• GOOD MORNING
• This month (October) we foray into the book of Daniel
• John 4: 23-24
• The way in which we follow God is in SPIRIT and in TRUTH
• Romans 14: 1-23
• This isn’t to be understood as a right diet as a Christian … this is a worship issue. Where honor comes from in a person’s heart and a person’s vigilance in that.
• Jeremiah 25: 1-14
• This is the context of Daniel … exile, punishment, judgement, wrath
• Humanity isn’t the hero in God’s narrative but the villain. This isn’t a nice thing to hear or admit
• By the time we get to Daniel, the Israelites are not only compromised but culpable
• Daniel grew up in a compromised culture not unlike our world and culture today. But like Daniel, we don’t have to be compromised
• Daniel 1: 1-16
• Daniel knew that compromise went beyond just the outward appearance and so that’s not the hill he chooses to stand his ground on … Daniel is more concerned about inside
• The way in which Daniel went about this is worth taking note of … Daniel’s protest is done subtly and respectfully, controlled.  A proposed test as an act of faith
• Daniel’s inner holiness would have an outward effect. Daniel and the “Firewalkers” would be rewarded for this type of faith and we will see this further throughout the month
• Daniel and his convictions spread the Gospel of the one true God pre-Christ. But this only happened because of who Daniel was: vigilant, uncompromised, vigilant, faithful
• Daniel was a premium example of someone who lived in the world but wasn’t of it
• Our choice, like Daniel, is whether or not we will be vigilant
• Daniel maintains this level of steadfast vigilance even into an old age when he was thrown into a lion’s den
• Daniel created for himself a method (discipline) of never compromising … this was a lifelong training for him
• The “letter of the law” wasn’t Daniel’s discipline but rather how he worshipped in SPIRIT and TRUTH
• As people we have to make decisions about what we feel will defile us, our people, our legacy
• Discernment is key in our agency. How slippery are the slopes we are tempted to go down?
• The culture invites us  to defile and forsake our God in the most subtle and benign things
• What do we “consume” (food or not) that influences our lives in unrighteous and unholy ways?
• PICK BATTLES THAT MATTER
• Decades ago marriage, the family, sexuality and gender was under attack and many were dismissive and rolled over. Christians gave up that battlefield … and now look at where we are
• The sons of Issachar were singled out for their vigilance (1 Chronicles 12)
• Our choices will have profound impact into the future an d our legacy
• Make no mistake, however, this comes at a cost. And we are told to count it
• Daniel’s life was constantly threatened, more than just threatened. The king tried killing him more than once
• What hills are we prepared to die on despite the cost?
• John 15: 18-27
• Daniel wasn’t alone when he was under attack … God remained with Daniel when he was prepared to pay for his vigilance

QUESTIONS:

1. WHEN HAVE YOU TRIED TO STAND UP FOR YOUR CONVICTIONS WHAT WAS THE RESULT?
2. HAVE YOU ALLOWED TEMPTATIONS TO INFLUENCE YOU POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY?
3. WHEN YOU’RE IN HARD SITUATIONS DO YOU PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE GOD WHO IS THERE OR THE KING?