[23:13] Tonight we are going to look into the Word of God and see another of God's chosen and learn from his story. [23:14] God wants us to understand and know how we are to work for His purpose
[23:15] And for us to do this effectively we must have patterns or examples that give us the knowledge we need to be effective for Him
[23:17] Of all the personalities we are introduced to the one called Daniel is one of the best examples [23:17] one of a child of God standing up and confessing God to a lost and immoral world
[23:19] By reading what is said of him we can easily relate his times and lifestyle to those of ours today. [23:19] Daniel and his companions were God's chosen Confessors
[23:20] Daniel was thrust into a lost society not by will but by force
[23:21] And as usually happens in times like these the Lord took the situations and turned them into tools for winning the lost and showing His glory to a immoral society [23:21] Today our mission for God is no different. [23:22] We are to confess our Lord and Saviour to the world we now live in.
[23:23] It is only through our lives that Jesus can show to the world the saving power and grace to surpass anything the world has to offer
[23:23] We confess to God ourselves and then confess Him to the world
[23:25] Now we must learn in order to be used by God [23:25] and it is Daniel that can show us three keys to being effective
[23:26] by looking at the different situations that Daniel and his friends had to face we can see the keys for success in our work here on earth for God
[23:27] Let us now go to Daniel and find three keys needed to be successful confessors for the Lord in our world today. [23:27] kjv daniel 1:3-4
Daniel 1:3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;
Daniel 1:4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. [23:28] kjv daniel 1:5-6
Daniel 1:5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. Daniel 1:6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
[23:29] Daniel was one of many from his generation that were taken away into captivity by Babylon to be assimilated into the Babylonian society.
[23:30] In order for this to be done they wee stripped of all that made them Israelites so they would eat , drink, and act like Babylonians. Even their names were taken away so they would have nothing to fall back on
[23:31] But this shows they can take all the things you have away but the love of the Lord is something that can not be taken away
[23:31] it can only be given away [23:31] Daniel held to his convictions from God and did not waiver from them
[23:32] and here we find
[23:32] key # 1
[23:32] Take the convictions that God has given to you and turn them into actions.
[23:33] that will confess Him to those around you. [23:33] Although those around you believe their worldly ways are right and they try to change you [23:34] to the worlds way stand up for God and confess the Lord to them and how He controls your life. [23:34] Daniel did not worry about the majority ideas for life.
[23:35] He had the faith in God to speak up and go against the flow of the majority in order to confess his Lord and God's way to the world he was in.
[23:36] He had no fear in confessing to those around him for he knew through God he would be proved right. [23:36] for his confession of faith would be vindicated in time.
[23:36] kjv Daniel 1:8-9
Daniel 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.
Daniel 1:9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
[23:37] kjv Daniel 1:10-11 Daniel 1:10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. Daniel 1:11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, [23:37] kjv Daniel 1:12-13 Daniel 1:12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Daniel 1:13 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. [23:37] kjv Daniel 1:14-15 Daniel 1:14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
Daniel 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.
[23:38] Daniel put to the test the worlds way against God's way and was proven right by the results as seen by those around him.
[23:39] By his actions he changed the idea of the majority causing those around him who questioned his faith in God to see God's way was the best.
[23:39] and caused others to follow it [23:40] By Daniels standing up for God and showing the application of key # 1 in his life
[23:41] He was able to introduce and glorify God to a godless society and was rewarded in his life by God for his faithful confession
[23:41] kjv Daniel 1:19-20 Daniel 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.
Daniel 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. [23:41] Confessor's key # 2 [23:42] Have faith in God's ability to deliver you from situations and be submissive to His will no matter what those around you say or what the situation may be.
[23:43] In these times not to bow down to peer pressure when standing up for God is hard
[23:43] especially when those around you are not doing so
[23:44] But you will overcome through the Lord when you stand for Him
[23:44] In chapter 3 of Daniel we find this key [23:44] Here is where the king built an idol and commanded all in the land to bow and worship it [23:45] this the king did upon worldly guidance [23:45] kjv Daniel 3:4-6
Daniel 3:4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and
languages,
Daniel 3:5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: Daniel 3:6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. [23:46] Now we see the pressure is on the chosen confessors of God
[23:47] and as always is the case when a group begin to follow the ways of the world
[23:47] He puts His Chosen Confessors in a place where they can be used by Him
[23:48] His ambassadors here on earth are to be His light to the world and in their lives show the world the folly of their idols they set up in their lives
[23:48] If it is not like the world profess then you are termed an outcast by those around you
[23:49] Now as happens whenever someone stands up and confess the Lord
[23:49] the world leaders will point them out for retribution for their actions
[23:49] friends will make fun of you [23:49] people will look down on you [23:50] the world will hate you [23:50] For the sake of Jesus [23:50] and especially if you confess Him to them [23:50] and it happened here also [23:50] kjv Daniel 3:8-9
Daniel 3:8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
Daniel 3:9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
[23:50] kjv Daniel 3:10-12 Daniel 3:10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
Daniel 3:11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Daniel 3:12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of
Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
[23:51] Here is the stage of confrontation now set between the confessors of God and the immoral society [23:52] The showdown had arrived in the valley of the idol with all society watching
[23:52] Now at first the king tried to change their mind with reasoning
[23:53] This is just as today when those around you try to reason you out of the work of God
[23:53] They want you to join the majority [23:53] and not stand up and confess the way of the Lord to them
[23:54] they do not want to hear what you say because it hurts the pride and the wall of compromise they have built [23:54] and so it was the same for the three confessors of God in the valley
[23:55] kjv Daniel 3:14-15 Daniel 3:14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
Daniel 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?
[23:55] kjv Daniel 3:16-18 Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O
Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. Daniel 3:17 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. Daniel 3:18 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. [23:56] Here we hear the message of the confessor to the world
[23:56] We will not serve the gods of this world [23:56] we trust in our Lord and Saviour [23:56] sin is sin
[23:57] and even if we die for this we still will trust in our Lord to be within us
[23:57] Retribution came from the world on the confessors
[23:58] but as happens when the world tries to put the Lord down and take out His children
[23:58] the situation is turned about and He is showed to the world in all His glory
[23:58] kjv Daniel 3:20-26 Daniel 3:20 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.
Daniel 3:21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Daniel 3:23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Daniel 3:24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, 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.
Daniel 3:25 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.
[23:59] Amen and glory to God [00:00] when we are in the fire of the trials the world put us through
[00:00] they all watch to see us fall [00:00] but as they watch they see not only the confessor of God but also they see the Lord standing with us in the fire [00:00] He never will leave or forsake us [00:01] our actions while in the fiery trials will show forth the glory of God to a lost world
[00:02] Now from key two we can see the following as showed by Daniel chapter 3
[00:02] 1. Believers can remain true to God even in times of sever trials
[00:02] Confess God
[00:03] 2. Moral and spiritual compromise are not necessary in a secular world
[00:03] Confess God
[00:04] 3. the courageous uncompromising stand for God will always be an inspiration to those around and to those who may be wavering away from the work God has given them [00:04] Confess God
[00:05] 4. though we do not know the outcome ourselves we can be confident that the Lord will not test us above our endurance [00:05] kjv 1 corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. [00:05] confess God
[00:06] 5. that in every situation God is always present with us.
[00:06] confess God
[00:06] now we come to key three [00:06] Always keep your convictions as God has given them to you.
[00:07] especially in the way you live for Him [00:07] Your actions daily confess His truth to the lost in the world
[00:07] Never fear the trials you face [00:08] Do not change your conviction [00:08] and do not be fearful of voicing your relationship with the Lord to the world
[00:08] this key we find in chapter 6 of Daniel [00:09] When we are faithful to God in character and actions the enemy will try to find a way to punish one. [00:09] And sadly they will even use the Word of God against one to achieve this
[00:10] kjv Daniel 6:3-5
Daniel 6:3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
Daniel 6:4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
Daniel 6:5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
[00:10] and as usual the world will find a way or make a way to try and hinder anyone that confess God to the world [00:11] kjv Daniel 6:7-9
Daniel 6:7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Daniel 6:8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed,
according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Daniel 6:9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. [00:11] Daniel is in trouble again for confessing his Lord
[00:12] he continued to pray to his lord [00:12] in front of any who watched [00:12] by his actions he was confessing [00:12] And he is thrown into the den of lions [00:12] today we all may go into the lions den for our Lord
[00:13] we will have the lions of doubt that will try and devour our faith
[00:13] the lions of fear that will cause us to not confess God to others due to retribution [00:13] lions of friends
[00:14] that devour us for following the way of God [00:14] and as their rock of punishment and pride is over us
[00:14] they wait
[00:14] and then they say are you still there? [00:14] and like Daniel we shout back yes [00:15] OUR LORD HAS STOPPED THE LION OF THE WORLD FROM EATING US
[00:15] HE IS VICTORIOUS
[00:15] kjv Daniel 6:20-22 Daniel 6:20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
Daniel 6:21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. Daniel 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. [00:19] yes when we are in the den and the lion of this world is roaring to scare us we can take comfort has we confess the Lord to the world that He will shut the mouth of the lion before us [00:20] and now with this the victory of the Lord is shown for through this trial and confession of faith by Daniel the kingdom was shown God
[00:20] kjv Daniel 6: 25-27 Daniel 6:25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. Daniel 6:26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. Daniel 6:27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
[00:20] now we come to the end [00:20] of tonights study [00:21] by the confessing of Daniel and his friends we now see the three keys to being a chosen confessor for God [00:21] In closing let us see one more thing [00:22] Daniel's deliverance from the lions den was in keeping with God's will for his life
[00:23] These times of intervention by Him are faith builders
[00:23] for all of God's servants who walk in dangerous times
[00:23] and is so with us too [00:23] for all of us walk in these dangerous times [00:23] but we are preserved [00:24] for we are the CHOSEN CONFESSORS OF GOD to this world we live in
[00:24] amen
