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Cell Discussion 1702011 --Having a Clear Vision in a Confused World

We live in a confused world, and the Bible says without a clear vision, we will perish.

Today we will learn from the lives of Daniel and his three Hebrew friends how we

can maintain a clear vision in our very confused surrounding s.

Read Dan 1:3-7. Daniel and his three Hebrew friends Hananiah, Mishael and

Azariah , who were of royal descent were taken captives to Jerusalem at the age of

14-16. They were treated as special in the magnificent city of Babylon which was a

splendid fortress which contained one of the wonders of the ancient world the

hanging garden. They were given the Kings meals and the best education in the

nation. However they were castrated and became eunuchs with no hope of marriage

or continuing their family line. They were given Babylonian names. Daniel, which

means God is my Judge became Belteshazzar which means Baal will protect my

life. This was the same with all the three Hebrew boys as well. Nebuchadnezzar

was determined not just to capture their bodies but their mind and heart as well.

Jerusalem, their hometown, which means the city of God now becomes a distant

memory as they live in Babylon, which means the gateways to gods. Indeed,

Babylon was an idolatrous nation with a huge tower right in the centre of the city

containing the temple of Murduk at its top floor.

How did Daniel and the three young men cope with the change? Daniel eventually

became the prime minister of the nation and served for many years. The three

Hebrew boys too were promoted to positions of power. We can learn three keys to

their success:

a. Daniel purposed in his heart (Dan 1:10)

It means Daniel had a clear vision of who he was, where he came from and who was

his God. He was secure in his faith so he was not troubled by the name change or

the foreign education. The only area that he refused to compromise was the diets. he

and his friends refused to accept the kings meal which was considered unclean

according to his belief. He knew his non-negotiables. We too, like Daniel, have to

cope with secular bosses, fight against the mindset of this world and the constant

pressure to conform, the question is do we hold firm to our beliefs.

b. He walked by faith and not by sight

He was not bedazzled by his environment. In Heb 11, it says Moses forsook the

pleasure in Egypt because he saw him who was invisible.

c. He prayed three times a day

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Discussion questions:

a. What do you understand by having a clear vision in a confused (secular)

world?

b. What were some of the methods used by Nebuchadnezzar to capture the

minds and souls of Daniel and the three young men?

c. What are some of the pressures that we face today which seek to erode our

faith and belief?

d. Daniel had to master a new language and cultures and subject himself to amaster who had been instrumental in destroying his own nation. What was his

response? Do you have a difficult boss, how is your response?

e. (optional question) Daniel was a foreigner in the land and yet he succ eeded.

What can we learn as migrants?

f. Daniel had his non negotiable values because of his vision. What are some

non negotiable values in your lives?

g. What do you think gave Daniel strength to stand firm in that very confusingworld?

h. Daniel and the three young men were promoted when they took a stand

instead of bowing to their surrounding pressure. Do you have an experience

when you were pressured to compromise? What did you do? What were the

outcomes?

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