Making Decisions That Stick

Making Decisions That STICK!

Daniel 1:8, Matthew 15:18

Da 1:8 ¶ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (KJV)

He decided what was right

Da 1:8 ¶ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself

That is the question before us today… what does it mean to defile yourself and what are the consequences when you do?

The Reason we need to look at this subject: It’s just a statement until you are motivated to embrace it…

- why should any teenager decide not to defile themselves if they don’t even know what it means and what the consequences are?

- Why should any adult here who is contemplating an action that is wrong decide not to defile themselves if they don’t know what it means and what the consequences are?

- So… we must find out the answer to both questions

Mt 15:18 Reminds us But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

QUESTION 1: What does it mean to defile myself?

Definition: The word itself comes from a Greek word “koinoo” and a Hebrew word “gawal” meaning… “to pollute something”

So… Daniel didn’t want to “pollute” himself… well how could he pollute himself merely with a little meat and a little wine?

The chief reasons why Daniel would not eat meat from the royal table were probably these three:-1. Because they ate unclean beasts, which were forbidden by the Jewish law. 2. Because they ate, as did the heathens in general, beasts which had been strangled, or not properly blooded. 3. Because the animals that were eaten were first offered as victims to their gods.

So… in other words… Daniel would have been going against what God’s word had told him not to do…

Today… it’s no big deal to ignore God… Yea, it is a big deal… you may not think it is but God will proof to you… IT IS A BIG DEAL!

(Thankfully we don’t have the Mosaic Law today… we are under Grace since Jesus Christ came… BUT… we still have the laws of God to govern our actions… In other words, if the Bible declares something to be sin… then by doing it, you are defiling yourself.

THE KING’S MEAT: The king represented the rule of the day in Daniel’s time… In our time, the culture would define the rule of the day… In Daniel’s day it was accepted by the culture and the king to ignore God’s rules for life and embrace their own… Things have not changed much… OUR CULTURE SHOUTS at all of us…

WEAR THIS! DRINK THIS! GO HERE! WATCH THIS! LOOK THIS WAY! FEEL THIS WAY! THIS IS OKAY! THE ONLY RULES ARE YOUR RULES! The culture shouts at you just as it shouted to Daniel…

SO… Why did Daniel decide not to listen to the culture? What convinced him that it was better to obey God?

Daniel believed that God’s way was the best way… He understood the consequences for going against God’s way and the benefits of embracing God’s way. He believed that a life of discipline and conviction would not only be honored by God but that others would notice as well

Listen to me… When I stand here and ask you to obey God, to live a clean life, to stand up and do the right thing…

I’m not giving you blind advice… This advice has been tried for thousands of years… It’s been proven in the fires of personal stubbornness and found to be true!

There are two ways to learn… by someone else’s mistake/or your own! I’m tellin’ you… God WILL give you 3 things… Count On It!

3 Things God’s Way Will Give You

1. Personal Radiance

Da 1:12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. THEN LOOK… 1:15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.

There was a noticeable difference… Godly living is healthy living! There is something awesome about the countenance of someone who is serving God and has dealt with sin in their life…

Some of you are caring a load of burden around here today… it’s written all over your face… you are wore out trying to keep up this front of Christianity and Cultural acceptance.