1. War of the Worlds was written by HG Wells in 1897. It is one of the earliest stories of conflict between mankind and an extraterrestrial race. It was performed as a Halloween episode on radio by Orson Welles on OCT 30, 1938. It allegedly caused mass panic. It was presented as a series of News Bulletins suggesting that an actual alien invasion had occurred.
a. There has been an alien invasion in our world – the Great Adversary of God and Man has invaded the territory God gave to us.
b. Since Eden we have been dealing with the disruption of the authority of God.
2. Israel went through cycles of faithfulness and unfaithfulness. Eventually these cycles included the invasion of aliens/outsiders (Assyria and Babylon). Daniel 1.1-14
a. The Hebrew people had been chosen for a great responsibility
b. They went their own way in spite of prophetic warnings
c. God disciplines his people through invasion and captivity
3. The Question for Daniel and Friends – “As the world turns, how do we live a godly life in an ungodly culture?”
4. Our world seems to be going its own way. How do we respond?
a. The world may change but God does not
b. So, do we ask God to change to fit us or do we change to fit him?
I. When the World Turns It Will Try to Shame You (Daniel 1.1-5)
A. We are Aware of Humiliation Through Bullying and Cyberbullying Today
• In his book Fuzzy Memories, Jack Handey writes:
There used to be this bully who would demand my lunch money every day. Since I was smaller, I would give it to him. Then I decided to fight back. I started taking karate lessons. But then the karate lesson guy said I had to start paying him five dollars a lesson. So I just went back to paying the bully. Too many people feel it is easier just to pay the bully than it is to learn how to defeat him.
• Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.
• Children who are bullied feel they are: Different; Powerless; Unpopular; Alone
B. Babylonian Captivity was Humiliation for the Jewish People
1. Personal Humiliation – being made eunuchs
2. Spiritual Humiliation – “Where is your God?”
Hezekiah and Assyria – 2 Kings 19.10-12 (NLT)
10 “This message is for King Hezekiah of Judah. Don’t let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you with promises that Jerusalem will not be captured by the king of Assyria. 11 You know perfectly well what the kings of Assyria have done wherever they have gone. They have completely destroyed everyone who stood in their way! Why should you be any different? 12 Have the gods of other nations rescued them—such nations as Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Tel-assar? My predecessors destroyed them all!
3. Jesus – Roman soldiers mocked him as did Jewish leaders (Matthew 27)
4. Us? Matthew 5.11-12 (NLT)
“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.//2 Timothy 3.12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
II. When the World Turns It Will Try to Rename You (1.6-7)
A. The 4 Hebrew Boys’ Names Focused on God
• Daniel – God is My Judge
• Hananiah – The LORD has been Gracious
• Mishael – Who is Like God
• Azariah – The LORD has Helped
1. The Babylonian Names focused on the Babylonian gods
2. Today, people who hold traditional values are referred to by such things as: Homophobic; Bigoted; Xenophobic; Sexist; Nazi; “Christians cling to Bibles and guns”
3. Change Identity Changes Destiny – too many times we silence our message because we don’t want to be Politically Incorrect
B. The Adversary Wants to Keep Our Focus Away from God
[At the Hacienda of Hope in Ecuador the workers found a young son of a prostitute that they wanted to bring to the Home. The mother gave her permission. They asked his name – he had none because she had had so many illegitimate children she didn’t care to name him. They let him name himself and he chose “George,” “Jorge” in Spanish.
There is a song: “I will Change Your Name.”
I will change your name
You shall no longer be called
Wounded, outcast, lonely or afraid
I will change your name
Your new name shall be
Confidence, joyfulness, overcoming one
Faithfulness, friend of God
One who seeks My face
C. Know Your Identity in Christ – WHO You Are and WHOSE You Are!
III. When the World Turns It Will Try to Tame You (1.8)
A. The World’s Distraction
1. “Times have changed, get with the program.”
2. “It’s not so bad.” “Try it, you’ll like it.”
B. The Way of Determination – Daniel determined; resolved not to defile himself
1. He was assertive, not aggressive in his request
2. He was dealing with diet and idol issues
3. Yet, he wasn’t rude or condemning in his approach
4. Try this approach with people – “Make your relationship right with God and let him direct your conduct.”
IV. When the World Turns It Will Try to Claim You (1.9-14)
A. The Normal Struggle with God’s Ways
1. Legitimate concern of the Steward – He could die.
2. “Don’t rock the boat.”
B. The Negotiated Solution – Put it to the test.
1. 10 Days of Testing (10 = Testing in the Bible)
• Abraham – 10 Tests
• Ten Commandments as Tests to Faithfulness
• Tithe (10%) was a Test of Giving
• The disciples spent 10 days in the upper room before Pentecost
• Church in Smyrna (RV 2) – Tested 10 Days
2. Culture WILL Test Us – We Have a Choice – stand up or cave in
3. This is more than knowing something is wrong, it is taking assertive action to do what is right.
[I heard about a College student was trying to be a good example and lead co-workers to Christ; so, he read his bible during breaks; his coworkers mocked and one day a Muslim friend of theirs came; he mocked and challenged the young Christian – I can prove you do not believe the bible; the Christian thought he was going to show him a passage to debate but the Muslim slapped the Christian on the cheek; What are you doing? Proving you don’t believe – if you do, you’ll turn the other cheek. He did and the Muslim slapped him again. Then, the Muslim took off his hat and said, “You are the first real Christian I have ever met.” Then the Christian began sharing his faith.
1. God’s way always proves to be better Daniel 1.15-20
15 At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. 16 So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others. 17 God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams. 18 When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service. 20 Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.
Questions:
1. Will I help change the world or will the world change me? When culture shifts, will I? – Let’s be the people who “turn the world upside down.” (Acts 17.6)
We are not to be condemning and harsh
Just don’t look like everyone else
Matthew 5.14-16 (NLT) 14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
2. Will my identity come from God or the world?
Be public in identifying with Jesus
Confession and Baptism – expression that you belong to God
Romans 6.3-4 (NLT) 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
