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(Daniel 1:3-8) “Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility—young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.â€
How many times do we put up with schools trying to change the Christian character of our children that we raised them to be, by the books they want them to read and topics they want them to study?
Do you go along with your employers using dishonest scales or telling you to write something on a report that is not true? Fear of getting fired you go along. (Proverbs 20:23) “The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please Him.â€
Do you worship people or God? Whose opinion matters the most to you? Is it the opinion of others or God’s? (Galatians 1:6-10) “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse! Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.â€
In Daniel 1:6-7, Daniel and his friends were taken into the kings service and were given pagan names of false gods. Daniel, whose name means, “God is Judge,†was given Belteshazzar which means, “May Bel protect his life.†Hananiah whose name means, “Yahweh is gracious,†was given Shadrach which means, Command of Aku (the moon god). Mishael whose name means, “Who is what God is?†Which means “Who compares to God?†He was given Meshach which means, “Who is what Aku is?†Lastly Azariah which means, “Whom Yahweh helps†was given Abednego which means, “Servant of Nebo,†the fire god.
In each instance they were given pagan names opposite of the meaning of their true name to corrupt their principles and morals. Sound familiar? They were trying to turn them into “one of them†and change their character worship their gods and wild living which is what is meant by “the moon god,†the “night life.†We know this by verse 8 in which they tried to make them eat the royal foods. Society norm is to live the night life, club and bar hopping and if you don’t there is something wrong with you. (Mark 8:36) “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?†How often do we experience the same thing from friends, relatives, coworkers and schools trying to change us and our children from the person we have become through Jesus Christ to be more like them and the “ways of the world.†(I John 2:15-17) “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.â€
Schools try to get our children to read books against our beliefs, they allow Harry Potter in their libraries which is nothing more than witchcraft in which God is against and they have taken prayer out! Gossip, adultery, prospering by dishonest gain-(office politics) is rampant. Relatives who are not saved will try as well to change you into being “more like them,†because something is wrong with you and “you need a life.†We must stand firm in our faith! (Isaiah 7:9) “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.â€
The king tried to get Daniel and his friends to eat the royal food but they would not defile themselves. How often does the “world†try to get us to defile our self and our children by eating the food of deceit, greed, gossip, self-focus, self-promotion—(seeking self first instead of God and others) and all for “in the best interest of the company and the family.†(Philippians 2:3) “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.â€
We must take a stand! We must stand up for our beliefs and trust that God will protect us when we stand up for Him. Daniel and his friends did and were protected miraculously! Daniel was not harmed by the lions when thrown into the lions den for praying to God. Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were not singed in the fiery furnace for not bowing to the image of Nebuchadnezzar. The world may turn up the heat seven times hotter and you may lose your job for not going along but God will give you a better one! Daniel and his friends were promoted to the palace! (Daniel 3:30) “Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.†How often do you partake of the world’s table? We cannot stand for the truth and be a party to falsehood and immoral behavior in everyday life. (John 14:6) “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.†You are either with Christ or you are not; you cannot have it both ways! (I Corinthians 10:18-22) “Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than He?â€
There are tactful ways of excusing yourself from taking part and taking a stand for your children’s religious freedom. Those who oppose our beliefs took a stand and got prayer taken out of school. Just look what we, as Christians could do if we would band together and take a stand instead of backing down in fear. Just think about what God could do through us if we would take a stand and allow Him to work through us. (Matthew 10:20) “For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.â€
There is no need to be afraid, we have the Holy Spirit in us, we have to ability to be bold, it is within us and we just need to raise it up out of our spirits in faith! (II Timothy 1:6-8) “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me His prisoner.†The Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday, today and forever.†Jesus did not run from the cross, He carried it! (II Corinthians 10:4) “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.â€
(Psalm 24:8) “Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.†God is Creator, not man! (Psalm 118:6) “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortal man do to me?â€
If we remain silent, if we do not stand when we feel the Holy Spirit tugging at our hearts to do so, it is the same as opposing Him. (John 3:36) “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them.â€
You are either with Him or not, you cannot have it both ways. (Luke 11:23) "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.†Stand firm, the Lord will back you up and He is Creator and God of all and there is no one or nothing in all creation greater than He! (I John 4:4) “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.â€
You never know what kind of difference you can make and just like Mordecai told Esther, (Esther 4:14) “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"
Maybe you were put in the place, in the job in the family you are in, “for such a time as this,†to make a difference for Christ and to be His hands, feet and voice to a world in need!
How many times do we put up with schools trying to change the Christian character of our children that we raised them to be, by the books they want them to read and topics they want them to study?
Do you go along with your employers using dishonest scales or telling you to write something on a report that is not true? Fear of getting fired you go along. (Proverbs 20:23) “The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please Him.â€
Do you worship people or God? Whose opinion matters the most to you? Is it the opinion of others or God’s? (Galatians 1:6-10) “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse! Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.â€
In Daniel 1:6-7, Daniel and his friends were taken into the kings service and were given pagan names of false gods. Daniel, whose name means, “God is Judge,†was given Belteshazzar which means, “May Bel protect his life.†Hananiah whose name means, “Yahweh is gracious,†was given Shadrach which means, Command of Aku (the moon god). Mishael whose name means, “Who is what God is?†Which means “Who compares to God?†He was given Meshach which means, “Who is what Aku is?†Lastly Azariah which means, “Whom Yahweh helps†was given Abednego which means, “Servant of Nebo,†the fire god.
In each instance they were given pagan names opposite of the meaning of their true name to corrupt their principles and morals. Sound familiar? They were trying to turn them into “one of them†and change their character worship their gods and wild living which is what is meant by “the moon god,†the “night life.†We know this by verse 8 in which they tried to make them eat the royal foods. Society norm is to live the night life, club and bar hopping and if you don’t there is something wrong with you. (Mark 8:36) “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?†How often do we experience the same thing from friends, relatives, coworkers and schools trying to change us and our children from the person we have become through Jesus Christ to be more like them and the “ways of the world.†(I John 2:15-17) “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.â€
Schools try to get our children to read books against our beliefs, they allow Harry Potter in their libraries which is nothing more than witchcraft in which God is against and they have taken prayer out! Gossip, adultery, prospering by dishonest gain-(office politics) is rampant. Relatives who are not saved will try as well to change you into being “more like them,†because something is wrong with you and “you need a life.†We must stand firm in our faith! (Isaiah 7:9) “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.â€
The king tried to get Daniel and his friends to eat the royal food but they would not defile themselves. How often does the “world†try to get us to defile our self and our children by eating the food of deceit, greed, gossip, self-focus, self-promotion—(seeking self first instead of God and others) and all for “in the best interest of the company and the family.†(Philippians 2:3) “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.â€
We must take a stand! We must stand up for our beliefs and trust that God will protect us when we stand up for Him. Daniel and his friends did and were protected miraculously! Daniel was not harmed by the lions when thrown into the lions den for praying to God. Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were not singed in the fiery furnace for not bowing to the image of Nebuchadnezzar. The world may turn up the heat seven times hotter and you may lose your job for not going along but God will give you a better one! Daniel and his friends were promoted to the palace! (Daniel 3:30) “Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.†How often do you partake of the world’s table? We cannot stand for the truth and be a party to falsehood and immoral behavior in everyday life. (John 14:6) “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.†You are either with Christ or you are not; you cannot have it both ways! (I Corinthians 10:18-22) “Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than He?â€
There are tactful ways of excusing yourself from taking part and taking a stand for your children’s religious freedom. Those who oppose our beliefs took a stand and got prayer taken out of school. Just look what we, as Christians could do if we would band together and take a stand instead of backing down in fear. Just think about what God could do through us if we would take a stand and allow Him to work through us. (Matthew 10:20) “For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.â€
There is no need to be afraid, we have the Holy Spirit in us, we have to ability to be bold, it is within us and we just need to raise it up out of our spirits in faith! (II Timothy 1:6-8) “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me His prisoner.†The Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday, today and forever.†Jesus did not run from the cross, He carried it! (II Corinthians 10:4) “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.â€
(Psalm 24:8) “Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.†God is Creator, not man! (Psalm 118:6) “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortal man do to me?â€
If we remain silent, if we do not stand when we feel the Holy Spirit tugging at our hearts to do so, it is the same as opposing Him. (John 3:36) “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them.â€
You are either with Him or not, you cannot have it both ways. (Luke 11:23) "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.†Stand firm, the Lord will back you up and He is Creator and God of all and there is no one or nothing in all creation greater than He! (I John 4:4) “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.â€
You never know what kind of difference you can make and just like Mordecai told Esther, (Esther 4:14) “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"
Maybe you were put in the place, in the job in the family you are in, “for such a time as this,†to make a difference for Christ and to be His hands, feet and voice to a world in need!
