Godly Teenager Pt 2
By Chap Bettis

Two weeks ago, we took a morning to look at what a godly teenager looked like. We saw that David was

· a worshiper - Rather than complaining about his lot in life as the baby who got the job that nobody wanted, he used that time to develop the heart of a worshiper.

o The Lord will honor those who worship in all our circumstance.

· a warrior – fighting off bears and lions. Since he was faithful in the small things then the Lord was able to exalt him.

o The Lord honors those who are warriors engaged in the spiritual battle going on within our hearts and in the world around us.

· a waiter – He submitted to the authority of Saul, even when it was wrongfully used. He refused to kill Saul even though circumstance put Saul into his hands. He knew he was going to be king and waited until the Lord removed Saul.

o The Lord will bless those who honor proper authority and wait our time.

But the Bible is filled with other godly teenagers, and this morning I would like to take a look at another one.

· Appropriately, this godly teen was captured against his will and taken prisoner to what is now Bagdad.

o Do you ever feel like you are a prisoner to your circumstance. You are in a situation against your will?

· Likewise, he faced the temptation of conforming to this new culture that had just overwhelmed his city. Surely he must have questioned if God was real. If God was real, why would he allow his nation to suffer like this.Why would God allow the Babylonians to pillage his temple.

· And he faced the challenge of living a life that honored the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in a culture that honored the idols of power, drink.

o Do you ever feel the challenge of honoring the God in a culture that is rapidly traveling the other direction? Do you feel the temptation ot compromise? Or are you pummeled with doubts about God?

The teenager I am talking about is Daniel.

· Daniel was a privileged Israelite being trained in government affairs in Jerusalem when King Nebuchadnessar beseiged and overthrew Jerusalem.

· Suddenly he was ripped from his family and familiar surroundings and transported from his country to the dazzlying city of Babylon. Because he shows promise he is put into a program to train future leaders.

· What an exciting opportunity. Or is it?

Daniel 1:1-21, Prayer

What was true about Daniel and his friends?

He was handsome. v.4 As I said two weeks ago, we have that one covered. All of our children are unusually handsome and all of our girls are unusally beautiful.

He as smart. Quick to understand and

· showed intelligence in every branch of wisdom. – broadly educated.

· But also has understanding and discernment. It is one thing to have a broad education with as many legitimate experiences and exposures as possible. But also we want you to have discerment in what you study.

o Definition - the power of the mind, to distinguishes one thing from another, as truth from falsehood, virtue from vice; acuteness of judgment; power of perceiving differences of things or ideas, and their relations and tendencies. The errors of youth often proceed from the want of discernment.

Daniel did not compromise. (5-8)

On the one hand, he did not die on external issues. He allowed himself to be given a new name. His friends allowed themselves to be given new names.

· Naming was very important. When one named another it showed the authority of the namer over the namee. Adam named the animals, named his wife. Wives take their husbands name in our culture.

· Notice the names they are given

o Daniel (God is my judge) to Beltshazar – Bel protect his life.

o Hananiah (Lord show grace) to Shadrach (command of Aku moon god)

o Mishael (Who is what God is) to Meshach – Who is what Aku is

o Azariah (the Lord helps) to Abednego – servant of Nego

· What is interesting about this is that it looks like he is conforming to the Babylonian world. But evidently, he and his friends did not think that way. This must have been what Paul Tripp calls a wisdom issue. An issue where Scripture is not clearcut and wisdom must be used.

On the other hand, he had the personal convictions to refuse to disobey clear Scriptures. v8 But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine that he drank.

Daniel had a heart of conviction that he would not defile himself with the things God had forbidden, even thouth they were the choice things.

· He made up his mind to deny himself the best the world had to offer because God would not approve. Perhaps it was because the type of foods were forbidden in the Bible. Perhaps it was because they were offered to an idol.

· So on boundary issues he refuses to disobey God – even though his parents will never know.

Teens, do you have convictions to stand for what is right on clear cut commands of Scripture?

· Do you have the wisdom to deal with issues that are not clear cut.

· My prayer for you is that you will be a Daniel in this way. Rock solid convictions on biblical truth. Making up your mind not to compromise. Discerning on wisdom issues.

Fundamentalists Biblical Balance More liberal evang.

Clear Cut Issues No compromise No Compromise Compromise

Wisdom Issues No compromise Discernment Compromise

This is a principle that guides us as elders.

· On clear cut issues, we will not compromise.

· On wisdom issues, it is not right to say no compromise. It requires thinking through all the principles involved. How do we develop hearts of wisdom and hearts of conviction.

What about it adults. Are there areas in your life where you are being tempted to compromise? Where if you will just cut a few corners or shade things a little bit, then you can taste of the fruit of the world. Are you seeking the praise of men or the praise of God.

Second, Daniel knew how to commend himself to those in authority. (8-13)

He appealed wisely. He appealed to the authority over him not to participate in this defilement.

· He communicated, helping the one in authority to understand what was going on in his heart and mind.

· He was not defiant, rebellious, arrogant, even though he was in the right.

· see that in 2:14 Daniel replied with discretion and discernment.

Your lives are filled with authorities. Parents, teachers, coaches, elders, etc. Everything in the culture suggests to you that you should rebel against authority. And you are having new ideas and tastes and sometimes they clash against what the authorities in your life want. You can either rebel, which God never blesses. Or you can see the authority as God’s hand of blessing talk through the misunderstanding.

Daniel not only appealed the wisely, he understood the officials interest. There is a difference in position and interest. What was the position of the official. “You need to eat your food.” What was the interest or concern of the official? That Daniel and his friends be healthy for the king. So as long as Daniel was healthy, the official was willing to compromise.

Children and adults – when we have inevitable disagreements, we need to talk down in the whys of life. We need to talk about the interests we have.

Daniel is solution oriented. Since he understood the officials interest, he was able to propose a test. He’s solution oriented, not problem oriented.

As you begin to have more ideas of your own and become adults in training, you need to understand how to relate to those in authority. The Lord will not bless you if buy the culture’s lie and rebel. But if you talk to your parents wisely, understanding their concerns and are solution oriented, the Lord will bless you. And so will your parents.

Adults – Are you appealing wisely to the authorities over you, understanding their interests? Or are you bull headed

Thirdly, Daniel understood the power of companions. 2:17, 18 This story is about Daniel and his three friends.

· Like music you listen to, the friends you embrace are a powerful aid for good or for evil. Do not be deceived, bad company corrupts good morals. (1 Cor 15:33)

· Friends can encourage us for good. Friends can encourage us for evil. You will become like the books you read and the people you hang out with.

o We cannot help it. We are made that way. The friends we choose help shape our destiny. All of us need friends. A person without close friends, reveals something wrong in his or her heart.

o That’s why your parents are concerned about the friend you make.

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah provided support for one another to live in a hostile culture.

o When I grew up, I went to school in a hostile culture. No one I knew was a Christian and I was tempted to compromise. I had my school life and my church life. The two rarely met. It wasn’t until college that I was able to put the two together. And what a blessing that way.

o The best fellowship occurs when two people are on the same side of a struggle. Soldiers are making bonds that will last forever. Sports team bonds last forever.

Young people, you need friends. We all do.

o Without close friends you will only be a shell of yourself. Be careful in the friends you choose. They will help determine your destiny. Don’t be fooled – bad company corrupts good morals.

Because of Daniel’s willingness not to compromise, to commend himself wisely to authority and to work with other like minded friends, v18-21 describes the Lord’s blessing on their lives.

o If you will not compromise – the Lord will bless you.

o If you will not rebel against authority but communicate wisely – the Lord will bless you.

o If you will chose only godly friends – the Lord will bless you.

The way is clear. Not easy but clear.

If you have any questions, comments or observations, please call Chapman Bettis at 401 727-2367 or John Riley at 401-453-5550 or email at johnr@cornerstoneri.com