Impact (1) – Develop Conviction
This is lesson one (1) in a new series entitled “Game Changer: How to Impact Your World.”
Our focus scripture is Daniel 1:3-5, 8-13 and 17-19.
Live your life with uncompromising convictions.
We begin a new series of study for the next six lessons. All six lessons will be based upon scripture from the Book of Daniel. Daniel took a stand for GOD. In today’s world taking a stand for CHRIST is just as important. Our lives need to reflect our conviction.
Let’s read Daniel 1:1-2: (Background)
Daniel’s Captivity in Babylon
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim (jih HOY uh kim) king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar (neb yoo kad NEZ uhr) king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and laid siege to it.
2 The Lord handed Jehoiakim king of Judah over to him, along with some of the vessels from the house of God. Nebuchadnezzar carried them to the land of Babylon, to the house of his god, and put the vessels in the treasury of his god.
GOD had warned Israel to change their ways or suffer the consequences. Israel or the northern kingdom was defeated by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. Then Judah or the Southern Kingdom continued to disregard GOD’S warnings and GOD removed HIS protective hand from Judah. The ultimate defeat of Judah took place in three stages.
Stage one – In 605 B.C., about 20 years before Judah’s final fall, in 586 B.C. to Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar took control of Judah and began taking the brightest and best looking Hebrews to Babylon for indoctrination and assimilation into the Babylonian culture. He also took ceremonial vessels used in worship in the temple in Jerusalem and placed them in the “house of the king’s god” in Babylon.
Stage two – In 597 B.C. Jehoiachin (jih HOY uh kin), son of Jehoiakim (Jehoiakim had reigned in Jerusalem for 11 years), gave up the throne to King Nebuchadnezzar. Jehoiachin reigned after his father for 3 months and ten days when King Nebuchadnezzar took him along with additional items from the temple and over 10,000 Hebrews to Babylon. Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin were vassal kings.
Stage three – In 586 B.C. King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Solomon’s temple and took a large number of Hebrews to Babylon. Jerusalem was left in ruins along with a devastated remnant of Hebrews.
Daniel and other Hebrew youth were taken in stage one or 605 B.C. of Judah’s ultimate defeat. GOD warned the Israelites to obediently serve HIM and if they didn’t they would encounter HIS wrath. They didn’t and they suffered the consequences at the hands of Babylon.
GOD says what HE means and means what HE says and in 2015 that has not changed and will not change. GOD is eternally the same.
Let’s read Daniel 1:3-7: (I will comment after each verse.)
3 The king ordered Ashpenaz (ASH peh naz), the chief of his court officials, to bring some of the Israelites from the royal family and from the nobility –
Ashpenaz was charged with the responsibility of selecting young Israelites for being indoctrinated and assimilated into the Babylonian culture. Typically “the chief of his court officials” was a term used, as stated in the King James Version “the master of his eunuchs.” However, since there seems to be fixation on physical perfection, it is likely that this would be the case for Ashpenaz. But it is interesting that the name Ashpenaz includes the Old Persian word for Inn, resulting in some to believe that he was associated with providing dining and lodging for hostages. (Advanced Bible Study, LifeWay, Fall 2015, p. 68.)
Ashpenaz was instructed to select Israelites from “the royal family” and from “the nobility.” It was common when a king defeated another king that the conquering king would take the family of the conquered king into captivity or have them killed. This was to prevent a family member from succeeding to the throne or causing problems in the conquered kingdom. It was a form of control. But here, it seems to have a dual purpose: control but also selecting those who were physically fit, taught social graces, good nutrition, mentally fit, educated and potential leaders.
Also, he was to select those from “the nobility.” Again, this served a dual purpose – to control the family left behind but also those of nobility would more likely to have been educated, likely to have good nutritional, physical habits and potential leaders. The noble tend to breed with nobility.
4 young men without any physical defect, good-looking, suitable for instruction in all wisdom, knowledgeable, perceptive, and capable of serving in the king’s palace-and to teach them the Chaldean language and literature.
Ashpenaz was to select “young men without physical defect, good-looking, suitable for instruction in all wisdom, knowledgeable, perceptive and capable of serving in the king’s palace – and to teach them the Chaldean language and literature. This is quite a list of traits and characteristics.
Ashpenaz was likely very good at his job and he did not want to make a mistake or else. Let’s take a look at some of these attributes:
Young men could refer to men ages 14-40 but more likely 14-15 years old. Those in that age bracket are eager to learn and willing to work hard to achieve.
Without any physical defect and good-looking – Appearance was important, especially when coming into the presence of the king. Their good-looks reflected well on the king.
Suitable for instruction – they were going to be indoctrinated and assimilated into the Babylonian culture therefore they needed to have the ability to learn and apply what they learned.
Suitable for instruction in all wisdom – wisdom is the proper application of knowledge. True wisdom is knowledge applied to GOD’S plan.
Perception is the ability to apply knowledge at the precise moment to be most effective. The three work together – wisdom, knowledge and perception.
Capable of serving in the king’s palace – A person can have all of the traits and attributes mentioned so far but not be able to be humble or have the social graces required to serve the king. Having the right attitude.
Teachable – they would need to learn the Chaldean language and literature. The Chaldean language was Aramaic but the scholarly language was Akkadian.
These young men needed to be willing to embrace this new culture. But where were they to draw the line between learning and embracing this new culture and being obedient to GOD in a society that had their own god. This issue is at the heart of our study. They were in a new world but how would they not become part of that new world?
The king had a planned training program for those selected.
5 The king assigned them daily provisions from the royal food and from the wine that he drank. They were to be trained for three years, and at the end of that time they were to serve in the king’s court.
These young men would eat and drink the same foods the king ate and drink what the king drank for three years, which would put them about 17-18 years old at the end of the training program.
So who are some of these young Hebrew men? Let’s read on.
6 Among them, from the descendants of Judah, were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
7 The chief official gave them [different] names: to Daniel, he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
The Hebrew young men are listed below with their Hebrew name and their Babylonian name:
Daniel to Belteshazzar (bell tuh SHAZ zur)
Hananiah (han uh NIE uh) to Shadrach (SHAD rak)
Mishael (MISH eh uhl) to Meshach (MEE shak)
Azariah (az ah RYE ah) to Abednego (uh BED knee goe)
Changing their names to Babylonian names would help them assimilate into the Babylonian culture. So far so good!
Let’s read Daniel 1:8-13: Faithfulness in Babylon
8 Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine he drank. So he asked permission from the chief official not to defile himself.
I understand that it was likely that the king’s food consisted of pork and horse meats, which were forbidden for the Hebrews to consume. Daniel had to make a decision. Since he wanted to be obedient to GOD, he pondered what he could do. His decision reveals the wisdom GOD gave Daniel.
He first determined what GOD would have him to do and then communicated with the chief official. He was not defiant. He did not just refuse but he approached the person who had the authority to help him achieve his goal to be obedient to GOD. He asked permission from the chief official not to defile himself. GOD had already prepared the relationship between Daniel and Ashpenaz as we read —
9 God had granted Daniel favor and compassion from the chief official,
Notice, GOD was already at work in Daniel’s life. Daniel had the right attitude. Why? He had the right relationship with GOD and trusted HIM. GOD always goes ahead of HIS children. Do you recall our lesson a few weeks ago in Romans where Paul revealed that GOD is at work in all things to bring about the best for those who obediently serve HIM?
It is likely, because Daniel asked permission rather than taking matters into his own hands, he established a good rapport with Ashpenaz.
10 yet he said to Daniel, “My lord the king assigned your food and drink. I’m afraid [of what would happen] if he saw your faces looking thinner than those of the other young men your age. You would endanger my life with the king.”
This could have been Ashpenaz testing Daniel. Ashpenaz communicated his concerns to Daniel. So what does Daniel do? Again, GOD guides HIS children. Daniel did not give up. GOD gave him another approach. He spoke to the guard (Melzar) who had been assigned to Daniel and his colleagues.
11 So Daniel said to the guard (Melzar), whom the chief official had assigned to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 “Please test your servants for 10 days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13 Then examine our appearance and the appearance of the young men who are eating the king’s food, and deal with your servants based on what you see.”
14 He agreed with them in this matter and tested them for 10 days.
15 At the end of 10 days they looked better and healthier than all the young men who were eating the king’s food.
16 So the guard continued to remove their food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables.
This is fairly straight forward except for the vegetables. As I understand the vegetables were more than vegetables. Vegetables included fruits, grains and breads made from grains.
Let’s read Daniel 1:17-19: Faithfulness Rewarded
17 God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. Daniel also understood visions and dreams of every kind.
18 At the end of the time that the king had said to present them, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.
19 The king interviewed them, and among all of them, no one was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they began to serve in the king’s court.
20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding that the king consulted them about, he found them 10 times better than all the diviner-priests and mediums in his entire kingdom.
21 Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus (536 B.C.).
Daniel and his colleagues passed the king’s program with flying colors. In fact, “ten times better than diviner-priests and mediums in his entire kingdom.” GOD equipped these young men to serve HIM. In addition, GOD equipped Daniel with special gifts to understand visions and dreams of every kind. When GOD calls, HE equips.
As we study the life of Daniel and his colleagues we will see their relationship with GOD was built upon relationship and trust. Blessings!!!
posted by Bible Study | 10:29 AM | 0 comments
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 09, 2015
Bible Study – Stand (6) – GOD’S Promise of a New Home – October 11, 2015
This is the sixth (6th) and final lesson in our series entitled “Stand Strong: Building Your Life on GOD’S Promises.”
Our focus scripture is Revelation 21:1-8.
A life in CHRIST means a life with CHRIST forever.
First, the Book of Revelation was written by the Apostle John while he was exiled on the Isle of Patmos. Notice that the word “revelation” does not end in “s” therefore it is NOT revelations, it is singular.
Our focus scripture is Chapter 21 which describes the coming of the new heaven and new earth which will be the time of GOD’S rule, reign and presence upon earth.
When our ancestral parents sinned and lost eternal life, GOD discharged them from the Garden of Eden. GOD placed a cherubim and a flaming sword to prevent Adam and Eve or any of their descendants to get to the tree of life. If they were to eat fruit from the tree of life, they would live forever in their unredeemed state.
GOD had a plan, even before sin came into the world, for the descendants of Adam and Eve to be given the opportunity to be redeemed from eternal death. Before JESUS was born in the flesh, those who worshipped GOD were looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. After the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of JESUS, we are looking back on that event for redemption and restoration to GOD’S original intent for eternal life with HIM. The best is yet to come and GOD reveals the final act to us through HIS revelation to John.
Eve ate the forbidden fruit and handed it to Adam. Adam took a bite of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and their eyes were opened to the truth of what they had done.
GOD had told Adam if they ate of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they would die. They would lose eternal life and they would be separated from HIM.
We are descendants of Adam and Eve and as such, we live in the world they chose. Fallen earth is our home. It is a world filled with the knowledge of good and evil. All humans long for peace but there is no peace. GOD did not abandon us as fallen humans but instead HE had a place where we could live and have a second opportunity for eternal life and fellowship with HIM and be restored to HIS original intent. Look around and behold HIS handiwork. Every human lives in a miracle body which HE fashioned to function upon planet earth. HE provided all things to sustain the human race. HE gives all humans the opportunity to be redeemed from eternal death.
Earth is our second opportunity to get it right. We have a choice to either accept or reject CHRIST as our Savior. CHRIST gave HIS life through the shedding of HIS blood to pay, in full, the death penalty GOD imposed upon the descendants of Adam and Eve. CHRIST is the second Adam. The first Adam was flesh whereas the second Adam was both flesh and blood, yet divine. Both the first Adam and the second Adam had free wills to choose. Adam chose to disobey GOD and the second Adam chose to obey GOD, remain sinless and gave HIS life to redeem all who will place their faith in HIM.
CHRIST’S shed blood paid the price for sin and redeems ALL who will place their faith in CHRIST as their Savior. All humans have the freedom and right to choose. GOD never violates the human right to choose but HE maintains the right to appeal to every human his or her need for salvation.
It is the miracle of rebirth in a person’s spirit that restores him or her to GOD’S original intent and eternal state. Life upon earth is for the perfecting and equipping of each Christian to obediently serve GOD, according to HIS plan and purpose, and to prepare him or her for eternal life in heaven.
I think JESUS gave us a glimpse of this perfecting upon earth in the “Model Prayer,” when HE said “our Father Who is in heaven, Holy is Your name, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” To experience the fullness of CHRIST and GOD in our lives Christians are to obediently serve GOD upon earth as they would in heaven. Those in heaven willingly obey the will of GOD their Father because they know and abide in truth. Upon earth the flesh has its own agenda and battles with being obedient to the will of GOD. The flesh must be brought under the authority of GOD by yielding to the leadership of GOD by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Christians must yield themselves to GOD and ask HIM to make and mold their lives as HE desires. HE is the potter and we are the clay. All the clay has to do is be available to the potter. The potter is the designer and determines the final product suitable for its intended use.
The present earth will be destroyed by fire but what will replace it?
Let’s read Revelation 1:1-2: (Background)
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave Him to show His slaves (servants) what must quickly take place. He sent it and signified it through His angel to His slave (servant) John,
2 who testified to God’s word and to the testimony about Jesus Christ, in all he saw.
The LORD JESUS gave the Apostle John a vision of things to come. Our scripture focuses on the period after Satan and his angels have been cast into the lake of fire. In Revelation 1:19, JESUS instructed John to write everything he had seen; what is now and what will take place later. Let’s explore!
Let’s read Revelation 21:1-3:
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea existed no longer.
2 I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God’s dwelling is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.
Chapter 21 is the next to the last chapter in the Book of Revelation. There is a great deal that has happened upon earth before we get to Chapter 21. Chapter 21 is the great reveal for all Christians.
The Apostle John saw a new heaven and a new earth. Saw means there was no doubt regarding what he was seeing. It is a knowing that what he saw was truth and real or genuine. The word “new” means just that. It was not a renovation or a remodel but it was unprecedented, unheard of, never thought about, a brand spanking new heaven and earth. WOW!!! Now that is something to get excited about.
In 1 Corinthians 2:9:
9 But as it is written: What no eye has seen and no ear has heard, and what has never come into a man’s heart, is what God has prepared for those who love Him.
What a day that will be!
The “sea existed no longer” can be pondered in several ways. We know that the “sea” is a barrier separating land masses, countries, cultures, loved ones, etc. “Sea” has been used to describe the divide between heaven and earth. JESUS was teaching as recorded in Luke 16:26:
26 Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.’
JESUS was teaching of the “great chasm” between heaven/paradise (Before the death of CHRIST) and hell (sheol).
There was a great chasm between GOD and mankind, which JESUS bridged when HE came to earth as a human and gave HIS life to pay, in full, the penalty for sin.
John saw a new Jerusalem. Again, the words “saw” and “new” are the same as we have already discussed. John was certain of what he was observing and experiencing. Earth as we know it will be destroyed by fire. Here there are differing opinions about whether or not earth is totally annihilated or cleansed by fire thus reducing it to a burned out cinder. Earth as we know it will be gone and a new earth built by GOD will appear. Heaven, where GOD is and earth where humans dwell will exist no longer. Keep in mind that Christians will have their Glorified bodies.
This New Jerusalem was coming down from above in breathtaking splendor as a bride adorned for her husband. We know a bride’s desire is to look her absolute, stunning best for her groom.
There was a loud unmistakable voice that announced from the throne that GOD has established HIS home in this New Heaven and New Earth. If it is pure and holy enough for GOD, it is pristine and beyond our wildest dreams.
Let’s read Acts 7:48-49:
However, the Most High does not dwell in houses and temples made with hands; as the prophet says, l49 Heaven [is] My throne, and earth the footstool for My feet. What [kind of] house can you build for Me, says the Lord, or what is the place in which I can rest?
Isaiah 66:1-2: (Amplified)
1 THUS SAYS the Lord: Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house would you build for Me? And what kind can be My resting-place? a2 For all these things My hand has made, and so all these things have come into being [by and for Me], says the Lord. But this is the man to whom I will look and have regard: he who is humble and of a brokenor wounded spirit, and who trembles at My word and reveres My commands. b
GOD’S deisre is to indwell every human. HE does the instant a person receives salvation by placing his or her faith in CHRIST because the redeemed receive the Holy Spirit. GOD’S greatest accomplishment will be when all who are redeemed, by the shed blood of the Lamb, inhabit their Glorified bodies. This is vital in the final act of merging the New Heaven and the New Earth so that GOD can dwell with HIS children. “It is done!” as discussed later in Revelation 21:6 sheds some light on this. Only GOD’S children will be in the New Heaven and the New Earth. HE will dwell be there as well. Our Holy GOD and Father will dwell with those HE made righteous through the shed blood of JESUS.
Currently, GOD’S dwelling is universal but when the new heaven and new earth is revealed, that will be the place where GOD will reside but HE is always universal and sovereign.
So Who is the loud voice from the throne? He Apostle John was raised in the Jewish religion where the name of GOD was not written or uttered. Bible scholars believe that John purposely avoided using or writing the name of GOD. The voice was GOD speaking from the throne.
The next to be revealed is what living in the presence of GOD will be like.
Let’s read Revelation 21: 4-5:
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will exist no longer; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.
5 Then the One seated on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.”
GOD reveals to mankind what becoming a Christian means. No more tears resulting from death. No more grief, crying and pain because they EXIST NO LONGER! Christians will be in their Glorified bodies. Their Glorified bodies will be just like CHRIST’S Glorified body and death will not exist. Their Glorified bodies are eternal.
When our pastor was preaching the funeral of our eldest son, when he read this scripture, our eldest daughter, Said “YES!” There will be no more death, sorrow, grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer. Our previous life in the flesh will no longer exist. We will be in our new bodies and dwell as GOD originally intended; in complete harmony, obedience and fellowship with HIM.
As the song says, “We can only imagine.” We cannot even imagine what it will be like because it will be better than good because it will be perfect.
JESUS instructed John to write because these words are faithful and true. GOD continued to speak.
Let’s read Revelation 21:6-8:
6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give to the thirsty from the spring of living water as a gift.
7 The victor will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.
8 But the cowards, unbelievers, vile, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars-their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
The words “It is done!,” means “they have become reality.” [New Testament Commentary, Revelation, page 559, Simon J. Kistemaker, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI, 49516-6287, ISBN 0-8010-2606-7]
Alpha and Omega are the beginning and ending letters of the Greek alphabet. It would be like we would say “A to Z.” GOD’S plan and purpose for humanity and creation has come to completion. GOD is the One Who gives eternal life as described by the “living water” to those who desire having an intimate, personal, loving relationship with ME by placing their faith in CHRIST. HE gives eternal life free of charge to the receiver/Christian. It is a free gift of GOD’S Grace, but it cost HIS only Son’s sinless, earthly life. JESUS gave HIS sinless life in order that all who place their faith in HIM will receive eternal life and experience the miracle of rebirth into the family of GOD.
Christians are the “victors,” thus Sons or Daughters of GOD and as a result inherit all things; to the victor’s go the spoils. Christians will inherit all the rights and privileges of being GOD’S child for eternity and live with HIM in the New Heaven and New Earth. GOD chose us and we in turn chose HIM. So we are where we want to be of our free will.
Since Christians are “victors,” those who refuse to take a stand are “cowards” because they are fearful for various reasons e.g. pride, what will my friends or business associates think of me if I become a Christian. Fear prevents them from becoming Christians. Following cowards are those who are unbelievers or the faithless, followed by vile (abominable, detestable), murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers (those who practice magic arts e.g. horoscopes, fortune tellers and those who go to fortune tellers, etc.), idolaters, and all liars – “will be consigned” (NIV) or will be in or share in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Hell was made for Satan and his angels, thus humans that refuse the free gift of GOD share in what was originally made for them.
Some may ask, “Do you think there is such a lake of burning sulfur?” Think of your worst nightmare or horror story that will never end. Coming to the full, complete knowledge and reality that because you rejected the love of GOD and the redemptive love of CHRIST is the reason you are being in torment is beyond human thought.