"L.I.O.N.-LEADERSHIP"

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>>>The nation of Israel was invaded by Babylon, and many were taken captive.

>>>Among those capture, several were youths

*“youths” in the Bible are simply young people, but the word here also implies children.

>>>King N wanted to select youths to serve in his courts. He ordered all the Hebrew youths to prepare to be selected by eating his “choice food/drink”-what would have been a violation of God’s Law for the Hebrew people.

>>>Among these youths were Daniel, Shadrach, Meschach, Abednego.

Daniel 1:8–12 “But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials. The commander of the officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has allotted your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking gaunt in comparison to the youths who are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king.” But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Please put your servants to the test for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink.”

Daniel 1:13–16 “Then let our appearance be examined in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.” So he listened to them in this matter, and put them to the test for ten days. And at the end of ten days their appearance seemed better, and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food. So the overseer continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables.”

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Daniel 1:8–9 “But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials.”

>>>Daniel goes against what the guards were commanding him to do. While all the youths are the food of the king, Daniel “made up his mind” not to.

*k “made up his mind” means “set upon his heart” (heart/mind same thing). Daniel determined in his heart he would not “defile” himself w/the king’s food.

*Daniel chose not to violate God’s Law, despite being in another country.

>>>This was not a quiet event. It would have required Daniel to approach the guard and use his words.

DANIEL STEPPED UP AND SPOKE UP

>>>Daniel did not go along w/what he knew was wrong. He was determined to be obedient to God and did so in both word and action.

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Daniel 1:10 “The commander of the officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has allotted your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking gaunt in comparison to the youths who are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king.””

>>>The commander was obviously upset and what would happen to him if he allowed Daniel to not eat of the food. But this is not about the commander as much as the detail his response gives.

>>>Three times the commander uses the word “your” when talking to Daniel. In the Hebrew this word is plural. The commander is talking to a group.

>>>This wasn’t just Daniel refusing to eat King N’s food. It was also Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego. The backed up Daniel.

SHADRACH, MESCHACH, AND ABEDNEGO SHOWED UP.

>>>They do not talk, but they were there. They did not avoid confrontation. They did not cave like the others, nor did they associate w/those who did. They stood w/Daniel who was standing for God.

>>>This was not out of simply being followers or Daniel controlling what they do. They also wanted to be obedient to God (fiery furnace-no Daniel).

>>>It’s not about being someone w/leader qualities, it’s about being someone who desires to do the right thing.

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Daniel 1:11–16 “But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Please put your servants to the test for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be examined in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.” So he listened to them in this matter, and put them to the test for ten days. And at the end of ten days their appearance seemed better, and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food. So the overseer continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables.”

>>>The four guys asked the commander to test them for ten days by just giving them fruits/vegetables.

>>>God honored their commitment by giving them a better appearance than the rest of the youths.

>>>(v.16) They continued to honor God and not defile themselves. They were selected by King N to serve in his courts, with Daniel being one of the wise men whom God gifted to interpret dreams. He did so for several kings.

>>>Look at their impact!

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>>>We are all faced w/what was faced by Daniel, S, M, A. Will we just go along or will we be the leaders and stay obedient to God?

>>>To be the leader/influence they you need to, the only two options are Daniel (the qualities/speaking up) or S, M, A (those who follow who is right because of walk w/God, still being bold regardless).

>>>If you don’t want those options, the only thing that is left is to be like everybody else-those who ate the food.

*This even includes King N: a leader who leads according to self/striving after wrong and taking people w/him.

>>>But leadership, life, and legacy are all truly found in a relationship w/God made possible through Jesus Christ.