WHAT IS GOD SAYING?
Daniel Chapter 1
4 THINGS THAT GOD IS SAYING THROUGH DANIEL CHAPTER 1
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I. "I Am In Control Of Kings And Kingdoms" (VERSE 1)
A. PROPHECY CONCERNING GOD’S CONTROL - ISAIAH 13
1) v 1-5 God’s in control of Israel - He had been warning them that they would be defeated.
2) v 6-13 God’s in control of The World (End Times)
3) v 14-16 God’s in control of Babylon’s Allies
4) v 17-22 God’s in control of Babylon
B. GOD’S IN CONTROL OF AMERICA
1) God allowed terror to fall on America
2) God knew those planes would fly into the WTC
3) God is in control of Palestine, Israel, Iraq
C. DON’T PUT TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON MAN FOR ANYTHING - ESPECIALLY WORLD AFFAIRS
1) We get to trusting one man, or governments too much
2) I love and support G.W. Bush, but he’s just a man that God is using.
3) Don’t expect Presidents and Prime Ministers to bring peace, ONLY GOD CAN BRING PEACE WE MUST PETITION GOD TO WORK THROUGH THESE MEN TO BRING HIS PEACE
D. WHEN GOD QUITS MAKING SENSE IS WHEN HE’S ABOUT HIS BUSINESS
1) ISAIAH 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways,declares the Lord.
2) PERSONAL LIFE - In our personal life we need to trust God when He doesn’t make sense.
3) NATION LIFE - Why does God allow women and children to die? He’s God! Trust His Ways.
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II. "I Don’t Play Around With Sin" (VERSE 2 / II KINGS 23:36-24:2)
A. MANKIND IGNORES THE WARNINGS OF GOD
1) THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE: Adam & Eve - The Great Flood -Sodom & Gomorrah
2) LOST WORLD TODAY IGNORING THE WARNINGS OF GOD
a. HELL IS A REAL PLACE
b. THE WAGES OF SIN IS ETERNAL DEATH
c. THE ONLY WAY IS THROUGH JESUS - THE WORLD IGNORES GOD’S WARNING
3) CHRISTIANS TODAY IGNORING GOD’S DISCIPLINE
a. PROVERBS 13:24 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him
b. A LACK OF DISCIPLINE IN SOCIETY
c. A LACK OF DISCIPLINE IN THE FAMILY
d. THEN WE COME TO HEBREWS 12:5-11 - READ
e. GOD AIN’T PLAYING!
B. NATIONS IGNORE GOD
1) ISRAEL- REJECTION OF THE MESSIAH, CURRENT PROBLEMS
2) AMERICA FOUNDED ON THE WORD OF GOD
a. LEFT THE TYRANNY OF ENGLAND FOR FREEDOM WORSHIP GOD
b. GOD HAS BLESSED AMERICA FOR HER LOVE OF HIM
3) IF AMERICA CONTINUES TO LIVE IN SIN SHE TOO WILL FALL (I WILL GO INTO MORE DETAIL IN DANIEL CHAPTER 2)
4) Don’t be naive, EVERY GREAT NATION HAS FALLEN - IF AMERICA CONTINUES SHE TOO WILL FALL
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III. " My People Are To Be Transformers Not Conformers"(VERSES 3-5)
a) MANY BELIEVERS CONFORM TO THE PATTERN OF THIS WORLD
1) IT’S HARD TO TELL A LOT OF CHURCH GOERS FROM THE WORLD
2) THINK LIKE THE WORLD THINKS
3) ACT LIKE THE WORLD ACTS - UNJUST IN DEALINGS, LIE, CHEAT, STEAL, COMMIT SEXUAL SINS
b) SOMETHING AS BAD AS CONFORMIST ARE NON PERFORMIST- a made up word - DOING NOTHING - LIVING IN A HOLE
1) Some years back someone came up with the idea we should put ourselves and our families in hole to keep from conforming to this world
2) Raising our children in a bubble, then go buck wild when they hit the real world. Refusing to allow our wives into the work place for fear they might conform to the world.
3) HOW CAN WE IMPACT A WORLD UNLESS WE’RE LIVING IN IT
4) HOW CAN OUR FAMILIES LEARN TO COPE WITH THE WORLD UNLESS WE TEACH THEM HOW?
5) WE HAVE TO BE A DISCIPLINED PEOPLE, EXAMPLES FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD
C. LEARNING IN A BABYLONIAN ENVIRONMENT
1) THESE BOYS WENT TO SECULAR SCHOOL - WORST OF THE WORST
2) THEY WERE STEADFAST IN THEIR COMMITMENT TO GOD
3) RATHER THAN LIVING IN A HOLE THEY TRANSFORMED THE WORLD AROUND THEM
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IV. "I Will Give Favor To Those Who Are Obedient" (verses 17-21)
A. THESE GUYS HAD A COMMITMENT TO GOD’S LAW
1) God gave the Israelites certain Levitical Laws about being ceremonially clean.
2) Everything from a woman’s menstrual cycle to the way they ate food.
3) Leviticus 11 - READ
4) Leviticus 17:10-16 READ
5) THESE MEN WEREN’T VEGETARIANS, THEY WERE OBEDIENT TO GOD’S LEVITICAL LAW
6) ARE WE BOUND BY THESE RULES? NOT CEREMONIAL LAW.
7) Romans 10:9-15 READ
B. GOD GAVE THEM FAVOR BECAUSE OF THEIR OBEDIENCE
1) THROUGHOUT THE SCRIPTURES - God always places favor on the obedient.
2) God will give favor to those who walk with Him.
C. SO MANY LIVING IN DEFEAT BECAUSE OF DISOBEDIENCE
1) When we live in disobedience, God will not bless us.
2) If we will strive to live in obedience to God, He will give us favor.
D. IF WE WANT GOD’S FAVOR WE HAVE TO BE OBEDIENT TO HIM
