Sermon Notes

1. We are living in some of the most dramatic times in history; Jesus referred to times like these as “birth pains” which would intensify and become more frequent His return gets closer.
2. What I am teaching may save your life/protect your soul…it’s how to be a wise bridesmaid of Matt.25 and fully prepared for the ET.
3. What is God doing?
   1. He is maturing and uniting His Son’s Bride. Before Jesus returns, His Bride on the earth will reflect Him to the earth! The Bride of Christ will be a visible expression to the world of Jesus! When the world looks at her, they will be looking at Jesus. Many have turned away from Jesus b/c of the Church (full of sin, compromise, lukewarm, no power, etc), but in the End many will turn to Jesus b/c of the Church and many will persecute her.
   2. Eph.4.13-16 – THIS IS WHAT GOD IS DOING NOW!!!
4. The maturing of the Bride of Christ and Babylon the Prostitute.
   1. The rise of both the Beautiful Bride of Christ and the Brazen Prostitute Babylon. These two ladies are emblematic of two Kingdoms, the KOG and kingdom of darkness; mature/abiding believers & sinful/rebellious unbelievers. 
   2. The Bride of Christ and Babylon the Prostitute are maturing at the same time! They are coming into the fullness of their destiny at the same time in history.
   3. strong>Before the Jesus returns, The Bride of Jesus will be strong, beautiful and mature. Jesus is not returning for a weak, immature, lukewarm Bride!!
   4. Babylon wants to assimilate and control you through compromise, so that you take upon her beliefs and practices and if you do not submit she actively persecutes you.
5. Daniel is a prototype of how we must live in this hour of history. He and his three friends are the example of how the Bride of Christ lives during the ET culture. 
   1. They show us how to live a supernaturally powerful life while being tempted and persecuted by a culture that tries to control through compromise or domination.
6. How do we live in Babylon? 
   1. Whiteboard Illustration from 8.9.20. Handwritten notes.
   2. Jeremiah 29 explains how to live.
   3. Video – The Way of the Exile from The Bible Project
   4. Live wholly, holy for Jesus
      1. Dan.1 – No compromising their Biblical values. Wholly, whole-heartedly, for Jesus. All the days of your life. WE have a 60-70 year snapshot of Daniel’s life.
      2. Holy – Dan.9. Reading the Word of God and God bringing conviction. He spends time confessing & repenting of sin for himself and his people. 
         1. Repentance opens the door for encounter and revelation. Sin blocks and it’s not just our sin, but the sin of our people (family, church, community, nation).
   5. Live with conviction and courage – Dan 1 – 6.
      1. AS they pressed into God and His truth, God responded with supernatural insight and power. 
      2. They lived for the Lord and they were not private about it. It’s just a part of life.
   6. Have a “Really Big Picture” mindset 
      1. We serve a really big God and He know how to get people’s attention– Dan.2, 4-5. 
         1. He uses dreams, experiences, straight talk; he is not limited by anyone or anything. 
      2. We are part of a huge story – Dan.7-12. Daniel sees behind the scenes and it rocks his world. 
         1. There is an ongoing battle between good & evil that manifest itself in the earth. Dan.10
         2. You were born on a battlefield. Highlight the conflict on the whiteboard.
         3. Your prayers, words, attitudes and righteous actions are making a huge difference. They are shifting atmosphere & culture. They are opening doors for the activity of God in your family, community and nation.  
            1. Daniel & his friends lifestyle was making a huge difference
   7. Anticipate human persecution and expect God’s supernatural power – Daniel and his friends were persecuted & Daniel saw that God’s people would be persecuted in the ET.
      1. Not everyone was excited about Daniel or Jesus or you. They were persecuted and they only wanted to do God’s will. As you follow God’s will, anticipate that not all your family, friends, etc will like it and some will in fact persecute you.
         1. Dan.11.32-35
      2. Supernatural Power
         1. Dan.2 – words of knowledge when facing death
         2. Dan.3 – words of conviction from the Spirit & divine protection
         3. Dan.4 – words of knowledge & wisdom
         4. Dan.5 – words of knowledge & wisdom
         5. Dan.6 – divine courage & divine deliverance
         6. Dan.7-12
            1. Supernatural encounters – dreams, visions, angels, answers/insights, 
            2. Supernatural strength – Angels strengthening God’s people (8.18, 10.18f)
            3. God’s power being demonstrated through you will shake people and leaders. There will be no denying the presence of God in our lives. I believe that as the Father matures His Son’s Bride she will begin demonstrating the power of Jesus on earth. The world will see in her the same power they saw in Jesus.
   8. Know that you are precious to God – Dan.9.23, 10.11, 19