1. Here We Stand

2. Marine Team #2 - “Hill 488”

3. Christians today face an equal battle.

4. Ephesians 6: 10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will
continued ….

5. Ephesians 6: 10 -17 …. continuation
be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

6. Christians persecuted
100,000 killed annually

7. The testing of the faith of four :
1. An analysis of the assault
2. Observing their stand
3. Acknowledging the results

8. I. Establishing the context

9. 2300 BC

10. Genesis 9: 1,7
As for you, be fruitful and multiply; populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it.
Genesis 11: 4
They said, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth."

11. 1792 to 1750 B.C.,
702 BC

12. God sent Nebuchadnezzar
to conquer Jehoiakim.
Daniel 2: 21
It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise menAnd knowledge to men of understanding ( cf - Rom. 13: 1-2 )

13. Daniel 1: 1-2
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into the treasury of his god.

14. eras the Jewishness from their captives.
II. The Babylonians tried to
eras the Jewishness from
their captives.

15. ( “Eunuchs” is translated as “officials” in the NAS & NIV )
These four teenage boys were given a new status and a new home in a far country.
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.
ESV also KJV
( “Eunuchs” is translated as “officials” in the NAS & NIV )

16. They were required to learn a new language and a new culture.
Daniel 1: 4
… youths in whom was no defect, who were good-looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king's court; and he ordered him to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

17. They were given new Chaldean names.
1. Daniel was called Belteshazzar.
Jehovah is my judge Bel protects his life
2. Hananiah was called Shadrach
Jehovah is gracious … The command of Aku
3. Michael was called Meshach
Who belongs to Jehovah … Who is what Aku is
4. Azariah was called Abednego
Jehovah helps … Servant of Nabo

18. III. The captives took a
stand when it came
to that which defiled

19. Receiving food from the king’s table was a generous benefit.
Daniel 1: 5
The king appointed for them a daily ration from the king's choice food and from the wine which he drank, and appointed that they should be educated three years, at the end of which they were to enter the king's personal service.

20. Not eating the king’s food was a mater of conscious for Daniel.
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. ( ESV )

21. Daniel 1: 10
and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king." ( ESV )
Daniel 1: 9
And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, ( ESV )

22. God is also at work in YOUR daily life as well.
I Corinthians 10: 13
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

23. Biblical principle, the God-follower must live or die by it.
When there is a clear
Biblical principle, the
God-follower must live or die by it.

24. IV. What was the
consequence of
Daniel’s action ?

25. Daniel’s actions were a positive seed.
- It influenced others to do good.
- It gave Daniel a positive self-image.
- It maintained good relationships.
- It demonstrated commitment to God.

26. Every person is a servant so we must each one choose which Master we will serve.
Luke 16: 13
No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

27. We are sojourners on the earth.
The world pressures us to conform.
We don’t anticipate any less pressure.
Will we stand firm like Daniel did ?

28. we urge you to choose faithfulness to God over the temporary pleasures
As did Moses (Heb 11:24-5)
we urge you to choose faithfulness to God over
the temporary pleasures
this world offers us.