Counter Culture Living

Daniel 1:4-7 In the third year that Jehoiakim was king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia attacked Jerusalem. The Lord let Nebuchadnezzar capture Jehoiakim and take away some of the things used in God’s temple. And when the king returned to Babylonia, he put these things in the temple of his own god. One day the king ordered Ashpenaz, his highest palace official, to choose some young men from the royal family of Judah and from other leading Jewish families. The king said, “They must be healthy, handsome, smart, wise, educated, and fit to serve in the royal palace. Teach them how to speak and write our language and give them the same food and wine that I am served. Train them for three years, and then they can become court officials.” Four of the young Jews chosen were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, all from the tribe of Judah. But the king’s chief official gave them Babylonian names: Daniel became Belteshazzar, Hananiah became Shadrach, Mishael became Meshach, and Azariah became Abednego.
we have an enemy… and paul says we are not ignorant of his schemes.

one of his schemes is to assimilate us into his culture – in to the world. we can see him operating to do that to the young jewish leaders in daniels day. we are of the world but not of the world. while there are many wonderful things in our day there is also things that we should seperate ourselves from. i’m not talking seperatist life here but holy life. dont comprimise and be permissive. stand true to what you know God has said.

the enemy tried to change the names of daniel and his friends. he trys to change our destiny and our calling – he tries to cover up the truth with a lie and a falsehood.

Names and their meaning

Hananiah – God has favoured – to Shadrach – “of Shach”, which was a name of a god or goddess of the Chaldeans, they worshipped

Mishael – who God is – to Meshach – “the messenger the sun”

Azariah – GOd has helped – to Abendego – “a servant, or worshipper of Nego”. The word signifies “shining brightness”: which some understand of fire worshipped by them; others of the bright planet Venus; and others of Lucifer

Daniel – judge of God – to Belteshazzar – Bel hath hid and treasured (Bel is a idol)

Dont let anyone cover up your destiny. Dont let anyone hold you back.

Daniel 1:8 Daniel made up his mind to eat and drink only what God had approved for his people to eat. And he asked the king’s chief official for permission not to eat the food and wine served in the royal palace.

Daniel decieded to obey God and live counter culture. He made up his mind to obey God. He resolved himself to obedience and whle we know the end of the story, that he was tested and found to be more healthy and prosperous than his contepories who ate all the rich (and maybe idol offered) and unclean food, it could of led to his execution. He preferred death and punishment to disobedience.

He stood up and he stood out.

Will you make a stand for the ways of God and his righteousness today?

lets not comprimise and fit in. Let us instead shine like stars in the darkness.

Philippians 2:12-16 My dear friends, you always obeyed when I was with you. Now that I am away, you should obey even more. So work with fear and trembling to discover what it really means to be saved. God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him. Do everything without grumbling or arguing. Then you will be the pure and innocent children of God. You live among people who are crooked and evil, but you must not do anything that they can say is wrong. Try to shine as lights among the people of this world, as you hold firmly to the message that gives life.