Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!

PEOPLE OF THE BIBLE

INTRODUCTION

Some twenty-five centuries ago, Daniel was a young man who loved God and served God faithfully in the midst of some wicked times in his own nation.

Judah was God’s chosen people and they should have served God after all that God had done for them, but as a whole, the nation had backslidden from the ways of God.

The real problems began in 2 Kings 21 with a king by the name of Manasseh. (Turn there)

            1.         He Lived Like A Heathen. (vs 2)

            2.         He Restored Idolatry And Baal Worship. (vs 3)

            3.         He Desecrated The House Of God . (vs 4-5)

            4.         He Was Involved In Witchcraft. (vs 6)

            5.         He Caused The People Of God To Live Worse Than The Heathens. (vs 9)

            6.         He Shed Innocent Blood. (Vs 16)

God pronounced judgment upon Judah in vs 11-15.

After 55 years of Manasseh’s reign, Amon came to power. (See verse 19-22)

Amon’s own servants conspired against him and slew him in his own house.

Josiah then reigned and a short lived revival took place for a period of time. (2 Kings 22:2)

            1.         The House Of God Was Repaired. (vs 5-6)

            2.         The Book Of The Law Was Found. (vs 7)

            3.         The Book Of The Law Was Read. (vs 11)

            4.         The Counsel Of The Lord Was Sought. (Vs 13)

            5.         Josiah Was Given A Reprieve. (Vs 19-20)

            6.         Josiah Cleaned House. (Chapter 23:25)

            7.         However, The Hearts Of The People Had Not Turned. (Jeremiah 25:3-11)

However, we find in 2 Kings 23:26 that the LORD had not turned from his wrath that Manasseh had provoked. He delayed his wrath for Josiah’s sake, but he had not turned from his wrath.

After Josiah, things began to return to the way they had been before Josiah came to power.

Jehoahaz reigned and returned to wickedness. (2 Kings 23:31-32)

After him Jehoiakim reigned and nothing changed. (2 Kings 23:36-37)

Then we come to 2 Kings 24:1-4 and we see what is happening in Daniel 1:1

            1.         Note that what happened to Judah came at the commandment of God.

            2.         Note that what happened to Judah came because of the sins of Mannasseh.

Now when this all came down, Daniel was already serving the LORD.

Daniel was taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar.

Now understand that Daniel could have despaired.

Daniel could have given in to the wickedness that was going on around him.

Daniel could have given up on serving the LORD. But he didn’t.

The Bible says that Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

Nebuchadnezzar came and went. (Babylon)

Belshazzar came and went.

Darius came and went. (Medes and Persians)

Cyrus came and Daniel was still there.

What did Daniel continue in? He continued in the same things that you and I must continue in despite the circumstances of life we may find ourselves in.

I.         DANIEL CONTINUED IN GODLY PURPOSE. (Daniel 1:8)

            “Purposed” means “to put.” (i.e. He put in his heart that he would not defile himself)

            Daniel did not live his life fatalistically. (i.e. “Whatever will happen will happen. . .”)

            Daniel lived his life on purpose!

The question for us is do we really believe that God has a purpose for our lives?

            Daniel did and sought that purpose for his own life!

            What are we putting into our hearts? Daniel put God’s will there.

Another question is do we believe that God is Sovereign in everything? If we do, then we can live our lives with Godly purpose no matter what this life may bring our way.

II.       DANIEL CONTINUED IN GODLY PURITY. (Daniel 1:8)

Heathen nations not only ate unclean beasts, which were forbidden by Jewish law, but even the clean animals that were eaten were first offered as victims to their gods, and part of the wine was poured out as a libation on their altars.

Daniel was therefore resolved to not defile himself with their ways; yet he did not rudely refuse what was intended to be proper provisions for him, but mildly and modestly requested the proper officers to extend to him some grace in this area.

The Psalmist said in Psalm 24:3-5--“Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”

Paul told the young Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:22–“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

            Matthew 5:8–“Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”

III.      DANIEL CONTINUED IN GODLY PROVIDENCE. (Daniel 1:9)

            God’s presence was still with Daniel.

            God’s providence was evident in Daniel’s life.

            Remember the story of Joseph in Genesis? As his wicked brothers sold him into slavery:

            Genesis 39:2–“And the LORD was with Joseph. . .”

Genesis 39:3–“And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his had.”

Then as he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife things seemed to take a bad turn as he was thrown in prison. However, God was still with him.

Genesis 39:21–“But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”

            God is still with us even when our world is turned upside down.

IV.      DANIEL CONTINUED IN GODLY PROVISION.

            God gave Daniel exactly what he needed when he needed it.

            A.        When Daniel Needed Physical Provision, God Gave It. (Daniel 1:8, 12, 17)

            B.        When Daniel Needed Mental Provision, God Gave It. (Daniel 2:16-19; 5)

            C.        When Daniel Needed Spiritual Provision, God Gave It. (Daniel 6:10)

V.        DANIEL CONTINUED IN GODLY PROVING. (Daniel 1:12, 17-20; 2:17-18)

            Many times the circumstances of life come as a proving ground of our faith.

            Are we going to trust God or are we going to abandon our Faith.

Conclusion

Daniel continued.

In order to continue you must have a beginning.

In order to continue you must have God’s purpose.

In order to continue you must have God’s purity.

In order to continue you must have God’s providence.

In order to continue you must have God’s provision.

In order to continue you must have God’s proving.

VI.      DANIEL CONTINUED IN GODLY PRACTICE. (Daniel 6:4-5, 10)

            It would have been easy to justify living an ungodly life because of his surroundings.

VII.     DANIEL CONTINUED IN GODLY PRAYER. (Daniel 6:10)

VIII.   DANIEL CONTINUED IN GODLY PROTECTION. (Daniel 6:19-22)

IX.      DANIEL CONTINUED IN GODLY POWER. (Daniel 6:27)

X.        DANIEL CONTINUED IN GODLY PROSPERITY. (Daniel 6:28)

XI.      DANIEL CONTINUED IN GODLY PROCLAIMING OR PROPHESYING.

            (Daniel 6:28)

Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!