More than a Resolution, Be Resolute

Spiritual Goals

res·o·lu·tion

a firm decision to do or not to do something.

Synonyms:  intention, resolve, decision, INTENT, aim, plan

res·o·lute

admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering.

Synonyms:  unshakable, unflattering, tenacious, unwavering, unswerving, SINGLE-MINDED, firm

Daniel Taken to Babylon  Daniel 1:1-21

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

On his way back to Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and made the king an unwilling vassal. (Nebuchadnezzar did not attempt to conquer Jerusalem until 587 BCE.) He also took the "best and the brightest" back to Babylon in order to train them in Babylonian ways and use them for political gain.

Those taken were probably sons of noblemen or other elites. In fact, one tradition suggests the three Hebrew "boys" with Daniel were descendants of King Hezekiah.

 ² And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. ³ Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family^[a]and of the nobility, ⁴ youths without blemish (like some of you tonight, you look good), of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. ⁵ The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. ⁶ Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah.

 All four of the young men were given new names signifying a new beginning in their lives and to help with assimilating with the Babylonians. These young men were unable to change their circumstance, they were dealt the hand they had been given though no fault of their own.

Daniel(which means God is my judge) became Belteshazzar(which means May 'Bel' protect his life).

Hannaniah(my God is gracious) became Shadrach(the meaning is unknown, but is possibly a reference to the pagan god Marduk).

Mishael (who is what God is?) became Meshach(the meaning is also unknown, but possibly also connected with Marduk).

Azariah(Yahweh has helped) became Abednego(Servant of Nebo).

It is likely that all the names have some association with Babylonian deities in some way. The focus was to convert them and use them for the ways of the world.

⁷ And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

Daniel's Faithfulness

⁸ But Daniel resolved              re·solve--  decide firmly on a course of action

that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. ⁹ And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, ¹⁰ and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.”

re·solve--  decide firmly on a course of action

1. You (personally) have to resolve.

Not your family.  Not your group.  Not your pastor.  Not anyone else.

You are responsible for you. Write that down.  You are responsible for you.

Daniel was resolute.  You can change my name, but my faith remains.

Resolve is no different at 13 then it is at 40 than it is at 85 it is just that the decisions will look different, but you have already decided firmly like Daniel on a course of action. 

2. Your actions are determined by your resolve.

Notice Daniel Did that too!! His actions are determined by his resolve. 

Not going to eat the meat dedicated to idols.  Not going to drink the wine.

(example)

Church Attendance.  (come 4 times in a row get a free shirt)

Being in a D group. (Wednesdays at 6:30, Sundays at 9:30)

Involved in Serving.(Sundays, Wednesdays, Hope Treasures, Hope Extreme, Hope Thrift)

But…..sometime resolve does not stick unless someone else is involved.

Daniel knew that his resolve might not stick, so he became involved with other believers and they drew off each other and encourage each other in the Lord.  He didn’t have a family, so he used his brothers in Christ. If you have a believing family tell them what you have resolved.

I am going to be honest with you those Christian friends really helped!!

I don’t know if I would have stuck in my resolve.

Like minded Christian friends still help today.

I am sure Daniel could say the same thing.

Resolve sticks.  The commitment sticks when you are holding yourself accountable. 

The resolution is not for a year but for a life time.

The Jesus who got a hold of me when I was 13 has hung on tight.

He has stuck even when I wanted to pull away.

And how that must have been the story of Daniel.

His name might have changed but his faith remains.

The name Daniel has three syllables and each one in Hebrew has a meaning. “Dan” means “judge”. The little “ee” sound (i) means “my”. And “el” means “God”. So Daniel’s name means “God, my judge”—“God is my judge”.

Dan.   I.     El.       Dan.   I.    El.   God is my Judge.

It is a wonderful thing to have a name to live up to. Daniel lived up to his in a most remarkable way. He lived a life that shouted the truth: I am resolving “God is my judge, not man!”

“God is my judge, and no king of Babylon or Persia!”

“To God I will have to give an account for how I live my life, not to Nebuchadnezzar, not to Belshazzar, not to Darius.” “God is my judge!”  My name might have changed but my faith remains. 

I will be Resolute. 

I will resolve.

    2019 Goals

   “Make More than a Resolution, Be Resolute!!”

1. Spiritual Goals

(reading the word, mission trip, telling others about Jesus, fasting, getting involved)

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2. Financial Goals

(paying off a debt, being generous and tithing, savings, making smart purchases)

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3. Relational Goals

(improving marriage, family, friends, work, relationships, loving generously)

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4. Health and Emotional Goals

(lose weight, be active, making healthier choices, seeking inner healing)

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