Striking a Balance
Daniel 1:1-6
The culture of the world we live in has an agenda.
Romans 12:2 Don’t be conformed to the pattern of the world…
Daniel 1:7
Culture wants to redefine your identity.
Daniel = “God is my judge”
Belteshazzar = “Lady, protect the King”
Hannaniah = “Yahweh has been gracious”
Mishael = “Who is what God is?”
Meshach = “I’m despised, contemptible and humiliated.”
Azariah = “Yahweh has helped”
Abednego = “slave of Nebo”
1 Peter 2:9
2 Corinthians 5:17
Hebrews 2:11
Daniel 1:8
Culture will ask you to compromise biblical standards
Daniel 1:9
Daniel 1:12
Daniel 1:14
Daniel 1:17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. 18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
Culture will always create a confrontation
1. I’m right you’re wrong
I Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2. It’s all good
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your Word is truth.
Ephesians 2:8-9God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
John 8:3 The scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. 7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
Repent - to turn away from sin.
