Sunday Service (2)

Sunday Service: Far From Home

(07-18-2021) Ptr. Lynard Molo

*Daniel 1:1-3
"1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility-"

*Isaiah 39:6-7
"6 The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD.
7 And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon."

(Daniel)

Israel to Babylon --> 2,700 km.

=Far from Home=

-no choice
   + 15 years old
-new norm

New Norm (everything changed for Daniel)
1. The language was different.
*Daniel 1:4
"He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians."

2. The religion was different.
F-aithfulness to God
A-ctions
I-mplication of God's word
T-ruth
H-oliness

3. The laws were different.

4. Everything was different except for one thing-- GOD.

"If you are experiencing troublesome changes right now, remember that one thing hasn't change-- GOD IS STILL WITH YOU."

-remained faithful.

Facts in Daniel's Life:
1. He was far from home, facing the temptation to do things he knew were wrong.
2. His parents will never found out if he gave in to the temptation.
3. Most of his friends were sinning and encouraging him to join them.
4. The most powerful king on earth wanted him to give up his beliefs in return for wealth and power.

*Daniel 1:8
"8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way."

-right foundation

*Proverbs 22:6
"6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."