Can you stand the heat
Notes
Transcript
When is a choice no longer a choice?
When is a choice no longer a choice?
Taking a stand for God, even when your in the minority.
3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles,
4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.
5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.
6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
Dan 1:3-
They were chosen because of how they looked and where they came from. it said some came from descendants of kings. But it’s now not you look like it has everything to do with the God you serve.
The were all from Judah, but only four took a stand.
7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.
Their names were changed from the Israel names. don’t let anyone call you something else than name.
Their names were changed from the Israel names. don’t let anyone call you something else than name.
Daniel, means God is judge. Belshazzar, Bel protect the king
Hananiah, means God is gracious. Shadrach, command of Aku
Mishael, means who is like God. Meshach, Babylonian moon god
Azariah, means God help. Abednego, god of wisdom nebu
They weren’t just trying to change their names but they’re identity as well.
How you think of yourself is how other will treat you. It changes how you act.
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
It’s important how you identity yourself. Here are some examples.
You are you saved
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Your are royalty
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Daniel and his friends were in a place where it looked liked they were on their own. But when your are faithful to God he will never leave you nor forsake you.
9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.
It says that God brought Daniel into favor of the Chief of the Eunchs. what are you doing for God that he can brag about you?
It says that God brought Daniel into favor of the Chief of the Eunuchs. what are you doing for God that he can brag about you?
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
There will always come a point in your christian walk where you will need to take a stand for God. Daniel and his friends knew in order to stay true to their God they will need to be different.
There will always come a point in your christian walk where you will need to take a stand for God. Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.
i cor 10
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Daniel and his friends knew in order to stay true to their God they will need to be different.
Daniel and his friends knew if they had eaten what was given to them they would not only dishonor themselves, but ultimately their creator.
12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
The Eunuch didn’t have to grant the request.
10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”
His head was on the line if they failed, but God was with them. It starts with you staying committed to what God has called you to. Then God will aid you in your goal.
9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.
Give me ten days. The Eunuch didn’t have to give the time, but remember in vs 9 that they had the favor of God on their side. what do you have on your side?
that they had the favor of God on their side. what do you have on your side?
That they had the favor of God on their side. what do you have on your side?
15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.
after the time was up he took away the what he thought was good for them and gave them what was the best for them. how is your diet, is your health preventing you from living your best life?
after the time was up he took away the what he thought was good for them and gave them what was the best for them. how is your diet, is your health preventing you from living your best life?
18 Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king.
time for the examination. was it worth it?
time for the examination. was it worth it.
we too one day will be examined. when you go to the doctor, you go into a room and the doctor comes in and examines you physically. But the exam that God does is one that there isn’t a machine made on this planet can do. He’s looking at your heart and soul.
The three things you need for you to be optimal, sleep+food+exercise.
These young me choice to do what they knew was the best for them. If they had yielded and eaten the kings meat and failed that test.
Paul says that we are to bring our bodies under control.
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
We are also told that what God wants for us is prosper and be in good health.
2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
What to come was more than meat and wine.
He made a statue that was 90 feet tall that is the same height as the empire state building in New York.
He had all of his officials at the dedication of this statue showing how powerful he was.
3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.
ex 20:3 said that they all had come for the dedication of the IMAGE that the king had set up.
said that they all had come for the dedication of the IMAGE that the king had set up.
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
God said in His commandment we are not to worship Him and Him alone. vs 5 gave the curse and vs 6 gave the blessings.
God said in His commandment we are not to worship Him and Him alone. vs 5 gave the curse and vs 6 gave the blessings.
The devil will start with something simple like your name and end up changing you completely in the end.
Daniel and his friends were not the only one brought from Israel when the city was captured. Choose your friends wisely, they can either help you or hinder you .
4 Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,
5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up;
6 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”
The command was given that you are to fall down and worship when the music was played. And for a visual effect we have a burning fire so you know we mean business.
The command was given that you are to fall down and worship when the music was played. And for a visual effect we have a burning fire so you know we mean business.
8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews.
9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever!
10 You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image;
11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”
They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.
They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.
15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
He tried to give them a second chance. Maybe they were distracted the first time and did hear the signal the first time.
He tried to give them a second chance. Maybe they were distracted the first time and did hear the signal the first time.
And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands.
The God who will deliver them made your hands Nebuchadnezzar.
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.
20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22 Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
There are those who think they have control over you and your life, but when your faithful to the God of this universe you will walk in the fire and nothing will harm you.
There are those who think they have control over you and your life, but when your faithful to the God of this universe you will walk in the fire and nothing will harm you.
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
God is coming back and he will reward all of us according to what we have done, not what we think to do but what we have done.
God is coming back and he will reward all of us according to what we have done, not what we think to do but what we have done.
4 Give them according to their deeds, And according to the wickedness of their endeavors; Give them according to the work of their hands; Render to them what they deserve.
you will get according to your deeds. Now is the time to get your deed and your heart right with God.
you will get according to your deeds. Now is the time to get your deed and your heart right with God.
A choice is no longer a choice, when it becomes a habit.
4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.
5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”
6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever!
7 All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”
9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
As was his custom, or another word for it is habit.
What habit do you have that will serve you when you are tested?
28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
When he appears! God is coming back for those who will not yield to the temptations of neither body or man. And WILL reward those who have purposed in their heart like Daniel to remain faithful. This is not something we do every now and then, but it is something we practice and live out everyday.
It is something we will need to practice everyday, not sometimes but all the time.