Daniel: Faithfulness in Babylon | Resisting the Spirit of Babylon (1:1-21)

Daniel 1:1-21

The greatest danger of Babylon is not living in it physically, but its subtle and seductive attempts to live in us spiritually.

1 Corinthians 5:11

“Though we do not share all of the world’s conclusions, too often we think about everything in the same way and operate with the same value system— how many of us would rather die for the glory of God than live halfheartedly for Him in a measure of comfort?” — Sinclair Ferguson

The demonic kingdom of Babylon wants to cause Christians to forget God with a process of systematic reprogramming:

1) Isolating them.

Proverbs 18:1 // 1 Peter 5:8

2) Indoctrinating them.

Colossians 2:8 // Romans 12:2

3) Re-Identifying them.

1 John 3:2 // 2 Corinthians 5:20 

4) Intoxicating them.

Ephesians 5:18 // 1 Peter 1:13

Daniel’s example teaches us:

There is usually a way to coexist peaceably in Babylon while defying it’s influence at the heart level BUT it takes wisdom to discern and then determination to implement.

John 17:15 // Ephesians 5:7-10

While God does not promise to protect us from experiencing suffering, He does promise to preserve and provide for us through it.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 // Isaiah 43:1-3

We not only need faithful exilic examples to follow, we need perfect faithfulness lived out for us.

Romans 4:3,5