Dare To Be A daniel

"DARE TO BE A DANIEL"

How To Enjoy Success Without Compromise

Daniel 1:8-21; 6:1-10

PRELUDE

Most people have a hero or have had at some time in their life.. Which, I guess is ok so long as their hero's are worth emulating... Some may have had Hop-a-long Cassidy, or the Lone Ranger, or Gene Autry, Or Roy Rogers... These were the good guy's... As long as the person we are emulating is Good and right that is ok...The Apostle Paul said to follow him, emulate him.. To introduce or lesson, first of all...--Lets read our text..

Daniel 1:8-21 and 6:1-10

¶ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would

endanger my head before the king."11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,12 "Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 "Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the

portion of the king's delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants." 14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's delicacies. 16 Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.17 ¶ As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.18 Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.19 Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king.20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.21 Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.

Daniel 6:1-10

¶ It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom;2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss.3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.5 Then these men said, "We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God."6 ¶ So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: "King Darius, live forever!7 "All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have

consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 "Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter." 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

INTRODUCTION

1. The Bible is filled with accounts of many godly men and women who 2. One such person is Daniel, a man who obtained preeminence and power in his lifetime:

a. He started out preeminent among the children of Israel - Dan 1:3-6

b. He gained preeminence among the wise of men of Babylon -

    Dan 1:17-20

c. He was given power over all of Babylon -

Dan 2:48-49; 5:29

Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

d. He received similar power over the Medo-Persian empire -

Dan6:1-3,28

3. How was Daniel able to reach these positions of power and influence

without compromising his position as a godly man?

4. A close look at the book of Daniel reveals his secret, and shows how

we too can be successful without selling our souls..

I would like to use Bill Rainwater, <again,> [seems like I am using him as an example all the time].. He worked for Binkly 20 plus years and only missed one service on Sunday because of work in that career with them..

He had made up his mind before he went to work for them that he wouldn't work on Sunday.. He told them that and they hired him on those conditions. Right off they wanted him to work on Sunday.. He didn't, He held his ground and he did not I repeat did-not get fired over not working..

We to can be successful without selling our souls to the devil.. We can Dare to be like Daniel

[First, we notice that even as a young teen-ager...]

I. DANIEL WAS A MAN OF PURPOSE

A. "DANIEL PURPOSED IN HIS HEART..." -

Dan 1:8

¶ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Daniel had made plans that he would not defile himself with the kings food and as,--

1. A young boy in a strange land, Daniel was immediately faced with a challenge to violate God's law by eating the king's food

2. Despite his youth and the obvious pressures to conform, Daniel

"purposed in his heart" to uphold the law of God, no matter the cost

3. Because of his willingness to put God first, God granted Daniel favor in the sight of others - Dan 1:9

a. How God did this is not explained, but it happened in the case of Joseph also - cf. Gen 39:1-4; 21-23

b. By putting God first, God blessed Joseph in such a way that favorably impressed others.. He became ruler of all Egypt under the Pharoah..

¶ Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. 2 The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.

21-23 But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners who were in the prison;

whatever they did there, it was his doing.23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph's authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.

B. EVERY CHILD OF GOD NEEDS TO BE A PERSON OF PURPOSE...

1. No one respects a "wishy-washy" person, someone with no direction in their lives

2. Whereas a strong sense of purpose often breeds respect and

admiration in others

3. What should be the "purpose" of the Christian?

a. Jesus makes it clear in Mt 6:33

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

b. I.e., to seek the will of God and fulfill it in our lives, no matter what the circumstances

4. As Jesus promised, this will guarantee God's favor toward us and in turn likely gain us favor in the eyes of those around us

[Will you "Dare To Be A Daniel" and be a person with a purpose like he

had? No matter how young one may be, it is never too early to "seek

first the kingdom of God and His righteousness"! Throughout his life, Daniel not only had a strong sense of purpose, but...]

II. DANIEL WAS A MAN OF PRINCIPLE

A. HE REFUSED TO COMPROMISE HIS CONVICTIONS...

1. As a young man, by refusing to eat the king's meat or drink

his wine -as we read in Dan 1:8

2. As an old man, by refusing the gifts of Belshazzar -

Dan 5:13-17

Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? 14 "I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 15 "Now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing.16 "And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom." 17 Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards

to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

3. Under the threat of persecution, by refusing to obey the decree of Darius -as we read in Dan 6:10

B. PEOPLE ADMIRE PERSONS OF PRINCIPLE...

1. Outwardly they may ridicule them, make fun of them but inwardly they really wish they could be just like them

2. And when they need someone that can be trusted, and depended upon to carry through with an assigned task, who do you think they will turn to?

3. God also admires individuals who will stand by their principles, and by their words -

Psa 15:1-5

LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?

2 He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; 3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; 4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does

these things shall never be moved.

[Our society is in great need of people with principle. Those who "Dare To Be A Daniel", and demonstrate by example the value of being led by "principle" rather than by "price", are not only highly valued by God but also by their fellow man. But having purpose and principle is not all; another element for true success is needed. What that element is can be seen when we observe that...]

III. DANIEL WAS A MAN OF PURITY

A. HIS OPPONENTS COULD NOT FIND ANY FAULT...

1. He was faultless when it came to management of his business affairs -

Dan 6:1-4

2. This would help to explain his rise to positions of great responsibility and power

3. Of course, his purity in business affairs was related to...

a. His overall purpose to please God first

b. And the fact that as a man of principle he could be trusted

B. THE CHRISTIAN IS ALSO TO MAINTAIN PURITY OF CONDUCT...

1. Whether young or old - cf. 1 Ti 4:12; Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Ti 2:6-8 ¶ if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,

2. Whether slave or free -

cf. Ti 2:9-10

Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

3. People who maintain purity in their dealings with others are often given positions of great responsibility and privilege, because they can be trusted to use them wisely, as Joseph [Yes, Daniel was a man of purpose, principle, and purity (and how the world needs more like him!). But the element that likely tied all these together in such a way to receive blessings from God and favor from man is the fact that...]

IV. DANIEL WAS A MAN OF PRAYER

A.    A GLIMPSE OF HIS "PRAYER LIFE"... -

In spite of the kings edict not to petition any god or man for 30 days we see in

Dan 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

1. He knelt in prayer, a demonstration of his humility

2. He prayed three times daily, a demonstration of his continual dependence upon God

3. He gave thanks in the midst of persecution, a demonstration of his gratitude and the fact that he had not lost sight of God's blessings

4. His prayers were a "custom since early days", demonstrating

his persistence and faithfulness in his service to God

-- Is it not likely that his "custom" to pray so diligently helped him to remain a man of purpose, principle and purity, despite his rise to power and preeminence over the empire?

B. CHRISTIANS WOULD DO WELL TO FOLLOW DANIEL'S EXAMPLE...

1. Strauss said ["Let us learn the lesson that the finest of God's servants

must maintain regular and fixed prayer habits in order to continue steadfast in devotion to the Lord."]

2. As Christians, we too are to pray often - 1 Th 5:17-18;

pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Co 4:2 ¶ Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

3. If our efforts to live purposeful, principled, and pure lives are not what they should be, could an undisciplined "prayer life" be the reason?

3. Are we willing to "Dare To Be A Daniel" in regards to prayer?

CONCLUSION

1. There is a false assumption that to "get ahead" in this world one

must conform to the sinful practices of the world

2. But even today there are many Christians who demonstrate that when

one "dares to be a Daniel" or a "Bill Rainwater" they can succeed in the affairs of men without selling their souls to the world, Or the devil

3. How about you? Will you "Dare To Be A Daniel" by becoming a person

of:

a. PURPOSE?

b. PRINCIPLE?

c. PURITY?

d. PRAYER?

----- INVITATION----

HEAR.. Rom 10;14, 17

BELIEVE Heb 11;6----- jn 8;24

REPENT Lk 13;3-5"

CONFESS Rom 10;9-10

BE BAPTIZED Mk 16;16

REMAIN FAITHFUL Rev 2;10

If you are an ERRING child of God

ACTS 8;22

Mark Copeland