dare to be different a

Dare to be DifferentDare to be DifferentTalk 2: Pressures of living: Talk 2: Pressures of living:

- Technology- Technology- Strict Parents- Strict Parents- University- University

Ehab RoufailEhab Roufail

18th July 2015 Dare to be Different 2

OutlineOutline• Effect of technology on Youth TrendsEffect of technology on Youth Trends• Are the struggles of youth different over the agesAre the struggles of youth different over the ages• Looking at the life of DanielLooking at the life of Daniel

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““What is happening to our young What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders; people? They disrespect their elders;

they disobey their parents. They they disobey their parents. They ignore the law. They riot in the streets, ignore the law. They riot in the streets,

inflamed with wild notions. Their inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying. What is to morals are decaying. What is to

become of them?”become of them?”

Plato 4Plato 4thth Century!! Century!!

Different struggles over the ages?Different struggles over the ages?


How do the names of these young men show How do the names of these young men show the faith that their parents hadthe faith that their parents had??


Alone and far from their parent’s influence, in Babylon, these young men decided to live according to the faith they had received


1. Obedience to the Law (not to defile himself)[Daniel 1]

2. Leave their problems in God’s hands [Daniel 2]

3. Habit of praying continually [Daniel 6]

What principles influenced the lives of these four young men?


Not to corrupt themselfs with Babylonian literatureTo reject the idolatry that it containedTo accept and to learn the right knowledge

Not to defile themself with the king’s foodTo accept the change of their names Ø

Their principle of obedience to the Word Their principle of obedience to the Word of God led them to make these decisionsof God led them to make these decisions::


NebuchadnezzarNebuchadnezzar found them ten times found them ten times better than the rest of their workmatesbetter than the rest of their workmates



• Approximately at the age of sixteen he was taken Approximately at the age of sixteen he was taken captive (vs.4) and sent off to live in Babylon, a captive (vs.4) and sent off to live in Babylon, a place that was foreign to work of God and to be place that was foreign to work of God and to be amongst a people that was anti-God in their amongst a people that was anti-God in their living.living.

• The world we live in is tuned to the likes of The world we live in is tuned to the likes of Babylon … a place that grows foreign to the work Babylon … a place that grows foreign to the work of God and where the people grow increasing of God and where the people grow increasing anti-God (Christian).anti-God (Christian).

• And yet it was in Babylon where the character of And yet it was in Babylon where the character of Daniel would be forged to become a living Daniel would be forged to become a living testimony to the known pagan world that he testimony to the known pagan world that he would live for God regardless.would live for God regardless.

We’re called to be like DanielWe’re called to be like Daniel



• "Oh do you dare to be a Daniel? On your knees "Oh do you dare to be a Daniel? On your knees do you stand that tall? Is your conversation do you stand that tall? Is your conversation faithful? Do you pray when your back’s against faithful? Do you pray when your back’s against the wall? Do you stand up for the Lord?"the wall? Do you stand up for the Lord?"

Dare: 1. To have the courage required to Dare: 1. To have the courage required to challenge someone to do something requiring challenge someone to do something requiring boldness.boldness.

Daniel stands in God’s Word giving testimony by Daniel stands in God’s Word giving testimony by his life of what it is to stand true to God and His his life of what it is to stand true to God and His Word.Word.

Daniel’s motto might have been: "Always do Daniel’s motto might have been: "Always do what is right no matter the cost."what is right no matter the cost."

Do We Dare?Do We Dare?



But Daniel But Daniel purposed in his heartpurposed in his heart that he that he would not defile himself with the portion of the would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel Now God had brought Daniel into the favour into the favour and goodwilland goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. of the chief of the eunuchs.

PURPOSED: to determine; commit; (regard, PURPOSED: to determine; commit; (regard, rehearse, reward)rehearse, reward)

Daniel determined and committed himself to Daniel determined and committed himself to not defile himself.not defile himself.

Purposed in his heartPurposed in his heart



Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himselfdefile himself

· · What’s on your mind? What is on your What’s on your mind? What is on your mind will dictate how you live.mind will dictate how you live.

Proverbs 23:7a For as he thinks in his heart, Proverbs 23:7a For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.so is he.

Dare Not to Defile the MindDare Not to Defile the Mind



· Daniel was not going to "blur" the lines · Daniel was not going to "blur" the lines between right and wrong (I know I’m not between right and wrong (I know I’m not suppose to do this, but …)suppose to do this, but …)

· Making up your mind ahead of time is crucial · Making up your mind ahead of time is crucial to obedience … otherwise it is easier to cave to obedience … otherwise it is easier to cave into pressures, circumstances, even friends.into pressures, circumstances, even friends.

· Daniel had committed himself before hand to · Daniel had committed himself before hand to "just say no" to sin and yes to God (His Word)."just say no" to sin and yes to God (His Word).

Not to blur the linesNot to blur the lines



· Daniel was not going to "blur" the lines · Daniel was not going to "blur" the lines between right and wrong (I know I’m not between right and wrong (I know I’m not suppose to do this, but …)suppose to do this, but …)

· Making up your mind ahead of time is crucial · Making up your mind ahead of time is crucial to obedience … otherwise it is easier to cave to obedience … otherwise it is easier to cave into pressures, circumstances, even friends.into pressures, circumstances, even friends.

· Daniel had committed himself before hand to · Daniel had committed himself before hand to "just say no" to sin and yes to God (His Word)."just say no" to sin and yes to God (His Word).




Joshua 1:8 "This Book of the Law shall not Joshua 1:8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good prosperous, and then you will have good success.success.

Psalms 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my Psalms 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!heart, That I might not sin against You!




… 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.

· Where the mind goes … eventually so goes the body!

· Daniel requested not to eat the king’s food so as to not defile himself against God.

Dare to Not Defile the BodyDare to Not Defile the Body



· Daniel’s ordeal wasn’t a matter of · Daniel’s ordeal wasn’t a matter of "vegetarians" verses "meat eaters.""vegetarians" verses "meat eaters."· It was a matter of keeping God’s Word the · It was a matter of keeping God’s Word the standard for His lifestandard for His life· God had asked His people to not eat any · God had asked His people to not eat any unclean foods.unclean foods.

Matthew 15:11 "Not what goes into the mouth Matthew 15:11 "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."mouth, this defiles a man."

· Daniel = "God is my judge"· Daniel = "God is my judge"




Romans 6:13 And do not present your members as Romans 6:13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to your members as instruments of righteousness to God.God.

· With his mind made up and his body following the · With his mind made up and his body following the dictates of the heart … Daniel was a light in the dictates of the heart … Daniel was a light in the midst of darkness.midst of darkness.

2 Corinthians 6:17 Therefore "Come out from among 2 Corinthians 6:17 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you."what is unclean, And I will receive you."




Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.

· Daniel merely stood for what was right in the Lord.· Daniel merely stood for what was right in the Lord.

· His witness drew the favour of God and the man who · His witness drew the favour of God and the man who was over him.was over him.

Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

· Daniel valued his relationship with God over that of · Daniel valued his relationship with God over that of man.man.

Dare to Not Defile the SoulDare to Not Defile the Soul



• Daniel purposed not to defile himself in any way Daniel purposed not to defile himself in any way … mind, body, or soul. God honoured and … mind, body, or soul. God honoured and blessed him and his friends and showed them to blessed him and his friends and showed them to be different looking. be different looking.

• Daniel 1:15 And at the end of ten days their Daniel 1:15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.king’s delicacies.

• Do we look different to the world … because of Do we look different to the world … because of our dare not to defile? Or does the world around our dare not to defile? Or does the world around us … friends, family and foes look at us and see us … friends, family and foes look at us and see no difference?no difference?

SummarySummary


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