As Ron Luce of Acquire the Fire has said, “We constantly see the effects of a generation that has been led by ungodly influences, peer pressure, and by people with no solid foundation in God. As a result, we have a generation of young people, young adults, and young at heart who are hurt, who are broken, who are confused, and who are in turn hurting each other.” As this new year begins, it is time for a new generation of young people who are believers in Christ, to rise up and begin to grow into the leaders of their generation. It is time for every Christian young person to realize Matthew 5:13-16, which says that we must be, the salt of the earth.
The Bible is filled with stories of many godly young men and women who are worthy of our emulation and one such person is Daniel, a young man who obtained power and influence in his lifetime. He started out most excellent among the children of Israel (Dan 1:3-6) and he gained superiority among the wise men of Babylon (Dan 1:17-20). He was eventually given power over all of Babylon.
But, how was Daniel able to reach these positions of power and influence , without compromising his position as a godly young man?
Today, we will discuss the faith of a fifteen year old, who didn’t give up and hung on to his faith, even when things were not guaranteed to go his way. A close look at the book of Daniel reveals his secret and shows us how we too can be successful without selling our souls.
A. DARE TO BE DIFFERENT BY BEING A PERSON OF PURPOSE (DAN 1:8-9)
1. DESPITE YOUR YOUTH AND OBVIOUS PRESSURES TO CONFORM, YOU MUST PURPOSE IN YOUR HEART TO UPHOLD GOD’S LAW
2. IF YOU HAVE A WILLINGNESS TO PUT GOD FIRST, GOD WILL GRANT YOU FAVOR IN THE SIGHT OF OTHERS
3. SOMEONE WITH DIRECTION AND A STRONG SENSE OF PURPOSE OFTEN BREEDS RESPECT AND ADMIRATION (Reallionaire by Farrah Gray)
TRANS: Throughout his life, Daniel not only had a strong sense of purpose, he also had a strong set of standards
B. DARE TO BE DIFFERENT BY BEING A PERSON OF PRINCIPLE (DAN 1:12)
1. LIKE DANIEL, YOU HAVE TO STAND FIRM AND REFUSE TO COMPROMISE YOUR CONVICTIONS
2. OUTWARDLY SOCIETY MAY JOKE ABOUT YOU, BUT INWARDLY, THEY ADMIRE PEOPLE OF PRINCIPLES
3. GOD ALSO ADMIRES INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL STAND BY THEIR PRINCIPLES AND BY THEIR WORDS (Psalms 15:4) (Student at Columbine)
TRANS: But having purpose and principle is not all; another final element for true success is needed.
C. DARE TO BE DIFFERENT BY BEING A PERSON OF PRAYER (DAN 6:10)
1. LIKE DANIEL, WE NEED TO KNEEL IN PRAYER TO DEMONSTRATE OUR HUMILITY
2. LIKE DANIEL, WE NEED TO PRAY THREE TIMES A DAY TO DEMONSTRATE OUR CONTINUAL DEPENDENCE ON GOD
3. LIKE DANIEL, WE NEED TO GIVE THANKS IN THE MIDST OF PERSECUTION AND DEMONSTRATE OUR GRATITUDE, THAT WE HAVE NOT LOST SIGHT OF GOD’S BLESSINGS
There is a false assumption that to "get ahead" in this world a person must conform to the sinful practices of the world. But even today, there are many Christians who demonstrate that when one "Dares to be Different" they can succeed in the affairs of society, without selling their souls to the world.
How about you? Will you "Dare To Be Different" by becoming a person of Purpose, Principle, and Prayer?
God bless you.
