06AM June 4 Daniel 1 3_20

June 4, 2006—Morning Worship

“Graduation Sunday”

Dare to be a Daniel!

Encouragements for Everyday Life

Daniel 1:3-20

Intro:  When I went on a mission trip to the Ukraine in 1998, we traveled from city to city by boat down the Dnipro River. As we went into the cities to witness on the streets & to preach in the market places, we traveled by bus. From the bus windows, we could see many desperately poor people. The children especially touched our hearts & we wanted to do something for them. We wanted to give them something. Some of us tried to hand Ukrainian gospel tracts out the windows along w/some candy, while we sat at traffic lights. But the bus sat so high & the children we so small they could not reach them. Desperately wanting to give these children what little they could, some in our group began to throw the candy & things out the windows for the children to get. But our interpreters quickly warned us not to do that. In their culture, if you throw something to someone you give the impression that you are treating them like a dog.

          Different countries have different cultures, & what is appropriate in one culture may be offensive in another culture. For example, I read that you should never touch a person's head in Thailand; b/c to them, the head is considered sacred. In Portugal you should never write anything in red ink; b/c to them, it’s very offensive. Chewing gum in Singapore is illegal & can result in a large fine. Different countries have different cultures & what is acceptable in one is not acceptable in another.

In our message today Daniel illustrates for us how to live when we "leave home" or encounter new situations. While this message is focused especially on those graduating seniors, it applies to all of us. Anytime something changes in our lives (a new job, a new house, a new school, a new stage of life), we face challenges to our faith. Daniel illustrates how to live when we leave what is familiar & encounter new situations. Hopefully, this message will give you encouragements for everyday life as you are challenged to dare to be a Daniel!

- The 1st encouragement for everyday life is…

1. You Will Face the Test of the Unfamiliar. (vv. 3-7) 3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel & some of the king's descendants & some of the nobles, 4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge & quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king's palace, & whom they might teach the language & literature of the Chaldeans. 5 & the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king's delicacies & of the wine which he drank, & 3 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, & Azariah. 7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; & to Azariah, Abed-Nego.

- Daniel 1:3­7 introduces us to Daniel & 3 of his friends who were carried off in captivity to Babylon.

- They are called "young men," a phrase used to describe teenagers between the ages of 12 & 15.

- These young men had grown up around Jerusalem.

- There they were constantly reminded about God through His Word & worship at the temple.

- Instead of being surrounded by a culture that supported walking w/God, they found themselves in a pagan nation surrounded by pagan people w/pagan practices.

- Verse 4 explains the king's reprogramming effort.

- Daniel & his friends were enrolled at something like “Babylon State University” & on a full scholarship at that.

- Daniel was in a new location; no one was watching him or his actions.

- His parents weren't there; his pastor wasn't there.

- The opportunity for temptation was great. But Daniel remembered that God was there!

- The Babylonians gave them new names to fit that culture.

- Do you see the challenge that Daniel faced? He was thrust into a pagan culture in this strange land & was expected to conform to all his new surroundings.

- But Daniel was a teenager w/deep convictions. He made a choice: "I'm going to walk w/God even in a strange land."

- & you must remember that just b/c your circumstances have changed—that doesn't mean God has changed!

          [As you live your everyday life, you’re going to face the test of the unfamiliar. You will be placed in situations in which you’ve never been. & in most cases, no one you know will be there. No one to which you can turn; no one from whom you may seek advice; you will be all alone – EXCEPT God will be there! Don’t you ever forget the promise of His word to “never leave you & never to forsake you!” You can always trust & count on God – everyday & in every circumstance!]

- You will face the test of the unfamiliar but you can face those everyday tests w/great confidence in the great God of your salvation!

- What you must nail down right now is; “What am I going to do when I don’t know what to do?”

- The answer to that question should be – “I am going to trust God & follow what I know to be right from His word.”

- If you do that, you will pass the test w/flying colors!

- The 2nd encouragement for everyday life is…

2. You Must Fight the Temptation of Compromised Convictions. (vv. 8-14) 8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself w/the portion of the king's delicacies, nor w/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 & goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. 10 & the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food & 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." 11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, & Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for 10 days, & let them give us vegetables to eat & water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, & the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king's delicacies; & as you see fit, so deal w/your servants." 14 So he consented w/them in this matter, & tested them 10 days.

- Verses 5 & 8 tell us about the food & wine at the king's table, but Daniel resolved not to defile himself w/it.

- We are not sure why the food represented a compromise for Daniel, but it’s clear Daniel drew a line in the sand.

- As you encounter new situations, you must fight the temptation to compromise your convictions.

- Some of you will be going to schools where you will experience what one pastor has called "cultural brainwashing."

- You will be challenged to abandon your beliefs, to become like everybody else.

- Don't give in! Determine not to conform to the image of the world!

Romans 12 2 & do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good & acceptable & perfect will of God.

- The decisions you begin making today will greatly impact the rest of your life.

- There are 3 key issues:

A. The Truth Issue: What is Truth?

- The Babylonians wanted to educate Daniel & his friends in their history & culture.

- Education is not evil; it's good & important to learn. But as you learn, you need wisdom to sort out truth from opinion.

- Daniel & his friends were being challenged to accept a pagan view of life.

- The key is that they mastered the material, but it never mastered them.

- The world will try to get you to adopt their view of truth. But don’t you do it!

- If you go down that road w/them, it may look like it leads somewhere—but it really is the wrong road that leads to nowhere!

          [This past Memorial Day, Patricia & I went to the Nantahala River. We actually went to Bryson City 1st, thinking we would ride the train to the Nantahala (until we found out how much it costs). So we decided to drive from Bryson City down to the Nantahala River Gorge.

          As I pulled out of the train depot, I turned right onto Fontana Road, which I thought would take me back to Hwy. 19. I told Patricia, “Well, this is either the right direction or the stupidest thing we’ve ever done!” Fontana Road leads directly out of Bryson City & onto a beautifully scenic, winding mountain adventure. Just a few yards after we crossed Styles Drive, there was a huge sign that read: “Welcome to the road to nowhere! A broken promise!” Now that should have been a clue! But did I stop & turn around? Nooooo!

          We traveled down Fontana Road for 8 long, winding mountain miles. We passed scenic overlooks; other cars coming from the opposite direction. We saw tons of beautiful butterflies. But we never saw a house, or a driveway, or any signs of local life.

          After those 8 miles, as we rounded one curve, there were about 25-30 cars parked on the side of the road. “Well, this must be it!” I thought. But as we got closer, we saw a sign that said: “Barricade Ahead.” It was the end of the road.

          It had been a beautiful trip. We saw wild life. It held great promise. But in the end—it led to nowhere w/nothing to do.

          The road of life can be like that if you compromise your convictions! Oh it promises something great w/plenty of people around you going the same way. It promises many things but in the end it leads to nothing – to nowhere!]

- You will face the temptation to become intellectually sophisticated.

- You will be pressured to conform! Don't compromise your convictions! Do not determine what is right based on cultural norms. There are absolutes in God's Word!

- The bottom line is that it doesn't matter what others say; ultimately, what really matters is what God says!

- The 2nd key issue is…

B. The Identity Issue: Who am I?

- The name Daniel means "God is judge." & Hananiah means "The Lord is gracious."

- Mishael means "Who is like God?" & Azariah means "The Lord helps."

- These were good, godly names but they were given new names down in the city of captivity: Daniel became Belteshazzar, "Bel will protect" (Babylonian God).

- Hananiah became Shadrach, "command of Aku" (a Babylonian moon god).

- Mishael became Meshach, "who is like Aku?" (the moon god).

- Azariah became, Abednego, "servant of Nebo" (another Babylonian god).

- The identity issue is a key issue.  By what name will you be known?

- Teenagers, college students, graduate students, adults, you're going to have to make a choice. Are you willing to be called a Christian in your culture?

- Can you, like Daniel, take a stand for God? Will you take that stand?

- What if others make fun of you or persecute you for that stand? Will you continue?

          [My name is Dennis Pruitt. Try as I might, I can never be anyone else but me! My DNA proves who I am. My fingerprints prove who I am. My looks, thoughts, attitudes & expressions prove that I am who I am! I could never get by being someone else!

          & it’s the same w/a Christian! Your thoughts, attitudes & heart prove you to be a Christian! Your Guarantee of salvation, the Holy Spirit in you proves you are a Christian! & you could never get by being anyone less than a Christian!]

- You must deal w/the temptation to compromise your identity. DON’T DO IT!

- Take a stand! Be proud of who you are & Whose you are! Be a Christian - regardless!

- The 3rd key issue is…

C. The Morality Issue: How Will I Live?

- Daniel had to decide whether to obey King Nebuchadnezzar & live like him, or to follow the King of kings & obey Him completely.

- You are also faced w/the dilemma of, “Will you adopt the world's immorality or live by God's morality?”

- Just b/c everyone else is doing it – that doesn’t make it right!

- God has given us specific guidelines to be followed & commands to be obeyed.

- & as in everything that God does, He does it for your good & His glory!

- When you disobey God you dishonor Him; you belittle Him; you deny Him glory!

- When you disobey God you are taking His name in vain b/c you are living in opposition to His nature & character & ways & will!

- You must fight the temptation of compromising your convictions. & live your life for the glory of God!

- The 3rd encouragement for everyday life is…

3. You Can Finish Your Trial with Purity.

- The Babylonians changed these young men's homes, their names, & their education, but they couldn't change their hearts!

- These young men had decided to follow God no matter what the cost.

- They didn't give in to the voices: "It's okay—everybody else is doing it." "I'll just keep my faith to myself—after all, faith is a private matter." "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

-NO! They requested a different diet & God honored them.

- God honored Daniel & his friends: they became healthier (vv. 15-16) 15 & at the end of 10 days their features appeared better & fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's delicacies. 16 Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies & the wine that they were to drink, & gave them vegetables.

- They became wiser than the others. (vv. 17­20) 17 As for these 4 young men, God gave them knowledge & skill in all literature & wisdom; & Daniel had understanding in all visions & dreams. 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, & among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, & Azariah; therefore they served before the king. 20 & in all matters of wisdom & understanding about which the king examined them, he found them 10 times better than all the magicians & astrologers who were in all his realm.

- When your heart truly belongs to God, you can be in any location & in any situation & still do the right thing.

Conclusion:  How do you do it? 1st, commit to walk w/God (v. 8 But Daniel purposed in his heart….). Let people know you're a Christian from the moment you set foot on that campus or the 1st day on your new job.

2nd, spend time w/the Lord each day in the Word & in prayer. Dwight L. Moody said about the Bible, “This book will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from this book.”

3rd, memorize key verses to deal w/temptation & develop at least one friend for accountability. You can find a campus fellowship, & it's also necessary to find a good church where you can attend. So don't sleep in!

4th, trust God for everything b/c He is your all in all.

In 1873 Philip Bliss wrote a gospel song about this story called "Dare to be a Daniel." His words of wisdom were:

Dare to be a Daniel. Dare to stand alone! Dare to have a purpose firm! Dare to make it known.

Invitation:  God is calling you today to dare to be a Daniel. Would you stand firm w/the Lord of glory? Will you let it be known that you are a Christian? Will you purpose in your heart today not to defile yourself w/the trappings of this world? Would you dare to be a Daniel?

          Or maybe God is calling you to that close relationship w/Him today. Maybe you’ve never known the peace & forgiveness; the love & grace of God in Jesus Christ. But today, you sense God revealing to you the truth about the destiny of your eternal soul.

          Would you come today & be made right w/God? Would you come today & commit to follow Him? Would you come today daring to be a Daniel?

Hymn 502 Open My Eyes, That I May See