Daniel, Our Example, Part 1

Today on the Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhart challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ's name when God is my judge, the savings friends never be back in never see his everything educated in the your name is changed never complain because no one is no hope that this happened to me this is so terrible is a very different perspective on is an amazing thing when you think about what happened to nurse something about him needs to be something about us. He was a man really strong convictions joining up today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor know your heart Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of social Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana pastor go get her now is once again he shows us how God's word I heard this saying and I'm sure many of you as well. Goes like this. God will not put you where he cannot keep you God will not put you where he cannot keep you believe that you ask yourself the question, there's probably no book in the Bible that illustrates this point clear. In Daniel, God will not put you where you cannot keep. Now depending on your age, you may look at the book of Daniel differently if you're young and you been through Sunday school and learning center in flannel graphs and all those kind of things you give you Daniel as an adventure book and that's what it is I meet you Daniel in the lion's den. Your memory could see the Velcro. The lions are right there. Daniel is just sitting there. They never bothered him and only made it through the night. Nothing. And while that that's really something that many had Shadrach me shack and Abednego an endless furnace in a heated up seven times in an room in the first part of Maktoum, the first maybe even get burned. So if you're young, I think the message it would come away from Daniel would be that if you do the right thing, then God won't let anything bad ever happened to you and I know etc. that's not true in our lives.

And that's certainly not true biblically you think of the writer of Hebrews, for example. Hebrews chapter 11 we call that the Hall of Fame of faith. These are the most faithful people and some of them had great deliverance the great things happen to them, but many of them did not many of them did the right thing and they endured torture, flogging chains, some were sawn into they lived in caves and they live in abject poverty and they did the right thing.

It seems it in the Bible. Most often, God chose to be with them in their trials, rather than delivering them from their trials. Now if you're older anything to the book of Daniel.

You think about it differently. You say it's a prophecy manual.

The book of Daniel probably has more charts on it than any book ever written in the Bible.

Everybody wants to make a chart and want to show you Nebuchadnezzar's vision than English of the end times prophecies and they believe that's what then was all about. It's all about this idea of the future and it's not totally wrong to think of the prophecies of Daniel.

You could never understand the book of Revelation. If you can understand the book of Daniel, but that would make a whole lot of sense to the Jews who the book of Daniel was written for. I mean I understood it ultimately God would be in control, but that was thousands of years ago there were something else God wanted to tell them and tell us in the book of Daniel and that is God will not put you where he cannot keep you really important thing Daniel and the other Jews, especially his friends became known to us a Shadrach me shack and Abednego they found themselves hopelessly in a culture that is very very very pagan and they not only survived in that culture, but they thrived in that culture.

I think they have a lot in which the teachers last week, I introduced this idea how we live in the culture. The word most Christians that I know and and I'm not speaking of, any of you wink but I we just whine about. You see how bad it is out there is just so terrible why they're just awful lot.

There, but I don't think that's what God wants us to do. Shedding God has a different plan in mind last week when the Jeremiah chapter 29 and God told the Jews exactly how we want to live in a pagan culture and the things he said was common sense.

He said number one, you need to settle the get a life, make a life for yourself. Do you need to build strong families. Three. You need to work for the welfare of that culture. You need to make a contribution to that culture foreplay.

You need to pray for your neighbors for. Don't be deceived by false teachers, and lastly remember my promises ultimately me underwent we face the same temptations they faced one of the things we learned last week was you can't isolate yourself in the culture. That's a temptation.

As I said, growing up Western Pennsylvania. I lived among the Amish and that's what they did they find if we just isolate ourselves in the culture have nothing to do with the culture of thing will be fine, but one thing can be said about the Amish. They are hardly great commission. People they have no impact on the culture whatsoever. The other thing we can do and many of us do this enforcing assembly right into the culture. Just be so much like a nobody would know were Christian keep our faith kinda quiet and just live lives the way they live lives have the same values that they have neither one of those acceptable to God, to God, he said what we have to do is infiltrate the culture without contamination unity infiltrate the culture without contamination.

That's exactly what Daniel did and God used him in a most remarkable ways opening up. I was the Daniel chapter 1 Daniel chapter 1 Larry Osborne writes this concerning Daniel. He said the poor guy was an innocent bystander caught in the backwash of God's judgment upon the sins of Israel and Jerusalem. Yet none of the injustices that happen to him were an accident. They were all part of God's master plan for Daniel and for the nation Israel and for us today is right. This of the circumstances.

Verse three. Then the king ordered Ashkenaz, the chief of the officials to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal family and of the nobles use, in whom there was no defect who were good-looking showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge and have the ability for serving in the king's court.

Any ordered him to teach them the literature in the language of the Chaldeans, those of the circumstances. Daniel is likely in his mid to late teens. At the time. So far all we know about them is his handsome is good-looking without affecting a smart sewer Shadrach me shack in a Bendigo and others, but I want to think about it from Daniel's point of view life in Judah which is his home. The promised land is over.

Life is over Judah's been conquered Jerusalem and the temple been ransacked, Nebuchadnezzar came and took all of the elements of the temple and out of Jerusalem and took them back to babble. Just imagine how that make you feel there's something else here though. You see with it and that is is that he also realize that he found himself in a world where everybody in the world believe that Marduk that's the Babylonian God defeated Yahweh, the God of Israel that Marduk is greater than Yahweh because we beat you guys that type of thing, but there's something about Daniel that made them different. He believes something that all of us need to believe he believed, as we should, that God was in control even over those who were in control when we say God was in control even over those who appear to be in control. Daniel actually believe that now when you look at the life of Daniel. You might be thinking, but that was a pretty good life. I mean come on, he's one of those few chosen people. He just been a king's court. Good education. King's court finding a moment here.

King's food kings line. That's a really good don't get too excited about that. See verse three again.

Then the king ordered Ashkenaz, the chief of his officials that were official is in the word official is unit. He is the chief of the UNIX is a unique everyone in Nebuchadnezzar's court whose mail is a unique, they have all been castrated these young handsome Jewish boys want to think of this. He never says that happened to Daniel, but the inference is got to be really clear.

You never hear about Daniel Shadrach me shack and Abednego ever marrying anybody and that's big to the Jews, their heritage means the world to them. You never see Daniel in a genealogy very likely that he was a eunuch. Also, it says that he was taught the literature in the language of the Babylonians. That means the occult. That means much of what he was taught was astrology the call this young bright Jewish boy think of his name. His name is Danielle and Daniel simply means that God is my judge know when Jews would say Daniel didn't mean it like but I like that name.

It kinda goes my last name. I liked it better thing like that.

Daniel meant something. When you said to him you said God is my judge. That's his name. It meant something they changed his name they change this name the belt.

The shadows are from Bell, Marduk, the great Babylonian God. It means bells prints. In other words, from Daniel's point of view. Satan's prints his name went from God is my judge the Satan's prints never be back in Judah never see his homeland.

Never take away the educated in the occult in your name is change the Satan's prints never complain.

One time, there's no complaint is and how could this possibly is no whining.

There's no.

How could this happen to me this is so terrible it doesn't do it all is a very different perspective of that is an amazing thing when you think about what happened him and there is something about him that needs to be something about us.

He was a man of books really strong convictions. See Daniel even though he was in the middle of the pagan culture.

He basically put online guidance that all come to hear, but no further. No matter what.

I won't go further. I stand my ground and see the first example here. Notice in verse five the king appointed for them.

A daily ration from the king's choice food that's called grandma we don't know exactly what it was but is probably the best food in the world.

You could by that time it's Nebuchadnezzar's and from wine which he drank and he appointed that they should be educated three years. This almost like a college education for these guys three years of training and at the end which they would enter the king's personal service now. Among them were the sons of Judah were Daniel and Anaya Michelle and Azariah, and then the commander the officials assigned new names to them.

Daniel re-signed Dr. Sizer and I became Shadrach. Michelle became me shack and Azariah became a Bendigo, but Daniel made up his mind that he would not to follow himself with the king's choice food with the wine that made up his mind.

If you have another translation purposed in his heart.

I have conviction or no meaning, no, no, I won't do it now. It's clear that the Babylonian food would be kosher, but it's also something else likely Nebuchadnezzar's who would been the best in the land and it was almost always offered by priest pagan priest to Marduk first and then they would take the best of the meeting and give it to Nebuchadnezzar, and Daniel said no I'm not going to be.

Now I want you to understand something here that conviction that Daniel has could cost you your life. In fact, almost always will cost you your life. You don't tell Nebuchadnezzar that Nebuchadnezzar is an ego maniac okay. He is the most powerful person on earth, and he knows that and so notice and what happens when he says he's not going to do it so I sought permission from the command commander. The officials that he might not defile himself and God granted Daniel favoring compassion in the side of the commander. The officials Daniel has no idea this is going to turn out. I believe at this stage he probably believes this will cost me my life.

It's okay and wants to my convictions. He said in the commander, the official said to Daniel, I'm afraid of my lord the king, who was appointed your food in your drink for why should he see your face is looking more haggard than the use of your own age, and then he says you would make me forfeit my head to the king told a little bit of what Nebuchadnezzar is like now I could Daniel die for this discussion is the he's a pig to kill me. My job is the feed you felt convictions you have when it comes to something like this would irrational wait a minute limit were in Babylon is the best food you could have everybody else's treatment so hey what's up with numbers that make to demonstrate having real convictions and not real convictions.

Verse 11. But Daniel said to the overseers in the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel Hannan. I have Michio and Azariah, please test your servants for 10 days. Let us be given some vegetables. The and water to drink and then let our parents be observed in your presence and the appearance of the use of reading the king's choice food and deal with your servants according to what you see is he still doesn't know the outcome you can do with us in the way one so he listened to them in this matter and test them for 10 days at the end of the 10 days. Their parents seem better and they were fatter than all the use who had been eating the king's choice food so the overseer continue to withhold the church choice food and wine that they were able to drink and Giving them the vegetables. He says so what you end up seeing is a Daniel was delivered and that's nice, but the part I wanted understand this.

He had no idea be delivered. He had no idea what this existed on his own convictions may help understand he he did a great job assimilating yourself into their culture becomes extremely popular in fact becomes a right-hand man is next episode of his conviction we see in in Daniel six to go with me to Daniel six, and we change kings and Daniel six. This is now Darius the Medes and Persians of taken over against the Babylonians. Daniel still in a pagan culture. He still doing the same thing. King loves him.

Darius loves him. Look at verse three it says, then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit and the king plan to appoint him over the entire kingdom. Now the king is the same. This is now Darius he saying look how, but you're such an extraordinary young man of so many great gifts to put you over the whole kingdom. Now this is a political decision by the way, you know how politics work. You see the news you know how this works with politicians.

Watch what happens next. Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to the government affairs, but they could find no brunt of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.

The view of the other satraps and commissioners. We gotta get this guy sees going to get all the power and control. We gotta get some to come up with a plan and notice they said we shall not find any grant of accusation against Daniel MS, we find it against him with regard to the law. This God. What does that tell you they all know about Daniel is a believer. No one has to be suspicious even enemies know that's it.

I know his relationship to his God. He stands for his relationship to his God. So verse six the commissioners and satraps came by agreement of the king and expelled him as follows King Darius live forever.

All the commissioners of the kingdom, and the prefects and satraps in the high officials and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish the statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any God or man beside you okaying for 30 days to be cast in the lines that that's the kind words. Kings love to see everybody is going have to pray to you, and mostly king saw themselves as DD in it. In ancient history so that everyone's been have to pray to you a great Darius and various art that's a really good idea.

I think that's wonderful.

Well you then says no king in verse eight he says establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed according to law, the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked. Therefore, King Darius signed the document that is an injunction so the word was out. If you paid any other god other than Darius you going alliance that you know what kind of effect that had on Daniel nine. Absolutely zero. Because of his conviction that his was interesting for you and I get so you know why have convictions to. I could pray and pray in private right I mean you can pray in your chariot CME new can pray on the roof for your help. You play anywhere you want.

No one has to know your pray to never know.

Dana doesn't think like Wesley does this and now Daniel knew that the document was signed. He entered his house now in the roof chamber. He had windows open toward Jerusalem. Leave the windows open decently continue kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying, and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously and then these men came by agreement and find Daniel making petition. The supplication is always pray to my God I was pray facing Jerusalem is my home.

Nothing's changed when many successfully the lines that you have a great career see you you think of his career. He's the number two man. He would be the chief operating officer of the Persian Empire, no, what happens when somebody in your company offers you a big opportunity but you just have to compromise your faith. That's all. But it's a great opportunity. See what you do is you were your convictions. How will you stand in that Daniel said I will change me at all.

Now obviously the lines then means this cost me my life. I'm okay with that. Well they approach the king spoke to the king about the king's injunction did not you sign an injunction in any manner makes a petition to any God or man beside you, okaying for 30 days is to be cast into the lines then you can reply. The statement is true according the law, the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked. Then they had certain spoke to the king and said Daniel, who was one of the exiles from Judah pays no attention to you okaying or to an injunction which you signed the keeps praying his petition three times a day.

Gotcha you see the thing is, we gotta wheat we work week we massage Darius and I we got Daniel known then as soon as the king heard the statement he was deeply distressed and he said his mind on delivering Daniel and even until sunset.

He kept exerting himself the rescue and knew God had you love Daniel the biggest reason love Daniel is Daniel made him a better king. That's a Daniel did what I meant to lose this incredibly gifted young man. She would been so good for me because the sky strictly then these men came to an agreement to the king, and said to the king recognize okaying that the law of the medium Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed and then the king gave orders and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions den notice.

The king spoke to Daniel love this. Think of a thing to be respected. Daniel is God, your God, whom you constantly serve will himself delivery there is in a believer. He just said I just know the favor in which you live among us if governments delivery will was in a moment, but that could mean. Once again Daniel has no idea what's about to happen is no idea he stands in his own convictions.

He has his own conscience draws a line and says I am very important in this culture that I will not step over the will be no compromise spirit prescribed Pastor Brueggemann on the radio ministry fellowship in the world. If you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you just like to listen to the message one more time.

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