Today we’re beginning a new series of sermons from Daniel.  Please turn with me to the book of Daniel - chapter 1.  As you’re turning let me share some of why we’re going to be looking at this book.

Last November 12th - a mob of Muslims in the city of Sangla Hill, Pakistan, set fire to 14 Christian homes, three churches, and a Christian school.  No one was killed.  But Christians there say it was just another example of the violence directed against them by Muslims.

In Xinjiang - western China - two house churches were raided by police as they were celebrating Jesus’ birth.  Police confiscated two cars, 80 Bibles, other Christian materials, and even the food they had brought for their Christmas dinner.  12 leaders were taken into custody.  One of the leaders was beaten by the police.

In Nigeria - since 1999 - when Sharia - Islamic Law - was enforced - since 1999 more than 10,000 Christians have been martyred.  More than 1,000 homes and churches have been burned by Muslims.  Thousands have become refugees. (1)

We could go around the world like this - country after country - sharing about our siblings in Christ who each day face persecution - death - certainly hardship - because they hold fast to their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Have you ever asked yourself this:  Would I have what it takes to live for Jesus in those circumstances?  There’s a part of us that’s in awe of their sacrifice.  There’s a part of us that may even envy those who have such commitment.  Wouldn’t it be great if we could live that courageously for Jesus?  And yet we hesitate - thinking about the depth of that commitment - what that would really mean for us.  Having to live that tight with Jesus - giving everything. 

Tom White is the director of Voice of the Martyrs - himself having been imprisoned for his faith.  Tom White shares this:  “Some who are attracted to the work of the Voice of the Martyrs have a misconception about Christians in captive lands, thinking they are more dedicated… In our nation where we have religious freedom, we may envy those believers who sneak around using a little flashlight in the jungle to deliver Bibles and other materials and assistance.”  Then this statement:  “Christians need this courage wherever we live.” (2)

That statement is why this series from Daniel is so important for us.  We need courage to live for Jesus - right here in Merced.  Same depth - same commitment - same source - as our siblings in captive lands.

Between classes - it takes courage to share Jesus with a hurting friend.  It takes courage to witness to those nice people who come to the door.  Courage to reach out to this community - even sharing the Gospel door-to-door - courage when we can easily find a million other things to do that don’t make us go weak in the knees.  Courage to live for Jesus in our homes when we’re ridiculed by our families.

It takes courage to say, “My child isn’t going to participate in that.”  When no one else seems to see that there’s a problem.  Or to live for Jesus at work or school when the vocabulary and discussion is straight from hell.  Or, where the pressure to conform is enormous - even job threatening.  Courage to do what’s unpopular - misunderstood - ridiculed - even though its right before God. 

It takes courage to tear down and build a new facility - here on G Street of all places.  It takes courage to tithe when we wonder if God supplies.  Risk requires courage. 

Sometimes we just need courage to get up and face a new day - to just keep going.

“Christians need this courage wherever we live.”  Say that with me, “Christians need this courage wherever we live.”  We need courage to live for Jesus - right here in the greater Merced metroplex.  That’s what we’re going to be looking at in Daniel.  What does this courage look like?  Where does it come from?  How can we have that kind of courage in our lives?

Daniel 1 - starting at verse 1:  In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.  The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into the treasury of his god.  Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal family and of the nobles, youths in whom was no defect, who were good-looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king’s court; and he ordered him to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans - chaldeans being another name for Babylonians.

Let’s stop there and catch up to what’s happening.

The Babylonians invaded Jerusalem three times.  “The third year of the reign of Jehoiakim” was the first invasion which took place in 605 B.C.  During that invasion Nebuchadnezzar hauled off the top layer of Jewish society - the wealthy - the nobles.  In that group was a young boy named Daniel - probably about 14 years old.

We need to try and imagine what that would be like.  For some of us it may be a stretch to think back to being 14.  But try.  Life at age 14 is pretty strange as it is.  What’s that line?  “Every time I figure out the answer they change the question.”  That’s being a teenager.  The great task is trying to make sense out of life - which often doesn’t - and how I’m suppose to fit into it.

Daniel - whose that age - has his country invaded - his whole world turned upside down.  He’s taken away from his family, friends, and anything familiar - gets hauled off 500 plus miles east - a four month hike through really lovely country - especially if you like rocks and sand - is taken as a prisoner to this city where no one speaks his language - where everything is strange and foreign.

Notice - in verse 2 - Nebuchadnezzar - along with taking Daniel and the other prisoners - Neb also takes some of the vessels of the house of God - takes them to the house of his god.  Point being - to the prisoners Neb is saying, “Your future is mine.  My god is greater than your God.”

The prisoners had four months traveling through the dessert to think about that.  Then they arrived at Babylon.  The city of Babylon was a huge fortified structure - overwhelming in power and ego and ungodliness.  The main wall was 85 feet tall - seven stories high - 65 feet thick.  The walls to Nebuchadnezzar’s palace alone were 135 feet thick.  On every brick of the outer 23½ feet was written the name of Nebuchadnezzar.

Coming into Babylon through the Ishtar gate - Ishtar being the Babylonian goddess of love and fertility - the Ishtar gate was a 40 foot tall structure decorated with dragons and bulls - symbols of Marduk - the main Babylonian god - and Hadad - the storm and war god.  Passing through that gate - through these massive walls - there were theses 3½ foot square paving stones that had the inscription, “I am Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon… I paved the road of Babylon with mountain stone for the procession of the mighty lord Marduk.”

Inside the city there are at least 53 temples to different gods - 180 open-air shrines to Ishtar - 1,800 niches, pedestals, and sacred places for the other gods.  The temple of Marduk alone sat on 60 acres. 

How do think a 14 year old boy would feel coming into that city?  “Toto.  We’re not in Kansas anymore.”  “If the God of my people is the one true God what am I doing here?  Maybe all those old stories - all that stuff about deliverance from Egypt - maybe they were just stories.  Maybe there’s something to this Marduk god.”  What kind of courage would it take to live for God?

Going on - from the end of verse 4:  Neb ordered Ashpenaz to teach them - these young boys - the literature and language of the Chaldeans.  The king appointed for them a daily ration from the king’s choice food and from the wine which he drank, and appointed that they should be educated three years, at the end of which they were to enter the king’s personal service.  Now among them from the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.  Then the commander of the officials assigned new names to them; and to Daniel he assigned the name Belteshazzar, to Hananiah Shadrach, to Mishael Meshach and to Azariah Abed-nego.

There are three things here that we need to notice.

First notice Neb’s offer of education.  This is the best education available at the time - the best university under the best circumstances.  A great deal.

But, think about what’s really being offered here.  The education is in what?  “the literature and language of the Chaldeans.”   That’s not arithmetic - science - and agriculture.  That’s hymns and stories of the Babylonian gods.  Immersion in Babylonian thought - values - attitudes - philosophy.  Nebuchadnezzar isn’t educating.  He’s indoctrinating.

Second notice Neb’s offer of lifestyle - the best food and wine - right from the king’s own table.  Escargot every night.  Anchovy pizza on demand.  How could someone pass that up?

But, the food was sacrificed to idols.  To eat it would have meant participating in that sacrifice.  It would have meant compromising their morals and spiritual purity.  Neb is trying to change their lifestyle - to get them to act like Babylonians.

Third notice Neb’s offer of identity.  New names - new identity.  In English we miss the meaning of the names in the original languages.  In Hebrew Daniel means “God is my judge.”  Neb changed Daniel’s name to what?  Belteshazzar.  Which means, “Protect his life, Bel.”  Bel was another name for Marduk.  Who was Marduk?  Number one Babylonian god.  Hananiah means “Yahweh has been gracious.”  Neb gives him the name Shadrach which means “Command of Aku.”  Aku was a Sumerian moon god.  Mishael - meaning “Who is what God is?” becomes Meshach meaning “Who is what Aku is?”  Azariah “The Lord helps” becomes Abed-nego “Servant to Nebo” - Nebo being Marduk’s son.

Point being that Nebuchadnezzar is trying to change them - from the very core of who they are - bring them into conformity to Babylonian society - lead them away from honoring the one true God - to honoring the gods of their captors.  What’s seems like favorable treatment - a really great opportunity - is really a very subtle attempt to influence these boys. 

None of which goes on today (sarcasm).  In our educational system there’s a constant tug-of-war for control of the minds of the next generations.  Our society is in a downward moral spiral that sucks at us from every way possible.  We live in pluralistic society - a plethora of religions and philosophies that continually distort truth.  All of which has one common source - Satan.  All of which has one common goal - lead people away from God.

Its important for us to see that what Daniel struggled with is very similar to what we struggle with.  Same issues.  Same need for courage where we live.

Verse 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.  Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials, and the commander of the officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking more haggard than the youths who are your own age?  Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king.”  But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink.  Then let our appearance be observed 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.”  So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days. 

Three observations - how Daniel handled the situation he was in.

First:  He made up his mind.  Say that with me, “He made up his mind.”

Verse 8:  “Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food.”  The issue isn’t Jewish dietary laws - right?  To eat pork or not to eat pork.  The issue is who Daniel belongs to.  The food is sacrificed to idols.  But, Daniel belongs to God.  Regardless of what our society may tempt us with, we belong to God.

That Daniel made up his mind means that there was a process of thought involved.  He saw his situation - the opportunity that Neb was presenting.  Evaluated the options.  Knew that he was God’s man.  Considered what the response of God’s man should be.  As  the scene plays out he’s prepared with a plan of action.

Second notice How Daniel chose to act.  Say that with me, “How Daniel choose to act.”

Verse 8 - “He sought permission from the commander.”  He didn’t walk up to Ashpenaz and say, “Hey Ash, we’re Jews.  Man, we don’t eat stuff like that.  We ain’t goin’ there.”  Ever hear Christians shove their faith down people’s throats and then wonder why people blow them off?  Why God isn’t glorified?

Daniel approaches Ashpenaz with respect.  He’s not demanding or arrogant.  He understands the position Ashpenaz is in before the king.  He’s concerned for Ashpenaz’s well being as well as the overseer.  He comes with a compromise - a test that’s really not going to get anyone in trouble - at least not in ten days - certainly not in three years.  But, it provides the opportunity to honor God and shows respect for those in authority.

Third observation - notice that God was with Daniel.  Say that with me, “God was with Daniel.”  Verse 9:  “God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander.”

If Daniel isn’t moving forward where God wants to go - if God doesn’t show up - Daniel is in serious trouble.  He’s going to be hung out to dry.  Maybe even dead.  There’s a reminder here for us - as we think through our situations - as we make our choices - that we need to be seeking God - prayerfully - in His word - in dependence on Him.  Looking to Him for understanding - for wisdom - for answers.  To make choices according to God’s will - according to who God has created us to be and His purposes for our lives.

Which brings us to verse 15:  At the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them, the commander of the officials presented them before Nebuchadnezzar.  The king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s personal service.  As for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm.  And Daniel continued until the first year of Cyrus the king.

One observation - The blessing of God.  God really was with Daniel.  As Daniel honors God.  God blesses Daniel.

Daniel and his friends are found by Nebuchadnezzar to have wisdom and knowledge that exceeded even that of the magicians and conjurers by ten times.  They entered into the kings personal service - a position of trust and influence.

The first year of Cyrus the king was 537 B.C.  Which means that for almost 70 years Daniel had a significant influence on world events - standing right next to throne of the kings of Babylon - and later the Medes and the Persians.  We’ll see more of this as we go through the book.  When Nebuchadnezzar had dreams - Daniel was the one who made sense out of them.  When Nebuchadnezzar lost his mind - Daniel was there beside him.  Daniel explained to Belshazzar what the handwriting on the wall meant.  It may have Daniel who wrote the decree for Cyrus that sent the Jews back to the Promised Land.

This book isn’t Nebuchadnezzar’s book.  It isn’t Belshazzar’s book.  It isn’t Cyrus’ book.  It’s the Book of Daniel.

Two thoughts of application - thinking about living courageously in our society.

First:  Identity.  Say that with me, “Identity.”

Names have meaning.  True?  My mother’s maiden name was Shakarian.  Shakar in Armenian means sugar.  Several generations back the name was changed from Katchadourian to Shakarian because one of my great greats went into the candy making business.  Shakarian loosely meaning “son of a candy maker.”  Going back to the roots of each person here we’d find descriptions of occupations and family members and towns from way back when.  Names have meaning.

“Christian” literally means “related to Christ.”  Courage is gained as we see ourselves that way.  As Daniel did - as God’s man or woman.

Each of us is created in the image of God.  Turn to the person next to you and encourage them with that, “You are the image of God.”

While we were once under the authority and power of Satan and the powers of darkness - God so loves us - values and cherishes us - that He gave Himself to die for us.  Our lives have been purchased from Satan’s power through the broken body and shed blood of Jesus the Christ.  The Holy Spirit - God - has come to dwell within us.  We are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  He has sealed us - set us apart - given us the promise of heaven - life with God which begins now and extends into eternity.  We are the sons and daughters of the Almighty God of creation.  We are citizens of His Kingdom - heirs of the riches of heaven.

God has given to each us purpose and meaning for our lives.  We have a crucial place in His plan of redeeming mankind from sin.  We are soldiers in a spiritual battle - fighting on the winning side.  Given the great opportunity to live for God and to make a significant difference in this world.  We are overcomers - victorious through Jesus Christ.

Way too - we’re like Esau - giving up our birthright for something far less important - stew.  Some cheap temporal offer the world extends to us.  We compromise.  We fail to stand firm or to stand up.  We fear what has already been conquered on the cross.

When thinking about identity - remember who you are.  Remember Who’s you are.

Second thought of application:  Influence.  Say that with me, “Influence.”

Somehow we have this idea that if we stand up for God then we’re going to be marginalized - rejected.  But the opposite happens here.  Daniel stands for God and God shows up.  As Daniel honors God - God honors Daniel.  God gives Daniel great influence - with the kings of his day - even today - even tomorrow.  Significant portions of prophecy - like in the Book of Revelation - need the Book of Daniel to be  understood.

That doesn’t mean that we’re going to stand next kings for 70 years.  And yes it may mean rejection.  Sometimes choices have hard implications.  But the point is - if we will - remembering Who’s we are - make up our minds to stand for God against what Satan is doing in this world - then God will show up.  He will use us.  He will bless us.  We will be His witnesses in this world.

Bottom line - as we’re seeking courage.  Don’t ever let the world take away your sense of who you are in Jesus Christ.  And expect - as you stand for God - that God will be there for you.

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Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright© 1960,1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.