How a JewishHow a Jewish

slave becameslave became

president in Iraqpresident in Iraq

Pleasures of Pleasures of BabylonBabylon

1. God began to bless 1. God began to bless Daniel and his friends Daniel and his friends in Babylon because in Babylon because of their integrity of their integrity and work ethic. and work ethic.

2. Daniel was tempted 2. Daniel was tempted to compromise his to compromise his convictions. convictions. Daniel 1:8Daniel 1:8

Eating a different diet seems Eating a different diet seems to be a harmless thing.to be a harmless thing.

Compromise almost always Compromise almost always begins with something small.begins with something small.

If we don’t stand If we don’t stand for something, we’ll for something, we’ll fall for anything.fall for anything.

In our desire to be In our desire to be successful we’re tempted successful we’re tempted to follow Babylon’s example.to follow Babylon’s example.

But God has called us But God has called us to follow him and to follow him and to lead the world. to lead the world.

3. Daniel’s strong inner 3. Daniel’s strong inner convictions overcame convictions overcame the outer pressures the outer pressures to compromise.to compromise.

God-honoring convictions God-honoring convictions yield God-given yield God-given rewards. rewards.

Babylon attempted Babylon attempted to rename Daniel after to rename Daniel after their gods. Daniel 1:7their gods. Daniel 1:7

Don’t let the world Don’t let the world squeeze you into its squeeze you into its mold. Romans 12:1-2mold. Romans 12:1-2

Integrity is the antidote Integrity is the antidote to compromise. to compromise.

““The world has The world has become so churchy become so churchy and the church so and the church so worldly it’s hard to worldly it’s hard to tell the difference.”tell the difference.”

Billy GrahamBilly Graham

4. Compromise will 4. Compromise will weaken our testimony.weaken our testimony.When we become like When we become like Babylon we’ve ceased Babylon we’ve ceased to be like Christ.to be like Christ.

Compromise would have Compromise would have caused Daniel to lose his caused Daniel to lose his credibility with the king.credibility with the king.

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God’s work is best seen in God’s work is best seen in humanly impossible humanly impossible predicaments.predicaments.

Our most effective source Our most effective source of stability is prayer.of stability is prayer.

When God works there When God works there isn’t room for pride; isn’t room for pride; only praise.only praise.