The Resolution of the Heart

Introduction

One of the worst fears of parents today is child abduction.

A memory of me and my brother walking home from the store and a stranger wanting to give us a ride home.

It reminds me of another story about some boys that were abducted and taken to a foreign land.

These were boys of wealth and prestige. When the world hits it care how much money you have or the position you hold.

It seems that tragedy comes to visit everyone eventually.

Daniel 1:1–7 ESV

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, 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, Mishael, and Azariah 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 1:

So what do you do when you are hit by the world. How do we navigate the crooked and perverse generation that we live in and still honor the Lord with our lives.

This is what we will find in the book of Daniel.

These conquered and stolen boys will grow into men of God that will change a nation and even the course of the entire world.

Bible Lesson

Daniel 1:8 ESV

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.

Daniel 1:

The Resolution of the Heart determines your Course of Action.

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

double mindedness is knowing one thing and doing another. “I Know.”

A double minded man finds himself knowing right and doing wrong.

Psalm 119:113–115 ESV

113 I hate the double-minded, but I love your law. 114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. 115 Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.

Psalm 119:113–120 ESV

113 I hate the double-minded, but I love your law. 114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. 115 Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God. 116 Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope! 117 Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually! 118 You spurn all who go astray from your statutes, for their cunning is in vain. 119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross, therefore I love your testimonies. 120 My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments.

Psalm 119:116–117 ESV

116 Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope! 117 Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually!

Ps 119:

Psalm 119:118–120 ESV

118 You spurn all who go astray from your statutes, for their cunning is in vain. 119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross, therefore I love your testimonies. 120 My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments.

Ps 119:116

Ps 119:

A heart that delights in the Word of God is blessed.

The Resolution of your Heart determines God’s Response.

Daniel 1:9 ESV

9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs,

Dan

God is working behind the scenes to bring about blessing and protection.

Even when the world doesn’t trust in God he can use them for your good.

Daniel 1:

Daniel 1:10 ESV

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.”

God can move the hearts of kings.

Daniel 1:12–13 ESV

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.”

Dan 1:12-

The Wisdom of God’s word can always be seen in the lives of believers.

My life is better because of God’s Word.

My relationships are better because of God’s Word.

My family is better.

My finances are better.

My kids are better.

My outlook on life is better.

My hope is better because of God’s Word.

Daniel 1:15 ESV

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.

Dan 1:15

The Resolution of your Heart Brings Rewards.

Daniel 1:17 ESV

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.

Dan 1:

Those that walk in wisdom gain more wisdom.

Those that reject wisdom even what they have is taken away.

When you despise wisdom it is taken away.

Matthew 13:12–13 ESV

12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

When you walk in the ways of the Lord you stand before kings.

Daniel 1:19–20 ESV

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.

Dan 1:19-

Conclusion

Some of you are so double minded you can’t think straight.

The world is pulling you one way, but you know that’s not the way of the Lord.

The battle is always in the mind.

When are you going to resolve in your heart not to defile yourself with this world.

When will you draw close to God and watch him draw close to you.

Many of you are worried about making the changes to draw near to God, but that’s not where it starts: It starts with the Resolution of the Heart.

James 4

James 4:8 ESV

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.