1. GROWING THROUGH LIFE’S CHALLENGES

2. GROWING THROUGH LIFE’S CHALLENGES
PRESSURE to COMPROMISE

3. Pressure: to force someone toward a particular end (influence)

4. Compromise:
a settlement of differences by mutual concessions; an agreement reached by adjustment of conflicting or opposing claims, principles, etc, by reciprocal modification of demands.
- something intermediate between different things.

5. Pressure to Compromise: As Christians “Is to be forced toward a particular end whereby there is a settling of conflicting claims by particular modifications”

6. Pressure to Compromise: As Christians biblical truth God's nature holy living lifestyle adherences disagreements goals etc. etc.

7. Pressure to Transform: As Christians

8. Pressure to Transform: As Christians

9. Pressure to Transform: As Christians

10. Pressure to Compromise
Daniel 6

11. A Bit of Context…
Daniel 1:8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore, he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. [Resolve]

12. A Bit of Context…
Daniel 2:17-18 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, [18] and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. [Dependence]

13. A Bit of Context…
Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. [17] If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. [18] But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." [Trust]

14. A Bit of Context…
Daniel 4:27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity." [Courage]

15. A Bit of Context…
Daniel 5:17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation. [Humble]

16. Reading #1…
Daniel 6:1-5

17. Reading #1…
Daniel 6:1-5
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; [2] and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. [3] Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom…

18. Reading #1…
Daniel 6:1-5
…[4] Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. [5] Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”

19. Pressure to Compromise
#1. living godly can bring blessing & bullseyes

20. Pressure to Compromise
#1. living godly can bring blessing & bullseyes
three high officials, of whom Daniel was one… v.2
above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him… v.3
because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him… v.4

21. Pressure to Compromise
#1. living godly can bring blessing & bullseyes Psalm 31:14-16 …O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” [15] My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! [16] ​Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love!

22. Pressure to Compromise
#1. living godly can bring blessing & bullseyes Matthew 28:19 “make disciples” Mark 12:3 “love our neighbour” Ephesians 5:21 “submit to one another” Galatians 6:2 “bear one another’s burdens”

23. Pressure to Compromise
#1. living godly can bring blessing & bullseyes Matthew 5:16 “let you light shine before others, so they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

24. Pressure to Compromise
#1. living godly can bring blessing & bullseyes Matthew 5:16 “let you light shine before others, so they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

25. Pressure to Compromise
#1. living godly can bring blessing & bullseyes Proverbs 29:5 A man who flatters his neighbour spreads a net for his feet.

26. Pressure to Compromise
#1. living godly can bring blessing & bullseyes Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! [7] All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counsellors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions...

27. Pressure to Compromise
#1. living godly can bring blessing & bullseyes …[8] Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” [9] Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction. v.6-9

28. Pressure to Compromise
#1. living godly can bring blessing & bullseyes 2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

29. Pressure to Compromise
#1. living godly can bring blessing & bullseyes 2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Proverbs 29:10 Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless and seek the life of the upright

30. Pressure to Compromise
#1. living godly can bring blessing & bullseyes 1 Peter 3:14, “…even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled…[16] having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behaviour in Christ may be put to shame. [17] For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.”

31. Pressure to Compromise
#living godly can bring blessing & bullseyes I V #growth through pressure to compromise starts with getting prepared before the pressure begins!!

32. Pressure to Compromise
Jeremiah 12:5a “If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses?

33. Reading #2…
Daniel 6:10-13
When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. [11] Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God…

34. Reading #2…
Daniel 6:10-13
…[12] Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.”…

35. Reading #2…
Daniel 6:10-13
… [13] Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”

36. Pressure to Compromise
#2. living godly brings difficult choices

37. Pressure to Compromise
#2. living godly brings difficult choices “What you believe affects how you live!” John Cross

38. Pressure to Compromise
#2. living godly brings difficult choices “What you believe affects how you live!” John Cross “…he went to his house, in the windows of his upper chamber, facing Jerusalem, gave thanks and prayed three times a day.”

39. Pressure to Compromise
#2. living godly brings difficult choices Acts 5:29 We must obey God rather than man

40. Pressure to Compromise
#2. living godly brings difficult choices Acts 5:29 We must obey God rather than man 2 Timothy 2:3 (kjv) Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

41. Pressure to Compromise
#2. living godly brings difficult choices 2 Timothy 3:15 “Study to show yourself approved unto God..” 1 Peter 3:15 “…be ready, always, to give an answer…” Galatians 5:16 “…walk in the Spirit…”

42. Pressure to Compromise
#living godly can bring difficult choices I V #growth through pressure to compromise continues when we stand on God’s Word!!

43. Reading #3…
Daniel 6:14-23
Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he laboured till the sun went down to rescue him. [15] Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”…

44. Reading #3…
Daniel 6:14-23
…[16] Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” [17] And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. [18] Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him…

45. Reading #3…
Daniel 6:14-23
…[19] Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. [20] As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” [21] Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! [22] My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”…

46. Reading #3…
Daniel 6:14-23
…[23] Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

47. Pressure to Compromise
[3] living godly does not guarantee trouble free life

48. Pressure to Compromise
[3] living godly does not guarantee trouble free life Psalm 18:2-3 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. [3] I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

49. Pressure to Compromise
Daniel 6:25-28
Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. [26] I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end.
[27] He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.” [28] So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

50. Pressure to Compromise
What do WE do?

51. Pressure to Compromise
What do WE do?
Matthew 10:16…
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves…”

52. Pressure to Compromise
What do WE do?
Matthew 10:16…
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves…”
The example of Daniel…
Daniel 6:10b He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

53. Pressure to Compromise
What do WE do?
The heart of Jeremiah…
Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.

54. Pressure to Compromise
What do WE do?
The trust of Gideon…
Judges 7:7 And the LORD said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.”

55. Pressure to Compromise
What do WE do?
The courage of Joshua…
Joshua 1:6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.

56. Pressure to Compromise
What do WE do?
The relationship of Moses…
Numbers 12:8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”

57. Pressure to Compromise
What do WE do?
The relationship of Moses…
Numbers 12:8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”

58. Pressure to Compromise
#living godly can bring difficult choices I V #growth through pressure to compromise when we persevere in trials & God shows up!!

59. Pressure to Compromise
#living godly can bring difficult choices I V #growth through pressure to compromise when we persevere in trials & God shows up!!

60. Pressure to Compromise
#living godly can bring blessing & bullseyes #living godly brings difficult choices #living godly doesn’t guarantee trouble free living growth through pressure to compromise #starts with preparation!! #continues with courage in God’s Word!! #occurs in perseverance as God shows up!!

61. a thought…

62. a thought…
“A perfect plan doesn’t mean it ends up the way you want it to end up. In the past if you asked me what a perfect plan is I’d be like ‘I get what I want, I’d get my dream, I’d play well.’ Now I have a different perspective on what a perfect plan is. You don’t get better if you win all the time, you get better when you lose, you improve when you lose, you look at yourself more when you lose. So if you learn a lot, or if I learn a lot, if I grow a lot, if I become a better person through tough times that’s part of His [God’s] perfect plan, that’s part of His perfect will…

63. a thought…
When I was going through all my insecurities, and uncertainty, and lack of confidence, I was losing focus on God. I was focusing on all these other things like my job and what other people thought of me and what the reporters were writing. Over time I was able to check myself and get my focus back, and I think God did something supernatural in me, something that I couldn’t do on my own, something that I may never be able to recreate. So I think in this instance I was just learning to fight to constantly live and play for God, and when I do that, I’ll be able to walk on water”

64. a thought…
When I was going through all my insecurities, and uncertainty, and lack of confidence, I was losing focus on God. I was focusing on all these other things like my job and what other people thought of me and what the reporters were writing. Over time I was able to check myself and get my focus back, and I think God did something supernatural in me, something that I couldn’t do on my own, something that I may never be able to recreate. So I think in this instance I was just learning to fight to constantly live and play for God, and when I do that, I’ll be able to walk on water”

65. GROWING THROUGH LIFE’S CHALLENGES
Pressure to Compromise