Standing Firm When Your Beliefs are Belittled

Proverbs 19:8 TEV

Do yourself a favour and learn all you can; then remember what you learn and you will prosper.

Almost every hospital and first schools were started by Christians.

Proverbs 24:5 CEV

Wisdom brings strength, and knowledge gives power.

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Proverbs 23:23 CEV

Invest in truth and wisdom, discipline and good sense, and don’t part with them.

Proverbs 23:23 TEV

Truth, wisdom, learning, and good sense—these are worth paying for, but too valuable for you to sell.

The Bible Also says we need to be Careful about what we learn.

Proverbs 4:13 TEV

Always remember what you have learnt. Your education is your life—guard it well.

DANIEL’S THIRD TEST: CHALLENGES TO HIS FAITH

Daniel 1:4–5 NLT

“Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.” 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.

This was a Pagan Indoctrination Program.

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Daniel 1:4 The Message

—young men who were healthy and handsome, intelligent and well-educated, good prospects for leadership positions in the government, perfect specimens!—and indoctrinate them in the Babylonian language and the lore of magic and fortunetelling.

They are going to have to learn information they do not believe to be true.

Daniel 1:17 NLT

God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.

God Gives them the Test: Can you go to a pagan school and not lose your faith?

Daniel 1:18–20 NLT

When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service. Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.

Your Education is only as good as the content you are taught.

In 1962 & 1963 The USA took Christianity out of the schools and replaced it with Secular Humanism.

Today, it’s not uncommon that during your years of education there will be people who Belittle the Bible, Attack Your Beliefs, Contradict Your Convictions, Ridicule Your Faith and Laugh at Your Morals.

Show clip from God’s Not Dead if Possible

The number of Atheist is shrinking, not growing.

The Fact is that the World is becoming more religious not Less.

HOW TO EXCEL IN YOUR EDUCATION AND NOT LOSE YOUR FAITH

1. DECIDE IN ADVANCE TO STAND FOR GOD

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John 16:33 NLT

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

2 Timothy 3:12 NLT

Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

The reason Daniel thrived is because He was Prepared

Daniel 1:8 NLT

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.

How do you Become a Great Student?

Proverbs 1:7 The Message

Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.

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1 Timothy 6:21 The Living Bible

Some of these people have missed the most important thing in life—they don’t know God. May God’s mercy be upon you. Sincerely, Paul

One Day there will be a FINAL EXAM.

Proverbs 15:33 TEV

Reverence for the Lord is an education in itself. You must be humble before you can ever receive honours.

Proverbs 2:6–7 CEV

All wisdom comes from the Lord, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.

2. DETERMINE TO NEVER STOP LEARNING

“All Leaders are Learners”

“When You STOP Learning, You START dying.

Proverbs 18:15 The Message

Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.

To Learn you must Listen.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV 1900

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We Need to Become Life Long Students.

Proverbs 19:8 NCV

Those who get wisdom do themselves a favor, and those who love learning will succeed.

KNOWLEDGE: Information gained from education or experience

WISDOM: Seeing and Responding from God’s Viewpoint

3. DECIDE TO SATURATE YOURSELF IN GOD’S WORD

Joshua 1:8 NLT

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

Biblical meditation means you think about a Bible verse over and over and over in your mind.

I must LEARN THE TRUTH in order to DISCERN THE LIES.

Psalm 119:104 NLT

Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life.

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The Bible even Gives the secret to being wiser than your Teachers.

Psalm 119:99 TEV

I understand more than all my teachers, because I meditate on your instructions.

To Gain Wisdom: spend more time in the Bible.

Proverbs 15:14 NLT

A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash.

4. ALWAYS CHOOSE BELIEVERS AS YOUR BEST FRIENDS

God wants you to have friends that are unbelievers too: so you can witness to them

Your Best Friends should be Believers.

1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV84

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Choose Your Friends Wisely.

Stay Away from Fools.

Proverbs 14:7 CEV

Stay away from fools, or you won’t learn a thing.

How can you recognize a fool?

Ecclesiastes 10:3 CEV

Fools show their stupidity by the way they live; it’s easy to see they have no sense.

Screen - Bible warns not to waste money in your kids if they don’t want to learn

Proverbs 17:16 NLT

It is senseless to pay to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning.

Psalm 1:1–2 NIV84

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

5. STAY CONNECTED TO A CHURCH, A CONNECT GROUP, AND A MINISTRY.

You need to be plugged into a church family for support.

Hebrews 10:25 NIV84

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

The reason many student lose their faith in college is because they stop doing the things that made them spiritually strong.

You need a small group of peers (connect group) for support.

You need to be involved in some ministry of the church giving back.

1 Peter 2:15 NLT

It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you.

6. REMEMBER THAT GOD WILL REWARD YOU.

Matthew 5:11–12 NIV84

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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Here is an encouraging scene from the future.

Philippians 2:9–11 NLT

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

DON’T WORRY. GOD WINS IN THE END!