Living Godly in an Ungodly World

Daniel 1:1–16 KJV 1900

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. 3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; 4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. 6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego. 8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. 11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;

4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.

15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

Daniel had been taken into captivity in an ungodly place and was being forced to bow to the ways of the Chaldeans and they were an ungodly people.

but the bible tells us that Daniel had “purposed” in his heart not to defile himself,

even though it could have resulted in severe consequences, he took a stand a because of it,

but because of his decision,

it was obvious to those that were around him.

Just as Your decision to “live for God” should be obvious to those around you.

When we look at those that confess to be Christians and are not taking a stand;

we can see the affect it has.

there are many people that are looking for someone to follow;

and if we are not standing for what we believe, then they are not going to want to follow us.

Over the years; many have confessed to be Christians;

but their lives suggest other wise.

and it is turning people away.

People want something that is real and when we live contrary to the word of God we are not demonstrating “the power of” God.

Daniel stood his ground and we will see the impact it had on those that surrounded him.

The country he lived in practiced all types of idolatry.

types of idolatry.

Public life and religious life were mixed together.

There was no separation of the two.

two.

but Daniel made a strong stand based upon his convictions.

He refused to compromise his convictions for the sake of doing what was convenient and what was easy.

I Don’t want us to get hung up on; “what was wrong with the food”.

because the reality was; The was not the reason Daniel why refused to eat the food.

I believe Daniel felt as if it was something that would hurt his relationship with God.

He felt a strong conviction about it

SO Daniel made a strong stand for God in ungodly circumstances and as a result his influence was felt throughout the whole area.

I believe that you and I can take a stand and make a difference in the world we live in,

tonight I want to preach to you on the subject:

Living for God in an Ungodly World.

Daniel understood the power of a made up mind.

“Daniel resolved not to defile himself…” ()

But Daniel purposed in his heart

Daniel had made the decision to stand for God regardless of the circumstances or consequences.

So How is it;

that you and I can Live Godly in an Ungodly world.

Or Can you and I Live Godly in an ungodly world?

I believe that we can;

and I want us to look at several things that will help us,

to live godly in an ungodly world.

1: You got to have made up mind.

Daniel purposed in His Heart

Daniels had a made up mind

Until you make up in your mind; to stand for God, you are always going to struggle.

There is power in a made up mind,

but there is weakness in a mind that is not made up.

Indecision means problems.

Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters.

Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.

You cannot serve both God and Money”

A double minded person is “unstable in all he does”

I don’t think we understand just how true this is:

if you are double minded;

if your mind is not made up,

you will be unstable in all your ways.

you and I have to choose to take a stand for God.

In the Old Testament we read how that at times,

God’s people, the Israelites, would try to serve God and idols.

and When they did; there was always problems.

The prophet Elijah confronted the

people of God and asked the question,

“How long will you waver between two opinions?”

Jesus said it this way:

“If anyone would come after me,

he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”.

Jesus is simply saying;

that we have to make up our minds in order to be a true follower of Him.

There is power in a mind made up.

This is the reason the Apostle Paul was able to pen the words,

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” ().

it was because he understood the power of a made up mind.

When you make up your mind to stand for Christ,

you release the power of Him “within you”

and He will help you take a stand for Him; wherever and in whatever situation.

Daniel made up his mind.

That is why he was able to stand for God in an ungodly situation.

One of the greatest challenge teenagers and even adults face:

is to remain pure in an ungodly world.

some may even question if it is even possible

Can a person remain pure.

I think this has been the challenge throughout the ages.

The psalmist writes

“How can a young man keep his way pure?

and then he gives the answer

By living according to your word.

When we live according to the word of God we have a made up mind.

Its not just;

live for God when things are good.

or just live for God when things are bad.

But it’s a made up mind;

not matter come what may;

I’m gonna live for God.......

You and I “can” live Godly in an ungodly world through:

1: The power of a mind made up.”

2: The power of having confidence in God

Daniel saw the options.

He could go with what man had provided or he could trust God to provide.

In the natural, what the king offered appeared to be much better than what taking a stand for God offered.

Should he eat the king’s food, or vegetables and water?

It would be like choosing between a ribeye and a bowl of vegetables.

there is no contest

the ribeye wins out every time;

Daniel suggested a 10-day trial period for his choice because he had confidence in God’s way.

Man’s way always appears to be better.

In fact, even the Bible says there is pleasure in sin.

The problem is that the pleasure of sin only lasts a short time

Daniel knew if he chose man’s way,

he would defile, or desecrate, himself.

That is to say; he would be sinning against God.

Daniel had to decide; who was going to be his source—

was it going to be the king or God.

We have to make the same decision.

The king’s way appeared to be better.

The king’s way appeared to be more fun.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death”

God’s ways do not always appear to be easy or fun,

but it is always the best way.

My confidence is in God.

I will depend on him and do what it takes to please Him.

You are not going to miss out on the good things of life by going God’s way.

Daniel looked at what the king had to offer, but he knew that God’s way is always the best way.

Daniel understood that God was his source.

He believed that God would give him everything he needed.

He also believed that God’s way was far superior to anything else.

At the end of the 10-day trial

period, Daniel and his friends were in better shape physically and mentally than the other.

It wasn’t because Daniel’s diet was far superior to the food that was offered ;

it was because Daniel put his confidence in God and God blessed him because he took a stand.

There are promises of Gods when we are obedient to His word

a. “No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightl

().

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and

joy in the Holy Spirit”

d. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” ( ).

At times it may appear that you have to make sacrifices to take a stand for God

However,

God will give you something far superior to anything you have ever given

God is calling us to take a stand for Him in an ungodly world

God is calling us to take a stand for Him in an ungodly world

Put your confidence in Him.

The last thought I want to draw our attentin to is this:

3: the power of godly influence

vs16

Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

As a result of Daniel’s stand, he was able to get the diet changed.

It was changed because of Daniel’s godly influence.................

Daniel had established some goals for himself.

He knew what he wanted to accomplish.

His goal was not to change the diet, but to be a godly influence on others.

Daniel’s objective was to dominate his surroundings rather than be dominated by his surroundings.

He wanted to influence the world for God rather than be influenced by the world.

Don’t be afraid to take a big step for

God.

— Joel Hawes

“Aim at the sun and you may not reach it, but your arrow will fly far higher than if aimed at an object on a level with yourself.”

you and I are like rubber bands: We are most useful when we are stretched.

Allow God to stretch you in

what you can accomplish for him.

What kind of influence do you have in your world?

Daniel took a bold risk when he refused to eat the king’s meat.

He took an even bigger risk when he selected the alternate diet.

Look at what happened.

Jesus said we are the salt and light.

You and I are a children of God,

created in his image

and born again by His Spirit.

We can live for Him.

We can stand for God in an ungodly world.

musicians come........

I Challenge you tonight:

to make up your mind to stand for God

I challenge you to set some godly goals to influence those that you surround