Father’s Day 2023
June 17, 2023

Daniel 1:1
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

Daniel 1:3-4
Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.

Two World Empires of Daniel’s Day
Assyrians – Slavery
Babylonians – Bondage

The Enemy’s Plan
Systematic Subjugation To An Anti-God World System
Indoctrinate Young Minds With Values and Principles That Renders Them Useless For The Kingdom of God

Physical Isolation
“Take To Babylon”

Plus
Mental Indoctrination
“language and literature of the Chaldeans”

Create Identity Confusion
“Change The Names”

Daniel 1:7
Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.

Daniel – The Lord Is My Judge
Belteshazzar – May “Baal” Protect My Life

Hananiah – The Lord Is Gracious
Shadrach – Illuminated By The Sun God “Ra”

Mishael – Who Is Like God
Meshach – Who Is What “Acu” Is

*Azariah – The Lord Helps
Abed-Nego – A Servant of “Nebo” *

Physical Castration
“Physical Alterations”

The Enemy Is A Master At Identity Confusion

Modern Day Example
Nazi Germany
Rewrite History
Distort Biology – Super Race
1000 Plus Teachers “Nazi Teachers Association”

“All propaganda must be so popular and on such an intellectual level, that even the most stupid of those toward whom it is directed will understand it… Through clever and constant application of propaganda, people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way around, to consider the most wretched sort of life as paradise.”

Adolf Hitler
Mein Kampf P.197

Satan’s Plan
Isolation
Mental Indoctrination
Identity Alterations
Physical Castration

The Key To Manhood

Daniel 1:8
But Daniel……
purposed in his heart…..

A Man of Purpose
“purposed in his heart”
Personal Resolve, Personal Conviction

I Will Please and Put God First

His Conviction To Honor and Please God Outweighed The Honoring and Pleasing Of Men

Every Man’s Purpose
*Matthew 6:33*
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

A Man of Principle

Daniel 1:8
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

He Refused To Compromise His Principles

When He Was Young – Daniel Chapters 1-2
When He Was Old Under Belshazzar – Daniel 5:13-17
When He Was Persecuted With Kind Darius – Daniel 6:10

God Always Honors Those Who Stand On Principle

A Man of Purity

Daniel 6:3-4
Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.

Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

A Man of Prayer

Daniel 6:10
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

Every Man’s Goal
He Knelt In Prayer – Humility Before God
Three Times a Day – Dependency On God
Gave Thanks In Persecution – Gratitude Toward God
Persistent Faith – Faithfulness To God

A Man of Purpose
A Man of Principle
A Man of Purity
A Man of Prayer