Brother Bill Sunday Evening 5/6/12

Brother Bill Sunday Evening 5/6/12

The children of Israel were in a bad situation in the time of Daniel.  They were in this position because they had not served God.  There were, thank the Lord, still a people that were serving God.

Dan 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: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Dan 1:9  Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

Dan 1:10  And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

Daniel purposed in His heart that he would not defile himself.  He settled it in his heart that he was going to do right.  Your life will be blessed if you settle it in your heart that you are going to do what is right. 

There were others that didn’t have the same purpose in their hearts that they would do right as Daniel and the three Hebrew children did.  We are going to be in situations where we are going to be the minority.  God will bless you if you choose to do what is right. 

Every day when you get up it is a choice to do what is right.  You choose to have devotions when you get up.  Please be faithful to have good devotions.  You don’t need to spend a specific amount of time: reading a whole chapter and praying a half hour; just be faithful.  Take care of your devotions and take care of what you know.

In the midst of a bad time and in the midst of those that were doing wrong, he settled it in his heart that he was going to do right.  You can do what is right in a bad situation.

Daniel was one that chose to do what was right, his own choice.  People can make excuses and say, “It is because of my upbringing… or My mom, my dad, didn’t love me…”  I’ve noticed that there are those that were brought up right that don’t choose to do right.  There are others that don’t have a good upbringing that do choose to serve God.  What it comes down to is a personal choice.

Not everything is going to go right in your life.  We can choose to serve God in every circumstance.  I don’t think that we can be before the judgment and say, “I didn’t serve God because of this one offending me or not doing right.”  You are going to be standing alongside the martyrs. 

Daniel means, “God is my judge.”  This gives me the inclination that Daniel had parents that wanted to do right.  Names meant something in those days.  It leads me to think that he had parents that had an attitude of heart that, “I’m going to serve God and walk in a way that is acceptable to Him.”  As parents, keep that integrity of heart and the heart attitude that, “I’m going to raise my children in the best way that I know how.”

Dan 1:7  Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

Hananiah means, “The lord has been gracious to me.”  They changed his name to Shadrach: “Inspiration of the sun.”

Mishael means, “He who comes from God.”  They changed his name to Meshach: “He who belongs to the goddess Sheshach.”

Azariah means, “The Lord is my helper.”  They changed his name to Abednego: “The servant of the god, Nego.”

People can look at you and give you false expectations.  These boys were given good names originally from their parents.  In the land of Babylon they then tried to give them bad names.  People may look at you and say, “They will be a failure.”  You don’t have to live to their expectations.  People will try to put labels on us. 

Instead of bearing their label, you can have the name, “The Lord has been gracious to me.”  You can have the reputation “God has been good to me.”  “He comes from God.”  You can have the name, “He or she has been influenced by God.”  Or, “The hand of God is upon them.”  Or, “God has been his or her helper.”  You don’t have to live to false expectations of the people out there.

Dan 1:11  Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

Dan 1:12  Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

Dan 1:13  Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

Dan 1:14  So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.

Dan 1:15  And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

They turned down the king’s meat and were given pulse and water to eat.  They were examined and were found to be fairer and fatter of flesh.  If you will go God’s way then you will have a better end result than others. 

This is the truth.  I have had a better end result by living for God than I would have had had I stayed in sin.  You will too.  If you will choose to serve God then you will have good results down the road.  It may not be what you had pictured for your life but God will be there to guide you and help you.  For a Hayen, I have had a good life.

No matter where people are in life, if they will turn around and choose to serve God, they can have a better end result than what they would have.  The commentary said on the thought of children to reference these Hebrews that a better translation is young men or youths. 

Children if you will choose to serve God, God will be your help.  “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”  If you will obey God then you can take these promises in the Bible just as much as an elderly saint could.  These promises are for you if you will choose to serve God.

Dan 1:16  Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

Dan 1:17  As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

If you will choose to serve God, God will give you wisdom.  God gave them wisdom. 

Php 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

If you need wisdom and understanding then you can go to God. 

Dan 1:18  Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

Dan 1:19  And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

If you will choose to do what is right, we can have audience with the King of kings.  Most of all, when it comes our time to leave this earth we can stand clear before the King, the almighty God.  We want to have good acceptance before the King, the God of heaven and earth and all that therein is.