Jeffrey Holton
  • Home
  • About
    • Resume
    • Sermons
    • Family Discipleship
    • Book Reviews
    • Philippines
  • Blog
  • Pictures
  • Contact
  • Archives

A PASTOR IN TRANSFORMATION

Foundations Week 25, Day 4

7/12/2018

0 Comments

 
Scripture Read: Daniel 1 - 2
Title: The Influence of Daniel

H.E.A.R. 
(H) Highlight verse: "Daniel answered the king and said, 'No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.  Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these:  To you O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be.'" Daniel 2:27 - 29

(E) Explain: Daniel was a young Israelite who was taken into captivity during the reign of the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar.  Nebuchadnezzar had taken over Jerusalem and Judah.  He then commanded his Eunuch’s to bring him some young people from Israel who were of royalty and nobility.  These youths were to be without blemish, good looking, skilled, teachable, competent, smart and well educated.  Daniel was among these young people.  When Nebuchadnezzar came to Babylon Daniel quickly became known to him because of his wisdom and his gift for interpreting dreams (note there are some similarities to Joseph’s story as well).  He had a couple of good friends named Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who Daniel helped become rise in the ranks of the King’s court.

(A) Application: Here are a few observations about Daniel from todays  passage that we can use and apply in our lives today.
  1. Daniel was a man of influence - It’s easy to forget that Daniel was a captive because he was such an influential person.  He influenced his own people and  he influenced Kings for many generations. 
    He was an Influence among his people – (Dan. 1) - When Daniel was brought to Babylon he was told to eat the King’s food and wine.  Verse 8 says, “But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine he drank.”  He told the Eunuch’s to let him and some of his companions eat vegetables and water and they will see that they will be healthier than those who did eat the meat and drink wine of the king.  He was unwilling to compromise himself and his culture and this was an inspiration to those people who were with him. 
  2. Daniel was a man of humility - Daniel was a man of prayer, influence and conviction and in all of this he remained humble.  Daniel knew his position and he was aware of who was the one actually doing all of the great and marvelous things in his life.
    He never took credit for his work; He always gave the glory to God. (Dan. 2:27) – Daniel interpreted dreams and visions.  In doing this he received a lot of praise.  Daniel was quick to take the spotlight off of himself and put it on God.  He more than once told the King’s that he was incapable of interpreting the dreams but he did serve a God who was capable of revealing the interpretation to him.  It would have been very easy for Daniel to take the credit for himself and even profit from all of this but he chose to remain humble and give all glory to God.  This is a rare thing.
(R) Respond: My hope and prayer is that I can be like Daniel.  I want to be a man who is disciplined in prayer, holds steadfast to my convictions, lives a life of humility and is an influence to my family, friends, and peers.  Lord, help me to become more like Daniel.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.



    Picture
    Jeff has been in full-time ministry for thirty years. He currently serves as Executive Director at Anchor House Ministry at SeaPort Manatee in Palmetto, FL and he is a part-time Campus Pastor at West Bradenton Southside in Bradenton, Florida.

    Jeff Has authored A Lent Devotional (A Spiritual Journey to Lent) an Advent Devotional (The Advent of Jesus) and a devotional on the book of James (James: Where Faith and Life Meet). All three are available on Amazon.

    He is married to Carrie and they have four children, Micaiah, Gabe, Simon, and Berea.
    Preview or purchase Jeff's Books
    Jeff Holton Lent Devotional

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

    Categories

    All

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About
    • Resume
    • Sermons
    • Family Discipleship
    • Book Reviews
    • Philippines
  • Blog
  • Pictures
  • Contact
  • Archives