Purity & Purpose

Text: Daniel 1

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (12/06/98)

Introduction:   

Give background of Daniel being taken captive into Babylon in 605 BC by Nebuchadnezzar.

He was an outstanding example of purity.  Few others like him in all the Bible.

Maybe Joseph, Job, Timothy compare.

Christians ought to be pure.

Eg. Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco

Relationship with opposite sex

Entertainment (Music, TV, reading material)

Thought, Speech, Actions

I. The Principle Of Purity

Leviticus 11:44-45   For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  

For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

The principle of purity is…………..

A. Based on the Holiness of God

I Peter 1:15-16   But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;   Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

WHAT’S YOUR STANDARD?

Revelation 15:4   Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

HOW CAN WE BE HOLY?

The principle of purity is made practical by two commands:

B. Command of Sanctification

Leviticus 20:7   Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.

I Peter 3:15   But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

II Corinthians 7:1   Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Holy is what God is, and what we are becoming.

C. Command of Separation

II Corinthians 9:14-18

II. Purity On Purpose Vs.8

THE KING’S MEAT

Context of Daniel’s Decision was the Levitical law concerning eating of unclean meats.  (SEE Leviticus 11)

Proverbs 23:1-3   When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:  

And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.   Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

So Daniel purposed in his heart.

Purity does not happen by accident!!

A. Purpose must precede the test.

Romans 13:14   But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

B. Purpose must proceed from the heart

Proverbs 4:23   Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

C. Purpose: Both negative & positive.

Separated from evil unto good.

…..from the world unto Christ.

This is the principle of replacement.

III. Proving of Purity vs.12

A. Seen Quickly vs.14

In ten days not 3 years!!

How long does it take others to know that you are a Christian?

ILLUS: (C.H. Spurgeon – Christians with signs around their neck)

B. Seen in their Countenance vs.15

C. Seen in their Wisdom vs.17 & vs.20

Psalm 111:10   The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Proverbs 9:10   The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

If a man does not fear God, you can’t trust his wisdom.  I don’t care if he’s the President of the U.S.  or what earthly credentials he has.

IV. Prolonged Purity vs.21

Daniel 6:1-10 (Look Up & READ)

Daniel preserved from the Lion’s Den vs.11-25

Daniel 6:28   So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

A. Prolonged by Purpose

B. Prolonged by Prayer

C. Prolonged by Providence

V. Purity’s Promotion

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

Vs. 17   As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

A. Promotion Comes from God

Psalm 75:6-7   For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.   But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

B. Don’t Seek Man’s Promotion

Conclusion:     Purity Pays

II Chronicles 16:9   For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

James 4:10   Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

I Peter 5:6   Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: