The following are my raw sermon notes for a sermon on Daniel. I post them primarily here so people during the sermon at Nowra City Church can follow along but my hope is also that people who read them off the internet will be inspired and will learn something about Daniel.

Daniel’s story is the story of an exile. He was an unwilling immigrant who moved from his homeland of Israel, across almost 1000 miles of desert, probably roped or chained to several other Israeli’s, possibly after witnessing the death of his parents when the Babylonians conquered the nation of Judah in 606 B.C.

Daniel is a book of bible prophesy

It is a book about Kings and Kingdoms and powers.

It is a book that demonstrates God’s power in world history, world events and the world future.

The book talks about the Kings that reigned in the time of Daniel. It doesn’t stop there, it also deals with Kings who will reign in the end times.

Old testament counterpart of Revelation.

Deals with issues from Daniel’s day right through to the second coming of Christ.

It is a book about a young man who purposes in his heart to live for God.

Daniel 1:1-3

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. ² And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god. (the god of bel who was the chief god of the Babylonians)

³ Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles,

Background

A few generations earlier – the nations of Judah turned away from God. They backslid and followed other Gods.

So God judged them and allowed the Babylonians to conquer them.

Ancient Babylon is modern day Iraq.

Sadam Hussein when he was alive was quoted as saying he is the modern day King Nebuchadnezzar.

Captivity for 70yrs.

A lot of the young men were taken back to Babylon.

Daniel was one of them.

V4 ⁴ young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.

Daniel as a young man.

16yrs old and he would stand before royalty in the Kings’ palace.

V5 – So Daniel was 16 , so when he was 19 he was expected to be able to serve before the King.

⁵ And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.

Ezekiel 14:14 – Says in all the bible there were 3 very righteous men;

Job, Noah, Daniel.

Young people – it is so important that you wholly give yourself over to God.

Don’t wait till you’re older.

Daniel had an active prophetic ministry for 70 yrs = 86.

16-86 Be used by God, young or old.

V6 – Hebrews names given by their parents.

⁶ Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. ⁷ To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.

Hebrew names were very important because to them they signified the destiny, the blessing of this character and how God was going to use them.

Jabez – 1 Chron 4:9-10

⁹ Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez,^[a] saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” ¹⁰ And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

V7 Babylonians gave them Babylonian names – Belteshazzar – prince of Bel.

Look at this for a second:
NAMES:
DANIEL = “MY JUDGE IS ELOHIM.”
BELTESHAZZAR = “BEL IS MY JUDGE.”
HANANIAH = UNDER YAHWEH’S GRACE.
SHADRACH = UNDER AKU’S COMMAND.
MISHAEL = WHO IS WHAT GOD IS?
MESHACH = WHO IS WHAT AKU IS?
AZARIAH = SERVANT OF YAHWEH.
ABEDNEGO = SERVANT OF NEGO.

You can rise above the labels that people put on you

V8 Daniel fasts – expand.

⁸ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

V9 Prov 16:7.

When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Talk about Daniel’s influence in a non-Christian setting – relate to us – don’t wait ran an ideal situation – change your world.

Talk about Moses meeting God in his work place

The key is to purpose in your heart not to defile yourself with the delicacies of the world.

Talk about the parable of the sower. The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word

Daniel served a wicked King.

But Daniel stayed Godly.

What have you purposed in your heart in regards to your spiritual journey

1) I have purposed in my heart to be in church every Sunday

2) I have purposed in my heart to love the local church and to serve it

3) I have purposed in my heart to tithe

4) I have purposed in my heart to love the word, read it, memorise it and live by it.

5) I have purposed to shun mediocre Christianity and live passionately for my God

You Live a Life without Compromise when you Stay True to Your Values Daniel 1:8
Daniel requested that their guard serve them only vegetables and water to eat for ten days. If after ten days they were not as healthy as the others in training then they would look at other options. At the end of ten days Daniel and the other young men looked healthier than any of those eating the royal food. So the guard did not force them to eat the king’s diet but continued to serve them vegetables instead.
Daniel and his friends based their values on God’s Word. Leviticus 11 – 17 outlines God’s commands concerning eating clean or unclean food. The true Jew only ate Kosher food..
Biblical values have clear teaching in the Bible. The Ten Commandments are clear. You don’t need a conviction to not commit adultery or lie or steal. Biblical convictions determine why you do some things and don’t do others.

We need to know what our values are.

Read Acts 20:17-38. How many core values can you identify in Paul’s exercise of Christian leadership? List them.

• Serving
• Humility
• Strength during trials
• Passion for the word
• Inclusive
• Obedient to the Holy Spirit
• Bold
• Unmovable from his call
• Heart for the church and for people
• Hard working
• High energy
• Not given to materialism
• Heart for the weak
• Generous
• Prayer
• Relational

V12-16 Talk about discipline

¹¹ So Daniel said to the steward^[a] whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, ¹² “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” ¹⁴ So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.

¹⁵ And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies. ¹⁶ Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

The power of discipline

V17 God gave Daniel more wisdom and understanding.

¹⁷ As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Parable of the talent.

Key

Use what you have and God will give you more.

Mt 25:29

Ps18:25

Mt 25:23 – Well done good and faithful servant

Are you using what God has given you?

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