Based on "Daniel: standing firm for God's will" by Gene Getz, this lesson looks at how Daniel stood firm in his testimony and didn't compromise his stance for God. My apologies for the mistake on the title slide. Gene Getz is the author of this book.

1. MAKING THE BEST OF A
BAD DEAL
Daniel 1:9-21
Based on Daniel: Standing Firm for God’s Will by
Jerry Bridges

2.  If your boss or teacher is not a Christian, what kind of relationship do
you have with that person?
 This is a good question to ask ourselves as we look at Daniel’s life in a
pagan environment.
 Daniel approached his education with a positive attitude even though
he would be exposed to ideas that definitely contradicted his own
belief system.
 How do you approach your education?
 The line he could not cross was the king’s prescribed meals.
 The food would violate God’s dietary laws, and it was all offered to
pagan gods and eating it would give these false gods glory that
belonged to God.
 Daniel wanted to abstain from every appearance of evil I Thessalonians
5:22.

3.  Daniel was a slave, so he couldn’t be openly rebellious. He had to
develop a plan and then wisely and patiently work it.
 God caused Ashpenaz to show favor and sympathy to Daniel (v.9).
Daniel probably did everything he could to win his favor and sympathy.
 Colossians 4:5-6
 Daniel developed a close friendship with Ashpenaz. People only show
favoritism when there are emotional ties based on trust. Ashpenaz
obviously trusted Daniel.
 What are you willing to trust God for in order to live in His will?
 Daniel must have thought long and hard about this question and
prayed for courage to do the right thing.
 V.10. This was a risky move.
 Ashpenaz was worried about the King seeing them looking less healthy
than the rest and killing him.

4.  Daniel got shot down the first time and revised his plan with a much
lower risk.
 He approached the guard appointed by Ashpenaz, with whom he and
his friends had also developed a great deal of trust, and proposed a
test. (v.12-13)
 The test worked. (v.14-16) The difference must have been pretty
substantial to notice a difference in 10 days for these men to changed
the king’s order and risk death.
 Ever wonder what happened to the king’s food? It’s not like these two
men would tell the king what they had done. In all likelihood, they ate
the king’s food instead of the four Hebrews.
 V.17. These young men must have learned faster than their peers.
They stood out both physically and intellectually.
 Daniel also got a spiritual gift: the ability to understand visions and
dreams of all kinds.

5.  This is a big deal when you consider that Babylon put great stock in
divination (contacting spirits) to determine the will of the gods.
 Daniel would never practice divination because of Leviticus 19:26. God
would use his spiritual gift to demonstrate God is the One, True God to
the people of Babylon.
 V.18-21 describes their graduation from their three year instruction.
 When they were presented to the king, no one measured up to them in
any area.
 The king saying they were “ten times” better means they were the equal
to ten men.
 They entered the king’s service and outdistanced even the older
magicians and astrologers.
 V.21 Daniel served until King Cyrus. That was his third king and he had
been in the same position for 70 years!

6. 1. AS CHRISTIANS WE SHOULD DO ALL WE CAN TO
WIN THE RESPECT AND ADMIRATION OF NON-
CHRISTIANS WITHOUT COMPROMISING OUR
BIBLICAL CONVICTIONS.
 1 Peter 2:12
 1 Peter 3:15-16
 Colossians 4:5-6

7. 2. WHEN TAKING A PUBLIC STAND FOR OUR
CONVICTIONS, WE SHOULD MAKE SURE WE’RE
PRAYERFULLY AND CAREFULLY SELECTING OUR
CONCERNS BASED ON SCRIPTURE.
 I Corinthians 9:22
 Paul did not compromise his convictions or his public testimony for
Christ. He did not allow personal offenses to hinder his ability to be a
positive witness for Christ.
 It takes wisdom to know how to speak and when to remain silent.

8. 3. WHEN TAKING A PUBLIC STAND IN ORDER
NOT TO COMPROMISE OUR SPIRITUAL
CONVICTIONS, WE MUST TRUST GOD FOR
HIS SUPERNATURAL ASSISTANCE.
 You and I are engaged in a spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:12
 That’s why we must obey Ephesians 6:10
 We cannot tackle our spiritual issues in our own strength.
 We are to use all our natural abilities and skills but the battle is the
Lord’s.

9. 4. WHEN WE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO DO
GOD’S WILL, HE WILL EVENTUALLY BLESS US
FOR OUR FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE.
 This doesn’t mean we will never face rejection, persecution, and pain.
 God will never forsake you!
 Sometimes blessing are immediate and obvious, as they were with
Daniel and his friends.
 Sometimes the blessings are delayed, but we can be sure they will
come.
 One day if you are faithful, you will hear “well done, thou good and
faithful servant.”