October 6, 2019

THE STORY OF DANIEL
October 06, 2019
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

 

The temptation to compromise in some way seems to come to us all, every day! One does not even have to speak to compromise—many times it can be done by remaining silent. Does anyone have an example you can share?

Life presents all of us with many opportunities to leave the things we know we should do for God (or shouldn’t do!), in order to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin for just a short while. This is compromise and can ruin a testimony, stunt spiritual growth, or ruin a future. How do you handle the pull of the world? Today we’ll begin a study of Daniel, examining a chapter each week to learn lessons on why and how we should purpose in our heart to avoid compromise.

Key Verse: Daniel 1:8a: “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself…”

Focal Passage: Daniel 1:1-21.

Open:

Sometimes God allows the enemy a victory

• Read Daniel 1:1-2. If you have struggled with trying to understand why God allows bad things to happen, can you share your conclusions? How was the nation of Israel doing spiritually at this time in their history?
• What did God allow King Nebuchadnezzar to do? In fact, what do the scriptures say God did?
• We have read the book of Daniel and understand why God brought the enemy to Judah. The Israelites, however, had refused to listen to the prophets and therefore had no knowledge that punishment for their compromise (worshiping idols) was at hand. What was God doing?
• Why might God choose to correct compromise with punishment? B. Why does He sometimes test us by allowing Satan to have a victory?                                                                                                               C. Sometimes He will allow bad things to happen to refine us; why?               D. Explain why God’s ultimate purpose is always to make us better.

Our actions in the midst of oppression determine our position with God

• Read verse 8. Does anyone recall about how old the youths from Judah were when Nebuchadnezzar took them to Babylon? How much integrity would most young, teen-age boys have, when taken from their families?
• Daniel was intentional in his efforts to avoid the King’s food; where had the food been before being served in the palace?
• Why was Daniel resolute in not wishing to eat food offered to idols?
• Read verses 12-13. What did Daniel do to avoid compromising his life before God? Would anyone back in Judah have known? What did the servant in charge of the boys agree to?
• How did Daniel’s action show his relationship to his God?
• What negative effects can result when Christians compromise? If you answered it destroys one’s testimony, growth, and future, you’re right!

God will always reward faithfulness

• Read verses 17-19. What was the result of the four boy’s position to not compromise? How did God reward them?
• What did this chapter teach you about the value God places on your intentional stand for Him?

Our success in life is based on the condition of our heart

• Read verse 8a again. What can you take away from this passage that will help you commit to standing firm, without compromise?
• Which is more important to you, pleasing God, or pleasing man?

Close:

The story of Daniel, Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abed-Nego) is one that has inspired young children in Sunday School for millennium. The scripture does not give information about the home life of these four boys, but it’s easy to assume they had godly parents who taught their sons to love the Lord God and obey His laws.

As we see them in the palace at Babylon, we might feel as though the age in which they lived was more conducive to following God than life today. Not so. God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8), human sin has always abounded (Rom. 3:23), and the temptation to leave godly parents or God’s will for sin is as strong as it was when Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden. The writer of Hebrews could have spoken of the four in 11:24-26 when he wrote Moses’ story: “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” It is not a hard leap of faith to believe Daniel and his friends were familiar with the life of Moses, and like him, chose to take their chances on suffering affliction, in order to obey their God.

What an example these young boys are for those of us of any age! To believe they would take a stand voluntarily is amazing. They were far from parents, when compromising “wouldn’t hurt anyone,” and when no one would expect them to risk the anger of the King of Babylon. It leaves us without defense when we want to use age-old excuses. No, if young boys, probably no more than thirteen or fourteen years old, can “purpose in [their] heart” to not defile themselves with sin, surely we believers who have God’s word in written form can be as strong. Take a stand!