Don’t Let Your Resolve Dissolve !
Daniel 1:8
Somone has said......A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.
I’m afraid that is the case most of the time. I doubt if many of us can remember what we resolved to do or not to do this time last year.
The word "resolve or resolution" means "to fix or settled in opinion or purpose; to determine in mind !
As believers there are somthings that we should have fixed or settled in our mind. There are some purposes that we should be determined about. There are resolves that should not be dissolved !
This morning I want to share with you the message "Don’t Let Your Resolve Dissolve !"
I. We should not let our resolve to be pure dissolve ! 1:8
It’s pretty easy to take a stand....to walk with Christ.....to act like a Christian...to stay pure when we’re around the church, and around church folk. But to stay pure in a world that is impure is quite another task. Daniel was a young man who resolved in his heart that he would keep himself pure !
He was resolved.....determined to be pure in spite of the.....
a. Place he was in.
Daniel was away from home. In fact he was in a strange land, not by choice, but by force ! There are some places where it’s relatively easy to walk in purity, but can you imagine being in a strange place far away from home away from your family, and many of your friends !
This coming year we will find ourselves in some difficult places where it will be difficult for us to walk with the Lord, and keep ourselves pure. I encourage you....be determined ! Be courageous ! Be holy !
Don’t let your resolve to stay pure dissolve !
Daniel was resolved...determined to be pure in spite of the.....
b. Position he was in.
In spite of being in captivity in a strange land, Daniel still had the opportunity to find favor in the King’s sight ! It would have very easy for Daniel to think of survival, and what was best for him. He could have thought of gain rather than God. But Daniel was determined to keep himself pure in spite of the position in.
This coming year...we will find ourselves in positions where it will be easy for us to compromise our principles, and our purity ! Stay resolved ! Stay determined ! Don’t let your resolve to stay pure dissolve !
Daniel was resolved....determined to be pure in spite of the.....
c. People he was around.
Daniel was in a minority ! He was a Jew living in Babylon. He was a worshipper of the one true God living in a land that was idolatrous. It is easy to do what everyone else is doing ! Yet, it takes determination, courage, principle, resolve to stay pure ! On our job, at school, in our neighborhood, perhaps even in our family, we may find ourselves in a situation around some people where the temptation will be to go with the flow, and join the crowd.
I encourage you.....be resolved........stay determined ! Don’t let your resolve to be pure be dissolved ! Be faithful !
d. Pressure he was under.
Daniel was under an extreme amount of pressure. In a strange people...among strange people........and the pressure was upon him to forget his principles, and to forsake his purity ! Yet, Daniel remained faithful, and the reason he did was because he had resolved in his heart that he would not defile himself. If all we have is understanding, then we will fail..........if all we have is ideologies, then we will fail....we must be people of principles.....people of conviction ! Be determined ! Be dedicated !
Don’t let your resolve to stay pure be dissolved !
II. We should not let our resolve to be pious dissolve ! Daniel 3:1-30
In this chapter, we are introduced to three of Daniel’s Jewish friends who had also been taken captive with him ! These young men, like Daniel, are men of tremendous comittment, conviction, and courage !
We see in this chapter that their faith is about to go through a challenge !
a. Their faith is challenged by a commandment from the King. V10
Nebuchadnezzar made a golden image, and passed a law that everyone had to bow before the image and worship whenever they heard his orchestra play. What to do ?
Abide by the laws of a man or be obey the word of God ?
Peter said once in the book of Acts 5:29 "We ought to obey God rather than men."
Be dedicated .. . .. be determined......even if it means disobeying the commands of the King !
b. Their faith is challenged by a confrontation with the King. V14-15
When the King heard of their refusal to obey his command, he commanded that they be brought to him. He then confronted them about their refusal, and gives them another opportunity to do as he commanded.
Our faith will be challenged in many different ways in the next year. We will often be confronted with temptation to give end. Resolve in your heart to stand firm, to stand fast, and to stand in the freedom of our Lord. Don’t give in to the King ! Don’t give into the devil !
Be determined ! Don’t let your resolve dissolve !
c. Their faith is challenged by the consequences from the King. V15-18
Salvation is a free gift of God through Jesus Christ, but following the Lord will cost us ! The choice is bend or burn ! We’ve never had our faith challenged in such a way as what these young men did. I’ve heard it said that most of us will never be called upon by the Lord to die for him, but he does expect all of us to live for him !
Is our faith in the Lord strong enough to face the challenges that might lie ahead in the new year ?
Don’t let your resolve dissolve !
III. We should not let our resolve to be prayerful dissolve !
Daniel 6
a. He was resolved to pray despite the decree from the King. V9-10
The law of the Land could not stop Daniel from praying to his God.
b. He was resolved to pray despite the distance he was from home. V 10
Daniel had home on his mind. He thought of Jerusalem, and the place of worship, but distance could not separate him from God. God is with us, and within hearing distance from whereever we are.
c. He was resolved to pray despite the den which awaited him.
What keep us from praying ? What is it that hinders our prayer life ?
Daniel knew the consequences if he continued to pray, yet the threat of being thrown into the den of lions could not dissolve his resolve !
As believers there are some things that we need to make up our mind about....we need to know what we believe, and stick by those beliefs. We also need to have principles in our life that we will not allow to be violated ! Some things are preferences, but some things are principles !
In the new year may we be resolved to remain pure, pious, and prayeful, and may we allow nothing to dissolve that resolve !
