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The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6\xa0 (NIV) You cannot antagonize and influence at the same time. A new command\xa0I give you: Love one another.\xa0As I have loved you, so you must love one another.\xa035\xa0By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35\xa0 (NIV) 2\xa0If I have the gift of prophecy\xa0and can fathom all mysteries\xa0and all knowledge,\xa0and if I have a faith\xa0that can move mountains,\xa0but do not have love, I am nothing.\xa03\xa0If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,\xa0but do not have love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3\xa0 (NIV) Let love be your greatest aim\u2026 1 Corinthians 14:1\xa0 (TLB)\xa0\xa0

3\xa0Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.\xa04\xa0At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges\xa0against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. \xa0They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.\xa0Daniel 6:3-4 (NIV)

1. Have an EXCEPTIONAL CHARACTER

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\u201cYou are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14\xa0\u201cYou are the light of the world.\xa0A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.\xa015\xa0Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.\xa016\xa0In the same way, let your light shine before others,\xa0that they may see your good deeds\xa0and glorify\xa0your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16\xa0 (NIV)\xa0

5\xa0Finally these men said, \u201cWe will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.\u201d Daniel 6:5

10\xa0Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward\xa0Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees\xa0and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.\xa0Daniel 6:10 (NIV)

1. Spend TIME WITH GOD

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1. RESPECT other people\u2019s FREE WILL

16\xa0So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions\u2019 den.\xa0The king said to Daniel, \u201cMay your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!\u201d\xa017\xa0A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel\u2019s situation might not be changed.\xa018\xa0Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating\xa0and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.\xa019\xa0At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions\u2019 den.\xa020\xa0When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, \u201cDaniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?\u201d

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1. Love well as you SUFFER WELL

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21\xa0Daniel answered, \u201cMay the king live forever!\xa022\xa0My God sent his angel,\xa0and he shut the mouths of the lions.\xa0They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.\xa0Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.\u201d

23\xa0The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound\xa0was found on him, because he had trusted\xa0in his God\u2026

25\xa0Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language\xa0in all the earth:

\u201cMay you prosper greatly! 26\xa0\u201cI issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence\xa0the God of Daniel. \u201cFor he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed,\xa0his dominion will never end.

27\xa0He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.\u201d

28\xa0So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus\xa0the Persian. Daniel 6:1-28 (NIV)

Big Idea:\xa0 What\u2019s at stake here is our ability to influence culture for the kingdom of God\u2026 it\u2019s never done through any other way\u2026 than when God\u2019s people STAND FIRM AND LOVE WELL!

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