TURNING CHAOS INTO CHARACTER

Text:  Daniel 6:1-6

Chapter One – Daniel refused to eat the king’s rich food and went on what’s called a “Daniel diet”.

Chapter Two – King Nebuchadnezzar saw a vision of a multi-metallic statue representing Gentile kingdoms.

Chapter Five – Closes with the Babylonian Empire falling to the armies of Cyrus, King of Persia, and Cyrus gave control of the Babylonian Kingdom to Darius the Mede (holder of the scepter).

Now it was up to Darius to formulate a new government.  He divided the Kingdom into 120 provinces and appointed a prince to rule over each province.  He also chose Daniel and two other administrators to rule over the princes and watch out for the king’s interest.  Daniel soon proved he was more capable than all the other administrators and princes.  Because of his great ability, the King made plans to place him over the entire empire.

Has anybody ever been hassled at work by others because of a promotion?  Daniel was!  Has anybody ever been hassled by co-workers about being a Christian?  Daniel gives us a great example of how we ought to live and behave and turn chaos into character.  Daniel’s character caught the attention of the King!


Chaos is a state of complete confusion and disorder.  Character is one’s personal nature; traits that distinguish one from another.

There are sixty-six character traits that people exercise, but I’m going to only share four of them which Daniel displayed.

• Daniel was a man of PURPOSE:  Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart, that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank:  therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.  

He weighed it, revolved it in his mind, and came to a resolution about it.  A test of character!  Babylon’s moral character was Heathen. You can be sure that what Daniel and his friends were taught by the Babylonians contradicted the laws of God.  The same food and wine served to the king was served to them.  This was food and wine that had been offered to idols.  This was a challenge for Daniel and his friends.

 

Custom was that men around the king’s throne were to be fed the dainties of the king.  Custom was to fashion their lives according to the rule of the king.  Why would anyone object to that?  When in Rome, do as the Romans.  When in Babylon, do as the Babylonians.  Follow their customs, fancies, and fashions of which they lived.  What they think, you think.  How they act, you act.  Where they go, you go.  Daniel and company were wined and dined like princes and sons of the monarch.  Who would object to that life style?  A man of purpose!  They were in a tight spot.  Not only was he a slave in the king’s court, he was an alien/foreigner.  Had he been born free, had he been a Chaldean citizen, it might have been easier to decide.  He was neither!  To refuse drink from the king’s table could cost him his life.  The king’s purpose was to woo and wean them away from the Almighty God.

They were to become idolaters, Chaldeans, and worship their pagan god.  That was the reason for changing their names.  But he had purposed in his heart, determined he would not defile himself with a portion of king’s meat nor wine.  He refused to melt down to just another Chaldean.  He remembered the Lord God.  He remembered the faith of his father, and the people to whom God had given the promises.  He held fast to God’s law, no matter the cost.  

To add insult to injury, his role as Prime Minister over the empire didn’t help.  It only provoked jealousy.  Jealousy has no boundaries.  His co-workers began to scheme and plot to dig up dirt to discredit him.  Guess what!  They couldn’t find any fault in him.  He had an excellent spirit, unshaken and unwavering faith in God.  He had no blemish or nothing in his character that would keep him from fulfilling the king’s desires.  He had no physical, emotional, or mental problems that would hinder his ability to learn.  

Although his troubles were many and great, he never lost confidence in God.  He never failed to humble himself in prayer.  He didn’t have to climb the corporate ladder by any means necessary, scrambling his way to the top by using politics and playing the buddy system with the right people!  All he needed was God’s divine favor!  This holds true for you and me.  Dare to be like Daniel and walk in purpose!!  God is looking for an excellent spirit in us, not an excellent body.

Now the presidents, governors, princes, counselors, and captains can’t find fault in Daniel. They consulted together to not only capitalize on Daniel’s faithfulness but also on the king’s pride.  They crafted a proposal for the king to pass into law that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God/god or man for thirty days, except of Darius, shall be cast into the lion’s den.  It was a stupid law but one that would flatter the king.  According to the Law of the Mede/Persian Empire, once in writing, the law could not be changed.  The king signed the decree.  

When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home and indeed remained faithful to daily prayer to his God!  He faithfully opened his window facing toward Jerusalem and prayed to God three times a day.  He was consistent with his daily habit, despite the king’s foolish decree.  Surely his opponents made haste to report Daniel’s action to the king.  His actions landed him in the Lion’s den.

 

Look what happened.  Daniel was already a great man.  God wanted to develop him even further.  Your trials are never meant to destroy you but only to grow you!  

Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  

Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

God received honor and glory because of Daniel’s trials.  As the trials of life come against you and me and we stand faithful despite the trial, God honors that faith.

The enemy is not familiar with nor does he understand faith.  He knows you possess something he doesn’t have.  As the world watches you walk through your lion’s den, they can see your faith at work.  You must exercise consistent faith, not dead faith.  This kind of faith can’t carry you through.  It only touches intellect:  you know the right words for prayer and sound doctrine but your walk doesn’t match your talk – your works don’t match your words.  

All you got is dead faith. You can’t rely on demonic faith.  This kind of faith only touches intellect and emotion.  You believe the right thing and feel the right thing but can’t produce a changed life!  All you have is dead faith!  James 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  This verse clearly says that, “faith without works is dead”!

We must walk consistently in dynamic faith.  This is the “faith” that touches the whole man – intellect, heart, mind, will, emotions, and desires.  This is the faith that understands truth, rejoices in truth, and his will acts upon the truth.  

Daniel didn’t alter his ways even to appease the king.  He remained consistent despite the danger, despite pressure to conform, despite command of the king.

Psalm 55:22  Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee:  he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.  When you stand for God, He will stand for you!  Daniel’s faith gave him victory and your faith will do the same for you!  

1 John 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:  and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  God intervened on Daniel’s behalf.

Walk in purpose!  It breeds respect in others.  One can’t get respect being wishy-washy with no direction for their life.  Jesus makes it clear in Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  This is first priority!  Seek the will of God and fulfill it in your life.  Jesus guarantees God’s favor toward us (all things shall be added unto you).  I dare you to be a Daniel and a person of purpose!

• Daniel was a man of PRINCIPLE:  He was one of especially good behavior/morality.  He was one who adhered to that moral code.  Daniel refused to compromise with his beliefs.  As a young man, he refused to eat at the king’s table.  As an older man, he refused the gifts of Belshazzar when he interpreted the handwriting on the wall.  He refused to obey king Darius’ decree and continued to pray three times a day without ceasing, despite threats of persecution!

People admire persons of “principle”.  Outwardly they may ridicule them, but inwardly they wish they had the same intestinal fortitude.  When they need someone who can be trusted and dependable to carry out an assigned task, who do you think they will turn too?

God also admires individuals who will stand by their “principles” and by their words.

Psalm 15:1-5  LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle?  who shall dwell in thy holy hill?  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.  In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD.  He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.  He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent.  He that doeth these things shall never be moved.  

David is asking God the necessary qualifications to abide in His tabernacle.  You need a “will” to have a strong relationship with God - and not only Him but also with others.  Treat your neighbors right.  Your “neighbors” are not the people that live next door to you, but they are the other members of the body of Christ!!!  Refuse to destroy others through gossip and backbiting.  Never discredit, blame, disgrace, or shame your “neighbor” (the other members of the body of Christ) nor anyone else for that matter.  In relation to LOVE, someone said, “What’s love got to do with it”?  LOVE has everything to do with everything we say and do!  Romans 13:9  Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Our society is in great need of people with principle.  Those who dare to be a Daniel and demonstrate by example the value of being led by principle rather than by price are not only highly valued by God but also their fellow man.  

But having purpose and principle is not all we need to have to succeed.  There is another element needed for true success.  

• Daniel was a man of PURITY.  His opponent could not find any fault.  He was faultless when it came to management of his business affairs.  Daniel 6:1-4  It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; and over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first:  that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.  Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.  Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

This was how he was able to rise to position of great responsibility and power.  It all stemmed back to his overall purpose to please God first and the fact that he was a man of principle.  He could be trusted.

As Christians we too must maintain purity of conduct whether young or old; whether slave or free.  If you can maintain purity in your dealings with others, often positions of great responsibility and privilege will be delegated to you because you can be trusted to use them wisely.

Yes Daniel was a man of purpose, principle, and purity!  Do you agree the world needs more people like him?  There is one element that ties all these together to receive blessings from God and favor from man, and that is prayer.

• Daniel was a man of PRAYER.  He devoted himself to prayer!  Daniel knelt and prayed three times a day continually.  Do you need some opened doors closed – maybe some closed doors opened?  Devote time in prayer!  Prayer closed the mouth of the lions while Daniel was in the den with them!  Glory to God!!!

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood.  It is against powers of darkness, spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places.  Daniel gave thanks in the midst of persecution.  

1 Thessalonians 5:17  Pray without ceasing.  Knowing that God is still “Shammah” (right there) with you!!  Don’t be anxious for nothing!  Give God thanks and praise and make your petition/request known.  

Philippians 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests by made known unto God.  Your prayer will conform your will to God’s will.  That’s the confidence we have in approaching God.  

1 John 5:14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.  Open that line of communication!!  Pray knowing that no matter how far you roam, your connection with God can never be lost!

I dare you to be a Daniel by becoming a person of purpose, principle, purity, and prayer!!!

~ Evangelist Brenda Hansley