Shaping the Next Shaping the Next Generation’s FutureGeneration’s Future

Text: Daniel 1:1-7Text: Daniel 1:1-7

11 In the third year of the reign of In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged came to Jerusalem and besieged it. it.

2 2 And the Lord delivered And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babyloniatemple of his god in Babylonia and and put in the treasure-house of put in the treasure-house of his godhis god..

33 Then the king ordered Then the king ordered Ashpenaz (eunuch)Ashpenaz (eunuch), chief of his , chief of his court officials, to bring in some of court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the Israelites from the royal family the royal family and the nobilityand the nobility — —

44 young menyoung men without any physical without any physical defectdefect, , handsomehandsome, , showing showing aptitude for every kind of learningaptitude for every kind of learning, , well informedwell informed, , quick to understand,quick to understand, and and qualified to serve in the king’s qualified to serve in the king’s palacepalace. He was to teach them the . He was to teach them the languagelanguage and and literatureliterature of the of the Babylonians. Babylonians.

5 5 The king assigned them The king assigned them a daily a daily amount of food and wineamount of food and wine from the from the king’s tableking’s table. They were to be . They were to be trained for three years, and after trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s that they were to enter the king’s service.service.

66 Among these were some from Among these were some from Judah: Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Daniel, Hananiah, MishaelMishael and and Azariah.Azariah.

77 The chief official gave them The chief official gave them new names: to new names: to DanielDaniel, the name , the name BelteshazzarBelteshazzar; to ; to HananiahHananiah, , ShadrachShadrach; to ; to MishaelMishael, , MeshachMeshach; ; and to and to AzariahAzariah, , Abednego.Abednego.

Is there any hope for the next Is there any hope for the next generation?generation?

Based on where we are now as a Based on where we are now as a nation … what does the future of nation … what does the future of the next generation look like?the next generation look like?

How would you like things to be How would you like things to be different?different?

Fact Fact

Only the future is shapeable.Only the future is shapeable.You cannot shape the past; it is over. You cannot shape the past; it is over. You cannot shape the present; it is You cannot shape the present; it is

passing by. passing by. You can only shape the future...it is You can only shape the future...it is

still coming.still coming.

Shaping DefinedShaping Defined

To To shapeshape means: To mold or To means: To mold or To make into a particular form…make into a particular form…

Shaping the FutureShaping the Future means: means: Pre- Pre- forming and conditioning a way of forming and conditioning a way of life or mode of existence.life or mode of existence.

Learning from the world Learning from the world systemsystem

For us to be able to shape the For us to be able to shape the future of the next generation, we future of the next generation, we need to need to understandunderstand, , learn learn and and counter attackcounter attack the system of the the system of the world.world.

World systemWorld systemNebuchadnezzarNebuchadnezzar

1.1. BesiegeBesiege To besiegeTo besiege… is an act of … is an act of

surroundingsurrounding or or crowding crowding aroundaround with hostile with hostile forces… to strip off forces… to strip off powerpower, , rightsrights and and captivatecaptivate..

Dan1:1Dan1:1 …Nebuchadnezzar …Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to king of Babylon came to Jerusalem andJerusalem and besieged itbesieged it..

2. Pick the Cream of the crop2. Pick the Cream of the cropCream of the cropCream of the crop…the most …the most

powerfulpowerful and and influentialinfluential people…people…

Dan 1:4Dan 1:4 …(choose) …(choose) YoungYoung, , good lookinggood looking with no with no blemishblemish, , Gifted with wisdomGifted with wisdom, , knowledgeknowledge, and the , and the ability to ability to learn quicklylearn quickly... ... from the royal from the royal familyfamily and the and the nobilitynobility. . NIVNIV

3.3. Change of Change of MindsetMindset The set of beliefs a person has The set of beliefs a person has

which which affects the outcomeaffects the outcome of of allall their their endeavorsendeavors..

Daniel 1:4bDaniel 1:4b…to serve in the king’s …to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the palace. He was to teach them the languagelanguage and and literatureliterature of the of the BabyloniansBabylonians. .

"Tell me what "Tell me what you readyou read and I'll and I'll tell tell youyou who who youyou are“ are“ Francois Francois MuriacMuriac

Brain a key to success

4.4. Change of Change of DietDiet Daniel 1:5Daniel 1:5 The king The king

assigned them assigned them a daily a daily amount of foodamount of food and and winewine from the king’s from the king’s table…table…

……to sit at the king’s table to sit at the king’s table and dine, symbolized a and dine, symbolized a covenantal relationshipcovenantal relationship ((ancient beliefancient belief))

5. Change of Identity5. Change of Identity

Names are not just Names are not just names …names …theythey have have roots and roots and theythey carrycarry waitwait…able to shape our …able to shape our destiny accordingly…destiny accordingly…

Daniel 1:7Daniel 1:7 The chief The chief official gave them official gave them new new namesnames……

DanielDaniel (God is my judge) - (God is my judge) - BelteshazzarBelteshazzar (a servant of Bel)(a servant of Bel)

HananiahHananiah (the Lord is gracious) - (the Lord is gracious) - ShadrachShadrach (inspired by the sun god) (inspired by the sun god)

MishaelMishael (who is what God is?) - (who is what God is?) - MeshachMeshach (who is what the moon god is?)(who is what the moon god is?)

AzariahAzariah (the Lord helps) - (the Lord helps) - Abed-NegoAbed-Nego (servant of Nebo) (servant of Nebo) Daniel 1V:7Daniel 1V:7

Our response Our response

1.1. RevolutionRevolution

A total or radical changeA total or radical change of mindof mind… … transformationtransformation of mind… of mind…

Rom 12:2Rom 12:2 Do not conform (fashion) Do not conform (fashion) any longer to the any longer to the patternpattern of this world, of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of but be transformed by the renewing of your mind… your mind…

2. Take a stand2. Take a stand

To assume or maintain an upright To assume or maintain an upright position… position…

Dan 1:8Dan 1:8 …Daniel …Daniel purposedpurposed (resolved) in his heart that he would (resolved) in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s meat, not defile himself with the king’s meat, nor with the wine…nor with the wine…

3. Be Committed3. Be Committed

COMMITMENTCOMMITMENT

… …is is remaining steadfast and true to remaining steadfast and true to your principles and goals, no matter your principles and goals, no matter how much dust is kicked up on the how much dust is kicked up on the path ahead.path ahead.

Dan 1:8bDan 1:8b

NBNB: ": "he requestedhe requested"…He did not ""…He did not "demanddemand", ", but respected the authority of those over but respected the authority of those over him. him.

4. Plead God’s Favour4. Plead God’s Favour

……promotion over anotherpromotion over another Dan 1:9Dan 1:9 God God gavegave him him favorfavor in the eyes of in the eyes of

the chief of eunuchs… the chief of eunuchs… Dan 1:9Dan 1:9 Now God had Now God had causedcaused the official the official

to show favourto show favour and and sympathysympathy to Daniel, to Daniel,

5. Be competent5. Be competent

……the quality of being adequately or the quality of being adequately or well qualified physically and well qualified physically and intellectuallyintellectually. .

Dan 1:12Dan 1:12 “…test your servants for ten “…test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink…13 Then eat and water to drink…13 Then compare…and treat your servants in compare…and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.”accordance with what you see.”

The best thing about the future is that it comes one

day at a time. Abraham Lincoln