Courageous Fathers

Courageous Fathers

Daniel 1:8-16

Theme: God shows us the marks of a courageous father.

Welcome to Father’s Day here at Mountain View Baptist Church. We are delighted to have you in attendance and welcome especially to you fathers. I am thankful for the men of our church. We had a good time at the Men’s Campout two weeks ago with some of you who were able to attend this year. We didn’t have to bathe and ate all we wanted and ran away from wild animals all in one camping trip. LOL

If you are a first-time guest, thank you for being with us today. Pray for several of our church family traveling on vacation this week and over the next several weeks.

Fatherhood and manhood are under attack in our world. If you try to man up these days, you will be questioned and your motives will be suspect. Being a man is not enslaving everyone around them so we can control them. This is a lie in the world who wants to eliminate the Biblical role of Fatherhood. There is nothing wrong with being a man and if there was, why are there women trying to be men.

The Bible answers this confusing culture for the believers in Romans 12:2 God gives a warning about the motives of the world:

“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.” (Romans 12:2)

If you wanted ice to be shaped into a particular design, the best way is to pour in the water into a mold and freeze it. God is telling the world has created its mold and it is trying to forced believers into its mold. This mold is not designed by biblical principles but by worldly philosophy that is counter to God. There will be a ton of resistance when you refuse to be molded into this way of thinking. Not only in the way of thinking but in the way of living.

Being a Christian man means we are going to molded and shaped by the Bible rather than the world.

The Babylonians had conquered Jerusalem and they have taken prisoners back to Babylon. According to vv. 3-4, four Jewish men were handpicked, some of the best and re-educate them into Babylonian lifestyle. This lifestyle is a life void of living according to God’s Word. Babylon is a picture of worldliness and ungodliness which is being pushed on us today through TV, news, social media, court systems, and political leaders. This woke culture is seeking to force everyone to bow to them. The LGBTQ is not seeking just seeking approval but demanding acceptance and adoption.

Currently over our state capital the governor ordered the pride flag to be flown. A flag is flown over a city or building to support what the flag stands for. As a voter and concerned citizen, I take objection to being placed under the banner of the pride flag. There is no pride flag over our city buildings which I confirmed with the city council. If they did, we would go fill up the council chambers and give our disapproval.

There will be a great deal of opposition to be courageous when you stand for the truth of God’s Word.

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12)

God shows us through the life of Daniel marks of a man who lived courageously. While Daniel is not a father here, he possesses courage which every believer needs. Fathers, men, and believers, we are being called upon these days to live courageously.

The marks of courage are found in this passage through the life of Daniel which is not just for men, fathers, but for all believers.

Mark 1. . . .

Purposed to do right

There was a time in his life, where someone told him that life was more than following the trends of this world. He needed to live for something much bigger and much greater than what he sees around him. He met Jehovah God and his life changed. Here is where we meet Daniel so there is not past history of his personal salvation when he turned to God, but we see in his life an obvious commitment to God’s will.

The starting place with doing right is when you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. This means we recognize our goodness and our religion will not give a relationship with God. We must turn from our sins and accept Him as our personal Savior. We must turn from our sin and unto Christ as our only Hope because He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again for us. Will you accept Him as your personal Savior? John 1:12

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12)

God invites you to turn unto Him. Once you become a believer, you will desire to live for God, to follow Him.

Here Daniel purposed means he had convictions to do right. Think of it this way: “conformers” are people whose lives are controlled by pressure from without, but “transformers” are people whose lives are controlled by the power of God within. Daniel and his friends were transformers.

Their convictions were to do right and give themselves wholly to the Lord. Even though they were 800 miles from home and nobody would even know if they were to eat something against Jewish law, they still obeyed. The Jews were forbidden to eat certain foods such as pork because of God’s law. From what we can read in the New Testament, God has lifted that prohibition for spiritual reasons, but there are some foods that should be considered for health reasons.

Daniel knew his heart was totally surrendered to God. It was his purpose along with his friends to live for God. It is a matter of the heart to do right. This is the reason laws don’t legislate righteousness. a man’s heart must be transformed by the power of God.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

A heart that loves the Lord, trusts the Lord, and therefore obeys the Lord has not difficulty making the right choices and trusting God to take care of the consequences. When you choose between God’s Word and conforming to the world, God will bless His people.

Joe Mazulla is head coach of the Boston Celtics and takes every opportunity to give a gospel witness.

God is looking for men, women, teenagers, and children who will go against the cultural direction of the world and purpose to do right. Purpose to follow God’s Word and if God’s Word says do it, we do it. If God’s Word says, we don’t, then we don’t.

Our purpose should be to glorify God.“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

God is looking for courageous men who will not let the world steal their children, rob them of their manhood, and do right regardless of the outcome. Being courageous means we have convictions that lead us to live for God in a pagan culture.

Mark 2. . .

Respectful to authorities

These four men were friendly and recognized that the Lord was working in this situation. Instead of expecting a pagan Gentile officer to obey the Law of Moses and get himself in trouble with the king, they took a wise approach and asked for an experiment.

We should not seek to compromise but seek wisdom on how to stand respectfully on truth.

“When a man’s ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” (Proverbs 16:7)

Throughout Scripture you will find courageous people who had to defy authority in order to obey God, and each case they took the wise and gentle approach.

“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:18)

These courageous men had to resist the law in order to obey God and through their testimony spoke to the man’s heart. Verse 9 attributes God giving them favor in the prince of the eunuch. They didn’t threaten anybody, stage a protest, or burn down a building. They were respectful and treated Melzar with respect. The test was to eat only vegetables and drink water for 10 days.

“And though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God has willed his truth to triumph through us. The Prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him. His rage we can endure for lo his doom is sure – One little Word shall fell him.” Martin Luther

God worked in the situation by changing Melzar’s heart and making them look healthier and fatter than those who ate the king’s meals.

This is a vivid reminder of being courageous in an oppressive world.

“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.” (Colossians 4:5)

“That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.” (1 Thessalonians 4:12)

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1 Peter 3:15)

When it comes to facing major opposition to living for God, we must ask God for courage to face the problem humbly and honestly, the wisdom to understand it, and the faith to trust God. Our motive and desire is not to get out of this but what can I get out of this?

“Stand up, stand up, for Jesus; the trumpet call obey; forth to the mighty conflict in this his glorious day: ye that are men now serve him against unnumbered foes; let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.” George Duffield, Jr.

Mark 3. . .

Prayed to God daily

The courage to do right will always lie at the throne of God. It is there where we can go directly to God. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

We will need the power of God to be courageous because the world will send the biggest giants against us.

Years ago there was preacher named Lester Roloff. He was a tremendous man of God and had a backbone like Daniel. God had given him a ministry to get the gospel to trouble teens. The state of Texas began to investigate his policies in the Rebekah Home for Girls. The were trying to force a state license on him to control what he teaches and how he leads the ministry. He refused and went to court by the state of Texas. While there are many accusations made towards him and his ministry policies, he stood on what he believed was right based on God’s Word.

In South Carolina, there was a ministry connected with the Rebekah homes which was also under investigation. I sat in the court room to hear arguments that David Gibbs if CLA defended in those days. This ministry was found innocent of all charges.

Being courageous is not something we put on, it is God-given to us through prayer. You have not because you ask not. Courage is needed today to live for God in a world that is not against us but wants to attack us. Courage starts and is strengthened in prayer with God. Will you decide today to come to the altar and seek Him for courage?

Or perhaps you need to come to Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. There will be someone in the back to show you to know Jesus as your Savior.

John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides, used to crouch outside his father’s bedroom door to him pray. He wrote, “if everything else in religion were by some accident blotted out, my soul would go back to those days of reality. For sixty years my father kept the practice of family prayer. No day passed without it, no hurry for business, no arrival of friends, no trouble or sorrow, no joy, or excitement ever prevented us from kneeling round the family altar while our high priest offered himself and his children to God.” Paton’s father was a farm laborer.

Families need to take time with God. Men, you will not be courageous until you learn the secret of prayer. We are in a spiritual warfare and our nation is being hijacked by wicked leaders who hat the God we serve. May God help us to have the courage to stand for our homes, our families, our children, and our church.

Be assured the battle will rage, but it will be worth the battle. Jesus is our captain and He will give us the victory.