Real Life/Real Faith - Sermon #5

A Co-Laboring Faith

Text: Daniel 1

Introduction

We would all agree that a personal faith is individualistic. My meaning is that if faith is going to be placed, exercised and grow, it must be a surrender of each individual heart. However, don’t think so individualistically that you come to a understanding that you are ON YOUR OWN in your personal journey of trusting the Lord in real life circumstances.

We will journeying through three connected accounts of real people. Before we jump the the individual stories, let us take the time today to see how God himself allowed a time of co-laboring together before each had their separate moments of real life challenges.

1) Four Men Who Walked With God

When reading about the time prior to Babylonian captivity, God was already stretching their faith.

Before Babylon captured them, the last few kings did nothing but evil in the land of Judah.

God finally retracted his mercy and allowed Babylon to capture the people.

However, even though these men did live under some wicked rulers, they stilled lived in a land where they could worship in the Solomon’s temple.

The place of communion with God and the promise of God’s presences was always there to lift their spirits and keep them centered on God.

We now come to a time when the temple was not within sight.

The vulnerability of their faith weakening and growing distant from God was increasing.

Thankfully, these men of faith had each other to lean on throughout the current and future attacks on their faith.

Application

It is vitally important that every marriage be a partnership to propel one another forward.

The trials of your faith and its intensity will grow whether you are readying yourself or not.

2) Four Men Who Where Challenged

Remember, God had given them dietary laws to follow.

Before they were challenged, you will find that it appears that the king is being very generous to them.

If we look closer, the king is merely using them for his own purposes.

The king even changed their names to adapt them into their pagan culture.

The culture wanted/pushing them to adapt to their way of life (a blended paradigm)

It could be easy to think otherwise and yield yourself to living with this idea that you OWE the world (society who apposes God) something.

One thing these four men did not forget (nor did they let each other forget) was that it was GOD ALONE who gave them their capabilities and personal qualities.

No matter how much the king might be generous, these men helped each other remember they owe the world NOTHING!!!

Application

Our society will always provide God’s people with all the necessary tools to blend in and not cause any disruption.

Acts 17:6 “6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;”

Ask yourself, “Why does this scriptures instruct us to be CONFORMED to the image of Jesus?”

Romans 12:2 “2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

3) Four Men Who Trusted God

After receiving the generosity of the king, there was a DECISION to make!

Do we reject the king and potentially get ourselves killed?

Do we reject the king and trust God to work out the details?

Notice the pattern of Daniel:

Before Daniel made a move, there is no doubt he revisited his purpose, calling, integrity and influence (the other three men).

Daniel 1:8 “8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”

Daniel’s words were spoken from a two-fold purpose: Personal & Partnership.

If there are going to be JESUS CENTERED PRIORITIES in your life, it will be YOU who will have to set them!!!

This was Daniel’s best YES & NO.

Daniel was not privy to the details God had worked out in the heart of the prince of the eunuch, but all he needed to do was TRUST GOD to work.

Notice verses 9-16

Due to trusting God to work out the detail, all Daniel had to demonstrate was STAY TRUE TO GOD!

Trusting God with the details, is the same as removing the fear that could potentially lead to doubt God!

It is far easier to let God when the battle of the heart, than for you to win the body over the body.

All four men APPLIED themselves, yet trusted God to equip them and empower them.

GOD HAS DONE THIS FOR YOU!!!

4) Four Men Who Were Blessed

Notice verse 17

God never fails to bless you and equip you when you fully yield yourself to Him.

Thankfully, Daniel understood that trusting God in the present, opens you up to be ready for how you must trust God tomorrow.

Notice verse 19

“therefore stood they before the king”

Something you will find in your Christian life that is never ending; When you trust God here and now, He will always equip you to end up on your feet and ready for what is to come.

Notice verse 20

What better position could these four men be in?

This was not the work of these four men, but the God whom they all trusted!!!

Conclusion

You must ask yourself this question: What do you want your story to look like on the other end of your current circumstance, challenge, trouble, doubt....?

You might think that what stand in front of me right know is just too big for me to escape. You my friend have the wrong approach!!! God is not someone who is only strong enough for you to run away, but He is strong enough for you to be a light for the gospel as you walk through it.

Dear friend, God has possibly given you a spouse, family and church family. It is imperative that you allow those blessings to help you grow your faith. Real life is always present! Will your faith be???