power, love and self-discipline: on learning daniel 1:1-6, isaiah 1:17 and 1 thessalonians 4:3-6 2...
TRANSCRIPT
Power, Love and Self-discipline: On Learning
Daniel 1:1-6, Isaiah 1:17 and 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6
2 Timothy 17 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
This story takes place in difficult circumstances
The people of Israel are captiveIn a foreign landForeign languageForeign culture
Fear looms
Daniel 1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.
But even in tough times… Certain people have an advantage
What you knowWho you know
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace.
The king is looking for people who know and want to know more
“Healthy”Good appearance
“Knowers of knowledge”Informed
Able to understandServing in “strength” / “power”
These young men Who had learned
Who were deemed teachableWere to be fed the best foods
Trained for three yearsBecause the king wanted nothing
but the best
He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. 6 Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
Why were there young men chosen?Train the trainable
Teach those who already knowThose who know how to studyThose who want to know more
Parable of the talentsThe more you have…
The better you manage it…More will entrusted to you
Learning and studying is a basic Christian tenant
BibleTeach
Worship
Acts 829 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Isaiah 117learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.
We also live in a worldIn an economy
In a particular timeWhen education is important
In 605 BC
In this world we live…It is important to be educated
To want to knowTo be curious
To want to learnTo know how to study
We live in a time in which…we need to be educated
About our faith and our valuesWhat we believe in
In a trade or skillA specialty or degree
Be prepared
Ephesians 411 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…