1) The document discusses pressures faced by youth, including technology, strict parents, and university. It uses Daniel as an example of standing firm in his faith despite being far from home in Babylon. 2) Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself by eating the king's food or drinking wine, in order to obey God's word. He was determined to remain faithful even when surrounded by those who did not believe. 3) The document encourages readers to follow Daniel's example and have the courage to live for God regardless of outside pressures or influences.

1. Dare to be DifferentDare to be Different
Talk 2: Pressures of living:Talk 2: Pressures of living:
- Technology- Technology
- Strict Parents- Strict Parents
- University- University
Ehab RoufailEhab Roufail

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July 2015 Dare to be Different 2
OutlineOutline
• Effect of technology on Youth TrendsEffect of technology on Youth Trends
• Are the struggles of youth different over the agesAre the struggles of youth different over the ages
• Looking at the life of DanielLooking at the life of Daniel

3. ““What is happening to our youngWhat is happening to our young
people? They disrespect their elders;people? They disrespect their elders;
they disobey their parents. Theythey disobey their parents. They
ignore the law. They riot in the streets,ignore the law. They riot in the streets,
inflamed with wild notions. Theirinflamed with wild notions. Their
morals are decaying. What is tomorals are decaying. What is to
become of them?”become of them?”
Plato 4Plato 4thth
Century!!Century!!
Different struggles over the ages?Different struggles over the ages?

4. How do the names of these young men showHow do the names of these young men show
the faith that their parents hadthe faith that their parents had??

5. Alone and far from their parent’s influence, in
Babylon, these young men decided to live
according to the faith they had received

6. 1. Obedience to the Law
(not to defile himself)
[Daniel 1]
2. Leave their problems in
God’s hands
[Daniel 2]
3. Habit of praying
continually
[Daniel 6]
What principles influenced the lives of these
four young men?

7. Not to corrupt themselfs with Babylonian
literature
To reject the idolatry that it contained
To accept and to learn the right knowledge
Not to defile themself with the king’s food
To accept the change of their names Ø
Their principle of obedience to the WordTheir principle of obedience to the Word
of God led them to make these decisions:of God led them to make these decisions:

8. NebuchadnezzarNebuchadnezzar found them ten timesfound them ten times
better than the rest of their workmatesbetter than the rest of their workmates

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• Approximately at the age of sixteen he was takenApproximately at the age of sixteen he was taken
captive (vs.4) and sent off to live in Babylon, acaptive (vs.4) and sent off to live in Babylon, a
place that was foreign to work of God and to beplace that was foreign to work of God and to be
amongst a people that was anti-God in theiramongst a people that was anti-God in their
living.living.
• The world we live in is tuned to the likes ofThe world we live in is tuned to the likes of
Babylon … a place that grows foreign to the workBabylon … a place that grows foreign to the work
of God and where the people grow increasingof God and where the people grow increasing
anti-God (Christian).anti-God (Christian).
• And yet it was in Babylon where the character ofAnd yet it was in Babylon where the character of
Daniel would be forged to become a livingDaniel would be forged to become a living
testimony to the known pagan world that hetestimony to the known pagan world that he
would live for God regardless.would live for God regardless.
We’re called to be like DanielWe’re called to be like Daniel

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• "Oh do you dare to be a Daniel? On your knees"Oh do you dare to be a Daniel? On your knees
do you stand that tall? Is your conversationdo you stand that tall? Is your conversation
faithful? Do you pray when your back’s againstfaithful? Do you pray when your back’s against
the wall? Do you stand up for the Lord?"the wall? Do you stand up for the Lord?"
Dare: 1. To have the courage required toDare: 1. To have the courage required to
challenge someone to do something requiringchallenge someone to do something requiring
boldness.boldness.
Daniel stands in God’s Word giving testimony byDaniel stands in God’s Word giving testimony by
his life of what it is to stand true to God and Hishis life of what it is to stand true to God and His
Word.Word.
Daniel’s motto might have been: "Always doDaniel’s motto might have been: "Always do
what is right no matter the cost."what is right no matter the cost."
Do We Dare?Do We Dare?

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But DanielBut Daniel purposed in his heartpurposed in his heart that hethat he
would not defile himself with the portion of thewould not defile himself with the portion of the
king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which heking’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he
drank; therefore he requested of the chief ofdrank; therefore he requested of the chief of
the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9
Now God had brought DanielNow God had brought Daniel into the favourinto the favour
and goodwilland goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.of the chief of the eunuchs.
PURPOSED: to determine; commit; (regard,PURPOSED: to determine; commit; (regard,
rehearse, reward)rehearse, reward)
Daniel determined and committed himself toDaniel determined and committed himself to
not defile himself.not defile himself.
Purposed in his heartPurposed in his heart

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Daniel purposed in his heart that he would notDaniel purposed in his heart that he would not
defile himselfdefile himself
·· What’s on your mind? What is on yourWhat’s on your mind? What is on your
mind will dictate how you live.mind will dictate how you live.
Proverbs 23:7a For as he thinks in his heart,Proverbs 23:7a For as he thinks in his heart,
so is he.so is he.
Dare Not to Defile the MindDare Not to Defile the Mind

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· Daniel was not going to "blur" the lines· Daniel was not going to "blur" the lines
between right and wrong (I know I’m notbetween right and wrong (I know I’m not
suppose to do this, but …)suppose to do this, but …)
· Making up your mind ahead of time is crucial· Making up your mind ahead of time is crucial
to obedience … otherwise it is easier to caveto obedience … otherwise it is easier to cave
into pressures, circumstances, even friends.into pressures, circumstances, even friends.
· Daniel had committed himself before hand to· Daniel had committed himself before hand to
"just say no" to sin and yes to God (His Word)."just say no" to sin and yes to God (His Word).
Not to blur the linesNot to blur the lines

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· Daniel was not going to "blur" the lines· Daniel was not going to "blur" the lines
between right and wrong (I know I’m notbetween right and wrong (I know I’m not
suppose to do this, but …)suppose to do this, but …)
· Making up your mind ahead of time is crucial· Making up your mind ahead of time is crucial
to obedience … otherwise it is easier to caveto obedience … otherwise it is easier to cave
into pressures, circumstances, even friends.into pressures, circumstances, even friends.
· Daniel had committed himself before hand to· Daniel had committed himself before hand to
"just say no" to sin and yes to God (His Word)."just say no" to sin and yes to God (His Word).
Dare Not to Defile the MindDare Not to Defile the Mind

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Joshua 1:8 "This Book of the Law shall notJoshua 1:8 "This Book of the Law shall not
depart from your mouth, but you shalldepart from your mouth, but you shall
meditate in it day and night, that you maymeditate in it day and night, that you may
observe to do according to all that is written inobserve to do according to all that is written in
it. For then you will make your wayit. For then you will make your way
prosperous, and then you will have goodprosperous, and then you will have good
success.success.
Psalms 119:11 Your word I have hidden in myPsalms 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my
heart, That I might not sin against You!heart, That I might not sin against You!
Dare Not to Defile the MindDare Not to Defile the Mind

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… he would not defile himself with the portion
of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine
which he drank; therefore he requested of the
chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile
himself.
· Where the mind goes … eventually so goes
the body!
· Daniel requested not to eat the king’s food
so as to not defile himself against God.
Dare to Not Defile the BodyDare to Not Defile the Body

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· Daniel’s ordeal wasn’t a matter of· Daniel’s ordeal wasn’t a matter of
"vegetarians" verses "meat eaters.""vegetarians" verses "meat eaters."
· It was a matter of keeping God’s Word the· It was a matter of keeping God’s Word the
standard for His lifestandard for His life
· God had asked His people to not eat any· God had asked His people to not eat any
unclean foods.unclean foods.
Matthew 15:11 "Not what goes into the mouthMatthew 15:11 "Not what goes into the mouth
defiles a man; but what comes out of thedefiles a man; but what comes out of the
mouth, this defiles a man."mouth, this defiles a man."
· Daniel = "God is my judge"· Daniel = "God is my judge"
Dare to Not Defile the BodyDare to Not Defile the Body

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Romans 6:13 And do not present your members asRomans 6:13 And do not present your members as
instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but presentinstruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present
yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, andyourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and
your members as instruments of righteousness toyour members as instruments of righteousness to
God.God.
· With his mind made up and his body following the· With his mind made up and his body following the
dictates of the heart … Daniel was a light in thedictates of the heart … Daniel was a light in the
midst of darkness.midst of darkness.
2 Corinthians 6:17 Therefore "Come out from among2 Corinthians 6:17 Therefore "Come out from among
them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touchthem And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch
what is unclean, And I will receive you."what is unclean, And I will receive you."
Dare to Not Defile the BodyDare to Not Defile the Body

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Now God had brought Daniel into the favor andNow God had brought Daniel into the favor and
goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.
· Daniel merely stood for what was right in the Lord.· Daniel merely stood for what was right in the Lord.
· His witness drew the favour of God and the man who· His witness drew the favour of God and the man who
was over him.was over him.
Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD,Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
· Daniel valued his relationship with God over that of· Daniel valued his relationship with God over that of
man.man.
Dare to Not Defile the SoulDare to Not Defile the Soul

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• Daniel purposed not to defile himself in any wayDaniel purposed not to defile himself in any way
… mind, body, or soul. God honoured and… mind, body, or soul. God honoured and
blessed him and his friends and showed them toblessed him and his friends and showed them to
be different looking.be different looking.
• Daniel 1:15 And at the end of ten days theirDaniel 1:15 And at the end of ten days their
features appeared better and fatter in flesh thanfeatures appeared better and fatter in flesh than
all the young men who ate the portion of theall the young men who ate the portion of the
king’s delicacies.king’s delicacies.
• Do we look different to the world … because ofDo we look different to the world … because of
our dare not to defile? Or does the world aroundour dare not to defile? Or does the world around
us … friends, family and foes look at us and seeus … friends, family and foes look at us and see
no difference?no difference?
SummarySummary