THE BOOK OF DANIEL – 5

CULTURE’S GREATEST NEED

Daniel 6:1-5   It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel…”     NIV

YOU CAN’T MAKE A DIFFERENCE UNLESS YOU ARE DIFFERENT!!!!

Exceptional Qualities 

2 Corinthians 3:17-18   Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.    NIV

Revelation 4:6-7  In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.   NIV

Ezekiel 1:10   Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a man, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle.  NIV

 1. The Ox – the face of a servant. 

1 Corinthians 9:19   Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.   NIV

2. The Man – the face of love. 

John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”    NIV

3. The Eagle – the face of respect. 

Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.    NIV

4. The Lion – the face of boldness. 

Proverbs 28:1  The wicked flee though no one pursue but the righteous are as bold as a lion.    NIV

Matthew 16:17-18  Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”   NIV

How Should We Respond to Culture?

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.    NIV

Grace because we all need a Savior.

Truth because it’s the only thing that can set people free.