Daniel and the Life of Character
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction:
Last week we talked about the importance of Character.
we talked about the need for it.
we talked about how its not born its built.
We can not achieve what we cannot see.
Sobriety is the foundation to life.
We cant out run how we live. to build our life we have to build our character.
Character is not born it is built.
I Decide what level of Character I operate at.
You have to decide who says what is right and what is wrong.
Many people talk about their faith, few talk about their character.
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 articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.
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. 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.
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. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.
1. Trouble comes to reveal the truth about us to us. We have to be rigorously honest.
1. Trouble comes to reveal the truth about us to us. We have to be rigorously honest.
2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.
9 “The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
The Lord let Isreal fall into captivity because they left the Lord.
We often fall into trouble because of our idolatry.
we make Idols out of many things. can you think of some things that you make idols out of?
I am sure we don’t realize that we are practicing idolatry until the fruit of that idolatry cones to bear in our lives.
9 “The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
as people we rationalize and justify our behaviors.
we see ourselves as the hero in every story. we see ourselves as the victim in every story
10 I, the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings.
when troubles come we realize the darkness of our own heart.
our need for change & the error in our thinking. if we are honest with ourselves and have the ability to see things in an even way.
2. We need to be good stewards of what we have.
2. We need to be good stewards of what we have.
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.
a. I can do nothing about the hand that I am born with.
a. I can do nothing about the hand that I am born with.
Daniel was born noble, you and I where probably not.
we where born with gifts and talents.
b. it’s what we do with what we have that counts.
b. it’s what we do with what we have that counts.
Daniel was born with some things, (nobility). He also maintained what he had.
again you have no control over natural appearance, but you have complete control over presentation.