“DARE TO BE COURAGEOUS” OLD TESTAMENT HEROES II DANIEL 1:1-21

THREE PARTS TO THE TEXT THE PROBLEMS THEY FACED THEIR PURPOSE AND DEDICATION THEIR PROMOTION AND REWARDS

THE PROBLEMS THEY FACED THEY WERE TAUGHT A NEW LANGUAGE…A NEW WAY OF LOOKING AT LIFE…AND…PRESSURE TO CONFORM TO THE NEW WORLD. THEY WERE FED FOOD FROM THE KING’S TABLE THAT HAD BEEN FROM ANIMALS SACRIFICED TO THEIR GOD BEL

THE PROBLEMS THEY FACED THE DECISION BEFORE THEM WAS WHETHER THEY SHOULD CONFORM TO THE BABYLONIAN LIFESTYLE…OR…SHOULD THEY REMAIN TRUE TO THEIR BELIEFS?

THE PROBLEMS THEY FACED--NAMES CHANGED DANIEL--GOD IS MY JUDGE HANANIAH--GOD IS GRACIOUS MISHAEL--GOD IS WITHOUT EQUAL AZARIAH--THE LORD IS MY HELPER

THE PROBLEMS THEY FACED--NAMES CHANGED DANIEL--became BELTESHAZZAR--”Bel, the Babylonian god will protect” HANANIAH--became SHADRACH--”Inspired by the sun”-- MISHAEL--became MESHACH--”Belonging to Aku--Venus”-- AZARIAH--became ABEDNEGO-- “Servant of Nego”

THEIR PURPOSE AND DEDICATION THE BABYLONIANS COULD NOT TRANSFORM THEIR HEARTS! “THEY WOULD SERVE THE LORD!” “DANIEL RESOLVED NOT TO DEFINE HIMSELF WITH THE ROYAL FOOD AND WINE.” {1:8}

THEIR PROMOTION AND REWARD GOD WILL ALWAYS BLESS AND ALWAYS REWARD THOSE WHO REMAIN FAITHFUL TO HIM AND TO HIS WORD! GOD NEVER FAILS US IN THE SLIGHTEST OF WAYS WHEN WE REMAIN FAITHFUL!

FIX YOUR EYES ON CHRIST!