Sermon Tone Analysis

*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!