THE BOOK OF DANIEL (series) DANIEL 1:8-21

Daniel 1:8-21 “But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials, and the commander of the officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking more haggard than the youths who are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king.”

Daniel 1:8-21 “But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be observed in your presence, and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.”

Daniel 1:8-21 So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days. And at the end of ten days their appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food. So the overseer continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables.

Daniel 1:8-21 “And as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams. Then at the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them, the commander of the officials presented them before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king talked with them, and out of them all, not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s personal service. And as for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm. And Daniel continued until the first year of Cyrus the king.”

BACKGROUND OF THE BOOK WHERE IN THE WORLD IS BABYLON?

REVIEW WHAT IS BABYLON?: A PHILOSOPHY (Genesis 11) A WORLD EMPIRE (Daniel) A GLOBAL RELIGION (Revelation 17,18)

REVIEW The Battle of the God’s Daniel means “Jehovah Is My Judge” Belteshazzar means “Bel’s Prince” Hananiah means “Jehovah Is Gracious” Shadrach means “Submit To Aku” Mishael means, “Who Is Like Jehovah” Meshach means, “Who Is Like Aku” Azariah means, “Jehovah Is My Helper” Abendego means, “Servant Of Nebo” Bel, Aku and Nebo = Babylonian gods

“BUT DANIEL MADE UP HIS MIND THAT HE WOULD NOT…” Daniel 1:8

I. THE ISSUE: THE KING’S TABLE WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? WHY MAKE AN ISSUE OVER WHAT YOU EAT OR DRINK?

THE ISSUE BEHIND THE ISSUE!

II. THE TEST PROPOSED “But Daniel said... ‘Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be observed in your presence, and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.’” (Daniel 1:11-13) “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Romans 12:2

III. THE RISK INVOLVED 1.HE RISKED HIS OWN LIFE 2.HE RISKED THE LIVES OF HIS THREE FRIENDS 3.HE PUT HIS REPUTATION ON THE LINE 4.HE RISKED POTENTIAL FUTURE PROMOTIONS

IV. THE RESULT AND THE REWARD Vs. 19 “no one was found equal to Daniel and his friends” Vs. 20 “they were found to be 10 times better than the others” Vs. 21 “And Daniel continued in the palace until the first year of Cyrus the king” (over 60 years and 5 kings)

WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE? vs. 9“Now God granted Daniel favor….” vs. 17 “God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every…” THE MAN FACTOR: vs. 8 “But Daniel made up his mind that he would not…”

TRUTH TO LIVE BY

#4. IT MAY BE TEMPTING TO CONSIDER SOME OF THE ISSUES OF LIFE TO BE SMALL, INSIGNIFICANT AND INCONSEQUENTIAL – BUT DON’T BE DECIEVED – THEY ARE ALL IMPORTANT! *because our faith if built one decision at a time

TRUTH TO LIVE BY #5. WHEN YOU DECIDE TO FOLLOW JESUS IN EVERYDAY LIFE, HE WILL BLESS YOU IN WAYS YOU COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED! “Those who honor me, I will honor..” (I Samuel 1:30)

COMMITTED “I AM PART OF THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE COMMITTED. I HAVE HOLY SPIRIT POWER. THE DYE HAS BEEN CAST. I HAVE STEPPED OVER THE LINE. THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE. I AM A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST. I WON’T LOOK BACK, LET UP, SLOW DOWN, BACK AWAY OR BE STILL. MY PAST IF FORGIVE. MY PRESENT MAKES SENSE. MY FUTURE IS SECURE. I AM FINNISHED AND ONE WITH LOW-LIVING, SIGHT- WALKING, SMALL THINKING, CHEAP GIVING AND SELFISH LIVING. MY PACE IS SET. MY GAIT IS FAST. MY GOAL IS HEAVEN. MY ROAD IS NOARROW. MY WAY IS STRAIGHT.

“MY WAY MAY BE ROUGH AND MY COMPANIONS MAY BE FEW. BUT MY GUIDE IS RELIABLE AND MY MISSION IS CLEAR. I CANNOT BE BOUGHT. I WILL NOT BE COMPROMISED. I WILL NOT BE DETOURED, LURED AWAY, TURNED BACK, DELUDED OR DELAYED. I WILL NOT FLINCH IN THE FACE OF SACRIFICE, HESITATE IN THE PRESENCE OF AVERSITY, NEGOTIATE WITH THE WAY OF THE WORLD, OR BE DECEIVED AT THE POOL OR POPULARITY. I AM A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST. I WILL KEEP GOING UNTIL HE RETURNS. I WILL LOVE HIM WITH ALL MY HEART, HONOR HIM WITH ALL THAT I AM, AND SERVE HIM WITH ALL OF STRENGTH.

“AND WHEN LIFE IS ALL AID AND DONE AND WHEN JESUS COMES TO GET HIS OWN, HE WILL HAVE NO PROLEM RECOGNIZING ME – FOR I WILL HAVE FOLLOWED HIM FAITHFULLY EVERYDAY.”

THE BOOK OF DANIEL (series) DANIEL 1:8-21