Men's Brekky — May 2

1

We're All Facing Something

2–3 minutes · Opening

My sense is that we're all facing something. Some of us have many things. Maybe just one. Without exposing you — some of us are dealing with:

Immigration
Heartbreak
Debt is mounting up
Anxiety is weighing on you
Insecurity is looming

Pause here — ask "Someone add something else?" Let the room breathe.

Declaration

I believe today God is going to breathe his fresh life into you.

There is a fight and a resolve on the inside of you — choosing obedience, choosing not to back down. I believe I'm in a room filled with men that will take the first step into the unknown, for the sake of others and your intimacy with Jesus.

I believe men are called to be the ones to Go First. To lean into the fight.

2

The Exile — Introducing Daniel

3–4 minutes · Context

Set the scene: Israel is in exile. Everything feels foreign. Draw the parallel — exile feels like:

A wilderness season
Work and finance pressures
Family situations weighing heavy
Feeling distant from God
Responsibility that feels more than you can handle

Babylon's goal was to reshape identity — renaming them, retraining them. This isn't an identity talk, but it's important context: the pressure to conform was real.

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine.” Daniel 1:8

Key Word

Resolve — being firmly determined, having made a firm decision. It indicates a strong intent to act.

I want to speak into the resolve we all have here as men. My prayer is that men are filled with a new resolve to approach the hard circumstances in front of you. The wilderness.

3

My Wilderness

3–4 minutes · Vulnerability

Things at home were weighing heavy on me and getting me down:

Pressures of adding new kids
Wife was going through post-partum depression
Business was haemorrhaging clients — losing income and confidence
Fights were picking up in the home
Post-partum body changes, eating habits
Feeling alone with it all

When all this was happening, I felt like I was being swallowed up in my circumstances.

Honest Moment

You need to stop throwing the pity party.

Ps Sam gave me some practical feedback: “Have you tried saying sorry first? Speak value into your wife. I hear you complaining about your wife's eating habits, her mental or physical state — but how is your workout routine? I hear your business is taking a hit.”

He was saying: Go First.

4

Go First — The Shift

3–4 minutes · The Turn

At first this felt like marriage advice for husbands. But deeper down, what God was doing in me was speaking to my resolve.

There is a call of leadership on us as men to lead.

Don't wait for something to change
Don't wait for another pity party
Don't linger in your sin

Speak This

Be the head and not the tail. You are called to lead, men.

I want to assault the weak, defeated, no vision, no fight man inside you. It looks like:

Sleeping in
Negative self-talk
Complaining
No prayer life
Comparison and no action
Doom scrolling
No self-control — letting your mind think about that girl or that dream or sit in porn
No sacrifice
Selfish living. If you can't name at least 2 people you are serving, that's a problem

It's ironic — leadership books like Simon Sinek's say “leaders eat last” or “the first will be last.” I believe if you make a decision, be a man that is resolved.

Life Declaration

You guys are thermostats of your families, your connect groups, your worlds. Not thermometers. You set the temperature — you don't just read it.

5

Daniel's Resolve in Action

3–4 minutes · Landing

Daniel was resolved — and look what happened each time:

Chapter 1:8, 15, 19–20 · Discipline

Resolved in eating & looking after his body

Led to lifestyle change for all leaders. Found to be 10x better in wisdom and knowledge.

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself in this way.” Daniel 1:8 (NIV)

“At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.” Daniel 1:15 (NIV)

“The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.” Daniel 1:19–20 (NIV)

Chapter 2:17–19, 23 · Prayer

Daniel prayed

That night God answered and saved all the leaders in the land.

“Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision.” Daniel 2:17–19 (NIV)

“I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.” Daniel 2:23 (NIV)

Chapter 3:16–18 · Obedience

Resolved to worship no other idol — even at the cost of their lives

God delivered them and gave them even more promotion.

“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, 'King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'” Daniel 3:16–18 (NIV)

“Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.” Daniel 3:30 (NIV)

Chapter 6:10, 25–27 · Faithfulness

Resolved to keep praying no matter what — when it didn't make sense

King Darius wrote to the entire kingdom to worship God. A small private action impacted a whole city in public.

“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened towards Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” Daniel 6:10 (NIV)

“Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth: 'May you prosper greatly! I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures for ever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth.'” Daniel 6:25–27 (NIV)

Don't wait, men.

Go First in laying your life down
Go First in discipline
Go First in prayer — and watch God move
Go First in looking after your body well

Close with prayer / response moment.

Going First