The Power of Ministry Groups
Preached on February 20th, 2005 at 11:00AM by Pastor Brian Greene - 00:39:58
Listen to the sermon: The Power of Ministry Groups
Daniel Chapter 2:17-19 and 23 (New Century Version):
(17) Then Daniel went to his house and explained the whole story to HIS FRIENDS Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
(18) Daniel asked his friends to pray that the God of heaven would show them (together) mercy and help them understand this secret so he and his friends would not be killed with the other wise men of Babylon.
(19) During the night God explained the secret to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. (20) Daniel said:…
(23) I thank you and praise you, God of my ancestors, because you have given me wisdom and power. You told me WHAT WE ASKED OF YOU: YOU TOLD US about the King’s dream.”
In 605 B.C, Babylon invaded the City of Jerusalem in the nation of Judah. During this invasion, they took captive the nation’s best and brightest individuals. Among that group were Daniel, Azariah, Mishael, and Hananiah. The name Babylon means “CONFUSION”. It is from this word that we get the word “to babble.” NOTICE: Confusion will always try to invade your peace (Jerusalem) and your praise of God (Judah).
In the first three chapters we discover how the Babylonian culture tried to assimilate these young Hebrew men into its culture.
Chapter 1 (Confusion Through Diet)
The first King Nebuchadnezzar tries to change their DIET (Daniel 1:8). The World (CULTURE) desires to change our diet toward subjects such as pornography, gambling, same sex relationships, premarital sex, foul language, abortion, etc. The culture tries to mold and conform our thinking by making sin (that which offends God) palatable.
As an example, when I was growing up, certain words such as the three-letter word used for “one’s rear end” was considered foul language. By foul language we mean that one would be penalized by being corrected, punished, or at least a disapproving stare for using such a word. However, the culture has made that word so palatable that it is now used on “censored” television.
Chapter 3 (Confusion through Choice of Deity)
Here Nebuchadnezzar threatens Azariah, Mishael, and Hananiah with death if they do not change the deity (God) who they worship (Daniel 3:12-19). And isn’t this what Satan is really after (Matthew 4:8-11)? The World - OUR CULTURE - seems to always question and challenge who really is God in our lives. Too often we find people leaving their homes as stable Christians for college but returning unsure of whether the God who got them into college even exists.
NOTICE: Babylon (The Culture) has changed their names to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Change a person’s name and you change his identity.
I have found that in each case we see the solution: THE POWER OF SMALL GROUPS. This small (Ministry) group of four young men became so powerful that it impacted a nation. Being reminded that this is “Black History Month”, this situation is similar to how a small group of four African American college students changed the segregation laws by eating at a “White’s Only” lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina in the early 1960’s and added fuel the civil rights movement.
Our Goal is for Ministry Groups to fill in the “G.A.P.s” in the lives of Pentecostal Tabernacle and our members. Rev. Karen in her sermon on February 6th informed us that by GAP we mean that ministry groups are to promote “Growth, Accountability, and Partnership.”
Chapter 2 (Confusion through Threat of Danger)
He has a dream and desires that not only that the wise men of Babylon interpret the dream, but that they also tell him what the dream was in the first place. If this cannot be done then all of the wise men, including Daniel and his friends, will be executed. The small group comes together in order to seek God for the solution and God provides them with His answer to their prayer (Daniel 2:20). Again, we see another example of the power of a ministry (small) group to turn a crisis into a victory.
Look at the names of the members of Daniel’s MINISTRY (small) GROUP:
- Hananiah means “Yahweh has been gracious (favorable).”
- Mishael means “Who is like God?”
- Azariah means “Yahweh has helped.”
- Daniel means “God is my Judge (decision maker).”
Using their names let’s see FOUR THINGS our Ministry Groups should do for you:
- Ministry groups are to your FAVOR (advantage). (Hananiah)
- Because of testimonies declaring “Who is like God?”, ministry groups strengthen one’s FAITH. (Mishael)
- Ministry groups help you to FORM decisions. They provide another piece to the puzzle of your life. (Daniel)
- Ministry groups provide FRIENDS and friends are to help us. (Azariah)
What’s the definition of HELP?
- F urther. (1 Samuel 23:16-17)
- R escue (2 Samuel 11:1-5 è “…and one said…” è Question. Not statement)
- I ntercede for (James 5:16)
- E ndorse. (Proverbs 10:12)
- N ot hinder or obstruct (Matthew 16:21-23)
- D omestics (They care about God’s House). Zeal for God’s House (John 2:17)
- S erve and support (Proverbs 18:24)
