(These are sermon notes, not a complete transcript)

Pray about the people in the Eastern States... beaten up by the worst unleashing of tornados in many decades. When we see what happens in the destruction that happened and the POWER of the forces that have been unleashed we get a feel for what WAR in its power can do to cities and towns. Prophecy indicates in Ezek 6 how the cities of Israel will be laid waste and high places laid low. What if the USA was attacked and the capital destroyed? This was the case when King Nebuchadnezzar sent his troops to take over Jerusalem. The best of everything in Judah was taken away. Josephus ordered that some of the most noble Jews who were remarkably handsome and beautiful to be delivered to tutors to "Improve them". 4 of the family of Zedekiah, Daniel among them. Dan 1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. Dan 1:2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

The sins of the people and nation led to God's Judgment in this way. Dan 1:3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; Dan 1:4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. This began to happen in 604 BC. Dan 1:21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus. Daniel was in THIS SYSTEM for many years... This book covers roughly 70 years. All of Daniel's adult life he spent in a Gentile world. He witnessed very interesting times... such as we are also witnessing in our times. We may be witnessing the beginning woes of the demise of the USA... economy first and then all the consequences of that. Daniel proved to be a brilliant student as were his 3 friends and later ascended to high positions in government. Daniel means GOD IS JUDGE or will judge. Babylon judged in his lifetime. We live in a gentile world also, like it or not... from education to law to health laws. Likely to become more and more that way particularly when the "TIMES of the Gentiles" come into full force.

Daniel was a man greatly beloved of God. Daniel was likely also made a Eunuch. Yet he made his choices carefully so as to keep the vision and charge and fulfill his destiny. He was deeply devoted to God and so he triumphed under extremely difficult challenges and circumstances. Dan 1:19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. Dan 1:20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. He made the best he could under such challenges... We also face trials and GOD wants us to deal with the circumstances. STOP COMPLAINING and work with what we have been given. 1Co 7:20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. 1Co 7:21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. 1Co 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. 1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 1Co 7:24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God. Daniel's situation as a slave who PUT GOD FIRST. When a great trial is thrown at you, RISE TO MEET THE TRIAL and step up and obey GOD under your circumstances.

Daniel was A REAL PERSON. Dan 2:10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. Dan 2:11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. Dan 2:12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. Dan 2:13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. Dan 2:14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: Dan 2:15 He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. Dan 2:16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. He was a prophet who did NOT know the answer to the quandary. He KNEW how to get the answer... :) Dan 2:17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: Dan 2:18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Dan 2:19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

Dan 2:24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation. Dan 2:25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation. Dan 2:26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? Dan 2:27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; Daniel was REAL ... not a pretend person. Prov. 20:11 "even a child is known by his doings". This is true of adults also. Putting on a façade is contrary to God's way.. .we should not ever try to pretend to be something we are not. Samuel sent out to find and anoint the next king. Saul was initially small in his own eyes... and his personal perceptions good. But kingship seems to have altered his self-perception. 1Sa 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

First thing: WHAT DOES GOD THINK ABOUT MY ACTIONS? Prov. 9:10 The Fear of the Eternal... but fools despise.. Pro 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Daniel Maintained a good name. It is important to remember that what we do and how we do it reflects on our parents, family, church and community. Prov 22:1 a great name is to be chosen Daniel was faithful, diligent, a skillful worker. Dan 6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; Dan 6:2 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. Dan 6:3 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. Dan 6:4 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. Pro 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. Pro 3:14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. Pro 3:15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Pro 3:16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Pro 3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. Pro 3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. We should pray that God blesses us in the choices we have to make and ask for God's direction and guidance. Pray for right and wise decisions.

Pro 22:29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. Daniel excelled in his duties and tasks. Daniel MAINTAINED CONTACT WITH GOD through prayer. His success was thoroughly based and founded on his dependence on GOD and His commandments and instructions and ways. Dan 6:5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Dan 6:6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. Dan 6:7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

Dan 6:8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Dan 6:9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. Dan 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Dan 6:11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. I Thes Pray without ceasing... Rom 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; These are the lessons from the Life of Daniel. We are the Light of the world. Let us learn from the examples and lessons of Daniel and live that in our communities, jobs and schools.