How To Stand Grounded In Faith In Our Culture

 Don’t COMPROMISE our values DANIE 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…..(KJV) WHY NOT EAT THE MEAT? 1. King Zedakah ate the king’s meat (2 Kings 25.29-30) 2. Sacrificed to Idols? But so would the vegetables 3. Hebrews were not vegetarians 4 Daniel didn’t refuse the training he received in Babylonia culture 5. Daniel fasted from meat and wine for a season of mourning. (Daniel 10:3) DANIEL 1: 9,14 9 Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel.. 14 The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days.  Stay CENTERED on who we Belong to Beltechazaar Bel protects his life.” Daniel is “God is my judge.”  Shadrach – “I’ll do whatever goddess Aku commands.” Hannaniah – “the Lord shows grace, YHWH is my strength, only the Lord will take care of me” Meshach – “There’s no one like goddess Aku”, or “who is like Aku?” Mishael – “who is what God is? Who is like YHWH? Abednego – “Nabu’s servant” Azariah – “the Lord helps” – God’s servant BE COMMITTED to using our gifts for the Kingdom of God DANIEL 1:17 17 God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.  Have a strong CONVICTION about our Christian Worldview Daniel 2:46–47 ; 3:1, 4-5 (NLT): Then King Nebuchadnezzar threw himself down before Daniel and worshiped him, and he commanded his people to offer sacrifices and burn sweet incense before him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.” Daniel 3:1 King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon…. …..4 Then a herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command!....5b bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. DANIEL 3: 16-18 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”  Be willing to suffer the CONSEQUENCES for our Theology Daniel 6:5 “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” DANIEL: COMPROMISE: PERMITTED INDIFFERENT S-M-A: CONVICTION: PROVOKING INDIRECT DANIEL: COMMITMENT: PUNITIIVE INITIATVE Daniel and S-M-A- Had to navigate and FIND THEIR WAY as monotheistic believers in a totally different Culture that was hostile to their: Religious Beliefs and Practices HOW WHERE THE ABLE TO DO THIS? THEY STOOD: Ephesians 6: 10-12 10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power… 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to STAND firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. A Church that wants to FIGHT the culture instead of standing for TRUTH. And a Church that wont STAND because they have compromised the TRUTH Daniel 7:4 “The first animal looked like a lion, but had wings like an eagle. I watched this animal until its wings were torn off…… Daniel 7:8 As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly. Daniel 7:11 I continued to watch because I could hear the little horn’s boastful speech   Daniel 7:21 As I watched, the little horn began making war against God’s holy people and was defeating them 22 until God, who has been alive forever, came. He judged in favor of the holy people who belong to the Most High God; then the time came for them to receive the power to rule