Recurrent Thought

It is possible to be better than what you are now. There is always room for growth. Have a Ten Times Better Projection 

We are all challenged to lead exemplary lives. I believe we all desire to be more excellent. Society seems to always demand a better version of myself. When I look into myself, I equally see gaps and know that there is more I can do to become more of myself. Whether the pressure comes from outside or from within, we must realize that “Becoming Exemplary” is a subject that is first and foremost driven by internal drivers from within ourselves. The heart, (or human spirit) is the combustion engine where the power to drive an exemplary life emanates. Convictions are the Fuel in our lives. My Prayer is that you ensure that your convictions are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Today we start the study in the Book of Daniel, which introduces us to examples of lives that are driven by strong and deep convictions. 

Background

This book is in the Old Testament and classified among the Major Prophets’ writings. It was written by a person called Daniel. 

The Person Daniel: 

His name means God is Judge and this is seen in his outworking in the kingdoms where Danie served. Nothing is known of his personal life outside of the book. He is descended from one of Judah’s prominent families, if not from royal blood (Dan 1:3).

He and many others came as slaves into Babylon but he grew as a wise, excellent, and dependable leader in the administration of three Kingdoms. He was a statesman, a counselor to kings, and a prophet of God. Daniel worked within three kingdoms and served under five historical kings

The contemporaries to Daniel include prophets, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Jeremiah prophesied in Jerusalem before and during the Babylonian exile (626-528 B.C.) while Ezekiel prophesied in Babylon among the exiles (592-570 B.C.) 

When these happened

In Ancient times, kingdoms constantly, jostled for power, influence, and authority by vanquishing others. Every superpower grew stronger as they isolated, abused, and exploited the vanquished who were required to bring financial resources as a tax

Around 720BC Assyria the then superpower decimated the kingdom of Israel (Samaria); but a few decades later, Babylon grew stronger until it became a superpower

The key to the greatness of Babylon was a General called Nebuchadnezzar who was a son of the Nabopolazzar a king who rebelled against Assyria.

Nechadnezzar as a General led to the defeat of Nineveh in 612 B.C.; He also defeated Egypt, then Pharoah Necho in 605 B.C. at the Battle of Carchemish. Town close to Syria

When he defeated the armies of Egypt and Assyria; he then chased them Egypt through south Judah. While in Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar heard that his father had died and he thus returned to take over as king. 

In 605 B.C., on his return, from chasing Pharoah he carried Jewish captives out of Jerusalem, especially young people out of the royal and noble families. Daniel and his famous Hebrew youths are carried during these raids (Dan 1:1-4). This was the first raid and conquest Nebuchadnezzar had on Judah

in 597 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar, now a king, raided Judah and carried Ten thousand (10,000) slaves (2Ki 24:8-16). This Second raid took the economic workforces such as artisans including Prophet Ezekiel (Eze 1:1-3).

In 586 B.C. Jerusalem fell and was totally conquered by Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar laid siege against Jerusalem for three years and destroyed it in 586 BC. The temple was destroyed and King Zedekiah was taken into captivity. (2Ki 25:1-10). A third group was taken to the Babylonian captivity. A small remnant was left under the supervision of Gedaliah. Prophet Jeremiah was among those who stayed behind (2Ki 25:11-12,22; Jer 39:11-14; 40:1-6).

The Nature of the Book: Outline

The First six (1-6) chapters are historical emphasizing the prophetic ministry of Daniel through various personal events in the corridors of power.

The last six chapters (7-12) are Prophetic and contain visions that spoke to events beyond the times of Daniel

Chapters 1; 7-12 are written in Hebrew; Chapters 2-6 are in Aramaic, a cousin language to Hebrew known by many nations around; t

Key Verse Daniel 1:19-20; 4:34-35

The major theme that you notice throughout the Book is: “God is sovereign over history, empires, and kings (2:21; 4:34–37). All the kingdoms of this world will come to an end and will be replaced by the Lord’s kingdom, which will never pass away (2:44; 7:27).

Chapter # 1 of Daniel

In the first invasion, King Nebu selected handsome young men with the right physical build to and took them into an Academy for to train them as part of his administrators for the King. Daniel and His Friends are earmarked for administrative work in Babylon and therefore, they are put in the Babylon School of Government (BASOG)

These young people had everything changed about them. Imagine with me:

Their location was changed. They were plucked from their land without permission. They bore physical scars of torture, they were emotionally and psychologically wounded.

Their education system was changed, they were being taught the wisdom of Babylon.

Their Food was changed. They were given food they never ate at home. Furthermore, these foods were first offered to idols.

Their names were changed; mostly given names of pagan gods of Babylon. They tried to change their identity. Names are the most personal property we have and if one forces to change ours and forces one on us which does not represent you  

These young people despite the changes, they asked the boarding master at the University not to force them to eat the nice and sumptuous meals offered there. Although the leader resisted at first, he agreed. After training, they were tested and they were found ten times better. This was the beginning of their journey in the Kingdom of Babylon where their lives demonstrated the ability of being Ten Times Better. 

But the question is what made them become ten times better! I know there could be many things that led to their exemplary lives, but this is grounded on their convictions and how they related to them. Here are five elements that build an Exemplary Life 

 Ground Your Life on Health and Trusted Convictions 

Convictions are always tied to the core beliefs of a person. Therefore, one’s spirituality comes into play. Daniel and his friends, expressed strong convictions about the meat in the Cafeteria at the University. Why? Because eating “meat first offered to idols” violated the consciousness. It touched their spirituality. 

Two main ways to define the word conviction. First, a conviction is a judgment of guilty in a Court of law. Second, a conviction is a strong lifelong belief that impacts my life

People of Convictions always have underlying belief systems upon which they anchor their life activities. 

Your Convictions are the core drivers of the values you pursue in Life. Values are constant sacred core beliefs that undergird your life activities 

I remind you that for us our convictions first and foremost are in regard to a person, Jesus Christ, and his beliefs. I truly believe that when we demonstrate who and why we believe in Jesus, the world will take notice.

Convictions give life meaning and uniqueness to live. They differentiate people

People of Convictions are focused in life; those that do not have are wish-wash

People of Convictions are dependable.Yes, it is possible for you to become ten times better as you stand on your convictions, in the workplace; in the marketplace, in the public place?

Convictions Help Clarify Decisions 

Well-conceived convictions give clarity to the process of decision making

Decisions that go against personal convictions, create dissonance in life. They create a person with a double mind, which in turn create a lack of peace James 1: 8 8 A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Convictions help you to make decisions on things that matter.

Convictions Inspire Courage in Life Activities 

When you want to become ten times better know that you will face difficult challenges and temptations.

Convictions on their respect of God, inspired their courage to ask the Boarding Master to change their Menu

The inner conviction of Shadreck Meshack and Abednego on issues of whom to worship, inspired them with Courage not to fear the furnace of fire despite its sevenfold temperature. Some challenges will demand you risk everything you have in your life

Convictions on the value of Prayer and the object of Prayer, inspired courage in Daniel to enter the den of hungry lions, used as judgment against those found guilt.

But it is Courage that makes us Become ten times better. Demonstrating Courage does not necessarily mean that God rescues you from the Challenge you face. 

Shadreck and his friends told the king that they believed a greater God, Yahweh who had the capacity to deliver them; however, they declared that even if God decided not to rescue them, they were not going to bow down the image. 3:16-18

Daniel entered the den of lions without any promise by God that he would be rescued. But he did.

It is critical to know that God is still God even if we are not rescued in this life. Are we prepared to suffer for our faith? Have you read Hebrews 11 lately? To remind you of people of courage

Convictions give Meaning to Competences

Daniel and his friends passed with flying colors after the three-year training school.

Their competencies distinguished them and brought them to the king’s notice.

Competences are the Skills, abilities, know-how, and expertise that you bring to the situation you are involved in. 

Convictions are the drivers for working hard. Values give meaning to Your hustle

Every one of us works in different places doing different jobs. Some are employed, while others are employers. However, we deliver on our job based on our skills, our competencies. For you to become ten times better you have to excel in all that you do.

Daniel and his Friends excelled in what they did because they had an excellent spirit. 

Dan 6:3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 

Half-half will not cut it. For you doing your own business, laize faire will not do it. For you in employment, cutting corners will not make you Become ten times better

Pro 22:29 Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

Competences are what make people celebrate you. However, you should be celebrated in things that give you happens. Competences are why you are employed. Zero in on your skill. Brush it, clean it, and improve it. 

Your Convictions Build Your Character 

A summary of consistent decisions you make, driven by your convictions defines your Character, which is a powerful force in human beings. It is your inner voice people don’t hear but reverberates loudly and everyone notices.

Character is a sum total of your consistent behavior based on your beliefs and convictions. Character makes you predictable. Whether evil or good character, people can predict you. 

Character summarizes your life. It tells people who you are. Daniel and his friends had impeccable characters. It embarrassed their neighbors and challenged their lives. They were different; so different that people hated them for their lives showed holes of discrepancies whenever they stood in the presence of Daniel and his friends. 

Because of this, they trapped them to fall. It is interesting to note in what area they tried to trick them. They were so good but these enemies thought the Jewish boys had too much the area of their spirituality. It was not in the area valor (strength) or knowledge. For shadreck Mischek and Abednego it was to worship the statue of king Nebu (3:3:1-19) for Daniel it was to worship the king himself (Daniel 6) What could you be trapped in?

The apostles when threatened by the Sanhedrin in Chapter 3, they went to their own and prayed for Courage (boldness) to continue to preach and demonstrate Christ despite the Challenges.

It is possible to become ten times better through Christ who strengthens us. 

Altar Time

Prayer when the Desire to Become Ten Times Better is Broken

Praying with Faith, and Planning for Ten-times better improvement