Text: Daniel chapter 1
Title: How big is your want too?
Introduction
Today we start a series on the book of Daniel. The theme of the entire book of Daniel is the Sovereignty of God.Every single chapter in the book of Daniel shows God as sovereign over the events of history; past, present and future. History is His story
Chapter 1 begins
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim King of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.( 605BC) And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylon and put in the treasure house of his god.” (V1-2)
Straight away we see the sovereignty of God-
“And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.”
Since we are not told here why the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon…
Remember you always reap what you sow.
…These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylon and put in the treasure house of his god.” (V1-2)
The nation of Israel had been living in idolatry for hundreds of years and in 605 BC God had enough.
As we said and we have already seen the theme of the entire book of Daniel is the Sovereignty of God
Danger: Since God is Sovereign over history then we can all just sit back and just watch God do everything.
A sovereign God rises up men and women in order to use them to change history
When God wants to create the nation of Israel he raises up Abraham
When God wants to deliver His people from Egypt He raises up Moses
When God wants to bring His people into the Promised Land He raises up a Joshua
When God wants to deliver the Jews from the evil Haman He raises up Esther.
When God wants to tell us the future He raises up a Daniel
Illustration: This morning we sang the song
I’m going to be a History maker in this land…
How much do we want to be a history maker in this land for God?
My title for Daniel chapter one is “How big is your want too?”
How much do we want to be a history maker for God in this land?
Do we meet the qualifications to be a history maker for God is this land?
“Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility- young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well formed, quick to understand and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. (v3-4)
According to these qualifications the answer is NO!
But it’s God that decides who gets to be a history maker for God?
God is sovereign!
" Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-- and the things that are not-- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."
1 Corinthians 1:26-29
A.You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit- fruit that will last.
Every believer has the potential to be a history maker
The question is how big is our want too?
What does it take to be a history maker in this land for God?
From the life of Daniel there are 4 things that are necessary to be a history maker in this land for God.
1.It takes Preparation. (v4-5)
“ He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the kings table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.”
A.There was a teacher (Ashpenaz)
B.There was a curriculum (The language and literature of the Babylonians)
C.There was a plan (They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service)
A. God has given us an even better teacher. (The Holy Spirit.)
“But when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” (John 16:13)
Every believer has The Holy Spirit living inside them.
One ministry of the Holy Spirit is to teach us about the things of God.
We neglect to ask the Holy Spirit to teach us about God.
B. God has given us an even better curriculum. The Bible
The Bible is the language and literature of God
We have the author of the Bible living inside us!
The Bible contains everything we need to know in order to be a history maker for God!
“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
Personal time in the bible
A small group bible study
C. God has an even better plan.
“You we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:V10)
God’s plan is for all his children to be world changers!
God is working in each one of us his plan for our lives.
God uses both good and bad circumstances to bring about his plan for our life
Discipline without direction is drudgery
You study the Bible in order to become a world changer!
That plan does start and end over night
1. It takes preparation
2. It takes purity (v6-10)
Among these were some from Judah; Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel. “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age. The king would then have my head because of you.” (3-8)
A. Among these were some from Judah
There were many others chosen but we only ever hear mention of the 4. Why no mention of the others?
They failed the purity test!
They defiled themselves with the royal food and wine.
In order to pass the purity test you will have to stand up against the world
The first thing Nebuchadnezzar did was to give them all new names.
He was trying to change their true identity.
Daniel – God is judge
Hananiah –the lord is gracious
Mishael – who is like God
Azariah –the Lord is my help
Daniel to Belteshazzar Bel will protect
Hananiah to Shadrach inspired of Aku (Sun god)
Mishael to Meshach –belonging to Aku
Azariah to Abednego –servant of Nego (the fire god)
They received a new name but not a new nature.
He could change their names but he couldn’t change their character
If we are to pass the purity test we have to know we belong to God!
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official permission not to defile himself this way.
A life devoted to God begins with purpose of heart. A previous determination to do the will of God regardless of the cost
Daniel understood that God had brought Israel into captivity because of their failure to observe the law.
He wasn’t going to make the same mistake!
When men stand up for God He stands up for them
Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel. “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age. The king would then have my head because of you.” (3-8)
Here is why so many fail the purity test?
They fear people rather than God
At least he was honest about it!
1. It takes preparation
2. It takes purity (v6-10)
3. It takes practice (v11-16)
“Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see. So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.”
A. History makers practice what they believe
B.They don’t just talk about God’s word- they put God’s word into practice
C.When you practice what you believe you will find God’s word works
D.You will always be better off when you put God’s word into practice
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the council of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by the streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3)
E.Tithing
1. It takes preparation
2. It takes purity (v6-10)
3. It takes practice (v11-16)
4.It takes God’s Power (v17-21)
“To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.”
A. Here again we see the sovereignty of God.
“To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
God is not only all-knowing He is also all-powerful
That is what makes Him sovereign
Anything God asks us to do- He will give us the power to do it.
God does not give the same power to everyone.
Only Daniel was given understanding of dreams and visions
God’s power is there when we need it!
.
God’s power is always there and available to us
(Daniel was 80 years)
It does not matter how old or young we are)
What does it take to be a history maker for God?
1. It takes preparation
2. It takes purity (v6-10)
3. It takes practice (v11-16)
4. It takes God’s Power (v17-21)
Let us pray,
Thank you that you have chosen us to be history makers for you in our land.
