Objective: Lessons and inspiration from the life of Daniel and the call to "be a Daniel" in our day.

Daniel - Brief Historical background
Daniel, most probably born in Jerusalem, belonged to the tribe of Judah, taken to Babylon as part of the captives from Jerusalem. Daniel and his 3 friends must have been in his early teens at this time, when they were taken in for training at Babylon. Daniel lived and served in the courts of several kings from 3 empires, Nebuchadnezzar and later Belshazzar (Babylonian kings), Darius (Medes), and later Cyrus (Persian king). His life challenged these powerful kings and got them to acknowledge that the God of the Hebrews is truly God.

Our World Today
Many of us are at study/work in situations where things may be very difficult and hostile - spiritually. Whether it is at school/college where your peers don't care about God, laugh at your faith, etc...or in corporate offices where having faith is God is laughed at, or in some cases, being a Christian, or being a person of integrity could get you into trouble.

Lessons from Daniel
What can we learn from Daniel's life - who was able to work in the courts of powerful kings, and yet rather than being suppressed and put down, was able to get these kings to bow before the true and living God.

#1, A man of conviction in what he believed

Daniel took a stand for what he believed.
Daniel 1:8
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.

The result of Daniel taking his stand:
Daniel 1:
9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.
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.
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.
18 Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king.
20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.

There is a simple truth taught in Scripture:
When we honor God, He will honor us. (1 Samuel 2:30)

Do we live by what we believe - or is it that we just "Amen!" in church when the preacher is preaching - but once we go out into the world, we forget what we "Amened!" about and go along with the crowd!

We need to stand up and live by our godly convictions, where it matters most.

If we don't stand for something, we will fall for anything.

#2, A man of courageous faith in God (Daniel 2)

Daniel stepped out in courageous faith in God.

Daniel 2:16-18
16 So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation.
17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,
18 that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

Daniel 2:19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

God fulfills (completes) our work of faith, with His power (2 Thessalonians 1:11).

When we step out to work our faith, God will step in with His power to back us up.

Do we take risks based on God's promises and faith in God?

#3, A man who was a true friend/companion (Daniel 2)

Daniel 2:48,49
48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.
49 Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

When Daniel got promoted, he did not forget his friends who were with him through the step of faith.

He was a true friend.

Are we faithful to those who have helped us to get where we are? Or when we have success, do we 'forget' them?

#4, A man who knew and exercised his gifts (Daniel 5)

Here was another occasion where Daniel could put God on display. He rose up to the occasion, and accepted the challenge, because Daniel know what he carried - God's gifts and empowering in him.

Daniel 5:17
Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

Do we exercise our God-given gifts to manifest God's greatness, or do we hide them in a closet?

#5, A man of excellence in attitude and work (Daniel 6)

Daniel 6:1-5
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom;
2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss.
3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.
4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.
5 Then these men said, "We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God."

The prophet Ezekiel, refers to Daniel as a very righteous man, compared to Noah and Job (Ezekiel 14:14,20) and a very wise man (Ezekiel 28:3).

Are we people of excellence out there where it matters - in our workplace, school/college?

#6, A man of consistent spiritual discipline (Daniel 6)

Daniel 6:10,11
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

Daniel 9:3 Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

The secret to walking in spiritual strength is to walk consistently in the spiritual disciplines of prayer, worship, seeking God, etc.

Daniel was not shaken by the fact that he could be thrown into a den of lions. His personal commitment to God was too strong to be shaken by such threats.

Are we maintaining a consistent spiritual walk with God?

#7, A man who experienced and demonstrated spiritual power in hostile settings

He pursued God, walked close to God and received his visions, not in the land of Israel, but in foreign lands.

In a foreign land, in a hostile setting, Daniel walked with God in such a manner, that the angel calls him a man of God's delight:

Daniel 9:23 At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:
Daniel 10:11 And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.
Daniel 10:19 And he said, "O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!" So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."

We need to stop blaming our "environment", the conditions in which we find ourselves in, as a reason for our weak walk with God. Daniel so walked with God, that God found him to be delightful!

Also, notice how these following verses indicate to us that Daniel was able to experience spiritual visions, receive prophecy, etc., even in the midst of hostile settings...in the courts of kings who did not know anything about the God of Israel.

Daniel 7:1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed.

Daniel 8:1 In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me—to me, Daniel—after the one that appeared to me the first time.

Daniel 9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—

Daniel 10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision.

The challenge for us then is to rise up and display God's glory even if we are working with difficult people and in difficult situations. Lets put excuses aside!

God's Kingdom needs people like Daniel in today's world.
Can you and I follow Daniel's example in the world we live in.
Daniel did it in his day and time. Its our turn now!