Standing When You are Pressured to Conform
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Standing When You are Pressured to Conform
Standing When You are Pressured to Conform
Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart.
Before every blessing, there is always a TESTING
Before every blessing, there is always a TESTING
Why does God Test You Before He Blesses You?
Why does God Test You Before He Blesses You?
But we speak the Good News because God tested us and trusted us to do it. When we speak, we are not trying to please people, but God, who tests our hearts.
God TESTS us with stress before he TRUSTS us with success
God TESTS us with stress before he TRUSTS us with success
The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego.
Daniel (God is My Judge) Bewlteshazzar (Bel protects me)
Daniel (God is My Judge) Bewlteshazzar (Bel protects me)
Hananiah (God is Gracious) Shadrach (After the Moon god)
Hananiah (God is Gracious) Shadrach (After the Moon god)
Mishael (Who is Like God?) Meshach (fertility god)
Mishael (Who is Like God?) Meshach (fertility god)
Azariah (God has Helped Me) Abendago (servant of Nebo)
Azariah (God has Helped Me) Abendago (servant of Nebo)
The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service.
But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.
DEFILE - To pollute, contaminate, or corrupt
DEFILE - To pollute, contaminate, or corrupt
Why Does Daniel Resist Conforming?
Why Does Daniel Resist Conforming?
1. A Health Reason
1. A Health Reason
2. A Cultural Reason
2. A Cultural Reason
They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth. Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.
It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.”
3. A Spiritual Reason
3. A Spiritual Reason
Daniels First Test Shows Four Qualities God Looks for in Your Life
Daniels First Test Shows Four Qualities God Looks for in Your Life
1. Integrity
1. Integrity
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 this way.
Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.
2. Discipline
2. Discipline
But Daniel made up his mind not to eat the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the superintendent for permission to eat other things instead.
Just Because I CAN do something doesn’t mean I SHOULD
Just Because I CAN do something doesn’t mean I SHOULD
Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.
3. Courage
3. Courage
“You must not do wrong just because everyone else is doing it. If you are a witness in court, you must not ruin a fair trial. You must not tell lies just because everyone else is.
Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.
4. Humility
4. Humility
Daniel Respectfully Made His Appeal
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 this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.
Daniel Passed the First Test and Received His First Promotion.
Daniel Passed the First Test and Received His First Promotion.
What Do You do when Someone in Authority Asks You to Violate Your Conscience?
What Do You do when Someone in Authority Asks You to Violate Your Conscience?
How to Make a Case To Authority
How to Make a Case To Authority
1. Develop a Reputation for Being Responsible.
1. Develop a Reputation for Being Responsible.
If you do your job well, you will work for a ruler and never be a slave.
People with responsibility respond to Responsible People
People with responsibility respond to Responsible People
2. Be HUMBLE not Belligerent.
2. Be HUMBLE not Belligerent.
When you stand before the king, don’t try to impress him and pretend to be important.
3. Don’t Be Deceptive or Manipulate.
3. Don’t Be Deceptive or Manipulate.
We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.
4. Appeal to Their Goals and Interests
4. Appeal to Their Goals and Interests
5. Choose the Right Place, Time & Wording.
5. Choose the Right Place, Time & Wording.
A wise, mature person is known for his understanding. The more pleasant his words, the more persuasive he is.
6. Trust God if they Reject Your Appeal
6. Trust God if they Reject Your Appeal
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
What Gave Daniel the Courage to Stand Alone?
What Gave Daniel the Courage to Stand Alone?
Four Things You Need to Remember When Pressured to Conform?
Four Things You Need to Remember When Pressured to Conform?
1. I have Jesus with me
1. I have Jesus with me
2. I have the Holy Spirit IN me
2. I have the Holy Spirit IN me
3. I have the Promises of God to me
3. I have the Promises of God to me
4. I have God’s Family Around me.
4. I have God’s Family Around me.
As the Culture Becomes More Secular & More Hostile to Biblical Values, You CAN Expect the Pressure to Conform to Increase
As the Culture Becomes More Secular & More Hostile to Biblical Values, You CAN Expect the Pressure to Conform to Increase
Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God’s holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way: “I’ll live in them, move into them; I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people. So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good,” says God. “Don’t link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for myself. I’ll be a Father to you; you’ll be sons and daughters to me.” The Word of the Master, God.
With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.