Series: How To Succeed At Life
Message #5: Daniel: A Person And Picture Of Success - May 29, 2011
1. Daniel’s communication
He carried into exile to Babylon, the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants
to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power.
2 Chronicles 36:20
Once they carried Daniel away, they tried to change his ways.
2. Daniel’s challenge
Then the king ordered Ashpenaz…to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family…young
men…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 these were…Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and
Azariah. The chief officials gave them new names…
Daniel 1:3-16
Daniel was facing the challenge to abandon his faith and adopt the Babylonian culture.
Culture is the ways of the world in which we live.
We will be tempted to conform to the ways of the world in which we live.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind.
Romans 12:2
The pattern of the world is to push God aside
and live for the pleasures and possessions this world has to offer.
Conforming to the pattern of this world happens slowly
as we become like the people whom we are around.
Rather than conforming to the ways of the world,
we are to bring change to the people of the world.
The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world… “For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through
him”…“I am the light of the world.”… “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”… “I have
come into this world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”… “…you do
not belong to the world but I have chosen you out of the world…”…“They are not of the world, even as I
am not of it…As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”… “I pray for those who
will believe in me through their message…”
John 1:9; 3:16-17; 8:12; 9:5; 12:46; 15:19; 17:16-18; 20
Because God loves the people of the world, like Jesus, we are to be a light to them.
To be a light in the world, we must be different than the world.
A light shines brighter in the darkness.
Like Daniel, our challenge is this: not to conform to the world around us
but to change the world around us.
3. Daniel’s convictions
We must stick to our convictions when we are surrounded by the culture.
Daniel was taken away from his family but not torn away from his faith.
Daniel refused to abandon his faith and adopt their culture.
They changed his home and name but could not change his heart.
4. Daniel’s choices
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine…
Resolved is being determined in our hearts
to make the right decisions when tempted to do wrong.
Daniel 1:8
Life is a series of decisions that have an eventual destination.
Every decision we make will take us in a certain direction.
Daniel knew that making the wrong decision
would weaken his character and eventually destroy his life.
Every time we make the right choice our character is strengthened.
5. Daniel’s communication
…Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact.
Daniel 2:14
Tact is the communication skill of staying calm and considerate while speaking.
6. Daniel’s companions
Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends…He urged them to plea for
mercy from the God of heaven…
Daniel 2:17-18
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold… Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “…you must fall
down and worship the image of gold…whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be
thrown into a blazing furnace.”… “We will not serve your god’s or worship the image you have set up.”
Daniel 3:1-18
Daniel selected friends who shared his convictions and made the right choices.
When we select the right friends we are strengthened to stand firm.
7. Daniel’s character
It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over
them, one of whom was Daniel. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and
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 were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was
trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent…So the administrators and satraps went as a group and
said…
Daniel 2:14; 6:1-9
A lack of character will eventually cause our lives to crumble and crash.
A lot of character will eventually create opportunities for us.
8. Daniel’s courage
Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done
before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying for help.
Daniel 6:10-11
Courage is making the right decisions regardless of the consequences.
Spending time in prayer was the secret to Daniel’s success.
9. Daniel’s conclusion
“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven.”… Then King Darius wrote to
all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land…“I issue a decree that in every
part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God…”
Daniel 4:37; 6:25-26
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem…Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the
one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and come to worship him.” On
coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped
him.
Matthew 2:1-11
Because of his convictions, choices, calmness, character, and courage,
Daniel impacted the people who were a part of his world.
Through our convictions, choices, calmness, character, and courage
our lives can impacted the lives of others in our world.
That is success!
Success Principles From The Life Of Daniel
Succeeding in life is living differently than the world so we can be a light to the world.
Succeeding in life is sticking with our convictions when surrounded by the culture.
Succeeding in life is making the right choices when tempted to do the wrong things.
Success in life is selecting the right friends that will help us go the right way.
Success in life is speaking in the right way.
Success in life is using the abilities God has given us to make a living.
Success in life is developing solid character.
Success in life is acting courageously despite the consequences.
Success in life is impacting others through our
convictions, choices, calmness, character, and courage.