SUCCESS WITHOUT COMPROMISE
"DARE TO BE A DANIEL"
Daniel 1:8-21; 6:1-10
I. DANIEL WAS A MAN OF PURPOSE
A. DANIEL PURPOSED IN HIS HEART
Daniel 1:8 Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself in this way.
Daniel 1:9 God had given the chief official great respect for Daniel. [NLT]
B. WE NEED TO BE A PEOPLE OF PURPOSE
Mt 6:33 "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness"!
Cp. Solomon
1Kings 3:9 Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
Are we willing to "Dare To Be A Daniel" in regards to purpose?
II. DANIEL WAS A MAN OF PRINCIPLE
A. HE REFUSED TO COMPROMISE HIS PRINCIPLES
Dan 1:8 Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself in this way.
Dan 5:17 Then Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.
Daniel 6:10 when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened towards Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
B. OUR EXAMPLE SHOULD BE CLEAR FOR OTHERS
1Co 11:1 And you should follow my example, just as I follow Christ’s.
Are we willing to "Dare To Be A Daniel" in regards to principle?
III. DANIEL WAS A MAN OF PURITY
A. HIS OPPONENTS COULD FIND NO FAULT
Daniel 6:1-4 the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.
B. THE CHRISTIAN SHOULD MAINTAIN PURITY OF CONDUCT.
I Timothy 4:12; set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
I Timothy 2:8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.
Are we willing to "Dare To Be A Daniel" in regards to purity?
IV. DANIEL WAS A MAN OF PRAYER
A. A GLIMPSE OF HIS "PRAYER LIFE"... -
Dan 6:10 when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened towards Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
1. He prayed three times a day – dependence upon God.
2. He knelt in prayer – humility.
3. He gave thanks – gratitude.
4. His prayers were a "custom since early days [NKJV]" – faithfulness.
B. CHRISTIANS SHOULD FOLLOW DANIEL’S EXAMPLE
“Let us learn the lesson that the finest of God’s servants must maintain regular and fixed prayer habits in order to continue steadfast in devotion to the Lord."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Co 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. [NLT]
Are we willing to "Dare To Be A Daniel" in regards to prayer?
Will you "Dare To Be A Daniel" by becoming a person of:
I. PURPOSE?
II. PRINCIPLE?
III. PURITY?
IV. PRAYER?
SUCCESS WITHOUT COMPROMISE
"DARE TO BE A DANIEL"
Daniel 1:8-21; 6:1-10
Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself in this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favour and sympathy to Daniel, 10 but the official told 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 of your age? The king would then have my head because of you."
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 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." 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
17 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.
18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 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. 21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
