community, nation, or world have been around you recently that have disturbed you as not reflecting the heart of God? In what ways might the divine God, the divine Son Jesus Christ, and divine Holy Spirit be inviting you to change the world?

The essential truth to anchor us is: God is still in control and gives us confident hope in the present darkness of this broken world.
-What examples have your awareness that God and humans have consistency throughout the Old Testament, New Testament, and in the present day so that history has a way of repeating itself and the biblical accounts apply in our lives today?

In Daniel's day, the Lord gave King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah bringing many Israelites into slavery in Babylon as a result of the providential judgement foretold to Israel.
Unpacking the scripture, Daniel and his friends were ripped from their homeland and taken to the Babylonian empire as captives with attempts to strip them of their identity. There is an important distinction that modern day Daniels Changing the World face the sin of greed, racism, and dehumanization.
-What is the relationship between God and people called to change the world? Why is it important not to apply God’s judgement on Israel to people called to change the world in following God’s will and ways?
-In what ways did Babylon try to strip Daniel and his friends from Judah of their identity? How are the Babylonian methods similar to techniques of oppression today. How did Daniel and his friends respond?
People with God's call on their lives in Changing the World have the lessons from African American history of faith in God's will and ways.

-Describe examples that are meaningful to you of anyone who followed God’s will and ways in the face of opposition, brokenness, or anything contrary to God’s will and ways?

Aligning with God can cost social rejection or isolation, professional consequences, public criticism, or personal discomfort. God is with us, whatever the cost. How has aligning with God impacted your life at the cost of social rejection or isolation, professional career consequences, public criticism, or personal discomfort?

There are five divine invitations to be like Daniel and the countless others who have gone before us to Change the World for Greater Things.
-Which of the five divine invitations resonated most with you? In what ways do you sense God inviting you to respond?