Making Decisions That STICK!
Daniel 1:8, Matthew 15:18
Da 1:8 ¶ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (KJV)
He decided what was right
Da 1:8 ¶ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself
That is the question before us today… what does it mean to defile yourself and what are the consequences when you do?
The Reason we need to look at this subject: It’s just a statement until you are motivated to embrace it…
- why should any teenager decide not to defile themselves if they don’t even know what it means and what the consequences are?
- Why should any adult here who is contemplating an action that is wrong decide not to defile themselves if they don’t know what it means and what the consequences are?
- So… we must find out the answer to both questions
Mt 15:18 Reminds us But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
QUESTION 1: What does it mean to defile myself?
Definition: The word itself comes from a Greek word “koinoo” and a Hebrew word “gawal” meaning… “to pollute something”
So… Daniel didn’t want to “pollute” himself… well how could he pollute himself merely with a little meat and a little wine?
The chief reasons why Daniel would not eat meat from the royal table were probably these three:-1. Because they ate unclean beasts, which were forbidden by the Jewish law. 2. Because they ate, as did the heathens in general, beasts which had been strangled, or not properly blooded. 3. Because the animals that were eaten were first offered as victims to their gods.
So… in other words… Daniel would have been going against what God’s word had told him not to do…
Today… it’s no big deal to ignore God… Yea, it is a big deal… you may not think it is but God will proof to you… IT IS A BIG DEAL!
(Thankfully we don’t have the Mosaic Law today… we are under Grace since Jesus Christ came… BUT… we still have the laws of God to govern our actions… In other words, if the Bible declares something to be sin… then by doing it, you are defiling yourself.
THE KING’S MEAT: The king represented the rule of the day in Daniel’s time… In our time, the culture would define the rule of the day… In Daniel’s day it was accepted by the culture and the king to ignore God’s rules for life and embrace their own… Things have not changed much… OUR CULTURE SHOUTS at all of us…
WEAR THIS! DRINK THIS! GO HERE! WATCH THIS! LOOK THIS WAY! FEEL THIS WAY! THIS IS OKAY! THE ONLY RULES ARE YOUR RULES! The culture shouts at you just as it shouted to Daniel…
SO… Why did Daniel decide not to listen to the culture? What convinced him that it was better to obey God?
Daniel believed that God’s way was the best way… He understood the consequences for going against God’s way and the benefits of embracing God’s way. He believed that a life of discipline and conviction would not only be honored by God but that others would notice as well
Listen to me… When I stand here and ask you to obey God, to live a clean life, to stand up and do the right thing…
I’m not giving you blind advice… This advice has been tried for thousands of years… It’s been proven in the fires of personal stubbornness and found to be true!
There are two ways to learn… by someone else’s mistake/or your own! I’m tellin’ you… God WILL give you 3 things… Count On It!
3 Things God’s Way Will Give You
1. Personal Radiance
Da 1:12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. THEN LOOK… 1:15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.
There was a noticeable difference… Godly living is healthy living! There is something awesome about the countenance of someone who is serving God and has dealt with sin in their life…
Some of you are caring a load of burden around here today… it’s written all over your face… you are wore out trying to keep up this front of Christianity and Cultural acceptance.
Man… you need to unload that garbage today… Let me tell you… some wonderful things about dealing with your sin:
- You will strengthen the Holy Spirit in you (no longer grieved)
- You will experience a fresh/cleaness in your soul (shower off)
- You will get that pep back in your step (you’ll be feelin’ good in the neighborhood)
Listen… doesn’t that sound better than this cloudy, dark existence you have right now? Give it up to God… He has so much more for you!
2. People’s Respect
Da 1:19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
That word “found” is matsa’, maw-tsaw’ a primitive root meaning “to come forth.” In other words… He didn’t have to look very hard… it was obvious to everyone… and so it will be for you.
Listen… people respect what is different and stands on its own… although your friends may act like they enjoy you, they don’t really respect you… people are impressed with integrity… it’s part of our makeup… we realize that few people today are really willing to stand up regardless, and when we do, we go WOW… that’s something!
Notice also, that because they obeyed God, The Lord gave them an audience with the most powerful person around. Don’t worry about impressing people, God will take care of your influence… Don’t get caught in the trap of trying to dress like the culture, talk like the culture, act like the culture… God will shut the doors tight.
Illustr: A company had two employees about the same age. The first was sharp, he dressed sharp, spoke politely, and followed company policy on all matters… he wasn’t perfect, but he was sincere. The second, dressed sloppy, spoke sarcastically, always looked to cut corners… he wasn’t a bad person, but he lacked integrity. One day the company had a chance to secure a huge contract. This was the biggest ever for the company and they had to decide which one of these employees to send to negotiate with the other company. Who did they send… who would you send?
Why should God open doors for you whether professionally, athletically, academically or otherwise, if He knows that you are living your life in direct disobedience? God isn’t stupid!
If you do things God’s way, you’ll see Him expand your influence
3. God’s Resources
Da 1:20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
Do you ever feel confused about what to do? Well… look what happened when Daniel followed the Lord? God gave him 10 times more influence that the “perceived” wisest people in the land.
Everyone thought these magicians and astrologers were all that… Simply grading one letter higher would not have exposed them… so God had Daniel and the others grade out 10 times greater!
When you follow God, you’ll gather to yourself His resources, His Power, His Presence…
Notice also that Daniel wasn’t alone… others followed him..
You may argue…But if I had Christian Friends then I would…
- You have to make the move and stand
- Others will follow, but other won’t lead
- You stand… they’ll will follow
- There may be resistance… that’s the test of your sincerity.
God’s power was manifested the greatest in one final display with these 3 Hebrew boys in verse 3:15
Da 3:15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 19 ¶ Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
They believed God in the face of death… What is God asking you to stand up to… A Fiery Furnace or Failing Friends? Maybe your furnace is your own FEAR… Trust God and watch what happens!
Da 3:24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied (Aramaic word),
tev-ah’ “the idea of being brought to ruin”), and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
God preserved them when they took a stand and he’ll preserve you too! The King became a believer… in v.29 the king says Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
You can make decisions that STICK… You just have to decide to!
