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Be Different
BE DIFFERENT
PROBLEM
Many Christians are waking up to the reality that they are suddenly strangers in a strange time.
The book of Daniel is a manual for how to survive and thrive and shine in these times.
Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, (will shine) like the stars for ever and ever. The book of Daniel is about how to be a faithful witness in a dark and hostile environment.
GOD
Jaddus came to Alexander the Great and showed him the scroll of Daniel where Alexander was prophesied. Alexander did not destroy Jerusalem and instead worshiped in its temple.
God calls people to be his reflection—his image—in the world. The problem is that those people always live in an empire that keeps trying to shape them in ways contrary to the ways of God.
Babylon represents a spiritual power at work in every secular kingdom. “Babylon” code name for Rome. Rev, Babylon- name for the whole world system in opposition to Jesus
Daniel 1:1,3-6, 8, 18, 20
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
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.
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.
18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.
20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
APPLICATION
"But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine" Have you made up your mind that regardless of the consequences you will not compromise? Money, sex, power
The great people that God used, gave up a lot of things that others considered necessary, in order that they might do what God called them to do.
Until you and I allow God to move us out of the convenience of having preferences and into the mode of sacrifice, where we have convictions, we will miss out on ever being used by God.
We think God's looking for influential people to make into Christians so he can have influential people. But God is looking for faithful people whom he can elevate to positions of influence.
While we look for a plan to transform our culture, God calls us to never forget the power of simple faith. We make a difference when we honor him with holy lives.
I want to understand that I lose more by compromising than I do by sticking with my convictions.
VISION
Chaminda Vaas (Vasy). Sri Lanka Cricket World Cup 1996. Wicket keeper. He held the ball behind the batter. "When I keep wickets I do it for God. When I bat I do it for God. When I'm in my hotel room I'm in my hotel room for God." And then he said, "When I'm in the bathroom I'm in the bathroom for God." Everything he did he did for God.
Other guys marched into Babylon, but we don't know their names. They missed an opportunity to stand by their convictions, God chose those who stood by their convictions.
