This is the first of two posts from Chris Hodges “The Daniel Dilemma: How to Stand Firm & Love Well in a Culture of Compromise” taken directly from its final pages providing both light and reassurance. John Maxwell penned the following “The Daniel Dilemma inspires us as it convicts, reminding us that the desperate, hurting people around us don’t need to be proven wrong – they need Jesus . With tenderness and strength, compassion and clarity, Chris Hodges shows us how to be humble servants of God, just like the prophet Daniel, influencing our culture instead of being consumed by its humanistic hunger. This book is a field guide to effective interactive living amongst the citizens of our broken 21st century world today – a must read!”
“Being a person of godly influence in an ungodly culture requires much more than just a personal opinion and a Bible verse. It requires a vibrant deep-seated personal faith and a sustaining intimate relationship with God, along with an ever-present reliance on him as your daily power source and guide. In fact, based on what we’ve seen exemplified by Daniel, here is a short list of what we need to do to get started on being a person of influence in our culture:
Know our God-given identities (Ch 1)
Settle our core values (Ch 2)
Be ready to stand our ground in the tests of life (Ch 3)
Worship God (Ch 4)
Don’t worship other gods (Ch 5)
Give our lives fully to Jesus (Ch 6)
Identify our pride (Ch 7)
Put our feelings in their proper place (Ch 8)
Give God control of our lives (Ch 9)
Understand the brevity of life (Ch 10)
Focus on our priorities (Ch 11)
Heed the warning signs of weariness (Ch 12)
Learn how to connect before we correct (Ch 13)
Let God change us into his likeness (Ch 14)
The attitudes and decisions from these chapters need to be in our hearts and minds before we take on the world around us. They equip us in ways that simply can’t be attained through any other means. They compel us to grow closer to God and to use this closeness as the motivation for how we stand up in a “bow-down world.”
As God does a work in us, we become vessels that he can use to impact others. Loved by God, saved by his Son, and empowered by his Spirit, we can influence the culture around us two major ways: spiritually and relationally. We need first to be prepared spiritually, and then we can engage in cultural relationships with maximum positive impact.
“We humans are triune beings: body, soul, and spirit. It’s the spirit part of us that is like God and will live forever. And because each and every person has a spirit and is made in the likeness of God, we will always be on a spiritual journey. Like homing pigeons constantly returning to their nests, our spirits are continually in search of their Creator. This innate spiritual part of us explains why we are the only part of creation that worships. And it’s also why we need to fight the cultural battle spiritually.
How do we do that? The same way Jesus did. He came face-to-face with the Devil when he was tempted in the wilderness (see Matt. 4 and Luke 4), and every time the Enemy tried to tempt him, Jesus responded with a verse from the Bible. He used the Sword of Truth to defend himself from the Enemy’s attacks. Think of it this way: Jesus didn’t confront the Devil as God. He confronted the Devil as a man with the Word of God. We should do the same thing. Because each and every person has a spirit and is made in the likeness of God, they will always be on a spiritual journey.
Here are five scriptures and five model prayers we can pray (make them your own) for the people God has given us to influence:”
1. Pray that the Father would draw them to Jesus.
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them” (John 6: 44).
I remember the day I gave my life to Jesus. I had been in church my whole life, but this day was different. Something was stirring inside of me. I’m still not sure how best to explain it. I just knew that God was dealing with me, and I needed to respond. There was this natural, magnetic pull to the truth of the gospel—an invisible, irresistible tug on my heart. This is something God does, not something we can make happen out of our own striving, so we need to be faithful in praying that the Father would draw those he’s placed on our hearts to Jesus.
Father, I pray for the people around me, that you would supernaturally draw their hearts to you. Send your Holy Spirit to them, and give them the desire to give their lives to you. Help them to recognize their longing for more as spiritual, as a thirst only you can quench. Open their ears to hear your voice.
2. Bind the spirit that blinds their minds.
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4: 4).
The truth can be right in front of some people, and they still can’t see it. That’s because something is in the way. Something is blocking their view of God. We can pray against whatever is in the way, though, so they can see the light of God. We can pray that they would see the truth without any obstacles or distractions interfering.
Father, bind the evil spirits that are blinding the minds of the people around me in the name of Jesus. I pray that they would be able to see clearly, to recognize who you are, and to give their hearts to you. Remove all hindrances the Enemy would use to distract them from your truth. Open their eyes, Lord, that they might see Jesus.
3. Let loose the spirit of adoption (personal relationship with God).
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father’” (Rom. 8: 15).
Many people think Christianity is just another religion. They only see God through the lens of the organization and institution of the church. They may even feel frustrated, angry, or betrayed by people in churches they have encountered or by religious legalists and their hypocrisy. But God didn’t come to build an organization. He came to have relationship with his children. He wants his kids to come home. Praying for people to have personal encounters with the living God makes a huge difference.
Father, I pray that people will understand how much you love them. Loose the spirit of adoption for the people around me, so that they come into a meaningful relationship with you. Stir in their hearts a longing to come home, to hear your voice, and to see you welcoming them with open arms. Let them know you are always running to meet them and hold them close.
4. Pray that believers will enter into positive relationships with the lost, and pray that we will see the opportunities that come across our paths.
“Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matt. 9: 38).
This one is twofold: we can pray for other Christians to influence the people around them positively, and we can also look for opportunities to influence others positively ourselves. God’s plan to reach people is worked through those who already know and love him. Jesus asked us to pray for people to go into the world and be salt and light. He came to bring the good news of the gospel to all people, and his desire is that everyone would know and love him. As his “spiritual farmers,” we should be attuned to opportunities to plant spiritual seeds in the lives of the people we encounter each day. We may have no idea who has already been praying for them and the culminating impact a kind word, a compassionate act, or a loving attitude can have to draw someone to Christ.
Father, I pray for the lost around me to meet believers who will influence them in a positive way. Lord, let my life shine in such a way that people want to know the God I serve. Allow others to see my genuine love and concern for them in all that I say and do. Let me be your hands and feet to serve them and let them know just how much you love them.
5. Release the spirit of wisdom and revelation on them, so they may know God better.
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” (Eph. 1: 17).
It’s that “eureka” moment. That “aha!” when it finally clicks. It happens in class when you suddenly understand the math equation or how something works. The most important moment for it to happen is when the lights come on spiritually. People need to see their own sin, see what Jesus did on the cross, and see the hope that comes from giving their life to God. They need wisdom, not just knowledge, of spiritual things and insight into how spiritual things directly impact them.
Father, I pray for the people around me to experience the spirit of wisdom and revelation. I pray that they would truly understand their spiritual condition and see what Jesus did for them on the cross. Help them to have the information and experiences needed to come to you, so they can understand all you have for them.”
I suggest you study these five scriptures & prayers from the book beginning Pg. 235 to guide you in become a shining light for those persons deceived by the globalist agenda & postmodern culture.
The above is so pertinent for resourcing believers to help others exit their pitch black caves as we are empowered! Contact me and I will email you the documents for distribution, or even better, buy the book and prepare! The next post is equally vital beginning on Pg 240. Continued Blessings As You Go Forth>>>> merlin