Surviving the Babylon’s of Life
Date: January 22, 2012
Scripture: Daniel 1:1-21
PP Have you ever found yourself in the midst of an UNEXPECTED time of crisis?
One/those times when/nightmare hits/never saw it coming?
For example, there might have been a time when you got an unexpected DIAGNOSIS from your doctor...
Time when/deal with the unexpected DEATH of a loved one.
Perhaps you remember a horrible day when you were the recipient of an unexpected ACCUSATION.
Someone claimed you did something wrong—and you knew were innocent.
Maybe you know someone who was forced to deal with an unexpected DIVORCE.
They were shocked when their spouse said she was having an affair.
Maybe you were forced to deal with an unexpected FINANCIAL LOSS...
Or your spouse was sent overseas in an unexpected military DEPLOYMENT.
Sermon Powerpoint
I bring this up because today/begin/study/truly remarkable young/man who/forced to deal/unexpected crisis very early in his life.
• I’m referring/prophet Daniel
• Taken from his homeland/captivity/Babylon/only 13 yrs.old.
• When I say REMARKABLE I mean it/Daniel --amazing guy.
• He was literally the best that Judah had to offer
• He was the cream of the crop.
The words of verses 3 and 4 of our text paint a very thorough picture of just how remarkable Daniel was.
o From a family of high social status—part of the royal family itself.
o He was also physically flawless—no doubt a consequence of the fact that his family was wealthy
o Daniel would have/good clothes/best food/a nice home
o Daniel was not only good looking—
o He was intelligent—bright—quick to understand.
Here’s another thing. The Bible says he was “qualified to serve in the king’s palace...”
Which meant he also had a high level of what we would call “emotional intelligence” — or “people smarts.”
In other words—Daniel knew how to read people—
o How to communicate with people—
o People of all temperaments.
o He had that rare kind of gracious “give and take” personality that made him very good at dealing with fallen human beings like you and me.
But, best of all—Daniel was a Godly young man—absolutely devoted to our Lord and His chosen people.
Add these characteristics together and it’s easy to conclude that Daniel was unique.
He was a very special person. “Daniel is one of the few principal characters of the Old Testament concerning whom there is not one word of criticism.”
PPP Like all young men his age, Daniel would have had dreams of how he thought his life would turn out—
Coming from nobility as he did—he would have assumed that his dreams were almost certain to come true.
Daniel/get a great education under the best Hebrew teachers of his day...
Go on to glittering success in whatever field he chose.
He’d meet the right girl, build a great marriage, live in an enviable home, raise a wonderful family, and occupy a prominent place in the temple.
In short, Daniel would be an overachiever.
He would do great things for God and God’s people.
He would be a leader in his homeland
Someone who was looked up to and admired.
But—life did not turn out the way Daniel planned, did it?
No—the UNEXPECTED came—and you can almost feel the heartbreak that came with it in verses 1 and 2 where it says, “Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem and besieged it.”
PP Now, to put this/proper context, take you/lightening review of Hebrew history up until this point—and I do mean LIGHTENING—so hold on to your seats.
The Hebrew people became a nation while/slavery/Egypt.
They were delivered under Moses.
They wandered/wilderness/forty years/enter/promised land.
After a period of time they reached their peak as a nation under kings David and Solomon.
Solomon built the glorious temple—
in the kingly administrations that followed there was a long, slow decline
This was fueled by a cycle of rebellion then repentance then rebellion and so on.
Soon there/more rebellion than repentance and eventually, the kingdom was divided into a northern kingdom, Israel, which was destroyed...
All that remained was the Southern kingdom called Judah.
Then when Daniel was a young man,
Nebuchadnezzar came/very little effort destroyed all that was left of the nation of Israel...His holy people
And if you’re thinking, “Why did God let this happen?”
I’d remind you that the Hebrews brought it on themselves.
They ignored the warnings given/God’s prophets/used their God-given freedom to sin.
“God would rather have His people living in shameful captivity in a pagan land than living like pagans in the Holy Land and disgracing His name.”
Well, because of this, everything changed for Daniel.
PPP His dreams remained just that—dreams—dreams that quickly faded away like the morning mist.
Contrary to his hopes—Daniel would come to adulthood and spend his life in a foreign land.
Instead/being served/he’ll give his best service to an alien, pagan king.
But, understand, he lost much more than his dreams!
He lost his culture.
He lost most of the relationships he had cherished.
He probably lost his parents and siblings.
He lost his native tongue and would have to learn to speak a foreign language.
Daniel’s dreams/EDUCATION changed
o Nebucadnezzar now educated them/ “Babylonian school.”
o Babylonians/great builders, calculators/military strategists,
o But their religion was steeped in superstition and myth....
Daniel/three friends/forced study all this nonsense
Forced to receive/education/bathed in a pagan world view.
Sound familiar?
Our Christian children often/study/secular schools that contradicts what we believe as Christ-followers.
In short, Daniel would live and die in a place that he never wanted to be. He would never go home again.
Daniel/three friends even lost their NAMES—and in his day your NAME was very significant.
PPP Daniel’s name literally meant, “the Lord will judge”
o He’s not Daniel anymore.
o Now he was given the name “Belteshazzar”
o Referred/pagan Babylonian god/meant, “Bel protect his life.”
o Can you imagine how that felt to this Godly young man
o to hear a pagan prayer every time his name was called
o A prayer/made/look like God wasn’t calling/shots anymore?
o And—the same was true for the re-naming of other three.
The name of the true and living God was replaced by the names of the false gods of Babylon.
These new names that Nebuchadnezzar gave them was his way of saying,
“You have a new king now and a new religion. Give yourself to me. Allow Babylon to define your identity.”
PPP Well, the question I want us to deal with this morning is this:
“What do you and I do when WE end up in ‘Babylon?’”
This-important question for us to answer because we all will.
I mean, if you’re young and life has been fair to you thus far, trust me—unfairness is coming.
There will be “Babylon” times in your life.
Remember—this is a fallen world—
Where you CAN expect the unexpected—
The unfair—and the unwanted will happen.
In some way or another your dreams will fade or be replaced by what you believe are nightmares.
So, you need to decide—what will you do when this happens?
What do you do when you find yourself like Daniel, in “Babylon?”
When you find yourselves in a “Babylon,” will you wither in your spirit?
o Will you die on the inside?
o Others get through the tough times—but just barely.
o interestingly there are some—a minority,
o Who don’t just survive these traumatic events.
o They enlarge their capacity through these events.
o They strengthen their ability to persist and even endure and to be creative.
They have actually grown on trauma.
Well, Daniel was definitely one of them.
With God’s help he not only survived in Babylon—he thrived there
PPP Why? Our Holy, almighty, all-knowing God not only HEARS our cries.
He actually CARES about/pain/fear that PROMPTS them.
So please hear me on this!
No matter what your needs may be—
no matter what nightmare/going through right now—
anything from crushing DEBT to crushing GRIEF,
you can know that God cares deeply.
Scripture reveals again and again that He has a special place in His heart:
■for those who are alone and hurting
■for people who have been displaced
■for people who struggle with fear
■for victims of injustice and abuse
■for people trapped in sinful thoughts and actions
■for people whose world seems to be spinning out of control as the debts pile up
So let’s look at the three characteristics Daniel lived by.
I want us to look at them and learn how we too can overcome the “Babylon’s in our life.
PPP
(1) He RESOLVED—to honor his God-given convictions.
o Daniel refused to live/passive victim/circumstances beyond his control.
o He refused to get TANGLED UP in stuff that would cause him to betray his deepest beliefs.
o In short, Daniel RESOLVED to honor God.
___________________________________________________
Verse 8--I want you to note this is a very important verse.
o It is the HINGE POINT of this entire book of Daniel.
o Everything turns here.
o Up until this point the Babylonians seem to have DETERMINED everything.
o They’ve been in the driver’s seat.
For example: Nebuchadnezzaer DETERMINED to conquer Israel.
He DETERMINED/cart off its most sacred objects and its best citizens—people like Daniel.
He DETERMINED their new names, their new identities.
He DETERMINED to enroll Daniel and his peers in that Babylonian version of Harvard.
He picked their major.
He selected the classes they would take and the books they would read.
He even selected their college meal plan.
They would be fed RICH FOOD and WINE that came straight from the king’s table.
___________________________________________________
Easiest thing/world/Daniel to think he/passive victim in all this—
Easy to say/victim of forces way too big for him.
But he didn’t do that.
Verse 8 says, the INITIATIVE in the story shifts.
We see this in the way one Hebrew word is used.
It’s the word for “RESOLVED” or “DETERMINED.”
As I said, the first two times it’s used to refer to the Babylonians.
o They are DETERMINING this and that.
o But in verse 8 it’s DANIEL the captive/Daniel the prisoner
o Daniel makes a decision—and at this point the verb is strengthened.
o It’s as if it is underlined as it says, “Daniel RESOLVED in his heart to honor God.”
I’m reminded of Popeye who would endure Brutus’ attacks and criticisms but eventually he would draw a line in the sand and say, “That’s all I can stands and I can’t stands no more!”
PPP Well, that’s what Daniel did.
o He DECIDED—he RESOLVED that enough was enough.
o He would not defile himself/participating/meal plan that had been selected for him.
So, he went to the dean of the school and said he didn’t want the Adkins diet of all that meat nor did he want a college keg party with all the alcohol he could drink at every meal.
And please note—he made this decision BEFORE the food was put on the table
Before he would be tempted/smells/feast which should remind us that we must do our own resolving..
Make the decision before the temptation….
Well, the REASON Daniel did this
The reason/refused/MENU/not because he was a vegetarian.
He ate meat like any good Hebrew.
No—it was because he knew/meat/from KING’S table would have first been offered to a pagan god
so sharing in that food would/same as honoring/false god.
He knew Nebuchanezzar believed by first offering his food and drink to these gods, he would receive special blessings.
Daniel didn’t want the king or anyone to conclude that he/his friends had prospered physically intellectually/spiritually.... Because of the food offered to pagan gods.
o He did not want pagan deities to be honored in anyway whatsoever.
o And it appears as if these four men were the only ones of these “choice Hebrews” who drew this line in the sand.
The rest gave in and pigged out—no Jewish food pun intended.
So Daniel/friends resisted the royal food of the King.
___________________________________________________
If you had a plate of prime rib with all the trimmings and a plate of broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower, which plate would you choose.
PPP
What would you have done if you were in Daniel shoes?
Would you compromise or would you have the self-discipline to say “No,” to the temptation to enjoy the better things in life.
Daniel could have rationalized and made a case for eating what was served him.
After all, he was being held hostage. He was a captive.
Surely God would understand if he gave in.
• Everybody else is doing it, what’s the difference.
• It took a great deal of COURAGE for Daniel to stand up like this.
I mean Nebuchadneazzar was not the kind of leader who cut people slack.
PPP Here’s an example from his life to show you what I mean.
In 2nd Kings 25- king/Zedekiah rebelled against him.
Nebuchadnezzar captured Zedekiah/his family and had his sons killed right before Zedekiah’s eyes.
Then he had Zedekiah’s eyes put out so the last thing he saw was his sons being killed.
I mean, the dean of the school, Ashpenaz, wasn’t kidding when he said that Nebuchadnezzar would have his head if this turned out poorly.
That’s who Daniel is dealing with here.
But that doesn’t bother Daniel.
He remembered his REAL name and the message it contained.
He believed in his heart that GOD is the only true judge and he resolves to honor God no matter what.
Resilient people—people who survive and thrive in the Babylons of life—are like this.
They cling to their Christian convictions.
They don’t use circumstances that are beyond their control as an excuse to give in to temptation.
They build their lives on God’s loving laws and refuse to get TANGLED UP in sin.
Note here Daniel’s “people smarts”
He said, “Let’s try this/ten days, sir, and then you be the judge.”
He exercises amazing initiative, courage, and tact
not to mention faith that God would work and God did miraculously—
no health food diet will make that kind/difference/10 days.
I can tell you by experience that DIETS take MUCH LONGER than that to work.
If they always worked that fast, we’d all be skinny!
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Okay—let me stop at this point and ask—is there anywhere in your life where you are getting TANGLED UP in sin?
PPP
ENSNARED by the world’s ways?
Has your “Babylon” pulled you in to some activity that you know God does not approve of?
--There is the husband who never intended to lose his family but he decided it was okay to flirt around the boundaries of adultery...and now he pulls himself from the wreckage of a marriage.
He got tangled up in a Babylon.
--There is the business person who decides that cutting an ethical corner here and there will make a ride a little easier.
Now there’s a collision waiting to happen.
--Perhaps some of you have given in/wrong thing and you’re feeling the pain right now. Alcohol,nicotine,anger,
Now you are feeling the hurt that always comes our way when we live contrary to God’s will. Rom. 6:12
o I mean, so many people never intend to sin—but because they didn’t stick with their convictions like Daniel, as a child of God—
o They allow themselves to get pulled in.
o Listen, friends, the world is trying to tempt us to settle for less than God’s best—
o why not resolve to say NO?!
o Why not plant your feet firmly and say,
o “NO—I’m going to be God’s person.”
o You’ll never SURVIVE in Babylon—much less THRIVE until you do.
PPP
(2) Here’s the second thing Daniel did. He lived a life without compromise.
Daniel/three friends are example/all/us on how to live a life w/o compromise.
They were young men of character.
Someone defined character as “what you do when no one is looking.”
It takes courage to be a person of character.
Every day you make choices that show whether you are courageous or cowardly.
You choose between the right thing and the convenient thing,
Sticking to your convictions or caving in for the sake of comfort, greed or approval. Gen. 4:7
PPP
It takes courage to be a Christian.
• Some people say being a Christian is for weak people, cowards and those who like potluck dinners.
• It takes courage to own up to you sins.
• It’s not easy to repent and be honest before a Holy God.
• You have to tell the truth about yourself – that you’ve lied, you’ve hurt people, you’ve cheated; you’ve been greedy, dishonest, unfaithful and self-centered.
You say, “I can’t confess up to those things.
• It would be too embarrassing and humiliating.”
• After all, I’m not so bad, now Silicon Sam and Sue they are wicked, bit I live a pretty good life.
• I’ve made a few bad choices but nothing serious.”
It takes courage to walk by faith as a Christian.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:7 “We walk by faith, not by sight.” We do have the promise, Proverbs 3:6 that God, “Shall direct your paths.”
Cowards don’t last long on their spiritual pilgrimages.
They shrivel up and disappear.
It takes courage repent and become a Christian.
To follow God’s leading in the Christian life.
To live a clean moral life when surrounded by immorality.
to remain true to your convictions when everyone at your work or school or neighborhood says to you:
“You’re hopelessly idealistic, old fashioned, a little bit strange, in fact, you’re a religious fanatic”?
I encourage you to make the Commitment to live your Life without compromise.
Stay True to your Convictions based upon God’s Word
Refuse to yield to temptation
Daniel/friends were committed/living a life w/o compromise.
PPP
(3) There’s one other quality that Daniel had.
He BELIEVED that because God is sovereign, his life—including his suffering—had meaning and purpose.
The main factor that causes people to give up in hard times is NOT the intensity of their suffering—but rather their belief that their suffering has no meaning.
It’s not the pain they go through that makes them give up.
It’s the meaninglessness of it.
Study of suicide notes rarely speak about failing health, rejection, finances, or even physical pain.
No—they say things like, “There is no point in going on. There is no reason for me to keep living.”
Well, Daniel was different—he trusted in God’s complete sovereignty.
He knew that God always works for our good and His glory—even amidst the “Babylon’s” of life.
He knew there was purpose in his pain.
And he was right.
Our text shows how much God was already at work.
Listen as I show you all the ways God was busy fulfilling His purposes—even in Daniel’s captivity:
--Verse 2 says that “GOD delivered Jehoiakim” into Nebuchadnezzar’s hands. Jeremiah prophesized this…
--Verse 9 says that “GOD caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel.”
--the good physical report we read of in verse 15 was the result of God’s miraculous intervention.
He made the 10 day test succeed.
--Verse 17 says that “GOD gave these four young men knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning.
GOD gave Daniel the ability to interpret dreams.
So, Daniel believed in God’s power and providence from the very beginning.
o He was convinced that even the defeat/Judah/loss of the temple that looked so tragic...
o was not just a random meaningless event.
o God was not asleep.
o No—God was up to something in Babylon even in that place of great suffering.
o He knew that this time of suffering was the only thing that would turn some of His chosen people back to Him.
Plus, as it turned out, hindsight shows that God loved the people of Babylon.
He even loved Nebuchadneazzar and was reaching out to them in all of this.
PPP Listen—to survive and thrive in the Babylon’s of life you have to know that God loves you—
and that He is all-powerful and always at work.
You’ve got to know that He’s got it all in control.
You’ve got to trust God’s heart.
You’ve got to believe He knows what He is doing and that there is purpose in your pain.
Daniel/friends knew all this—and because they did, instead of being transformed they became transformers themselves.
• They JOINED God in His work
• He used them to bring great glory to His name even in a pagan land.
As we’ll see in our study, their spiritual and political influence was enormous.
The question we must ask ourselves in our own Babylon’s is not
o “HOW can I get out of this?” but rather,
o “WHAT can I get out of this?
o How can God use me—even in this?”
You know, Daniel outlived Nebuchanezzar, his successors, and even the Babylonian empire.
He lived until the days of Cyrus, ruler of the Medes/Persians
The thing that kept him going all/decades/he knew/His God was more supreme than any king.
Satan will TRY TO DISRUPT YOUR COMMUNICATION LINES WITH GOD.
Daniel/his friends were separated/homeland/family/synagogue.
Were isolated in/land/ did not speak their language.
Their daily routine disrupted/to the point of isolation.
Satan tries the same to Christians today
o Tempting you to do other things than go to Church?
What joy it brings him to know Christians believe their faith is a private activity or they only participate in worship/Sunday morn.
Satan loves to play/your weariness/convince your mind you are too tired to pray, to read the Bible or go to church?
Has Satan ever told you: “You worked hard all week and deserve some time to yourself.
o He wants/Christian to focus on self
o While Christ wants the Christian to esteem others more highly than self.
Dare to be a Daniel!
God can give you the victory!
To have THE POWER TO BE SELF-CONTROLLED, you must expect, anticipate, pray, know who God is and who you are in Christ and know the enemy’s tactics.
You cannot have one foot/church and another/world and hope to have power to be self-controlled.
The Apostle Paul exhorted the Christian, “Let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. Let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” (1 Thes. 5:6).
Invitation
I want us to do our best to emulate Daniel in his boldness.
Are you willing to boldly—publically—say this morning that you are committed to living by YOUR God-given convictions?
Will you pledge to go against the flow if necessary?
Will you say today that when the world tells you to do one thing and God tells you to do the opposite, that you will obey God?
Will you no matter what comes—no matter how hard life gets trust God?
Will you do this? If so, raise your hand. BE A DANIEL today.
