OceanSide church of Christ
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How To Be Successful?
Original outline
by Wesley Simons
Introduction:
1.
We
need to learn how to enjoy success without compromise.
2.
The
Bible is filled with accounts of many godly men and women who are worthy of our
emulation.
3.
One
such person is Daniel, a man who obtained preeminence and power in his
lifetime:
a.
He
started out preeminent among the children of Israel: Daniel
1:3-6.
b.
He
gained preeminence among the wise of men of Babylon -
Daniel1:17-20.
c.
He
was given power over all of Babylon - Daniel 2:48,49;
5:29.
d.
He
received similar power over the Medo-Persian Empire - Daniel 6:1-3,
28.
4.
How
was Daniel able to reach these positions of power and influence without
compromising his position as a godly man?
5.
A
close look at the book of Daniel reveals his secret, and shows how we too can be
successful without selling our souls.
Discussion:
I.
Daniel
was a man of purpose.
A.
"Daniel
purposed in his heart..." Daniel 1:8.
1.
As
a young boy in a strange land, Daniel was immediately faced with a challenge to
violate God's law by eating the king's food.
2.
Despite
his youth and the obvious pressures to conform, Daniel "purposed in his heart"
to uphold the law of God, no matter the cost.
3.
Because
of his willingness to put God first, God granted Daniel favor in the sight of
others: Daniel 1:9 – Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with
the prince of the eunuchs.
4.
How
God did this is not explained, but it happened in the case of Joseph also - cf.
Genesis 39:1-4; 21-23.
5.
By
putting God first, God blessed Joseph in such a way that favorably impressed
others.
B.
Every
child of God needs to be a person of purpose.
1.
No
one respects a “wishy-washy’ person, someone with no direction in their
lives.
2.
Whereas
a strong sense of purpose often breeds respect and admiration in
others.
3.
What
should be the “purpose” of the Christian?
a.
Matthew
6:33.
b.
We
are to seek the will of God and fulfill it in our lives, no matter what the
circumstances.
4.
As
Jesus promised, this will guarantee God's favor toward us and in turn likely
gain us favor in the eyes of those around us.
II.
Daniel
was a man of principle.
A. He refused to compromise his convictions.
1.
As
a young man, by refusing to eat the king's meat or drink his wine - Daniel
1:8.
2.
As
an old man, by refusing the gifts of Belshazzar: Daniel
5:16-17.
3.
Under
the threat of persecution, by refusing to obey the decree of Darius: Daniel
6:10.
B.
People
admire persons of principle.
1.
Outwardly
they may ridicule them, but inwardly they wish they had the same intestinal
fortitude.
2.
And
when they need someone that can be trusted and depended upon to carry through
with an assigned task, whom do you think they will turn
to?
3.
God
also admires individuals who will stand by their principles, and by their words:
Psalm 15:1-5.
C.
Our
society is in great need of people with principle. Those who “Dare To Be A
Daniel”, and demonstrate by example the value of being led by “principle” rather
than by “price”, are not only highly valued by God but also by their fellow
man.
III.
Daniel
was a man of purity.
A.
His
enemies could not find any fault in his daily life.
1.
He
was faultless when it came to the management of his business affairs: Daniel
6:1-4.
2.
This
would help to explain his rise to positions of great responsibility and
power.
3.
Of
course, his purity in business affairs was related to:
a.
His
overall purpose was to please God first.
b.
The
fact that he was a man of principle meant he could be
trusted.
B.
The
Christian is also to maintain purity of conduct.
1.
Whether
young or old: Matthew 5:8.
2.
People
who maintain purity in their dealings with others are often given positions of
great responsibility and privilege, because they can be trusted to use them
wisely.
IV.
Daniel
was a man of prayer.
A.
A
glimpse of his prayer life: Daniel 6:10.
1.
He
knelt in prayer, a demonstration of his humility.
2.
He
prayed three times daily, a demonstration of his continual dependence upon God.
3.
He
gave thanks in the midst of persecution, a demonstration of his gratitude and
the fact that he had not lost sight of God's blessings.
4.
His
prayers were a “custom since early days,” demonstrating his persistence and
faithfulness in his service to God.
5.
Is
it not likely that his “custom” to pray so diligently helped him to remain a man
of purpose, principle and purity, despite his rise to power and preeminence over
the empire?
B.
Christians
would do well to follow Daniel’s example.
1.
All
through the Bible, God’s people have been a people of
prayer.
2.
As
Christians, we too are to pray often: 1 Thessalonians
5:17.
3.
If
our efforts to live purposeful, principled, and pure lives are not what they
should be, could an undisciplined “prayer life” be the
reason?
C.
Are
we willing to “Dare To Be A Daniel” in regards to prayer?
V.
Daniel
was a man who persevered.
A.
Daniel
6:7
B.
Daniel
was going to be faithful even if it meant facing a den of
lions.
C.
What
would you and I have done?
Conclusion:
1.
There
is a false assumption that to “get ahead” in this world one must conform to the
sinful practices of the world.
2.
But
even today there are many Christians who demonstrate that when one “dares to be
a Daniel,” they can succeed in the affairs of men without selling their souls to
the world.
3.
Will
you “Dare To Be A Daniel” by becoming a person of:
a.
Purpose?
b.
Principle?
c.
Purity?
d.
Prayer?
e.
Perseverance?
