Scripture: Daniel 1:1-3

C.I.: Defying “Political Correctness”: It’s a Test

Today we are beginning a new series, “Book of Daniel.” – Brought up in Jerusalem now in Babylon.
In Daniel we find many analogies to ourselves – citizens of heaven living on earth (Phil. 3:20).
How do we interact/relate in a foreign (“strange”) land?! – God shows us how in this book of Daniel!

I. The Kingdom of Men vs. The Kingdom of God (Daniel 1)

A. “Political Correctness” Demands that You “Fit- In,” (vs. 4-7)

1. The Babylonians try to force these four into a “Babylonian mold”
a. This included all the externals…
1) Way they look – (v. 4a), “…youths in whom there was no defect, who were good looking”
2) Way they think & act – (v. 4b), “…showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding & discerning, and who had ability for serving in the kings court.”
3) Way they speak – (v. 4c), “…and to teach them the literature & language of the Chaldeans.”
4) What they eat – (v. 5a), “And the king appointed for them a daily ration from the king’s
choice food and from the wine which he drank.” – Just try not following the latest food craze
5) What they are being taught – (v. 5b), “…and that they should be educated 3 years, at the end
of which they were to enter into the king’s personal service.”

b. Nothing has changed. - Society today is still seeking to indoctrinate people to “fit in”!
1) ILLUST.: quote by Alan Keyes in, “The New Tolerance,” Josh McDowell, pgs. 134-135
2) Our society has become a Borg ship – and the message is, “Resistance is futile!” - If you can be indoctrinated “you will be assimilated!” – if you can’t be indoctrinated – you’ll be crushed
3) This is a clash of kingdoms – we need to decide whose side we are on, (Col. 1:13)

c. When all else fails – society will seek to redefine us – by giving us a “new name”
1) (vs. 6-7), “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; Belteshazzar….”
2) Meaning: H. = Whom Jehovah has favored, M. = Who is like God, A. =Whom Jehovah helps
3) New Names: Be. = Bel’s Prince, Sh. = Inspired by Sun-god, Me. = Who is like Shak, Ab. =
Servant of the shining fire
4) God has given us a name (I Pt. 4:16), “If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel….”
5) But society calls us: “Whackos” – “Fundamentalist Nuts” – “Extremists” – “Religious Zeal.”

B. The Test of Faith (vs. 8-16)

1. Daniel didn’t “take on the system,” he just opposed it in one area where God had spoken.
a. (v. 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..
1) Every test begins with a decision: (Josh. 24:15; I Kgs. 18:21), “Choose…” – “How long…”
2) Do you want to stop: smoking, drinking, drugs, sexual immorality?! – Make a decision!
3) Reason many fail @ Xnity – they didn’t make a decision to follow Jesus - no matter the cost!

b. (vs. 9-10), “Now God gave Daniel favor & 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 & 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...’”
1) Note the chief was afraid of my lord the king – Daniel is concerned about the king’s Lord!
2) The P.C. crowd – is concerned about what others think – the Xn is concerned about GOD!
3) Thus, we are either going to trust in God – to give us victory in our decisions – or others!

c. (vs. 12-14), “‘Please test your servants for 10 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 food; and deal with your servants according to what you
see.’ – So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for 10 days.”
1) If a test of faith begins with a decision – then the next step is - the test of time.
2) The test of time deals with withdrawal symptoms – Physical (nicotine/alcohol/immorality) and Spiritual withdrawal (getting away from people to whom we have given spiritual control)

d. (vs. 15-16), “At the end of 10 days their appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all
the youths who had been eating the king’s food. – So the overseer continued to withhold their
choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables.”
1) Those who keep their faith-decisions over time – are always victorious, (I Jn. 5:3).
2) What were the names of the other Jewish boys??? – Whatever happened to them???
3) Those who give into their fear of the crowd – will ultimately fail and be forgotten!!

C. The Outcome of a Test of Faith (vs. 17-20)

1. So what happened “down the road” to these teens who made their decisions for God?
a. (v. 17), “And as for these 4 youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams.”
1) This chapter sets the tone of Daniel – God’s sovereignty is clearly seen – For He rules in the affairs of nations, “…Lord gave Jehoiakim into his hand” v. 2, - and He also rules in the affairs of individuals, “God gave Daniel favor” v. 9, - Now God gave knowledge & intell!

b. (vs. 18-20), “– Then at the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them, the
commander of the officials presented them before Nebuchadnezzar. - And the king talked with
them, and out of them all not one was found like D., H., M., A.; so they entered the king’s
personal service. – And as for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king
consulted them, he found them 10 times better than all the magicians and conjurers….”
1) Clearly, God’s faithful people have an advantage – (II Pt. 1:3; I Cor. 1:25), “The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
2) God’s youth did not submit to the “Political Correctness” of their day. – They did not give in to the tyranny of the crowd – but faithfully followed God!!
3) Therefore, those who allow God to rule in their lives – WILL RULE!!!

Conclusion:

1. Some of you here today – your test of faith needs to begin… you need to make a decision (Gal. 3:26-27)

2. Others here have made this decision – but over the course of time – you have found yourself “giving in”