Make Your Mind Up
Book of Daniel | The Sovereignty of God • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewDaniel made up his mind to faithful to God and His commands. This one decision was the most important decision that he made for his life, and this one decision determined his future. Will we make the same decision? If so, make it now!
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
How many of us have ever pretended to be a superhero? Some of us may have pretended they were Batman with his nice ride and cool devices that he would capture the criminal with. Some of us it may have been Superman, so that we would be faster than a speeding bullet and be able to fly and leap tall buildings in a single jump. Some of us may have pretended to be the Incredible Hulk and everyone knew that would not like us when we were angry. For some of us, we may have pretended to be Wonder Woman or Superwoman.
As one grows and matures, they realize that this was all fun and fantasy, but there comes a time when reality sets in. We realize that we are not superheroes in the form of any of these DC or Marvel characters. However, we may still fancy ourselves as a hero still. We want to be the one who stops an accident from happening or saves someone’s life. We want to be at the center of the action and be the answer. If this doesn’t happen, then our heroism is of no concern and what we do does not make a difference. May I submit to you that Biblical heroism is not what’s on the outside but is what is at the heart of the man. God looks deeper than your actions you put forth in front of others. God looks into the deeper areas of your life. He sees and judges those hidden places of the heart, man’s true character. He looks into what is done behind closed doors, when you are all alone, and in the dark, where no one else is around or sees.
In that moment, do you find yourself being a hero? In that moment, do you find yourself living victorious? In that moment, do you find yourself ashamed of who you are and what you have become? Would you be afraid for your parents, your friends, your spouses, your children/grandchildren to find out who you are in that moment?
That moment, the moment behind closed doors, in the dark, when you are lone, is where genuine heroes of the faith are made or broken. It is in the heart/mind that man/woman that determines who they will be in that moment and thus determines whether they will truly be a hero. For a biblical hero is not one that can leap buildings in a single jump, is not one that is faster than a speeding bullet, or one that is fear when they are mad. A true biblical hero is one has predetermined in their heart and is faithful to this commitment to faithful to the Lord and not pollute their lives with the things of this world.
Focus Passage: Daniel 1:8-16
8 But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials. 10 The commander of the officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has allotted your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking gaunt in comparison to the youths who are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king.” 11 But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please put your servants to the test for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be examined in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and put them to the test for ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their appearance seemed better, and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food. 16 So the overseer continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables.
Outline
Be Decisive (v.8a)
Be Decisive (v.8a)
Daniel 1:8a (NASB 2020)
8 But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank...
1. Be decisive in private and display that decisiveness in public - ‘...Daniel made up his mind...’
The KJV reads, But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself. The idea being rendered before us is one of great character and a deep, personal commitment. This decision made by Daniel was not one of ease or half-heartedness. It was a decisive decision that would impact his use by God. When Daniel, made up his mind, he was making an internal commitment between he and God that would drive his will and intellect. It would drive his entire decision and action process. It was not an easy decision, but a weighted decision. This decision is truly at the core of his entire prophetic ministry.
2. Be decisive now despite the pressures
Daniel could have waited. He could have said, why not compromise my faith, my heritage, my Lord. What will it hurt? Daniel had all the reasons to not be faithful: He was young (13-15), He was a stranger (Brought into Captivity), and He was surrounded by others that were compromising .
3. Be decisive despite the temptations that abound - ‘…the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank...’
Many have made themselves drunk off the temptations of this world and found themselves drowning in a sea of guilt and destitution.
‘Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.’
Adrian Rogers
We must understand that all this world uses to tempt you will eventually dissolve and be no longer. Those friends, you are doing what you can to impress, will fall away. Those coworkers, you are trying to get to like you, will fall away. All that you think will bring you happiness will grow old and fall away. There is but one thing that will last and that is the Word of God, the promises of God, the truths of God.
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever.
If you do not make a decisive decision now, in your inner most being to be faithful, you may very well come to know the harsh reality of what Jesus meant when he stated...
26 For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul?
Daniel made a decisive decision and committed himself to that decision. This one decision would be the driving force behind his life and ministry. Just as important as this decision was, it was equally important in how this decision was lived out. Daniel, when making this decision, was decisive but also modest (humble). So, let us...
Be Modest (v.8b)
Be Modest (v.8b)
Daniel 1:8b (NASB 2020)
8b ...so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.
After making a decision to be faithful until the end. After making a decision to remain faithful and not falter from this commitment to his Lord, he did not come across boastful and arrogant. How many times has a brother or sister ruined their testimony by coming across hyper religious and braggadocios about their faithfulness to the Lord. They carry this holier than thou attitude and expect others to fall in line or they just are not as faithful or secure in their faith as they ought to be. David was not this way. He was committed. He was decisive. He was not prideful or arrogant about his decision. He trusted in the Lord. His commitment was to the Lord and would be lived out in the rest of his choices and attitude.
1. Be decisive with humility - ‘…he sought permission...’
Daniel did not ask others to follow him. He did not push is idealism or conviction on others. He did however stand firm on his decision. He was going to remain faithful even others around him did not. He was going to do it within the spirit of humility. He goes to the guard over them and says, give me permission to be honor my God. Now, we ought not seek the world’s permission or approval to honor God, but his attitude was right.
Often, how we live out our commitment to God is just as important as the decision to be committed to God. We are not to be obnoxious about our faith, but we must be faithful, faithful with humility.
2. Our faith is to be lived out in humility
We find in (v.10) that the guard in charge was not real comfortable with allowing Daniel to do what he was asking. He had pressures himself. He knew that if anything went harry, his head was on the chopping block. Not only was Daniel receiving pressures to falter in his commitment to God, the guard was feeling pressure to help with that. This is a picture that we all face today. Not only are we facing the pressures of those around us to go with the world’s way rather than the Lord’s way, we find those around us feeling the same pressure to keep us following the world’s way rather than God’s way.
How does Daniel respond to this? Does he respond in pride? arrogance? No. Does he threaten him? No. He responds with humility once again. He states, Please put your servants to the test (v.12a). In essence he was stating, bet, lets see which is better. Your way or God’s way? I believe God’s way is best, but I want you to see this and I am seeking your permission. I’m trying to allow you to be apart of this rather than leaving you out. I’m not trying to get you in trouble, and I believe God will take care of us both.
In this Daniel was faithful to his commitment and faithful to his faith in God. Let us...
Be Faithful (vv.11-13)
Be Faithful (vv.11-13)
11 But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please put your servants to the test for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be examined in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.”
Daniel stood with his three friends and looked at the prison guard who obviously felt the pressures too, and stood faithful to his commitment to the Lord and stood with humility. He was willing to bank on God’s provisions and promise.
We must know what Daniel knew...
God’s promises are not mottos to hang on the wall. They are checks to take to the bank.
Adrian Rogers
Be faithful for others - ‘…Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah...’
Be faithful for God is faithful - ‘…Please put your servants to the test for ten days...’
Be faithful for God will see you through - ‘…Then let our appearance be examined in your presence...’
Daniel tells the guard, take us before the others and see if God hasn’t done what He promised. Be faithful for God will not leave you alone and will not let you fall. The world wants you to fall. The enemy wants to steal, kill, and destroy. However, God wants you to live. He wants you to find victory. He wants you have life.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.
God will honor your decisiveness, modesty, and faithfulness (vv.14-16)
God will honor your decisiveness, modesty, and faithfulness (vv.14-16)
14 So he listened to them in this matter, and put them to the test for ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their appearance seemed better, and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food. 16 So the overseer continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables.
God did not take the test away
God saw Daniel to the end due to his faithfulness
God honored Daniel due to his faithfulness
9 Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials.
Conclusion
Daniel did not leave his commitment to God up to a spur of the moment decision. He made that decision in his heart and at a young age. Will you make that commitment today? You may be here this morning and may be saying internally, you do not know what I’ve done. You do not know where I have been? You do not know me. All of those thoughts may be true, but they are self defeating when it comes to God. If you woke up this morning and are here today, I have two words of encouragement for you:
You are here this morning, not by accident, but by divine appointment.
By virtue of you being here this morning, God has shown He is not done with you yet and has a plan for you and your life.
Will you be as the 19th Century pastor, preacher, and philosopher, Johnathan Edwards and purpose in your heart to be committed to God from this day forward in all that you do. In his own words he wrote, while in his late teens...
The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 21: Daniel (A Purpose Firm)
I resolve Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in-soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God …Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age.Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken,my fight with my corruptions,however unsuccessful I may be.Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour before I should hear the last trump. It is not difficult to imagine the teenage Daniel writing words to the same effect and including: Resolved, that I shall never defile myself here in Babylon, God helping me, whatever the consequences may be.
All of this, the promises, the commitments, the faithfulness, begins with a personal decision to entrust your soul into the hands of God almighty through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That is the commitment that is above all commitments and allow the others to be had.