NEW YEAR - DANIEL CHPT 1

-Introduction

-Read all of Daniel chpt 1.

-vs 1 - At the time of the Babylonian captivity.

            -King Nebuchadnezzar had overthrown Judah and besieged Jerusalem.

-vs 3 - King Nebuchadnezzar wanted certain men selected from the Israelites.

-vs 4 - skilful, wise men with good abilities

-vs 5 - These men would be appointed a daily provision from the king for a period of three years.

-The men selected:  Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego)

-However, Daniel didn't want to "defile" himself.

            -Perhaps the meat came from animals considered unclean under God's law.

            -Perhaps they were not killed and prepared properly (strangled/blood)

            -Perhaps they had been offered to the Babylonians' false god(s).

            -We see that Daniel (for whichever reason) wanted to maintain a sense of separation.

            -So let's see what Daniel did.

                        -There are some good lessons here for us, especially as we look toward the new year.

-Purposed In His Heart

-vs 8 - purposed:  Some translations say "made up his mind, determined".

-purpose - (Am Her Dict) - the object toward which one strives or for which something exists: aim

      or goal

-"In his heart" - This wasn't just a decision made in a moment.

            -It was sincere, thought out - determined, intended.

-At this time of the year, we hear an awful lot about new year's resolutions.

            -Although, many times they are made with little or no thought and little or no determination

              &/or intent.

            -What good does it do to say we want to do something if we gave the matter little thought, have

              no determination to try to accomplish it and don't really intend to anyway?

            -But with New Year's resolutions the matter at hand may not be very important (but can be).

-As a Christian, it is important to have a certain aim and to set goals.

            -We should set goals individually (read more, study more, attend services more often, invite

        more people, etc.)

            -We should also have aim and set goals as a congregation.

-Proverbs 29:18  Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

-So, Daniel purposed in his heart and we should, too.

-Plan

-vs 12 - We can see that Daniel had a plan.  He didn't have empty intentions

-If they were not going to accept the king's portion, then they needed to have a plan on what they

  were going to do.

-"Prove thy servants" - prove = to test

            -Daniel wanted his plan put in place - tested.

-Pulse and Water

            -Pulse - (Strongs) - something sown - i.e. a vegetable as food

            -(Am Her Dict) - the edible seeds of certain pod-bearing plants - such as peas and beans

-Many times people have wonderful intentions, but without a plan they stay as intentions rather than

  plans.

            -This goes along with the idea in James 2:17 - Faith without works is dead.

            -Intentions without a plan become dead.

-So, if we have intentions combined with determination, we can then make a plan to try to accomplish

  those goals.

            -This can help us to become stronger individually and also as a congregation.

-Pay the Consequences

-Daniel purposed in his heart, put a plan together and was willing to pay the consequences.

-vs 16 - Their portion was taken away.

-Now think about what he was willing to do - eat the same thing for up to three years (vs 5).

            -Now there are certain types of food that I really like a lot, but none that I would want to eat

              constantly for three years.

            -But, he was willing to pay the consequences - make the necessary sacrifices.

-We have it very, very good and don't have too many consequences to pay as a result of our

  obedience (in terms of persecution/suffering).

            -The good consequences far outweigh the negative ones.

            -However, we need to be willing to make the necessary sacrifices in order to be obedient and

              grow stronger.

            -All too often, it is the things involving obedience to God and attendance to the church

              services that gets sacrificed for things of the world.

-So, let's purpose in our hearts, plan to maintain our aim and accomplish our goals and be willing to

  pay the consequences (make the necessary sacrifices).

-Prevail

-vs 20 - Daniel and the others prevailed - in "all matters.”

-Following God's instructions works.

            -That is why we must put our faith and our trust in Him. 

      -As we sometimes sing - "Trust and Obey".

-God's way is the right way, the best way and the only way.

-If we will put our minds and efforts to it, we will prevail.

            -Acts 19: 20

            -1 Cor 15:58 - "your labour is not in vain in the Lord"

-Summary and Invitation

-Daniel purposed in his heart, made the necessary plans, was willing to pay the consequences and

  prevailed.

-What a wonderful example for us - Rom 15:4.

-Do you have some particular goals that you are aiming for?

            -Are there some areas you would like to improve upon?

            -Reading your bible more.  Studying more.

            -Praying more.

            -Attending services more often.

            -Applying the scriptures to your life more to live more according to God's word.

            -Getting involved more with the congregation and the activities.

            -Working harder to spread the gospel.  Inviting more folks to services. 

-If you are not a Christian, how about becoming a christian?

            -Believe (John 8:24), Confess (Matt 10:32), Repent (Luke 13:3), Be Baptized (Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16

            -Perhaps you need to return to your service and commitment to God.  (1 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24)

-There’s no better way to start a new year – with the right spiritual relationship with God.     

Date:  January 1, 2006