Dan 1:5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.
Dan 1:6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
Dan 1:7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.
Dan 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Hello and greetings in this New Year 2022! At the beginning of the year, many churches and individuals participated in what is referred to as the Daniel fast. So, let’s take a look at the life of the Prophet Daniel, who is one of the most interesting prophets in the Bible. The scripture has a wonderful testimony of his life as he served the LORD!
In the Bible, certain individuals had unique testimonies of who they were, and how they served the LORD. For example, Moses was a man who spoke to God, as a man speaks to his friend, face to face. (Exo 33:11)
David was a man after God’s heart. (Acts 13:22)
John was the disciple that Jesus loved. (John 13:23, John 20:2, and John 21:20)
Mary was blessed and highly favored in the sight of the LORD. (Luke 1:28) and Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. (1 Chron 4:9)
Of course, there are many more, but the profound thing about Daniel is that the Bible says he was greatly beloved in the sight of the LORD, and had an excellent spirit. Look what the Angel of the LORD said about him in the book of Daniel chapter 9 and 10.
Dan 9:23 At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision.
Dan 10:11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.
Dan 10:19 And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.
My question to everyone reading is: What is your testimony before the Lord?
Daniel had an awesome testimony before the Lord, and he was greatly beloved! We also find that Daniel is mentioned in Eze 14 with an awesome testimony along with Noah and Job.
Eze 14:13 “Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off its supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it.
Eze 14:14 Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness,” says the Lord GOD.
Let’s be real, when it is all said and done, it doesn’t matter what people say or think about you, what really matters is what God thinks about you!
The Bible also records that Daniel had an excellent spirit. Look what a pagan King said about him!
Dan 5:13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?
Dan 5:14 I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
We also find that he was faithful and because of his faithfulness, he was promoted!
Dan 6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty prince’s, to be over the whole kingdom;
Dan 6:2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the princes might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss.
Dan 6:3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.
Dan 6:4 So the governors and princes sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.
Isn’t it profound what the Bible says about his faithfulness and excellence?
We also find that Daniel would not follow the decree of the government, who put out a decree that no could petition his God for 30 days according to the Babylonian law! Listen to the Bible!
Dan 6:7 All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and princes, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.
Dan 6:8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”
Dan 6:9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.
Dan 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
Dan 6:11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
Despite the decree, Daniel would not allow anything to stop him from serving and praying to the Lord! As a result, he was thrown in the lion’s den! (Dan 6:12)
Taking a stand for God means, knowing who you are, and putting your absolute faith in God, and standing strong in God’s word!
Never forget who you are in Christ! Listen to what the Bible says about those that have been born again of the spirit of God!
1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
1Pe 2:10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Daniel had an excellent spirit, and despite being a slave in Babylon, Biblical history tells us of the prophecy in Jeremiah 25, that Jerusalem would be invaded. During this invasion, they took many of God’s people captive, especially those that were young.
What’s interesting about Daniel is that he was a young man probably between the ages 17-20 in a society where everything went according to the Kings decree and command. Yet, he was bold, confident and loved the LORD!
As a captive he and others were put in the Babylonian indoctrination program to serve under the King. The King’s plan was to feed them his food, give them wine, and give them a quality worldly Babylonian education.
But the Bible says that Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself. Let’s read!
Dan 1:5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.
Dan 1:6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
Dan 1:7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.
Dan 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Notice that Daniel took a stand for the Lord and rejected the pagan Kings command!
Isn’t that an awesome testimony? I mean the world has a way of embracing you if you follow after them! But Daniel purposed in his heart that he was going to serve and represent the Lord! Isn’t this the testimony that we should have? That no matter what happens in this earth realm, we should be steadfast, unmovable and always abounding in the work of the LORD! (1 Cor 15:58)
Daniel’s testimony of faithfulness and excellence unto the Lord is an example to us! Because although we are in the world, we are not of the world, and we represent Jesus Christ!
I want to encourage you to stand strong in the LORD in these last days! Remember what Rev 12:11 says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
Let us do likewise and follow the example of Daniel, who represented the Lord in excellence. He took a stand for who he was, and what he believed! As a result, his testimony was that he was a man greatly beloved before the LORD!
God bless, Pastor Quinn