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

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

3. 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

4. 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?

5. 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

6. 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”

7. 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}

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!

9. FIX YOUR EYES ON CHRIST!