Abundant Life Sermons

What is your view of God? Do you see Him as a distant deity or a cosmic Santa? We need an accurate view of the Lord Almighty. We must get rid of any error in our thinking about who God is and ask Him to explode the boxes we have put Him in to have an accurate view of ourselves and the world. Your view of God will never be clear until you see Him Biblically. God has preserved His Word so that you can know and see Him. He is not a God of confusion but of clarity. Pastor Chad Glover says this, “You need a Biblical vision of who God is so you can accurately see things the way they are meant to be seen.” 7s | Daniel 7 Reveals 7 Ways to See God 1. See His eternality 2. See His purity 3. See His authority 4. See His majesty 5. See His victory 6. See Christ clearly 7. See His royalty Does this align with your view of God? When you see God accurately, it impacts the way you live. It causes your heart to swell with adoration, and the only response is to worship. Join us at Abundant Life as we seek His Kingdom first and discover the Biblical truth of who God is. Connect with us on Social Media ↴ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels   Connect with Pastor Phil ↴ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/ Web: https://livingproof.co/resources/books/ Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/   More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/ Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/

What do those 4 beasts represent? What is their significance? Pastor Phil at Abundant Life Church explains and applies Daniel 7 to our culture today. What Did 4 Beasts Represent? 1. One like a lion, which represented Babylon 2. One like a bear, which represented Persia 3. One like a leopard, which represented Greece 4. The fourth was “dreadful and terrible,” which represented a “reborn” Roman Empire. This will beast will come at the time of the end with an alliance of ten nations—led by the “little horn,” the antichrist What do all these kingdoms have to do with us? Everything. We are all part of a kingdom. We are either part of the world’s kingdom, which eventually falls or part of God’s Kingdom, which is everlasting. Who Has Dominion? The Bible says that, because of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, Satan now has dominion in this world. He has hijacked the kingdoms of this world and deceived many. But the Bible also tells us that these kingdoms will fall. Then the King of Kings—Jesus Christ—will establish a kingdom on earth of everlasting dominion. Who Is Your King? Which Kingdom Do You Serve? Are you fully surrendered to the lordship of Christ? The Kingdom of God has to do with the rule of Jesus in your heart. The heart is the throne room of your life. We all have more than one allegiance, loyalty, and loves. The question is this: Which one is your priority? Join us at Abundant Life as we seek His Kingdom first and discover how to set Him as ruler in our hearts. Connect with us on Social Media ↴ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels   Connect with Pastor Phil ↴ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/ Web: https://livingproof.co/resources/books/ Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/   More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/ Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/

Daniel in the Lions’ Den - Daniel 6(Picture of Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand)Daniel 6 takes place in 536 B.C. The Babylonians have fallen and the Persian Empire has risen.Daniel did what he had always done. He chose to stand up and wound up in a lions’ den. Proverbs 28:1, “The righteous are bold as a lion.” Daniel is now a very elderly man, but God calls on him one more time to take a stand.The lions’ den is a place of darkness where we are devoured by fear, worry, and anxiety prepared by our enemy. 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”Why was Daniel as “bold as a lion” even in a den of lions?1) Daniel had the character of God.Daniel 6:1-5, It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. 4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”Daniel’s godly integrity made him a threat to his enemies! They hated him for his honesty and integrity and burned with envy and jealousy. They feared Daniel. (See Proverbs 28:1)Proverbs 28:1, “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” (Media only)Because of Daniel’s godly character, he never changed his “colors.” There are many “chameleon” Christians in the world today that try to “blend in” to their surroundings.”(Video of chameleon changing colors)Daniel 6:6-10, So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! 7 All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.2) Daniel had confidence in God. Even when he knew a law had been signed making it illegal for him to pray to his God under penalty of death, he continued to do it with his windows wide open for all to see!Daniel’s courage to live for God came from his confidence in God. He was faithful to God because he was full of faith in God.When you trust in God’s sovereignty, you can live with certainty in a world gone crazy. Daniel was confident in God’s sovereign control over his life. He knew God’s plan for him was perfect even if the cost was high. Daniel 6:11-17, Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” 14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.” 16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” 17 Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.3) Daniel was consecrated to God.You are consecrated to whatever you are willing to die for. You do not have a faith worth living for if you don’t have a faith worth dying for. “A faith that can be destroyed by suffering is not faith.” –Richard WurmbrandDaniel 6:18-23, Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” 23 Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.God promises a resurrection when we choose a life of consecration. The prize will be worth whatever the price. Connect with us on Social Media ↴Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels Connect with Pastor Phil ↴Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/Web: https://livingproof.co/resources/books/Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/ More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/

May 15, 2022When God Crashes Your Party - Daniel 5Daniel 5 records the events of October 12, 539 B.C. – the fall of Babylon to the Medes and Persians.Daniel 5:1-4, Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand. While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.Death was literally knocking at the door, but Belshazzar was partying when he should have been praying. He knew Babylon was being besieged, but he had a false sense of security inside the fortified walls of the city.In a defiant act against God, Belshazzar got the sacred cups stolen by Nebuchadnezzar to use for “booze.” He was using for wickedness what God designed for worship. He was using the sacred for something sinful.Belshazzar was in God’s face. When you get in God’s face, you are about to lose God’s grace. Belshazzar had crossed the line. When you reject the grace of God, all that is left is the judgment of God.God literally crashed Belshazzar’s party and the “handwriting was on the wall.”Daniel 5:5-8, In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other. The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; and he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” Now all the king’s wise men came, but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation.Belshazzar pictures the one who lives as if this life will last forever, and this life is all that matters. They reign temporarily as kings over little kingdoms made of dust that will one day rust, decay, and fade away!Luke 12:20, But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?”Mark 8:36-37, For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?Daniel 5:13, 16-18, Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?...And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation. O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor.Daniel 5:22, But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this.Why did God crash Belshazzar’s party?1) He chose not to remember God. (See Romans 1:18-25)2) He chose not to revere God. (See Proverbs 15:25)Belshazzar pictures the one who deliberately rejects God’s grace and mercy. When you reject God’s forgiveness and grace, all that is left is God’s wrath and God’s judgment. (See Matthew 12:31)Matthew 12:31, Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.Daniel 5:24-30, Then the fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written. 25 “And this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 26 This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; 27 TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; 28 PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.” 29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 30 That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. If you die without Christ, the “handwriting is on the wall.”Like Belshazzar, your life will be judged by God — “weighed and found wanting.” Connect with us on Social Media ↴Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels Connect with Pastor Phil ↴Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/Web: https://livingproof.co/resources/books/Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/ More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/

Heidi St John is our special guest sharing about biblical motherhood. Connect with us on Social Media ↴ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels   Connect with Pastor Phil ↴ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/ Web: https://livingproof.co/resources/books/ Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/   More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/ Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/

C.S. Lewis said, “Pride leads to every other vise: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.” We all struggle with pride. It is God’s mercy to rob us of it. Pride whispers, “You don’t need God. You’re the king. You can fix yourself.” Sadly, pride robs us of joy, security, peace, and so much more. It is God’s heart to restore all that pride robs from us. In Daniel 4, God teaches us about the issue of pride. King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that reveals a problem he faces: pride. Because we each deal with pride, we each have a decision to make, just like Nebuchadnezzar. Turn to the one true God and follow Him or continue to follow ourselves. The choice is ours. Discover how God humbled Nebuchadnezzar and restored what pride stole from him. Join us at Abundant Life as we seek His Kingdom first and discover how to enter Jesus' eternal kingdom and the promises that come with it. Connect with us on Social Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels Get additional resources for a Daniel Bible Study Get the FREE Daniel Bible Study to go with this sermon series: https://livingproof.co/ministry/danie... Get additional teaching to go with sermons: https//livingproof.co/Daniel-Series Connect with us on Social Media ↴ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels   Connect with Pastor Phil ↴ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/ Web: https://livingproof.co/resources/books/ Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/   More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/ Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/

There is a purpose of trials in Christian life. First Peter 1:6-7 says, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” The purpose of trials in Christian life is this… · The testing of faith · To reveal a heavenly inheritance that does not perish · To glorify Jesus Christ Many fires you walk through in life aren’t because of something you did wrong but because of something you did right. Take heart, because there is purpose in trials. They purify your faith into something far more lovely and precious than gold. Want to hear more about the purpose of trials and how to walk through them with confidence? DISCOVER 3 EXTRAORDINARY THINGS YOU GAIN IN A TRIAL… Join Abundant Life as we study Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego’s journey in the fiery furnace. At Abundant Life, we seek His Kingdom first and discover how to enter Jesus' eternal kingdom and the promises that come with it. Connect with us on Social Media · Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/ · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels Get additional resources for a Daniel Bible Study · Get the FREE Daniel Bible Study to go with this sermon series: https://livingproof.co/ministry/danie... · Get additional teaching to go with sermons: https//livingproof.co/Daniel-Series Connect with us on Social Media ↴ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels   Connect with Pastor Phil ↴ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/ Web: https://livingproof.co/resources/books/ Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/   More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/ Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/

Jesus is the resurrection and the life, but what does that mean? It means God takes what is dead and makes it alive. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26) Jesus, having all authority, is the only One with the power of resurrection. The story of Lazarus’ death and resurrection is a magnificent display of Jesus’ authority. In John 11, Jesus proved He was the Anointed One, the Son of God. This was His last miracle before He went to the cross to be the resurrection and the life for those who believe. He rose Lazarus FROM the grave before He headed TO the grave. But what does this mean for you? “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”—Romans 6:23 Lazarus is a picture of us. We are dead in our transgressions and sin, but Jesus’ death covers us so that we can be made alive! Discover your story in the story of Lazarus. It is time to be made alive and be free from the wages of sin! There is one critical question you must answer… Do you believe this? At Abundant Life, we want to see your life changed by Jesus. We would love to talk to you more about what that looks like. Head over to livingproof.co/nextsteps and tell us a bit about you and how we can answer questions or help you take your next step. Connect with us on Social Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels Connect with us on Social Media ↴ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels   Connect with Pastor Phil ↴ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/ Web: https://livingproof.co/resources/books/ Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/   More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/ Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/

As New Testament believers, we don’t think much about how Christ is in the Passover. However, when we understand this part of history and its significance for believers, our faith grows. Jews for Jesus joins Abundant Life and explains Christ in the Passover through the Passover Seder. What is a Passover Seder? The “Seder” is the Hebrew word for “order.” It is the order in which the Passover feast is celebrated! This is the same ritual and tradition Jesus observed the night before His crucifixion. “Then He said to them, ‘With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer...”—Luke 22:15 The Seder takes you through each of the Passover elements, symbolism, and meaning for all those in Christ. Jews for Jesus says, “Christ in the Passover shows the link between the ancient Festival of Redemption and Christ as the Lamb of God—your church members will never forget it!” Check out Jews for Jesus: https://jewsforjesus.org/ Discover the elements and what they symbolize. Grow your faith and deepen your understanding of Christ's atoning sacrifice. Connect with us on Social Media ↴ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels   Connect with Pastor Phil ↴ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/ Web: https://livingproof.co/resources/books/ Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/   More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/ Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/

We all will walk through the fiery trials of life. Sometimes the fire of trials we walk through isn’t for doing anything wrong, but for doing everything right. Sadly, we often think that as a Believer we should have a life of ease. Jesus said He came to give us abundant life, yes. But this does not mean He gives us a life free from adversity. Using Daniel 3 and the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego as the teaching passage, discover 3 ways you can walk through the fire of trials in your life and be full of faith. Connect with us on Social Media ↴ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels   Connect with Pastor Phil ↴ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/ Web: https://livingproof.co/resources/books/ Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/   More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/ Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/