Daniel 1:1-21- Holy in an unholy land
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Theres a biblical truth we must recognize and it is: that Christians may live in this world but we are not part of it. We are in this world but not of it! This is not our final destination!
John 17:16
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
We’re even told not to love the world 1 John 2:15
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
John 15:19
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Philippians 3:20
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
1 Peter 2:5
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
We’re holy in an unholy world. We are children of God in a world totally against him.
The Apostle Paul even writes warning us about how we should live in this world!
Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
This world seeks to conform us, make us like it, change us
We are to be transformed- different, holy, God like,
This world is actually totally against God and seeks to make us defy him
James 4:4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Theres a war on truth, right, and what’s Godly, basic tenets of morality are under attack
How do we as children of God live in this evil world? How are we supposed to be holy in a world thats unholy? How do we stay clean in utter filth? How we shine as lights in utter darkness?
Thankfully God gives us an absolutely wonderful model of what being Godly in an ungodly place looks like in the life of Daniel!
Daniel was greatly used by God
People like JESUS and Ezekiel even talked about him
God called him beloved! He was the man!
May I remind you that even God’s well used prophet Daniel started out as just a youth; don’t ever let any “despise” your youth!
A little about Daniel: He was born while Jehoiakim was ruling in Judah. During his childhood the Kingdom of Babylon invaded because of Judah’s disobedience.
They destroy everything, take things from the temple, and carry off the best of the people back to their nation.
Daniel and his friends are in the midst of these prisoners of war
Daniel was a Godly young man despite that he was still carried off into this other nation!
This nation(Babylon) was wicked.
Full of pride, witchcraft, and idolatry
Not only were they evil. They wanted Daniel and his friends to partake of the evil too
Sorta like how the world tries to pressure us into evil too
Theres so much to learn from this story. We can live holy in an unholy world!’
The Enemies’ Pressure
The Enemies’ Pressure
Daniel and his friends were in a land that was not their home, with people who were not their people, and being made to act like who they were not.
In the same way we are in a world thats not our home, with people who aren’t Gods, and always being pressured to defy God
They we’re attacked from every angle possible
Their names: Their Hebrew names identify the three young men with the God of Israel: Hananiah (“Yahweh has acted graciously”); Mishael (“Who is what God is”); and Azariah (“Yahweh has helped”).
Given Babylonian names
They were made to talk differently
They had to eat different food
Even had to learn new things
Everything that was to make them unique and marked as a person of God’s was attempted to be removed.
In the same way we receive nothing but pressure from the world.
We don’t talk like them.
Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Colossians 4:6
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
We don’t need what they need
God provides for us
We hold to a different truth than they do
God’s word
Psalm 119:47-48
And I will delight myself in thy commandments,
Which I have loved.
My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved;
And I will meditate in thy statutes.
The enemy wanted to make them forget their identity.
If they could be forgot who they are they’ll forget how to act
Romans 8:14
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
How are we to survive such an attack? We must do what Daniel did!
Daniel 1:8 purpose in our hearts!
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
An internal purpose (Daniel 1:8-16)
An internal purpose (Daniel 1:8-16)
Daniel Purposed in his heart not to defile him self
An inside resolve
If we are to live lives that are pleasing to God’s we must purpose it in our hearts!
Everything we do comes from the heart!
Matthew 15:18
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
It wasn’t popular but its what made God happy! (Daniel 1:13 )
Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
The others were eating the meat
We please God not men
Galatians 1:10
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
An External proof
An External proof
God took care of him!
Fairer, smarter, fatter
God can too take care of us!
Daniel continued! God would go on to use Daniel in great ways but it all stated with him purposing in his heart
-We are people of God in a strange land. Don’t be conformed, be transformed!