The Fragrance of Christ, in the Book of Daniel - Christian Hjortland AFCOE Europe 2015

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Relationship between God and man Kingdoms History Prophecy Relationship between God and man Kingdoms Photo: gvdvarst

Daniel 1 Arriving in Babylon Tested right away Photo: Bev Lloyd-Roberts

Daniel 1 Daniel refused to defile himself Jesus refused to defile himself (Matthew 27:34) God blessed him with wisdom (Daniel 1:17) Did Jesus grow in wisdom?

Daniel 1 Daniel spread the Fragrance of Christ by being faithful to the health laws. The effect: - God blessed him with knowledge and wisdom (v.17) - It made an impact on people as they saw his faithfulness, and God's intervention.

Daniel 2 Under death decree by a furious king - Daniel 2:12 What about Jesus? (Matthew 2:16) v. 26-28 – Daniel's answer v. 47-48 – The king's response Prophecies → increased confidence!

Daniel 2 Daniel spread the fragrance of Christ, by helping others, and witnessing of his God. The effect: - The King's confidence to God increased (v.47-48) - Daniel got great responsibility in Babylon.

Daniel 3 Opportunity to fall down and worship a foreign God. Did Jesus have the opportunity to fall down and worship someone? (Matt 4:10) What did they all choose?

Daniel 3 Daniel's friends spread the fragrance of Christ, by keeping God's commandments. The effect: - People saw their strong faith and being firm to principle. - God delivered them.

Bad smells may hit us

Daniel 6 – A set up to make Daniel fall

No fault was found... v. 3-4 – No fault in Daniel. Tried to find something to accuse him for. Jesus life: “Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.” (Luke 23:4) “This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.” (John 8:6)

A New Law Daniel 6:7: ...whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Daniel 6:10: Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. 1 Kings 8:44-45 – Toward the Sanctuary Psalms 55:17 – Praying three times a day

Doomed to death v. 11-13 Who want's to kill those who keep God's law? A fight between man's law and God's law. God want's to seal us, but not with the seal of man. (v.17) Thrown to death but still alive + 600 years later. What happened to the wicked who kept man's law instead of God's? Daniel 6:24-27

Daniel 6 Daniel spread the fragrance of Christ, by obeying God more than human laws. (Like in Daniel 3) He was a faithful witness. The effect: - The king liked Daniel. - No “error or fault” was found in him (v.4) - The king is praising God, and realized that only God's kingdom will last. - The king made a law that all shall fear Him.

Daniel 6 - Summary It's a fight between God's law an man's law. People was angry with Daniel because he kept the law, and wanted to kill him. Jesus too experienced this. Daniel remained true to God, despite man made laws. Thrown toward death – resurrection.

Spreading Christ's Fragrance Our characters are impacting others as an aroma of life, or an aroma of death. When we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, we will spread an aroma of life. Photo: Pascal THAUVIN

Keys to have the Fragrance of Christ

Spreading Christ's Fragrance 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

1. Beholding Christ “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men.” 2 Corinthians 3:2 Daniel's prayer life (Sanctuary)

2. Being One with Christ Surrender: Psalms 51:16-17 Jesus was one with His Father: “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” John 17:21 Mark 14:36 – Surrender The Sanctuary - Fragrance

2. Being One with Christ “All that we do should be fragrant with what we are. And what we are should be 'a sweet fragrance of Christ'. There can be no question about the fragrance of the Lord Jesus. It was a part of His very nature. Wherever He went, whatever He did, whatever He said, the precious perfume of another world accompanied Him.” - Harry Foster Can you see this in Daniel's life?

3. Let God write His law in your heart This won't be done by trying to do good. We need a heart surgery! - Hebrews 8:8-12

4. Have a definite aim Did Daniel have a definite aim? Daniel 1:8, 3:14-18. What about Jesus?

5. Reaching others like Christ Daniel and his friend's lives made an impact on kings. Daniel 4 – An appeal Daniel 6:16: Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. Daniel 3:25: He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

5. Reaching others like Christ “How did that heathen king know what the Son of God was like? The Hebrew captives filling positions of trust in Babylon had in life and character represented before him the truth. When asked for a reason of their faith, they had given it without hesitation. Plainly and simply they had presented the principles of righteousness, thus teaching those around them of the God whom they worshiped. They had told of Christ, the Redeemer to come; and in the form of the fourth in the midst of the fire the king recognized the Son of God. . .” {CC 252.4}

5. Reaching others like Christ Daniel 5:18-23 – A witness opportunity!

5. Reaching others like Christ “Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, "Follow Me." {MH 143.3} Matthew 9:35-38

6. Love like Christ “People don't care how much we know until they know how much we care.” “...Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him” (Daniel 6:3) “...he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him” (Daniel 6:4) Daniel 4:19, 27 – The reaction of Daniel after he heard the dream...

6. Love like Christ "God considers more with how much love we work, than the amount we do." Sons and Daughters of God, p. 49. “The strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian.” {HDL 8.1} “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16

Keys to have the Fragrance of Christ 1. Beholding Christ 2. Being one with Christ (Surrender) 3. Let Christ write the law in your heart and mind 4. Have a definite aim 5. Reaching others like Christ 6. Love like Christ

Photo: Andreas Krappweis