The Lord Gave

The book of Daniel is one of the most relevant books of the Bible for our day and time. It’s so cool to see how much it relates to us!

What if the worst day of your life was the beginning of God using you for His glory?

Back in November of 2012, everything was going smooth. I was “living the dream” and thought I had my life figured out.

I was playing for AU

During one of our weight lifting sessions, I felt my shoulder pop out of socket. It hurt but I didn’t think much of it, but then a week later it happened again… then again… and it hurt a little bit more than I wanted it to.

About 2 weeks after that, I was sitting in the doctors office hearing that I was about to have surgery and that would be the only way I would be able to pitch again.

Everything I knew, and worked for was kind of up in the air.

1. The Lord Gave

One thing us as people love to do is be in control.

Daniel’s book starts with him writing down that God was in control, and while He was in control he gave up His people into the hand of a messed up group of people.

In this we need to understand that God is in complete control… even when it doesn’t seem like it, look like it, feel like it… God is in complete control!

Notice:

God Punished His People

why? The sinned over and over again

, , Predicted them getting thrown into captivity.

God Had A Plan (v. 2 & v. 21)

2. The Culture Changed

For Daniel and his friends, because they were taken into Babylon, another country, they also moved 900 miles away from their homeland… but something else began to happen

Notice:

Nebuchadnezzar’s plan: brainwash Daniel and his friends from followers of God to followers of little gods.

What did Nebuchadnezzar try to change?

Language

v. 4 - “learning of the tongue of the chaldeans”

Literature

v. 4 - He tried to fill their minds with Babylonian philosophy, science, astrology, and religion.

This is what our Enemy is trying to do to us now!

Lifestyle

Tried changing their lifestyle, starting with their diet (v. 5)

talks about this.

He appointed that they have rich provisions for their daily meals

These boys had strict rules on what to eat

The main goal through this though, was to change their LOYALTY

how would he do that?

v. 7 - changing their names.

Daniel - God is my judge

Belteshazzar - Lady protect the king

Hananiah - Yahweh is gracious

Shadrach - “I am fearful of God”

Mishael - Who can compare to my God

Meshach - I am despised, contempitble and humiliated

Identity shifted from confidence to cowardice

Azariah - Yahweh has helped

Abednego - the servant of Nebo

3. Daniel Continued

is one of the strongest verses in all the Bible

when everything else around him was crumbling, Daniel remain resistant.

Remote control - Daniel may not have been able to control the cultural influences of Babylon swirling around him, but he still held the remote control when it came to how he would react to them.

Even though he was learning a new language, had new literature, a new name - Daniel drew the line when it came to eating the King’s meat.

this is why it says, “Daniel purposed in his heart.” because Daniel decided not to turn from God.

Daniel was around and in the culture but he was never contaminated by it.

We need what Daniel had: a knowledge of the Bible and a committment to the Bible.

How did Daniel stand?

He Resisted

“Convictions are all about the choices we make before we’re challenged. Faith is our ability to act on our convictions when tested.” - chris Hodges

62% of people consider themselves deeply spiritual

31% of those same people say they make decisions based on what feels right and comfortable.

18% say they make moral decisions on whatever is best for me

14% say they make moral decisions on what causes the least conflict with others

only 16% make moral decisions on what the Bible says

Daniel made up his mind based on God’s Word way before he was faced with this culture shock!

He was Consistent

He was Consistent

V. 8 - “he would not defile himself...”

this is so huge, because at this point Daniel had 2 choices: follow a pagan king, or trust in the Perfect King

“I would rather hope in

Just say no

They could change his name, and his language, but they couldn’t change his heart.

Daniel drew the line where God had already drawn it!

He took a stand based on God’s Word!

Take A Stand

when Daniel took a stand

when he did, he wasn’t being political, or a people pleaser - and he wasn’t doing for his own self righteousness.

Daniel took a stand from his heart

He was Persistent

Verses 17-21

Verse 21 - “Thus Daniel continued...” to the first year of King Cyrus

this is extremely important to note that God used Daniel to make a HUGE difference in the culture and world!

He was persistent for 70 years

Don’t give in! Be resistent! Don’t give up! Be consistent!

Insert your name into verse 8 & 21.