Dan. 1:1-9, Resolve your will and do it! (Summary of Sermon )

Dan. 1:1-9, Resolve your will and do it! (Summary of Sermon )

 Bible: Dan. 1:1-9
 1.In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility—/4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.
5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.
6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.
9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel. 

Daniel! This reminds me of Hymn 199–2, “♪As she read the stories o'er, Of those mighty men of old, Of Joseph and of Daniel and their trials...♪.”
  From this Sunday, I will expound on the book of Daniel. Let us receive the word of life and live in it abundantly.

  This book is divided into history(chs.1-6) and visions(chs.7-12). God rules history as the ruler of the whole world, and it shows that the Lord's kingdom will be established by the second coming of Jesus. We must take God as our Lord, prepare for the coming of the Lord, and live by faith. They were taken captive to Babylon when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered the kingdom of Judah in 605 B.C.(1-2). *Captivity means: 1) violation/repression of religious freedom, 2) plundering of political power/suppression of human rights 3) loss of sovereignty of the people/suppression of the right to live). This was done with God's permission. It shows that God is the ruler of the world who gives us the opportunity to repent. They were selected to work in the palace and undergo a three-year training course. However, their names were changed to the Babylonian style, and he had to live with the king's food. Therefore, they decided not to eat that food to keep their faith in God and holiness, but to live with water and vegetables for 10 days. God grants them grace so that the chief official allow it.

1. Pagan Studies (Education) Test(3-4).
  As a Babylonian policy, there were also superstitions such as astronomy and astrology. Today evolutionary theory, materialism, heroism, and secularist values ​​education are a test for the saints. Learn the science of the world, but do not forget the identity of God's people.

2. Alien food test (5-6, Materialism).
  The king's foods, which is unclean (Lev.11:44-47) and sacrificed to idols (Deuteronomy 32:38), are a great test. They expressed their faith in God by rejecting idolatry.

3. The test of change of name (7, Power omnipotence).
  The chief official changed their Hebrew name(confession of God) to Babylonian name(related to foreign gods). Daniel(God is my judge) to Belteshazzar(god Bel protects), Hananiah(Jehovah’s grace) to Shadrach(god's command), Mishael(who is God) to Meshach(He belongs to the god Ak), Azariah(Jehovah is my help) to Abednego (servant of god Nebo). Today, success and failure, damage and profit according to the standards of the world shake our lives. 

4. Resolve your will and practice it!(8-9).
  Daniel resolved his will. They decided not to defile themselves with the food, asked for a test with vegetables and water for 10 days, and received permission by the grace of the Lord. Their decision is a challenge of determination, faith, sanctification, and only God’s grace. Ultimately, with the help of God they became the victors who pass the tests and receive the blessings of God.

  Dear brothers and sisters, we, our members, must live as faithful believers in the world. Although Daniel and his three friends lived in a foreign land in captivity, they exerted an amazing influence of faith that relied only on God. We must prepare for the future by resolutely rejecting any temptations in the world like Babylon with firm faith toward God. We must risk our lives and live according to God's language, the word of life, and the standards of the Bible. God will give grace to the saints who set and practice His will according to His standards and use them with dignity. I bless you to live as such a blessed believer. Amen.