Sermon Cloud

Daniel 1:3-21

Daniel wasn't a prophet by profession, but an administrator in a pagan palace moonlighting as a prophet. In this context, it was Daniel's life that God used to model how the people of Israel were to live <in exile> in a secular society, while waiting for the coming of the Messiah. It was to make a name for Christ among the Gentiles.

The key to Israel's usefulness to God was their holiness. God uses clean vessels to carry out His will and glorify His name. As such, the Israelites were called to stand out in a lost and dying world. We see from the history of the people of Israel that as long as they obeyed God, they would be blessed by Him and when they disobeyed God, He brought forth nations against them and consigned them to exile in faraway lands. During the time of Daniel, the Jews were exiled in Babylon for seventy years. It was in this setting that God used Daniel as a shining example of what it is like to stand out in a secular society. We see that we are to become different than the world - not like it. All facets of our lives should serve to make us distinct from the world, and less and less so over time.

In tonight's message, Pastor Ramey delivers four encouragements found in verses 3-21 of Daniel 1 that show us how to live a courageous, uncompromising life so that God can use us to demonstrate His glory to the world. We are encouraged in that

1. God allows us to be in conditions of compromise (vv. 3-7)
2. God grants us the courage not to compromise (v. 8)
3. God honors our commitment to not compromise (vv. 9-16)
4. God uses us when we don't compromise (vv. 17-21)

From these encouragements we see that if we lose our distinction, we lose our ability to impact the world as God intended. It is this radical difference that catches the attention of the world and magnifies the hopelessness of those who live without Christ. Each of these encouragements should motivate us to reject compromise - no matter what the cost. And, our God protects those who are committed to Him.

Our great encouragement is knowing that the God of Daniel - the God of the Bible, is our God too!
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