Strong Conviction Or Compromise
12/17/06
Compromise: to undermine or
devalue something once held very important.
It takes strong conviction to
refuse to compromise.
Dan.
1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar
king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2And the Lord
delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the
articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god
in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.
3Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court
officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the
nobility—4young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing
aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and
qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and
literature of the Babylonians. 5The 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.
6Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael and Azariah. 7The chief official gave them new names: to
Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and
to Azariah, Abednego.
8But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the
royal food and wine, and he asked
the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9Now
God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, 10but
the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned
your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young
men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
11Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official
had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12“Please
test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and
water to drink. 13Then compare our appearance with that of the young
men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you
see.” 14So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and
better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16So
the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave
them vegetables instead.
17To these four young men God gave knowledge and
understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all
kinds.
18At the end of the time set by the king to bring them
in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19The king
talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and
Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20In every matter of
wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them
ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
21And Daniel remained there until the first year of King
Cyrus.
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and
Azariah were anointed of God. Not
anointed to pastor a church or be an evangelist or leave for the mission
field--God anointed them for where they were!
God anointed them to perform
with excellence right where they were!
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and
understanding of all kinds of literature and learning.
Since the early 1900’s the
church has been greatly deceived!
Misinterpreting scripture and
erroneous teaching from religious leaders has been a very costly mistake!
1 Jo. 2:15 Do not love
the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love
of the Father is not in him.
1 Pet. 2:11 Dear friends, I
urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from
sinful desires, which war against your soul.
Jo. 17:13 “I am coming to you
now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may
have the full measure of my joy within them. 14I have given them
your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any
more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them
out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They
are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
These are the words of Jesus
in John 3:16,17....
Jo. 3:16 “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. 17For God did not send his Son
into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Esther was a queen in a
“non-Christian” government and did not compromise when put to the test.
Joseph held a high position
working for a “non-Christian” man and did not compromise when enticed by a
wicked woman.
Nehemiah held a high position
in a “non-Christian” government and did not compromise his faith.
Remember.......
Mat.
5:13 “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.
14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill
cannot be hidden. 15Neither 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. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they
may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
How strong are your
convictions? What does it take for you
to compromise?
Dan.
3:1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety
feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the
province of Babylon. 2He then
summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges,
magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of
the image he had set up. 3So the satraps, prefects, governors,
advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial
officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar
had set up, and they stood before it.
4Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “This
is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: 5As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre,
harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of
gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6Whoever does not fall
down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”
7Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound
of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples,
nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold
that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8At this time some astrologers came forward
and denounced the Jews. 9They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king,
live forever! 10You have issued a decree, O king, that
everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and
all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11and
that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing
furnace. 12But there are some Jews whom you have set
over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who
pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the
image of gold you have set up.”
13Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach
and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have
set up? 15Now when you hear the sound of the horn,
flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to
fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship
it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will
be able to rescue you from my hand?”
16Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to
the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in
this matter. 17If we are thrown into the blazing furnace,
the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your
hand, O king. 18But even if he does not, we want you to
know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you
have set up.”
19Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He
ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21So
these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound
and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22The king’s command was so urgent and the
furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23and these three men, firmly tied, fell
into the blazing furnace.
24Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his
feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied
up and threw into the fire?”
They replied, “Certainly, O king.”
25He said, “Look! I see four men walking
around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of
the gods.”
26Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening
of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants
of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”
So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded
around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair
of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of
fire on them.
28Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to
the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued
his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were
willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except
their own God. 29Therefore I decree that the people of any
nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble,
for no other god can save in this way.”
30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach
and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Can a person serve in public
life and maintain their integrity, honesty and refuse to compromise? I say the answer is yes!
Dan.
6:1 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule
throughout the kingdom, 2with three
administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made
accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3Now 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. 4At 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. 5Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for
charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of
his God.”
6So the administrators and the satraps went
as a group to the king and said: “O King Darius, live forever! 7The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and
governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the
decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days,
except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. 8Now, O
king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in
accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 9So King Darius put the decree in writing.
10Now when Daniel learned that the decree
had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened
toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving
thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking
God for help. 12So they went to the king and spoke to him about his
royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days
anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into
the lions’ den?”
The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the laws
of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
13Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who
is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the
decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was
determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
15Then the men went as a group to the king
and said to him, “Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and
Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”
16So the king gave the order, and they
brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May
your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”
17A stone was brought and placed over the
mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the
rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without
eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not
sleep.
19At the first light of dawn, the king got
up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20When he came near the den, he called to
Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God,
whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
21Daniel answered, “O king, live forever! 22My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They
have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever
done any wrong before you, O king.”
23The king was overjoyed and gave orders to
lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound
was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24At the king’s command, the men who had
falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along
with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den,
the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of
every language throughout the land:
“May you
prosper greatly!
26
“I issue a decree that in every
part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
27 He
rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power
of the lions.”
28So Daniel prospered during the reign of
Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Without strong conviction you
will never be able to stand against the temptation to compromise!
Is Jesus Christ Lord of your
life?
If so, how deep our your
roots in Jesus?
The Bible says that in the
last days people will hold to a form of godliness (religion) but deny the true
power of God.
You can’t ride the fence and
keep from compromising.
You can’t give God two hours
a week and keep from compromising.
Col. 1:21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your
minds because of your evil behavior. 22But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body
through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from
accusation—23if you continue in
your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the
gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed
to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
1 Tim. 4:8 (NIV) For physical training is of some value, but godliness has
value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to
come.
(NLT)
Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much
more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next.
“Spiritual exercise” requires
a full workout...
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study
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prayer
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action
Compromise can be the
first step towards disobedience. Solomon handled great pressures in running
the government, but he could not handle the pressure from his wives who wanted
him to worship their gods.
1 Ki. 11:1 King Solomon,
however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites,
Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2They were from nations
about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with
them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.”
Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. 3He had seven
hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led
him astray. 4As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after
other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the
heart of David his father had been. 5He followed Ashtoreth the
goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. 6So
Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD
completely, as David his father had done.
Compromise limits our
ability to do what is right. Although
Jesus was innocent according to Roman law, Pilate caved in to political
pressure. He abandoned what he knew was right. Trying to second-guess the
Jewish leaders, Pilate made a decision that would please everyone while keeping
himself safe. When we lay aside God’s clear statements of right and wrong and
make decisions based on the preferences of our audience, we fall into
compromise and lawlessness.
Mk.
15:1 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the
teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound
Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.
2“Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.
“Yes,
it is as you say,” Jesus replied.
3The chief priests accused him of many things. 4So
again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they
are accusing you of.”
5But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.
6Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a
prisoner whom the people requested. 7A man called Barabbas was in
prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. 8The
crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.
9“Do you want me to release to you the king of the
Jews?” asked Pilate, 10knowing it was out of envy that the chief
priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11But the chief priests
stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.
12“What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king
of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.
13“Crucify him!” they shouted.
14“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But
they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
15Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas
to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Compromise will weaken and
destroy our faith. Paul urges
believers not to form binding relationships with nonbelievers because this
might weaken their Christian commitment, integrity, or standards.
2 Cor. 6:14 Do not be yoked
together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in
common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
Compromise can weaken our
respect for truth.
Gal.
2:11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was
clearly in the wrong. 12Before certain men came from James, he used
to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate
himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the
circumcision group. 13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so
that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
14When I saw that they were not acting in line with the
truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet
you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force
Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?