Uncertain In Babylon

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Altar Instructions: Please come up when I begin the 1st of the last 3 sub points during point 3.

Series | Not From Here

Communion

Fine Arts Recognition

Pre-Message Welcome

Grace Place family! It’s awesome to have you here with us today, whether in person or online.

I’m Shawn, and along with my wife, we serve as the Co-Pastors of this incredible church.

At The Grace Place, our mission is clear: we are Caring People, Caring for People.

We pray that you experience God’s care in our time together and in your life.

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A nuestra familia de habla hispana .... Bienvenidos… es-pera-mos que usted… y su familia.. se-sien-tan bien a-tend-idos también.

To our Spanish speaking family... welcome, we hope you and your family feels cared for as well.

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Transition: This week we are starting a brand new series called…

Series | Not From Here

This is a series about the man Daniel, the faithful exile.

We’re going to see in this series how Daniel was taken into captivity from all he knows… we will also see God’s faithfulness in how He strengthen and empowered Daniel to live out his life of faith in a place he didn’t belong.

In fact… Today you might look at the world around you and feel much like Daniel… you might think to your self… “I’m NOT FROM HERE.” The truth is as a believer in Jesus… the Kingdoms of the world do not fit.

So… so.. this creates a tension… a tension between the Kingdom you born into -

No matter the generation you are born into… the country of origin you are born into… the realty is, if you are a believer in Jesus… you are NOT a citizen of this earthly Kingdom… You are… NOT FROM HERE.

In Jn. 18:36… Jesus said… My Kingdom is NOT of this world

Jesus he came to earth… a place he did not belong… he too was - Not from here.

and As a follower of Jesus… You are a part of the Kingdom of God…

The big question of this series is this… lets look at it together on the screen

How can we live in a land that we’re not from?

Both David and Jesus knew how to do this… and I think we might find some comfort as we dig into this series.

Well before we break into Daniel Ch 1… I want to give you a brief backdrop that helps us understand what has lead up in the History of Israel that has lead up to the…. Book of Daniel

Context: History of Israel

See Daniel was an Israelite… a part of Gods chosen people.

For quiet some time… The people of God had been divided against one another - the they we’re broken up by the SSIG & NSIG’s that is… The SOUTH SIDE Israelite Gangsters & NORTH SIDE ISRAELITE Gangsters.

It would be much like what we see amoung the church today… The Pentecostals over on one side… and the Liturgical Church folks on the other.

What we do know about both the North and the South… is that over-all they had both been in rebellion against God. This book focuses in mostly on Gods Judgement over the South-side Tribe (Tribe of Judah and Benjamin) who was living in rebellion in Jerusalem…

Check this out… Good had warned them of what would happen if they said in Rebellion…

In fact Isa 39:6 prophesy’s Gods coming Gods judgment because of their rebellion by saying…

Isaiah 39:6 ESV

Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord.

Here is what is interesting about this prophacy from Isa.

He prophesied this around 100 years before Daniel and his friends were taken into exile.

Babylon was NOT even a world power yet…

Check this out… the current world power… the Assyrian Empire had already taken Northern Isreal into captivity at this time…

So… The Southern Kingdom had witnessed what it looks like to be taken into captivity… they knew the wreckage that would come their way… but they ignored this warning… and did not seem to be shaken at all.

Eventually… as Babylonian Kingdom began to gain power and influence… Daniels and his friends we’re caught crossfire and their land was taken over…

Babylon rose to great power… over threw Daniels home land… in Jerusalem, - they destroyed the Temple of Solomon… took all the treasures in the Temple we’re eventually taken into pagan temples for Pagen use…

The reason for the captivity was to cripple Gods people so they could not grow back in the coming years and stur up revolt…

Daniel Biblical Theology Comments

This was wild because for 800 years… Israel had been known as the land of promise.

This leads us to Daniel Ch. 1…

Have Reader Read???

Daniel 1: 1-21

Daniel 1:1–21 (ESV)

Daniel Taken to Babylon

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem(Daniels hometown) and besieged it.

2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah (Who gave the King of Juda over to King Neb? Right… the Lord) into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God (Solomons Temple). And he brought them to the land of Shy-nar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.

3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah(Han-uh-nye-uh), Mishael(Mish-a-el), and Azariah(Az-uh-rye-uh) of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego. 

Daniel’s Faithfulness

8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.

9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.

13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s food. 16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. 

17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. (Who gave them the special abilities in Babylon?-Right God)

18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.

Daniel - lived out the rest of his days - in Babylon… from about the age of 14-90 years old….

I bet if Daniel could speak he would say.. NOT FROM HERE -but this is how God is making himself known here.

***Feel free to encourage people to listen to the Holy Spirit speak to them personally as the message is preached

LETS PRAY

YOU CAN WALK OFF THE STAGE WHEN YOU SAY AMEN

Transition: the title of our message today is...

Sermon Title | Uncertain in Babylon

We see in v. one of our text that becuase of Israels disobedience to God they we’re carried off by the Sougherventy of God becuase of their disobedience to the Torah - Gods law.

Danile was now in a land of Uncertanity.

Have you ever been uncertain before?

Introduction

Daniel knew exactly what living in Uncertainty was like. He spent all his childhood living in his home land. He was dedicated to God in his homeland…

I can’t imagine what it felt like for Daniel and his friends to be escorted off to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar’s military forces.

I remember when Krista and I got the news after 6months of pregnancy that our baby heart beat was no longer there-Krista had had a miss carriage… I remember driving home - Uncertain about what this season of grief would bring us.

Daniel and his friend had to be grieving a loss much bigger than us… a loss of homeland, family as they have been divide up, grieving the loss of what was… and the uncertanity of what life in Babylon was going to be like.

This was a very uncertain walk to Babylon

It’s estimated that they walked 500 miles on foot..

Some scholars say they walked about 15-20 miles a day… which would have taken them 2-3 months.

I can not imagine the despair for many of them,

Transition: the title of our message today is...

Uncertain in Babylon

Everything changed for Daniel and he is suddenly forced into a life of Uncertanity.

Why Daniel? Why was he taken and placed amoung all these people he did not know or relate to?

In ancient times of war… when Kings would take a region… part of their strategy.

King Neb was no fool… he wanted to make sure to capture all the youth that we’re in good shape, he took the good looking, the wise and knowledgable … and anyone who seemed competent to serve the King. He wanted to strip the Israelites from the South of their power and only left behind the weak, the aging, the sick.. who had no chance to rebuilding.

Daniel and his friends are now surrounded by a people they does not know and understand.

Daniel Faces lots of uncertainty in Babylon… and rubber really hits the road IN YOUR NOTES.. WHEN

Daniel enters BOARDING-SCHOOL. 1-7

We see this in v. 5 of our text..

Daniel 1:5b ESV They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king.

Yea… King Nebby… took hostages from Israel…and trained them in the ways of Babylon…

It was as if they got put into boarding school… or taken hostage - into a communist country to brainwash and indoctrinate in the ways of Babylon.

In this three year training school they are given IN YOUR NOTES…

New EDUCATION v.4

Scripture says at the end of v.4….

That he is forced to read and write and learn the literature/history of the Babylonians.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

In this training school they are given IN YOUR NOTES…

New FOODS v.5

Scripture says in v.5

They are given the food of the King…

Temptations where lied before them to disobey the Tora.

We know many of Gods people did not mind at all and consumed what was given to them.

Although Daniel and his friends were Surrounded by Compromise - they did NOT buckel

In this boarding school… they are given IN YOUR NOTES…

New NAMES 7.

There is massive phycological warfare on these young teens.. as their names are taken from them as an attempt to strip them of their Israelite Identity.

Can you imagine no one ever saying your name again…

A given Names - carried a lot of weight in ancient times… its what marked the people of God.

They are no longer called by their Hebrew names and given new names…

Daniel is given the name Belteshazzar

Hananiah is given the name Shadrach

Mishael is given the name Meshach

Azariah is given the name Abednego

Talk about Uncertainty in Babylon. Have you every been there before?

Sadly… many fit right in with Babylon…

But Daniel and his friends refused to Fit in.

Here is the question I believe scripture is inviting us to ask ourselves today…

Question: How do you responded to uncertainty?

This is a great assessment question to determine where you are at as you live an a type of Babylon.

Do you fit right in as many of the Israelite captives did…?

Do you find yourselves numb to the temptations of the Kings foods…

Do you find yourselves un effected by the Conviction of God in Babylon?

In some ways… ok.. get specific…what ways…

Now we know many Israelites who we’re taken into captivity- why - becuase they we’re NOT following God and had been in rebellion… but what about those like Daniel who loved God, served him, we’re still faithful to him.

Can I offer a little balance today…

God dealt with the Israelites based on Covenant Faithfulness.

His judgement came on the Nation of Israel becuase he had a Cov. with the people of this Nation…

We have to be careful when applying Old Testament passages to a people who are under New Cov. Remember we often say in thoughtful bible study.. Covenant Context is important.

I want you to notice… under the New Covenant, we see a shift in how God Judges…. judgment is more universal and eschatological (Something that will fully take place in the End of times) rather than being tied to specific nations.

What we do wee in the New Testament regarding Judgement is:

Judgement is often shifted from National to Individual

Meaning… that every nation with believers bowing in Babylon - they will face the consequences of their choices in the fruit of life… and every on lookers will see the Blessing of God on their life or the Judgement of God in their life due to many of their poor choices.

For the most part the Judgement of God is seen in reaping and sowing

Regarding the End… much of Gods Judgment as we see it in the Old Testament… is reserved for the End…

***So be couscous when the Next Youtube profit comes and says.. JUDGEMENT is coming to America...

Friends we should live faithful to Gods word regardless of Judgement coming or not… the Good news as the people of God you will NOT experiance the Harshest of Gods Judgements.. that is a promise of the End. We’ll talk more about this in the latter weeks of our series…

Here is whats important to know… In fact the very word of Jesu in John 12:47 are

I DID NOT COME TO JUDGE THE WORLD BUT TO SAVE THE WORLD

Church.. UNDER the New Cov… we live in a window of Gods grace… and many of us mistaken the reservation of Gods judgement… as his permissiveness… FRIENDS do NOT fall INTO THAT TRAP (REPEAT)

He does NOT give you permission to do everything that pleases your flesh

We’re talking about…

Uncertain in Babylon

Everything changed for Daniel and he is suddenly forced into a life of Uncertanity.

How does He deal with this Uncertainty? IN your notes..

Daniel had extraordinary RESOLVE. v 8-20

How did Daniel respond to his Babylonian training?

IN YOUR NOTES….

He remained FAITHFUL to God v. 8-16

Daniel resolved that he would NOT defile himself..

Daniel said.. I’m NOT from here… I will NOT eat the food of the Babylonians

He was even willing to be tested… test Gods ways and see if they are NOT better…

He was tested.. and would you know… THAT GODS WAYS WERE BETTER

See if we are not stronger because of it.

I don’t know how you have been tempted lately… I don’t know what food has been laid before you..

I don’t know if you are reading the DELAY of Gods judgment on you as his permission to stay in sin..

But I want to charge you… HOLD on to JESUS in BABYLON…

Babylon will eat you and spit you out if you let it…

But if you HOLD on to God in Babylon…

You will be ELEVATED in BABYLON…

Daniel was found in better shape and stronger than the others that we’re put in training along side him that chose to disobey God and eat whatever they wanted.

Babylon was BLESSED with the WISDOM of God… not because Babylon was pleasing to God.. but becuase God chose to SHINE through Daniel and his three friends.

God will shine through his people… any day… any time… any place… any circumstances.

How did Daniel respond to his Babylonian training?

IN YOUR NOTES….

He remained WISE to the culture v. 17-20

He schooled himself in the Babylonian ways…

He learned whatever they threw at him... why… so he could understand their ways.

He did NOT resist his Babylonian education - He wanted to learn so he could learn the ways - the mindsets - the culture of the people God sent him to REACH and SHINE amoung them.

Sometimes… we reject what we see in culture… we are so afraid it will contaminate us… Daniel did not - he knew being wise to the culture was an advantage. He was NOT off on his own..

But he learned within the accountability of his Hebrew friends -

I don’t recommend going into a Babylonian deep dive without the accountability of Strong Believers with you.. that is where the enemy treats… this is why I believe many who begin to deconstruct their faith - by the way… I don’t believe ALL deconstruction is bad - but when we do not go on a journey like this with checks and balances - with accountability - we will end up like many and Deconstruct Jesus right out of our faith.

Here is whats important to know about Daniels New education

God used this learning… to advance them in Babylon…

v. 17 say’s and GOD GAVE THEM…

Who gave Daniel Favor in Babylon? God

Why do you have influence/ Becuase your great? No - becuase Gods great IN you.

Daniel and his friends had…

Everything they needed to succeed in Babylon.

v. 20…says…

This success brought them FAVOR in Babylon…

To stand before the kings.

Church… You did NOT end up where you are by accident

When GOD brings you before Kings… What will you do?

What will you do with your gifts in Babylon?

What will you do with your favor in Babylon?

You might not be brought before Kings..

But you are brought before people… every day…

Given favor with people….

How will you use your influence your favor when you get there…?

Will you like Daniel faithfully serve God with the gifting he has given you Babylon… ?

Or will you bow to the KINGS food in Babylon?

How did Daniel respond to his Babylonian training?

I think the most IMPORTANT thing about this story is this…

IN YOUR NOTES….

He remained GROUNDED in God

We to should know who the most IMPORTANT figure in this story is… It is NOT Daniel… it is his GOD.

How did he remain grounded…?

Daniel prayed we see this in Dan 6:10 he prayed 3 times a day… this kept him grounded in Babylon…

he knew where his skills came from

He knew where his favor came from.. .

so although his peers we’re taken into captivity… God used them mightily in Babylon…

I see many believers complaining in Babylon-grumbling in Babylon

One of the things that stands out to me in the life of Daniel… is that we do NOT see this

Daniel did not complain in Babylon

Daniel was focused on Shining in Babylon…

Here is what I have noticed

It’s really hard for someone to both complain and shine in Babylon - you have to chose one.

Just because Danile did NOT complain does NOT mean he agreed with King Nebs policies… his morals… his governing style… But it would have been HARD to SHINE if he was a complainer.

Just becuase you look around in Babylon and see pegan temples… does NOT mean God has forsaken you… maybe he has invited you to SHINE in BABYLON.

We’re talking about…

Uncertain in Babylon Despite the Politic of Babylon

Daniel had RESOLVE

He resolved to remained FAITHFUL, WISE and Grounded in an peagn land.

Here is the question I believe scripture is inviting us to ask ourselves today…

Question: How can you dig into these resolve tools?

The Resoleve to NOT eat the food at the Kigns table

The Resolve to Pray and stand

The resolve to dig into the word…

Here another question I believe scripture is inviting us to ask ourselves today…

Question: How do you keep yourself grounded in God?

What do you lean into most as a way to stay GROUNDED in God…

Where do you find favor on your life

Trans

Transition: As I close today….

So today… if you do NOT know Jesus as your Lord and Savior today is your day…

Salvation Altar Call

I believe Jesus is here today, and He wants to save you. Salvation simply means to deliver or to free. It’s not just about delivering you…

It’s about believing

Believing in Jesus means trusting what He say’s—about sin, and eternal punishment, thats the bad news.

The good news is this… that His death on the cross paid the penalty for our sins, making us right with God.

Ephesians 2:8 reminds us: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Salvation requires two things:

1. God’s Grace—His undeserved gift of forgiveness and life because of His love for you.

2. Faith—placing your trust in Him for salvation.

If you’ve never asked Jesus to save you, today is your day. If you’d like ask him… , raise your hand.

I want to invite you to Repeat a prayer after me

· There is nothing magical in this prayer.. it simply is a way of declaring to Jesus what has taken place in your heart.

Here is how I would like to end the service for everyone else….

Call to Action Altar Call

We’re going to end the service with A question as we do nearly every week.

Maybe he has said

My delay of Judgement is NOT my permission…

Notice the FAVOR on your life - it’s to SHINE in Babylon… but you are just chillN

ALL ACROSS THE ROOM – HAS THE HOLY SPIRIT spoken to you in anyway today?

Going Deeper

What stuck out to you the in this passage? ch. 1

How do you respond to uncertanity v. 1-7

How can you dig into these resolve tools? v. 8-20

How do you keep yourself grounded in God?

What might the Holy Spirit be saying to you in light of this teaching?

How might the Holy Spirit want to transform you in light of this teaching?

What actions might the Holy Spirit want to take in light of this teaching?

Tongues & Interpretation

1. To STRENGTHEN the Church (1 Cor14:5)

For prophecy is greater than SPEAKING in TONGUES, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be STRENGTHENED.

Believers, God has operated through this gift today to strengthen you today. Let your faith be strengthened and know that God is in control and using supernatural measures to speak to us.

2. Is a SIGN for unbelievers. (1Cor. 14: 21a, 22)

1 Corinthians 14:21–22 (ESV)

In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.

22 -  So you see that speaking in tongues is a SIGN, not for believers, but for UNBELIEVERS.

The Bible explains to us God has chosen to use this gift to be a sign for you. A sign for what? It is a sign of his realness for those of you who have been doubting or questioning the existence of God. He wants you to know he is REAL and he wants to bring you spiritual life and health. If you're in here today and you don't know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior... he wants you to know he has gone to great lengths to show you his love today. (Great opportunity for a salvation altar call if it fits).